Chapter 15- In The Air Tonight(Nonpoint)

(Thalia POV)

After we took a quick break at the rest point in between the fifth and sixth level, Percy and I continued onward. We hadn't really talked much since the third level. I could tell something was bothering him. Something more than Nico's predicament. I had started to ask him a few times since I figured out he was troubled by something else, but every time I started, I couldn't find the right words. I was really kind of worried about him. Last time I had seen him this troubled was when Annabeth had been kidnapped by Dr. Thorn the Manticore.

I needed to talk to him soon, before he did something stupid.

Anyway, we soon came to the sixth level, and, following tradition, Percy looked at me, silently asking if I was ready. I nod back my answer and we step through the archway.

(Third Person POV)

After walking through the archway, and the familiar red barrier was erected in front of and behind them, they faced a mixed army of Undead Soldiers and Undead Archers.

Getting to work on the mix of enemies, they made quick work of them at first. It wasn't until Percy was turning to face the last Undead soldier, that one of them even got hurt.

After Percy turned, he was hit in the side and knocked off of his feet. He didn't see what did it, but Thalia had. She was frozen in shock. It was a centaur! She had never thought they would ever face a centaur monster!

She had thought that this level would just be the archers and soldiers considering this was Ares' level. Obviously the main monster for this level was the centaur.

As it raised its spear over its head to impale Percy, she felt herself jump into action. With the Spear of Destiny, Thalia knocked aside the Centaurs spear before drawing her shield in front of her and preformed a new move on instinct. Turning to spear's point towards the ground, she drew back and threw the spear, for a moment she doubted her instincts, before she watched the spear since into the ground and a wave of force slammed into the centaur blowing it backwards.

The good news was, this gave Percy time to get to his feet. The bad news was, he, like her, was in shock at seeing a centaur as a enemy.

"A centaur?!" he questioned incredulously.

"Percy," Thalia called to him, still hunkering behind her shield, spear raised, "I know. But if we don't kill him, he'll kill us."

Percy frowned heavily but raised Riptide all the same. He didn't like having to fight a monstrous version of his Mentor, Chiron, but he had to it seemed.

Slowly the pair attempted to circle the Centaur, but the moment they was separated, the monster ran straight for the daughter of Zeus, but it was a faint. The moment Percy ran forward to intercept the charging Centaur, he reared forward on its front legs and with a yell, kicked Percy in the chest with its hind legs. The kicked connected with a snap and Percy flew backwards and landed without a sound. Thalia saw red.

No-one hurt Percy and got away with it, but her! she mentally screamed, before throwing her spear into the ground and blowing the centaur off of its hooves again. the moment her spear returned to her hands, she let loose with her piercing shards attacked and hit the centaur, blasting it back and dazing it. With a war cry she called down a giant bolt of lightning and rebounded it off of her spear, hitting the dazed monster with the deadly bolt. It vaporized instantly.

Looking around and making sure the fight was over, Thalia's eyes finally landed on Percy. He was still on the ground, not moving.

(Thalia POV: one hour later)

I had been forced to carry Percy's unconscious form to the next rest point. I was forced to be careful as he obviously had all of his ribs broke, and I think a few must have punctured his lungs considering the blood leaking from his mouth. I force fed him some Ambrosia, but he still hadn't woke up. I was so worried, I had broke down in tears at one point. I had cried and cried, but he still wasn't doing much better. What if he had drowned in his own blood? Could a son of Poseidon drown in blood? It was mostly water, so was it possible?

I reached down to force feed him more Ambrosia, when suddenly, his eyes snapped open.

My eyes widened in surprise. "Percy!" I yelped in surprise, before pulling him into a tight hug.

"Owwwwww..." Percy moaned. I leapt back with a quick, "Sorry!"

His head fell back on the floor of the cave with a low moan of pain. "How you feeling?" I asked.

"Like when I snuck up on Blackjack that day before I left camp last year," He replied, "What about you?"

"Wait, you've been kicked by a horse before?" I frowned. "Shouldn't that be, I don't know, impossible. I mean, your dad is the creator of horses."

"So?" Percy asked sitting up off of the ground. When he caught sight of my face he frowned. "What happened to you?" He asked.

"Nothing." I said quickly. Despite my words, he continued to survey my face.

"It looks like you've been crying," He started slowly, "What happened?"

I blushed. "Well, when you wouldn't wake up I got a little worried."

Percy's eyes widened. "You was crying?! Over me?! Why?!"

I blushed even heavier. "I don't know ya jack-ass! I thought you was gonna die alright?!"

I looked down before mumbling, "I thought you was gonna die before I could tell you how I felt."

"What do you mean?"

I just looked up into his eyes. I reached up and grabbed his head, bringing it close and kissing him passionately. It was heaven. He tasted a lot like the Ocean, with a hint of blood. Salty but kind of sweet at the same time.

Letting him go, when I felt him respond, I got up and turned towards the mouth of the cave. "If you're done resting we got to go," I called back to him not turning around.

My head was swimming from what I had just done. I didn't know what to do. I had just set myself up for something big, and I didn't even want to get into it right now. Besides we had work to do, and I had to be professional being the daughter of Zeus and all.

(Percy POV)

What the fuck just happened? I asked myself mentally. First, I get knocked out by a Centaur, then, I wake up and Thalia, of all people, Kisses me. Finally, this being the big kicker (Pun intended), she acts like nothing happened and tries to get me off of my ass and ready to go kick more monster ass. I groaned in frustration pain and general dislike of my current situation.

Nonetheless, I stood and despite my chest still feeling a little sore made my way out of the cave and started to follow Thalia down the mountain. After all of the constant battles and injuries we have had, most of her Hunters uniform was ripped and torn. however, that just added to her overall looks and she was still beautiful. I freely admit that she's good looking and I wouldn't mind dating her, but she was a hunter of Artemis! It's forbidden!

Besides, what about Annabeth? Or Rachel?

Wait, where did that come from? I asked myself, and was surprised to get an answer.

Where do you think, silly?

Aphrodite! I roared, Get out of my head!

I felt the presence leave my head and I focus back on the task at hand, rescuing Nico.

(A/N) : And here is Chapter 15! Mainly a fluff chapter, honestly. I just felt the need to get the ball rolling in the right direction as far as all that goes. However, next chapter will cover three whole levels, I swear! Apollo's level, Artemis' level, and Hermes' level, and will set up for the next big three's level, Hades! As we go into the fifth and sixth hour of the gauntlet, Percy gets more worried about Nico and voices it to Thalia. How will she act to him voicing his fears? Found out all of that and more in the next Chapter! As always have a good day and good bye! Don't forget to review!