Chapter VII: The Silverwing

Fire crackled in the massive throne room of Olympus, echoing off the great marble walls. The central hearth glowed brightly, illuminating the four figures that sat in a semi-circle on one side. Hestia smiled to herself, giving a glance at the other gods beside her.

Apollo was enraptured in the same fiery image - the one that projected a picture of Artemis and Percy in their adventures - all the while chatting amicably with Hermes, whose gaze matched the sun god's in keeping an eye on their sister.

"Say, Heph. What got you all interested in this anyways? Wouldn't you rather be clanging away in your forge?" Apollo asked curiously, cocking his head at the burly man.

Hephaestus ducked his head, shooting a sly glance at Hestia. She merely smiled in response, gently shaking her head. The forge god straightened, "Well, I- ah. I s'pose I'm just interested in what Artemis is getting up to. It's not every day an Olympian gets sent to the mortal world."

A smirk crossed Hermes's face. "You can say that again. Poor Artemis has been down there for a while now and she can't catch a break! Monster after monster, and even a devious trap by old Tantalus." The messenger god feigned wiping his brow, "Thank goodness she has her heroic companion to save her every time!"

Apollo shot a dark glare at Hermes, launching a punch at the god's shoulder. "Hey! That's my sister you're talking about! She doesn't need any saving, Arty's got it all under control. The demigod is just there as a traveling companion. Nothing more, nothing less."

Rolling her eyes, Hestia piped in gently, "Apollo does have a point. Being a demigod is dangerous. Having someone to watch your back is a very valid argument."

The sun god grinned, "See! Auntie Hestia gets it, Arty's just doing what she has to in order to make it back in one piece."

Hestia met Hephaestus's eyes. She tried to resist the smirk that broke across her lips, but it was a fruitless effort. "However… she does seem to be rather comfortable with him, wouldn't you say, Hermes?"

Blue eyes twinkled merrily. Hermes grinned, a tad bit of mischief entering his voice, "Oh, yes! Quite comfortable, I'd say. Some would say friendly, others would perhaps say… romantically interested."

Hephaestus let out a rumbling chuckle at Apollo's gasp of indignation. The sun god sputtered, giving everyone a dark look. He crossed his arms, mumbling under his breath. "Stupid, meddling aunts."

In the fiery projected image, Percy and Artemis approached the entrance of the airport. The massive, grand entrance stood before them and the demigod made a waving gesture, giving Artemis a grin. Shaking her head, Artemis gave a dry response and yet followed the excited demigod inside with a small smile across her lips.

Hermes frowned, eyebrows furrowing at the picture. "Why'd they end up deciding to get on a plane, after all? They seemed pretty comfortable in the demigod's cabin, and yet they left all of a sudden."

Apollo's head cocked, eyes flashing gold briefly. He frowned, "I don't see any prophecy, so I don't know why they ended up leaving in the first place. Maybe Artemis wanted to travel? Though I don't see why the demigod would follow," the sun god trailed off with a curious tone.

Frowning, Hestia gave Hephaestus a curious look. He shrugged, giving the projected image a helpless glance. Suddenly, the throne room doors split, giving way to a new figure as they entered.

"I think I could help with that," Aphrodite answered silkily, a sly smile across her lips. She sauntered up to the hearth, jewelry tinkling and her loose, flowy chiton waving as she approached. Her pink eyes locked onto Apollo, and her smile widened.

The sun god's eyes narrowed, and Hephaestus's shoulders tensed. A meddling goddess of love was never a good thing. "What exactly do you mean by that, Aphrodite? What did you do?" Apollo replied, eyes suspicious as they followed her.

Aphrodite circled the hearth, summoning a small cushion and placing herself next to Hestia on the end opposite of Apollo. She smiled brightly, but her eyes contained something more devious, "I may have paid your sister a visit, dear Apollo. Nothing harmful! Just a simple conversation and a warning, although she may remember it differently than I."

Hestia felt an oncoming headache forming. She pressed her fingers to her temples, massaging them firmly as she let out a sigh. Hephaestus met her eyes and he gave her a pitying smile. The fire goddess turned to Aphrodite, "Please, cease with the riddles. Answer Apollo, or I fear he may explode with frustration."

Indeed, Apollo's face had grown a shade or two darker with crimson as he glared at the love goddess. Hermes laid a hesitant hand on his shoulder, but the sun god shrugged it off with a sudden jerk. "Aphrodite. Out with it," Apollo growled, voice uncharacteristically firm. He carried none of his normal aloof happiness with him.

Aphrodite let out a tinkling laugh. Her hair shifted hues, morphing to a bright blonde. It shortened, instead ending in a short, wavy middle part that partially covered her ears. Pink eyes shifted to a bright, sky blue, and her teeth became almost obnoxiously white. The face of Apollo stared right back at the sun god.

"Nothing quite so serious, as I said," Aphrodite - with the face of Apollo - said, giving the sun god a charming grin. "Artemis simply had a visit from her famously prophetic brother, and she found herself on a quest! How adventurous!"

Apollo clenched his fists. He made to stand, but Hermes grabbed ahold of his t-shirt and brought him back down to the floor. "There haven't been any prophecies about my sister, nor the demigod she travels with. What did you tell her, Aphrodite? And no more riddles, dammit."

Eyes dancing between the two gods, Hestia took a calming breath. This was most certainly not supposed to happen. Artemis was supposed to visit the mortal world, learn a lesson or two, and then when Zeus thought she was suitably humbled, he would return her to Olympus.

Now, however, it seems that the moon goddess was at the mercy of Aphrodite. Even worse, the two goddesses weren't exactly on the best of terms, given Artemis's firm hatred of men and Aphrodite's snide comments calling the moon goddess "stuck-up" and "a prude". Needless to say, Apollo was justified in his frustration.

Aphrodite smiled widely, features shifting back to her normal pink eyes and long, blonde curls. "Of course there was no actual prophecy, silly. I could never do that, it remains firmly as your domain only, Apollo. However, I can tell Artemis about her poor mother."

Apollo leapt to his feet, eyes blazing. A thick, golden aura burst from his body, surrounding the god in a bright glow that filled the air with heat. "What did you do to Leto? Dammit, Aphrodite! What did you do?" He yelled, face red as he prepared to launch himself at the goddess.

Leaping for the sun god, Hermes wrapped his torso in a bear-hug and pulled back with all his strength. Hephaestus was slow, but still moved and grabbed one of Apollo's arms to restrain the man from outright assaulting Aphrodite.

"Aphrodite, explain. And quickly. I find myself unwilling to restrain Apollo for much longer," Hermes snapped, still wrestling against Apollo's jerking movements as he lunged for the love goddess.

Hestia gave Aphrodite a look, "Please, spare him. I grow tired of your games, niece." The fire goddess steeled her gaze, and the hearth surged with a burst of flame. It was now twice its previous height.

Casting a glance at the surrounding deities, Aphrodite's smile shortened. She huffed, "Fine. Apollo, your mother is in danger. However, it's not my fault either. Python has returned, and yet I was simply the first to find out."

The energy was sucked out of Apollo in but a moment. He collapsed against Hermes and Hephaestus, golden aura subsiding quickly. His face was aghast. "Wh- what?" Apollo breathed, eyes wide.

Aphrodite nodded, "Yes, it's true. I suspect your prophetic powers didn't give you any warning due to Python's domination of Delphi. It has likely shrouded itself from your vision, fearing your wrath when Leto had been taken."

The sun god fell to his knees, released entirely from the other two gods' grasps. His voice was shaken, "How long has she been taken for? Where is she? Is she… alive?"

"She is safe. For now," Aphrodite replied. She took on a pitying gaze, "Python had taken her as prisoner weeks ago. She's being held in the original cave of Delphi. Due to Artemis's new mortal form, I worked with Morpheus to give her a dream. Using your face, I convinced her to embark on the quest."

Apollo let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair. His gaze met Aphrodite's. "Why did you not inform me? Surely I should be included on this, right? Python's kinda my mortal enemy and all that."

Shaking her head, Aphrodite replied, "It's not quite that easy, Apollo. You should know well that gods can't deal in the affairs of mortals. Now that you've risen to godhood, you can't face Python. It simply has to be Artemis." She quirked an eyebrow, casting a sidelong glance into the fiery image above the hearth. "However, I didn't expect her companion to accompany her so easily. Interesting, no?"

The sun god clenched his fist, shooting her an annoyed glance. He turned away, standing and instead beginning to pace along the opposite side of the hearth. Hestia cast a glance at the surrounding gods. Why, oh why had it come to this? When did Artemis's punishment become so complicated?

Hephaestus cleared his throat, "So- ah. The boy and Artemis are headed to Delphi? I s'pose that explains the place ride, then. But it all doesn't really make sense. Why did you help, Aphrodite? Why do you even care?" He shot her a look, fighting down the dark feelings that were bubbling in his stomach. She never seemed to care half as much about him, let alone her most hated sister.

Aphrodite smiled widely, "Oh! Well, yes. That's a fair point. I'll admit, finding out about Python's return and Leto's imprisonment came as a rather unwelcome surprise. Originally, I'd just wanted to keep tabs on little old Artemis and see how her new boyfriend is coming along!"

Hestia fought back a cough. What? So perhaps Percy had a chance? If Aphrodite could sense the beginnings of a connection forming, then things were going better than expected. Percy might not be as lost as she had previously thought.

"Hey! Watch it, man!" Hermes yelled. He had once more grabbed hold of Apollo, and was losing the struggle quite quickly. "Hephaestus, a little help, here?"

While the two gods wrestled with Apollo, the sun god's gaze never left Aphrodite. "I swear to you, if you so much as start to twist your power over her, I will make you fade. Mark my words, Aphrodite, do not mess with my sister."

The love goddess merely smiled, seemingly unworried about the homicidal god across from her. "Oh, Apollo. You worry too much! I would never dream of using my domains to create a fake, bland connection between those two. Why would I? They already have such good chemistry."

Apollo let out another growl, lunging forward once more. Luckily, Hephaestus and Hermes held strong, restraining the man firmly. Hestia sighed, giving Apollo a sad glance. While it was nice to see that he cared for Artemis so deeply, she was rather worried about how protective he was over the moon goddess. Perhaps Zeus isn't Percy's only threat.

Perhaps he needed some convincing, Hestia decided. "Apollo, calm yourself, please. I would rather not have to throw you out of the throne room to keep the peace here. You forget that my primary duty is to ensure the family's safety. I would have to protect Aphrodite if you were to attack here."

The sun god stiffened, but yielded. Hephaestus hesitantly let go of the man, and Hermes followed suit a moment later. Apollo gave Hestia a firm nod, looking rather unhappy at the circumstances. He sat down, a brooding look on his face as his gaze returned to the hearth.

Hestia continued, watching over Apollo's hunched form carefully. "Perhaps, nephew, you should hear Aphrodite out. Observe the boy. If he treats Artemis badly, then you'll know to warn her at your first opportunity. However, if he proves himself, then you'll know that Artemis has found someone worthwhile, unlike her previous experiences."

The fire goddess watched Apollo. He didn't pay her any mind - outwardly, at least - and instead kept his gaze glued to the hearth. For several moments, silence reigned in the throne room. Eventually, Apollo spoke, "Fine, Aunt Hestia. Only for you, though. Aphrodite can burn in Tartarus for all I care."

Aphrodite's face scrunched at the comment, but a stifling glare from Hestia silenced the goddess. Instead, Aphrodite shuffled a tad closer to the hearth. Hephaestus and Hermes followed suit, the messenger god taking a seat next to Apollo while the forge god lumbered to the central spot next to Hestia.

Conversation ceased, with the only sound remaining in the quiet room being the crackling of the fire. Hestia refrained from letting out another sigh. She could feel the tension, and yet she knew there wasn't much to be done about it.

Her gaze returned to the hearth.

Artemis had forgotten just how much she disliked people. Not the idea of any general person, of course, but rather the conglomeration that she was currently faced with. The mass of mortals seemed to shift as one, almost as if her uncle Poseidon was moving them in waves.

Indeed, she would rather never return to any place as crowded as Chicago or O'Hare International Airport ever again if she could help it. Percy seemed to be faring better than her, to his credit. Naturally, his height proved to be an advantage as he pointed out the correct signs as he weaved a path in between groups of mortals.

"C'mon! Just this way, and then we can relax once we get to the right gate. There'll be chairs there. I think. Probably," Percy said. He waved a hand in one general direction, but Artemis couldn't bring herself to be reassured by his words.

"Percy, are you sure you know what you're doing? This place feels awfully…familiar," Artemis trailed off, pulling her friend to a stop. She cast a look around, spinning in a complete circle. "We've definitely been here before. Look."

Artemis pointed to a hanging sign above them. After squinting at it for a moment, Percy sagged and scratched the back of his head. "Uh- well. Yeah, I think you're right," Percy mumbled. He gave her an apologetic glance, "I never said I was good at this sorta thing! I just started walking whichever way felt right, ya know?"

She gave him a long look. "No, I do not know. Perhaps, we should start with looking at the ticket, no?"

Percy blinked. A thoughtful frown crossed his lips. "Wow, I can't believe I didn't think of that. I'd just been looking around for Athens on any of the gates, but I swear none of them said anything! Just random other places."

Fighting back a sigh, Artemis ruffled through her backpack and retrieved the twin tickets. She gave them a glance, eyebrows furrowing in thought. Gate I. Artemis twisted, pulling Percy towards a nearby kiosk.

"Here, help me find Gate I. The flight is in an hour, but we haven't exactly made much progress. It should be here on the map somewhere," Artemis ordered. Percy nodded, following suit as he traced his finger along the outer rim of the airport.

Several moments passed. The pair continued to search, and yet Artemis hadn't found anything. One glance at Percy told her that he hadn't found anything either. She huffed, "It isn't here! My br- ah, father said that these tickets will get us straight there. Surely he didn't make a mistake, right?"

Percy frowned, "I don't know much about Apollo. My mom used to say that he was rather easygoing in history, usually hanging out with Hermes and stuff. Not exactly the most serious of the gods. Maybe it's a prank?"

Artemis gave Percy a careful glance. She wasn't sure exactly what myths Percy's mother had told him, but that was surprisingly accurate information. Almost too accurate. Perhaps his mother had been closer to Hephaestus than she had previously thought. The god must have told her stories of Olympus.

She shook her head, "No, I don't think he would have. Not when the quest is to save my mother. He'd know better than that, surely." Inwardly, Artemis frowned. Apollo would know better, right? This was their mother that was in danger.

Percy shrugged, turning his gaze back to the map. He looked at it for a long moment. His eyebrows furrowed, and he nudged Artemis. She looked up, following his pointing finger.

"You said he didn't play a prank on us, right?"

Artemis tried to fight the growing ball of dread in her stomach. She clenched the strap of her backpack firmly. Sure enough, there was a Gate I. It just so happened to be the smallest gate, and its attached runway looked rather small on the map. She had a sneaking feeling that their flight would be cramped.

Percy tugged on her arm. "Well, it's better than nothing, right? At least we found it. Let's go check it out, maybe it won't be so bad after all." He led them off in the right direction, and bobbed in and out of the crowd as he went.

Following along dutifully, Artemis prayed that her worst fears weren't about to become true. After several minutes of walking, they approached the gate.

Immediately, Artemis noticed a distinct difference from the other gates they had passed. Instead of the massive rows of seating outside, she was greeted with a meager six chairs. They were placed in two rows of three, facing each other in front of a large window. A podium stood outside of the actual doorway to board the plane, and a rather bored looking attendant stood behind it.

Two people had claimed chairs already. One was an older man with white tufts of hair that lined the sides of his head with a gleaming bald spot on top. His Hawaiian patterned shirt was paired rather unfortunately with a bright green pair of khaki shorts, only furthered by the strange belt he wore. The elderly man had two screwdrivers and a hammer hanging from loops on his belt, with a tape measure looped on the opposite side.

A younger boy sat next to him, looking to be the man's grandson to Artemis's best estimate. He had a shaggy head of brown hair that hung low into the boy's eyes, and he kept swiping it to the side as he chatted amicably with the older man. The pair seemed rather immersed in their conversation as Percy and Artemis approached.

"...and when we get there, you'll have to make sure to stick close by! No wandering off, right Isaac?" The elderly man leaned in, a stern look in his eyes.

The younger boy, Isaac, shrunk under the heavy gaze, "Yes, gramps. I've told you enough times already, I'll be good! I know things got out of hand last time, but I promise I'll be careful!" He brushed his hair to the side again, and Artemis caught sight of a pair of goggles strapped to the boy's forehead.

Percy approached the pair, taking a seat in the chair across from the older man. "Hiya! This is Gate I, right? We've been rather lost for about an hour now," Percy greeted, giving Artemis a wave as he sat down.

The older gentleman looked up, a kind smile crossing his lips, "Yessir, you'd be right about that. Looks like we'll be having some company! The plane's rather small, but it's nice to see we'll have someone to chat with during the flight. The name's Dallis, and this is my grandson Isaac."

As Artemis took the seat next to Percy, Isaac raised his chin high and stuck out a hand, "Hi there! My name's Isaac, what's yours?"

Percy had a bemused smile as he shook the young boy's offered hand. "Nice to meetcha, Isaac. I'm Percy, and this is Artemis. You're both headed to Athens, then?"

Dallis gave the pair a second look. Artemis could've sworn his eyes lingered on her for a tad too long, but by the time she had even processed the thought, the old man's eyes were twinkling merrily. "Yes, yes! Thought it was about time Isaac and I saw the world, and figured where better to go than the heart of Greece."

Isaac grinned widely, showing off a missing tooth in the process, "Gramps said that Athens is where the smartest Greeks lived! I heard they have really pretty buildings, too. I wonder how it'll look from above! The airport is right in the middle of Athens, did ya know?"

Artemis fought back an amused smile. The boy sure was excited. She nodded to Isaac, "Greece has some of the best architecture in all of history. You've made a wise choice to visit there. It's a gorgeous place."

Leaning in, Percy gave Isaac a cheeky smile, "Plus, they've got great food! Ever heard of a gyro? I've had some from here in the states, but I'm sure it'll be even better there."

Artemis rolled her eyes. Of course Percy would be the most excited about the food. Gods forbid he ever had anything else on his mind. As Percy engaged in an animated conversation with both Dallis and Isaac, she turned her gaze towards the window.

Gate I was located on the furthest tip of the airport. It was far from the busiest runways, and in fact had its own private airstrip because of the plane's rather small size. The cabin looked like it could hold a maximum of six, and Artemis blinked as she counted the chairs they were sitting in.

Yes, the plane ride would be rather cramped. She sighed. Leave it to her brother to find the most uncomfortable plane possible to take them across the Pacific. Giving a second glance to their two new companions, Artemis paused. At least they had decent company. Isaac was sure to keep the ride from being dull, at the very least.

"Say, what takes you both to Athens? Just for leisure? I know I'd be more than happy to visit anytime of year, but Isaac and I are luckier than most to travel as often as we do," Dallis said, breaking off Artemis's train of thought.

She gave Percy a sidelong glance. He shrugged, turning to Dallis, "Just taking a tour, I guess. Artemis here has some family around the area, and she wanted to pay them a visit."

Dallis's eyebrows raised, "Really! Well it's always nice to get back to see family, of course. And a tour of Greece sounds wonderful. So many sights to see!"

Isaac's eyes lit up, "Gramps, can we please tour Greece? I bet it's awesome to fly over! I know you just wanted to start in Athens, but we could do the whole thing!" The boy's eyes widened, and he looked up at Dallis with hopeful eyes.

The older man smiled gently, "Of course, Isaac. Anything for you, m'boy. We'd fly til the end of the world if we have to."

Isaac let out a cheer, launching a fist to the sky. Percy turned to Dallis, giving him a curious glance, "You fly? Like, fly a plane?"

Artemis shot another glance at the small aircraft outside. In the setting sun, the steel carriage glimmered beautifully. Light reflected off of bright letters. The Silverwing, it read. Dallis caught her gaze, and grinned widely.

"Yep! That's my pride and joy, right there. Bought her when she was a dump and fixed her right up. Got my license and offer a few chartered seats whenever Isaac and I decide to move from one place to the next. Helps cover some of the fees, y'see," Dallis said, eyes glimmering as he looked out at the plane on the runway.

Percy's eyes bulged, "You're the pilot? Wow! Thought you were just another passenger. That's so cool, just flying all over the place and living in different cities. I bet you've seen some cool places, huh?"

Isaac practically leapt from his seat, "Yeah! Gramps is the best pilot ever! We've gone all over, and he said one day I'll get to pilot myself!" As he said so, Isaac pushed back his hair, revealing the goggles strapped to his forehead. Artemis realized now that they were a rather old-fashioned pair of pilot's goggles. Near antiquity, actually.

After some time, the sun had fully set. Dallis had relaxed back in his seat, and Percy had become quite engaged with the young Isaac, who had ceaseless ranting about how excited he was to fly. Apparently, Dallis had let the boy occasionally hold the center stick and maneuver the plane at peak altitudes.

Soon, the attendee called for the plane to begin boarding. It was only the four of them, and the plane was rather small, so it didn't take them long. After all, Percy and Artemis only had their backpacks and Dallis's plane carried all of his and his grandson's luggage already.

The plane's carriage was indeed cramped, but Artemis found she enjoyed the rather homey feel to it. Dallis and Isaac had taken both seats in the cockpit, but Isaac had assured them that he would turn around and 'hang out' with them for the whole ride. He didn't want them to get lonely, as he put it.

Percy had claimed a seat behind Dallis's chair. There were four seats in the rear of the plane, two on either wall with all four seats facing inwards. Artemis caught sight of scribbles in red marker behind Isaac's seat. Best Pilot's Chair was written several times over, all in childish handwriting.

"All set back there?" Dallis called, twisting in his own seat. He had a thick pair of headphones over his ears. "We're set to take off soon, so make sure you're all buckled in. Don't want anybody flying out a window, now!" He ended with a laugh and a wide grin.

Percy strapped in his own buckle, giving Artemis a smile. "All ready, princess? One step closer to home, huh? You nervous?"

She buckled herself in, licking her lips in spite of herself. Artemis met his eyes, lowering her voice so as to not be overheard by Dallis nor Isaac, "Actually, yes. I've been trying to ignore it, but it's all I can think about."

The demigod gave her a warm smile, extending a hand and grabbing hers. She didn't withdraw. In fact, she rather liked the surge of heat then ran up her arm and into her stomach. "Hey now. There's no need to worry like that, right? You're one of the strongest people I know, and I'm no slouch myself. We'll save her, I know we will."

Percy's eyes stared into hers. Artemis swallowed uncomfortably. It wasn't often that she told others how she felt. Her hunt was her group of sisters, of course, but there was always a different dynamic because of her godhood. Percy was… different. He treated her like she was an equal.

"Thank you, Percy. I…" Artemis trailed off, uneasiness forming in her stomach. "I don't think I could have done this alone, as much as I hate to admit it. Normally I'd be a good enough hunter, or have the best shot, but I seriously don't think I could do this without you here."

He squeezed her hand lightly, giving her a smile. "Of course, princess. You can't go anywhere without your knight, can you? Who else would be there to protect and serve?"

Artemis rolled her eyes, and yet smiled all the same as the uneasiness left her. "You're an idiot, you know that?"

Percy's smile widened to a large grin, "Ah, but you couldn't do anything without this idiot, so I think it's rather fair, no?" As he said so, he sat up straight and flexed an arm, "I'll just scare off all the bad guys so you don't have to worry. I'll make the job easy for you."

Laughing lightly, Artemis leaned her head back against the seat. She released his hand, instead kicking her feet up to rest in his lap. Crossing one ankle over the other, she gave him a smirk. "Such a brave knight, serving as royalty's footstool. How courageous of you!"

He snorted, bowing his head. "I aim to please, milady. Anything for your highness, of course. Your wish is my command, as always."

Artemis simply smiled. The plane's engine kicked up, vibrating the entire carriage with a pleasant hum. Its loud motor whirred to full speed, and she felt the plane begin to move. Casting a glance out the window beside her, she watched as the world sped by.

The airport quickly left her vision, and soon enough she felt a lurch in her stomach as they left the ground. A nervous fluttering filled her. Despite her many voyages on her moon chariot over the millennia, Artemis had never actually flown in a mortal's aircraft. At least she knew her father wouldn't strike her down. They should have a relatively smooth flight.

Below them, the city of Chicago glowed in the nighttime. The many lights from homes, streetlamps, and buildings twinkled like stars as they separated further from the ground. Isaac let out a loud whoop as Dallis kicked up speed, surging high into the air and sending another lurch through Artemis's stomach.

Percy nudged her foot, catching her attention. "Check it out, look at the lake," he said, pointing off into the distance. Sure enough, the massive Lake Michigan glimmered under the moonlight, shining beautifully from their vantage point high in the sky.

Artemis felt a smile cross her lips. The view really was gorgeous. Perhaps Isaac had a point, everything really did look better from the sky. She'd have to pay closer attention on her next trip, that's for sure. A small frown replaced her smile.

Had she never thought to look down before?

Another nudge broke her train of thought. She looked up. Percy's warm eyes met hers, concern evident in his orange irises. She felt another surge of heat rise, deep through her stomach and into her cheeks. He really never stopped caring, did he?

She shook her head lightly, smiling back at the young man. His look of concern didn't fade, and she simply repeated the motion. Artemis relaxed, laying her head against the seat. Despite her nervousness about the flight, the consistent heat emanating from Percy's body through her legs was comforting in itself.

As the thrumming of the engine continued, Artemis found herself relaxing further and further into the seat. Percy rested a hand on her shin, tracing small shapes with his forefinger. The smile never left her lips as she drifted off into slumber.

AN: Thank you again for all your support. Enjoy.