"How are you doing now?" Artemis asked him. "I didn't think you'd be walking this well after two days." Percy flashed her a confident grin.
"Honestly, relax!" Percy sighed. "I'm fine. Cetus barely dented me."

"Yeah, and you still slept like a baby for eight days," she smirked. He opened his mouth to respond with some witty retort, but then he remembered the conversation he had with Hypnos. Maybe it was best not to boast about his unusual slumber.

"We've all been there, don't worry," she teased. Percy's eyes immediately perked up.

"Even you?" he asked with a hint of scepticism. The goddess scoffed.

"No, come on, how low do you think of me? The longest I've slept was two days, and that was the night after I held up the sky. Immortals may not need sleep, but if you want to function properly and not walk like a zombie, you kind of do need it." Percy nodded, realising he had underestimated the demands of divine life.

"I guess I can't argue with that. Being a god must be pretty different from being a mortal, huh?" Artemis leaned back, her eyes still focused on the moonlit sea.

"I've never been mortal, so I can't speak for that. Immortality has its perks, but it also comes with its own set of challenges. The world changes, civilizations rise and fall, and we have to adapt and accept the flow of time." He found her words surprisingly philosophical, and it made him wonder about the weight she carried as a goddess.

"Does it ever get lonely, being immortal?" She turned her gaze back to him, her expression softening.

"At times, yes. But I have my hunters, and occasionally I interact with other gods."

The two continued walking side by side down the outskirts of the hunters camp. Despite Artemis's wishes, Percy just couldn't handle being locked in an infirmary all day and all night, to the point where Artemis had to lock the doors to prevent him from running out. The smell, the sounds, the lighting, it all made him feel like he was going insane. Grudgingly, Artemis had agreed to let him go on supervised walks, which basically meant walking around the outskirts of the camp with her until she got bored. Not his idea of entertaining, but certainly better than sitting around and doing nothing.

"Your arm and chest seemed to have fully healed now," Artemis pointed out, noticing how he was flexing them perfectly fine.

"Yeah, I suppose," Percy admitted. "I've been perfectly fine for the past three days, yet still you refuse to believe that." He couldn't help but roll his eyes, half-jokingly. It was true; Artemis seemed to be overly cautious when it came to his well-being. He understood that she was responsible for him, but did she really need to treat him like a delicate, ancient artefact? It all seemed a bit too over the top. Even Thalia had discreetly agreed that something seemed off. Honestly, at times Artemis was making Percy miss Aphrodite, and that's saying something. She may be a bit too interested in his love life, and she may seriously need some classes on how to dress modestly, but other than that, she was pretty chill to hang out with. Besides, she'd never ground him in the infirmary for a week just because he slipped on a rock.

Looking at Artemis, Percy couldn't help but notice the striking similarities and differences between her and Aphrodite. Both goddesses looked nice, had charming smiles and long, lush hair. Artemis came off as slightly more timid (and hating) around men, whereas Aphrodite oozed confidence, flirting with them like it was her five a day. However, what really bothered Percy was Aphrodite's sense of fashion, or lack thereof. Her clothes seemed to be permanently stuck in "barely there" mode, leaving little to the imagination. It was like she raided the clearance rack at the skimpy clothing store and decided to make it her signature style. Every time Percy saw her, he felt like he needed a pair of sunglasses just to spare his eyes from the bright and flashy display. Artemis, on the other hand, had a much more practical and sensible approach to dressing. Her hunting gear was her trademark, and it made sense given her role as the goddess of the hunt. But even outside of her hunting excursions, she managed to keep it classy and understated. Her attire was comfortable yet stylish, with earthy tones and flowing fabrics that accentuated her natural beauty without being over the top (yes, he was calling her beautiful because it was the truth. Besides, it didn't mean he liked her or anything. It was just like complimenting a friend…)

"So when can I leave?" Percy asked the goddess. She gave him an amused look.

"Already? Don't tell me you're sick of the hunt that fast. We haven't even treated you badly!" As much as he hated to admit it, that was true. With the exception of a handful of hunters, the rest had been really accommodating. By accommodating Percy meant not trying to prank and shoot him whenever they could, and even giving him the occasional half-hearted smile. He supposed that Phoebe's speech about him being Zoe's first (and sadly her last) male friend had really moved them… or maybe they were just scared of her. He didn't blame them, sometimes Phoebe freaked him out, with her hard, cold glares.

"You've been nice," he assured her, "but I really do need to talk to Aphrodite about my training, and I need to practise my metamorphosis with Frank." She nodded slightly.

"If you really want to, you can leave by the end of today. After all, I'm pretty sure you've healed up now."

"Finally," he muttered under his breath with a chuckle. "Aphrodite's gonna be wondering where I've been the past two weeks." Artemis raised an eyebrow.

"Wow, I never thought I'd see the day where Aphrodite would care for someone she didn't want to bed," she remarked.
"Please," Percy scoffed. "She's been trying to bed me ever since I stepped foot in her palace. If it wasn't for Poseidon's threat, she 100% would've charmspeaked me into it by now." He let that sink in. Aphrodite was a nice person, and she did care for him, but Percy couldn't help but think whether or not it was for ulterior motives.

Artemis seemed to consider his words carefully before responding, her voice taking on a more serious tone.

"I won't try to change your mind," she said slowly. "Nor will I tell you what I think Aphrodite is doing. But I never thought I'd see a time where Aphrodite would go weeks without bringing other men to her palace, and yet here we are. Don't judge her too harshly. I'd even advise you to think if it's just banter she's doing with you…" He nodded, pushing it to the back of his mind and trying to ignore it. As complicated as people got, Aphrodite was definitely at the top, and he was too tired to think about it.

"When do you want to leave then?" Artemis asked him. "There's no rush, I'm sure you can stay for dinner." He chuckled at that.

"Artemis, your hunt defines dinner time as midnight. At that point, I might as well leave tomorrow." She shrugged, a wry smile playing on her lips as if that was her whole idea.
"Unfortunately, I'd prefer to get back to Aphrodite by the end of today, just so I can rest up and use tomorrow for more training," Percy explained. "I'll probably make a move in an hour or so." The goddess pulled a face.

"I must say, it's been mildly entertaining having you here," she said with mock seriousness. Percy couldn't help but chuckle.

"Is that your way of saying you'll miss me."
"I don't miss men," she said firmly, "but you're a nice person as I said before, and to me, you're a friend, someone who'd never try to take advantage of the situation between us. It'd be nice to see you around a bit more." Her words warmed Percy's heart, and it was nice to know someone saw him as something other than a pawn for Olympus.

"It'd be nice to see you around more," she added, her tone softening. "Maybe one day you can even shoot the target at archery." The two chuckled at that.

"I should probably say goodbye to Thalia." Artemis snorted.

"You better say goodbye to her. If she finds out you left without telling her…" The goddess didn't need to finish her sentence for Percy to know what would happen.
"I know, I know," Percy sighed, rolling his eyes. "There'll be no place on earth safe for me."
"There'll be no place on Earth, on Olympus, or in the Underworld safe for you."
"Except for Tartarus," he said with mock seriousness, pretending to contemplate the idea of venturing back there. Artemis's smile grew slightly wider, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Are you really telling me that your time with the Athena girl wasn't enough? Are we ready for round two already?"
"I take that back," Percy quickly said, turning to walk towards the training grounds. The one similarity between him and Thalia was that they both loved training, and by training he meant whipping the living soul out of whoever they were up against. Even from here, he could hear her maniacal laughter and grunting as she fought whichever poor hunter she was up against.

"What are you going to do back at Aphrodite's then?" Artemis asked curiously. Percy gave her an honest shrug.

"I haven't really thought past a long, warm shower and a big, big dinner," he said truthfully.

"Hey, what's wrong with our cold showers?" Artemis protested.

"I think the word 'cold' says it all, don't you?" he mused. He didn't understand how anyone could peacefully have a shower when the water was minus 300 degrees celsius. Unfortunately, he'd learned that the hard way. Thalia called it a prank, but he called it pure torture. The mere memory sent shivers down his spine as he reflected just how freezing it had been…

By the time they reached the hunt's training grounds, Percy was sad to see he was right. Thalia and another hunter he'd never seen in his life were furiously going at it, except the latter was on the floor, scrambling to dodge Thalia's strikes.

"Just finish it," Phoebe groaned in a bored voice. Her, Atalanta, and a few other hunters were watching the fight in front of them. Their expressions were a mix of shock, awe, disgust and boredom… mainly boredom now that he thought about it.

"Oh, hello M'lady," Phoebe said, just realising their presence. "Perseus," she said with a curt nod, one returned. "See Thalia, you're taking so long to finish this fight that Percy here has recovered, had a nice chat with Artemis, slowly made his way here, and still you're fighting."

"Looks like a thrilling show," Percy commented dryly. "But I'm not sure if it's more exciting than watching the grass grow," he added with a whisper.

"Patience, Phoebe," Thalia grumbled, a light smile playing on her lips. "I haven't had this much fun since that time we fought in the Everglades!" Phoebe shrugged nonchalantly, as if to say fair point.

"That was a good time," Atalanta murmured in her quiet voice.

"Thalia, stop toying around with poor Lenie here and just finish the fight," Artemis commanded with a hint of exasperation. "Percy's leaving." Those two words were enough for Thalia to freeze in her steps, turning around to face him.

"What, why?" she frowned. "We've been pretty accommodating." Artemis raised an eyebrow at Percy, as if silently saying, "Well, you heard her. Why are you leaving?"
"That's what I said," Artemis agreed, "but apparently he has some things to do with Aphrodite."

"Oh no!" Thalia groaned. "Has she already convinced you to go on a date with her?"
"What? No!" Percy exclaimed. "Seriously Thals, how low do you think of me… On second thoughts don't answer that." The hunter smirked, casually sauntering up to him.

"Good," she said. "It'd be horrible to see someone like you succumb to someone like her." Percy crossed his arms defensively.

"Relax," he scoffed. "I can handle myself." Thalia raised an eyebrow, her lips curling into a knowing smile. Immediately, Percy regretted what he'd said, knowing what she was about to tease him about again.

"Yeah, like that time not too long ago when we were fighting Cetus and you tripped on a rock?" He could feel his face get heated as the hunters, Artemis included, snickered at him.

"Stuff happens," he grumbled. "What's done is done."
"True," she admitted with a sly smile. "But it doesn't mean I can't stop teasing you about it."

"That's called bullying-"

"Aww, is little Percy getting bullied by a group of hunters," Thalia mocked, putting on her best baby voice. The other hunters burst into laughter as he scowled, trying his best to ignore their jeering.

"Come on, Perseus, don't let her get to you!" Phoebe encouraged, a fire in her eyes. "Stand up for yourself! Or are you really going to let Thalia walk all over you?" Percy let her words sink in, thinking of a good comeback.

"Eat… Dirt!" he yelled, feeling pretty proud of himself. Unfortunately, the response from the hunters was less than enthusiastic. A few of them looked genuinely shocked at what he said, while others were struggling to stifle their giggles. Even Artemis raised an eyebrow, trying not to burst into laughter herself.

"Really, Percy?" Thalia said lameley. "You couldn't think of anything better? I mean come on, what kind of insult is 'eat dirt.'"
"I have to agree with her," Artemis added. "That's a pretty bad comeback, even for you." Percy groaned, rubbing his temples. At that moment, Percy couldn't help but miss his time with Aphrodite. Sure, she was a flirt and had her charmspeak tricks, but at least they didn't have to resort to insulting each other for amusement. It was all part of the playful banter with the hunters, but Percy realised he preferred their jokes more than the hunt's.

Eventually, Thalia lightly punched him in the arm.

"We're just kidding with you," she sighed. "Take a joke once in a while. You never know, it might actually make you laugh." She gave him a wink, and Percy couldn't help but crack a smile. Despite their teasing, he knew the hunters meant well and just wanted to have some fun. As Thalia helped the poor hunter she was sparring with up from the ground, she turned back to Percy with a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"So Percy, when are you going to fight me?"
"Fight you? Umm, I don't know, maybe in a few weeks?"

"Seriously?" Thalia frowned, causing Percy to let out a long sigh.

"What, you don't expect me to fight you right now, do you… Oh gosh you actually do."Her smirk only grew wider.

"It's me, Percy, and you're not leaving here until I beat you up."
"Or I beat you up," he added, trying to sound confident. Thalia just laughed.

"Not happening," she declared confidently.

"Oh it better not be happening," Artemis interjected, raising an eyebrow. "Rest assured Thalia, if Percy beats you, it's dinner duty for you until the end of the year." As soon as the words left her mouth, the entire training arena exploded into protests.

"Thalia on dinner duty?" Phoebe roared. "Are you trying to punish her or the rest of us!?"
"Silence!" Artemis ordered, before turning to him.

"Percy, come on, time to fight."
"Now?" She rolled her eyes dramatically.

"No time like the present. Now get in there and put up a good fight against one of my top hunters." With a gentle, but firm push, Percy stumbled into the arena, standing right in front of a smirking Thalia.

"Remember, no godly powers," she demanded. "I want a fair fight, not one where you turn me into a bunny or where you start creating illusions from thin air, deal?" Reluctantly he nodded, reaching into his pocket for Riptide. As Percy and Thalia faced each other, their eyes locked in a mixture of determination and reluctance. The other Hunters formed a circle around them, their bows at the ready, but they knew to let the two demigods have their fair duel.

"You know I wouldn't really turn you into a bunny, right?" Percy teased, trying to lighten the tense atmosphere. Thalia smirked, a glimmer of her old mischievous self shining through.

"Oh, I know you're tempted, Seaweed Brain, but let's keep it serious."

Percy's lips curved into a half-smile.

"Deal. No godly powers, just our skills and wits." The duo began circling each other, cautiously assessing the other's movements. Though Thalia had been with the Hunters for years, Percy's skill matched that of a god… Even without his domains and powers.

Thalia struck first, lunging forward with impressive speed, trying to catch Percy off guard. Surprised, he barely managed to sidestep in time, narrowly avoiding her attack. Her silver blade cut through the air, leaving a faint trail of mist behind it. He tightened his grip on Riptide and prepared himself for the next strike.

"You've gotten better, Thalia!" Percy remarked, impressed by her speed.

"Likewise, Percy," she replied. "But don't think I'll go easy on you just because you're leaving us," she replied, determination burning in her eyes. He smirked.

"I wouldn't have it any other way," he said, closing the distance between them. Immediately, Thalia lunged again, this time with a series of rapid strikes. Percy was put on the defensive, blocking and parrying her attacks with precision. Thalia's skills were remarkable, and Percy had to be on his guard not to get caught off balance. Even though he couldn't look behind, Percy knew the other Hunters were watching the battle in awe. Thalia had definitely brushed up on her close combat skills. Percy, however, was a whole other story. With the amount of time he'd been spending with Aphrodite, he hadn't got a single chance to practise and develop his skills, something that was starting to become noticeable as for the third time, he narrowly dodged a lunge.

The dance of blades between Percy and Thalia intensified as they continued to circle each other with skillful footwork. Thalia's strikes were quick and precise, forcing Percy to rely on his reflexes and the celestial bronze blade in his hands. She thrust forward, her sword aimed at Percy's chest, but he managed to parry it just in time, redirecting the attack away from him. He retaliated with a swift strike of his own, aiming for Thalia's side, but she twisted away gracefully, her silver blade narrowly missing Percy's arm. She lunged forward again, performing a series of feints, trying to keep Percy off balance. He knew he had to be cautious, especially due to his rusty skills. As she aimed a high strike, he blocked it with Riptide, but before he could counter, she switched to a low sweep, aiming for his legs. Percy jumped over the blade, but Thalia's attack wasn't over yet. Using her momentum, Thalia twirled and executed a swift spin, her foot arcing toward Percy's head in a roundhouse kick. He managed to duck in time, avoiding the dangerous blow that would have sent him reeling. Thalia's leg soared over him, and Percy saw his opportunity. He went for a low sweep, trying to trip her, but Thalia leaped gracefully, spinning mid-air to land back on her feet.

Again, she prepared for a jab, but Percy was now anticipating her moves. Dropping into a crouch, Percy lunged forward, his shoulder colliding with Thalia's midsection. They grappled for a moment, each trying to gain the upper hand. Thalia managed to break free with a swift elbow strike, causing Percy to stagger back, but he quickly regained his composure, his heart pounding with adrenaline. He knew he had to keep the pressure on. Already fazed from the collision, Thalia's eyes widened as Percy's onslaught intensified. He unleashed a series of rapid strikes, each one aimed with precision and intent. She deflected the first few blows skillfully, but the relentless assault was starting to wear her down. Percy's training with some of the most feared monsters was evident as he demonstrated mastery with Riptide.

Feinting to the left, Percy swiftly changed direction, surprising Thalia with a quick strike to her right side. She managed to partially block it, but the force of the blow caused her to stumble backward. Sensing an opening, Percy pressed on, pressing the advantage. He could practically feel her confidence falter as Percy pushed her onto defence. She skillfully parried another powerful strike from Percy, but her energy was waning, and the relentless assault was taking its toll. Percy's eyes were focused, his movements fluid, and his strikes relentless, pushing her to the edge of the clearing. He continued to press forward, not giving her a moment's rest. As Thalia tried to create some distance, Percy seized the opportunity and closed the gap, using his agility and speed to keep up with her every move. He lunged forward again, and this time, finally, managed to land a solid blow to her shoulder, causing her to wince in pain.

The onlooking Hunters gasped, but Percy ignored it. To him, he was like a force of nature, tapping into the might of the ocean and channelling it through his strikes.

Despite the pain, Thalia wasn't one to give up easily. She countered Percy's attack with a quick kick, attempting to throw him off balance. But Percy anticipated the move and dodged, his focus unwavering. He saw an opening and went for it, driving his shoulder into her midsection once again. Thalia grunted, doubling over momentarily, and Percy capitalised on the opportunity. With a swift motion, he disarmed her, sending her silver blade flying through the air. It landed several feet away, leaving Thalia defenceless.

"Any last words," Percy asked with a teasing smile, knowing he'd got the better of her. She grinned, holding her hands in surrender, something that confused him.

"Four words," she winked, her expression mischievous. "Look behind you." His frown deepened, trying and failing to make sense of her cryptic message.

"Hang on, but that's three words…" With a raised eyebrow, he turned his head to glance over his shoulder, expecting some trick or distraction, but instead, he found Phoebe standing there, an even bigger grin on her face.

"Hello there!" Phoebe chimed in, her voice carrying a tone of amusement.

Before he could react, Phoebe swiftly moved forward, pushing Percy to the ground with surprising strength. He let out a surprised yelp as he landed with a thud, his sword Riptide falling from his grasp.

"What the Hades?" Percy exclaimed, slightly stunned. When he rolled over, Phoebe was crouched on top of him, a knife resting at his throat.

"I guess the tables turned pretty quickly, huh?" Thalia snickered, extending a hand to help him up but he pushed it away.

"What!?" Percy said in exasperation. "You cheated!"
"And you have no way of proving that," Phoebe smirked, playfully making faces at him. Percy glared at the two hunters, huffing in annoyance before brushing the dust of his trousers and turning to Artemis.

"I think it's definitely time for me to leave now," he grumbled. The moon goddess, Artemis, tried to maintain her usual stoic demeanour, but even Percy could see the glimmer of amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Very well," she sighed, offering him her hand.

"Bye Percy, it was fun beating you again!" Thalia cackled gleefully. The huntresses gathered around, teasing and playfully patting him on the back. Percy was reminded once again of how unique this group was. They were fierce warriors, but they also knew how to enjoy the lighter moments in life. With one final glare, Percy watched as the scenery around him slowly blended from layers of trees to a pinkish palace, perched at the top of Olympus.

The palace's grandeur was undeniable, but Percy had never been one for extravagant luxury. Summoning his courage, he took a deep breath and rang the bell, the soft chime echoing through the palace grounds. He hadn't seen Aphrodite in quite some time, and the prospect of reuniting with his mentor both excited and unnerved him. Would she have changed at all? Perhaps dressing more modestly? Maybe she'd even decided to stop with the whole 'breaking hearts' thing, although he wasn't too confident.

With a loud bang, the door flung open, revealing Aphrodite standing there in all her dazzling glory, the personification of beauty. Percy blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sheer radiance that surrounded her. She was dressed in a gown that seemed to defy the very concept of modesty. It hugged her every curve, leaving nothing to the imagination. The fabric was adorned with shimmering sequins that sparkled like stars, drawing attention to her every move.

"Percy, darling!" she squealed in joy, her voice like a melody that instantly captured his attention. "You're back! Oh, how I've missed you." Aphrodite pulled him into a warm embrace, enveloping him in a cloud of intoxicating perfume. Percy managed to stammer out a greeting, feeling slightly overwhelmed by her magnetic presence.

"For argument's sake, let's pretend I missed you too, Aphrodite," he grumbled. She stepped back, her gaze fixated on him as if she were savouring every detail of his appearance.

"Tell me, how was your time with the hunt? Did you enjoy yourself?" Her voice was as sweet as honey. Percy nodded, relieved to shift the attention away from himself.

"Yes, I had a great time. The hunters are amazing, and it was quite the adventure. You know, battling Cetus and all." Aphrodite's eyes sparkled with curiosity.

"Oh, I do love a good adventure," she said, a playful smile dancing on her lips. "But you must have faced some injuries, darling. Let me see." Before Percy could protest, Aphrodite took hold of his arm and gently pulled up his sleeve, revealing a few healing cuts and bruises from the battle with Cetus. She clucked her tongue sympathetically.

"Aww, did Perseus get himself hurt?," she teased, grinning. "You must have been through so much. Let me take care of those wounds for you."

"I'm fine," he muttered. "It wasn't even anything big. I just made one small mistake."

"Oh, like tripping on a rock?" Aphrodite asked. "Word travels fast around Olympus," she explained when he raised his eyebrow. Without waiting for a response, Aphrodite led Percy inside, her gown trailing behind her like a river of moonlit silk. They entered a lavish chamber filled with soft, rose-scented cushions and flickering candles. She gestured for him to sit down, and he complied, too tired to argue with her.

"I hope you didn't miss me too much then?" Percy quipped, a playful smirk dancing on his lips as he stretched his legs.

"Oh, darling, you know I have a never-ending parade of admirers to keep me entertained. Besides, it's nice to have some free time where you're not worried about babysitting a certain protégé."
"I'm sorry, babysit!?" Percy asked, raising an eyebrow in disbelief. "Half the time it's me babysitting you-"

"And I'm sure everyone will believe you," she yawned. Percy playfully punched her in the arm as she rubbed some nectar on his wounds.

"Well, Perseus," Aphrodite began. "I presume you want to rest a bit now, right? That is, unless you want to watch a film with me." Percy's curiosity was piqued.

"What kind of film?" he asked cautiously.

"A romance type-"
"Did I mention my legs need some rest," he said with feigned exhaustion, trying to dodge the impending cinematic catastrophe. He was still traumatised from the last time Aphrodite subjected him to a never-ending parade of lovey-dovey clichés, and he had no desire to repeat that experience. Aphrodite laughed melodically, her laughter filling the opulent room like a burst of confetti. She playfully pushed Percy off her sofa, making him stumble as he regained his footing.

"Get to bed you lazy god," she snickered, laying down on the sofa. "And I'd highly recommend you to not come down here during the night." Percy didn't need to be told twice.

"Good night, Aphrodite," he sighed, turning to walk up her stairs.

"Good night, Perseus," the love goddess smirked, laying down across the sofa and picking up the TV remote.

Perhaps, if Percy had been paying attention, he would've noticed how Aphrodite's smile looked oddly similar to Artemis… But that doesn't mean anything… Does it?

So this is the part where I'm conflicted whether it's still good or not. Do you think it's moving too fast at all, or a good pace? Of course, they're not gonna have love at first sight. For now, it's just a mutual friendship, since Percy was nice to Artemis, so she was nice back. Anyway, please do review!