"Aphrodite, please stop," Percy practically begged, but she didn't care.
"No way!" she smirked mischievously. "You need to look your best for your date-"
"Okay, it's not a date, it's me asking if she wants to go on a date, and just because I need to look good doesn't mean you need to spend twenty four minutes on my hair!" Aphrodite paused, her hands still hovering near Percy's head, and looked at him as if she had just realised something.
"Oh, Percy, I didn't even notice you were counting. My, my, you really are paying attention, aren't you?" Percy grinned despite himself.
"Well, yeah. It's hard not to when you're spending an eternity on my hair." With a musical laugh, Aphrodite resumed her work. Her fingers danced deftly through Percy's hair, weaving an enchanting spell of beauty. Finally, she stepped back and presented Percy with a mirror, her smile radiant as ever.
"There you go, my dear Percy," she announced triumphantly. "Now take a look and tell me it wasn't worth it." Percy held up the mirror and studied his reflection.
"I can't tell a difference!" he exclaimed, his voice tinged with frustration. "What did you spend half an hour doing!?" He tried changing the mirror angle, but still couldn't tell what she'd actually done to him. To him, he looked virtually the same as before. Aphrodite blinked, before frowning, and eventually sighing.
"Oh, really? You can't? Perhaps it's because you have no appreciation for beauty."
"And neither does Artemis," he retorted. At this, Aphrodite froze, slowly turning to look at him. Immediately, Percy began feeling nervous under her gaze, his heart rate quickening.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked slowly. He felt his cheeks heat up, his blush betraying his embarrassment.
"Nothing," he tried, but she wasn't having it.
"No, no, you're not getting out of this one. Tell me, what do you mean by Artemis not appreciating beauty." He sighed.
"Well, I mean, she... Artemis doesn't really pay attention to all this hair and makeup stuff," he stammered, trying to find the right words. "Like, she just... naturally looks pretty, you know? And she's still kind to me, and really, really cute." Aphrodite's gaze held him captive for a moment, her eyes searching his as if she could read every thought in his mind. And then, unexpectedly, she let out an "Awww" that sounded both sincere and teasing at the same time.
"Oh, Percy, you really are something else," she cooed playfully. "Noticing that she doesn't even wear makeup, and still calling her cute and pretty is just so adorable!" Percy scowled, feeling his embarrassment deepen.
"Yeah, well, whatever." Aphrodite chuckled, a melodious sound that danced in the air.
"Come on, don't be so grumpy. It's cute that you pay attention to those little details. I'm giving you a compliment. Maybe I'll have to give Artemis a few tips on appreciating her own natural beauty." Percy rolled his eyes, though a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"Yeah, good luck with that. Any relationship advice you give her has a 99% chance of being chucked out the window without a second thought." The goddess shrugged.
"Not my fault she can't appreciate my knack for beauty," she muttered under her breath.
Percy rolled his eyes, though he was amused by her antics.
"So, I'm all set for this non-date… date, right?" Aphrodite chuckled, as if he were joking.
"Percy dear, are you really going to ask Artemis out in that?" She pointed at his fuzzy pyjamas with a bemused expression. Percy looked down at his attire defensively.
"What's wrong with them?" he whined. His pyjamas had been his go-to attire for comfort, not style. Yet, before he could launch into a more spirited defence of his fashion choices, Aphrodite sighed in a way that made it clear she couldn't be bothered with a prolonged debate.
"Here," she declared, her tone firm. "Just put these on." She thrust a bundle of clothes into his arms. Percy opened his mouth, ready to protest, but when he caught the determined glint in Aphrodite's eyes, he thought better of it. He simply nodded, and a reluctant agreement passed between them.
Percy retreated to his room, making sure to lock the door behind him. He spread the clothes out on his bed, examining them. There was a vibrant red flannel, a pristine white t-shirt, and a pair of dark blue denim jeans. Most of the time he stuck to basic clothes, occasionally dressing up when Aphrodite had to take him out somewhere. However, the truth was, he had never been much of a fashion enthusiast, and he often found Aphrodite's elaborate outfits a tad too extravagant for his liking. With another sigh, he started changing. To his surprise, the clothes slipped onto him with an uncanny ease, as if they had been tailored specifically for his body. He pulled on the red flannel, fastening the buttons methodically, and then slipped into the white t-shirt with an effortless grace. Finally, he eased into the dark blue denim jeans, and as he checked himself out in the mirror, his initial reluctance began to dissipate. The transformation was subtle yet striking. He looked good, really good. A genuine smile crept onto his lips. The outfit was simple but stylish, and he couldn't help but admit that Aphrodite had an impeccable sense of fashion. His reflection stared back at him, a more polished version of himself. He felt confident, ready to face Artemis and ask her out on their not-a-date date.
Feeling much more self-assured, Percy sauntered out of his room, only to find Aphrodite waiting for him, her eyes lighting up when she saw him.
"Ah, there you are, my dear Percy!" she exclaimed, her tone infused with smug satisfaction. "And my, my, I was right! See? I told you this would suit you perfectly!" Percy rolled his eyes, but couldn't deny the pleased feeling bubbling up within him.
"Yeah, yeah, maybe this one time you were right," he admitted, a small smile playing on his lips. Aphrodite grinned triumphantly, clearly revelling in her victory. She circled him, flattering any creases on his shirt, and making a few adjustments here and there, her fingers deftly arranging the fabric. Then, her gaze landed on his hair, and she frowned.
"I'm sorry, but your hair is just… there's still something wrong about it. It needs just a little more of my touch." Before Percy could react, Aphrodite licked her hand and reached toward his head. He instinctively squirmed away, his cheeks heating up.
"Hey, what are you—"
"Stop moving, Percy Jackson!" Aphrodite scolded, her tone annoyed. Reluctantly, Percy stilled, allowing her to proceed. Her touch was surprisingly gentle as she artfully rearranged his hair for the second time that day. After a few moments, she stepped back, admiring her work with a satisfied smile.
"There we go, perfect!"
"Whatever," he muttered, scowling as she beamed down at him.
Aphrodite clapped her hands in delight, her laughter tinkling like wind chimes.
"You can glare all you want, but only now do you look ready to woo your huntress-"
"She's not mine," he sighed. "She's… her's, and I'm simply asking if she wants to go on a date." The goddess rolled her eyes in that quintessential 'goddess-who-knows-better' way, her mischievous smirk growing more pronounced in a way that made Percy go, 'oh no.'
"And what's gonna happen after your date?" she asked slyly. "When the curtains are down, and it's just you and her?" Percy blinked, genuinely confused.
"What do you mean?" he frowned. Aphrodite's smirk only widened, and Percy suddenly had a sinking feeling that he was about to be dragged into a conversation he might not be entirely prepared for.
"Oh, come on, Percy. Don't play innocent with me. I've seen these things play out countless times. After all, it's only natural to do it, so please don't feel bad." Percy's face flushed a shade of deep, scarlet red.
"Wait, you mean… you're talking about... oh my days Aphrodite!" Percy stammered, his embarrassment turning to disbelief and indignation. "Aphrodite, seriously? That's disgusting! I can't believe you jumped to-" She cut him off, her expression turning playfully childish.
"Awww, so, I won't be seeing any baby Percy and Artemis babies running around anytime soon?" If it was possible, Percy's face turned an even deeper shade of red, and he threw his hands up in frustration.
"Aphrodite! I want Artemis for her character and personality, not for intimacy!" The goddess raised her hands in mock surrender, though her eyes still twinkled with mischief. She muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Percy to hear, "Well, he didn't answer my question, so I guess I have some hope for tonight." He let out a groan of both embarrassment and exasperation, realising that there was no escaping her never-ending teasing.
Percy took a deep breath, looking at Aphrodite. Her mischievous flint had softened, and she offered a gentle smile.
"Well, Percy, I guess this is it," she said, her tone warm. "This is your moment." He returned the smile with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.
"Yeah, I guess it is. I hope it works." The goddess stuck out her hand, and Percy shook it firmly.
"I hope so too," she replied. "Now go and make your move!"
"Have you-"
"Yes, yes," the goddess sighed. "I've told Thalia to make sure Artemis is at your spot, don't worry."
"Thank you, Aphrodite," he said sincerely. Her lips curved into a genuine smile.
"You're welcome, Percy. I'll be waiting to hear all the good news when you come back." Percy nodded, his heart a mix of determination and excitement. He waved goodbye to Aphrodite before turning, grabbing a picnic basket and making his way out of the goddess's palace.
Having thought ahead, he'd already got Blackjack waiting for him outside. He approached the black pegasus, giving him a friendly pat on the side.
"Hey, Blackjack, ready for a little flight?" Blackjack snorted, eyeing Percy with a mix of curiosity and mock indignation.
Well, well, look who finally decided to show up. Honestly, I thought you were gonna keep me waiting all day, boss. Percy chuckled, knowing Blackjack had a love for dramatics.
"Come on, Blackjack, you know I wouldn't leave you hanging. We've got some important business to attend to." The pegasus rolled his eyes-yes, actual eye-rolling.
Yeah, yeah, business. You demigods and your business. So, where are we headed? Percy swung himself onto Blackjack's back.
"Not a demigod anymore, remember? And we're going to a spot near Artemis's camp. I'll show you when we get closer. It's next to a river, and shows the moon's reflection really beautifully."
Blackjack snorted again.
Oh, really? Visiting the huntress, are we? Percy grinned, amused by Blackjack's antics.
"Something like that. Just take me there, okay?" Blackjack tossed his head, looking like he was about to launch into a series of wild guesses.
Oh, I see how it is. Boss has a secret rendezvous, eh? Gonna steal some ambrosia and nectar, perhaps? Or maybe you're hoping for a celestial makeover, like a shiny new set of armour? Percy laughed, shaking his head.
"Nah, nothing like that. I just need a quiet place to talk to Artemis." Blackjack gave him a sideways glance, his voice dripping with faux innocence.
Oh, a quiet place to talk, huh? Are we gonna whisper sweet nothings into each other's ears, Boss? Percy groaned loudly.
"No! Blackjack, just take me there. Ugh, you're just as bad as Aphrodite." Blackjack snickered mischievously.
Alright, alright, no need to get all irritated. Off we go to your lovey-dovey secret spot. I do hope I get some apples for this though. Sugar cubes at the least! You're a god now, so my payment's going up.
"Huh? Since when have you asked for payments? You work for free!"
It's called a tip, boss, and I've always appreciated your generous tips. Mmm, I can almost taste the delicious sugar cubes on the tip of my tongue.
As Blackjack launched into the sky, Percy couldn't help but roll his eyes and shake his head. Blackjack might be annoyingly cheeky, but he was also a good friend who had an incredible sense of humour, and Percy was glad to have him along, even if he couldn't escape the teasing.
Unfortunately, as glamorous as they were, Pegasi were relatively slow compared to flashing, and it was past sunset by the time they arrived. He pointed to a quiet spot by the river and asked Blackjack to drop him down and to wait nearby until he was done. The Pegasus complied, his wings beating a graceful rhythm before he settled nearby, ready to graze the grass of some other horses and probably get into a dozen fights before it was time to leave. Percy took a deep breath, the night air filled with a sense of anticipation and nervous excitement. He reached into a picnic basket he had brought along and started laying out the food he had prepared earlier. The basket was packed with an array of delectable treats, and he arranged them with care on a checkered blanket he spread out on the ground.
First, he took out a platter of ambrosia-infused fruits, the colours vibrant and tempting in the moonlight. There were succulent grapes, juicy strawberries, and slices of watermelon that sparkled like gems. Next to the fruits, he placed a plate of delicate nectar-drizzled pastries, their flaky layers enticing even before a bite was taken. It was Aphrodite who had told him everything tasted better with nectar, and somehow she wasn't wrong. He'd thought the taste of blue cookies with pastries would be horrible, but somehow… He couldn't explain it. It was like the nectar would adapt to its users' needs. In the centre of the spread, Percy set down a bowl of celestial trail mix—a mixture of ambrosia-infused nuts, dried fruits, and tiny bits of chocolate that seemed to shimmer like stardust. He couldn't help but smile as he thought of Artemis's love for the wilderness and how she might appreciate the natural flavours of the food. Again, that had been Aphrodite's idea.
Percy also placed down a platter of finger sandwiches filled with a variety of delicious ingredients. There were smoked salmon with cream cheese and dill, roasted turkey with cranberry spread, and cucumber with herb-infused cream cheese. He had taken care to balance flavours she'd told him she liked, and hopefully show his efforts. Lastly, he brought out a bottle of sparkling nectar, the liquid within it effervescent and captivating. Percy had chilled it just right, and he imagined the fizzy, sweet drink would be a perfect accompaniment to the delightful spread.
Satisfied with the arrangement, Percy sat back on the blanket, looking out over the serene river and awaiting Artemis's arrival. The moon cast a silvery glow over everything, and the anticipation of the night ahead made his heart race. With the backdrop of nature's beauty and a feast fit for the gods, Percy hoped that his gesture would show Artemis that he was serious, and would hopefully create a nice environment for when he finally asked her if she wanted to go on a date with him.
Percy's train of thoughts was abruptly interrupted as he heard a voice behind him.
"Percy?" The word was a gentle query, soft and melodious. He turned around, wondering who could be there, yet deep down, he had a hunch, a hunch that proved to be true as his eyes met the familiar figure standing there. Artemis stood a few steps away, her silvery gown reflecting the moonlight in a way that made her seem almost ethereal. Her expression was one of genuine confusion, her eyebrows slightly furrowed as she took in the scene before her. Percy wasn't too surprised. After all, there wasn't anyone else who could sneak up so quietly on him. His lips curved into a warm smile as he stood up to greet her.
"Hey, Artemis." As he had expected, she seemed surprised but not… surprised? She wasn't too shocked that he was meeting her at midnight, because it certainly wasn't the first time, but she definitely hadn't been expecting a full feast laid out. Her eyes, like moonlit pools, held a mix of curiosity and intrigue.
"What's all of this?" He gestured toward the spread he had meticulously arranged.
"Well, I prepared a little meal. I thought we could have a midnight snack under the full moon." Artemis's expression softened, her surprise giving way to a touch of bemusement. The goddess stepped closer, her gaze flickering between Percy and the feast he had laid out.
"You did all of this?" Percy nodded, his smile growing.
"Yeah, I did. I thought it'd be a nice way to repay you for the previous picnic we did together, only that was during the day. This time, however, it's under the star-lit sky." Artemis's gaze met his, her eyes staring into his soul. After a moment of contemplation, she finally nodded, a small smile tugging at her lips.
"Alright, Percy. I'll join you for the night." Excitement and adrenaline surging through him, Percy invited her to sit beside him on the blanket. Artemis gracefully settled down, her silvery dress pooling around her like moonlight itself. They were side by side now, sharing a closeness that felt both comfortable and exhilarating. Percy picked up a small plate and gestured toward the food.
"Help yourself. I tried to include some things I thought you might like." Artemis's gaze softened further as she reached for a delicate pastry.
"Wow, you went through a lot of trouble." He tried shrugging it off, his own plate in hand.
"It was honestly nothing. Aphrodite and Hestia helped me a bit with the food. Besides, it's not every day you get to have a picnic with a goddess under the full moon." Artemis chuckled softly, her laughter as gentle as a breeze through the trees.
"No, I suppose not."
Percy was actually really happy with how the night was going so far. Earlier, his nerves had been dancing the tango, but now, talking with Artemis, they seemed to have calmed down. Or maybe it was just the sparkling nectar…
"Mmm, oh my," Artemis exclaimed between bites. "These walnuts are awesome! You need to send me some more of these!" Percy chuckled lightly.
"I take it you like them?"
"Like them?! I love them!" He smirked, taking a few himself.
"Well in that case, we can pretend I made them." A smile tugged at the corner of the goddess' lips.
"Oh, definitely," she said sarcastically. "Percy Jackson, the person who comes to me and Thalia for cooking advice, made this mind-blowingly nice food."
"Hey!" he protested. "Besides, I did say 'pretend.'" She only smirked, trying out a finger sandwich.
It didn't take them too long to finish their mini picnic. Soon enough, everything was neatly wrapped up and back into Percy's picnic basket, leaving the two immortals lying on the ground and gazing up at the vast expanse of shimmering stars above. Artemis turned her head slightly to face Percy, her expression gentle.
"Thank you for the meal, Percy. It was a bit of a surprise, yes, but I appreciate the effort." Percy waved her gratitude away with a warm smile that matched the glow of stars.
"Well you're worth the effort.." Taking a deep breath, Percy then sat up, his heart thudding a bit faster than usual. He looked Artemis in the eye, his voice steady despite the nerves that fluttered in his chest.
"Artemis, there's something I wanted to talk to you about." The goddess tilted her head, her gaze curious.
"Go for it." He took a moment to gather his thoughts before continuing.
"Artemis, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your company, how I think you're truly an incredible person. I know you have your responsibilities as a goddess and a huntress, but we've had some really fun times together, and a part of me sometimes wishes that these moments we share together could just never end." He paused, letting his words sink in. "I guess I'm trying to ask if you'd consider... well, if you'd give us a chance to be more than just friends." He was excited, nervous, and anxious all at the same time. Unfortunately, it seemed like Artemis was neither. She only furrowed her eyebrows, her confusion evident.
"More than just friends? What could we be?" Percy sighed, realising he might have been assuming too much. He'd briefly forgotten that Artemis wasn't accustomed to dating culture and its terms.
"I mean, I love spending time with you, and I know we're close, but I want the opportunity to show you that I can be more than just a friend. That we could be, you know, together." Artemis tilted her head to the side, her eyes searching his face for understanding.
"Are you suggesting you wish to join the Hunt, Percy? Because as nice and kind as you may be, we only take girls… Unless you're saying that you want to become a girl?" Percy snorted, caught off guard by the unexpected turn of the conversation.
"No, trust me, I am definitely not thinking of that, and I'm not trying to join the Hunt." He cleared his throat, his nervousness resurfacing.
"What I mean is, I want to be closer to you, to have a deeper connection. I'm not asking you to change who you are or what you do. I just want the chance to show you that we could be... something more." Artemis continued to regard him with a thoughtful expression, her gaze unwavering.
"Closer than friends? Percy, we're already very close friends. I value our bond, but I don't see how there could be anything more. You're my only close male friend."
Percy felt his hopes deflate slightly, but he tried to push down his disappointment. Maybe this was Artemis's way of rejecting him while trying to preserve their friendship. He knew that if he asked the question, there would be no going back to a friendship. As a wise man had once told him: 'If two past lovers can remain friends, either they never were in love, or they still are.' He figured this logic worked for asking people out—once you crossed that threshold, there was no returning to a mere friendship. He understood that Artemis valued their friendship and didn't want to risk jeopardising it with a romantic relationship. After all, he didn't blame her. Percy was just a new, naive god, way over his head thinking the moon goddess could or would ever see him as anything other than a close friend, no matter what he did.
But that didn't mean her rejection didn't sting.
"This was honestly really fun," Artemis said brightly. "We should do it again some time."
"Yeah," he mumbled, still grappling with his emotions. The goddess frowned.
"Are you alright, Percy?" she asked. Meekly he nodded, though she seemed unconvinced.
"Well, unfortunately, I need to get back to my hunters and make sure they haven't torn the place down in my absence. I'll catch you another time okay?"
"Alright then," he sighed defeatedly. Percy offered her a polite nod before rising to his feet.
As he walked away into the dark forest, he felt a swirl of emotions—disappointment, acceptance, and a twinge of regret. Perhaps he had misread the situation, and his desire for something more had collided with Artemis's unique perspective on relationships. Not even the lonely, billowing trees could offer him any solace as he trekked back to Blackjack. All he could think about was how beautiful the moon looked, shimmering on top of the river like a celestial beacon, its gentle glow dancing upon the water, as if nature itself had paused to admire its own beauty.
As she snuggled up on her sofa, a warm cup of hot chocolate in her hands, Aphrodite felt satisfied. Yes, she had ruined Percy's last relationship, and yes, she had been screwing with him when he landed on Ogygia (could you really blame her, the chance to see an awkward Percy talking to a flustered Calypso was too good to be true), but now, finally, Percy could have his own, proper relationship with Artemis. Taking a sip, she smirked, remembering just how awkward asking someone out can be. Of course, for her, it was a piece of cake. Rejection was something almost unknown to her. However, many others can get scared, alarmed, anxious, nervous, or any of five hundred other things. Percy being Percy, was probably all of them.
Percy and Artemis, such a pair they would make. The two were completely different in terms of personalities, yet complementary. Percy's brave, selfless nature just clicked with Artemis's dedication to her hunt and her sense of justice. They both had an appreciation for the beauty of the natural world. In fact, it was almost like nature had shipped them before she had, with the way Artemis's moonshine just glimmered on top of Percy's rivers. She took another sip of her hot chocolate. Her plan was working, and she was happy. Well, that was until someone opened her front door.
She turned, her gaze narrowing as an unsteady figure stumbled clumsily into her palace. It didn't surprise her too much that it was Percy. After all, she'd been expecting him all night. He offered a lopsided smile, clearly not in full control of his faculties.
"Hello, Aphrodite," he greeted with a slightly slurred voice. Aphrodite's eyebrows arched in a mix of surprise and curiosity.
"Percy? What brings you here stumbling like a drunk satyr?" His grin only widened, his eyes glassy with an odd sort of determination. He clumsily navigated his way over to her sofa and plopped down beside her, extremely close. Aphrodite could hardly ignore his erratic behaviour, but she maintained her poise.
"How did it go with Artemis?" she asked warily. Percy shrugged.
"Doesn't matter," he slurred. It didn't work with her, but now I'm here with you, and you… you're not going to reject me, are you?" The unexpected question caught her off guard, leaving her only more confused than before. Before she could respond, Percy leaned in, attempting to close the gap between them.
Aphrodite was tempted to go along with it, but something wasn't sitting right with her. Percy was meant to be after Artemis, not her. Catching a whiff of alcohol on his breath, she reacted instinctively, her hand coming up to halt his advance.
"Hold on a moment. Have you been drinking?" Percy's response was an ambiguous shrug, accompanied by a casual admission.
"One sip, one bottle, five bottles. What's the difference?" Aphrodite narrowed her eyes, now starting to get concerned.
"Percy," she said firmly. "Tell me now what happened with Artemis." The drunk god sighed, leaning back against the sofa, his expression suddenly much more sombre.
"Artemis rejected me, and then she got busy, and then she left. Supposedly she still wants to be friends or something, because she wouldn't even hear me out, and then made an excuse to go back to her hunt. I-I don't even know why I bothered. It was like a fairy tale which I thought I could make a reality, but no." The goddess sighed slowly, giving Percy a hug and rubbing his back.
"She made it very clear that we're just friends," he sighed miserably. "First Annabeth, now Artemis, tell me Aphrodite, does it ever get easier?"
Aphrodite regarded the broken man with a mixture of empathy and sadness, watching him struggle to keep calm and strong when his emotions threatened to overwhelm him. Love had a way of doing that, of tearing down the walls we built around ourselves. Slowly, her empathy gave way to a profound concern, and that concern, in turn, evolved into a simmering anger as she observed how odd he was acting. She rose from the sofa as well, her voice firm and authoritative.
"Stay right there, Percy," she ordered. Aphrodite swiftly strode toward a nearby closet, grabbing a jacket and slipping into it. At this moment, she only had one goal, and that was to give Artemis a good talking to. She turned back to him, her gaze unwavering.
"I'm going out for a moment. You stay here, and don't do anything reckless."
"Don't hurt her," he mumbled. "It's not her fault that I'm not enough for her, or that she doesn't want a relationship."
Sighing, Aphrodite opened the door and stepped out into the night, the cool air blowing her hair. Artemis was getting a talk, whether she liked it or not, and this time, Aphrodite wasn't gonna be the one to back down. What Artemis did was cruel, and mean, not even giving him the time of day, or even trying a relationship. Of course, she understood that some people didn't want to date, but the least Artemis could've done is said it nicely and honestly to Percy, rather than playing all these games. Well, Aphrodite thought, we'll see who's being nice to who when I'm done with her. She was determined to have a heart-to-heart with Artemis, and this time, Aphrodite wasn't going to be the one to back down.
Artemis was a bit confused when she heard a knock on her tent door. It's not that people didn't knock before entering (they had to if they wanted to survive the night here), just no one ever did it at this time. It was nearly 2AM after all. She groaned.
"Who is it?" Artemis yawned.
"It's Thalia!" came the voice from outside. "Can I come in please?"
"If you must," she sighed. The tent flap rustled as Thalia entered, her presence accompanied by a breath of crisp night air. She stepped inside and regarded Artemis with a curious expression.
"So, what brings you here at this hour?" Artemis asked, her voice still tinged with sleepiness. Thalia's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned closer.
"I just wanted to know how your date with Percy went." Artemis let out an exasperated groan.
"It wasn't a date, Thalia. We were simply enjoying some time together." Thalia shrugged, unfazed by her correction.
"Sure, sure. So, how did it go?" Artemis sighed and relented, realising that Thalia wouldn't let the matter rest.
"He set up a nice picnic for both of us, and it went well. The food was on point. Then again, you can never go wrong with Hestia's cooking" Thalia raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in her expression.
"Just a picnic?" Artemis nodded, feeling somewhat annoyed at her lieutenant's persistent questioning. She was tempted to brush off the topic entirely, but something in Thalia's demeanour made her reconsider. Then, Artemis remembered something that had puzzled her.
"Actually, Thalia, hear this out. I think Percy wanted to join the Hunt." Thalia snorted at the mere idea.
"Percy would never want to join the Hunt." Then, after a pause, she added, "Why do you think that?"
Artemis frowned, her thoughts lingering on their conversation.
"Well, he kept saying he wanted to be more than friends." All of a sudden, Thalia's eyes widened, and she looked at Artemis with a mix of surprise and realisation.
"Wait, and what did you say?"" Artemis tilted her head, confused by her sudden change in demeanour.
"I told him I didn't know how we could be more than friends." Thalia gasped, making Artemis feel slightly uneasy.
"How did he react when you said that?" Artemis sighed, recalling Percy's expression.
"He seemed a bit sad, but said it was nothing." The goddess smirked. "If anything, it was probably the thought of having to go back to Aphrodite's palace. Why the questions, Thalia? Did something happen?" She took a deep breath.
"Artemis, I think you screwed up big time." Artemis felt a twinge of unease at Thalia's words. "What do you mean? How?" Thalia hesitated before asking, "What can be closer than friends?" Artemis rolled her eyes, somewhat annoyed by the question.
"For me, my family and my hunt. That's what I told him." Thalia interrupted her with a sigh.
"No, no, Artemis, think. What can be closer than friends, not for you, but for most mortals?" Artemis grumbled, still not entirely sure where this was leading.
"I don't know, Thalia. I barely interact with mortals to understand their ways." Thalia paused, her voice careful as she ventured.
"In general, people… do they sleep with their close friends. I'm talking about properly sleeping with them, not a one night thing." Artemis's eyes flashed with anger, and she retorted, "Thalia!" However, the huntress pressed on, undeterred.
"Just answer, and you'll see where this is going." Artemis sighed reluctantly.
"Not usually, no. People sleep with their husbands, wives, girlfriends, or boyfriends." Thalia raised an eyebrow, a knowing expression on her face.
"So, isn't a girlfriend or boyfriend closer than a friend? You do things with them that you can't do with just friends." The goddess frowned, before slowly, her eyes widened as realisation struck.
"He was…" Thalia nodded
"Yep," she sighed. "He wanted to ask you out."
Artemis leaped to her feet, a sense of urgency flooding her.
"I have screwed up," she muttered. "I need to talk to Perseus now." However, her intentions were disrupted as a loud voice echoed from outside the tent.
"Where's Artemis?" a feminine voice asked. Artemis glanced at Thalia, her brow furrowing in confusion. Outside, the hunter on patrol duty refused to answer, and there was some commotion before a powerful voice commanded, "Move!" Artemis herself felt a momentary temptation to obey, so authoritative was the voice. However, she resisted and stepped outside, only to see an irate Aphrodite approaching her. The goddess jabbed her finger accusingly at Artemis.
"You had no right to be so rude to Percy!" Aphrodite's voice was sharp, filled with both anger and venom. She was rarely, if ever, like this. Artemis tried to offer an explanation, but Aphrodite cut her off with a scathing demand.
"I don't care if you still want to be friends!" she yelled. "From now on, you better stay away from Percy! I may not be good at fighting, but I can assure you Poseidon is! You should've outright rejected him instead of playing games with his heart-"
"Aphrodite!" Artemis glared. "Don't you dare talk to me like that! I might've messed-"
"You did mess Percy up! And don't you give me a lecture on how to talk. Stay. Away. From. Percy!"
With that, Aphrodite turned and vanished, leaving Artemis on her knees on the ground, her mind in turmoil.
"What have I done," she whispered.
Honestly I was so coflicted when writing/updating this lol. I really hope it all makes sense, from why Percy didn't outright ask her if she wanted to date, all the way to Artemis not understanding he wanted to date, and Aphrodite's outburst. Please do leave a reiew i you enjoyed this chapter : )