As Percy walked along the wet green grass, the breathtaking scenery of Olympus slowly unfolded before his eyes. Normally, it was something he could never get old of seeing, but this time it was different because beside him was the person he's longed to be with for quite a while now. He looked to his left and was met with shimmering galaxies of beauty, combined into a single being. Her form shimmering in the bright moonlit sky, her eyes gleaming with his reflection. She radiated a sense of happiness and joy as she walked.
Percy stared at the beautiful goddess before him, and as she caught his eye, she blushed a golden shade, diverting her eyes from the new god. Percy chuckled, smiling brightly as he thought how lucky he was to be with her on this serene night
To say Artemis was perfect would be putting it likely. She was everything he'd wished and dreamed of, only ten times better. Simply walking with her made him feel calm and at ease.. The two were holding hands, and it was clear that this was something unusual to Artemis, especially by how stiffly she was walking.
Eventually, they stopped in a clearing next to a ledge, dropping all the way down into a gushing river beneath it. Percy took a deep breath, inhaling the fresh air around him, he locked his eyes with the moon goddess.
"Do you trust me?" he asked. Artemis shook out of her initial trance and frowned.
"I'd hope so," she playfully smirked, earning a grin from the son of Poseidon.
"Then fall back," His eyes twinkled with mischief while Artemis just looked at him, confused.
"What?" she frowned. "You know that I'm the goddess of the hunt, right? I can easily manoeuvre through the river, or just flash back to your side." She crossed her arms, and Percy muffled a laugh.
"I know you're not scared-"
"Scared?" Artemis snorted. "Wise, charming, smart… These are the words used to describe me. Never has anyone called me 'scared.'"
"-But I want you to not think of anything or flash out," he continued, ignoring the interruption. To this, Artemis stepped back a bit. Although she could have easily jumped and gotten herself out faster than Percy could blink, not doing anything was well… pretty much just letting go of control. Of course she couldn't die, but she definitely wouldn't be left unscathed from a drop that high…
Percy rolled his eyes.
"Aww, come on Artemis," he pouted. "It'll be really fun. Besides, don't tell me that after everything we've done together, you still don't trust me about a simple fall?" Artemis sighed. He did have a point.
"Alright, you win," she muttered. Pushing all her rational thoughts aside, she moved to the pointed edge of the cliff, her heartbeat raced a bit faster, as she tried calming herself down, focusing on the nature and wilderness around her. The forest always brought her solace in times of stress. Perhaps it had something to do with the colour green, or maybe it was just because she was the goddess of the wilderness… Locking eyes with Percy one last time, the goddess took a deep breath, before jumping backwards off the ledge, and into the depths below.
As Artemis plummeted towards the rushing river below, time seemed to slow down. The cool wind seemed to mock her, offering no comfort in her descent. Panic crept into her mind as the river's surface drew nearer and nearer, yet still she trusted Perseus, bracing herself for the impact. Just when it felt like she was about to become flattened, the water below her erupted upwards, forming a cushion of liquid just inches above the river's surface. Artemis landed with a soft splash, the water breaking her fall and leaving her slightly drenched but unharmed.
She quickly regained her composure and turned her gaze to Percy, who somehow stood on the riverbank next to her, a mischievous smirk on his face. Artemis couldn't help but roll her eyes, sending a cascade of water droplets from her drenched hair.
"You could've just told me that you wanted to do that," she chided him, her tone a mixture of exasperation and relief. Percy chuckled, his sea-green eyes dancing with amusement.
"Well where's the fun in that?" he replied. Artemis sighed, realising that arguing with Percy was often a futile endeavour.
"Fine, fine," she conceded. "But now, I'm all wet!" Percy's grin widened, and he extended a hand towards her.
"Let me help with that," he offered. Artemis raised an eyebrow but said nothing, allowing him to work his magic. With a casual flick of his wrist, Percy summoned water from the river, creating a gentle whirlwind that surrounded Artemis. Droplets swirled around her, their warmth and energy evaporating the moisture from her clothes and hair. In no time, she was dry once more, her earlier predicament completely forgotten.
"Better?" Percy asked with a smirk, his eyes locked onto Artemis. She couldn't help but smile gratefully.
"Much better," she replied, stepping closer to him.
In that fleeting moment, the world seemed to fade away. The river's gentle ripples, the whisper of the wind, and the surrounding chaos ceased to exist as they gazed deeply into each other's eyes. Their souls danced in a sea of elation, and the world around them disappeared.
Percy, his heart pounding, leaned closer to Artemis, closing the dwindling distance between them. Her hand, soft and tender, found its way to the back of his head, fingers intertwining in the tousled hair at his nape. Their noses brushed gently, and their breaths mingled, creating an electric charge in the air. However, just before their lips could meet in a long-awaited kiss, a sudden, jarring sound pierced through his ears, almost as if someone was shouting his name again and again…
Percy suddenly awoke to the sensation of water being splashed all over his face, seeping through his clothes. Cold droplets drenched him, causing him to yelp in surprise. He practically jumped out of bed, disorientated and still lost in the fading dream's haze. Blinking to clear his vision, he made out a blurry figure right in front of him, her hands on her hips, frowning and shaking her head at him.
"What did you do that for!?," he yelled at the goddess of love who just glared at him through her sunglasses. "And why are you wearing sunglasses indoors?" Percy frowned momentarily, forgetting about his dream.
"Am I not allowed to look stylish indoors and outdoors?" she asked, tilting her head to the side. Her face feigned innocence, looking at him with a playful smile. Percy just shook his head to the side while Aphrodite removed the glasses and sat on the bed next to him.
"I was enjoying my sleep," Percy muttered, rubbing his eyes. "Why did you have to pour water on me like that? Jee, Aphrodite. You couldn't have just tapped me a few times or something?"
"Tap you a few times!?" Aphrodite screeched. "I all but threw you out of the window, and you still didn't wake up! This isn't Hypnos's land or something! Why do you have to sleep like a freaking log!?" Her tone was furious, making Percy blush as red as an apple
"Oh yeah?" he countered. "Well maybe that's because some people are too focused on their dreams to bother waking up! And let me tell you, I was having a wonderful one before your little interruption."
He realised his mistake immediately. Unfortunately, so did Aphrodite.
"Oooh, a dream you say?" she giggled, her playful anger vanishing and being replaced by a look of mischief. "Mhmm, do tell. What kind of dreams are you having, Percy?"
"It's nothing," he grumbled, blushing slightly as he re-lived the dream's kiss. The goddess raised an eyebrow.
"Well it can't be nothing, because you're blushing… hard. Come on, spill it! Perhaps you were dreaming of burgers-"
"Wouldn't be the first time," he added under his breath. She shook her head.
"No, that still wouldn't have got you so worked up and as red as one of Demeter's tomatoes. I don't suppose you were dreaming about me, or… Ah!" she snapped her fingers. "You're blushing because you were dreaming about Ar-"
Percy immediately held his hand over her mouth.
"No!" he yelled. "Don't you dare say it." Aphrodite playfully slapped his hand away, grinning wickedly.
"Well we can try and pretend it didn't happen, but between you and me, your dreams must be very… interesting to put it one way.. Aphrodite giggled, a delightful sound that floated across the room. Percy on the other hand just sighed.
"Breakfast?" he asked, subconsciously clutching his growling stomach.
"Oh no," the love goddess smirked. "Come on, don't tell me you seriously thought I was gonna let you off that easily? You, young man, are going to tell me exactly what happened in your dream." Her eyes twinkled and gleamed, teasing him knowingly.
"What?" he said with an exasperated sigh. "It was nothing! We were just going on a walk." Unluckily for him, his body betrayed his thoughts as Percy turned crimson which was all Aphrodite needed to confirm her suspicious theories.
"You did it, didn't you?" She laughed mercilessly on the bed, pointing her fingers childishly at the exasperated man on the bed. "I mean I had my thoughts, but seriously, you guys only just admitted your infinite love for each other, and you're already having these wild dreams?"
"Shut up Aphrodite," he scowled, but the goddess didn't care.
"No way! You gotta tell me how was it? Did she still look hot? Describe her for me pleaaaase." Muttering something about irritating doves, Percy practically ran out of his room and down the stairs, determined to eat breakfast and get away from Aphrodite… Mainly the breakfast part.
By the time he entered the kitchen, Aphrodite was already waiting for him, no doubt having flashed there. She offered him an apologetic smile, to which he just rolled his eyes.
"Are you gonna give me something to eat yet?" Percy sighed. "Or do we need to play more dreamworks? You're not Hypnos, you know." The goddess pursed her lips, before eventually motioning to the table on his right. He sat down opposite the goddess stacking his plate with pancakes , two chicken sausages and three hard boiled eggs (who even eats soft boiled). He then pulled a fruit bowl towards him and popped a few fresh mango slices into his mouth, mixing the sweet with the savoury. Wasting no time, he quickly dug into his breakfast, devouring it with a surprising speed. Aphrodite watched him with an amused expression, her eyes dancing with mirth.
"Percy, I will never understand how you eat so fast. It's like you're trying to win a race with your food." Percy shrugged nonchalantly between bites.
"Just one of my many skills," he retorted, loading his plates with seconds. Aphrodite just shook her head, muttering something under her breath.
"Okay so listen up," she said seriously, leaning forwards in her seat. Percy's eyes darted towards Aphrodite, a sausage still halfway to his mouth. He held a thumbs up indicating that she had his attention.
"Soooooo… seeing as you were so shocked that you even managed to get with Artemis yesterday," she paused for effect, "I thought I'd take it upon myself to plan a little something for you and your girlfriend." Percy nearly choked on his sausage.
"Nope," he said flatly.
"You didn't even listen to what I said," she whined.
"I don't need to," Percy snorted. "Forget the fact that it's you planning something, you should know better than to do things over my head. We talked about this, remember?"
"True, true," she admitted. "But neither of you know the first thing about dating… And guess who does?" Percy thought for a moment.
"Hades?" he asked, causing the goddess to roll her eyes.
"Hades' idea of a date is taking a cruise down the river Styx and giving Persephone his latest prized skull," she chuckled. Percy shrugged.
"Maybe, but there's a reason he and Persephone spend seven hours in the bedroom on date-nights, and I doubt it's to compare skulls."
"Guess again," she instructed, and Percy groaned.
"I don't know, Hermione Granger or something? She probably memorised the book of dating or something." Aphrodite stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter.
"You could've said anyone and you chose the girl from a fictional book? I'm starting to doubt whether or not there's any hope left for you." Percy grinned, as if this were some kind of compliment.
"Alright, alright, you're the dating queen," he admitted, causing the goddess to smile playfully.
"Why thank you, Perseus. And that is why you and Artemis will both be meeting up very soon to spend some quality time together!"
Upon hearing this, Percy frowned.
"Wait a second, I don't remember giving consent for this." His voice was unsure and he stopped eating for a second, suddenly interested in their conversation.
"Who said I needed your consent?" she asked mischievously, smirking at the face he made. "Besides, just think of it as an opportunity to get closer to Artemis, more than before at least, now that you're official." Percy pondered over Aphrodite's words while he bit into another egg.
"Honestly, I don't know about this," he mumbled. "Like, it's a good idea and all, but isn't it too fast? Surely, she needs some time to digest yesterday's events."
"Percy," the goddess sighed. "We just talked about this. Who do you think knows more about dating you, or me? Besides, why would I tell you something bad? I want you and Artemis to be the cutest couple in Olympus just as much as you do." Reluctantly, he caved.
"Alright fine, you win. Now are you gonna tell me where and when we're going, or am I meant to magically know myself?"
"Okay," she began. "You know the central Zeus fountain in Olympus right?"
"I do?" he frowned, raising his eyebrows. Aphrodite sighed dramatically. She set down her fork and got up, leaving the pile of dishes on her table.
"Forget it. I'll just flash you to Artemis' hunt. At least she'll know where to go." Percy nodded in agreement but couldn't help but still feel a bit clueless.
"I appreciate it, but I still don't know what we're going for. What's the plan, Aphrodite? What are we actually gonna be doing next to the central fountain?"
"Today, Percy, is the Olympic Bake Sale of the year," she explained. "Olympus will be crammed with gods, goddesses, nymphs, and everything in between, all sharing their finest culinary creations. It's the perfect date for you and Artemis! I've already set some things up for you both, and trust me, it's gonna be amazing. Mhmm, I can almost smell the freshly baked treats already." Percy's eyes lit up with excitement, and he couldn't help but grin. How bad could it be if it involves food?
"A bake sale date in Olympus? Definitely not your worst idea. Thanks, I guess." Aphrodite winked at him.
"You're welcome, Percy. Now, let's get you to Artemis, and you can enjoy your sweet, delicious day together."
Well how bad could it be if it involves food, Percy thought.
Quickly, Percy wolfed down the final sausage, ignoring the love goddess's sly smile.
"When do I leave?" he asked her, cleaning his hands and putting his plate in the sink. Aphrodite mimicked checking her fake watch.
"Ah, looks like you were supposed to be there five minutes ago. Yeah… sorry not sorry."
"Aphrodite!" he groaned.
"Come in." Artemis didn't bother looking up from her book. She knew exactly who it was.
Just as she predicted, Thalia entered the room with her usual hunting attire, sitting on the fluffy cushioned sofa opposite the bed. She had a wicked grin, almost like she was bursting from excitement.
"What's got you so thrilled?" the goddess asked.
"Thrilled, I just wanna know what happened," she said innocently. "Yesterday you went to Aphrodite's, stay there until well past midnight and then don't bother telling me how it was." Artemis felt a bit bad, especially as it had been Thalia who'd helped her out in the first place.
"My apologies Thalia. I had some other matters to tend to and it slipped my mind." Thalia waved her hand dismissively.
"It's fine, no big deal, but you can make it up by telling me now! How did it go? Did you make things right with Percy?" Artemis shifted in her seat, trying (and failing) to control her blush.
"Well, I went there, and Aphrodite was initially quite angry with me. However, luckily for me Apollo stepped in and the two helped me mend things. We're on good terms now." Thalia nodded, happy for her mentor. However, her curiosity got the better of her and she couldn't resist asking, "Define 'good terms,' Artemis."
"You're a nosy one, aren't you," Artemis muttered. Thalia grinned unapologetically.
"I like to think I am," she retorted mischievously. "So, are you gonna spill beans, or do I need to give Percy an IM?"
"He wouldn't dare tell anyone!" Thalia shrugged.
"You wanna test that theory?" she smirked. "Because luckily, I've got a spare drachma in my pocket."
"Let's not dwell on the past, Thalia." she said nervously. "I'm much more interested in what we're having for lunch today. Any suggestions? Mashed potatoes perhaps?" Thalia raised an eyebrow, her eyes keenly trained on Artemis.
"You're trying to change the subject, aren't you?" Artemis tried to maintain an air of nonchalance, but it wasn't working well.
"I'm not stalling, Thalia," she tried. "I simply thought discussing our meal plans would be more productive." The huntress leaned in, her tone insistent.
"Artemis, you and Percy went to Aphrodite's. I want to know what happened. Don't try to avoid it. Did you go on that date he was asking about maybe, only this time you went as friends?"
"Uhh yeah, sure! He took me out to a… construction site?" Artemis internally face palmed as she realised the level of stupidity of what she said.
"A construction site?" Thalia mused. "Oh my days, just tell me already! You're rubbish at lying today, what happened? What did you do?"
"We-we…just talked, that's all Thalia," Artemis said quickly. "Stop prying!" Thalia stared at Artemis for a moment, her sharp eyes narrowing. She could tell something more than a casual conversation had taken place between them.
"W-wait a second," Thalia stammered, her eyes widening. "Did you guys… kiss?" Artemis blushed furiously, her cheeks turning a shade of gold that Thalia had never seen before. She opened her mouth to deny it, but the words seemed to escape her as a timid nod replaced her initial response. Thalia couldn't help but cover her mouth with her hand in surprise, her eyes wide with shock.
"Well… that's something," Thalia finally managed to say, a sly smile tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Yeah, I guess," Artemis replied quietly. She looked down at her feet, her expression conflicted.
"Artemis?" Thalia asked. "Is something bothering you? You're the goddess of the hunt, I get it, but why do you seem so down about this?" Artemis hesitated for a moment before speaking softly.
"Thalia, I have an oath. Love is forbidden in the hunt, and I've upheld that oath for millennia. But now, I've kissed him, I think I like him, and I don't know what to do." Thalia looked at her companion, considering her words for a second before responding.
"Artemis," she began. "Love is forbidden for us hunters. It's never explicitly been forbidden for you. Besides, rules are made to be broken. In the end, all the hunters care about is the happiness of their sisters. You care about the well-being of your hunters the same way they care about you, and if this makes you happy, they'll understand. Percy is a good guy, and he's proven himself countless times. He's even got Phoebe on his side! There's no way she's even gonna be angry about it. Surprised, yeah probably, but even I was. Don't stress so much, and just focus on making sure you don't speedrun breaking up with Percy, okay?" Reluctantly she nodded.
"I guess your point might have some merit," the goddess sighed, to which Thalia just rolled her eyes playfully.
"So what's happening now?" Thalia asked, looking at Artemis intently. She gave an honest shrug.
"Well, Percy was supposed to be here like thirty minutes ago, but that's what Aphrodite said, so I don't know if she's just playing a prank or something."
"Or…" Thalia began. "He's just late which, knowing Percy, is the plausible answer. The day he doesn't oversleep is the day Kronos will respawn and start the Third Titanomachy." Artemis lightly chuckled at this. "Aphrodite's probably making a mess of him as we speak," Thalia smirked. "You out of everyone should know she takes literal hours to do her own hair. I can imagine Percy's suffering right now." It was now the moon goddess's turn to snort. She was all too familiar with Aphrodite's make-up routine.
"Wait a second," Thalia suddenly frowned, looking Artemis up and down and checking her outfit. "You… You're not going like this right?" Artemis' gaze wandered to her clothes.
"I'm not?" she asked confusedly. Thalia let out an exasperated sigh.
"You might think Percy won't mind if you dress like you just rolled out of bed, but trust me, Aphrodite certainly will. And let's face it, when it comes to Percy's dating choices, Aphrodite's influence can be... well, influential," Thalia said with a wry smile.
Without waiting for Artemis's response, Thalia began rummaging through the goddess's wardrobes. Artemis watched with bemusement as Thalia pulled out a particular item of clothing with a triumphant grin.
"Aha!" Thalia exclaimed as she held up a beautiful green sundress. It was a flowing, knee-length dress made of the softest fabric, with delicate straps and a subtle floral pattern. The dress seemed to capture the essence of nature itself. Artemis stared at the dress in surprise.
"Hey, put that back!" she mumbled, a hint of embarrassment in her voice. Ignoring her, Thalia examined the dress admiringly.
"Wow, this is beautiful! Since when have you had this, Artemis?" Giving in, the goddess sighed.
"Aphrodite," she muttered under her breath. "I can't even remember why she gave it to me, but I never wanted it so I stuffed it in the back of my wardrobe." Thalia grinned mischievously.
"Well, now is the perfect time to put it on. It'll be a pleasant surprise for Percy." Artemis hesitated, looking down at the dress in her hands.
"It's not really my style," she mumbled. Thalia rolled her eyes playfully.
"Artemis, the only thing that's 'your style' is a silver hunter's parka. If I let you call the shots, we'll be here all night trying to find something, and as late as he is, I doubt Percy's coming at midnight. Now, put it on! We'll find some tights to go with it." She grabbed a pair of tights from a chest of drawers and shoved them into Artemis's arms.
"Hurry up and try it on," Thalia said hurriedly before making her way out of the tent and zipping it up behind her.
Artemis stared at the sundress in her hands for a moment, debating whether to ignore Thalia's suggestion. She had always been confident in her immortal self, never giving much thought to mortal fashion or appearances. However, as she thought about her first proper date with Percy and the possibility of making a good impression, she realised that perhaps this one time, Thalia might be right. After all, she had far more experience in the mortal fashion and dating department than she did.
With a resigned sigh, she decided to give it a try. Carefully, the goddess slipped into the green sundress, feeling the soft fabric brush against her skin. As she adjusted the straps and the fabric fell into place, she couldn't help but frown slightly.
"I look odd in this," she mumbled to the air, still not entirely convinced that the dress suited her. It seemed a bit loose, a bit short, a bit too green, a bit too flowery, and just a bit too un-artemis-y. Regardless, she trusted Thalia's judgement. She knew that her sister wouldn't lead her astray, especially when it came to something so important. Tugging up the strap of her dress, she opened the tent flap, and was met with Percy and Thalia engaged in an amusing conversation.
"Oh my days, brownies are way better, Percy!" Thalia insisted. "Why are we even arguing about this? You honestly have the dumbest thoughts at times." Percy shook his head emphatically.
"Nah, Thalia. No to both statements actually. Firstly, I'd like to think of myself as a highly intellectual god, and secondly. you're just saying brownies are better because you haven't had my mom's chocolate chip cookies. Let me tell you something, between you and me, they're legendary!"
"Well you haven't tried Phoebe's freshly baked brownies." Percy raised an eyebrow.
"Phoebe bakes now? What's next? The moon is made out of cheese?"
"Don't be silly now," Thalia scoffed. "The moon is definitely not cheese- Oh. Hello Artemis!" Percy didn't miss a beat. He folded his arms and raised an eyebrow.
"I'm not falling for that trick again, Thalia." Thalia just shrugged with a smirk and turned back to Percy.
"Suit yourself."
Percy's frown deepened as he realised that something was amiss. Slowly, he turned around to face the direction Thalia had been looking, and his words caught in his throat as he saw Artemis standing there in the green sundress.
"Hello, Artemis," he managed to say, his voice awkward and slightly stammering. "Umm, how are you doing this fine afternoon?" Thalia rolled her eyes at Percy's flustered response, and even Artemis smirked.
"She knows about us," the moon goddess said simply, nodding toward Thalia. Percy cleared his throat and ran a hand through his hair, his cheeks turning a faint shade of pink.
"I see," he said slowly. "Well, Artemis, you look... really good," he stammered, his words tumbling out in a rush. "I mean, that dress suits you, and it brings out your... um, natural beauty and… yeah I'm just gonna stop talking…"
Thalia laughed heartily at the exchange between Percy and Artemis.
"So, where are you two lovebirds going?" she asked, her amusement evident in her tone. Percy scratched his head sheepishly.
"Honestly, Thalia, I have no clue," he admitted, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. Thalia raised a concerned eyebrow.
"How—you know what, I don't even want to know." She turned to Artemis, muttering, "does this guy even know what a date is?"
"No, like I know where the date is, but I don't know the location of the date, make sense?" From Thalia's confuzzled expression, it clearly didn't.
"And to think you're stuck with him for the next few hours," Thalia said to Artemis. "I already feel sorry for you." Percy chuckled, before pulling out a crumpled note from his pocket and hastily handing it to Artemis.
"Here. This is where we're going." Artemis unfolded the note, quickly skimming over it. She looked up at Percy with a faint frown.
"There? Are you sure?" The goddess hesitated for a moment. "There will be a lot of people, Percy. I don't want them to know we're a thing yet."
Percy's smile faded slightly, and he almost seemed a bit disappointed. Artemis noticed his change in demeanour and felt a pang of worry, as if she'd had done something wrong.
"Oh," Percy replied, his tone subdued. He looked down at his shoes for a moment.
"We can go for a bit, Percy," the moon goddess quickly added. "But we just need to be discreet about it. It's not that I don't want to be with you; it's just that I don't want to cause any unnecessary complications. And trust me, Zeus, or anyone for that matter, seeing us together before we've properly disclosed it is one hundred percent a complication." He gave her a small nod.
"Well have a good trip, you two," Thalia chimed in. "And don't get too frisky, it's way too early for this." Percy blushed a deep shade of scarlet, while Artemis just shot her a dirty look. Grinning mischievously, Thalia turned around, walking slowly towards the arena and leaving the couple alone for the first time since yesterday.
Artemis extended her hand toward Percy, and he took it with a warm smile. As they held hands, they both flashed away, leaving nothing but the wind blowing innocently like the calm before the storm.
Olympus had a never ending amount of surprises that seemed to pop out of nowhere. Just as Aphrodite had described, Percy saw himself standing before an immensely large statue of Zeus in what looked like central Olympus. The sight was quite hilarious to be honest. Zeus' mouth was carved wide open and seemed to have an endless supply of bright, glittering water coming out of it. Poor Zeus. It was as if the mighty king of the gods was caught in an eternal deluge. Percy couldn't help but find the image amusing.
Artemis followed Percy's gaze and noticed the amusement in his expression.
"Yeah, Father doesn't appreciate that statue much," she smirked. "He's constantly bombarded with comments about the, ahem, 'detail' of the statue's mouth and how it resembles a certain aspect of his character in real life."
Percy raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
"You really think so?" he asked. Artemis shrugged, her eyes dancing with a mischievous glint.
"Well, he might be my father, but that doesn't mean I'm not well aware of his... quirks." With a chuckle and one final glance at the comically exaggerated statue of Zeus, the two of them tore their eyes away and continued on their date, leaving behind the reminder of Zeus's peculiar sense of artistry.
They walked for a good ten minutes, making small talk here and there. However, after endlessly meandering through Olympus, Percy's curiosity and impatience got the better of him. He glanced at his surroundings and then turned to Artemis, asking, "How much longer till we get there?" Artemis casually shrugged, causing Percy to frown.
"Hang on a second, you're telling me you don't know? And here I was thinking you were the responsible one."
"Well at least I know where we're going," she teased, raising her hands in mock surrender. Percy groaned in defeat as he admitted the truth in Artemis' words.
"Alright alright." he conceded, earning a satisfied grin from the goddess of the hunt.
Luckily for Percy, it didn't take much longer. A few more minutes and finally they were standing at the entrance to the Great Olympic Bake Sale.
To give Aphrodite credit, it looked awesome! The bake sale was a charming, bustling scene, filled with colourful stalls adorned with an array of delectable treats on each. The sweet aroma of freshly baked goods wafted through the air, tempting their senses. Artemis and Percy both took the sight in, their mouths practically watering at the sight of cupcakes, cookies, pastries, and goods they didn't even have names for, all beautifully presented on tables covered in lace cloths. Laughter and chatter filled the air as gods, goddesses, nymphs, and everyone in between browsed the delicious offerings, haggling prices down, and promoting their businesses.
"Wow," Artemis breathed in awe, mirroring Percy's thoughts.
"Wow, indeed," he grinned. "This place is incredible!"
"I guess you're not so bad at dating after all," she replied, flashing him a small smile. Percy returned the grin, before asking, "So where do you wanna go first?" Artemis thought for a moment, looking around at all the stalls before eventually pointing towards a stall adorned with earthy colours and floral decorations ,a stall that had a nature-themed ambiance.
"Let's start there," she decided. "It seems fitting for a goddess of the hunt, don't you think?"
As they made their way toward the stall, a satyr passing by them took a double take, shooting them an unusual look. After all, it wasn't every day that you saw Artemis strolling around Olympus with a male, especially in such relaxed clothing. Artemis noticed the gaze immediately and gave the satyr a cold, hard glare. The satyr, realising his mistake and panicking, uttered out a quick apology before immediately galloping away at a breakneck speed. Artemis shook her head, walking with Percy to the stall and muttering something about people being unable to mind their own business.
Walking over to the front counter where all the delicious goods were, Percy took a deep breath, his senses overwhelmed by the delightful aroma of freshly baked goods. The scents of herbs, fruits and honey filled the air, creating an irresistible blend that made his mouth water. Behind the counter, a couple of nymphs bustled around, arranging their delectable items for sale and encouraging others to buy them. As Percy started studying the different dishes, Artemis was a short bit behind, walking in weird patterns, like she was trying to stay out of people's sight. Percy didn't seem to notice much, enticed by the food in front of them.
"Okay, so what do you like?" Percy asked as Artemis finally reached him. The goddess pursed her lips, scanning the table of delicious delicacies.
"Hmm, that pistachio ice cream cake looks like something to die for," she suggested.
"Maybe," Percy began. "But it has too many flowers. What about these?" he asked, showing her a few blue donuts, with an imprint of a bird. "Come on, it's even got a funny looking bird on it! What's not to love?" Artemis just shook her head.
After much debate, they decided on an apple-banana pie. It had a weird colour to it and a delightful texture. Percy smiled as they sat opposite to each other and faced the pie. Food always gets everyone into a good mood.
"What's on your mind?" Artemis asked, seeing his face light up.
"Food." That was all Percy said, making Artemis shake her head at his antics. Without waiting for anything, they both picked up their cutlery, digging into the pie.
Percy was in love. The inside was soft and delicate while the outside was crisped to perfection. It was also filled with banana ice cream in multiple spots, giving him a variation in the taste and texture. The person who made this was definitely getting a tip.
"This is good stuff, Artemis," Percy grinned, shoving another bite down. "I had pancakes not too long ago, but man I can always make space up for this. Wow! I mean I knew immortal cooking was probably gonna be better than what I was used to, but I was not expecting this!" Artemis grinned at his reaction.
"Don't be surprised," she snorted. "We do things the Olympic way up here, and stuff is much nicer like this." As Percy and Artemis finished the last bits of the homemade pie (the last bite being given to Artemis), the dryad who had originally served them gave the pair a gentle smile before asking, "How would you like to pay?" Percy frowns for a moment as he realises they didn't pay before buying the pie, which was the norm.
"It's out of respect," Artemis explained, reading his mind. "To ask a goddess for payment beforehand is like implying they'll run away with it and never pay you. It's more of a customary thing these days." Percy nodded, sort of understanding where she was coming from.
"I'll pay in drachmas," he replied to the dryad, reaching into his pocket to retrieve whatever loose change he'd saved. Percy mentally scolded himself for forgetting to ask Aphrodite for money. The goddess would've happily complied, especially if it was for a date. However, Artemis gently kept his hand down, pulling out her own wallet.
"What!?" Percy exclaimed. "Oh come on! This is my treat. At least let me pay." Artemis shook her head, her tone firm.
"No, Percy," she ordered. "Money isn't an issue for me. It's just a number." Without waiting for his response, Artemis handed the dryad her payment along with a hefty tip, before turning around to leave and bumping straight into Hestia.
"Hestia?" Artemis frowned, forgetting for a moment that she was in the middle of a busy bake sale and it was more than normal to bump into a goddess.
"Oh hello Artemis," the goddess greeted. "And young Perseus as well. What brings you both here today… together?" She emphasised the word 'together' in a way that made Percy and Artemis exchange a quick, nervous glance.
Percy began to stutter an explanation, "Well, you see, Aphrodite wanted some... uh, cakes, and we just happened to... uh, bump into each other here." Artemis nodded in agreement, trying to make their story sound convincing.
"Yeah, you know how Aphrodite gets when she's out of sweet stuff," the moon goddess chuckled slightly. "And I was here getting… uh, cakes for my hunters, yeah that's it. They've been working really hard recently." Hestia raised an eyebrow, her eyes dancing with a glint.
"Alright, fair enough," she agreed. "You know, the way you two were acting, I thought you might be on a secret date or something." Percy and Artemis laughed nervously, feeling like their cover was about to be blown.
"But of course, if you were on a secret date, you would have told me about it first, wouldn't you?" she asked. They nodded unconvincingly, sharing an easy glance between them. Hestia offered them each a pop tart, and Percy accepted with a grateful, "Thank you."
"You're most welcome," she replied. "You should visit me from time to time, you know. I'm always here by the hearth, and I don't think I've seen you since the last Titanomachy." Percy felt a pang of guilt, remembering how Hestia had indirectly helped him, and how he hadn't given her the time of day since.
"I'll try, Hestia," he promised. "It was nice meeting you."
"Likewise," the goddess said, popping another pop tart into her mouth. "I'd normally tell Artemis to enjoy her time alone, but it seems this time I'm telling her to enjoy her time together with you. How strange. It's almost like you're both on a date…"
As soon as Hestia was out of earshot, Percy let out a deep sigh of satisfaction.
"Man, those pop tarts were delicious," he admitted. "We should definitely get some!" Artemis, however, was preoccupied with their previous conversation.
"Do you think she knows?" she asked in a hushed voice. "You know, about us?" Percy frowned, puzzled by her concern.
"How would she know? She just said we're not together because we would've seen her first.." Artemis remained skeptical.
"What if she's playing with us, Percy?" The metamorphosist waved off her worries, encouraging her to relax.
"Come on, Artemis, you're overthinking it. Take a deep breath, calm down, and let's get those pop tarts." Artemis rolled her eyes but ultimately followed Percy as they continued walking down the streets of Olympus, passing by various stands and enjoying the lively atmosphere.
As they strolled along, Percy suddenly paused and pointed to a beautiful cupcake displayed at one of the stalls. Half of it was decorated like the sea, with tiny waves and seashell decorations, while the other half resembled a lush forest, complete with tiny trees and animals. Doves were scattered above and in the middle was a big, red heart. He took a step closer to get a better look.
"Hey Artemis," he called out. "You have to come here and take a look at this adorable cupcake!" Artemis, curious, joined him to see what had caught Percy's attention. However, as her eyes fell upon the cupcake, her cheeks flushed crimson.
"Percy, do you know what that is?" she stammered.
"A cute cupcake," he replied obviously. Sighing, the moon goddess pointed to the sign underneath the cupcake, which clearly said 'For Couples Only.' Percy's eyes widened in realisation.
"Oh," he mumbled. "Oopsie?"
Just then, a nymph approached them, her tone filled with enthusiasm.
"Hello!" she said brightly. "Do you two like what you see?"
"No, not at all," Artemis replied quickly. "We were just leaving."
"Oh, but why?" she protested. "You see, this cupcake isn't any ordinary cupcake. It's meant to be shared, one bite at a time, until you finish the whole thing. After that, couples do all sorts of wild things. Sometimes, they just share a kiss, and other times, well, let's just say the bedrooms are very loud until five in the morning." Percy's face turned a deep shade of red, and Artemis's blush deepened. She swiftly grabbed Percy's arm and said, "We're done here. Let's go."
"Not so fast," the nymph called out. "Because this isn't an ordinary encounter." The two of them froze, slowly turning around to face the nymph.
"What do you mean?" Percy frowned.
"Well, let's just say this cake has actually been reserved for you by someone," she said hastily, twirling her hair in her hands. Percy's eyes widened and he blushed a little. Artemis on the other hand, glared daggers at the nymph.
"Who reserved it?" she growled, "because when I see them, I'm telling you not even Moros will foresee just how badly I punish them."
"I can't directly tell you," The nymph began, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Order from a higher up. But I'm not here to be disrespectful, and so I'll tell you that there's only one person who knows about your… situation, who'd also reserve a love-cake for you." Her voice sounded apologetic at denying the order of a major goddess.
"Aphrodite," Percy grumbled. "This goddess is meddling in things not to be meddled with."
"Maybe," the nymph admitted, "but she does have your best interests at heart. Look, just take the cupcake, and if you wanna eat it you can, if not, I've done my job." Percy frowned at it.
"I don't want some love-potion infected dessert," he muttered.
"Oh, there's no love potion," the nymph replied. "Just a note, right in the middle of the cake, and as Aphrodite said, if you two want a good relationship, you'll trust she knows what she's doing and you'll do whatever the note says." Percy wasn't too sure about it, but pass buyers were starting to give them looks, so he hastily picked it up and gave the nymph a quick thanks.
"Don't worry, I'll forget about it and not tell a soul," the nymph called after them, bowing in a sign of respect. "You have my word." The nymph bowed, showing respect. "No payment required." Percy shrugged, before giving one last glance at the shady nymph and walking off into the crowded streets.
"Aphrodite," Artemis grumbled, and Percy couldn't help but agree.
"I'm gonna finish her when we get back," he grinned, nodding his head. "I'll make it seem like she lost all her makeup, and as a bonus, her hair will be awful for the whole day." Percy could almost see the scene in his mind. Artemis laughed, looking at the son of Poseidon.
"You can do that?" she asked, to which he nodded.
"Uhhh, kinda?," he tried. "I mean I am the god of illusions, and thanks to some advice, my powers have gotten better over the past few months, but it still takes quite a bit of concentration to hold an illusion up for such a long time." The goddess nodded, a small smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.
"Well in that case, please remind me to come over the day you do that," she chuckled lightly. "That's something I cannot miss." Percy grinned, making a mental note in his head.
As they strolled away from the bustling Olympic Bake Sale, Percy asked, "So, what are we doing next?" The goddess thought for a moment.
"Well as fun as this day out has been, I don't particularly enjoy how crowded it's getting, especially with all the looks people are giving me. I know of a peaceful mountain top not too far from here. We should maybe go there."
"Sure," Percy agreed. "Just as long as I can bring my muffins there and get those pop tarts." Artemis rolled her.
"Seriously, what is it with you and pop tarts?" she muttered playfully. Percy simply grinned, and they made their way to the serene mountaintop, leaving behind the bustling market of Olympus.
They walked onwards towards a midsection that connected the white polished marble tiles to a lush, grass terrain. The terrain spiralled upward, slowly going further and further away, eventually going out of sight due to the thick fog that enveloped the area.
"Wow, this looks beautiful already and we haven't even got to the mountain!" Percy admired the landscape, how nature had carved out a perfect trail. It was just the exact place to go hiking.
"I can't deny that, it's definitely one of my top ten favourite places," the goddess admitted, watching the trees gently move in the cool wind.
"Wait, so what's number one?" Percy's frowned, his curiously piqued. If this place wasn't number one, he couldn't even comprehend just how beautiful her favourite place was.
"That's for another time. We can go there later, It's breath-taking." Artemis grinned watching Percy's shocked expression. He shrugged his shoulders and the two finally reached the start of the grassy area.
Their shoes squeaked on the mud as they continued walking up the lush, grassy terrain. All around them, the forest was thick and teeming with life, its colours vibrant and fresh. Tall trees towered above the shrubs of vegetation on the floor.
"The forest is such a serene place," Artemis spoke fondly. "I love everything about it. It's honestly so amazing." Percy raised an eyebrow.
"How come?" he asked, causing the moon goddess to roll her eyes.
"The first provides for everyone," she explained. "It's a place where life thrives, and everything works in harmony. I find peace in its natural beauty and the balance of life it represents… Plus it's my domain of course, so why would I not love it?" Percy grinned, admitting she had a valid point.
After a bit more walking, they finally reached their last destination of the day and looked over at the breath-taking sight before them.
"Wow." That was all Percy could say as he took in the scenery before him, stuck in a state of awe from the nature surrounding him. Artemis walked forward, just enough so she was at the top of the mountain.
"It's nicer from up here," she smirked, and Percy took a few more steps forward so that he was next to her. The goddess hadn't been lying. From here, he could practically see the entirety of Olympus; the houses, people, and palaces looked even more magnificent from here, and silently he thanked Aphrodite for organising this surprisingly good date. Percy took a rather large handkerchief he had from his pocket and set it on the floor beneath him, gentleman style. He then gestured for Artemis to sit down who had a wide smile on her face.
Sitting himself down, he placed the 'love-cake' on the handkerchief and turned to look at the goddess beside him. Percy couldn't help but admire how stunning Artemis looked against the backdrop of the serene mountaintop. Her natural beauty seemed to blend seamlessly with the picturesque surroundings. As he continued to gaze at her, Artemis blushed slightly, catching him checking her out. Percy snapped out of his trance and gave her a sheepish grin.
"Let's eat," he suggested, clearing his throat. "I don't know about you, but I think that cake would look much better in my stomach." Artemis rolled her eyes playfully but agreed.
"Sure, let's dig in." They began to savour the cupcake one bite at a time. It was a delightful mix of flavours, with each bite revealing a new layer of sweetness and decadence. They enjoyed the dessert in a leisurely manner, appreciating both the taste and each other's company. Percy was incredibly nervous the entire time as he'd never done anything like this with Artemis. It was pretty cool to share such a delicacy with her, and he was happy she was enjoying this as well. He did feel like things were moving a bit fast between them, but he didn't mind. Right now, all he wanted to do was spend more time with the beauty sitting beside him, and he didn't care how he did it, even if it meant letting Aphrodite organise more dates.
As they reached the core of the cupcake, just like the nymph had mentioned, they found a small paper note. Artemis carefully plucked it out, unfolded it, and with a deep breath, read its contents. Percy watched as her face slowly morphed from joy to confusion to embarrassment as she blushed hard.
"Artemis?" he frowned. "What does it say?" The goddess sighed.
"It says that…" the goddess blushed furiously, shaking her head and crumpling up the note. "It doesn't matter," she muttered. "There's no way on earth I'm doing anything Aphrodite tells me to do."
"Artemis, what does it say?" Percy asked her gently. He could see her blushing furiously as she hesitated before responding.
"It says that... it says we should… French kiss," she mumbled, her embarrassment evident in her tone and her decision to crumple up the note. Percy blinked in surprise, not expecting that response. His own face turned a shade of pink as he frowned.
"Oh," he mumbled. "Yeah, Aphrodite can be a bit... over the top with her ideas sometimes. She doesn't always understand what's right for everyone."
Artemis looked down at the note she had crumpled and took a deep breath, her shoulders slumping.
"It's not that I don't want to do that one day perhaps," she mumbled. "It's just I... I just feel like this is moving too fast, Percy. I've never been in a romantic relationship before, and I don't know what I'm doing. I'm afraid I might mess things up, and Aphrodite 100% isn't helping with that." Percy listened to her concerns with a sympathetic expression.
"Artemis, you're not alone in this," he said. "Truth be told, I'm feeling the same way, but we can figure it out together. We don't have to rush into anything. We'll take it one step at a time, and I promise, we'll do our best together to make it work." Carefully, he held her hand, feeling its softness and the goddess smiled appreciatively at him.
"To be fair though it is pretty quiet and dark here. No one would hear or see anything we do." Percy chuckled at his joke. However, Artemis' eyes widened as she looked at him, quickly turning away, a blush creeping up her face but her eyes holding a sense of discomfort.
"You're saying you want to do this… French kiss?" she exclaimed, and Percy's eyes widened as he realised what his words had meant.
"Oh, no Artemis," he stammered. "I didn't mean that, I didn't even realise that's what I accidentally implied, I mean, not that I wouldn't want that, but I meant... I mean, not right now, but... well, I mean, not because I don't want to, but because I do, but, uh... Artemis, I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to say that…" The goddess rolled her eyes, revealing a teasing smile.
"Oh, shut up already," she groaned. Taking a deep breath, the goddess stopped his rambling by leaning in and shushing him with a deep, reassuring kiss. Their lips touched and as she slipped her tongue into his mouth, in that moment, Artemis realised that they were in this together, and it was her responsibility to do her best to nurture and cherish their relationship as much as she could.
Well, that and the realisation that Percy tasted so damn good.
Okay, okay, sorry for the wait but I'm off my hiatus (I think) and I'm back to writing! Truth is motivation has been hard for me this past month, and had studies and stuff, but hopefully after next week I should be good from exams for a bit.
Other than that, how was the chapter!? This is by far my longest chapter in this book so far, reaching nearly 9k words. Huge, huge thanks to my beta for helping me with this. How was the general chapter? I did feel conflicted about writing a lot of stuff, but figured it all sounded pretty realistic so I added most of it in. The hardest part about any pertemis fic is trying to not make the characters too OOC, and I know I failed big time lol, but I hope the chapter content, the writing, and the style make up for it. If you liked this, please do leave a review, as it's pretty nice for an author to read. If you didn't like this, please still leave a review on how I can improve. That's it for now, and hopefully I'll see you guys next week!