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As ALWAYS I DO NOT OWN PJO OR HoO

WITHOUT FURTHER ADO LADIES AND GENTLEMEN CHAPTER 10

Chapter 10: In the Quiet of the Stars

The aftermath of the battle with Lysandra and the Shadow Beast had left the camp on edge. The campers were on high alert, their eyes constantly scanning the horizon for any signs of more danger. The air was thick with a sense of impending change, and though the immediate threat had been vanquished, it was clear that something far darker was unfolding behind the scenes. Even the gods seemed to be shifting in their loyalties, and that was a dangerous thing.

But amidst the chaos, there was still time—time for Percy and Artemis to find moments of peace, however fleeting.

It was a few days after the battle. The evening had settled into an almost eerie calm, the kind that usually preceded a storm. The camp was still bustling with activity, but the fire at the heart of the camp seemed dimmer, the laughter quieter. Percy had noticed it too. The light of the campfire flickered in the distance as he made his way toward the edge of the forest, drawn by a quiet pull in his chest. He'd learned by now that when Artemis needed space, she often retreated to the shadows of the trees, where the moonlight was brightest, and where she could breathe without the weight of the world on her shoulders.

When he arrived, he found her standing at the edge of a small clearing, her bow slung over her shoulder, her silver eyes fixed on the sky above. The moon was full tonight, casting its soft, silvery light over the landscape, and for a moment, it felt as if the world itself was holding its breath. She didn't turn to look at him, but she didn't need to. Percy could see it in her posture—the way her shoulders were slightly tense, the way she stood as if waiting for something to happen, though she wasn't quite sure what.

He hesitated, unsure of how to approach her, but in the end, he decided to simply walk up and stand beside her.

The silence between them was comfortable, even after everything they'd been through. There were no words needed right now. It was enough just to be there.

Finally, Artemis spoke, her voice soft, almost wistful. "Do you ever feel like we're all just waiting for something to happen?" Her eyes were still on the sky, but Percy could sense that she wasn't just talking about the current state of the world. She was talking about the weight of eternity, the unspoken future that hung between them.

Percy considered this for a moment. He wasn't used to thinking that far ahead. He lived in the moment, as much as he could, because his life was too unpredictable to do otherwise. But Artemis… she had lived for centuries. She had seen so much, and perhaps that made it harder for her to believe that things could change. That there could be something more than the endless cycle of battles, monsters, and gods.

"I think we're always waiting for something," Percy said finally, his voice steady. "But I think that's okay. Because, for once, I want to be ready for whatever comes next."

Artemis turned her head slightly, her gaze meeting his for a brief moment. There was a flicker of something in her silver eyes—an emotion he couldn't quite place, but it made his heart beat a little faster.

"You make it sound simple," Artemis said, her lips curling into a small, almost reluctant smile. "It's not simple, Percy. You can't just decide to be ready for the future. The future is not something we control."

Percy tilted his head, considering her words. "Maybe not," he said. "But sometimes, just being ready for it makes all the difference. Maybe the future doesn't have to be this big, scary thing we can't understand. Maybe it's just a series of moments, and if we take them one step at a time, we can handle it. Together."

Her smile faltered for a fraction of a second, and for the first time since he'd met her, Percy saw a glimpse of vulnerability in Artemis's eyes. It was brief, a flicker that disappeared as quickly as it had come, but it was there—just enough to make his chest tighten.

"Together," she echoed, her voice softer now, almost as if she were tasting the word, unsure of what it meant for her. "You don't understand what that would mean, Percy. I'm… not the kind of person who can have someone by their side in the way you're thinking. You know that, right?"

Percy's gaze didn't waver. "I know you're not just some girl I can hang out with, Artemis. I know you're a goddess, and you've been through things I can't even imagine. But that doesn't mean you have to do everything alone." He took a small step closer to her, just enough to close the space between them. "I've faced monsters, gods, and the end of the world. But you know what? I'd face it all again, just to be with you. Because I'm not afraid of what could come. I'm not afraid of the future. Not if it's with you."

The words hung in the air between them, and for a long moment, Artemis said nothing. Her silver eyes studied him, searching his face, as if she were looking for something—perhaps answers, perhaps truth. The moonlight bathed her in its pale glow, making her seem both ethereal and impossibly real. She had always been untouchable, unreachable. The cold, distant goddess of the hunt who never needed anyone.

But standing here, in the quiet of the night, she looked… human. Vulnerable. Beautiful.

"Why do you make it so hard to push you away?" Artemis said, her voice a low murmur. Her words were more like a confession, a plea. "I've told you, I can't let myself need anyone. It only leads to pain. To loss. I've seen it all before. The heroes who get too close, who think they can be more than what they are. It always ends badly."

Percy's heart ached for her. He could hear the weight of her centuries of loneliness in her voice, the scars she wore beneath her calm exterior. He stepped even closer, close enough that he could feel the warmth of her presence, the faint scent of her hair carried on the cool breeze.

"It's not about needing anyone," Percy said, his voice gentle but unwavering. "It's about choosing someone. And if you choose me, I'll be here. I won't leave. No matter what happens. Not because I think I can fix everything for you, but because… because I want to be part of your life. I want to be the one who stands beside you when it all gets too much."

Artemis didn't pull away. She didn't say anything at first, and for a long, heart-stopping moment, Percy thought she might push him away after all.

But then she reached up, slowly, her fingers brushing against his cheek, the touch light and almost tentative, as though she were testing the waters. She let her hand rest there, her thumb gently tracing the line of his jaw.

"I don't know what this is, Percy," she whispered. "But for once… I don't want to run away from it."

Percy's breath caught in his throat. His heart raced, and for the first time, he wasn't sure what to say, because the truth was right there between them. It had always been there. But now, it felt different—more real, more solid.

"Then don't," he said simply, his voice thick with emotion. "Don't run."

And for the first time in a long while, Artemis didn't feel the urge to pull away. Instead, she leaned in, just a little, her breath mingling with his in the cool night air. The world around them seemed to vanish, leaving only the sound of their breaths, their hearts beating in time with the moon above.

It was a quiet moment, but it was everything.

And in that moment, Percy and Artemis both understood: The future was uncertain. The world was vast and dangerous. But as long as they had each other—no matter what came—they could face anything.

Together.

Hope you liked it as always Review and Until next time.