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AS ALWAYS I DO NOT OWN PJO or HoO
Ladies and Gents Chapter 25
Chapter 25: The Ties That Bind
The morning after the reveal, the air around the camp seemed thick with quiet anticipation. The Hunters were a little more reserved than usual, their eyes frequently flicking between Percy and Artemis as they moved through the camp, but they had mostly accepted the situation. There had been whispers—soft conversations that died when anyone else came too close—but overall, the group seemed to be adjusting. Artemis had handled it as only she could: with unwavering confidence and a steady demeanor that left little room for doubt.
Percy, on the other hand, still felt the weight of their eyes on him. It wasn't hostile, not by any means. But it was there. A quiet tension, a curiosity about the bond between him and their leader. He couldn't help but feel like the outsider once more, despite everything he had fought for, everything he had done.
Sitting at the edge of the clearing, Percy toyed with the hilt of Riptide, watching as Artemis spoke with a group of Hunters about their next move. It had been a long night, full of too many questions and too many wary looks. Still, as much as he was still getting used to this new dynamic, he felt a sense of peace every time he looked toward Artemis. Even when everything else seemed to swirl with uncertainty, she was his anchor.
The soft rustle of leaves drew his attention, and he looked up to see Artemis walking toward him. She was alone, the others still in their own conversations. For a moment, she stood there, her gaze meeting his with that rare, soft intensity that always made his heart skip.
"How's the mood?" Percy asked, pushing himself off the log and meeting her halfway.
She gave a small smile. "Better than I expected. Most of the Hunters have already accepted the reality. They've seen enough of my decisions to know I can be trusted."
He nodded, feeling a knot in his chest loosen. "Yeah, I get that. It's just weird, you know? I feel like... like I'm not really part of this, even though we're—well, we're in this together." He rubbed the back of his neck, unsure how to put his feelings into words.
Artemis's eyes softened, and she stepped closer, closing the space between them. "You are part of this, Percy. The Hunters aren't an army. We're a family. And no matter how strange it feels at first, you're as much a part of it as any of us." She reached out, taking his hand in hers, her fingers warm against his.
Percy smiled, grateful for her calm assurance. "I guess I've just got to get used to things. Especially this whole 'being with you' thing. I don't think anyone else really understands."
"They don't have to," Artemis replied, her voice soft but firm. "What matters is that we understand."
She leaned in slightly, her gaze flicking to his lips for just a moment before she closed the distance between them. The kiss was slow, measured—a quiet, intimate moment beneath the canopy of trees. Percy's heart raced in his chest, and he could feel the weight of the world fall away for a brief moment, leaving only the two of them in this space, in this time.
When they pulled apart, Artemis's eyes glimmered, but there was something more in her expression now—something that lingered in the silence between them.
"I'm glad you're here," she said softly, her voice almost a whisper.
Percy grinned. "Me too."
She raised an eyebrow. "You're not just saying that because I kissed you, are you?"
"Maybe," Percy said with a playful wink, "but it certainly didn't hurt."
Artemis's smile was small, but it held a warmth that Percy had come to cherish. "Well, in that case, I suppose I'll have to keep kissing you then."
Percy laughed, a genuine, relieved sound that echoed through the quiet camp. "I think I can handle that."
As they turned to walk back toward the others, side by side, Artemis squeezed his hand, her fingers gentle against his. There was a quiet understanding between them, a shared history that no one else could fully comprehend. They didn't need to explain themselves to the world—they didn't even need the world to understand. They only needed to be there for each other.
When they arrived at the center of the camp, the Hunters glanced up at them but didn't say anything. No judgment, no questions—just the quiet acceptance that came with time and the bonds forged through battle and shared purpose.
Percy sat down by the fire with Artemis close beside him, the familiar sound of the crackling flames comforting him. He felt the weight of the world—of prophecies, gods, and monsters—on his shoulders, but in that moment, with Artemis there by his side, he knew he wasn't alone. They were in this together, no matter what.
And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.
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