Welcome back as promised here is the second chapter for today,

AS ALWAYS I DO NOT OWN PJO OR HoO

Chapter 30: The Edge of the Storm

The air on Olympus was thick with the remnants of Zeus's anger. Even now, as Percy and Artemis stood side by side in the aftermath of the argument, a lingering tension clung to the marble halls like a storm waiting to break.

The gods had dispersed, their voices fading into the distance, leaving a tense silence behind. Poseidon had returned to the ocean, leaving a somber quiet in his wake. Zeus's fury had made the entire place feel like it was on the edge of collapse, and despite the promise of safety—for now—Percy could still feel the weight of the Olympian throne room bearing down on him.

"I don't know how long we can keep doing this," Percy muttered, breaking the silence.

Artemis stood beside him, her silver cloak fluttering slightly in the ethereal breeze that seemed to forever circle Olympus. Her expression was thoughtful, her eyes distant. She'd said little since Zeus's final words, and Percy couldn't help but wonder if she was wrestling with the same doubts he was.

"We can keep going as long as we have to," she replied quietly. "We knew it wasn't going to be easy."

Percy turned to her, studying her face. There was a quiet resolve there, but also something more—something deeper. He could see the weariness in her eyes, the way she seemed to carry the weight of not just her responsibilities as a goddess, but now the burden of their relationship. Their love.

"I just—I can't stand the thought of you being hurt because of me," he admitted, his voice tight. The thought of Artemis suffering, of anything happening to her because of his presence, made his stomach churn.

Her gaze softened, and she reached out to touch his arm gently. "I've chosen this. I've chosen you, Percy."

The words hit him like a wave, but instead of knocking him down, they steadied him. He took a deep breath, letting her words anchor him, grounding him in the storm of emotions swirling around him.

"You're not a choice I regret," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I just… I never thought it would lead to this. I never thought Zeus would—"

"Zeus will never understand," Artemis interrupted, her tone steady, though there was a flicker of something in her eyes. A fire. "And you can't let him decide who you are. Who we are."

Percy nodded, swallowing the lump that had formed in his throat. He'd known Artemis for a long time, but there was something about the way she spoke now, the quiet strength in her words, that made him feel like he wasn't fighting this battle alone.

Still, he couldn't shake the feeling that this wasn't over. Not by a long shot.

"Do you think this will ever get better?" he asked, his voice a little shaky despite his efforts to sound calm. "I mean… this—us—being together? Do you think the gods will ever accept it?"

Artemis let out a quiet sigh, her gaze shifting to the sky, where the stars twinkled above like distant watchers, unaffected by the drama of Olympus. "The gods aren't always merciful, Percy. You've seen that." She looked back at him, her eyes serious. "But we don't need their approval. We've already forged something real, something worth protecting."

The conviction in her voice made Percy's heart swell, and for the first time in a while, he felt the fear that had been gnawing at him recede, just slightly. He wasn't sure what would happen next, but he was sure of one thing: he would stand by Artemis, no matter what came.

"I'm not going anywhere," he said, his voice steady. "Not while you're here."

A soft, almost imperceptible smile flickered on Artemis's lips. It was brief, but it made Percy's heart flutter. There was a depth to her that few could ever truly understand, and in this moment, she let him in.

"Then let's make sure we don't let them tear us apart," she said. Her voice, though calm, held a steel edge that made it clear she wasn't backing down.

Before Percy could respond, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway behind them. They both turned to see Thalia, her arms crossed over her chest as she walked toward them with an amused look on her face.

"Well," Thalia said, glancing between the two of them, "I take it the argument with Zeus didn't go as planned?"

Percy gave her a wry grin. "Yeah, I'm not exactly on Zeus's Christmas card list right now."

Thalia chuckled. "He's a bit touchy about you and Artemis, huh?"

Artemis remained silent for a moment, her gaze flicking to Thalia before returning to Percy. "Zeus doesn't like things he can't control. And he doesn't like people challenging him."

Thalia nodded, her eyes flickering with a knowing look. "I don't know if I'd call it challenging Zeus… but you're definitely making him rethink things." She raised an eyebrow. "But I guess you two already know that."

Percy smiled faintly. "Yeah, I think we've figured that out."

Thalia gave them both a smirk before turning her gaze back to the hallway. "Well, whatever happens, just know that you're not alone. If you're going to keep pushing back against Olympus, you've got at least one ally." She glanced at Artemis, who nodded in return.

"I'll take all the allies I can get," Percy said, feeling the tension in his chest ease, if only slightly.

"Good," Thalia said, her tone light but with a hint of seriousness beneath it. "Because you're going to need them."

For a moment, the three of them stood together in the hallway, an unspoken understanding between them. Despite the dangers, despite the weight of the gods' judgments, Percy realized that maybe—just maybe—they had a chance. They weren't facing Olympus alone anymore.

As the night stretched on, Percy and Artemis walked side by side, each step carrying them deeper into the uncertainty of the future. But with Artemis's hand in his, and the unspoken support of the Hunters, Percy knew one thing for certain: this fight wasn't over. And they were going to win it. Together.

Thank you for reading

AS ALWAYS PLEASE REVIEW FIRST PERSON TO REVIEW GETS AN INSIDE PEEK AT CHAPTER 31 AND MAYBE 32