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Percy woke early. Soon, a few days even, the new year would come, but that wasn't half as important as his self-given mission. Today was the first that he'd spend with Zoe in its entirety now that her health was good enough to leave Olympus. Artemis' offer, one that was heavily influenced by Aphrodite, still hung over his head as much as it had when first he'd heard it.
Gods, he still remembered the conversation he'd had with Zoe the evening prior. It'd been one of the most awkward moments of his life when he looked at her and she looked at him, each doing so in silence after the words she'd regurgitated from Artemis. What had really done him in was how uncomfortable or uncertain she looked; he'd never seen Zoe look so out of her element until that moment in time.
He shook his head, ridding himself of the memory. Zoe would be up soon if she wasn't already, and he wanted to show her around today. He could take her to the Mess Hall first, where she'd probably make an offering to Artemis of some kind, and from there, he could show her around wherever she'd like to go. If she preferred nature as he suspected, the North Woods or Strawberry Fields would probably be of interest to her, and if she'd prefer something more up to speed… no, he'd rather stay away from anything strenuous the more he thought about it.
The North Woods so long as they didn't go too deep should be without incident, but the volleyball court would be something he'd steer clear of for a week or two. You know, just to make sure she was healed completely. He supposed he could take her out on the water if she'd like to, or the Amphitheater in the evening.
There was so much he could show her or take her to. How did a dude decide?
Percy was left contemplating that question as he made his way to the showers and all the while he washed and dressed himself. If he were told to tell the truth, even by the time he met her near the Mess Hall, his mind still hadn't been entirely made up.
So he did what he usually did, and something that'd helped him when he didn't have Wise Girl or Zoe with him — he winged it.
"Percy," Zoe greeted, that awkward energy still running amuck as she greeted him with hair that partially obscured her vision. Her posture, meanwhile, was still tall and confident as ever it'd been. "I hope the morning's found you well thus far."
He smiled at her as he'd done many a time before. "Good morning!" he returned… maybe with a bit too much enthusiasm. He could tone it down a little bit. "Breakfast? It'll be nice not to rush this time."
"Thou speaketh the sooth," Zoe responded as she joined him, the two walking together for the remaining distance to the Mess Hall. "What dids— did you plan to do after we break our fast?"
I think she's nervous, Percy thought then, and only after she corrected herself. He'd thought she'd been doing it on purpose until that point; it wasn't like he minded either, that old, arcan— archaic, English sounded cooler. Thanks, Annabeth. Archaic, not arcane.
"I was thinking we'd do what we felt like doing," Percy answered honestly, and with a shrug as he glanced over at Zoe. "If you wanted to go and visit the woods, the strawberry fields, the beach — we could go everywhere, uh, if you want."
He was fumbling this pretty badly, he could tell.
Zoe nodded once, and when she replied, she spoke slower than she'd previously done. It was almost like speaking sans the archaic words at this point was taking concentration; he didn't know why that'd be when it hadn't been something he'd noticed before. "I would not mind a tour throughout the entirety of the camp."
I guess we weren't really focused on details like that during the quest, Percy thought, not putting any further thought to the topic as he made to speak. "I could do that," he agreed readily as they made to sit down at a table whereat Grover and Annabeth already were.
Percy smiled as he took a seat with Zoe sliding in beside him. Strange as it felt to have her here, and stranger still as the happenings had been that led to her presence, Percy felt truly happy. This could be his new normal so long as he wasn't an idiot, and looking around at the three friendly faces, he figured it'd be an amazing new normal.
He was still a bit sad regarding Thalia and her decision to join Artemis' hunt, but he was happy she had someplace she felt she'd belong. Maybe… maybe the thought of her being Zoe's replacement made him think a bit positively about her doing so too. It meant a greater chance for her to stay.
Needless to say, Percy made an offering to three deities before he began to eat; he spied Zoe paying tribute to two.
When the two were sufficiently fed, content expressions on their face and all, Percy turned to Zoe.
"Ready?" he asked, his explanation nought but a nod of his head in the vague direction of the cabins they'd come from earlier that day; he figured he'd start with the Big House and Arts and Crafts since those were so close, maybe the lake afterwards too. There was something so peaceful about walking around the lake a few times after eating a meal.
Zoe nodded to him, her eyes catching those of his, but quickly glancing away shortly thereafter. "I am," she said as she made to stand, an action that was as graceful as ever despite the strangeness about her. "Might I ask you to escort me in the olden fashion?"
Percy had to blink at that question. Olden fashion; what was that?
Annabeth. He looked at Annabeth, and when she saw him, she rolled her eyes and looked pointedly at his arm, then Zoe's, and from there she mouthed one single word.
'Loop'
Percy wasn't initially sure just what she meant by saying the word loop, but when she incessantly looked at his arm and Zoe's, he figured it out eventually. Thus, Percy nodded at Zoe and spoke. "I can do that," he said as his arm did as she'd asked.
Upon doing so… it was weird. Percy and Zoe had rarely come into direct contact, it'd felt taboo and she'd been wholely against it, but now, she'd been the one to ask for him to do just that. There was still a lingering bit of unease on her face, she looked like she'd bit into a lemon.
Gods, he hoped he didn't stink. He shouldn't, he'd showered and all, but there was still that worry about being close as he was to her. Speaking of that, her arm was soft, and he didn't think he'd ever seen her blush as she currently was.
He shook his head to clear his thoughts and smiled wide as ever at Zoe. "How's the lake sound for a starting spot?"
"Pleasant," Zoe responded.
And so they went.
When Percy and Zoe began the walk to the lake, close as it was to them, they did so at a quicker pace than was typical. Percy wanted to get them away from the prying eyes of the rest of Camp Half-Blood, especially those from Aphrodite's cabin. They were infamous when it came to spreading rumours, and that was the last thing he wanted to happen.
"Percy?"
He looked at Zoe, her beauty as astounding as it'd always been — he'd been a fool to think otherwise initially, or rather, stupid not to recognise it earlier. Then again, she'd been really intimidating. So it wasn't his fault.
"What is it?" he asked after a second or so had passed, blinking at the girl.
"I heard tell of Pegasus stables here," Zoe started, the two continuing their journey to Canoe Lake, arm in arm. "Might we go to view it after our walk around the lake? "
Percy nodded after a shrug. "We cou—"
He grunted as something all but tackled him and Zoe at once, the pair immediately reaching for the weapons that were never too far from their persons… until they took note of who'd gone and joined them. That clarity reached them right about the time the person that'd run into them, began to speak; it was rapid too.
"Percy! Zoe!" Bianca exclaimed, her eyes alight with mirth as she looked betwixt the two teenage-looking people. "It's great to see you!"
I wonder what she's still doing here, Percy thought initially, and upon seeing the girl that'd run into them. I guess it makes sense though. She probably wanted to see Zoe off before she left, and she probably wouldn't complain about the bit of extra time with Nico.
Zoe's answer came with a fond look as she separated from Percy, her face aflush before she reached out to rest a hand on the younger girl's shoulder. "It does me well to see that you're unharmed. You and the satyr each," she looked the other girl up and down then, her eyes raising when they lingered on a piece of adornment Bianca was hearing on her new, typical, clothing. "Our Lady gave you a symbol of recognition. You must be thrilled to have earned it so quickly."
At her parting remark, Zoe stepped back, each of her two hands settling on the younger girl's shoulders as she admired the praise her Lady Artemis had given her. It truly was an honour to have received it, Percy would guess.
"I was! I am!" Bianca answered giddily, but she didn't seem to want any of the attention as she moved in to hug Zoe, brushing off the older girl's arms so as to achieve her goals. "Look at you," Bianca said as she gestured up and down Zoe, "You're here and you look great and healthy. I'm so happy, thank the Gods — I'd heard you were here and awake!"
Percy couldn't help himself as he smiled at Bianca's happy rambling. It was very sweet, just like her. There were few kinder people, in truth.
Zoe returned the hug, albeit after a second or so of shock at the sudden embrace, and after a few seconds of said embrace, she spoke whilst one hand began to rub Bianca's back. It was done in a manner that, to Percy, looked a bit strange or what have you; strange in a way that said Zoe was used to doing as much all that often.
She'd missed her sisters quite a bit, he thought, thinking back to when she'd greeted them. Maybe she missed more than her sisters, maybe she missed having somebody to be close to…
Nah. That couldn't be right. Percy figured it was her sisters, there wasn't any point in getting that deep in thought about it. He smiled at Zoe in much the same way he always had when he noticed her looking at him over the embrace of the smaller girl.
Eventually — nearly thirty seconds if anybody were to be counting — Bianca broke apart from Zoe, and looked between the two of them again. The gaze was decidedly more scrutinizing for a few scant seconds, but then, Bianca looked as happy as ever.
"Would you be fine with it if Nico and I joined you for dinner tonight? I leave soon, so I really wanna see you again before I do," Bianca's pleading look as she looked from Zoe to Percy was adorable, and if only for that reason, he found himself nodding along.
"It will be strange to be without your constant companionship," Zoe said, a wistful look on her face as she smiled, genuinely, at Bianca. "Since first you left us to escort that creature to safety, I had thought it strange — lacking your company and that of the sa— Grover. Thus, naturally, I would be very pleased to have you join us. Percy Jackson?"
He blinked when his name flowed free of her lips. Then he blinked some more. "I don't mind," he eventually said, and when both girls were looking at him.
"Great!" Bianca exclaimed with a clap of her hands. "I'll see you both at dinner then. I've got to go and find Nico, he was taking a shower when I went for a quick walk. Bye!"
"Farewell."
"See you soon, Bianca."
As before, Percy was alone with Zoe, and this time, their arms were no longer looped as they'd previously been. When she returned close to his side — a foot's distance between them — he didn't make to do as he had before. Zoe's flash was as red as ever he'd seen it, and so he figured he'd wait for her to do the loop this time around.
The two continued their journey around the lake without their arms looping through one another's again, and then they did much the same at the Pegasus Stable; therein, Zoe was content to groom the animals in silence. He'd not miss the occasional look she'd shoot his way, but he stayed silent save for a scant few remarks.
She looked like she was thinking a lot, and the Gods knew he didn't like thinking while trying to hold a conversation with somebody.
And so the silence went on, until, eventually, it was broken.
"How beautiful a sight it makes," Zoe said quietly, her eyes observing the vastness that was the strawberry fields. "Were it a place naturally occurring and in the wild, it would have made for an excellent camp. With ease, I could picture the happiness of my sisters in such a scenario."
"Invite them," Percy said. "If Bianca's still here, you could get them out of the woods and over to here before they leave for good."
Zoe turned to regard him, a brow raised. "You speak true, but life is not oft so easy," she gestured to herself, to where her wound had been, and finally, to Percy's own person. "When last they saw me, I was their Lieutenant — when next I see them, I shan't be even a member of the Hunt."
There seemed to be something else that Zoe had wanted to say, but for one reason or another, she closed her mouth and whatever those words had been, were lost. Maybe she'd worried that her sisters in the Hunt would be mad at her or treat her like her true sisters had.
Percy felt a tinge of sadness for her if that were the case, even if it wasn't. Zoe's lived a hard life, he knew as much, but she seemed… what was the phrase one of the Aphrodite campers had used… Gods it was annoying not remembering it… there; touch-starved. Yeah, he remembered a few of them talking about that, and it seemed to fit the case with Zoe.
"There's no harm in trying. Artemis herself released you, and she said it was only temporary too. At least, that's if you wanted it to be," Percy said, reminding Zoe of Artemis' words even if that was an end he didn't want to have; Zoe deserved happiness. If that happiness meant returning to the Hunt, to Artemis, to girls she considers sisters… who was he to impede her in doing so?
"You're confusing, Percy Jackson."
He looked at her following those words. For one of the first times, he thought he'd made pretty good sense when speaking. Maybe he'd have to go and bug Annabeth some more. He was certain he could ring out some of her wisdom, even a few drops would do.
"I'm confusing?"
Zoe nodded. "T— You most certainly are," she said, a correction prevalent in her sentence. "Outright, I have not said it, but past words have eluded to the reasoning of my presence, have they not? Artemis wishes to reward me, for she was advised that my heart may not be as cold as once it was — it is strange, then, for you to suggest as you have. Is it not?"
Percy did as he'd done earlier after Zoe had spoken. He looked at her and blinked. She wasn't exactly wrong, but he thought he'd be helping to set her mind to ease, not contributing to the problem that seemed to be bugging her.
I knew I was bad at the whole consolation thing, he chided internally. "I wanted you to be happy?" that sounded like a question, seaweed brain. "I mean, so… Artemis went into detail?"
"She and another spoke with me when I rose. Speaketh the terms we reached in detail, I cannot. It might suffice to say this chance was not one in which I wasn't consulted on, nor allowed input regarding," Zoe's gaze was searching, intense, and as had been the case since she'd risen, given all the while her cheeks were ablaze. "As I had complimented near the end of our journey, you, Percy Jackson, are a man of true company. My Lady Artemis herself speaks your praise, for never have I heard her come to the defence of a man."
Percy found his voice again, finally. "Annabeth told me how extraordinary that happening was. I've given thanks to Artemis as much as I can, whenever I can," he'd even done so during his earlier meal; he hoped his father wasn't jealous. "Would you… would you want to have a picnic? Just us and in the fields here? We could have as many as you'd like, and if you want more I co—"
Zoe raised a hand. "You needn't speak with such a hasty quality. My complete recovery will take a moon, so I'm told," she looked away from him and at the fields then, her eyes mirthful and more peaceful than they'd recently been. "Well?" she asked after some few seconds had passed in silence.
He wasn't sure what that meant. Not until she made it abundantly clear to him with one, decisive action.
She looped her arm through his.
Night had finally fallen over Camp Half-Blood, the sky dimming, the sun setting and the sound of nightly activities sounding off. Some of Percy's fellow campers had already gone off to the Amphitheater, others had gone off to Canoe Lake — generally led by a group of Aphrodite's cabin. Percy and just about everybody else knew what those couples got up to. Still, there were others who sought out the arena, their cabins, the volleyball court, or even the arts and crafts section.
In general, the camp was abuzz with activity. As for Percy and Zoe, post their trip to the stables wherein Zoe saw the Pegasus' as she'd wanted, they'd stayed in those strawberry fields. He'd be the first to admit that it was awkward, at least a bit at times; now that they were alone with no quest or drive, it was really just… them.
What did he say? What topics should he bring up? Was she really fine with just sitting in the fields of fruit?
Thankfully, the time began to pass with the two allowing it to sans thought. It had been hours in the field, and yet, to them, it could have been thirty minutes at the most as they spoke of their quest, the topic coming naturally as they thought fondly of it. Percy had seldom seen her so animated, but as he recalled, she had been stressed, worried; Artemis had been taken and at the end of the quest, the whole while, lay her father.
She'd been killed by him, at least momentarily.
Percy pushed that away instantly. He didn't want to think of that moment again having witnessed it already.
"You seem to have gone adrift in the midst of our conversation," Zoe's voice called, pulling him from his thoughts, the calmness overwhelmingly present where once had been trepidation and nervousness; tension too. "What thoughts captivated you so?"
"I was just thinking about the quest," he answered. Percy didn't want to seem weird by comparing how she'd been then to how she was acting now.
"Fond memories oft make habits of remaining at the forefront of our minds for quite some time, I've found," Zoe's eyes found Harry's, as finally, she made to stand. From her position above him, she made for a captivating sight as the last lingering beams of sunlight mixed with the emerging light of the moon, illuminating her in tandem. When her words came shortly after that, softly spoken and with that earlier blush threatening a return, he nearly lost himself. "Until new memories come forth to replace them."
Percy stood up. He looked at Zoe, and this time as he moved to her side, he simply slid his arm through hers. It wasn't kissing as other couples might, it wasn't even an embrace, but for him, its meaning was far deeper.
"After you," Percy said as he stepped aside and motioned for Zoe to enter before him. Bianca and Nico were seated already, Annabeth had come a short bit ahead of them as well, but Grover was absent. As Percy recalled, his friend had mentioned a girl passingly.
"My thanks," Zoe said with a dip of her head before she made to pass him, sliding into the seat opposite of the two siblings with all the grace he'd come to expect from her by this point. "Good evening, Bianca… and Nico, I believe it was. I hope the evening has found you well."
Bianca, ever the kind girl with the beaming smile that she was, greeted Zoe warmly. "It's been amazing. I'm glad I got to spend it with family. What about you and Percy? I haven't you two around all day."
"We'd gone to the Strawberry Fields when we'd finished our visit to the Pegasus Stables. Much of the Camp is too populated, typically, for my liking, but the fields and nature are all too oft without companions of their own," Zoe looked off in the direction of the woods wherein many of Artemis' Hunters would oft visit. "I believe when darkness falls overwhelmingly, I'll go and seek out the moonlight that breaches the canopies above; might you join me?"
Percy looked down as he raised a glass to his face. He wanted to contain the smile he was fighting upon hearing those words. Hearing Zoe offer to take Bianca into the woods just for the sake of looking at the moonlight and forest was sweet.
"I'd love to," Bianca responded in an instant, seizing the time she was given. Blind as Percy typically was, even he could see that the younger girl held Zoe in high regard; she might even be the person she looked up to most. Like he'd done with Luke.
He frowned. That'd bugged Percy since the truth of the matter had arisen. Luke had been such a kind person and one that'd been so friendly and helpful. Percy would never understand how people could turn on each other like he'd done. It wasn't in his nature, simple as that.
"Percy?"
At the mention of his name, he turned to regard the person that'd spoken to him. It was Zoe, and her gaze sought out his own, and upon achieving her goal, she spoke again. "I seek your company as well, and that of Grover the Satyr."
He shrugged. "Sure," he said. "I'll do it — I'll get Grover too. I'm sure he'd be fine with it."
I'm sure he'll be returning soon too, from wherever it is that he's gone off to, Percy added internally. Grover wasn't one to miss a meal. He loved talking just as much as he loved eating, but then again, an argument could be made that there was little Grover hated. His friend was one of the purest souls.
"It will be good to spend time with those of the quest in the forest as we'd done," Zoe said aloud, a wistful quality to her voice. "Annabeth Chase. Your company would be welcome as well if you mindeth not the woods."
Annabeth shook her head. "I don't mind the woods," she said before she smiled at Zoe in a rare show of kinship. "Thanks for the invitation. I've heard so much about you from Grover and Percy, it'll be nice to get to know the person behind the tales."
Zoe raised a brow and cast a glance at Percy, albeit one that was as fleeting as a gust of wind. "I had not thought I'd earned such renown betwixt the two. Pray tell, what might the pair have said, Annabeth Chase?"
"Nothing bad," Annabeth said with a snort as she looked over at Percy, her eyes returning to Zoe a few seconds later. "Neither seemed to have so much as one poor word to say about you. Instead, I'd heard of how wonderful a shot you are with a bow and arrow, how able you are in the wilderness — which wasn't surprising might I add — and finally, how you'd kept Percy together. I'm glad to finally have somebody to share that task with, and the stress thereof."
"Percy has long since enjoyed tormenting his companions with the eventuality of something horrible being inflicted upon him, I take it?"
I didn't think I was that bad, he pouted internally. I'm not even that reckless. There's plenty of people worse than me.
Annabeth nodded vehemently, enough so that her hair whipped about in its ponytail. "I'd say you've got no idea, but from what I've heard about the quest, you've got plenty of experience that'd claim otherwise. I'd like to ask you about that later too, if you don't mind. Grover said you worked plants in ways that were foreign even to him."
"Nature is my domain," Zoe said simply, the statement sounding much the same as if a person claimed the sun was orange or the water was blue. "And even I know little of it. My Lady Artemis knows all. Would that I could walk the world for all eternity if it meant unlocking the secrets thereof."
If anything, after that answer from Zoe, Annabeth seemed all the more interested in speaking with her. Together, Percy could only imagine the brilliance the two girls would be capable of… he might also have to make sure he doesn't do anything too stupid too. With Annabeth and Zoe together, he doubted he'd ever hear the end of it.
Percy, like the rest of the table, was then distracted when a person all but fell into position beside him on the bench. In an instant, Percy knew who it was — that being Grover — but that didn't help to unstartle him. Gods, he wasn't even sure if that was a word, but if it wasn't, he'd be adding it to the dictionary sometime soon.
You're welcome, Athena, he grinned internally. How's that for some wisdom?
Whilst Percy had complimented himself internally, the others had greeted Grover, and after doing so, one person, in particular, sent him a look. Right. He'd promised to invite Grover to the woods, or rather, he promised he'd get Grover to accompany them for some little outing. One that would surely be pretty reminiscent of when they'd been on the quest; that was probably what Zoe wanted in the first place.
"Grover?"
"What's up, Percy?"
Percy gestured to the others and himself. "We're gonna go to the Woods later, have a bit of time together like we're on the quest again. Wanna come?"
"Definitely!" Grover said as he grinned and looked around the table. "It'll be fun — too bad Thalia can't make it."
That was true. Thalia was so busy now, Artemis kept her as such. Zoe's job needed to be done, after all.
"Let's just hope we'll not be needed for another real quest anytime soon," Annabeth said when the silence had begun to stretch on. "I, for one, would like to rest for a few months sans the presence of monsters."
Bianca, Nico, and Grover, all of them seemed to agree with Annabeth. Percy didn't. He wouldn't say that he loved fighting or the risks that came with doing so, but doing good that need doing was rewarding. Every quest he'd gone on so far had accomplished something. If that would continue to be true, he'd gladly go on quest after quest for all eternity.
He felt a tap on his hand where it lay resting on the bench beside him. When he looked over to make sure it belonged to Zoe, which it did, he traced his eyes up her arm until he made contact with her eyes. In that one shared look the two had, it was made very clear that she seemed to think much like he had; her lips were upturned, the faintest of smiles in-place, and her eyes contained amusement.
He was glad he wasn't the only one that felt that way.