Chapter II:

Yor couldn't believe Percy had said yes.

She hadn't meant for him to walk in on that scene. Honestly, she thought he'd scream or faint or turn her in. Instead, he'd calmly capped his pen-sword thing and agreed to be her date.

Was he brave or stupid? She hadn't decided yet.

"We're almost there," Yor said, glancing over her shoulder.

Percy was a step behind, hands in his jacket pockets. He was certainly nice to look at. With his rough blue jeans and button-up shirt that he managed to make look.. hot? For someone who'd just seen a murder. For someone walking alongside the killer.

Maybe he was dangerous too.

He had that scar above his eyebrow, the kind that looked like it had a story. His pearly green eyes kept flicking to every window, alley, and rooftop. Not normal civilian behavior.

Yor filed that away for later.

When they arrived at City Hall, Percy slowed on the steps, eyes drifting up the limestone columns.

"So like… what kind of party is this again?" he asked.

"My work party," Yor replied quickly.

Percy gave her a confused look. "What kind of work do you do?"

"We're civil servants."

"Right."

They didn't have time for questions. Yor knocked on the doors.

Inside, it was worse than she feared. Camilla. Millie. Sharon. And so many others, all standing around tables.

"Yor!" Camilla beamed. "You're so late—"

"This is Percy," Yor cut in quickly. "My date."

"Percy Jackson," he said.

Yor felt it. The exact moment her coworker's jaws clicked shut. Camilla raised an eyebrow. Sharon's wine glass wobbled in her hand.

"So…" Millie leaned in. "How did you two meet?"

"Oh, you know," Percy shrugged his shoulders. "We bumped into each other on the street a couple wreks ago."

He was a good liar, but everybody had a tell. He fiddled with something in his pocket. Yor was pretty sure it was that pen of his.

"Wow, Yor," Camilla said, side-eyeing her. "You never told us about him."

"Yeah, Yor," Sharon added. "We've asked so many times if you were seeing anyone."

"Must've slipped my mind." Yor tried her best for a normal smile.

Before they could pry further, someone clapped. "Alright, now that everybody's here, couples game time!"

"Couples game?" Percy turned to her.

Yor felt like running back through the door they came in.

The rules for the first game were simple: Each couple had to stand face-to-face and copy the other's movements exactly. A warm-up for 'connection,' they were told.

Yor stiffened as Percy studied her, his expression caught somewhere between amused and politely confused.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't expecting this," she muttered.

"I've done weirder," Percy whispered back.

From the corner of her eye, Yor could see Camilla watching them. Millie and Sharon weren't even being subtle about it—they were outright pointing.

"Alright!" Somebody else shouted out. "Start with simple gestures. Hands up, out, now copy!"

Yor raised her arms slowly. Percy followed.

"Try something more dynamic!" The person called out next. "Lean in, lean out, maybe do a little spin!"

Percy gave her a half-shrug. "You gonna spin?"

"Not in these heels," Yor answered.

"You two have such chemistry, Yor." Camilla noted loud enough for several others to hear. "You must know each other so well!"

Yor's hand twitched slightly.

"Now touch palms and hold. Match each other's breathing. Let your heartbeats sync."

Yor froze.

Across from her, Percy hesitated for only a beat before gently lifting his hands to meet hers.

Their palms touched.

Her breath caught entirely.

She had never held another man's hand like this. Not even in training. Not without gloves. Not without the intent to disarm or kill. Her fingers didn't know what to do. Her brain didn't either.

"Yor's face is red," Sharon whispered not so quietly.

"I didn't even know Yor could blush," Millie added.

"She looks like she's about to pass out," Camilla said, sounding entirely too entertained.

"Hey. You okay?" Percy was leaning in close.

Yor nodded. "Fine."

His grip softened. "Just let me lead."

She hated how that made her stomach flip.

But Percy was already moving, slowly drawing circles with their palms, exaggerating a calming breath for her to mirror. It should've been easy. Innocent. But her heart pounded so hard it felt like a betrayal.

This was unbearable.

She knocked over the next table.

A tall, decorative vase of fake flowers tipped like a felled tree. Water splashed across the floor. Several people gasped. One man jumped backward like he'd just seen a snake.

"Oh no!" Yor gasped, taking a very deliberate step away from the mess. "I—I'll go clean it up."

Camilla blinked. "You sure you're okay?"

"She's clearly just overwhelmed from all this attention," Millie said with a knowing smirk.

Sharon snorted. "Or maybe she's just not used to being in a couple."

Yor wanted to throw the vase at all of them.

Percy was already beside her, bending a little bit so that his eyes were lever with hers. "You good?"

"Can we leave?" Yor whispered.

He gave her the smallest nod. "Absolutely."

They slipped out fast, the sound of whispers trailing behind them like smoke.

Outside, Percy let out a low whistle. "Your coworkers are… something."

"That's one word for it." Yor tugged at her dress, shying her eyes away. "Thank you for coming… I'm sorry it was all such a mess."

"Not a problem at all!" Percy rubbed the back of his neck. "And thanks for the invite?"

Yor's stomach twisted again. She needed him to stick around. If only to keep her coworkers off her back. If only to look less like a weapon, and more like a person.

Safe. Domesticated. Unsuspecting.

A trained assassin wouldn't dare have a public relationship.

Percy shifted his feet. "That guy with the gun. You moved like… well, not somebody that works in an office."

"I was taught self-defense when I was young." Yor batted her eyes at him. "Dont worry, while we were walking I notified the police to pick up the body."

He didn't believe her. She could tell. His eyes flicked to her heels. Her hands. Her dress.

"Why were you carrying a sword?" She asked.

Percy looked surprised? "You saw that?"

"Was I not supposed to?" Yor frowned. Did he think she wouldn't notice the massive bronze sword?

He hesitated. "It's a gift."

It seemed they both had things they weren't saying.

"Okay, so this might be weird," Percy ran a hand through his hair. "But would you wanna go out again? Like, on a real date?"

Yor blinked.

Her heart didn't leap. It drop-kicked itself into orbit.

"I'd like that," she said.

Author's Note:

I was not aware of there being such an overlap between PJO and SxF fans! Glad you all enjoyed the first chapter :)