[3] 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐁𝐎𝐘𝐒 ― p.jackson, l.valdez

006.

「006. the vampire diaries ? question mark ?」

ROMANCE IS sorta difficult when you're in hell. you can't really give a cute little kiss on the cheek to the person you're dating, you can't exactly shower them in compliments when you're in hell. what compliments would you even fucking say? oh babe, the red light makes you look really nice. really? oh my love- the way you drank the fire spicy water was so graceful- have i told you how much i love you? it didn't seem correct, and personally barbie didn't like how messed up the situation was. she could rant and rant- she really could. but there wasn't much going for that bar her airing out her emotions. sure, that was a good thing- and yes, she loved her boyfriend. but seriously, no really- seriously, they sort of had more important things to be focussing on right now.

such as trying to follow the vampire girls.

personally, the walk they were on wasn't romantic. at all. and it shouldn't have been, but after weeks of being touch-starved and not getting a solid hug from her boyfriend or even a peck on the cheek, she pathetically wished it was a romantic walk. but tartarus wasn't really the right kind of mood for that.

and she knows this because her and percy have had romantic walks before. the beach at camp is very scenic, and they'd always start there. sometimes, it would be early morning- and the two of them would be far too tired; but they'd promised the other the night before that they'd go. they'd sluggishly hand each other a cup of coffee (somehow, they'd remember to get one for the other and never themselves. so... coffee swapsies?) and walk along the beach, sipping their respective drinks as they tried to wake themselves up. there wasn't much talking then, not until the end- but that never lasted quite as long as somebody would always call them back for activities to start.

then there were times where it was in the evening. and they'd always screw that up. they'd start just walking- but that would last barely a minute before percy would cheekily splash water on her face. and then she'd get mad- and she'd throw water at his face, which he would deflect back to her. but on the off chance she was quicker than him, it would hit him directly in the face- and then seconds later they'd be wrestling in the sea, giggling and laughing. after a few moments (a few kisses splattered in there too) they'd finally get up, and they'd walk around again- both cold from the water. it was technically a miracle they didn't get colds after they did evening walks- and it never failed to amaze and annoy will solace.

those were walks she liked. the ones that were so romantic yet so them. they were barbie and percy walks. tartarus walks did not fit that category. like... at all.

in fact- the complete opposite.

they were following the river phlegethon, stumbling over the glassy balck terrain, jumping crevices and hiding behind rocks whenever the vampire girls slowed down in front of them. it was tricky- see as damn near impossible to stay far enough back to avoid getting spotted but close enough to keep kellie and her comrades in view through the dark hazy air.

the heat from the river baked barbie's skin- and she already knew she had sunburn. somehow, her attire kept the same though. the same pretty pink dress with little bow straps. the only presentable thing about her bar her bracelet. and that was probably to stay the same for a while. and if they were ever thirsty, they'd play a good game of russian roulette with the river of fire.

at least, if everything else was shit, annabeth's ankle seemed to have healed- and percy was holding her hand tightly, rubbing small little circles into it.