𝐖𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐂! percy jackson

xxxvii. Just A Girl, Just A Boy

━━ chapter thirty-seven
just a girl, just a boy

✿✼:*ﾟ:༅｡.｡༅:*･ﾟﾟ･⭑

    ━━After Coach Hedge's display the last time Fiona and Percy were caught together, it was a marvel they were allowed to do their chores with one another. Maybe Leo knew━she doubts he did, but she liked to think that maybe he did pay attention to things other than his machines━she wanted to talk to him. She wanted to have his arms wrap around her and to breathe in his salty scent that reminded her of the ocean and just forget the pain in her knee and Ethos's words.

    What if she'll never be able to run again? What then?

    This had to be some cruel joke by her grandmother: payback for all the mean things she's said to her. Fiona tried to push through it, doing her chores, but soon, it was too much to handle and she sat down on the edge of the infirmary's bed. She glared at the strap around her knee. Useless, she scolded it.

    Percy looked back from where he checked their stock of Ambrosia and Nectar with a frown. "Hey," he murmured, still rather tired. "You okay?"

     "No," she admitted. "Gods, no━I'm far from it ..."

    Fiona leaned forward and placed her head in her hands. Percy immediately left the cupboard and made his way over to her. She felt his lips press against her head and as he sat down, he gently pulled her up onto his lap, holding her close to his chest. Fiona let out a few tears, and she felt stupid to do so, but with the way Percy's fingers ran gently through her hair, tucking the stands behind her ears, it didn't feel so stupid anymore.

    Fiddling with the fabric of his orange shirt, she mumbled, "Do you think this is my grandmother's way of saying I'm a coward, again?"

     "This doesn't make you a coward," Percy told her strongly. "I'm telling you that now, okay? You're not a coward because you're injured."

     "Ethos said I can't fix this," Fiona said, clinging onto him tightly. "What if I can never run fast again? What if I can't fight well again? I━That's all I've worked for, Percy. I━what will that make me, then?"

     "It makes you Fiona Midgrass," said Percy, peppering a few kisses to her cheek. "The most badass, beautiful, and best girlfriend in the whole entire world. Who won't let this get her down. She will overcome it, and stand on top. Because that's what she does. She wins."

     Those words sent a spark in her stomach. She wins. Fiona looked up at Percy, her lips parted slightly. She wins ... 

     Fiona cupped his cheeks and brought him down for a strong kiss. Percy wrapped tight arms around her waist, catching her before she brought them to the floor. He was suprised by the ferocity of her actions, but it didn't take him long to reciprocate, slipping a hand up from her waist to her cheek and into her hair, gripping and tugging. Fiona made a noise she wasn't particuarly proud of against his lips. He took the chance to deepen the kiss, exploring her in ways she's never experienced before.

     "Oh, gross! This is why Coach Hedge said to keep you guys separate!"

     Percy pulled away, glaring at the boy in the doorway. "Sam!" he scolded. "Get out!"

     Fiona burst out into laughter, feeling much better. Even though she was blushing and most definitely embarassed, she let her head fall into Percy's shoulder and her own shook in her giggles.