Lieutenant

Chapter 32

Artemis wasn't entirely surprised when it happened. It had been noticeable, building slowly through months of interaction. It had been a tense sort of thing at the start, but it softened and shifted.

The goddess found it amusing watching her little sister fall head over heels for someone. She had always been so collected and poised that her hesitation and lack of sureness was funny. Then again, the girl Thalia had her sights on was not the type to be taken lightly, she was intimidating, scary at times, and very independent herself. Not to mention she was Roman... and the praetor.

"Don't you dare laugh! It's not funny!" Thalia glowered at the goddess who sat across from her. It was late and the two siblings were the only ones left awake in their cabin. Their time spent at camp was thankfully ending soon, only a week remained.

"But it is. Of all people, you select someone so polar opposite of yourself?" Thalia rolled her eyes at her sister's words.

"Have you seen Annabeth and Percy? Jason and Piper? They literally don't make sense but it works apparently." Artemis was forced to concede that point.

"What would you like me to do?" The goddess' question took Thalia by surprise.

"You're not mad?"

"Of course not. Would I be laughing if I was?" Artemis gave her sister a teasing smirk. Thalia smacked the goddess on the arm in contempt. It only made Artemis smile more.

"So what do I do?"

"Ask her out, to put it as you mortals do." Artemis pursed her lips, finding the mortal term for courting quite unflattering.

"She'll probably punch me." Thalia frowned.

"I was punched once by someone very similar to her. It wasn't as bad as you'd think." Artemis couldn't help but tease once again.

"Do not tell me about your kinks right now. That's between you and Zoë." Thalia made a gagging motion.

Artemis gave Thalia an utterly confused look, "My what? And it was only because I scared her. You have the weirdest terms."

"Never mind." Thalia was eager to change the subject. "At least tell me you picked up a romantic thing or two from Apollo."

Artemis had. And a plan was made that Artemis figured would work quite well.
———

The news wasn't much of a surprise and Thalia tackled her sister in a hug. The plan had been a success and Thalia was even more star-struck than she ever had been before, she was absolutely smitten.

Artemis did not realize it until it happened that she was happy for Thalia but with that happiness came a wave of renewed sadness. She plastered a smile on her face but later that night the thoughts began to creep in.

Thalia would inevitably leave. It was unavoidable. How could Artemis ask her sister to avoid happiness, deprive her of what Artemis had spent so long searching for as well? She had let lovers go in the past, relieved them of their oath, but this was different. Thalia was close to her in a way the others hadn't achieved.

She decided it would be best to bide her time and see how the cards would unfold. It was quite amusing to watch. Both girls were surprisingly hesitant in their advances on one another but Artemis understood why. Both had been hurt before, both had been treated as pawns in games they didn't know they were playing.

There was a guard in the relationship that would have to be brought down eventually, but for now, it was fine as it was.

After more time, things shifted again and Artemis found herself surprised that Thalia seemed so hesitant to invite the praetor on a trip with them.