The Legend of Percy: Book 2 - Through Grief

18. The Turtle Ducks (I Don't Get It)

Percy was standing there, watching the princess go, when he felt himself get tugged forward.

He wasn't completely paying attention before that. If he was completely honest, he'd thought she would just leave. Not that he wanted her to, but just because of how they'd ended their conversation. It'd been uncomfortable and awkward.

And yet he was pulled forward, his lips connected with hers. Immediately, it felt different. Not terrible, just... difficult to describe. It was cold, but not dispassionate. He kissed back, equally. The demigod wanted to do it more, until his brain began working again and he realised what he was doing.

Just when Azula pulled away, a sickening feeling fell into his stomach. The feeling of betraying who he was, who he loved, turned him inside out. He was almost too shocked to realise the princess blushing and jumping on her animal.

With the sounds of the mongoose lizard echoing around the trees and the disappearing figure of a girl laying on the back of a pelt into the darkness, Percy stood frozen. She could've said something to him before leaving, she probably had, but he wouldn't have heard it. Blonde hair and grey eyes just kept haunting his vision. The stars, usually soft in the night sky, seemed to glare down on him.

He knew, somewhere deep down, that none of that was happening, but it seemed so very real to him. The guilt ate away at the demigod, until finally a nudge and shouting from Siosi broke him out of his paralysis.

'Dumbass!'

He stumbled to the side as she hip-checked him. He often forgot that she weighed many times more than what he did.

"What?" He said, dazed.

'I asked if you were alright and why she called you that? About ten times I asked you.'

"I am. Thanks."

Percy tried to shake himself off, until he realised what she'd asked.

"Wait, called me what?"

'Oh, before she left, she called you a "stupid turtle duck". Any idea what that means? Because if I can add it to the insulting nicknames to call you, I want to know.'

"No. No idea." He replied, off-kilter.

'Alright, weirdos.' She ruffled her feathers, clearly sensing that he wasn't in a good headspace. 'I'm off to sleep. Don't do anything else stupid tonight without me there to... make fun of you.'

Siosi had paused and Percy knew she was going to say something else, which he appreciated even just that thought. The ostrich horse turned around and trotted back to the cabin. She left a confused son of Poseidon standing in the dark night, looked upon by the stars questioningly and endearingly.

~~~~~

Azula didn't quite know what had come over her. She'd never done anything like that, save for Ember Island.

And even then, it'd never felt like that.

Both her embarrassment and awkwardness at having him be pretty much statuesque after kissing him had overwhelmed the princess. She'd leapt almost immediately onto her animal and ran off into the night.

She spent her ride back to the Fire Nation ship replaying the kiss, over and over. Her face flushed at each memory of it. It'd felt simultaneously like an explosion and simply just melting away. She knew why Percy's eyes looked at her from the ocean when she'd been kissed before at the party. Even for the short period of time with his lips on hers, she felt she could just stay in that moment for as long as she wanted, without a care.

The only thing the princess was confused about, was why her mind had decided to blurt out 'stupid turtle duck'. It was the only thing bothering her, until about the tenth replay of the kiss pushed her into a deep sleep atop his fur blanket.