Searching For Serenity

Chapter 15

Percy

"Wait!"
"Artemis," Leto said calmly.
Still she kept running, having ditched her bow, hunting knife in hand.
I pulled to the side of Leto so the inevitable tussle didn't involve a Titan.
Leto tried once again, "Stop. Artem-"
Too late, Artemis flicked her wrist mid sprint and a gold encrusted silver hilt slammed into the pressure point on my collarbone. I barely had time to register that my arm was completely numb before I had to roll to dodge an airborne goddess.
I rolled to a stop and stood up with my arm hanging limply to the side like a stroke victim, "Le-me-explai-"
We rolled on the rocks, and battled to get on top of one another. I had blood dripping down my face and Artemis had a slight cut on her chin, instead of crimson she bled the golden ichor of Gods.
My mom had taught me not to put my hands on a loved in anger, a sentiment Artemis did not seem to share. Once she had pinned me in full mount, I couldn't do anything except try to stop any incoming blows with my functional arm.
Artemis hesitated and I took a second to look around the hunters for potential hope, but was met with looks of confusion.
Artemis seemed squash her qualms, "You DIDN'T HAVE THE RIGHT!"
I tried to open my mouth to bide my time, but she pulled my arm down and used her other to show me how strong she could punch.
She didn't fail to deliver as I felt my nose crunch and my head bounce off the stones.
"Enough!" Was the last thing I heard as I felt my girlfriend get blown off my chest by the power of a Titan.

"No! Mom! Please don't!"
"Enough Artemis. You've done enough! I'm getting your brother here," I heard a soft sigh, "You'll be lucky if he doesn't leave, you need to go cool off."
"But-," her voice broke and I heard the sobs racking through her body.
I tried to open my eyes only to find they were swollen shut, enduring the pain I managed to crack one to see a fuzzy Thalia walking Artemis out of the thicket through a teary wall.
"Is he going to be alright?" A clearly upset birthday girl asked in tears.
Leto let out a soft laugh, "Yes my dear, I have a feeling your friend has been through much worse."
Izzy snorted her snotty nose and I can only assume wiped her tears.
"I'll be right back girls, I'm going to get my son to fix that nose of his," I heard Leto say as I drifted slowly back into unconsciousness.

"Just say nothing happened!" I heard Artemis whisper to me in a panic.
I heard a door swing open, "Out Artemis."
"No I'll stay right here and help you take care of him.
"You just beat him unconscious! Perseus is my patient and under the circumstances I'm assuming he doesn't want anymore of your help ," Apollo said in an out of character tone.
The crying started again and I started to question if goddesses could be on the rag. Not really wanting to know the answer I scrapped the thought and resided to waiting on Apollo to start poking and prodding.
"This is gonna hurt," I heard Apollo say sympathetically as he opened my swollen jaw and slipped in a broken piece of ambrosia.
After the initial pain the soothing effect of the ambrosia kicked in and I felt my eyes starting flutter.

Soon I was propped up in bed holding a glass of nectar.
"So do you wanna tell me what happened?"
I stared back at Apollo, "Nothing."
Apollo put his hands on his knees and pulled himself out of his chair, "Well normally Percy I'd believe you, but you don't get a broken nose, dislocated shoulder, fractured collar bone, a concussion, and that many lacerations from doing 'nothing.'
I shrugged my shoulders, not wanting another ass whoopin' from the loving goddess who probably had her ear to the door.
"Where are we," I questioned, trying to change the subject.
He looked up at me with his hands on his hips with a big smile, "Well they say this place is the birthplace of the greatest poet to ever exist, who is coincidentally also the coolest Sun God this century!"
"Oh wow" I said in a tired voice.
"Don't you wanna take a guess Cuz?"
I gave him my best 'I'm tired and we both know that I know you know exactly who you're talking about' look.
"Ah well, I guess we can talk more after your nose job," he said looking disheartened and pulling out a large syringe and flicking it, "Do you wanna go to sleep or you think you tough it out?"
I shook my head, not sure I liked any of my options, "Do you have some water?"
He raised an eyebrow and set down the syringe and turned towards a sink, "Did you know it's illegal to refuse somebody water in Arizona state? It's true!"
He handed me the small plastic cup and I took a sip before willing the rest to my hand which I smoothly rubbed on my nose and eyes.
"What are you...," he trailed off seeing my cuts close.
The process was painful, but was preferable to whatever Apollo had planned. I groaned with the slight cracks of my bones moving back into place and fusing together.
I was still sore, but I only had a couple bruises left on my lower body.
"How did you do that?! Your father can't do that!"
"Apollo it's a long story, I'll tell you sometime but now right now," I said fighting the urge to fall back asleep.
He nodded his head understanding, "Well I'll let ya get some rest, but don't think I'm gonna forget about this," he finished with a finger pointed in my direction as he opened the door to reveal Artemis.
Artemis went to step in but Apollo stepped in front of her, "Let her in," I said weakly.
Apollo turned towards me and gave me a look with a raised brow to which I nodded, reassuring him.
"Okay...," he said stepping out of the way of Artemis and out of the door and letting it swing closed.
Artemis locked the door before looking up and meeting my eyes, the trails of her tears evident, her hair a mess, and her waterlogged puppy eyes. She had cuts on her hands and arms and a small cut on her eye. She looked beautiful.
She sat in front of the door with her hands down in front of her and dropped her head which began to bounce along with her sobs.
I put out my arms and she did a small run of shame and relief.
She jumped onto me and straddled me before going into the fetal position with her arms on my chest, "I-I'm soo-oo s-sor-ry," she sobbed shaking the cot.
"It's okay..." I whispered to her as I ran my fingers through her russet hair. "Why didn't you let your brother look at your cuts," I asked feeling bad.
She ignored the question and slowly her sobs csme to a close and we sat like that until she slipped her arms under my back and pulling herself and giving me a deep kiss, leaving my face wet with tears, before nuzzling into my neck and rubbing my side until we both fell asleep wrapped around one another.