Percy Jackson, honored and betrayed savior of Olympus

Chapter 21, in retrospect...

Percy POV

I couldn't believe it! My life was full of countless betrayals, now, even my so called faithful lieutenant had betrayed me. Artemis walked over to comfort me. Honestly, i was surprised, she had never done anything affectionate since I came back, why would she start now? 

A giggling voice came talking in my head. "Maybe it's cause you love her and she loves you?"

I mentally sighed, "Get out of my head, Aphrodite, or Venus- gah! I don't know which! Just GET OUT OF MY HEAD!" After a while, the giggling disappeared and I finally had a moment of peace. As it turns out, Artemis was shaking me pretty hard.

"Hmm? Wait, what? Arty? Why are you shaking me?"

Artemis just shook her head. "Why were you zoned out?"

I laughed. "Ask your sister, Aphrodite. She was laughing pig for while in my head." Artemis laughed. 

"You have beautiful eyes." I blurted out. Instantly, i slapped my hand over my mouth and Artemis looked at me like I was crazy and looked away. Was that a tint of red I saw in her cheeks?

I knew it would be a short while before the next attack, so I said something later to Zeus that I never thought I would say.

"Hey, is it alright to give Artemis a vacation? She's been working hard and needs to find time to grieve for her fallen sisters." Zeus merely nodded and waved is approval. Later, I told Artemis the news, she literally tackled me in a flying hug. I had a feeling that my time on earth wouldn't be half as bad as I thought it might be.