Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
𓆩ꨄ︎𓆪
ADMITTEDLY, ELIA HAD FALLEN back asleep after a while. It was warm and comfortable in bed, and she was exhausted after being awake for nearly two days and then almost dying, and Percy was pressed to her back with his warm hands against her ribs. Who could blame her?
Unfortunately, Percy had the audacity to go meet a Titan without her. Stupid, dumb, infuriating boy.
When Elia woke up in an empty bed, she tried not to think much of it, simply grabbing her hearing aids from the nightstand and sliding them back into her ears. She hadn't remembered taking them out.
When she ventured out into the halls of the Plaza hotel and couldn't find him, she didn't panic.
When she found Aurora to swipe a change of clothes and her cousin told her that Prometheus had come to speak with Percy under a flag of truce, Elia thought briefly about killing him.
So Elia changed into a pair of jeans that were too loose around her hips, which she simply tied with a shoelace, and another tank top, this one patterned with dark blue and gray stripes. She stalked out into the Plaza, on the hunt for a son of Poseidon.
Luckily, she was there when Percy walked back in.
"Perseus." Her voice rang across the lobby. Demigods stopped in their tracks, knowing that tone.
The boy froze, having the sense to look apologetic already. Grover patted him on the shoulder and wished him luck before retreating toward Thalia across the room.
Percy tried to smile. "Sunshine," he greeted, his voice sweet and careful and sorry.
Elia smiled back, just as sweet, but there was a threat behind it, like shadows curling around sunrays. "Don't 'Sunshine' me, asshole," she walked up to him, arms crossed. "Where the fuck were you?"
"Well the Titans—"
"I know that," Elia rolled her eyes. Stupid, pretty boy. There was worry behind the anger, though, and she knew he could see it. "Why didn't you take me with you?"
His voice was gentle, insistent. "You needed the sleep."
"Percy—"
Percy's hands reached out, settling on her arms. Palms warm and rough against tan skin, he brushed his thumb back and forth over the scar on her bicep. "Elia." It was quiet, understanding in a way that kind of infuriated her. How dare he know her so well?
The blonde let out a slow breath. "Don't do it again." Less of a warning and more of a plea. Don't leave me alone again.
"Okay," he murmured, green eyes soft. "I really am sorry."
