Forgot to Say [Percy Jackson and the Olympians Fanfic]

Broken Dreams

The shock on his face and the way his eyes briefly showed surprise before shutting down wasn't what she expected or thought would be his reaction. Yes, maybe a little surprised and even flustered, but not...unhappy.

"P-Percy –"

"What are you doing here, Elena?" Percy was frowning at her. Frowning. At her. He cringed and looked away. "And dressed like that?"

Athena couldn't help wincing. She had worn her overcoat over a modest negligee, but it was still a negligee nonetheless. Suddenly, she felt very stupid and silly sitting there in front of Percy, and wondering where she had gone wrong. She'd gambled that night, and it was looking too much like she was on the losing end.

"Look, Elena...I don't think this is appropriate," but the flustered man couldn't help glancing at her with a red face.

"Percy, please," 'It's you, it's you, it's you,' "I can't lose you again."

Percy blinked at her, the twenty seven year old suddenly looking weary and exhausted. He ran a hand through his hair and shook his head.

"I don't know what you're talking about, but you are a 15 year old teenage girl. Don't you understand that I can't do this? I can lose my job and this'll create a scandal. I can get arrested."

"You said 'can't'," she declared, grasping for something.

"So?" he asked exasperated.

"That means you do want me," she said quietly, staring at him defiantly. "Or else you would've said you didn't want to."

His jaw clenched and he closed his eyes as he pinched the bridge of his nose. When he looked at her again, his gaze was hard and unrelenting.

"I'm taking you home," he said abruptly. "Now."

Her eyes widened. "No! Please, Percy, I-I'll put on clothes. Just don't send me away."

"Did you bring a change of clothes?" he asked sarcastically.

Her face flushed red, "N-no. But I can just put the coat back on –"

Percy held up a hand and disappeared a moment into a room, and returned having grabbed a shirt from his drawers, tossing it to her.

"I'll find some pants or something for you to wear. Call your brother and tell him you're spending the night and that I'll drive you home first thing in the morning. I don't want to look like a kidnapper or something," Percy grumbled, though a hint of red on his face showed that he was also embarrassed.

Athena inwardly snorted, feeling herself slowly become numb after the mess of a night. Apollo was about as likely to think Percy was some kind of kidnapper when he would probably be kidnapping Percy.

She called Apollo, who answered as late as possible, and she reluctantly told him the situation. Her face angrily flushed as he laughed at her, but she refused to let him get to her on top of her already feeling humiliated. She'd tried seducing Percy, but ended up failing miserably. She didn't need it being rubbed in her face.

This wasn't how Athena wanted things to go, or pictured how their reunion was supposed to be.

~*~*~

When Athena hung up on him, Apollo was still chuckling. Maybe it was mean of him, but he was stuck pretending to be her guardian and older brother (even though he was a brother). And he still hadn't forgiven her in her role in Percy's death, nor that she had gotten him and wasted the relationship in the first place.

But he did, reluctantly, feel a little sorry for her too.

He didn't doubt she'd loved Percy. All of them did. And they hadn't made it easy on her and the relationship, back when Percy had been alive and they'd been together. Their relationship had been new and so much pressure had been on them and it, with so many not accepting or happy with it. And Athena knew she had numerous rivals, others she had to look out for.