Snowfall

Chocolate Mint

It came as a surprise to everyone. Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase, the role models of a perfect romance, were no longer together. They said it was a mutual breakup and everyone believed it, seeing no signs of any sadness. Neither seemed to care much about the separation; if anything, they seemed happier.

That was what they thought. Thalia knew something was up with Percy that she couldn't place her finger on it, but she had no doubt it was about the breakup. It wasn't until she noticed him sneaking out of his cabin near midnight that she decided to get some answers.

Percy walked over to the beach, sitting down on the sands where the waves could lick at his feet. He sighed heavily, burying his face in his hands. "Annabeth, why?" He said pitifully. "Why did you do it?"

Of course! That was it! Percy was sad about the breakup. It was a lie, the breakup was not mutual. Percy probably went along with it just to keep Annabeth happy. That was what he did.

Thalia slipped out of the brush, moving stealthily towards him. She sat down beside him and looped an arm over his shoulders, pulling him into her side. He started, flinching away and looking up at her with red eyes. "Thalia?" He rasped. "What are you doing?"

"Making sure you're alright," Thalia responded. "You obviously aren't."

"I'm fine," he muttered, scooting away from Thalia. She just drew him back in, setting her chin on his head. "Stop it!"

"No." Percy shifted his head away to look up at her. "You've been keeping this to yourself, Percy," Thalia explained. "You need to let it out. Holding all this sadness in will only keep the wound open and it will never mend. Don't you want to heal?"

"I don't know," Percy said. "I guess I'm a bit afraid of healing. I think it'll change me, in ways I may not like."

"Then you've got the perfect person to slap you right back if you become something bad," Thalia said. "I can keep you in check."

"Why do you even care?" He breathed. "What reason do you have to care for a coward such as me?"

"Perseus Jackson, never call yourself a coward again. Never," Thalia demanded, forcing him to look up at her.

"But that's just what I am," he sighed. "Why Annabeth left me. I'm not strong, I'm not brave, I'm not smart, I'm not handsome. I'm nothing."

"Perseus fucking Jackson, you listen to me," Thalia commanded. "You are strong. No one weak could withstand the rivers of Styx. No one cowardly would dare oppose the gods. No one dumb could make the right choice to save Olympus. You are perfect, Percy, goddamn perfect."

"You left out handsome for a reason, though," Percy sighed. "I'm just an ugly little bastard."

"I like to think of you as a chocolate of sorts," Thalia said, surprising the boy. "A chocolate mint, I guess. You've got the hair, the darkest of browns like a dark chocolate and beautiful, beautiful eyes like a mint."

"Really?" Percy stammered, looking at her with wide eyes. "You think so?"

"Not only that." Her voice dropped low and her eyes glinted. "You're just as sweet as one as well," she purred seductively, leaning closer to nip at his earlobe.

"Thalia," he stuttered. "What are you doing?"

"I believe I know how to make you feel better," she said huskily. She pressed her lips to his jaw, trailing down and dragging her lips along the soft skin on his neck. "Trust me."

"I do," Percy admitted. "With my life."

Thalia snarled and snapped at his neck, her teeth sinking in and bringing a flood of pain and . . . pleasure. She dragged her tongue over the flesh held between her teeth before letting it go and placing a kiss over the mark. It bled slightly, which brought her satisfaction. "Mine," she muttered, kissing his lips fiercely and speaking against his lips. "You are mine."

"How are you so sure I agree?" Percy taunted, drawing back. She growled, her eyes igniting with a possessiveness that Percy immediately knew was for him and him only. Percy laughed kissing her on the mouth sweetly and giving in to her demands.

"Tonight I am yours."