Aquagirl (Fem. Percy x YJ)

68

Garth looked around in wonder, and I had to pull him a few times to keep him from wandering out into the street. My wrists itched and my heart fluttered as we walked amongst the crowd. I bit my lip and grabbed Garth's hand. The squeeze he gave mine was more than enough to settle my nerves. I tugged him into an apartment building. We got some odd looks, probably due to my anxiety clashing with the sheer joy coursing through my veins at being able to see Aunt Sally again.

My knuckles beat against the door. I vibrated with excitement. The second the door opened, I threw myself forward. 

Paul stumbled back. "Percy?" he asked, sounding confused. "Sally? Percy's here."

 Within moments, I was pulled out of his grip and into Aunt Sally's. I pressed my face into her shoulder. The familiar scent of vanilla surrounded me. It was different from how Mother smells, but it was equally comforting. She treated me as her own child, something probably made all the easier by her inability to bear any. Her fingers pulled through my hair, and she pressed several kisses to my head.

"You're okay," she mumbled. "My sweet baby, you- who are you?" Her grip on me tightened, but one arm fell so her hand could rest on the dagger I gifted her for her birthday a few years prior.

"Hello," Garth said. "My name is Garth. I am a friend of Percy's."

"So is this the Garth you were telling me about?" Aunt Sally kept her voice soft. Heat brushed my cheeks and I pressed my face further into her shoulder. Laughing, she wrapped her other arm back around me. "It's nice to meet you, Garth. I'm Sally, and this is my husband Paul. Percy, how about you go hang out with Garth while I make cookies?" She winked and nudged me towards the couch. "Paul, come help."

"Why are you blushing, my friend?" Garth asked. I sat down and gestured for him to join me. I did not tell him the cause of my embarrassment, and I chose to use the time to gain more affection. I slid closer to him. He lifted his arm and allowed me to lean against him. Fingers curling in his shirt, I almost wasn't aware of Aunt Sally sneaking a picture. Garth hummed. "Why is she acting like this is a rare occurrence?"

"Earthers are much more loathe to share affection." 

"I assume she knows of your need for it, so she should not be acting this way."

"Just cuddle."

I did not want him to discover the real reason Aunt Sally was acting the way she was. I already regretted telling her of my feelings towards him. Mother seemed content to allow me to pursue a relationship at my own pace, but for whatever reason surface dwellers put more pressure on adolescents to enter into a romantic relationship. Besides, I am next to certain Tula also has romantic interest in Garth, and she deserves happiness far more than I do.

Nevertheless, my feelings for Garth remained and I would continue to enjoy his offers of affection for as long as he offered them. We sat like that, unmoving except for our breathing. I leaned forward, grabbed the remote, and turned on the TV. I quickly changed it over to cartoons, more specifically I changed it to Spongebob. It may have been an odd choice, considering we are both Atlantean, but it seemed better than choosing a show that has blatant rating grabs in the form of adding new characters. Besides, Garth seemed to enjoy it, laughing at the myriad of jokes scattered throughout the show. Smiling, I let myself relax and close my eyes. Maybe I can get some semblance of sleep? I almost snorted. Doubtful.

Garth's fingers tapped against my shoulder in a gentle rhythm,  a constant reminder that he was there, that I was safe. Really, I should not have been trusting him, not with the way everything else has worked out. I trusted Luke. He tried to kill me. I trusted Kaldur. He tortured me. If I trust Garth, how are the Fates going to twist it? 

Aunt Sally soon brought out cookies and the comfortable silence soon turned to veiled conversations. She'd mention something and I'd answer, both of us keeping anything which could reveal me as a demigod either out of the conversation entirely or buried under so much other stuff it would be impossible to understand without already knowing.

"Oh my gods," Garth said with a mouth full of cookie. "These are delicious."

"I told you so." I smiled. I had already eaten my fill of cookies and had returned to cuddling with Garth. 

"I will never get used to Atlantean culture." Paul said, shaking his head. He was smiling though, so I did not take what he said as a bad thing. I could understand what he meant. Paul is not as familiar with me as Aunt Sally is. I stopped attending school on the surface when I enrolled in the Conservatory. I know Aunt Sally loves him and he makes her happy, and that is all I truly care about.

"I wish I could show you some of the photos from when we were younger. I have several where the entire barracks decided to move everything around and make a large blanket nest on the floor. I do find it odd that the barracks are one of the few places in Atlantis to house beds instead of sleeping pods." Garth laughed. "Perhaps it has something to do with being for a military purpose."

Stretching, I winced as a muscle twinged. "We should get going. It was nice to see you." I stood up. Aunt Sally stood up to give me a hug.

"I see why you like him," she whispered. "Call me if you start dating."

TIME TO COMMIT A HOMICIDE

My neighbor has been flying past my house on a go-kart and its LOUD. So far he's been past thirty two times, yes I'm keeping track just so i know how many times i need to stab him

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