The Date

4

Third PoV

Percy climbed up into the Pad and dried off, smiling at the sight of Artemis asleep on the futon.

Artemis awoke a few minutes later, rubbing her eyes groggily.

"Percy," she murmured. "No matter what the circumstance, the idea of someone watching me sleep will always creep me out."

He smiled apologetically and moved closer. "How are you feeling?"

Artemis sat up and shrugged. "I'm alive. I'm not dying from poison. Apollo is searching for the person that injected me with the sedative serum thing. Everything is normal."

Percy gestured to the futon. "May I?"

Artemis nodded and Percy laid down next to her, wrapping her in a hug.

"There's still something bothering you," Percy murmured, kissing his girlfriend's temple.

"It's nothing," she responded.

"If it keeps bothering you, just tell me. Okay?" Percy asked.

Artemis nodded, kissing his jaw.

Percy PoV

"More hugs?" I asked.

Artemis nodded, nuzzling into my side.

A few minutes later, she sat up, kissing my cheek. "My brother is looking for me. I should go now."

I kissed her nose. "If you need anything, just ask. I don't care if it's a hug at two in the morning. You tell me, okay?"

Artemis nodded, smiling lightly as I kissed her nose again.

"I'll see you tomorrow," she told me.

I closed my eyes, opening them a few seconds later to find Artemis was gone.

I sighed and swam up to the beach, heading over to the dining pavilion.

After offering some of my briskets to the gods and finishing the rest of my food, I headed back to my cabin.

The next morning, I snagged some breakfast before heading into the forest.

I let out a grunt as a monster's claw cut deep into my back.

Well, I guess I found the monsters for
training.

After much running, jumping, slicing, stabbing, blocking, and watching monsters explode into yellow dust, I headed back over to the Pad.

The gash in my back was burning, so I just laid on my stomach, my hand in the water.

While the water was doing it's healing thing, I heard a gasp.

"Percy, what the hell did you do?" Artemis asked.

"I was poking around the forest for some monsters so I could train," I grunted, trying to get up. "Found 'em."

She helped me to the futon and cut off my shirt.

I sighed as the nectar was poured over the wound.

When I tried to get up, I felt her soft, tender hands on my back, keeping me down.

"Artemis," I began. "How could your hands be so soft if you're a hunter?"

She kissed the back of my head. "I'm a goddess, Percy."

"Can you stay tonight?" I asked sleepily.

"Yeah," she replied. "I can stay."

I smiled as she laid down next to me, hands around one of mine.