Her Touch

4

Artemis PoV

"Prove it," Athena finally said.

"W-what? How?" I questioned.

"Perseus is being kept in a room with video surveillance. You're going to go in and stay with him for a few days, or when I have come up with a reasonable finding," Athena explained. She then led me to a room, pushed me in, and locked the door behind me.

I stumbled into the room to find Percy a bloody mess on a large bed in the middle of the room. I quickly grabbed towels and a bowl of water, then rushed over to him. "Percy! Are you alright?"

Percy groaned and rolled over, seeming to recognize me. "Artemis," he croaked, reaching for my hand.

I squeezed his hand. "Shh, Percy, everything's going to be fine. You can just rest while I clean you up." Percy nodded and shut his eyes as I set to work, cleaning the cuts and wounds. Eventually, I started to tire, and felt my eyes close.

I was awoken by Percy. "Artemis, love, are you alright?"

I groaned and sat up, yawning. "Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm fine. How are you feeling?"

"Better, thanks to you." Percy kissed my cheek. "Earlier, when I said I would marry you, Artemis, I meant it. I love you."

I pecked his cheek. "I know you meant it, Percy. I love you too." Percy kissed me on the forehead, and wrapped me in a hug. "Percy, what else do you think about for the future?"

Percy sat me in his lap and kissed me passionately. "I'm going to marry you, and we're going to have the most perfect wedding. We're going to live in a perfect house, and we're going to have as many children as you want. And we'll live happily ever after."

I smiled into his chest. "I'm glad you see a future we can share, Percy. It's perfect."

I looked up and Percy cupped my cheek, bringing his lips to my own. My arms went around his neck as we played tonsil tennis.

The door banged open. "Artemis must be tested for Stockholm Syndrome and pregnancy," Athena stated coldly.

I sighed and got up. "You should really give him a chance, Athena." Athena nodded and pulled me out of the room.

She ran me through a bunch of questions. "Alright, Artemis, you haven't got Stockholm syndrome. Now, take this pregnancy test." She handed me a pregnancy test.

I went to the bathroom and peed on the stick. I cleaned up and walked back out to the room Athena was in. "Negative, Athena."

Athena looked at me. "Why'd you say that in such a sad tone? You're still a virgin, you shouldn't've been expecting a child anyway."

I shrugged. "So, is everything over?"

"No, not quite. We've just gotta do one more thing. Follow me, Artemis."

Athena led me to a door, then shoved me through and closed the door behind me. A guard landed a heavy blow to the side of my face. Another managed a deep cut in my cheek. One grabbed my arm tightly, then swung me around and threw me into the door.

Athena pulled me back out the door. "I thought I could trust you just a little bit, Athena." She had some guards lead me back to Percy's room.

As the door clicked behind me, Percy rushed over and engulfed me in a hug. "Are you alright?" He asked, guiding me back to the bed. "You've got a gash on your cheek, here," he cleaned it with a wet cloth, then bandaged it. Percy kissed me on the forehead. "There, better."

I leaned into his chest. "Well, I don't have Stockholm syndrome, I'm not pregnant, and umm..." I trailed off.

"Do you not want to talk about it now?" I nodded and Percy wrapped me in another hug. "Do you wanna rest?" I nodded again and we laid down as Percy pulled the covers over us.

Percy PoV

When I awoke, Artemis was resting
peacefully beside me. Then she stirred and went to the bathroom. I changed into a fresh set of clothes and took my turn in the bathroom. When I walked out, I saw there was a massive bruise on the side of Artemis's face. "Artemis, what happened? Are you alright?"

"What're you talking about, Percy?"

"The bruise on your face. Did someone hit you? Are you alright?"

"I'm fine Percy."

"Artemis, I just wanna know what happened, okay?"

"Yeah, alright. So, I finished the pregnancy test, and I was led to another room, then some guards jumped me," Artemis explained.

I engulfed her in another hug. "Artemis, you can always tell me when something happens. It wasn't your fault, and you definitely shouldn't be ashamed. Okay?" She nodded and I kissed her on the forehead.

"The future you imagined is so much better than this," Artemis commented. I kissed her behind the ear, and she leaned into me. I saw light glint off something in the corner of the room and walked over, finding it was a guitar. " Do you know how to play?" Artemis asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. Would you like me to play some?" Artemis nodded and I started playing.

As I finished the song, I realized Artemis had fallen asleep on my shoulder. I rested the guitar against the wall and laid down, pulling the covers over us.

I awoke before Artemis, sitting up without waking her. After going to the bathroom‚ I made breakfast and set it up on the table. "Artemis," I whispered, "Breakfast is ready. You wanna get up now before it gets cold?" She rolled over, pulling the sheets over her head. I chuckled and pulled her out from under the cover, kissing her on the forehead. Then I started tickling her.

Artemis burst out laughing.

"Percy...mercy...I'm up...stop it." I stopped tickling her, and she collapsed into my chest.

I smiled. "Food now?" Artemis nodded and I carried her to the dining table, sitting her down next to me.

After we had dug into our breakfast and changed, we were laying on the bed. I was going over an apology speech in my head while Artemis was laying over me and reading a book. After a period of time, our position had switched to us sitting up, Artemis with her back to me, leaning against my chest as she read her book. I looped my arms around her stomach and rested my chin on her shoulder. "What're ya reading about?"

"The correlation between the moon and the oceans."

"Huh?" I asked.

"How the moon and waters of the earth are connected," Artemis sighed.

"Ohhhhh," I responded.

"You're a doofus, Percy. Ya know that?" Artemis asked. I nodded and kissed her on the cheek.

"Hey, Percy?" Artemis asked.

"Yeah?" I responded.

"Athena assumed that you treated some people really bad. Is that true?" Artemis questioned.

I cleared my throat. "Well, most people are treated with respect and decency, but those who prove to be continuous issues are disciplined, like being confined to their room for a week without interaction."

"Has anyone significant to me been punished?" Artemis asked.

"Well," I answered, "Zeus tried starting an uprising, resulting in a month of isolation, then tried to have his ways with some of the females, resulting in 2 years of isolation, except for counselling. I'm pretty sure that's it though."

The door creaked open, and Athena appeared in the doorway. "Alright, Artemis. I suppose you were right. He'll be introduced to the rest of the council, then we will come to a conclusion."

Artemis nodded. "When?"

"Now, Artemis," Athena said.