James knew exactly where to find you. A tucked-away clearing just beyond the Hogwarts gates, quiet and hidden, where the grass grew wild and the stars felt closer. It was your spot, or at least, it used to be. Yours and his. And maybe a few other girls’, too.

As soon as you heard footsteps behind you, you knew who it was. No one else knew about this place. Not really. Just you and James.

You and James had a long history, too long. Your friends had told you again and again to cut him off, to end it, for good this time. And you’d tried. Maybe twice. But it never worked. You always came back.

Funny, really. Back when you two were barely even friends, when the only reason you spoke was because you were seated together in History of Magic, he’d been nicer. Softer. Sweeter. He was a better stranger than he ever was a boyfriend.

You remembered the day you’d introduced him to your closest friends. You’d been glowing with excitement, heart beating fast, convinced that maybe—just maybe—this meant it was becoming real. You’d wanted him to see the people who shaped you. You wanted them to like him.

But the moment passed like smoke. James had been distracted, distant, like he had somewhere better to be. He hadn’t even pretended to care about making a good impression. And you’d laughed it off. Smiled through it. Made excuses. But deep down, something inside you had dimmed.

Looking back, you should’ve known then.

You didn’t bother to look up when he finally stepped into the clearing. You heard the soft crunch of grass beneath his shoes, the quiet exhale he always gave when he found you.

“Hey,” he said gently.

You didn’t respond. Not right away. You kept your eyes fixed on the trees ahead, arms wrapped tightly around your knees like they might hold you together better than he ever had.

He sat beside you, not too close, but close enough that you could feel the warmth of him. That stupid, familiar warmth that always made it harder to stay angry.

“You’re not gonna curse me or throw something?” he asked, trying for lightness.

Still, you didn’t look at him. “I thought about it.”

He let out a short laugh, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Would’ve deserved it.”

“You do,” you said, the edge in your voice sharper than you meant it to be.

Silence fell again. Not peaceful. Not comforting. Just heavy. Just unfinished.

“I messed up,” he said eventually.

You turned to face him, slowly. Same messy hair. Same tired eyes. Same Gryffindor charm that somehow survived every mistake he made. But there was something else this time. He looked... worn. Not just tired. Hollow. Like even he was starting to realise the damage he’d caused.

“You always mess up,” you said quietly. “That’s the only consistent thing about you.”

He winced. Good. He needed to.

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

You scoffed. “But you still did. Over and over. And I let you.”

There was a long beat before you added, “James, I never want to see your face ever again.” But even as the words left your mouth, a sick, aching truth curled inside you. What you really meant was: I can’t wait to see your face again.

James stared down at his hands, silent. No excuse. No clever line. No promise to change.

You stood up slowly, your legs stiff from sitting so long. The air felt colder now. Or maybe you were just done.

You didn’t say anything else. Didn’t give him the satisfaction of a dramatic goodbye.

You just walked.

And James didn’t stop you.

Didn’t chase after you.

He stayed behind in the clearing, hands in his hair, breathing shallow, watching you disappear into the darkness, again.

🫧𓇼𓏲ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐🪼⋆.ೃ࿔:･🎐𓍼ֶָ֢⊹ ࣪ ˖🫧𓇼𓏲ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐🪼⋆.ೃ࿔:･🎐𓍼ֶָ֢⊹ ࣪ ˖

Now you’re lying in bed, staring at the ceiling. You didn’t bother going to dinner. James had ruined any appetite you had. While he was trying to find you in the crowded Great Hall, weaving through your house’s table, your mind kept replaying the conversation you’d just had with him—or whatever that had been. It was all so familiar, like a game you knew the rules to but hated playing.

If you had to guess James Potter’s favorite board game, you’d say chess without hesitation. Not because he gave off some quietly brilliant, strategic vibe. Honestly, you weren’t even sure he knew all the rules. But it had to be chess, because it was far too easy for him to play with the pieces in your chest.

Every move he made felt calculated. Push, pull, stay just long enough to make you think it mattered, then leave before it really did. He always kept you close, but never close enough. Just within reach. Just enough to make sure no one else got to you first.

You remembered the night everything started to unravel, the exact moment you should have walked away but didn’t.

You had chased him down the stairs near the library. It was late, close to curfew, and the corridor was empty except for your hurried footsteps and the sound of your own heart pounding. He hadn’t spoken to you in two days. No note, no message, not even a glance in the corridors. Just silence, like nothing between you had ever existed.

“James, can we just talk?” you had asked, trying not to let your voice crack. He kept walking. One hand in his pocket, the other raking through his hair like he couldn’t be bothered.

He didn’t turn around. “I just need space,” he said, like that was supposed to make everything okay. Like space didn’t mean distance. Like distance didn’t mean you were being left behind.

You stood frozen in the middle of the corridor, staring at his back like it might change its mind. And then you said it.

“Don’t leave.”

It was barely more than a whisper, small, cracked, and quiet enough to get lost in the shadows. But he heard it. You knew he did. His shoulders tensed. He paused. But he didn’t look back.

He never looked back.

And still, you stayed. Let him drift in and out of your life like a tide you were helpless against.

But weeks later, it happened again. A different fight, another hollow apology. You were the one walking away this time, trying to mean it, trying to finally let go. And that’s when he said it.

“Don’t leave.”

Same words. Same softness. Same timing. Right when he was about to lose.

You stopped, barely able to believe it. Not because he said it, but because he said it like it was his. Like he didn’t remember where he’d heard it first.

You turned to face him, heart in your throat. “You stole that line from me.”

He didn’t argue. He just stood there, like he thought sounding sorry would be enough.

🫧𓇼𓏲ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐🪼⋆.ೃ࿔:･🎐𓍼ֶָ֢⊹ ࣪ ˖🫧𓇼𓏲ੈ✩‧₊˚🎐🪼⋆.ೃ࿔:･🎐𓍼ֶָ֢⊹ ࣪ ˖

Now you're on your way to the Great Hall for breakfast, barely awake and flanked by your two friends, Isla and Lydia, one on each side. Lydia’s in the middle of telling yet another story about her family dog, something about it eating a whole shoe, when Isla suddenly pauses, and Lydia trails off mid-sentence.

You blink, still half-asleep, until you notice they’ve both stopped walking. Isla’s gaze is locked on a group of Gryffindor girls nearby, and Lydia's mouth is slightly open in quiet disbelief.

Then you heard it.

A girl’s voice, light and casual, cutting through the morning haze. “She said James gave it to her. A ring. Isn’t that sweet? Apparently, they’ve been seeing each other for a few weeks now.”

Your heart dropped.

You hadn’t specifically said the seven words—“We’re done. I'm breaking up with you.”—but last night, in the clearing, you were sure you’d made it clear enough. Whatever you and James had... it was done.

But a few weeks ago?

A few weeks ago, you and James were good. Or at least, you thought you were. Laughing in the common room. Holding hands beneath the table in Potions. It was the closest thing to healthy the two of you had ever managed. You thought things were finally different.

Now, maybe he was only sweet because someone else had already taken your place.

Your confrontation yesterday had been about another girl entirely, some nameless face you’d seen him with in the courtyard. You hadn’t known about this one. Not the girl with your ring.

Isla gave your hand a quiet squeeze. You looked over at her and found the same soft, sad expression she always wore when you talked about James. The one that said you deserve better, even if she didn’t say it out loud.

“Are you okay?” she asked gently.

You nodded. Lying.

You didn’t want to cause a scene. You weren’t even sure you had the energy to fight. Especially not with another girl. Especially not over him.

They nodded, quietly accepting your answer even though they didn’t believe it.

You all kept walking. Or tried to.

Because as you passed the girls, Lydia didn’t look away. Her eyes locked onto something, a flash of silver on the girl’s hand and she let out a soft gasp.

She spun back toward you, grabbed your wrist with one hand and Isla’s with the other, and tugged you both into a fast walk, nearly a run, straight into the Great Hall. You stopped at the end of your house table, near the doors, heart pounding even though you weren’t sure why yet.

Lydia turned to you, her voice sharp with realisation. “The ring that girl had—it’s the one you lost. Remember? Three months ago? After that date with James. You thought you just misplaced it.”

Your mouth went dry.

You remembered that ring. The one he’d twirled on your finger all evening, smiling like he actually adored you. The one you swore you left on your nightstand.

And now it was on someone else’s hand.

You took a deep breath, your chest tight but steady.

“She can keep it,” you said softly. “It’s just a ring.”

Isla and Lydia exchanged a glance, unsure if they should push. You didn’t blame them. There was a time when something like this would’ve shattered you—when you would’ve cornered James in the hallway, demanded answers, let the hurt eat you alive.

But not now. Not anymore.

You weren’t angry. You were tired. Tired of waiting for him to grow up. Tired of giving pieces of yourself away just to feel close to someone who never really saw you.

You could forgive him for the ring. It was a small thing, really, compared to all the other ways he had chipped away at your heart. You could forgive him for being careless, for being selfish, even for being unfaithful.

But you wouldn’t forget what he took from you.

He had wasted your prettiest years without even blinking. Months you spent begging him to be better, to see you, to love you the way you deserved. You had poured the softest parts of yourself into someone who never once tried to hold them gently.

And in the end, he didn’t just break your heart. He ruined you for a while.

Left you hollow, second-guessing, quieter than you used to be.

And you wouldn’t go back.

You turned to your friends, forcing a small smile. “Let’s eat.”

What you didn’t notice was a certain raven-haired boy watching you from across the hall.

James wasn’t listening to the girl beside him—the one currently wearing your ring, laughing softly, leaning in like she thought she had his full attention. His eyes weren’t on her.

They were on you.

He didn’t understand it. How you could look so calm. So distant. Like everything that happened between you had already been buried. Like he hadn’t been your whole world just yesterday.

He was confused.

How could you change so quickly in just a day?

He didn’t know that it hadn’t just been a day. It had been building for weeks. Maybe months. The ache. The exhaustion. The slow, quiet unraveling of all the love you kept trying to give him.

He only noticed the ending because you finally stopped begging him to see it.

And now, as you laughed at something Isla whispered to you, without even glancing his way, James felt something strange settle in his chest.

It wasn’t guilt.

It was loss.

Real, suffocating loss.

Because for the first time, he knew he couldn’t win you back.

Not this time.

You weren’t angry anymore.

You were done.

you hesitated, knowing either way it’ll be something terrible. “truth.” you decided.

“what’s the farthest you’ve gone sexually?”

jesus christ, drew.

“uh-“ you stuttered, looking around nervously. “making out.”

clarrise’s eyes widened in surprise, as did some of the other campers.

the game continued after that, and soon enough one by one everyone headed to bed, leaving just you and percy sitting across from each other.

you tilted your head when you realized he was staring at you. “what is it?”

percy shrugged, “just surprised. you’ve really only gone as far as making out?” he asked.

you blushed, looking away. “yeah.”

percy mumbled something you couldn’t hear before getting up and moving to sit next to you.

“have you ever.. wanted to? or are you saving yourself for marriage or something like that?” he asked, curious.

you were absolutely gorgeous, and he found it hard to believe you didn’t have hundreds of guys on their knees for you.

you shrugged, “i’ve just never done it. i’m not saving myself or anything though.”

percy hummed, “so you do want to?”

you blushed again, clearly flustered by his questions. “i mean- yeah, i guess.” you replied, playing with the bracelet you were wearing.

percy looked at you for a moment before speaking again, “so you’ve never given a guy a blowjob before?”

you choked on your drink, looking at him with wide eyes. “i- no.”

percy chuckled softly at your reaction, resting his hand on your leg. “i can teach you, if you want.”

you looked at him shocked, your face red. “what?”

he shrugged, “i just mean- if you want like.. a lesson, or something, i could teach you.”

and maybe it was the adrenaline, or the heat from the fire, or something else. but fuck it, you agreed.

which leads you to where you are now, pinned against the wall of percy’s cabin as he kissed down your neck.

you moaned softly when he sucked on your sweet spot, and you could feel him smirking.

“you still want those lessons, princess?” he asks, kissing your collarbone softly. you nod

he makes eye contact with you, his sea green eyes staring into your own. “i need to hear you say it.”

and fuck, that shouldn’t have been as hot as it was

“yes.” you said, slowly lowering yourself onto your knees. percy grinned at your position, running a hand through your hair. you look up at percy, waiting for him to tell you what to do.

percy unbuckles his jeans, pulling them down before doing the same with his boxers.

your eyes widened at his size, looking up at him again. “how am i supposed to fit that in my mouth?”

percy chuckles at that. “thats why im here to teach you. go ahead and spit in my hand.” he says, holding his hand out.

hesitantly, you spit in his hand, and he groans when he starts stroking himself, using your spit as a sort of lube.

“go ahead and suck on it, princess.” he tells you.

you nod, unsure of what to do. you decide on hesitantly licking a stripe up his cock, making him hiss in pleasure.

you look up into his eyes as you slowly start to suck on the head of his dick, only to try to see how much you could take.

you gag as his tip hits the back of your throat, and he moans, gripping your hair. “good girl. now start bobbing your head.”

you follow his instructions, bobbing your head up and down his cock, occasionally gagging on it. saliva slowly dripped down your chin as you kept going, and you felt your eyes water.

percy’s hand on your hair started to guide your movements, bringing you all the way down to his base before letting you pull back for air.

you coughed a bit, tears falling down your face. but you went back to what you were doing before, your movements speeding up.

percy moaned your name, the sound going straight to your core.

you swirled your tongue around the head of his cock before sucking harshly. percy whimpered, starting to thrust into your mouth, chasing his release.

you moaned around him, sending him over edge. and soon enough you felt his release fill your mouth.

you swallowed his release before he pulled you to your feet, your knees a little wobbly.

percy kept you up by holding your waist, “your perfect.”

you smiled, pressing a soft kiss to his lips.

percy grinned, “lay on the bed, i wanna return the favor, princess.”

you blushed, but listened none the less, laying on the bed.

percy kneeled at the edge of the bed, pulling you by your legs so your core was in front of his face.

he looked up at you, “you’re sure this is alright, princess?”

you nodded, “yes, this is ok.”

percy smiled, pushing your skirt up, biting his lip when he saw the pink lacey panties you were wearing.

you flushed red, and he pressed soft kisses to your inner thighs before slowly pulling your underwear down your legs, tossing them onto the floor.

he cursed under his breath at the sight of your cunt, soaking wet.

“shit, this all for me?” he asked, running a finger through your folds.

you whimpered, nodding. he smirked in response before licking a stripe up your folds, moaning at the taste.

you gasped, moaning softly as you gripped his hair, tugging him closer. percy happily obliged, eating you out as if you were his last meal.

the way his tongue swirled around your clit had you seeing stars, your orgasm quickly approaching.

“percy, fuck! ‘m so close, please don’t stop!” you whined.

it’s not like he could stop anyways, with the way your thighs squeezed his head. he didn’t mind though, continuing to eat you out.

your body shook as you came, percy lapping up your release as to not waste a single drop.

he slowly pulled away after helping you through your climax, and he kissed you softly. you smiled as he pulled away.

“your a fucking goddess.” he whispered, his eyes locked on your flushed, post-orgasm expression.

but finally, it’s all done. and tonight you can finally rest peacefully, laying in james’ bed, spooning him without a worry in the world. james shifts, turning his body around to look at you. "are you okay?" you bite your lip in thought, letting your hand go to his hair.

"i’m better," you sigh, twirling his hair between your fingers. "but i still feel a little on edge'." james huffs out a breath, not knowing what else to say. you hear him hum when you tug his hair slightly, causing a smirk to rise on your lips. you tug a little harsher and you feel his hand come up to yours.

"stop that," he whines into your neck, attempting to pull your hand away.

"that's not how you repay me." you joke back, recalling the reward he had promised you after all of your hard work. you kissed his cheek before letting go of his hair and there's a bit of silence before he's shuffling off the bed. you hear him maneuver himself to your side before turning the lamp on.

you gape at the sight before you, your pretty boyfriend on his knees. looking up at you, hands inching towards you. "is this better?" you shift so your lower half is off the bed and your right above him. his hands find purchase on your thighs and he looks up at you hesitantly.

"you know..." his hands travel further until they're at your waist. "i really should reward you." he shrugs and one hand goes to tug at the waistband of your pajama pants. "you did so well on your exams."

you just watch as he marvels over you, taking in every bit of you like it's the first time he's seen you. "you’re so beautiful." with your permission he tugs your pants off, “like a goddess.” he kisses up and down your legs before finding his way to your stomach. “i want to worship you.”

he nudges you so your back hits the mattress, slow, messy kisses trailing up your abdomen. "let me make you feel better?” you let out a breath and nod your head, his gaze focused on you before he presses his lips against yours, a kiss that's both gentle and passionate at the same time. he brings one hand to your chin, and another to your cheek to caress the side of your face as he deepens the kiss. you can feel how nervous he was, making all the decisions.

he lets out a soft groan, as an arm slips around your waist and pulls you closer, moaning against your lips. he presses his thigh between your legs, satisfied at the noises of pleasure you let out. james smiles into the kiss and pushes his body further into you. his hands run along your sides, feeling the warmth of your body, appreciating every part of you.

he slowly tilts your head to the side and his lips begin to trail kisses down to your neck, leaving nips and bites along your collarbone. his hands slide down to the sides of your thighs and he grips them. his lips keep their focus on leaving marks all over your neck, his hips grinding down on your leg.

"what if someone sees those?" you tauntingly ask him. he pulls away from your skin with red cheeks. he hesitates, letting his hands go up and down your body slowly.

"let them," he shrugs nervously. "i don't care, i want to worship you. i'll be happy if they know." you stare at him for a moment before threading your fingers through his hair. you dip your head down to his neck, littering butterfly kisses on his skin.

a soft groan slips from his lips but it's quickly covered up with a breathless laugh. the feeling of your soft lips against his skin is just so good. he closes his eyes and hums, leaning back to brush his nose gently against yours. his thumbs rub your hips, as he looks at you intently, his gaze taking in everything about you.

he's so infatuated with you, completely at your mercy. his hands slide underneath your top, caressing your skin. he pushes the fabric up a little higher as he presses a heated kiss to your lips. his hands travel higher and higher until his breath catches in his throat.

his face flushes again when he realizes where he's touching you, his thumb gently stroking over your chest in slow, teasing circles. his eye is locked on you as he does so. he feels you tug at his hair, making his body shiver slightly. soft sighs and gasps escape him and he lets out soft moans from time to time. the feeling of being so close and touching you with the soft caresses of his hands has him reeling.

he bites his lip nervously, "can you take it off?" his pretty, glazed over eyes are now avoiding yours. his shyness gives away what he wants and you reach back to unclasp your bra. he doesn't waste any time sliding your bra off to leave your entire upper body exposed to him. he can't help but stare for a moment, as he always does. taking in your body and appreciating the sight in front of him.

"you're so pretty, angel." he murmurs, still a little breathless. you let out a small laugh before sliding your hand up his shirt, leaving ghost touches along his abdomen. he lets out a groan at your touch, his body twitching in excitement. a shiver of pleasure ripples through his body when your lips nip at a sensitive part of his skin.

with a whine he pushes your body back down, "this is about you, not me." he places his lips on your skin again, inching lower and lower with every one he places. they trail from your collarbone, to your chest, down your torso, and landing right above the waistband of your pants.

he looks up at you as if awaiting your commands, causing you to giggle. "thought you were gonna worship me? you get to decide what to do then." he stutters before shutting his mouth and nodding, hands shakily sliding your pants down your legs.

he kisses along your thighs, breathing heavily at the sight before him. you're clad in just your underwear, you're piercing eyes trained on him while you wait for his next move. his kisses come back up until his breath is making contact with the fabric of your panties.

he presses a small kiss to your clit thought your underwear, unable to bite bad a prideful smile when you hum out of pleasure. he pushes your underwear to the side and he slides his tongue through your folds.

he moans when your hand tugs at his hair again, harsher this time. he judges his nose against your clit. he can't get enough of your taste, hands snaking around your thighs to hold them in place around his head.

he feels your hand push down, attempting to control his head. with a soft groan he lets you use his face to get off. the vibrations his noises make has you squirming, your own moans getting louder and louder when a finger slips into you.

your noises turn into tired pants and your hand falls to your side. you lazily grind against his face and he holds your thighs down. you feel yourself getting close and you let out a sigh before tugging his head up by his hair.

he looks dazed and his fingers continue to work inside you, "i'm close, you're doing so good." the praise has his head spinning and his movements quickening. he leans up to capture your lips in a kiss, continuing to pump his fingers in and out of you.

he pants into the kiss, his desperate hips grinding into the mattress. he feels your body spasm before you're cumming around his fingers, biting down on his lip and leaving him whimpering.

he stops and lets you catch your breath, face inches from yours. you go to praise him some more when your eyes catch on the wet spot on his pants. "did you really..." he whines before you could finish your sentence, burying his head in your neck.

"don't say anything, please."

Wherever Annabeth strayed, Percy followed. It was common knowledge at camp Half-Blood. Everyone could see how hearts seemed to float around the boy’s head whenever Athena’s daughter was around. 

You knew this too. And every time Percy’s pining became too obvious, you’d turn your head and swallow the bitter taste of jealousy coming up your throat.  

You’ve liked Percy ever since you were thirteen, when he was just starting to grow taller than you and when he made you double over with laughter at the jokes his step-dad told him. 

But Percy’s liked Annabeth ever since he was thirteen, when he held the world for her and when he desperately wished she wouldn’t join Artemis’ hunters. 

And the whole camp bet on when Percy would make the first move while you were left alone with envy simmering in your veins and the sting of a heartache.

Still, you couldn’t bring yourself to push him away from your life. His bright smile and his curls always made you wonder if he hadn’t been carved by Apollo himself. 

Percy has been your friend ever since your arrival at camp. But you’ve also wished he’d be more than that. 

It doesn’t really come as a surprise when the son of Poseidon comes to you for advice. You should shut him out and pretend you don’t understand what he’s about to ask, but your mother wouldn’t approve of one her own getting in the way of love. So you let it happen. 

“I need your help with something…” are his first words as he stands against the doorway of the Aphrodite cabin. There’s only you and a few of your other siblings inside and instantly, all eyes are on him. 

You know what he’s about to ask. You look down, resuming your work on your sister’s hair. “I’m busy Percy. Can you come back later ?”

You don’t look at him but you hear him sigh. “It’s…um… pretty important ? I mean… I’m asking you because I know you’re an expert in the love department, obviously and you’re the only one who can actually help.” 

“Fine, come in. But don’t touch my bows! You messed them up last time and I spent forever untangling them.” You smile as you finish little Carla’s hair, while Percy’s hands stir away from your collection.  

Once the younger Aphrodite kids were shooed away, you stood up from your spot on the bed, leading Percy outside to the porch. Leaning against the wooden railing you turn your head, studying the crease of his brows and the way his hair seems messier, as if he’d run his hands through it one too many times. 

“So ? What do you need me for ? Are you trying to escape kitchen duties again ?” you tease, and he tilts his head, wincing.

“Come on, that was one time… I need your help for something else. Something important” you can see the gears turn in his mind so you egg him on. 

“Spit it out Percy ! I’m becoming way too curious.”

This time he turns his entire body to face you. He takes a deep breath and starts. “Can you pretend to be my girlfriend so I can make Annabeth jealous ?”

Silence. You wonder if he just heard the sound of your heart shattering.

“Are you sure this is a good idea…?” 

Percy nods. “Maybe she’ll see us together and realize that she actually likes me. She knows we’ve been friends for a while so it won’t be too surprising, will it ?”

You shrug, turning your gaze to the other campers prancing around the other cabins. Part of you wants to say no, to avoid yearning for something that’s not real. But there’s this tiny other part of you screaming to accept the offer, to bask in the experience of something that might never happen again. Facing him again with a smile, you find him already staring at you expectantly. 

“What do I get from all of this ?” you tease, gesturing between the two of you. 

“My eternal love and gratitude of course !” he laughs as you shove him playfully. 

“Okay okay I’ll help you. That’s what friends are for, right ?”

He breathes out, obviously relieved. “Thank you so much ! I owe you one !” he tells you before pulling you into a hug. 

The moment you hug him back, you realize the situation you got yourself into. Percy pulls away and starts walking backwards toward the sword training area. “I have to go right now or Mr D is going to be mad and I don’t want to be on stable duty tonight!  " he chuckles, but stay awhile after dinner and we’ll set up a plan alright ?”  

You salute him jokingly. “Will do, sir !” 

At dinner, your eyes flicker between your half empty plate and Percy, heartily laughing away with the Stoll brothers. Feeling someone softly nudging your shoulder, you divert your attention to Drew, looking at you with slight concern. 

“You okay ? You’ve been staring at your plate forever.”

“Yeah yeah, just a little tired is all !” you manage a small smile. She nods before resuming her conversation. 

Once everyone’s done, all of your siblings scuttle back to cabin 10 while you linger around the amphitheater, remembering Percy’s words. 

There’s a whisper of your name coming from behind and you whip around just in time to see Percy jogging towards you. 

“Thought you’d never come !” you tease

Your friend jokingly rolls his eyes before taking your wrist, guiding you towards the lake. “I wasn’t gifted with punctuality I know, I know no need to rub it in… Now come, we have a plan to set up !”

The both of you are sitting on the shore, the lights of Sound Island catching your attention. Knees hiked to your chest, you stare at them until Percy clears his throat. 

“So… I was thinking…” he starts 

“Oh, nothing good can come out of that” you joke and he chuckles.

“Seriously though, if we need to make it work people shouldn’t think our ‘relationship’ comes out of nowhere. You know what I mean ?

You nod, eyes still lost in the distance. “We could tell people you asked me out last summer, before I went home and before you went back to New York. We could tell them we were long distance and decided to make it official this summer at camp.”

You can see Percy nodding enthusiastically from the corner of your eye. “Yes ! That’s a great idea ! I would've never come up with that so quickly.”

The air is quiet now, the both of you looking at the waves lapping at the shore. Until Percy breaks the silence again.

“Do… um… Do you think we should set up rules ? I don’t want to make you uncomfortable, or break any boundaries… I don’t want things to get too awkward between us y’know ?” he rubs his neck, avoiding your eyes.

Turning to face him, you place a hand on his shoulder. “I know Percy, don’t worry. And you’re right, boundaries are essential in a relationship.”

“So… What should we do ? Or not for that matter ? You’re the relationship professional here, I’m all ears!”

The boy’s words put a small smile on your face, although you’re already starting to regret this ordeal.

“Well, we should definitely act ‘coupley’ in public. Hugs, hand holding and all that…” You’re about to continue the list when Percy interrupts you. “What about kissing ?”

You can feel your heart drop in your stomach. You should’ve seen this coming. Brows furrowed, you stared at the dark body of water in front of you. “Only for emergencies. The ‘no one believes we’re actually dating so we have to prove them by kissing each other’ kind of emergency. You get me ?”

Percy laughs at the idea. “I couldn’t have summed it up better. Emergencies only then.” There’s a moment of silence between the two of you while he toys with the rocks strewn around him before hearing him sigh. “D’you think it’s gonna work ? That she’s gonna notice me ?”

Mustering the nicest smile you could, you nodded. “Maybe our plan will serve as a little push for her to make the first move. There’s no way she doesn’t like you back. And I'm saying this as a daughter of Aphrodite.” your words elicit a chuckle from the boy next to you. You’re glad to see that he seems a bit relieved by your affirmation, the same you wished someone told you. 

Stretching his arms above his head while stifling a yawn, Percy stands up. “Alright, I’m gonna go to bed, you coming with me ?”

Looking up at him, you shake your head. “Think i’m gonna stay out there a little longer, the air’s nice.”

The boy nods. “Alright. I’ll pick you up from your cabin tomorrow morning so don’t sleep in too long ! Otherwise Silena might just drown me with questions and whatnot.” he winks

You giggle. “Don’t worry about that Perce. Good night, I’ll see you tomorrow.” he smiles at you, pinching your ear as was his way of saying goodbye for the past few years before jogging up the hill. 

You’re awoken the next day by Carla and Jamie, the two kids fervently shaking your shoulders all the while loudly whispering your name.

“Percy’s here! He says he came to pick you up! Is he your boyfriend ?”

The sleepy state you’re in makes it hard to catch up with their excitement so early in the morning. That’s until you actually hear Percy’s voice alongside Silena’s.

Silena. You shoot up from your bed, rushing to save the boy from your cabin counselor’s inquiries. 

Emerging from your cabin while adjusting a slightly rumpled shirt, you catch Percy’s eyes, silently begging for help. You can’t see Silena’s face but judging by Percy’s attitude, she might’ve been asking one too many questions. 

“Percy ! Hi ! I didn’t know you were going to pick me up this morning !” you loop your arm around his, a big smile plastered on your face as you wave to your older sister. 

He looks back at you with a smile, obviously relieved by your sudden appearance.

“Had to pick up my girl.” he says with a smile, eyes shifting between you and Silena’s questioning stare. You dismissively wave a hand, a way to tell her you’ll explain later. 

“I swear she was going to annihilate me! She kept asking me why I came to pick you up and why now !” Percy kept talking your ear off about how scary Silena was on your way to breakfast. 

“She might seem… intrusive at times, but she means well ! Silena always cared for her younger siblings. And you’re definitely in her books so I don’t think she hates you, not until you actually hurt me though…” you tell him, eyes crinkling with amusement when you see his face pale. 

You noticed that your arm was still looped with Percy’s. And you liked it. It felt natural, almost real. As you approached Aphrodite’s table, Percy slowed his pace. He slightly turned towards you with wide eyes.

“Annabeth is here ! And she’s looking at us ! What do we do ?”

Shifting as discreetly as possible, you notice the girl looking in your direction, eyebrow raised and a small smile on her face. Turning back to Percy, you shrug.

“Say goodbye, the way you would say goodbye to your girlfriend.” 

Percy doesn’t need to be told twice. Almost mechanically, he pulls you closer, tugging you to his chest and slightly bending down to press a kiss on your cheek. “I’ll see you later” he whispers before moving away, leaving you at your table full of overexcited Aphrodite kids. 

You didn’t see Percy until later in the afternoon at the climbing wall. Yet the kiss he’d given you before breakfast was burning your cheek, as if his lips had been scalding hot iron. Part of you thought this was a fever dream, that you’d wake up in your bed with Percy’s heart still out of reach. But every camper coming to congratulate you and ask questions about your relationship with the son of Poseidon served as a harsh reminder of the predicament you were in.

It was a very hot morning when Luke decided to take the younger kids for a swim in the lake, asking you and Percy to tag along. The two of you were supervising a group of Hermes kids, Percy playing with them while you watched the scene from the dock, feet dangling in the water. Lost in your thoughts and lulled by the sunlight, you didn’t notice Percy swimming up to you until he pulled you in the water. You emerged with a laugh, hanging onto Percy’s shoulders, all the kids around you tossing water and giggling. He didn’t let you go and you’re suddenly hyper aware of the proximity you share and of his hands on your waist. The kids' incessant cheering doesn’t falter.

“Kiss your girlfriend Percy! That’s what good boyfriends do after pulling their girlfriends in the water!” the older kids teased.

“C’mon guys…” he let out a nervous laugh. But the kids didn't stop.

“Percy and Y/N, swimming in the water, K I S S I N G!”

“That’s not even the correct lyrics !” he argued, to no avail. 

Percy then stared at you and you nodded, heart hammering in your chest. He leaned in and you laced your arms around his neck, hands coming to play with his wet curls. The kiss was short and sweet and sent you over the edge. When you pulled back, you could feel the blood pumping in your ears. With flushed cheeks, Percy turned towards the group, shooing them towards the shore. “Okay alright that’s enough! It’s almost lunchtime, let's go!” 

As you got out of the water, shirt clinging to your body, Percy stood at the edge, hoodie in hand.

“Here. You can wear this instead.” he smiles and you gratefully accept the piece of clothing, reveling in the comfort of the material and in Percy’s scent.          

It was interesting to see how everyone seemed to gobble your story. In the span of a few weeks, you and Percy became the talk of the camp. Everyone wondered how, when and why it happened. During late evenings spent idling on the shore, Percy often praised your storytelling skills and the way the two of you managed to play pretend so efficiently. 

“Do you think it’s working ?” he asked one night, as the two of you were setting up the camp’s bonfire.

“Considering Annabeth seems to talk to you more than usual I’d say yes ? I can’t read her mind though.” you answer, placing the wood you picked up under your arm.

Percy nods, a small smile adorning his face. As he turns and leads the way towards the bonfire, you trail behind, lost in thought. Everything was going too well. So well that You had to remember almost every night that Percy wasn’t really your boyfriend. You knew that wishing he’d just change his mind would probably anger your mother but you didn’t care anymore. Although he was supposed to be yours in the eyes of everyone, you knew his heart belonged to someone else and you felt like an usurper. You considered putting an end to all of this, tell the truth to Annabeth and witness your biggest heartbreak come to life. 

Percy’s voice brings you back to earth: “you coming?” Picking up your pace, the two of you are quick to get back to the group, everyone cheering and hollering at your arrival.

“Got lost in the woods ?” Luke teases.

As you sit next to Percy, he wraps his arm around your shoulders, pulling you close. You almost melt into his touch before remembering your inner turmoil. He looks at you with a smile and you smile back, trying your best to conceal your sadness. As you turn to face the fire, he presses a fleeting kiss to your temple and it feels so real you almost want to burst into tears. 

You feel sick. His presence is suffocating and the voices in your head seem to get louder. You free yourself from his hold and stand up. His gaze is questioning and you shake your head.

“I’ll be back. I just— I need some air.” you whisper and he nods, watching your silhouette disappear in the shadows. 

Sitting against the trunk of a tree, your knees hiked against your chest and your face hidden in your hands, you fight the tears pooling in your eyes. Regret and embarrassment are flooding your mind, a breathless apology to your mother escapes your lips. 

All of a sudden, you hear a branch snap and you lift your head up. You brace yourself for the worst, fists clenching at the thought of Aphrodite herself coming to scold you. Yet the woods are too dark and there’s no sign of your godly parent. The rustle of leaves seems closer to you now and your heart beats faster. 

A whisper of your name makes you turn your head. To your left stood Annabeth, taking off her cap and putting it back in the pocket of her jeans. You let out a breath of relief you didn’t realize you were holding as you saw her sitting down opposite you. 

Annabeth is the first one to break the silence.

“I saw you at the bonfire. Wanted to know if you were okay since you didn’t want Percy to come with you.” 

You smile at her words and nod, fingers toying with blades of grass.

“I am, thanks. I just needed to get away for a bit. I was probably overwhelmed or something. Had a long day.” you laugh.

The girl in front of you fiddles with her necklace, brows furrowed and obviously trying to tell you something.

“Yeah figures, Percy told you about our quest didn’t he ? I tried to tell him it was too dangerous, you know ? He was just so determined to come with me, Nico and Will he didn’t listen to me. I know you two are practically glued at the hip so when I asked him if he was sure, he told me you’d probably do the same thing.” she smiles softly before continuing. “He trusts you as much as you trust him, you know. It’s not something you see everyday.”

Annabeth looks over expectantly, only to find you staring at a crumpled daisy in the palm of your hand and you’re pulled out of your trance by her voice calling your name.

“Oh yeah, no we talked about it briefly this afternoon. He told me you guys had to leave soon. You don’t know when you’ll be back do you ?” you ask in a small voice, faking a yawn to hide the tears at the corner of your eyes.

Your friend shakes her head before pulling you into a hug. 

“I’m gonna miss you, all of us will actually.” You tighten your embrace. “Me too, be safe out there.”

Annabeth pulls back with a small smile. “I’m gonna head back and let you join your lover boy.” You watch her as she puts her cap on, disappearing in the shadows. 

You don’t wait long before joining the rest of the campers, guided by the firelight and the giggles of the younger kids. As you make your way back to the fire, you notice Percy making a place for you. You walk on, blatantly ignoring his signs. 

No one else seems to notice what just happened. Puzzled, Percy stands up and follows your footsteps. You’re only a few meters away from your cabin when the boy grabs your wrist, turning you around to face him. The few lights around the cabins highlight the anger and sadness painted all over your face and you jerk your hand away. 

“When were you going to tell me ?” you ask, crossing your arms. 

His face falls. 

“I– I was going to! As soon as Chiron confirmed it, I promise ! I just– I couldn't find the proper way to announce it. I swear I didn’t want to leave you in the dark.” Percy sputters

You nod, averting your attention to anywhere else but the boy in front of you. You couldn’t bear to let him see how upset you were. He couldn’t see how his upcoming departure ripped your heart apart in a way it wasn’t supposed to at all. 

“Whatever. It’s not like you need me to make decisions right ? I’m just the stepping stone in your ‘how to get the girl tutorial’” you laugh bitterly 

Percy shakes his head.

“No, absolutely not. You’re my best friend and I care about you. So much. I didn’t mean to hurt you. I— I didn't think wisely but you have to know how important this quest is. Annabeth wanted you to come with her but I volunteered instead. I couldn’t let you go out there and get hurt. I’d never forgive myself if something ever happened to you.”

His words burn and you wipe your tears angrily. When you finally meet his eyes, you notice how soft his gaze is, and how sorry he seems. 

“Yeah right.” you point an accusatory finger at him. “Don’t you ever think that i’m going to help you with your little love games anymore. I’m done.” 

You didn’t let him reply. opting to turn around, you walk to your cabin. You spare him one last glance when you step on the porch. He stands still, hands in his pockets. 

“Look after Will and Nico, would you ? I trust Annabeth with my life but I wouldn’t bear to lose them because of you.” your words linger in the air and Percy winces, as if slapped by the meaning of your words.

He nods and you walk into your cabin, tears streaming down your face.

You don’t talk to Percy for the next few days, always finding excuses to avoid being in his vicinity and busying yourself with as many camp duties as you could take. You managed to escape him without anyone noticing the weird tension between the two of you. Yet Percy was desperately trying to talk to you, always searching your eyes during meals and attempting to follow you around to make amends. But you slipped through his fingers, never staying around him for more than a second.

When the day of the group’s departure finally came, you reluctantly stood next to Chiron. The whole camp came to the border to wish the group good luck, and you certainly weren’t going to let your friends go without sending them off with a proper goodbye. You ruffled Nico and Will’s hair, making them promise to send an Iris message whenever they needed to. Annabeth hugs you tightly and you wish her a safe journey. Percy follows, and he’s awkwardly shuffling on his feet, all the while the other campers wait for their favorite amusement. Although you’re upset and heartbroken, you still wish him the best. When you look up at him, you can still see the same apologetic gaze he gave you almost a week ago. 

You reach up reluctantly, lacing your arms around his neck. Under the scrutinizing gaze of your peers, you manage to press a feathery kiss on the corner of his mouth. While everyone cheers and celebrates the rest of the group as well, Percy’s hands find yours. 

“I’ll stay in touch, promise.” he squeezes your hand and you just nod, pursing your lips. There’s a beat of silence, his hand still holding yours. You’re the first one to pull back, crossing your arms and standing back. Percy takes this as his cue to leave. With one last glance at you, he adjusts the straps of his backpack and turns away, following the rest of the group while you watch them disappear through the fields.  

Ever since Annabeth and her partners left, your days at camp seemed to go by slower. Yet the occasional message of Apollo’s son, Will, always eager to update you on everyone and the quest made you look forward to what the day could bring. Ever since his arrival at camp Half-Blood, Will Solace has been like your little brother, always in your shadow. Every time his freckled face appeared through the mist, it was as if a weight was lifted off of your shoulders. Some days, he managed to drag Nico into view to say hi and during others, he almost had to tell Annabeth off for “hogging all his time with Y/N”. On the other hand, you managed to catch glimpses of Percy, whether he was in the background or coming in to greet you, asking how life at camp was. Conversations with him were short and you hoped the others didn’t notice the tension between the two of you that persisted even through a simple Iris message.

As the days went on, Will’s messages were rare, which was worrying. He’d usually call you once a week but your most recent conversation dated back two weeks already. One late afternoon, as you were supervising the archery class along with another camper from Apollo’s cabin, the frantic sound of hooves hitting the gravel path broke the kids’ focus. In a matter of seconds, Grover is right in front of you, panting. 

“Chiron wants to see you… now.” 

Feeling your stomach tighten in anguish, you rush to your beloved activities director, only to find him animatedly talking to someone via Iris message.

To Will Solace. 

Although he’s on the other side of the country, he notices you first and agitatedly calls out your name, prompting Chiron to turn around.

“I’ll let the two of you be. There’s something important you both need to discuss.” Chiron solemnly announces before retiring, prompting you to rush to the boy. 

“Will ! Thank gods ! Are you okay ? What’s going on ? Is everything alright ?” 

Will lets you ask all the questions you could think of and your heart clenches at the sight of his bruised face and his torn clothes.

“I’m okay.. Nico and I are okay.” he breathes and you answer with anguish. “What’s happening ? Why– Where’s Annabeth ? Where’s Percy ?”

At the mention of the older two, Will’s face contorts in an expression you can’t discern and your face falls.

“Annabeth tripped and fell. Percy rushed to help her but he couldn’t pull her up nor himself.” The boy swallows. “So he told Nico and I to join the rest of our crew, you know, the ones from the Argo II, the ones I told you about ?” You nod and he resumes his story. “I— I thought he wanted them to help him pull him and Annabeth up but he… He let go and they both fell. They fell into Tartarus.”

The room around you was spinning. You sat in the nearest chair and brought a shaky hand to your lips. Will was still talking but the ringing in your ears was too overwhelming for you to hear anything. 

After regaining composure as best as you could, Will explained how the rest of their quest was supposed to go. You were unable to utter a single word, the shocking news weighing heavy on your heart. He ended the call with a promise to come back to camp safely. As soon as you were alone in the room, you keeled on yourself, choking out tears. 

Will’s words still echoed in your mind more than a week after that fateful call, especially when word got out that Annabeth and Percy, Y/N’s Percy, fell into Tartarus. Your days were tiresome and your nights full of nightmares. More often than not, you found yourself awoken by one of your siblings in the middle of the night, their hands on your shoulders prompting you to calm down. Pitiful stares from other campers weren’t spared either, and you could feel everyone’s eyes on your back almost everyday, already grieving the loss of two people that meant the world to you.  

But you tried to keep face. Every piece of meal you scraped into the campfire was a silent prayer to your mother to keep your friends safe, every night spent on your cabin’s porch was another way of pleading the stars to bring everyone back to camp quickly and safely. To clear your mind as best as you could, you began to spend most evenings on the shore where you and Percy used to hang out all the time, before everything went down. Reminiscing on past conversations, the knot in your stomach only tightened when you remembered your last exchange, regret swallowing you whole at the idea of losing Percy and never mending things with him.

Sitting on the shore and skipping stones slowly became part of your daily routine. You were there at dawn and at dusk, feet at the edge of the water. This was the exact place you found out Percy and Annabeth came back. Meg McCaffrey, daughter of Demeter came bounding towards you, yelling your name.

“They’re back !!! They’re all back !!!”

Scrambling to your feet, you follow the girl as best as you could, too stunned to speak. And indeed, as soon as you joined the group of campers in the meadow, you saw them. Your eyes caught Will’s first, holding Nico’s hand tightly. You see them next, Percy and Annabeth. They’re in terrible shape, clothes torn and faces scraped. Yet here they are, stumbling towards Thalia’s tree, holding each other up. That’s the first thing you notice: Percy’s tight grip on Annabeth’s shoulder. You let out a breath, rushing towards the group. Will launches himself into your arms and you fall to your knees, holding him tightly. 

“You’re okay. You’re home.” you whisper, a hand soothingly rubbing his back. When he pulls back, you open your arms to Nico, who gladly accepts your embrace. Once the three of you are up on your feet again, Annabeth pulls you towards her and Percy, although not without wincing. You let out a teary laugh at her demeanor before brushing dirt off her cheek. 

“Let’s get you patched up.” you grin as you take a hold of her elbow. You turn towards Percy, who smiles tiredly before beckoning him to follow. “You’re going too Perce.” 

The next few days Annabeth and Percy stay in the infirmary, you pass by often to help with bandages or simply to strike up a conversation. The bright smile with which Percy greets you everytime makes your heart clench and you avoid his eyes as best as you can. 

The duo has undoubtedly become the talk of the entire camp again, and you can’t help but remember the bitterness crawling up your throat again. They seemed closer, with Percy still hanging around Annabeth as often as he could. Yet this time, you sensed a shift in their dynamics, blaming it on your mother’s powers. Ever since the pair came back from Tartarus, you started to fall into the background again. Percy technically hasn’t abandoned you but you did feel left out, again. Evenings with your dear friend on the shore were traded for long conversations in Athena’s cabin and the feeling of Percy’s constant arm around you now seemed like a fever dream.

With a heavy heart, you let life take its course again. Having pulled away from Percy, people started to speculate your potential breakup. You didn’t deny the rumors, wanting things to go back to what you were used to, wanting to hopelessly pine in silence without pretending anymore. But what you experienced in the past few weeks felt too real and every single time your path crossed Percy’s, you felt like drowning in unsaid feelings. 

The day Silena found you sobbing on the steps of the cabin was your breaking point. She rushed to your side, engulfing you in a hug. 

“Hey, hey! What’s going on ?” she asked but you shook your head, unable to find the right words and ashamed of what your answer might be. But she pressed on until you cracked. 

“Percy and I, we weren’t actually dating. He wanted to make Annabeth jealous so he asked me to pretend to be his girlfriend and I said yes. And I feel so, so stupid because I liked him, really liked him and I thought that was the closest I’ll ever get to actually be with him but then he left and I guess his plan finally worked.” you let out a bitter laugh before resuming. “And I just can’t look him in the eyes anymore, it hurts too much. I probably messed up our friendship because I fell in love with him years ago when he only had eyes for Annabeth. And I can’t be mad at him! She’s perfect! Sometimes I just wish it was me…”

Letting out a shaky breath, you avoided your sister’s eyes until she held your shoulders, prompting you to face her. There was no trace of pity in her gaze, only the typical fondness she addressed to her siblings. With a small smile, she was about to comfort you until the hurried sound of footsteps caused the both of you to turn towards the source of the sound. 

Percy stood in front of the porch, looking as surprised as you. If looks could kill, Silena would’ve already sent him six feet in the ground. On the other hand, you felt sick to your stomach. Judging by the expression on his face, your declaration didn’t fall into deaf ears. He slowly reached the first step but you stood up abruptly.

“Don’t.” was all you could muster before running off.

You blamed it on muscle memory when you found yourself on the edge of the shore again. But Percy wasn’t stupid. He figured out it became your favorite spot almost a month after he took you there for the first time. With your back facing him, he softly called your name, sighing when you refused to turn around. 

“Go away Percy.”

“I can’t. I won’t.” 

“What do you want then?” you finally snapped, facing him. “Do you want to laugh in my face ? Tell me I’m an absolute idiot for thinking I could ever have a chance with you ?”

“No! Absolutely not!” There's a second of silence before he starts again. “I, I heard everything and” you’re about to cut him off when he shakes his head. “No. Let me tell you what I need to tell you. I can’t let you hurt like that knowing I caused all this mess.” 

Seeing him in such a nervous state somewhat calmed your own nerves. You sat on a big rock, motioning him to sit beside you. None of you talked for a little while, instead choosing to focus on the lapping of the waves. Percy decided to break the silence. 

“I have– had feelings for Annabeth. For the longest time. And looking back on it, I was a jerk for asking you to fake date me. I was selfish, I didn’t even think about how you felt in the moment because I was too obsessed with the idea of Annabeth noticing me.” He swallowed. “I was blinded by my feelings until the quest. When Annabeth told me she wanted you to come with her, I told you I couldn’t allow you to get hurt. I meant it. And when we were in Tartarus, gods, I couldn’t help but imagine you instead of me. The place tricked us, made us see things coming out of our worst nightmares. I— I heard you most of the time. It recreated your voice and made me believe you were in so much pain and I couldn’t do anything about it. I still have dreams about it: you’re the one who’s falling into Tartarus because I can’t seem to reach your hand.”

When you turn your head to look in his direction, you find him already looking at you. 

“What do you mean by that?” you whisper, eyes scanning his face.

He grabs your hand and you can’t help but twitch at the contact.

“I can’t lose you, that’s what it means. I took our friendship for granted and I’ll always beat myself up for that. Annabeth realized that before I did. When we came back, she told me to always be upfront about my feelings to people you hold dear. You never know when you might see them for the last time. So that’s what I’m doing right now.”

“Are you seriously friendzoning me right now ?” you scoff at his choice of words.

“No, no!” he closes his eyes. “Gods what I want to tell you is that I can’t stand when you’re not by my side. And I’m sorry for not noticing it earlier. I care about you, more than you know. And if you’d let me, I want to make things right with you, with us.”

Your heart softens at his declaration. You heave a sigh but you can’t hide the small smile growing on your face. 

“We can try.” you shrug and you feel his grip tighten around your hand. 

· · ୨୧ · ·

percy found it increasingly difficult to keep his eyes on the road.

by compulsion, he’d sneak a look at his right hand side every few minutes, trying to retain every detail perfectly.

the blue and silver hue curtesy of the night, your image contrasted against the shrubs of grass lining the beach. the way your hair rippled behind you from the strong breeze of the open window, your hand extended beyond yourself in hopes of catching air in your palm.

the only thought that could cross his mind was a desperate wish for a camera, a way to capture this sight and keep it forever.

his eyes reluctantly returned to the empty road. there hadn’t been car to pass in awhile, which made him feel less bad about looking away as frequently as he did. not to mention how familiar it all was, he knew what pace to keep, what turns to make, how much longer it’d be.

the wind brushed past rapidly, giving the skin a break from the exhausting summer humidity. it’d been a bit since the saltwater smell had arrived, but it nonetheless filled the car with a renewed sense of excitement.

the music of the radio echoed beyond itself, reminding the seagulls and grains of sand that they weren’t alone.

rounding a corner that percy knew all too well, he glanced at you again, only this time you were already looking at him. his hair was blown about, his toned arms sharply displayed ahead of him, and there was a gleam in his green eyes you liked to believe was only ever meant for you.

the car was brought to a halt in the middle of a deserted parking lot and you smiled at him, before wordlessly rushing out and away.

he was quick to follow, not before reaching into the backseat to retrieve the beach towels you’d brought. opening his car door and looking beyond, his heart raced with anticipation at the stark white moon shining over the dark water.

he ran and ran and ran after you. you’d discarded the t-shirt worn over your bathing suit in the sand alongside your shoes. he smiled to himself, quickly unfurling a towel and tossing your things upon it.

he then removed his own shirt, throwing it next to everything else mindlessly- he couldn’t be bothered with being meticulous when the sea was calling him. he chased your footprints down the beach but stopped right at the edge as he caught wind of you.

you’d emerged from the water. a story percy had heard about a beautiful creature coming up from the sea foam flashed in his mind but he could barely form a full thought to put a name to it. the moon was bright behind you, lining your silhouette in pure silver. illuminating with each stride, if he didn’t know any better he would’ve thought you were the most beautiful neried.

water soaked your body and he was absolutely taken by the sight. he felt that in some strange way, you were completely submerged in him. seeing you in the sea, you and him had become one.

you dragged yourself through the waves over, a water dripping hand extended to him, “c’mon!”

without hesitation he accepted, though he was still watching you with half a mind. as you led him farther in, his eyes grazed your rising and falling chest littered with droplets.

waist deep now and unable to help himself, he pulled on your hand, bringing you to him with a small yelp, earning a breathless chuckle at your surprise.

your arms instinctively came to rest around his neck, staring up at him through waterlogged lashes, “hi.”

“hi yourself.”

waves crashed everywhere but around the two of you. one of his hands found its way down to your leg, bringing it to his waist in indication. once you were completely entangled to him, both his hands rested comfortably around your waist.

“it’s not fair, you know,” you told him.

his head tilted slightly, “what isn’t?”

“you get to be all dry.” your eyes narrowed at him and he laughed.

“you want me to get wet?” he mused with his famous smirk.

“mhm.”

“whatever you say.”

on his word, both of you plunged underwater. you stayed tied to him, although bubbles and strands of hair clouded any visions of one another for a few seconds. once they were away, you saw his hair floating off his head and knew he was concentrating well enough to keep it wet per your request.

light seeped in in rays, encapsulating the both of you, creating a comfortable warmth that almost made you want to stay.

a hand left your hips to reach your cheek and pulled you into a kiss. even underwater, his lips were still as soft albeit slightly most salty than you remembered.

arms still locked around each other and lips moving in sync, you breached the surface. pulling away and taking a deep breath, percy seemed to chase after your mouth for a second, forgetting you couldn’t also breath underwater.

catching your breath, and looking at him in full, his dark hair stuck to his forehead and water ran down the tip of his nose. you brushed it away with a giggle, returning both hands to the sides of his face.

looking at you above him, he smiled, “better?”

“much.”

he gave a small nod, mouth slightly agape, searching your features with that same gleam in his now blue-green eyes. his voice suddenly lowered to a whisper, “did i ever tell you you’re the most beautiful girl i’ve ever seen?”

you gave a reluctantly shy smile, the temperature in your face rising despite the breeze, “only every day.”

he chided, “not nearly enough.”

he watched you with intent, as your head lifted up to the sky. no matter the circumstances, he’d only ever want to look at you. your shoulders wore streams of ocean that resembled himself. he gently pressed his lips to your collarbone without conviction.

moonlight once again took the whole of you, your skin glowing in an almost religious way.

as you were blissfully unaware and gazing at the stars, percy was able to form his first full thought since you’d gotten in his car all those hours ago; you were now consumed in him, the way he’d always been of you.