And It's Come to This

 

Graduation had seemed so far off. And it had been.

 

Only time seemed to have rushed and now Percy was graduating and would soon be off to college. So where did that leave her? Did she go through with her tentative plans and thoughts about asking him to move in with her? Did she hold off on that, feeling it too soon for such a thing?

 

At that moment, she did not feel as wise and knowledgeable as she was supposed to be.

 

The feel of rough, calloused hands gliding through her hair, made her eyes flutter and she tilted her head back to enjoy the sensation. Percy hummed against her throat, giving a light kiss to it.

 

“You’re thinking.”

 

“I always am,” her lips twitched up.

 

Percy rolled his eyes lightly, though his thumbs caressed her temples.

 

“Can I ask what about?” he murmured.

 

She hesitated, but then told herself that she should tell him. It was always a good thing in a relationship to talk things together, so the wisest course for her to take was to talk to him about it. It did involve him after all.

 

Afterwards, Percy looked thoughtful.

 

“You know…I wouldn’t mind. If I’m not infringing on you, that is,” he gave a rather shy smile at her at that, and she couldn’t help feeling endeared.

 

“Of course not,” she returned it with a small smile. “I…I would like it. If you moved in with me.”

 

Percy gave her one of his brightest smiles and it made her heart feel light and happy.

 

“Perseus…Percy,” here, she could see his beautiful sea-green eyes light up. She reminded herself to try to use his preferred shortened name more, and took a deep breath. “When…would you like to move in with me?”

 

“Whenever you want me to.”

 

And she couldn’t help leaning over and kissing him lightly, because this was something that she’d never done before and this thing with him was new… and exciting, if she could admit it to herself.

 

By the end of the week, she had managed to discreetly help Percy move into her home in Olympus, and she was actually excited and thrilled at this new development in their relationship. She knew that what they had was progressing slowly, and that she was worried that Percy would get fed up or grow bored of it…but she’d been wrong so far, and Percy had steadfastly kept loyal and happily to her side.

 

Of all the goddesses he could have had, even narcissistic but beautiful Aphrodite, it was she that he had chosen to be with. Even the eternal maiden Artemis would not mind breaking her vows for him, or so the rumors say.

 

Ordinarily, Athena wouldn’t listen to rumors, but the strange and threateningly (to Athena, though the other didn’t know it) look in Artemis’ eyes whenever Percy was brought up or mentioned in some way made the wise goddess wary.

 

That was why, when the next Olympus party was thrown, in the hopes of a break from all the rebuilding and restructuring the little they still needed to do from the aftermaths of the war, she was more than reluctant and cautious of bringing Percy with her and announcing that they were now together (much less living together at this point in time).

 

But go with him, she did.

 

And at first she was amused at the gobsmacked reactions of everyone around them, even her father. But then the murmurings began. While Percy was human and his hearing couldn’t hear the mutters of immortals, Athena was not.

 

“Why is he with her?”

 

“I thought Athena hated Poseidon’s spawn.”

 

“No, they probably came together by coincidence. Most likely met up outside or something.”

 

“He really is handsome, especially now that he’s grown older. Has it really been around three years?”

 

“I wonder if he’s single…”

 

That was some of the more tamer ones. The more insulting ones, she refused to spend another thought on.

 

But Percy stayed by her side, even as he enthusiastically waved to some of the others and yelled out a greeting to the more bolder individuals. And to her surprise and secret delight, Percy confidently wrapped an arm around her waist, not even a half hour being there. She was so pleased, she allowed herself to lean on him slightly.

 

“Perseus,” a voice she really didn’t want to hear right then, especially given what she’s been hearing, sounded from right behind them. The couple turned around, and low and behold there stood Aphrodite, with a sharp smile. The other goddess only gave a very brief look towards Athena, before focusing all of her attention on Percy.

 

“My, my –it’s been awhile, hasn’t it? You’ve grown.”

 

Percy, dear him, smiled widely and genuinely towards the other. He was the type to be able to give others the kindness some of them didn’t deserve, unless you wronged his loved ones. Athena knew that Aphrodite was pleased with the smile and reception from the other, and a churning in her gut made her uncomfortable and anxious.

 

“Hello, Aphrodite,” Percy greeted genially.

 

Athena inwardly frowned at the address, though she knew the two had been rather informal and cordial with each other since the start…an opposite from herself and Percy.

 

“Hello to you too, Perseus. It’s really good seeing you again,” Aphrodite gave him a soft smile, and it hit Athena like a punch to the stomach at seeing Aphrodite, of all people, being sincere and actually granting honest affection to Percy.

 

She pressed closer to Percy, but said nothing as the two chatted like good friends, talking in a way that she and Percy sometimes had trouble doing (lack of common ground being only one of the reasons –her being unable to open up being another). It was fluid, the way they talked –fluid in the way they easily changed topics as well, while being able to keep up with the other. They had no problems in discussion, able to say things to each other that the other would understand, even private in-jokes that Athena was not privy to.

 

It made her well aware and alarmed that Percy had his own relationships he’d formed with the other gods and goddesses, outside of the romance he was cultivating with her. The paranoia and worry sprung up like a sprout, and there was nothing she could do to stamp it down and make herself relax and believe she was just being unreasonable.

 

When the party was coming to an end, Athena hesitantly believed it was time to make everyone aware of her relationship with Percy. She headed over with Percy to the group of immortals standing together, her fellow Olympians, and cleared her throat to tell them the news. Though she didn’t speak up amongst the loud music governing the hall, her voice easily carried through this group just because of the content of her news.

 

“I am in a relationship with Perseus.”

 

The good cheer the others were in froze on their face or quickly died away, and they continued to stare at her in unresponsiveness. Athena would never divulge that this reaction from her family rather hurt and upset her, but she didn’t let it show outwardly. She was relieved that Poseidon wasn’t there at least. Percy chose that time to start talking to the others, and she didn’t have the heart to quiet him.

 

“I know that a lot of you have had problems with me in the past, though I really hope that I’ve been mending that with a bunch of you, but I really care for Athena and hope that maybe I can at least have a pass for now?” he smiled goofily.

 

Athena just wanted Percy to shut up because that wasn’t the problem at all, and the sinking feeling she’d been feeling since getting to the party was starting to make her feel nauseas.

 

She looked around and distantly began to note some of the more reactive responses that were beginning to show on some of them. Aphrodite looked unruffled and unsurprised, which wasn’t too unexpected considering the woman’s domain and that she’d known for awhile. A lot of the others weren’t bothering to show they were upset, but she saw Artemis and felt the hair on the back of her neck raise.

 

The intensely interested and unreadable eyes of the younger goddess made her instinctively balk in her mind.

 

She could see Percy falter and look unsure as to what was going on, and Athena knew that he truly didn’t understand what was wrong.

 

The others didn’t say anything, but they didn’t have to.

 

In her home later that night, she moved through it quietly, absentmindedly straightening things and tidying a bit. By the time she was grabbing her favorite quilt off of her couch, she felt strong arms wrap around her from behind, and she closed her eyes tiredly and leaned back. Without another word, she let Percy lead her to the front of her couch and sit her down, moving to kneel between her knees. His eyes were solemn, and when he reached up to tenderly and slowly caress the side of her face, she leaned into it.

 

“Breathe for me,” he said quietly.

 

She blinked, startled at the request. “Why?”

 

“Just breathe,” he insisted firmly, and she did so.

 

In the midst of the action, Percy kissed her suddenly and all the breath in her left. She only had a moment for her eyes to unconsciously flicker and for her to start to move forward into the kiss, when he moved away and watched her tenderly.

 

“Let me keep stealing your breath tonight,” he murmured simply.

 

She watched him in wonder, and was unable to stop the impulse she had in launching forward and embracing him tightly, nuzzling her cheek against his throat in secret gratitude. He didn’t know what was going on and she didn’t want him to know, but she was thankful that he was there for her anyway.

 

When they swayed closely together in silence, slow dancing to no words, she let him kiss her all he wanted and basked in the affection that she sorely wanted to hoard all to herself.

 

She took the moment and kept it to anchor herself together.

 

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Time passed by rather quickly, strangely enough. In her opinion, she was expecting a long, drawn out and stifling existence with the others, once her relationship with Percy was known (and that he was actually living with her). Both news had traveled rapidly the next morning, as she knew would happen, and the talking had already begun.

 

But her moment, her moment, was fresh and secured herself from all of it.

 

They talked, but she didn’t listen. And Percy was kept out of it by all, anyway.

 

And so it was, she had such a surreal and sweet summer affair with Percy. Times where she was now frequently laughing lightly, gazing fondly at him…where he would look at her with contented and affectionate eyes…where all she could remember in a moment was that she’d been thoroughly happy, even if she couldn’t recall anything else about what else happened then…

 

It was a delirium she hadn’t wanted to ever break from.

 

But summer was over, and Percy was starting college now. He was going to be gone more frequently, and the first seedlings of unease were beginning to reappear again. She couldn’t help herself, though a voice in the back of her head told her that she knew better. But Aphrodite’s words were not easily forgotten, and she could not forget the things she witnessed between Percy and the others either.

 

It wasn’t Aphrodite that she thought she had to worry about –it was Artemis.

 

The younger goddess would frequently visit with Percy, making time to chat and be friendly. And though Athena tried to pass it off and believe herself over thinking things, instinct told her that there was something else and that she should worry about the other.

 

And it was also Ares, surprisingly, that made her realize it wasn’t only the goddesses who kept close-guarded affections close to their chests.

 

Percy eyed the other warily, standing slightly tense at the appearance of the war god. Athena was still busy at the stall, and though she saw them and was worried, she wasn’t able to hurry up.

 

“So you’re livin’ around here now, eh? How’s life treating you, Sea brat?”

 

Percy raised an eyebrow. “Well…good, I suppose,” he answered neutrally.

 

Ares was fidgeting and suffering from infrequent nervous ticks, both uncharacteristic of the war god.

 

“Good on you, I guess,” Ares said gruffly. “It’ll hopefully be more lively around, at least.”

 

The demigod was beginning to get a little curious at this meeting.

 

“You’re not attempting some kind of new psychological attack or something, are you?” Percy asked suspiciously.

 

Ares snorted and instantly was relaxed. “Tch, as if, punk,” he grinned widely. “I’d rather lay you out flat, with a full assault, than that pussy shit.”

 

Percy’s cautious frown shifted, as he was unable to keep himself from twitching his lips up from the reply, though he was certainly surprised at himself for doing so.

 

“Whatever, kid. Drop by sometime, if you feel like a fight or a regular spar or somethin’. I’ll get less bored too.”

 

Percy was grinning freely back, by that time.

 

“You want that rematch? You got it! I’m definitely not losing out!”

 

It wasn’t hard to recall and for some reason, that particular happening was burned into her memory.

 

It was Ares (who was supposed to hate Percy, damn it) that shoved into her face that the other women were not her only worries.

 

It was a surprising and shocking thing to learn, especially considering the source. She was taken aback, but she shouldn’t have been. She had already known it to be a fact before Ares, but seeing that unplanned meeting with Ares had brought it to the forefront and made her open her eyes.

 

Maybe it was all circumstantial –and Percy certainly wasn’t aware –but she couldn’t bring herself to believe that.

 

The first week of college made her all the more conscious of the beginning of her unusual behavior. Percy came back each day, bright and happy about everything and Athena would just nod and watch him, mentally cataloguing each tone and each look…trying to decipher any ulterior meanings, things she could be missing or was unable to catch.

 

Percy was excited about going into college, and Athena was very surprised at herself for not being so for him.

 

Instead, she found herself quietly trying to watch him closely, looking for…expecting a misstep that she could latch onto, and call him out on it. Anything to make her fears and suspicions have grounds, and be anything but unfounded and disgusting paranoia.

 

She cursed Aphrodite, her poison words, her sickening beauty, and the goddess’ very existence.

 

Life with Percy was beginning to become some reflection of a blended heaven and hell, which was already quickly falling fast into the fires.

 

She said nothing, and Percy continued to be unaware, even now with this new development.

 

Summer had passed happy. Fall and Winter was cold, icy enough that Percy knew by then that something was off.

 

Athena was always watching with a sharp gaze, and she was speaking less and less with him.

 

The chill he felt was separated from the season.