My Head's in the Clouds

 

She was an intellectual…and he, admittedly, was not. So it was kind of hard trying to figure out what kind of dates he should plan for her, when he didn’t even know what she would find enjoyable. But he wanted to make her happy so bad…

 

Maybe they weren’t alike and didn’t have so much in common, but the pounding of his heart, the breath that escaped his lungs and the shine in his eyes said that didn’t matter.

 

‘Cheesy, Jackson, real cheesy.’

 

He sighed and glanced at the tickets in his hands, and hoped they were enough. A classical music concert would be alright…right? And then an art gallery exhibition straight after. Okay, right. He’d just have to contact her.

 

Damn it, he should’ve done that before he bought the tickets. What if she was busy or something?

 

Growling to himself at his stupidity, he wrote a simple note to her.

 

Lady Athena,

 

Busy Saturday? I wanna take you out, if that’s ok?

 

Percy

 

He nodded at it. There. Short and simple…and to the point. He put the note into an envelope and sealed it, rummaging around for a couple drachmas and found a slip for the Hermes Overnight Express. He dropped the envelope and drachmas in the slip, waiting for it to disappear. Instead, he was surprised to see Hermes appear in his room.

 

“Hey there, Percy. I see you’ve a got a letter to send. I got a new system with workers splitting the load, but I can deliver yours personally,” Hermes informed him, holding out his hand for the drachmas and envelope.

 

“Oh, sounds good. Less work and stress for you, right?” Percy handed them over from the slip.

 

Hermes nodded and then grinned, “And more vacation time!”

 

Percy grinned back.

 

“So…who’s the letter for?”

 

Percy’s grin faltered, but only slightly. It was still enough to catch Hermes’ attention, though the god didn’t mention it.

 

“Oh, it’s for Lady Athena. I just had a question for her,” Percy slightly lied.

 

Hermes nearly raised his eyebrows at that, but kept a normal face on, nodding genially at the demigod. Still, curious it was that young Percy was asking Athena a question…

 

“Sure, alright. I’ll go deliver it to her right now. Say, are you busy Saturday? We could go catch a basketball game or something?”

 

Percy tried not to turn red and fidget, trying hard not to expose him and Athena since he didn’t even know if she wanted everyone to know about them.

 

“I might be,” he blurted out.

 

That, Hermes really did raise an eyebrow at. “Might be?”

 

Percy blushed, partly in embarrassment and partly at the thought that he might be going out with Athena.

 

“I haven’t gotten around to asking, but I’m hoping to go out with someone.”

 

An indescribable look passed through Hermes’ face, but Percy didn’t notice. It was as quickly gone as it appeared, and instead Percy was faced with a bright smile from the messenger god.

 

“Okay, cool. I’ll just go deliver this to her now. I’ll see you around, Percy!”

 

The god disappeared and reappeared nearer in front of Athena’s home. He knocked once, let in by some of Athena’s servants, before being led to the wisdom goddess.

 

“Got a letter for you, Athena,” Hermes tossed it to her.

 

She irritably caught it. “Who is it from? And can’t you hand things to others normally?”

 

“I could, but I don’t want to. And it’s from Percy Jackson.”

 

He could see the surprise in her eyes, but there was surprisingly no disdain or annoyance. Even indifference was missing. The goddess slid the envelope open and quickly scanned the thing, an uncharacteristic smile twitching at her lips. She grabbed a pen and started scribbling on the note, before refolding it and placing it back in the envelope. She resealed it as she pinched the edge with her thumb and index finger, sliding it from side to the other, a slight glow covering it momentarily.

 

“Can you send it back?” she handed it back to Hermes, along with a few drachmas.

 

“Sure,” he replied casually, keeping his tone in check.

 

He stared at her for awhile, her smile faltering before she checked herself and blanked out her face.

 

“See you, Athena. Have a good day,” he saluted halfheartedly, still thinking about what he’d seen.

 

He sent the letter back to Percy before going to his other runs, his mind still preoccupied about the matter.

 

Percy saw the envelope on his bed and eagerly tore into it. He blinked before a smile grew on his lips.

 

Lady Athena,

 

(Are you) Busy Saturday? I wanna (want to) take you out, if that’s ok (okay)?

 

Percy

P.s. Yes, I would like that. I will be there at 5 pm. I will dress semiformal in case for whatever your plans.

 

Well, that meant he’d have to dress semiformal. Good thing the places they were going were along that vein, or else the two of them would look slightly odd in a casual venue all dressed up. Grinning without restraint, he let out a loud whoop and started to get ready in earnest for the big day.

 

When Saturday came, Percy was already ready and waiting, nervously glancing at his front door every few minutes. When the doorbell rung, he rushed to it and opened it quickly, faltering as he caught sight of his date. Athena was dressed in a lovely dark green top and a long dark grey skirt, her hair nicely twisted up. She had a soft smile on her face.

 

“You clean up nicely,” she smirked and he rubbed the back of his head in embarrassment, laughing good-naturedly.

 

“Glad to meet your approval,” he held out his arm and she accepted it.

 

Without further ado, they set out for their date, Percy desperately trying to hide how much of a nervous wreck he was.

 

While it wasn’t horrible, Athena could clearly see that it wasn’t a date that the two of them could be content with together. She really enjoyed the classical music, but she’d noticed quite obviously that Percy was fighting to keep focused. And then at the very exquisite (and expensive, if she remembered from hearing about it) art exhibit, while she was very interested and delighted at the works she’d observed, she knew right away from his wandering eyes and slouching figure that he wasn’t as interested in the art as she was.

 

But she wasn’t going to fault him, because she knew that this was the sort of thing he didn’t care for and had planned for this date for her sake and not his. He obviously tried to do something to make her happy and was putting up with all this because it was for her and it was something she liked. While she appreciated all this and everything he was doing for her, she didn’t want him to force himself to go through this date only because of Athena.

 

“Perhaps this wasn’t such a good idea,” she mused aloud as they were walking back.

 

They had stopped next to an ice cream shop open late, the neon ‘Open’ sign shining on them. Percy abruptly turned to face her, eyes widening in horror as his body stiffened up.

 

“What? I don’t understand. Is something wrong, Lady Athena? I thought you were enjoying yourself.”

 

She gave him a small smile, idly taking his hand and holding it aloft in hers, gazing at their clasped hands in thought.

 

“I am,” she told him at last. “But you are not.”

 

“Of course I am,” he replied, a tone of hurt entering his voice. “I’m with you.”

 

Her smile grew even more tender and she slightly leaned into him, lightly leaning on his body. She inhaled, smelling a pleasing mix of wintergreen, the ocean breeze, and the slightest hint of…strawberries. Her fondness grew for him at that.

 

“Perseus, I know you’re trying hard for me. But it is unfair to you. We should…find things that would complement us both. Find compromises. Instead of classical music concerts, we can see Broadway, which might be more to your taste –livelier, energetic, more entertaining. There are plenty of things we can do together. We just have to find them.”

 

“I’m sorry I tried too hard,” he apologized, nervously moving around.

 

“But I appreciate it so. Now let’s go have some ice cream.”

 

It was a private teasing, almost a beginning of an inside joke, between the two that Athena got a strawberry ice cream cone, leaving Percy with an embarrassed flush and her with a knowing look and a slight twinkle in her eyes. He said nothing when he also got a strawberry ice cream cone.

 

When they returned to Percy’s home, he became even more nervous (after spending so much time calming down and finally relaxing with her at the ice cream parlor), making her smiling slightly in amusement.

 

“Kissing is alright, yeah?” he asked softly, warm hands softly cupping her face.

 

Surprised but pleased, she strangely shyly nodded yes to him and he leaned up slightly and swiftly captured her lips. The lingering taste of strawberries, the chapped lips of the young adult in front of her, and the warm calloused hands briefly caressing her skin in his hold made a slow burn travel in her, sparking an invisible heat between the two of them. Calmly, she put a restraining hand against his chest and he slowed his lips and released her face, darkened sea-green eyes staring back into stormy eyes.

 

“Sorry,” but he didn’t sound sorry.

 

And she didn’t want him to be either. It was a simple kiss; heated, but still a kiss. A part of her ached for something more, but that was something she quickly shut down and forced into the recesses of her mind.

 

Still, the way he’d said that should make her teasingly roll her eyes and lecture him about being sincere, but since she shared similar sentiments she’ll let it go…so long as she could keep her silence about that.

 

“Goodnight then, milady,” he murmured, brushing his lips across her cheek before repeating the action softly with his knuckles. “My heart is ever at your service.”

 

Percy quickly smiled at her before darting into his home. She shook her head, but the smile didn’t leave her face.

 

While Shakespeare was a Son of Apollo, she admitted only to herself that she quite enjoyed his works. The last words from Percy a quote from the writer himself, Athena felt compelled to return the sentiments, even to a closed door.

 

“And my heart is at yours…”

 

She turned and left, choosing to walk the dark streets and enjoy the peaceful quiet of the night.

 

She missed the curious but calculating gaze of a formidable woman and a fellow goddess, whose eyes were riveted to the sight and recalled the scene rapidly in her mind over and over.

 

It was not every day that Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, caught Athena, the so-called Goddess of Wisdom, seeking companionship in a male she swore was the spawn of the devil and treading dangerously steeper into Aphrodite’s territory than ever before.

 

She must thank Hermes for the off-hand mention of this odd occurrence. If only the messenger god had had a true inkling as to the actual nature of the meeting…

 

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When Athena came home, it was to receive the unwelcomed greeting from the love goddess, waiting patiently for her in her own living room.

 

“What are you here for? Or should I say why?” Athena scowled.

 

Aphrodite laughed lightly, “I was just curious as to why you were dating dear Perseus.”

 

“It’s none of your business,” Athena snapped, in no mood for any of the other goddess’ games.

 

The love goddess shrugged. “So you say. I’m surprised you didn’t deny it though.”

 

“Why would I? Just because I choose not to advertise and let all of Olympus know of my relationship with Perseus does not mean I am ashamed of it or of being with him. My relationship is a private affair and it is my decision, that doesn’t need anyone to intrude upon.”

 

Aphrodite ignored the scorn and irritation in Athena’s voice, as well as the pointed look at her, and instead moved onto her second issue.

 

“You know, Perseus is to graduate high school. I hear he’s going to college soon, with your help in that. You should take advantage of the break before and invite him to live with you for the summer or even longer,” she suggested smoothly.

 

“It’s too soon in our relationship for him to just move in,” Athena said stiffly. “It’s a ridiculous idea and preposterous.”

 

“Maybe you’re right. And you still have time to think about it, he’s not going to graduate soon. You two could continue getting to get together and grow close enough to the point where it’d be natural for him to move in,” Aphrodite hmmed. “Then again, summer will fly by and then he’ll be in college, too busy with schoolwork to spend time with you and absolutely surrounded by cute college girls...temptation wherever he looks –touchable, kissable, lines that can be crossed.”

 

With each word, Athena stiffened up and felt her nails digging into her skin as she clenched her hands.

 

“It might be a good idea to keep him close –you know, keep an eye on him,” Aphrodite ended nonchalantly. “Oops, where has the time gone? I’ve dallied too long. I have to go now. Ta-ta!”

 

But Athena paid no attention to her departure, too lost in her own thoughts.

 

She may be the Goddess of Wisdom, but that meant nothing right then. She was the wisest of all the gods, and yet that did not put her above them or make her any different. She could be just as cruel and just as selfish as the rest of them, and jealousy was not a rare acquaintance to her.

 

She was no stranger to jealousy, and it ran rampart in her just as it had several times before, just like it had in the Trojan War, in which jealousy started it all. A golden apple, a wish, a handsome man, a question of fairest…

 

There was still time. Athena had plenty of time to make her decision, with Percy still in high school and graduation still far off. She didn’t have to ask now and just think on it, and wait to ask when Percy was to graduate at the end of the school year (think to ask, she meant). There was no rush.

 

They could continue to smoothly enjoy their relationship and quietly get to know each other, getting to go on more dates and spend time together, and just have their relationship grow.

 

There was no rush.