Chapter Text
Gods, aren't you going to restore her?
Percy's inward question as he moved towards the newly mortal and incredibly sour-looking Artemis was shot to the Gods and Goddesses watching him. He didn't have to think that they were to know there were likely dozens of eyes on his body as he moved towards Artemis' very frail one.
Well, not too frail. She's still maintained some manner of her powers but compared to what she - or they - are used to, it must be like night and d- oh, I shouldn't use that anymore.
He huffed and shook his head, a slight hitch in his step that was quickly fixed as he restarted his journey towards the teenage-looking Goddess. She had to be fifteen or sixteen physically, which was a bit weird considering how she often looked about twelve. Whether her current form was her decision, Zeus' or from another factor, Percy didn't know.
Whoever had picked, she was pretty… not that he'd tell her that. In fact, once he made his way over to her, he'd probably be sure to keep a few feet of distance between them. It was known that Artemis tolerated males more than a majority of her Hunters did but even then, she still wasn't happy being too close to them or remotely affectionate. That nod he'd gotten from her and the closest thing to a smile after he offered aid thanks to her newly mortal status was the most he'd ever gotten.
"You linger nearby in silence, Percy," Artemis' voice, the same as it always sounded despite her change in mortality, called from a dozen or so feet away. "Will you not come and make your presence known? This body isn't nearly as perceptive as it previously was and your strength in comparison to my own isn't lost on me — sit, it would put my mind at ease."
Percy closed the vast majority of the distance between them and stepped out from his concealed position. When he did so with a smile on his face and a welcoming bit of body language flowing through the rest of him, he spoke.
"Sorry for lingering in silence, I had something come across my mind while I was coming over to see how you were doing," He said, apologising and plopping down on a log right in front of her, his hands purposefully kept in her line of sight. "So… how are you doing? Notice any other changes or is there anything I can help with?"
When he made his offer of aid, he made sure to do so quietly lest anybody overhears him. He knew Artemis missed her strength, her speed and her true power more than anything, including her mortality. Those abilities had been with her since inception and to suddenly be without them after hundreds of years; there was no way Percy could imagine what that felt like.
Artemis shook her head once, her eyes darting over to the tree line when she heard a few voices coming from it. He swore he could even see her ears move as if she were tracking the sound as a dog would. It was a minor movement, but he swore that he saw it.
"There have been no additional changes since last we spoke yesterday evening," Artemis answered, straight to the point and looking away as soon as she was finished answering his question.
If it were anybody else, he would feel like his presence wasn't wanted, much less needed. Artemis… from what he could tell and the little others had told him about her, she wasn't one to waste words or complain. He supposed it was why he didn't hear her moaning about her newfound status or doing something rash as he usually did.
Annabeth and Artemis will get along really well, I bet. They both have names that start with an 'a', they're both super smart and when I do something too stupid, they'll be able to back me up. It's perfect.
"Good, that's really good. You didn't need anything, did you? I'm here to help with whatever, even if it's correspondence," Percy made sure he caught her eye then and very pointedly looked towards a tree stump, or rather a portion of one. "If there's nothing, I could leave you for the evening and allow you to settle into that tent of yours."
I may not be able to curse you or any of the others, but taking away her cabin was stupid. It's Zoe's now, that's fine since Artemis gave her godhood up, but to ban the former Hunter from helping her Goddess?
Percy still couldn't believe it. The action was done out of anger by Zeus, it had to be, there wasn't any other reason Percy could think of other than Artemis' father attempting to teach her a lesson. On the flip side, he supposed that lesson could be much worse than it truly was after listening to some of the more inappropriate stories.
"Stay for a little while longer, won't you?" Artemis asked, her eyes facing the stars as her voice reached out to keep him.
"I can do that," Percy said with a stretch, yawn and groan as he fell backwards onto the soft, wonderfully kept grass. It had to be the best, softest, most comfortable ground he could ever sleep on.
"They're her stars now, as I agreed upon the transfer of my powers, but the connection I feel is strong as ever. Have you ever felt a yearning in your being, Percy Jackson? One that calls for an item or land that proves itself impossible for you?" Artemis' question sounded, for the first time since the change, sorrowful beyond measure.
There was an indescribable wave of sadness that spread even to him as he watched the former Goddess, one that made him feel worse than he could think when the pain wasn't even his own. Still, there was one instance he could think of when it came down to a yearning for something, but that something would be a person rather than any place or item.
His mother. She had gotten him to Camp Half-Blood that first time and got herself taken because of it. Hades would never have his forgiveness for doing so, Percy would promise his loving uncle that.
"I doubt it's as strong as yours, but yes, I've felt something similar," Percy swallowed and shook his head, quelling his rising anger as he attempted to refocus himself on helping Artemis. That was his reason for being seated beside her, not for him to use her as an impromptu therapist even if it did occasionally feel nice to speak about his problems.
Artemis finally tore her eyes from the night sky to look at him weirdly. The crackling noise caused by the candy wrappers in his hands had stolen her attention. He had brought them for that exact purpose too, for only last night he had seen her blank staring into the stars above. It wasn't filled with weeping and tears hadn't been falling freely from her eyes, but the emotions it filled him with were ones he hadn't wanted to feel again nonetheless.
It helped that Artemis, as one of the only proactive, helpful and occasionally friendly godly beings, meant a lot to him.
"What made you bring those if you've already had your dinner for the evening?" Artemis asked curiously, her eyes slowly rising until they were staring into his.
Percy shrugged and held out a hand to her, one that was full of chocolates as well as various other goodies. "It occurred to me that you probably haven't had the chance to try a bunch of mortal food. This isn't anything that requires cooking or tons of chewing, but they're something that a lot of people eat for the amazing and various tastes."
Artemis let his larger hand pour the candy into her two smaller ones. She seemed curious as to what each was, going so far as to read the names, repeat them out loud and discuss with him what they're made with. He didn't understand her interest in ingredients and so on, but a simple conversation with Artemis was something he would never pass on.
The wisdom she had within her mind, the centuries of knowledge and experience, the truly friendly personality she had that he was slowly starting to see… all of it showed that inside her shell was an awesome, cool girl.
If he had his way, they'd become as good of friends as he and Grover were. Based on her look of surprised delight as she chewed into her first-ever Snickers bar, he was well on his way to accomplishing that friendship. When she saw the letter that waited for her under that stump as well as the items alongside it, he was certain she'd think of him more fondly than all of the other guys at Camp Half-Blood.
One month later
"Percy, you will join me for prayer, won't you?" Artemis asked, her tone confident and her posture equally so as she strolled past the various campers whose names she hadn't bothered to learn.
He nodded once, a small smile on his face as he made his way over to Artemis. "I can do that, definitely," Percy waved at a few of the others nearby and when he saw the twins, shot them a look that acted as a warning whilst maintaining a certain level of friendliness. He didn't dislike them, far from it, but he had to make sure they knew messing with Artemis would be a step too far.
Annabeth, Grover, and himself were fair game if they wanted a war on their hands.
"Thanks to your intercession on my behalf, I find myself able to outright purchase a mansion and live a comfortable remainder of my life should my father choose not to restore my powers. I am unable to express my true feelings of gratitude towards you, but I would have you know they're very high," Artemis stopped in front of the newly made shrine to Zoe and turned to regard him. "She spoke of your quality with but one lingering look filled with pride and respect when she thought the end was nigh. I've come to see it too, for, without my powers, there is nothing you could wish to gain from me and as such, you would not see fit to aid me unless you did so out of the goodness of your heart."
"You helped me more than most of the others did and your Hunters were equally as supportive even if they were a bit cold at times. The choice you made to save her was one I don't think any other god or goddess would have made — I guess what I'm saying is you deserve it and if I'm good, you're great," Percy shrugged and turned back to Zoe's shrine. "I brought venison… she likes that, right?"
Artemis' answering smile, no matter how small it was, showed that she was pleased. All of the words they spoke hadn't fallen on deaf ears and more than that, he had paid attention down to the manner that Zoe had enjoyed the dish most; with butter-topped potatoes and thick bread acting as a bowl for the venison stew.
When Artemis and he sat praying on their knees, their eyes closed as they spoke to Zoe, he couldn't help but feel as if they were forcefully moved a few inches closer. They weren't quite touching, there were still a few inches separating them, but what stuck out beyond that meddling was the fact that Artemis didn't move away from him.
She stayed right where she was.
Two months later
Percy let out a deep breath, his lungs filled with fresh air as he stepped into the section of the forest that Artemis had essentially made her own. It had taken nearly two months of hard, constant work with which he helped. Annabeth, Grover and even a few of the others from Camp Half-Blood had aided Artemis in building her at-camp shelter.
Her mansion, as it turned out, wasn't the life that she wished to live even if it was a far more comfortable and secure lifestyle. Goddess or mortal, it didn't matter to her so long as she could see the night sky and the constellations that littered themselves amongst the stars. It was her love and the cause of her greatest, lingering pain.
Hopefully, that pain won't continue on too much longer. Not if I can help it, Percy thought as he moved closer to Artemis' tent, she'll be a Goddess again before too much longer. I'll make sure that happens.
"Percy," Artemis said, her voice less stoic and more friendly in nature than it was when she spoke to anybody else; he couldn't help but smile and tease the others about that fact. "Your steps give you away even when you walk amongst the forest floor."
He couldn't help but grin at her manner of teasing him, especially since it was more of a statement or warning than anything else. "I'll work on it some more. If you want to teach another lesson too, I'd definitely be interested," Percy walked through the entrance of her tent with multiple reusable, heavy-duty bags in his hands that were all filled with various supplies. "I've brought you a few things too. I figured you could use some games, snacks, blankets, clothes, a few photo albums of different for—
"As I say whenever you come to visit me, gifts or tribute, whatever you wish to call it, are not necessary. All I ask is for your company and attention whilst I have it," Artemis stopped looking at the gifts he brought for her and gave the most masterful curtsey he'd ever seen. "Still, as you continue to do so, allow me to express my formal thanks for your gifts, friendship and constant companionship."
Percy smiled wide. "That's what friends are for and just so you know, as soon as you're willing, I'd like to take you to a movie theatre. It'll be one of the coolest experiences you'll ever have, I promise."
Artemis seemed to think for a few seconds. "I believe I have heard of a movie theatre through other campers and personal experiences. It sounded very interesting and as for my willingness, any activity that you plan for us to enjoy is one that I shall be ready for," Artemis tentatively patted him on the shoulder, the gesture a bit awkward and incredibly swift. "While I no longer have all the time in the world, I have enough left to enjoy it with you."
Those words caused a myriad of emotions to pass through Percy's mind in addition to one thought, one that involved a way for her to regain her godhood. He would do so, that promise wouldn't fail until the day he died. But until that time came, he had something to say to any God or Goddess listening in.
If you don't want her back, she'll always have a spot at my side.