LoSP Side Story Ch.6: A Moonlit Dinner (Patreon)

The leaves rustled as a cool breeze blew through the clearing, carrying the crash of the waves below. The moon shone high up in the clouds, shining in Artemis’ silver eyes as she gazed upon the stars twinkling in the sky.

The wind shifted and Artemis stilled, sniffing the air slightly. A smile lit up her face as she turned around and threw her arms around Percy who had appeared behind her. 

Her lips crashed against his, the taste of chocolate chips and coffee seeping through. Percy’s hands crawled up her back, holding onto her while her grip on his shirt tightened.

“Hey.” Percy grinned slightly as she pulled back, not breaking their hug. “What brought this on? Not that I am complaining.”

“I am just glad you’re safe.” Artemis gave him a soft smile. “I was growing worried.”

“I was held up for a couple of minutes more.” Percy rolled his eyes. “It was not like I had gone off to storm Mount Othrys.”

“Do I have to worry about you doing that too now?” Artemis laid her head against his chest, her auburn hair tickling Percy’s nose. 

“If I did, it would not be the first time I stormed that mountain. Or even the second.” A soft chuckle reverberated through Percy’s chest. “But no, if I were to go there again, like the other times, I would have backup. I promise.“ 

“That’s the best I can get, I suppose.” Artemis raised her head to look at him. 

“I have faced a lot of bad stuff before, Artemis.” Percy looked deep into her silver eyes. “I have even killed Titans and gods before. I know the dangers and the risks.”

“I know that and yet, I still worry.” Artemis bit her lip, her face falling. “It is even irrational. Someone like you is, and should always be on the front lines, putting fear in the hearts of your enemies by your sheer presence. And you do.”

“It is the very nature of love to worry,” I said, repeating what Hestia had once said to me. “If you love someone and you care for them, it is natural that you would be worried for them.”

“Perhaps,” Artemis whispered. “This quest—”

“Artemis, let’s not talk about the quest or the war for this once,” Percy cut in. “Let us… just enjoy this time together. Let it just be us for tonight. Just you and me spending time together on such a lovely night while you look as beautiful as ever.”

Artemis glanced down at her dress, frowning slightly. “I have done nothing special. I look like I always do.”

“You always look beautiful,” Percy pecked her cheek, turning her around. “And so does the moon… my moon goddess.”

Artemis burst out laughing.

“Seriously, Percy?”

“Hey! I was being romantic!” Percy poked her below the ribs, warmth creeping up his cheeks. “And cut me some slack. I have hit a wall on my project of a hundred moon puns.”

“You are not making that.” Her elbow dug into Percy’s ribs. “I don’t want to have a book like the idiot of my brother.”

“Whatever you say, my deer.”

“You are not allowed to do animal puns either.” Artemis rolled her eyes. “And as far as puns go, that was a terrible one.”

“I… sea.” Percy smirked as Artemis let out an exasperated groan. “But on a more important note, we are here to have dinner. And I am hungry. Puns can always continue later.”

“You are not continuing the puns.” Artemis said sternly and turned around, glancing at their surroundings. “But the dinner, I can help with.”

With a snap of her fingers, a silvery-blue picnic mat appeared and unfurled upon the ground, a pair of candles lit in its center. In a glass vase next to the candles, brilliant white flowers bloomed, glowing faintly with silver light. 

With another snap of her fingers, brilliant white porcelain plates appeared, gleaming in the moonlight.

“A candlelight dinner. I like your style.”

“I am glad.” Artemis beamed. “I did consult a few romantic novels and stories. They always have candlelight dinners for some reason.”

“Don’t let Aphrodite hear that. She’d have an aneurysm.” Percy’s lips curled into a mischievous grin as he sat down on the mat, patting the spot next to him.

“If Aphrodite hadn’t sworn a vow to never use her powers to influence me, I’d be worried.” Artemis pushed her hair away from her eyes and slid in next to me. “But I suppose, she nudged it indirectly.”

A dove fluttered overhead, dropping a single red rose onto their laps. Artemis scowled and slammed her fist onto the ground, a wave of silver power rising around the two of them.

“That’ll ensure she won’t be eavesdropping.” Artemis glared at the sky as if daring Aphrodite to try otherwise.

Percy quietly picked up the red rose, twirling it between his fingers before dropping it into the vase of white flowers. The red petals shone fiercely against the calm white, its green stem intertwining with the others.

“A red rose amongst the moonlace.” The wind carried Artemis’ whisper to Percy’s ears. “Aphrodite, you sneaky bitch.”

“What happened?” Percy blinked.

Artemis put her face in her hands. “Centuries ago, Aphrodite had said to me that someone will plant a rose in my garden of moonlace alluding to the fact that I will one day find love despite all my… inhibitions toward it.”

“Interesting.” Percy leaned toward her. “Do you regret it?”

“No. But it is an experience.” Artemis smiled faintly. “One better than I had imagined.”

Percy gave her a brilliant grin, leaning toward her and capturing her lips in a kiss. “I am glad.”

“Now, shall we have dinner?”

“That we shall.”

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AND… DONE! Hope you all liked the chapter!

This chapter is set during the 50th chapter of LoSP, which is one of the main reasons this update got postponed till now. I hope you enjoyed it.

A huge thanks to Mughil and Nanu for betaing this chapter.

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Stay Happy! Stay Safe! Keep Smiling! Keep Reading!

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