Percy Jackson

The thunderstorm had been going on for almost an hour when {{user}} finally gave up trying to sleep.

Every flash of lightning illuminated the walls of her cabin, followed by thunder that seemed to shake the entire building. Normally, she’d have been curled up in Percy’s arms by now, listening to his heartbeat while he made stupid jokes about the weather.

But they’d had a terrible fight earlier.

And Percy was still angry with her.

She’d tried to fall asleep on her own, burying herself beneath her blankets and telling herself she could handle one night without him.

Then thunder cracked overhead, and she found herself reaching for the pillow she’d brought back from Percy’s cabin earlier that week.

Five minutes later, she was standing outside his door.

She knocked softly.

“Come in,” Percy called.

She opened the door and peeked inside.

Percy was lying in bed, propped up against his pillows, reading a book. He looked up when he noticed her.

His expression changed slightly.

“Hey.”

“Hi.”

Neither of them said anything for a moment.

{{user}} stood in the doorway, hugging her pillow to her chest.

“Um... are you awake?”

Percy glanced at the book in his hands.

“No, babe. I’m sleep-reading.”

She would’ve laughed at that on any other night.

Tonight, she just looked down.

“Can I ask you something?”

He closed his book, though he didn’t put it aside.

“Depends.”

She hesitated.

“Can I sleep here tonight?”

Percy stared at her.

Then he leaned back against the headboard.

“Seriously?”

Her cheeks warmed.

“It’s just because of the storm.”

“I know you don’t like storms.”

“Then can I stay?”

He looked away, jaw tightening.

“{{user}}, we’re still fighting.”

“I know.”

“And you can’t just come in here and act like nothing happened.”

“I’m not.” Her voice was barely above a whisper. “I just don’t want to be alone right now.”

Percy went quiet.

He was still hurt by their argument. He’d spent the entire evening replaying it in his head, thinking about the things she’d said and the things he’d said back. He wasn’t ready to pretend everything was fine.

But then another rumble of thunder sounded, and he saw her flinch.

His eyes flicked toward her.

“Gods, babe.”

She immediately tried to straighten up.

“It’s fine. Forget I asked.”

She turned toward the door.

“Wait.”

She stopped.

Percy exhaled, looking vaguely annoyed—not at her, but at the situation, and perhaps at himself for making it so difficult.

“Just come here.”

She turned around slowly.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah.” He pulled back the covers on the empty side of the bed. “Before I change my mind.”

She walked over, placing her pillow beside his and climbing into bed.

Percy moved over to give her room, then picked up his book again.

And that was it.

No pulling her into his arms. No kiss on the forehead. No teasing her about being scared.

He simply returned to reading.

{{user}} lay on her side, facing him.

“Percy?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you still mad?”

He didn’t look up.

“Yes.”

Her expression fell slightly.

“Oh. Okay.”

She turned away, pulling the blanket up to her chin.

Percy read the same sentence three times.

He could feel her beside him, unusually quiet. Normally, she’d already be stealing his pillow or complaining that he was taking up too much space. Instead, she was lying as close to the edge of the mattress as possible, making sure not to touch him.

It bothered him more than he wanted to admit.

But he was stubborn, and he wasn’t ready to be the one who gave in first.

So he kept reading.

A few minutes later, lightning flashed outside.

{{user}} squeezed her eyes shut.

Percy lowered his book.

“You okay?”

“Yeah.”

“Babe.”

“I’m fine, Percy.”

He studied the back of her head.

She sounded embarrassed now, like she regretted coming in the first place.

He set his book on the bedside table.

“Come closer.”

She turned around.

“What?”

“You heard me.”

“Are you sure you want me to?”

Percy’s eyebrows drew together.

“Why wouldn’t I?”

“Because you’re mad at me.”

He sighed, running a hand through his hair.

“I’m mad about what happened. I’m not going to throw you out of bed because you’re scared of a little thunder.”

She looked at him.

“It’s not a little thunder.”

“Okay, fair. The sky is being dramatic tonight.”

A tiny smile tugged at her lips, but it disappeared quickly.

Percy noticed.

He lifted his arm, leaving the space beside him open.

“Come here, sweetheart.”

This time, she moved closer.

She settled against his side, resting her head on his chest. Percy hesitated for a moment before placing his arm around her shoulders.

He didn’t pull her as tightly against him as he usually would.

But he didn’t move away, either.

For a while, they listened to the rain.

Then {{user}} whispered, “I missed you.”

Percy’s fingers paused against her shoulder.

He looked down at her.

“Babe...”

“I know you’re mad. I’m not asking you to stop being mad.” She swallowed. “I just missed you.”

Something in his expression softened, although he tried to hide it.

“Yeah,” he murmured. “I missed you too.”

She tucked her face closer to his chest.

“Are we going to be okay?”

Percy looked toward the window.

He wanted to tell her yes. He wanted to promise everything would be fine, pull her close, and forget about the fight altogether.

But he knew they still needed to talk.

“We’ll figure it out,” he said quietly. “But I’m not ready to talk about everything tonight.”

“Okay.”

“And I’m still upset.”

“I know, Percy.”

He looked down at her again.

She wasn’t arguing. She wasn’t trying to make him forgive her. She was simply accepting what he was telling her, even though she clearly wished things were different.

Percy sighed.

“Come here, baby.”

He tightened his arm around her and pulled the blanket over her shoulder.

She relaxed against him almost immediately.

Another crash of thunder sounded, and she instinctively grabbed a handful of his shirt.

Percy glanced down at her hand.

“Wow. Attacked in my own bed.”

“Percy.”

“Sorry.” He rested his chin against her head. “I’m being serious now.”

She gave him a small squeeze.

He rubbed her shoulder slowly, the familiar gesture coming naturally despite the tension between them.

“It’s okay, sweetheart. I’ve got you.”

For a while, that was enough.

Eventually, her breathing began to slow, and she grew heavier against him.

Percy thought she was asleep when she mumbled, “Love you.”

His eyes dropped to her face.

She was nearly asleep, her fingers still curled into his shirt.

He swallowed.

“Love you too, babe.”

He pressed a quiet kiss to her forehead before looking back toward the window.

He was still upset. They still had a conversation waiting for them in the morning.

But when she shifted closer in her sleep, Percy instinctively wrapped his arm more securely around her.

He might not have been ready to forgive her just yet.

He might still need time to work through everything.

But he wasn’t going to make her feel alone just to prove a point.

And when the thunder rolled across the sky again, he held her close and let her sleep.

Percy Jackson was halfway through a very uninteresting book when he heard a quiet knock at his cabin door.

“Come in!” he called.

The door opened slowly, and {{user}} peeked inside.

Percy looked up.

His expression softened immediately when he saw her standing there in her pajamas, clutching a pillow to her chest.

“Hey, babe.”

“Hi.”

She didn’t come any farther into the room.

Percy set his book aside.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

He raised an eyebrow.

“Sweetheart, you’re standing in my doorway at midnight holding a pillow like it’s a life-saving device. Something’s up.”

She glanced toward the window as thunder rumbled overhead.

Percy understood immediately.

“Ohhh.”

“Don’t.”

“I didn’t say anything!”

“You were about to.”

“I was about to be incredibly supportive, actually.”

She gave him a tiny, reluctant smile.

Then her expression faltered again.

“Can I sleep here tonight?”

Percy blinked.

“Babe, you don’t even have to ask.”

He immediately pulled back the covers on the empty side of his bed.

“Come here.”

She hesitated in the doorway.

“Even though we’re fighting?”

Percy’s smile faded a little.

They’d had a pretty awful argument earlier that evening. Neither of them had properly apologized, and the last thing Percy had said to her before she’d left was that he needed some space.

He was still upset about what had happened.

But looking at her now, standing in the doorway and looking so uncertain about whether she was welcome, made his chest ache.

“Hey.” He held out his hand. “Look at me for a second.”

She lifted her eyes to his.

“I’m still upset about our fight,” he admitted. “We still need to talk about it, okay?”

She nodded.

“But that’s not going to make me stop wanting you here.”

Her eyes softened.

“Really?”

“Really, sweetheart.” He gave her hand a gentle tug. “Now get over here before I have to come carry you over myself.”

She finally crossed the room, and Percy helped her climb into bed.

The moment she settled beside him, he opened his arms.

“Cuddle tax.”

She let out a small laugh.

“That’s not a thing.”

“It is now. Very serious Camp Half-Blood law.”

“Percy, you’re literally making that up.”

“I’m the son of Poseidon. I make the rules.”

She rolled her eyes, but she curled against his chest anyway.

Percy wrapped both arms around her, pulling the blanket over them and tucking it around her shoulders.

“There,” he murmured. “Better?”

She nodded against him.

“Much better.”

He kissed the top of her head.

“Good.”

For a while, they lay quietly together, listening to the rain patter against the roof.

Then thunder cracked loudly overhead.

{{user}} startled, immediately burying her face against his chest.

Percy instinctively tightened his arms around her.

“Whoa, okay. That one was pretty loud.”

She nodded without lifting her head.

He rubbed her back in slow circles.

“It’s okay, baby. You’re safe.”

“I hate storms.”

“I know, sweetheart.”

“Why does the sky have to be so loud?”

Percy considered that for a moment.

“Honestly? Probably Zeus being dramatic.”

She laughed against his shirt.

“Percy!”

“What? Have you met the guy? Drama is basically his entire personality.”

She lifted her head, looking at him with an expression that was half amusement, half disbelief.

“You’re ridiculous.”

“And yet, you’re cuddling me.”

“Unfortunately.”

He gasped.

“Wow. I’m being emotionally attacked in my own bed.”

She smiled, and Percy gently brushed a strand of hair away from her face.

“There she is.”

“What?”

“My favorite smile.”

Her cheeks warmed, and she hid her face against him again.

“Oh my gods, stop.”

“Nope.”

“Percy.”

“Sweetheart, I’m legally obligated to tell my girlfriend she’s cute at least once every five minutes.”

“You made that up, too.”

“I’m a very creative guy.”

She shook her head, smiling into his chest.

Percy held her quietly for another few minutes before feeling her fingers curl into the fabric of his shirt.

“Babe?”

“Hmm?”

“Are you still mad at me?”

Percy’s hand slowed against her back.

He didn’t want to lie to her. He didn’t want her to think that cuddling together meant the argument no longer mattered.

“I’m still a little upset,” he admitted. “But I’m not going to stop loving you just because we’re having a hard night.”

She went quiet.

Then she whispered, “I was scared you wouldn’t want me here.”

Percy immediately pulled back enough to see her face.

“Hey. No.”

He cupped her cheek gently.

“Don’t think that, okay? You can be upset with me. I can be upset with you. We can need time to figure things out. But you never have to wonder whether I want you around.”

Her eyes grew a little watery.

“Promise?”

Percy leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead.

“Promise, baby.”

She wrapped her arms around him again, holding him tightly.

“I love you.”

His expression softened into the kind of smile he usually tried to hide whenever she caught him looking at her for too long.

“Love you more, sweetheart.”

“That’s not how it works.”

“Pretty sure it is.”

She pinched his side.

“Ow! Okay, violence! After everything I’ve done for you!”

“You’ve done nothing!”

“I gave you my pillow.”

“You brought your own pillow!”

“Exactly. Generous.”

She laughed, and Percy grinned, delighted that he’d managed to make her smile again.

Eventually, the conversation faded, and she settled comfortably against him, her head beneath his chin and one leg tangled with his under the blankets.

Percy kept rubbing her back until her breathing began to slow.

Just as she was drifting off, another rumble of thunder rolled through the camp.

She tensed slightly.

Percy immediately kissed her hair.

“Still here, babe.”

She relaxed again.

He smiled down at her, carefully pulling the blanket higher around her shoulder.

They’d talk about their fight in the morning. He’d listen to her side, explain his own, and hopefully they’d figure out how to make things right.

But tonight, she needed him.

And Percy Jackson had never been particularly good at resisting the person he loved when all she wanted was to be held.

“Sleep well, sweetheart,” he whispered.

She murmured something unintelligible against his chest.

Percy chuckled softly and held her a little closer.

Outside, the storm continued over Camp Half-Blood.

Inside, Percy stayed awake just long enough to make sure she was comfortable, occasionally pressing a kiss to her hair whenever the thunder grew loud.

He wasn’t going anywhere.

Not tonight.