Warning: Swearing and Hera.
It had been a month since the Giant War, the camps were slowly being rebuilt. New Athens was currently an ongoing project too. The Roman's had their own city, why shouldn't the Greeks?
Everywhere he looked, Percy seemed to come face to face with all those sickeningly cute couples. So in love they didn't even notice the people around them.
Now, don't get him wrong, he loved his friends dearly. He was happy they were happy but that didn't stop the ache in his heart. The ache to feel what they feel. To be someone's one and only, just as they were his. He wanted to know true love.
The closest thing he'd had to true love had been Luke. That hot older guy who actually seemed to see him. Luke didn't treat him like some brat. He saw him as Percy. A cool kid to hang out with. Someone who was annoying in an entirely adorable way. Or that's what Percy thought. Turns out Luke was just like everybody else. No, scratch that. Luke was worse than everybody else because he actually pretended to care. Was Percy really that unloveable?
It didn't help that everybody seemed set on making 'Percabeth' a thing. They all made it so painfully obvious Percy had actually started to feel embarrassed for them. Percy and Annabeth were just friends at the time. If that. Annabeth didn't like Percy at all, what was he supposed to do about it. And then they became friends. They continued to grow closer throughout the years. Going on countless quests together. Then they figured out they loved each other. Not how everyone thought they did, no. Not in a boyfriend/girlfriend way. More in a 'I'm your big sister you better listen to me' and 'yeah, I'll start listening to you when Zeus decides he wants to have a tea party with me' kinda way. They were family. Not potential love interests.
Didn't help that they were both hella gay.
So they did what had seemed like the most logical thing at the time. They got together, hoping to appease everyone around them and hopefully save their eardrums from the squealing that was Aphrodite. They went out in public. Kissed, held hands. Pretended that they were that adorably cute couple that would go on to get married and have like four kids. And then they'd return to the Poseidon cabin at the end of the day and see who could fit the most mints in their mouth. They'd stand at opposite ends of the room and throw them, the other trying to catch them with their mouth.
That continued on for a good four months. Everyone seemed to buy the loving couple act. And then Hera had to come in, seeming to think she was a magician and that Percy was her willing assistant. But Percy was neither willing nor her assistant.
She performed her best disappearing act (which if he was being honest he had to give her a little credit for seeing as how he was missing for about six months) and expected everyone to just not care. The goddess of family ladies and gentlemen and everyone in between. (Percy does not discriminate unlike a certain goddess of marriage.)
So while Percy was either unconscious or living on the streets on the run from monsters, Jason Grace was living a life of luxury with a best friend, a roof over his head, an education and a new girlfriend. Well he had a new girlfriend if you ignore the fact that said girlfriend was also hella gay. A minute of silence for Jason Grace everyone. He was dating a secret lesbian the poor thing (note the massive amount of sarcasm in that sentence).
Percy was surprised she didn't just let him keep his memories too. So much for hating children of Zeus/Jupiter. What the Hades went through that woman's mind at the time? 'Ah yes, let's take one cherished teenage hero and make him vulnerable. Oh look, there's another teenage hero. Hmm, not vulnerable enough yet. Ahh, that's better. I wonder... let's place this one in a school. There's a satyr there who'll make sure he gets to camp safely. Ooh, let's make the poor orphan his best friend. Think. Think. What is missing? Oh that's it! Let's give him a girlfriend who's secretly a massive lesbian stuck in the closet. Add in some fake memories. Perfect. Aww, this ones still weak and vulnerable. Still doesn't remember a thing. Let's just shove him in a house full of wolves and leave him to fend for himself. That'll show him.' Bitch.
And she wonders why nobody likes her. This is exactly why her husband cheats, well that and he's just a major dick. Doesn't at least some of that class as child abuse?
So with Percy missing, Annabeth didn't have a little brother to eat mints with anymore. By the time Jason, Leo and Piper had got to camp, she'd become desperate. She just wanted someone to eat mints with. Was that too much to ask? In the end, she'd chose to latch on to Piper who seemed happy enough to have Annabeth follow her around like a lost puppy, offering her a mint at least once a day. Under the pretense of making sure she was settling in well of course.
Getting his memories back, Jason had started remembering Reyna. His childhood friend and almost girlfriend. He'd felt bad for Piper, believing she loved him, not knowing that she didn't. He apparently missed the fact that she had gotten too close to Annabeth for their relationship to still be classed as one of 'friends'.
Jason had chosen to let her down easy, hoping she'd understand. Understand his feelings for Reyna. What he hadn't expected was for her to come out as a lesbian and admit to having a crush on Annabeth. Well maybe admit was an understatement. She'd full on ranted at him for at least an hour explaining how smart and beautiful Annabeth was and how she'd been thinking of how to break up with him for a while now.
Reuniting with Reyna in New Rome was probably the happiest moment in Jason's life. He also got to witness Annabeth run up to some black haired kid who he assumed was Percy and Judo flip him.
Jason had spent every bit of free time he had on the Argo II after that thinking of ways to ask Reyna out. In the end he'd chose to speak to Percy about it, asking if the older boy had any tips. Him and Percy had spent hours thinking of romantic ways for Jason to ask her out without seeming too sappy. Who knew Percy could be such a love expert?
When the time had come for Reyna to join them on their quest they had come up with a fool proof plan which they had put into action not long after she'd arrived. She had responded with an it's about time, a hair flip and a sassy walk back to the Argo II high fiving Percy from his spot behind a bush on her way. Percy had returned to Jason. Clapped him on the shoulder and told him he was lucky he didn't get slapped and that Reyna actually liked him back.
Leo had returned from Ogygia all flustered and love-struck. Percy had confronted Leo about it and found out all about Leo's trip to the beautiful island with the beautiful girl. Percy had been happy to hear that Leo had found someone he was really interested in as well as furious that the gods didn't keep their promise to free Calypso. Percy had chosen not to tell Leo about his own trip to the magical island, not wanting to ruin his new friend's happiness.
Percy had simply told Leo that he was happy for him and that Calypso sounded like a lovely girl. Happy his friend was happy. No matter how new a friendship it was.
Percy had been fed up at finding out that Frazel still wasn't a thing. He'd cursed them for being so wholesome and 'slipped' on some water that just 'randomly' appeared in the dining room. He'd pushed Hazel into Frank claiming it wasn't his fault. The water wants what it wants. Frank and Hazel had just blushed, getting lost in each others eyes until Percy had had enough and pushed their heads together until they kissed, screaming something about Frazel being OTB? OTP. That was it. What was an OTP? Hazel and Frank had looked like they were about to explode, hoping their faces didn't look as red as they felt.
Leo had returned a week after the Giant War. Flew into camp on Festus with Calypso clinging onto him. Did a few tricks until he finally landed.
He'd been swarmed by his friends as soon as they set foot on the ground. Clinging onto Calypso's hand, Leo had explained about where he was and who he was with. He'd been prepared to get slapped or at least shouted at. What he hadn't been prepared for was to have an arm full of Sea Prince.
Once Percy finally let go of Leo everyone else took their chance to welcome the Latino. Even Annabeth had given him a small side hug exclaiming she was happy he was back.
Percy had spent that time talking to Calypso, hoping to clear the air. He'd apologised for just leaving like that and not making sure that the gods followed up on their promise. Calypso had understood. Telling him it was alright and that she was just sorry about the curse.
Nico had been spending a lot of time in the infirmary ever since the war. He'd recently started eating again thanks to the encouragement coming from his new found friends and sister. Solace had helped too, whenever he wasn't demanding Nico live in the infirmary. Okay, maybe that's a bit dramatic but it's what it felt like to Nico. He wasn't as pale any more due to spending a lot more time outside and in the real world.
Will Solace had asked him out on a date just last week, promising nothing but the date was going to happen and that if Nico didn't want to go he didn't have to.
Nico was surprised to find Percy being the most persistent on him going. Telling him how he was sorry for being such a bad friend for all those years. That he wouldn't have had to run away for all those years if it wasn't for him. That he wouldn't have lost his big sister. Percy had told him he was going to try and be a better friend now.
Nico had decided to give Solace a chance. He saw where they were coming from. They just wanted him to be happy and at least make some new friends. He'd agreed with them telling them they were good friends and he was happy to have them. He'd seen the way Percy's eyes had flashed. He waited until the others had left, understanding that Percy had wanted to talk to him. Before Percy had got the chance to say anything though, Nico had simply said not you. And then he left.
So Pipabeth, Jeyna, Frazel and Caleo had become a thing. Solangelo was slowly happening. And of course you had all the old couples too. Ones like Gruniper, Tratie, and of course there was Clarisse and Chris who no matter how much Clarisse denied it, were just as much in love as the others. Even Tyson had found love in the clever harpy Ella.
Percy had found himself spending more and more time with Connor Stoll. The both of them were painfully single and it showed. Happy couples seemed to be popping up everywhere so they would just go and hang out for hours on end away from everyone else. They would go to the beach for a swim or just lay in the sand together. They'd stare at the clouds trying to make out shapes. Or sometimes they'd go to the forest either looking for monsters or just basking in the peace and quiet, away from all the hectic couples.
Sometimes they'd even go and prank people together. Connor would help Percy improve his pranking skills and in return Percy had taught Connor how to skate. Lending the son of Hermes one of his older boards, he'd stay and help. Watching how he slowly improved.
Whenever one of them was feeling lonely, they'd go to their meeting place - a beautiful little clearing somewhere in the woods - and find that the other was already there, waiting. They made sure they both knew that they weren't alone. They had each other.
Percy had realised he was slowly falling more and more in love with Connor every day. What he didn't know was that Connor felt the same way. They'd both decided to act on it. So here we are, a month after the giant war and both Connor and Percy were setting up a special date for the other.
Percy had woken up at six in the goddam fucking morning to set up this date. He'd put on the nice new skinny jeans that he'd bought just for today, a navy blue t-shirt and some trainers. He knew it was going to be slightly chilly today so he picked out one of the many hoodies he'd knicked from Connor. Percy smiled at that. He'd managed to steal from one of the best thieves in camp not to mention a son of the god of thieves. He kinda felt bad about it until he remembered that the hoodies smelt like Connor.
Seeing as Connor was taller and slightly more muscular than Percy (a fact that Connor absolutely loved rubbing in the Sea Prince's face) his hoodies were quite baggy on Percy and tended to give him sweater paws. Not that Percy minded. He actually preferred bigger hoodies anyway.
Connor had been woken up at seven in the morning - Travis you bastard - to start getting ready for his date. He'd put on a pair of blue jeans, a black t-shirt and some trainers. He knew it was going to be slightly chilly today so he picked out one of the new hoodies Percy had bought for him. (He was pretty sure Percy only bought them for him so he could steal them. It was cute how the son of Poseidon thought he was being sneaky about it.)
Connor grabbed the bag from under his bed, gave his brother a two finger salute and made his way to the clearing in the woods. He couldn't help but feel slightly giddy. If all went well, Percy would be his by the end of the day. He couldn't help but smile at that thought.
What Connor hadn't anticipated for was to find a busy Sea Prince running around the clearing setting up what looked to be a picnic. Fairy lights were hung around the trees along the edges of the clearing. Connor couldn't help but stare in awe as the beautiful human infront of him continued to set up the picnic, humming some sort of tune. The whole picture was utterly adorable. Especially with the way Connor's hoodie hung off Percy's shoulders slightly.
Shaking his head, Connor dropped his bag and made his way over to the fretting teen, laying his arms around the boy's waist when he got there. Percy jumped slightly and stopped humming.
Feeling someone's arms around his waist, Percy was about to freak out until the familiar scent of Connor reached his nose. Blushing brightly, the Sea Prince turned around, making sure the taller boy's arms didn't move from around his waist.
"You wanna tell me who all of this is for?" Connor asked, tilting Percy's head up to look him in the eyes.
Percy mumbled something under his breath that Connor didn't catch.
Tightening his grip on the smaller boy's chin, Connor asked again, "I asked you a question didn't I?"
Percy's blush brightened some more and he turned his head to look down at the ground.
"You. It's for you." He mumbled.
"Aww, your adorable." Connor teased, deciding that if he wasn't the one who got to set up their first date then he at least got teasing rights.
Percy felt like his face was on fire now, "I'm not," he whispered.
"Yes you are. Just look at you. You even set up fairy lights. I was just gonna throw a blanket on the floor and go steal some snacks. And you," Connor paused turning to look at what food Percy had been setting out, "brought a whole breakfast buffet. Did you cook all that?"
Percy didn't trust his voice anymore so he just nodded, slightly in shock that Connor had planned a date too.
Amused, Connor grabbed Percy's hand and lead him over to the blanket, pulling the still shocked boy onto his lap.
"Well, seeing as how you took the time to cook all this, we might as well eat it yeah? Make sure you eat more than you did yesterday okay? Your getting too skinny again." Connor explained.
Percy didn't understand what that meant. He wasn't too skinny. He never had been too skinny. Quite the opposite really. He nodded anyway hoping that that would make Connor happy. He didnt want to see Connor sad. Ever.