Don't Wait Up For Me (for Percy)

[lightningthief]

Ever since Valentine's Day, I've been a much better mood. I'm not dwelling so much about the past and the future. There's a present to live in. Being with Aphrodite is not only hot and highly enjoyable, I think it's snapped me out of the funk I've been in. I've just gotten done getting ready to go out to Aphrodite's hut once again, and I pause to consider my nearby roommate.

Percy has to suspect something by now. I know he'd often oblivious and easier to lead around than a puppy, but even Percy must be wondering why he hasn't seen me around a few nights, and less of me in general. Maybe his thing with Valkyrie has him distracted, but still. It's not like I've been actively trying to keep things with Aphrodite a secret, but I haven't really brought it up, either. Maybe he'll finally ask me what's going on this time.

I've got a bag with some extra clothes in it. I really should keep some things at her place now that we're going at it regularly. I pick it up and head into the main room where I see Percy there.

"Hey Percy. I'm going out. Don't wait up for me."

Comments

[percy_jackson]

I looked up from the couch and the book I was reading. I took in Luke and his bag, and something about the expression on his face. This has been far from the first time he has done this. I raised an eyebrow, but a smile touched my lips. "Oh? Where are you heading?"

[lightningthief]

I've got no reason to lie.

"I'm going over to Aphrodite's."

I'm wondering what's with Percy's smile? Maybe he's put it together.

[percy_jackson]

My eyebrows shot up at this information, so willingly given by Luke. I suspected Luke was seeing someone, but Aphrodite? It was a surprise given how he and Aphrodite had first met, but things had calmed down since then and... well. Aphrodite. I couldn't help but wonder just how many godly acts of vengeance Luke was risking (Ares, Hephestus...), but this was the Island. The blank slate.

And this was why I started grinning like an idiot. "You dog!"

[lightningthief]

My face breaks out into a grin and I laugh. I can't help thinking about the dog collar, and how I told Aphrodite 'woof, woof' when she claimed it. I sit down with him on the couch. I don't have to go immediately.

"She's hot, Percy. Very, extremely hot. The hottest goddess in all of Olympus. Can you blame me?"

[percy_jackson]

"Gods, no," I said. I mean, personally, I couldn't see myself and Aphrodite. She was fantastically, drop-dead beautiful, to be sure, but there was friendship there. None of that spark like there'd been with Annabeth and now with Valkyrie. But this wasn't me, this was Luke. "Definitely not. Though you don't need to share with me just how hot she is. I can easily imagine."

[lightningthief]

I can spare Percy the details. Those are some good details, though. Mighty fine details.

"We're not dating, though. It's just a casual, physical thing. We're both still open to do whatever we want."

I thought I'd spell this out for Percy so he doesn't get the wrong idea, especially if he ever suddenly sees me or her with someone else.

[percy_jackson]

I nodded, though I still had a pretty big grin. That was the arrangement Valkyrie and I had, though truth to tell I'd fallen hard for Valkyrie. I couldn't help but wonder how Luke would fare. "Heh. Cool! So, how long has this been going on?"

[lightningthief]

"Well, remember Valentine's Day when we had our last bout of island-weirdness? I wake up the morning after wearing just a Nickelback T-shirt and a dog collar, and I realize I'm sprawled out with Aphrodite. For some reason she had on some European stuff on."

I'm grinning more as I talk because it's kind of fun telling Percy about this.

"Anyway, neither of us freaked out too much. I think it was giving us ideas instead. We were all the way out by the Pygmy Burial Grounds, and I had to save Aphrodite from quicksand. But, yeah, things started happening after we got to her place."

[percy_jackson]

I chuckled. "Was that 'in accordance with the prophesy'? My face grew a bit more serious when I heard how far they'd ended up on their bender, and the fact that Luke had to save Aphrodite from the quicksand. "Well, it's good to hear that you're both all right. And... doing better than all right."

[lightningthief]

I smirk a bit at what Percy says.

"Yeah, I heard plenty about the prophesy thing. Like the others, I don't remember it. I guess it could've been a lot worse. People were doing some crazy things. I'll take talking funny over that other stuff."