Hey people, wassup? I finally got around to updating this story. I know you all can't wait until the big Perseus vs. Heracles battle, but I have to maintain the integrity of the story, so the story is back in the present.
Enjoy.

***

Camp Halfblood
POV: Percy Jackson

The Capture the Flag game started an hour ago, and the Hunt was easily thrashing the Campers. I spent most of this time sitting in a tree near the Hunt's flag. As far as Camp Halfblood was concerned, there were only two Hunters guarding the flag, and I guess when it is phrased that way, they're not incorrect. I'm not a Hunter, I'm just the Guardian. I gaze around the woods. The Campers were making a valiant effort, but something about their attacks seems...reserved. It's as if they are not putting all of their effort into the attacks. Chiron did make them aware that the Hunt currently has a fifty-seven win streak.

I watch as Beckendorf's unit of campers is driven back with a few Hunters in pursuit. South of him, Lee Fletcher and his siblings go arrow-to-arrow with the Hunters, but the Apollo Cabin is also slowly being pushed away. We seem to be winning, but the retreats appear to be organized as well. In every situation, the campers are staying in that sweet spot between too far to chase, and so close they're being overrun. Then their strategy clicks and I smirk slightly. Clever Annabeth.

"They're drawing away the mid-guard!" I call down to Catania, "Spread out and be prepared for a surprise attack!"

Catania nods and she and the other Hunter (Marcelene) get ready for an assault. I start moving my eyes quickly around the flag. I take a deep breath and extend my senses outward, looking for an aura. I find two. Glancing quickly in the direction of the aura, my eyes land on two familiar sons of Hermes.

"Ow." Travis.

"Shh." Conner.

"No, you 'shh.'" Travis.

"I didn't say anything." Conner

As entertaining as the twins are, I decide that it's time to end the conversation.

I cap Riptide and jump down quietly behind the two sons of Hermes. I take my armored forearm and slam it against Travis' helmet, right on the ear, causing a wicked ringing noise. The force of the blow knocks Travis out instantly and he crumples to the ground.

"Hey!" Connor turns and swings his sword high at me.

I grin under my hood and move towards Connor, removing the power from the strike. I duck under the wild swing. As i come back up on the other side of his arm, I use my left hand to hit his sword arm with an open-handed strike before quickly grabbing his wrist with my right hand. Before he can react, I slam my armored foot into his stomach, denting the celestial bronze armor. Connor gasps and bends over, clutching his stomach. No matter how much armor a person is wearing, a strong enough kick to the solar plexus will still knock the wind out of him. [A/N: This information comes from experience.]

Following the roundhouse, I strike an exposed section of the back of Connor's neck with a downward chop, careful not to accidentally kill him. Connor collapses next to his brother.

I circle back around to Catania, "Be Ready. There's no way their endgame was the Stolls. Annabeth isn't that stupid."

Catania nods and turns to Marcelene just as a victory cry rings out from the other side of the woods. I feel my face pulling slowly into a grin as Catania starts laughing.

"Yes!" She punches the air.

At that moment, Annabeth appears out of nowhere and throws her Yankees cap on the ground. I mentally curse myself for not noticing her aura.

"WHO ARE YOU?!" She practically screams as she stalks towards me and tries to peer under my hood.

I say nothing in response.

"I know Artemis was lying about that whole mute thing. I heard you say something to that Hunter." The daughter of Athena glowers at me.

"I have a name!"

Annabeth ignores Catania and continues to stare me down. I look at her, shrug, and turn to walk away. I feel her hand brush against the hood of my cloak. She grabs it and pulls. Hard.

"What the...?" Annabeth continues to pull, but my hood does not come off.

No, there is not magic or spell holding it in place [A/N: What, you thought it'd be that easy?]. I simply grabbed the trim of my hood and held onto it with my own hand. Annabeth growls in frustration and stops pulling. I turn back towards her and wag my finger back and forth. Annabeth stares at me, completely flabbergasted, then her face turns bright red in a mixture of anger and embarrassment. I grin, then turn and run off before she can react again.

***

Camp Halfblood
POV: Artemis

I smile proudly at my Hunters. They performed at peak performance today in Capture the Flag. OF course, they did have help from my Guardian. I overheard two boys who look uncomfortably similar to each other complain about being "jumped by Batman" during the game. I was never one for twenty-first century pop culture, but the comment made me smile.

To say I was ecstatic about having Perseus back would be an understatement. He's and excellent fighter and tactician, as well as my life-long companion. He is also just the right mix of serious and humorous, which only seems to have improved with his "rebirth." Not to mention good looking...

I shake my head to clear it. As much as I want to think of Percy that way, I cannot. Besides, I am certain Aphrodite has set up shop in my head and is now altering my thoughts and emotions.

"Don't worry about any of that Artemis dear. Just keep thinking about Percy." There it is. Aphrodite's voice buzzes through my head like an annoying fly, "You really should follow your heart."

"What I really should be doing is charging rent." I growl back in response.

Aphrodite huff indignantly and disappears from my head. For now at least. She will be back.

I glance around. The Hunters are all walking towards the camp greene for the bonfire, deciding to join the campers in their little tradition. As I look around, I fail to see Percy anywhere. He is probably fine and just watching from a distance, but I'm mildly disappointed that he is not joining us. I then notice a figure in all black sitting atop the Big House roof. There he is.

"Zoe." I walk up to the front and match pace with my lieutenant.

"Yes M'lady?" She looks down at my twelve-year-old body.

"I have some business to attend to. Make sure the Hunters do not kill anyone who does not deserve it."

"I shall keep them from killing anyone, but anything less than that, I cannot guarantee." She replies with a hint of humor, "But do not worry about us. You go have your fun."

I glare at her, but Zoe just replies with a cheeky grin. Perseus has been rubbing off on her. I roll my eyes and split off from the rest of the Hunt, then teleport to the roof of the Big House. Percy is a little lower on the roof than where I landed, so I carefully make my way down to him,changing my physical form to match his biological age. I sit down next to him and glance over. He is hold Anaklusmos in pen form and staring out across camp.

"I hear you gave the campers quite some trouble during the Capture the Flag game tonight, 'Batman.'"

He laughs and puts the pen down, leaning back as he does so, "I am vengeance. I am the night." He says in a deep, gravelly voice, then shakes his head, "Nope. I can't pull it off."

I laugh alongside his, "It has been a long time since I have laughed like that."

"Why's that?" He sits up suddenly and turns his body so that he is facing me.

"Oh, well um..." I'm not sure whether or not I want to tell him the truth: I have not laughed once since he has died.

Percy then takes his hood off and smiles at me, "You know what? It doesn't matter. You just laughed right now, we'll call that good enough."

I smile back at him and look deep into his sea-green eyes. He has always had that effect on me, even though he isn't trying to. A few words and a smile and suddenly I'm going crazy.

"Percy I-" HE unintentionally cuts me off.

"How about you tell me about what you and the Hunt have been up to these past two millenia." I laughs to himself, "I have a lot of catching up to do."

I breathe an internal sigh of relief. I am not sure what I was about to say, but I am certain it would not have been the most intelligent thing I have ever said. Instead, I launch into a story.

"Why don't I tell you how the whole Jackelope thing got started..."

We talked for the next couple of hours. It was nice, sitting on the rooftop and just telling each other stories. I would talk about some of the hunts I have done and responded by telling me about his recent quests. Percy's calming presence helped me to relax. I always felt like I had to be on guard, but with Percy here, I did not have to be.

My Guardian was halfway through telling the story of his trip through the Bermuda Triangle when a conch shell sounded

"Well, that's curfew." He stands up and stretches, "You should check on the Hunters. I'm pretty sure they wouldn't appreciate the presence of a 'filthy male' in Cabin Eight."

I smile a little at the thought, "No, they most certainly would not like that. I assume you will remain in the Poseidon Cabin for tonight?" The last statement sounded more like a question.

He frowns and shakes his head in response, "No, it's too far away. I'll stay up and keep watch."

"You have not slept in three days." I counter, "You really should sleep."

"I've gone longer without sleep." He shrugs, "Remember the Niobe incident? I got at most three hours of sleep that entire week."

"True..." I remember. That was an embarrassing week for me. I was a complete wreck.

Percy must have noticed the concern in my eyes, because he smiled softly, "I'll be fine Arty. Now get some rest. Goodnight."

"Don't call me 'Arty.'" I mutter half-heartedly, "Are you sure you-"

"I'll be fine." He cuts me off and laughs, "Don't worry about me. It's my job to do the worrying."

I laugh a little  and before I can stop myself, I lean in and kiss his softly on the cheek, "Goodnight, my Guardian."

Then, with burning red cheeks, I teleport into Cabin Eight, a smile plastered across my face.

***

Camp Halfblood

POV: Percy Jackson

"Goodnight, my Guardian." Artemis says as she leans in and kisses my cheek, then teleports away.

I'm in shock for a moment. Slowly, I reach up and touch my cheek, a small smile forcing it's way onto my face.

I can't deny Artemis is beautiful, and she has quite a personality to add on top of that. In fact, I have been attracted to her for a number of centuries. Quite unfortunately thought, a relationship would be... difficult, and for a number of reasons. First there is her vow, which technically only relates to her virginity but still, you cannot be too careful when it comes to oaths on the River Styx. Then there is the matter of the Hunt. Even in the slim likelihood they even slightly approve of the relationship, it would still set a very poor example for the rest of the Hunt if their patron was in a relationship with a man/boy. No, a relationship beyond goddess and Guardian is simply not possible.

I clear my head and climb down the side of the Big House. As I do, one final, treacherous thought worms its way into my mind.

A relationship cannot work for us now, but what if we were different?

***

Hey people, wassup? I finally update!!! You guys are probably both happy, and understandably angry. Yes, I am aware of how long it has been, and yes I am aware that this chapter does not involve Heracles' podex and how far Perseus can kick it; that's next chapter. Anywho, this is my first real attempt at anything even slightly romantic, so I apologize for its shoddy workmanship. I can't write romance the way I write fight scenes. Finally, please take a look at Touring the Multiverse, it's my gift to you wonderful, wonderful readers. You all deserve it. Now, I don't think I forgot anything...Oh yeah!

Vote, comment, and as always, keep being awesome!

Leonidas_son_of_Nike