(

Waking up I almost had a heart attack. There was something lying on my chest. I sat up abruptly, and it rolled off me as I looked around, dizzy from the sudden movement.

Whoops. I totally forgot Percy was here. I let myself stare for a minute, mesmerised by his cute features. I gently brushed some locks of hair off his brow, smiling to myself. He looked so serene, so vulnerable and young when he slept, nothing like the fiery energetic ball of energy he was yesterday. His cute button nose, kissable rosy red lips (Wait, kissable lips? Excuse me, when did I start to think like that?) heart shaped face with slightly pointed chin, and long lashes framing his face all contributed to his overall enchantment. I blamed them for my infatuation with the boy.

I sighed contently, continuing to stroke his hair fondly. All too soon he was yawning and stretching, starting to come to his senses. I resented the fact he had to get back to his tank soon. Ugh, his tank, his enclosure. He wasn't some animal to be put on display, he was an intelligent being, an amazing person. (It didn't hurt he was dam hot)

Still, there was nothing I could do about it now.

"Morning, sleepyhead," I said as he groaned.

"Really? Morning already? How about we just go back to sleep..." He said in answer, already closing his eyes and curling up into a tiny ball.

"Nope." I chirped, shaking him. "We'll have better luck sneaking you back in now then when everyone is awake and moving around the castle," I reminded him

"Hmph. Don't wanna." He whined childishly. I groaned internally, racking my brains for something to entice him into coming.

"Come on Perce, we need to get going, soon they'll wake up!" I pleaded, trying and failing to force him to stand. He flopped back down to the ground and refused to budge, so I resorted to bribery.

"We'll get some food on the way..." I told him.

Immediately he perked up, jumped to his feet, and looked at me expectantly.

I grinned. What fabulous persuasion skills I had. When I didn't move (because I was basking in the glory of how great I was) he tugged me along, out of the cave.

I laughed loudly.

"Okay, okay, Percy, we're going to get food, promise," I said, amused.

We headed back towards the castle in more or less silence, with a few squeaks and various other noises from Percy, and a few laughs from me.

As the castle drew near, I became more subdued, dreading going back to my dull life, full of princely duties and wife offerings. I reminded myself that it wouldn't be the end, I could still see Percy again, but I couldn't suppress a sigh as we went in a back door meant for servants use.

Percy looked at me, a frown creasing his forehead in concern.

I shook myself out of it, and managed to produce a small smile.

"Come on Percy, I'll take you to the kitchens to steal some food from the staff before they serve it up," I told him, grinning slyly.

Excited at the prospect of food, he sped up, running ahead of me. I patiently walked along at the same pace, waiting for him to realise. Soon we were walking side by side again, as he had turned around and ran back to where I was walking.

"Forgot you don't know where you're going?" I asked, already knowing the answer.

I response he just smiled sheepishly. I led him through the servants halls, keeping my hand on his wrist so he wouldn't run away and get distracted by some shiny thing.

First we went to the laundry rooms, where I grabbed some spare servants uniform for Percy to get changed into incase we ran into some people.

I turned around respectfully while he changed, then dragged him along to the kitchen.

"Hey Silena!" I exclaimed, spotting her frying some bacon from across the kitchen.

"Nico!" She squealed back.

"How was your date? Wass it perfect? Did you kiss?" She asked excitedly.

I internally facepalmed. "It wasn't a date, Silena, " I snapped, not wanting to scare Percy off if he thought that I thought it was a date. Even though I wanted it to be a date. Wait what did I just think? No no no no no.

"Sure, it wasn't a date, right," she said, winking unsubtly. I groaned. Percy seemed to be stuck between laughing at me, and blushing. I wanted to disappear into a hole in the ground. This was not okay.

To make myself feel better, I nicked some bacon, crunching on it unhappily.

"Hey! That was important people's breakfast!" Silena exclaimed, swatting me with her spoon.

"And now, it's my breakfast," I I declared regally, offering some to Percy. He munched on it eagerly.

"Besides, who's more important than me, and my uh...friend here?" I asked.

"How about your sister? Your dad?" She asked.

I shrugged, grabbing some more bacon. She hmphed.

"Fine, whatever, just go ahead, eat the whole thing." She said sarcastically.

"Will do," I mumbled back, mouth full of bacon. She grumbled and put some more bacon on.

"When we run out of bacon, just know I'm blaming the shortage of it on you," she muttered, but soon brightened back up.

"Sooo, aren't you going to introduce me to your 'friend' over here?" She asked excitedly,

"Sure. Silena, this is Percy, Percy, meet Silena." I said grudgingly.

"It's nice to properly meet the mystery guy Nico went on a date with," Silena told him happily.

"It's nice to meet you too Silena," he replied "though I don't seem to remember Nico telling me it was a date," he continued, smirking.

"Nico? Care to explain?" He asked, turning to me.

Embarrasssed, I turned red, buried my head in my hands, and muttered a barely audible 'no.' .

Getting some more breakfast from other areas, I quickly stuffed it into my bag, and practically dragged a protesting Percy out of the kitchen, throwing one last glare at Silena.

"Bye Silena!" Percy yelled out behind him.

"Bye sweetie! Have fun with Nico! But not too much fun," she added mischievously.

Dying a bit on the inside, I groaned and handed Percy a Bacon Lettuce Tomato sandwich (BLT) with avocado, as well as eating one for myself.

We sat in a less used hallway some way along from the kitchens (I was not taking any chances with Silena again), and finished eating our BLTs in silence.

"So...I should probably get you back to your tank," I said with a sigh.

Percy looked like he was going to object, but then changed his mind and nodded, looking a bit dejected.

I led him back to the top of the tank where we kind of just stood there, doing nothing, until Percy turned towards me.

"Hey, about what Silena was saying back there..." he started,

No. No. Nope nope nope nope nope. Before he could continue I quickly butted in.

"I sort of, kind of...reallyreallylikeyou," I blurted out. He looked shocked and I rushed to continue.

"It's okay I know you don't like me like that and I'm sorry if you felt uncomfortable or pressured when Silena was teasing me and I-" I was interrupted by Another pair of lips meeting my own.

At first I stood still, afraid if I moved it would shatter this reality and I'd wake up with no Percy. But when I finally convinced myself it was real I eagerly returned the kiss.

Eventually Percy pulled away, blushing.

"Oh my goodness I don't know what I just did, all I know is that I wanted you to shut up, and...wow," he said breathlessly .

Slowly he started to step backwards towards the water. When he was near the end off the platform, he gave me one last weak smile, then turned around dived into the water.

"Wait, Percy!" I yelled after him, but I was too late.

I considered tapping on the glass but he was doing some sort of meditation thing in the middle of the tank, and obviously didn't want to talk. So I sighed, and ended up going back to my own room, lying on the bed and wondering what all of that meant.