Chapter Text
Hazel would like to think she was pretty caught up with modern times. After nearly three whole years of being back to life, she’d certainly hope so! Most things, like the shiny, flat tvs that’d once made her wonder where the rest of it was, the lack of ‘white only’ signs, the style of clothes and slang, she’d adapted well to, at first only to fit in and not get caught immediately, and then because she simply started absorbing the new culture around her.
However, she was still a bit… old fashioned, in some aspects. She still believed certain behaviors around relationships and sex to be inappropriate. It wasn’t like she minded people sleeping around or anything (as long as they didn’t go behind anyone’s back!), but she certainly didn’t want to hear about it either, and didn’t think she’d be all too happy if it was one of her friends doing it.
Though she hadn’t had a reason to suspect anything from them, really, they were all sweet (sometimes), stand up people, who she believed to not be interested in that sort of thing at all.
That is, of course, before she went on that dreary coffee hangout, and suddenly, she had gotten a very different impression of Percy. Don’t get her wrong, she wasn’t going to berate him or anything for going ‘round with a god, but she simply hadn’t ever thought of him like that, though maybe that was merely because she’d met him when he’d already been dating Annabeth, and maybe he was different outside of a relationship, but she really didn’t think so.
Even with that, she wasn’t sure she preferred the alternative. The idea that Percy might be actually dating someone, and he hadn’t told her anything at all. If he’d been seeing this mystery god (which, a god, really?) for three months now, why not tell her? She still thought that was a bit quick, but she knew Percy wouldn’t have cheated on Annabeth, and she thought they were close enough to tell each other these sorts of things.
Overall, it just hurt a bit, to think that Percy would be able to hide a relationship from her and lie to her face so easily while she was still askin’ about how he was doing with the breakup.
Maybe it was a bit self centered of her, but it still stung.
Did he think she’d disapprove, with what it being a god? Did he think she’d be upset with him for some reason? Hazel knew he could be weird about the oddest of things, but she hadn’t thought she’d given him that kind of impression.
Sure, dating a god wasn’t the smartest move out there, but she could understand having a strange rebound, she just hoped he wouldn’t get too attached. Gods didn’t exactly have a good history dating mortals, and she didn’t want him to get hurt.
Either way, it bothered her, and she planned to take it straight up to him. With a firm mind, she made his way up to his apartment, knocked on his door, and…
What the hell is he wearing?
“Hazel?” He asked, before a big grin spread out across his face, “Hey there! You didn’t tell me you were coming over, come in.” Almost stumbling, and without being able to keep her eyes off the thing, she did.
“I— Percy, what are you wearing?”
He frowned, confused, before looking down at his indecently short… dress thing? It certainly wasn’t a toga but didn’t quite look like a dress, either. It was blue and flowy and little sharks stitched at the hems. “Oh! D’ya like it? My dad sent it over a few days ago.”
I mean… he did look good in it, and it looked both extremely comfortable and functional enough to easily fight in, even though Hazel had to remind herself that he wasn’t a piece of steak to feast on, .
“Yeah? It, um, looks good but, ah, your dad?” She could feel the flush climbing its way up her neckline embarrassingly quickly, and cursed herself. What was she here for again?
“Yeah, I’m going over to a friend’s party in a bit. I mentioned it to my dad and he wanted me to get properly dressed up, so he ordered a chitoniskos for me. I think it’s a bit too much, but, I dunno, it’s sort of nice to know he cares even for dumb stuff like this," he said, smiling shyly.
Friend? What friend?
Oh, right. The mystery god. Yes. True.
“A friend?”
“Yup,” He said, leaning over to grab an earring from a plate on top of a drawer, putting it on, and carefully examining himself in the silver lined mirror on top of the drawer. Hazel took the moment to rethink his statement. A party?
“And you’re going to this ‘party’? I didn’t take you for a party person.”
He tilted his head to his reflection, fuck, he looked cute, “I’m really not, I just know my friend wouldn’t take me someplace weird.” He turned around, and gestured at himself, “How do I look?”
Would you like a threeso—?
No! Nope, she didn’t— wasn’t that kind of girl, and that thought had nothing to do with herself, even if he really did look great. Nothing to examine there. He’d been letting his hair grow out a little, and it was tied up low and loose on his nape, and his white streak hung stylishly near the front of his eyes before being pulled back.
The chitoniskos had an oddly low neckline, with short, flowy sleeves that still left some of his biceps out, and it was tied up around his waist with a piece of silk, giving the impression of an impossibly thin waist, though that was probably more about the width of his shoulders rather than his waist. The final hemline ended mid-thigh and left long, long tanned skin exposed. His shoes were grecian style sandals and the only jewelry he had on was the silver earrings he’d just put on and a simple leather band around his wrist, as well as his Camp-Halfblood necklace.
What was the saying? Smash?
Wait.
Concentrate, girl!
Percy looked at her expectantly, raising an eyebrow, and she realized she needed to actually say something.
“Oh! You look great!” His posture seemed to ease at that, and his smile became brighter than the sun. Even if she’d just been terribly flustered at him, she could really appreciate the glow he’d been carrying around lately.
“By the way, not that I mind you coming over or staying here, but did you come over for a reason?” His eyes glowed so, so pretty, and he looked so happy about the party, and with the sort of shine about him she hadn’t seen in him ever, she couldn’t bring herself to say anything at all. Not right now.
“Not really,” she said, smiling at him, “I was just around the area, and I wanted to check up on you.” Percy’s eyes softened even more at that, and Hazel felt reassured in her decision.
For now.
“A party? Are you sure?” Frank asked her, as he finished washing the last plate.
“Yeah! I was just as surprised, I’ve never thought Percy of all people would go to a party, I thought he didn’t even like alcohol!”
Frank frowned, and he really did look cute with his apron and his confused expression, “I mean, if he wants to go, that’s his thing, but it’s a bit odd”, he said, handing her the plate for her to dry off.
Hold up.
Hazel gasped, suddenly realizing something she’d missed, and put the plate down, “Frank! Frank! I know who it is!”
“Percy’s friend? Who?”
“I can’t believe I didn’t think of it before! It’s Bacchus!”
Frank bristled, and considered it for a second before frowning again, “What?”
“It makes sense! Haven’t they known each other for forever? Also, Percy’s been getting therapy from him. And! Who else could convince Percy to go to a party? And, and, you should’ve seen what he was wearing, it was— well, it was definitely fit for a party with the party god!”
“I’m… not so sure about that, I mean, doesn’t Percy hate the guy? Wouldn’t it be a bit odd because they’ve known each other so long? Didn’t they meet when Percy was, like, twelve? And isn’t the therapist thing a bit iffy?”
“I don’t think that’d bother a god all that much,” she said, thoughtful, before an idea popped up in her head, “Maybe that’s why he didn’t tell us!”
“What do you mean?”
“He’s the god of wine, mad parties, and all that jargon! Maybe he's scared we’d judge him for it!” Hazel exclaimed, suddenly understanding her friend a lot more, “Especially after that encounter Piper and him had with ‘im. Gods, why didn’t I see it before?”
Even with her obvious conclusion, Frank didn’t look too convinced.
“I can see your point, but I don’t think I see it, love” And oh how she loved it when he called her that. She smiled at him and leaned on her tippy toes, managing to kiss his cheek delighting at the soft smile it drew upon his face.
“Well, I think I’m right. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
“Alright then,” and with that, he leaned down to press his own kiss to her forehead.
Hm. Should she start a betting pool?