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To say Artemis was exhausted was an understatement.
She was absolutely shattered. She had been performing her duties, both as an Olympian and the goddess of the hunt tirelessly for the entire month. She hadn't even slept once in the past week. Yes, she was a goddess and presumably didn't need sleep, but even goddesses could go so long before needing a rest.
Artemis had just returned from a solo hunt and to say she was tired would be an understatement. Her eyes were droopy and she was drowsy as fuck. She walked to her tent, stumbling a few times like a drunken idiot, and face planted on her bed.
She let out a groan of annoyance, remembering the Olympian gala she was supposed to attend that night, with her date. Who, by the way, was Percy Jackson, Savior of Olympus, cuddler extraordinaire.
The said person entered the tent, oblivious to his surroundings.
He obviously thought he was alone, so when he saw a girl with auburn hair sprawled on the bed, he let out a girly shriek in surprise. Artemis let out a giggle at his antics, something that didn't go unnoticed by Percy. He immediately figured out something was wrong with the goddess.
He frowned in concern and asked, "Arty, are you alright?"
Artemis deliriously giggled some more, which was starting to creep Percy out, before sobering abruptly and sighing in defeat. She groaned and replied, "No, I am fucking tired. I haven't relaxed once during this month except when I was with you and these stupid duties have left me exhausted. I just want to fucking sleep and unwind for once but I can't, because now there's this stupid fucking gala we have to go to. And gods, I'll look dead on my feet and Aphrodite will start gloating and fussing over me, and then I'll be the laughing stock of all fucking Olympus for a decade."
Percy blinked, clearly not used to his girlfriend curse so much. He beamed. Drowsiness seemed to bring out her wild side.
Percy scrunched up his eyebrows and asked, "Do you want to go to the Gala?"
Artemis just shook her head, too tired to even respond.
Percy smirked mischievously and jumped onto the bed. Draping himself against Artemis, Percy snuggled closer to her, holding her tightly. "Fine, we won't go."
Artemis looked at him incredulously. "Are you serious?" She protested. "My presence is mandatory!"
"Uh uh," Percy chided gently as looked at her with an amused expression, "We are not going. You are tired and I know you need cuddles, so you're going to get cuddles."
Artemis could not disagree that she needed cuddles but tried to wriggle out of his grip, rather unenthusiastically. Percy just held her tightly and gently coaxed her head into the crook of his neck.
Humming a soothing lullaby, he placed a tender kiss on her forehead, and all of Artemis's prior protests died immediately in her throat. She finally gave in and snuggled closer to Percy. Percy smiled at the show of affection and pecked her on the lips.
"I love you, Arty," Percy whispered, fondness lacing every word.
"I love you too, Percy," Artemis mumbled in his shirt and drifted off to a much needed, peaceful, dreamless sleep.
Sometimes, rules were worth breaking to be with Percy.