(Untitled)

[prettywithawill]

Valkyrie wiped the sweat out of her eyes and for not the first time since arriving on the island, lamented the loss of her magic. She didn't realize how many tiny ways she had used it every day, for things even as simple as keeping a cool breeze on her so she didn't get all sweaty. In a place as humid as the island, that skill would have been

Comments

[percy_jackson]

Finished with my classes that morning, I walked through the halls of the Compound, heading for the kitchen. Looking ahead, I was pleasantly surprised to see Valkyrie in the corridor, looking around. Pleasantly surprised and... suddenly rather nervous. If I wanted to ask Valkyrie to be my date at Zell's wedding, now was the time. But... that would mean asking Valkyrie to be my date. That was harder than it sounded.

But it really was now or never, so it was time to man up. "Hey, Valkyrie!" I called. I waved to her as I came closer.

[prettywithawill]

It was rather convenient that Percy had found her, especially since she was hoping to find him without actually looking really hard to find him. She didn't want to seem that stuck on him or anything, she just... wanted to see him.

"Hey Percy," she said, smiling at him and giving a wave.

[percy_jackson]

"Hey," I said in return. Then realized I'd just said that, and that if I didn't do something quick, we could be doomed to be just standing here, saying 'hey' to each other a lot. I took a deep breath. "I was just going to get some lunch. Want to join me?"

Well, partial success. I'd invited her, but to lunch, not to a wedding. Why was it so hard?

[prettywithawill]

Percy was kind of awkward at times, but it was endearing. Sort of like a puppy that got so excited to see you it peed on the carpet. Only fortunately with Percy the pee was just metaphorical.

"Yeah, sure, I could eat," she said with a shrug, trying not to sound too excited about the prospect. "What have you been up to today?"

[percy_jackson]

"Taking classes, mostly," I said, leading the way to the kitchen. That made me sound younger than I wanted to be, but there was no getting around it. "I've tried to take a full course load since coming here. I've had far more success at this school than any of the others Mom sent me to back home."

[prettywithawill]

"I heard the classes here are pretty interesting," she said with a nod. They really didn't hold much interest for her, at least not enough that she wanted to jump right in and take one. Maybe next semester.

"Which ones are you taking?"

[percy_jackson]

"Whatever I can get my hands on, really," I said, handing her a plate. "Though not so much that I miss out on walking Mrs. O'Leary, training, or time with my friends. History. Some astronomy. Composition." I coughed. "Baking. It's just nice to get through a semester without being expelled."

[prettywithawill]

It was cute that he was embarrassed about taking baking, but not so embarrassed that he was going to not mention taking it. She liked that about him, secure in his masculinity but still a guy.

"You know, I could walk Mrs. O'Leary sometimes," she said. If Percy wanted to come along sometimes too, that wouldn't be all bad. "It's been ages since I've properly gone to school."

[percy_jackson]

"It's certainly an interesting experience," I said. "And some of the teachers? Way cooler than the ones we got back home."

I was becoming aware that I hadn't even broached the subject I'd wanted to ask Valkyrie about, and I wasn't likely to if I didn't go and do it right now. I took a deep breath and said, "Hey, I wanted to ask you something. A friend of mine, Zell, is getting married in a couple of weeks. He's asked me to be a groomsman, but I'm allowed to bring... someone else along." I gave her a hopeful smile. "Want to come to a wedding?"

Okay, that didn't come out quite the way I'd anticipated, but it would have to do.

[prettywithawill]

Valkyrie piled her plate up with food, not really caring what type of food it was. Ever since she'd started training years ago she'd found she ate as much as most guys her age.

As Percy talked, she avoided looking at him since she was worried that might cause him to fumble the words. It was pretty obvious he was asking her to be his date and as easily flustered as he got, she didn't want to add to that. At least not too much. When he had finally gotten the words out, she glanced up at him.

"Sure, I'd love to," she said. It was something pretty minor, but something he was asking her to do with him. Her eyes roamed his face. She liked his green eyes especially, and his lips. Lips that felt very nice to kiss.

"So help me though, if it's tomorrow and I have to rush finding a dress and figure out how to do my hair..."

[percy_jackson]

"Nonono, it's not tomorrow," I said quickly. For a second, there, I thought it was, and I felt a jolt of worry that we hadn't chosen our groomsmen outfits yet. "It's December 1st. They're going to do it at the Compound, I think, and have a party afterward. That should give you some time, right?"

[prettywithawill]

"Plenty of time," she said, smiling at him. She tried not to get too excited about the idea of it. It wasn't a huge deal, really, but the fact that he had picked her to ask was especially nice.

"So are you going to be wearing a tuxedo and everything?"

[percy_jackson]

"We'll have to see what the clothes box offers us," I said. "I am expecting to dress up a bit. Maybe a tux. Hopefully one that fits and looks good."