Ahoj, lovely readers! The final chapter's here!
Percy: Wait, does this include us all?
Me: Yep. Who'll do the disclaimer, now?
Hazel: Um . . . May I?
Me: Sure! Go ahead, Hazel!
Hazel: Thanks! Read-Them-On doesn't own the characters or the PJO/HoO stories! She owns the poem in this story, though!
Me: That's right! Now, I gotta get some things out of the way:
1. This is a prompt (Pecan Nut: Write About Strange Habits Couples Share) story/submission for the February Contest: Build a Chocolate Box (2019), an event in the Camp Half-Blood forum (link in my bio).
2. Word count (without A/N): 947
3. This is the last chapter of this story! I hope you guys enjoyed reading the story as much as I did writing it!
And the most important thing: enjoy!
Strange Couple-y Things
" . . . They are just a strange couple.
"Babe, look at me," she said, her mouth full of snow.
"I bet I can do that, too!" he replied, whooping when he could.
And as he choked, she laughed, "Idiot, there you go!"
They are just a strange couple.
He likes braiding her blonde hair.
When one day, suddenly bored,
she decided to make it fair . . . by braiding his hair!
They are just a strange couple.
They like to take a dip.
So much so that they yell scores during Titanic,
As the people jump off of the ship!
They are just a strange couple.
What you do they won't ever mind.
Unless you harmed the other,
then you're gonna have a kicked behind!
Wait, is that strange or cute?
They are just a strange couple.
They sing along really loud,
And when they think none's looking,
They kiss amongst the crowd!
But wait . . . that's just cute, too!
They are just a strange couple.
They often try to match.
Yeah, it's just that; they like wearing the same colors!
Seriously, there's no catch!
But they aren't just a couple!
They are 'Percabeth'!
They are the ne plus ultra!
Try to cross them, they'll ensure your untimely death!
Their friends have strange love, too!
For example, take 'Sparky' and 'Pipes':
They play tag in their house!
And when something goes awry, they yell out a loud 'Oh, hypes!'.
Yep, that's strange!
Then there are Calypso and Leo:
they call each other snarky names.
Calypso dances and sings and cooks,
while Leo bursts out in flames!
Like, that's something strange on its own, right?
Of course, we can't forget Frank and Hazel:
the epitome of cuteness great!
They are animal people, they really are!
They have a total of dogs eight!
I mean, that many dogs?!
We also have Reyna and Thalia:
the couple with strength so high,
that when they feel bored and fatigued,
they play 'Slash the French Fry'!
And finally, we have 'Solangelo':
a couple of death and life!
They'll kill me if I said anything about them,
with what I believe would be a rusty yet sterilized knife!
They are the Heroes of Olympus couples!
They're pretty strange, the world knows.
But hey, which couple isn't?
Take Zeus and Hera, sises and bros! . . . "
The whole hall erupted with laughter as Apollo bowed down with a smirk on his face. Even the gods – the usually uptight gods – couldn't contain themselves. Apollo's poetry hadn't improved the slightest with time, but what you gotta keep up with, you can at least try to laugh at.
Both the camps in their entirety were present for the tenth anniversary of the victory against Gaea. After all, it was a win that had ensured that no other 'Great Prophecy' was going to ruin their peace, at least for a while. A demigod life was never free of monsters, but the lesser problems the better, right?
And suddenly, each and every camper present was cheering for the Heroes of Olympus.
Ten years. Ten whole years had passed since the infamous Titan War.
Percy stood up, followed by the rest of his best friends. He looked at Zeus, asking for permission to speak. The Olympian nodded and waved off his hand nonchalantly as if he couldn't care less.
"I just wanna say on behalf of my friends and myself that we do not need the cheers, guys; the ones who died in the war ten years ago are the real heroes. So, let's hear a loud one for them! Hip-hip-"
"HOORAY!"
The campers cheered for the brave heroes who had sacrificed their lives for the greater good, not hesitating once. The warriors deserved it more than any of them.
Percy smiled and settled down with all his friends when the cheers faded away, just as the god of thunder started his speech.
He looked around himself. Jason and Piper, now a married couple of three months, were busy chuckling at gods know what, slightly flushed; he figured they were feeling sheepish about Apollo revealing their strange habits. Leo and Calypso, still not engaged, were trying to keep a straight face as they called the other person names in hushed tones, proving the god of poetry correct. Then there were Hazel and Frank, sitting with their fingers entwined, listening to whatever Zeus was saying; it was just like them to always follow the rules. Reyna was attentive to the king of the gods' words as well, while Thalia was indulged in a conversation with Nico and Will, who looked quite relaxed, considering they had Ares constantly glaring at them. And of course, there was Annabeth.
Percy wrapped an arm around his wife of three years.
Annabeth looked up at him.
"I love you, Seaweed Brain," she said. "I'm proud of you."
"I love you, too, Wise Girl." Percy quickly pecked her nose. "I love you both."
He placed a kiss on her swollen belly.
Their faces broke into grins as they remembered what Apollo had just said about them sneaking kisses when they thought no one was paying attention to them.
They were strange, yes. All of them were. But none of them ever wished for things to be normal.
It just wouldn't be them, then.
Oh, they were definitely strange, alright. But that was what made them unique.
He leaned in to kiss her properly and she reciprocated as willingly . . . until-
"Aww! Percabeth!"
Percy sighed. Maybe Apollo was spot-on, after all.
And honestly, he didn't mind at all.
And done! The story comes to an end, as does the month of February!
Percy: *sobbing* Beautiful.
Me: . . . Okay, that was way OOC. Well, dear readers, REVIEW/FAVORITE to show me that I'm not writing all of this in vain! Until the next time! Go check out other stories of mine, till then! :D