=Chapter Thirty-Seven=
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Friendly banter
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Saturday, 28th of September

I didn't sleep very well. Despite feeling relatively safe in my room, I just couldn't close my eyes. I had a feeling that the hellhounds weren't the only thing in the city waiting to pounce.

I wonder if they held back because of the mortal.

Every time I closed my eyes and fell into the slightest sleep, I saw people dying. Even those who didn't actually ever die.

I saw glimpses from Tartarus, I saw the wars.

And in the span of seconds, it would all flash though rapidly and send me jolting awake moments later.

Now I sat reading a book, my eyes blurry and tired.

I suppose you could say I was just looking at the book, since reading wasn't possible with how tired I was feeling.

But I couldn't really do anything else. My phone was gone, sleep left me feeling more tired and uneasy, and I couldn't really go out of my room due to bucket head outside.

So here I was, staring at a book to pass time.

It was killing me.

I wiggled my foot erratically, trying to remove the tense and also jittery feeling.

I flopped the book down beside me, sighing loudly as I watched the clock on my nightstand pass minutes slowly as if it took an hour for each minute to turn instead of 60 seconds.

Just as I was about to unfortunately fall into another doze, I was suddenly disturbed by a knock.

"Hey, sleeping beauty." The voice said, and I slightly relaxed when I heard it was Red Hoods.

"What.." I responded with a groan.

"I couldn't help but hear you tossing and turning and sighing, it's actually very annoying so I wondered if I might be able to cure it for you."

I rolled my eyes, turned over and buried my head under my pillow.

"How might you cure nightmares.." I groaned sarcastically, my voice very clearly muffled as it went through both the pillow and the door and the stupid bucket on his head.

"Maybe a kiss from your true love!" He laughed.

I snorted. "True love? Good luck finding me one."

"Well how about we start looking.. starting with yours truly.." he said slyly.

I lifted my head from out beneath the pillow.

"In your dreams!" I called out.

"Well at least I sleep!" He shot back.

I scoffed. "Well at least I don't wear an obnoxious bucket on my head!"

"What's my helmet got to do with sleep!" He defended, his tone indicating that I wounded his pride.

"Everything. Sleep is everything. And your helmet interferes with sleep. You can't sleep with that thing, and you refuse to take it off around people, so therefore, you're hindering your sleep by forcing yourself to wear it!"

He sighs dramatically. "Ugh.. I do take it off, but usually women fall at my feet at the sight of my face.."

Even though he couldn't see me, I still covered my mouth as I laughed, even starting to cough to cover it up.

"You good in there, my dearest beauty?" He called.

I choked. "I- oh my gods- ahaha!"

"What, do you doubt my handsomeness?"

"Phht.. I'll judge when I see it." I rolled my eyes, standing to go open the door.

"Ah, not today.. I think."

"What, do you plan to starve?" I asked as I unlocked and opened the door, seeing the elusive Red Hood leaning on my doorway frame.

"Hmm.. no. I think seeing you is the only nutrition I need."

I blinked. "Ew." I shoved him, causing him to stumble back with a laugh.

"Oh come on, sweetheart, you're a full course meal with dessert. Let me appreciate a pretty woman?"

I raised an eyebrow. I am not food. Although I kinda get what he's saying. I am a full course meal and more.. in food terms.

Slay, I've been compared to food

"Only full course meal with dessert men get to ogle full course meal with dessert women." I finally countered, trying not to laugh at his silly method of flirting.

"And I-" he started however I cut in, "and you're only a snack."

He huffed. "Might as well enjoy me now then, princess." He leaned in.

"I'm on a diet, sorry." I put a finger to his helmet and pushed his head away from my face.

He laughs. "I love you. You're hilarious." He leaned closer again.

"Thanks. You're insufferable." I pushed past him.

He followed behind. "So.. whatcha gonna do with poor little me." He whined playfully.

"Uhm.. well I'd like to make sure you won't go doing stupid things to hurt yourself further.." I said hesitantly.

"You aren't my mom, so I'm not obligated to stay here." He retorted with a small huff.

"Well out of the kindness of my heart I brought you here to help you."

"And you're keeping me here against my will, how dare you, kidnapper."

"I'm not.. keeping you. I'm merely making sure you don't go back out and fight more monsters you don't know how to fight!" Oh. Whoops.

Look over that word.. please?

"Monsters?" He hesitated. "You mean the dogs?"

Whoops

"Eh heh... yeah I mean like they're.." I trailed off. Schist-

He crossed his arms. "What aren't you telling me, Percy."

Uh oh, not my name.

"My life.. isn't normal, okay." I said quietly. Don't ask more, don't ask more, don't ask more please!!

"You don't want to get involved. I pray you don't. If you see something weird like those.. dogs.. turn the other way." I said seriously, avoiding eye contact, praying, hoping, begging...

He and I were quiet for a few moments, I could tell he was pondering his next response, and I wasn't sure how to answer.

"..I'd like to know more. But.. I'd rather not... not right now. I'll ask another time." He finally said, sighing as he moved back to the couch and sat.

I moved to the armchair beside it.

I was honestly surprised he didn't want answers immediately. Wasn't he some hero person? This kind of stuff seems right up his alley of need to know things.

"I.. see. Thanks for.. not prying."  I slumped in the chair. He equally slumped with me, showing our exhaustion. Perhaps he didn't actually get much sleep last night either.

"So.. will you offer your captive some breakfast?"

"How do you expect to eat?"

"UGH."

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Short chapter, but it's out!
(Filler chapters, am I right? lol)

a little early too, yeppee 🎉

Hope you all are doing *phonetastic*
Hope you enjoyed,
Have a shnazzy dazzy day

Toodles!

💙🍪