★ kee speaks guys holy fucking shit i took a nap and i had a dream where i was in a clothing store with him because he needed pyjamas and i was thinking thoughts and getting kilig because boys w their pyjamas pulled low is so fucking hot... then he noticed me shying away from him so he laughed a bit and pulled me close :( n i helped him look for the right size pants while he had his arm around me :( HE BOUGHT ME RINGS 💔💔 

also disclaimer i haven never gone to an american school i just used google for hoco info and idk i asked my friends for some stuff

anyway reader's godly parent isnt specified plus connor is a real cutie in this one (but theres nothing new about that) and i didnt put a swear word in for once 🤯🤯🤯 so yeah enjoyy happy belated 2 yrs pj pants 

edit: this is so long help

edit 2: guys i miss him 

edit 3: desperately need to see the stolls in spiderman suits. my friends hear me talk abt this all the time but i . please. i need it. they fit the peter parker description ok 

When we received the news, my first thought was: Oh, I'm going to die.

In my defense, it was a war, and demigods were known to not live very long. I wasn't the main character (unlike Percy Jackson, the Poseidon kid who was off somewhere else), so what right did I have to think I'd have a big chance of surviving my first war? Gods, I said that as if it was my first prom. Pfft, I thought. As if I'll live past today to see balloons, bright lights and pretty people in formal clothing.

I don't remember much of what happened after we were told to prepare for a battle at Manhattan. I just threw some of my few belongings in a backpack, put on my best pair of jeans, and then the rest was...I don't know. I guess I was too preoccupied with myself.

As the other campers and I were leaving our cabins, I noticed the Ares cabin was still emitting noise. There were still people inside. With my bag slung over my shoulder, sheathed sword hung around my hips, I walked over to see what was going on with them. Just as I got close, however, the open door swung shut and the Athena camper standing outside of it rolled his eyes and walked away.

I anxiously stuffed my hands in my pockets, hoping they weren't shaking. From where I was standing, I could see three vans ready to bring us campers to the City. I saw Argus, too, and two harpies. I shuddered at the sight of them. Did I trust them to drive more than a dozen teenagers including me to Manhattan? No. But I probably didn't have a choice, so I just hoped I'd be able to ride in whichever van Argus was going to operate.

I took one last look at the camp. You know, in case I died. 

Goodbye strawberry fields. Goodbye Big House. Goodbye mess hall. Goodbye arena. Goodbye canoe lake where I fell in on my first day. Goodbye edge of the woods where I kissed Castor when I was 13. And goodbye, my bunk. I still love you despite all the times you let me fall off of you during really bad nightmares. I'll miss you.

I hoped this wouldn't be the last time I'd see it. As pessimistic as my first thought was, I was not—and would never be—ready to say goodbye to my only home. I had too many memories here and I had never been careful enough to savor my time.

I adjusted my backpack straps and turned back to the vans, seeing the Hermes campers approaching. I was making my way down the hill, biting the inside of my cheek, when I felt an arm rest across my shoulders.

"Yeah, that's right, Con, open up to her before we—"

"Shut it."

I looked to my left and saw my favorite pranksters, Travis and Connor Stoll. The latter shoved Travis away, scowling. Then he went back to me. "How are ya feeling, princess?"

"Scared? Or is it too early for that? It's more than an hour's ride to Manhattan."

"We'll be fine. There aren't any monsters that are out to kill us. Yet," He nodded. "Unless the harpies get hungry or impatient."

It was my turn to shove him. "Don't say that! How are you so calm!?"

As I said it, I looked at him and saw that he wasn't actually as calm as he pretended to be. His expression was tense, as if he was trying not to show any emotions. He swallowed nervously, then sighed.

He was about to say something, but I cut him off. "Please stay safe. When we're...you know."

"I'll try, princess."

I chuckled at the nickname. I realized how nervous he must have been, too. Maybe him and Travis were just better at hiding their struggles, being the head counselors of their cabin. They always had to seem put together for their fellow campers.

Suddenly feeling guilty for shoving him, I awkwardly patted him on the back. "Um...yeah. Please try."

He seemed to notice the tight face I was making and chuckled bitterly. "It's okay. You don't have to say anything, I'm fine. I'm like this all the time, you know—jittery—only difference is I have a higher chance of dying so I'm trying to, uh, spend my time wisely or whatever."

I nodded. We had reached the vans now, and I avoided the harpies' gaze as two cabins including mine and the Hermes cabin boarded the second van. I saw one of the two harpies get into the driver's seat, and the van wobbled with the added weight.

I felt Connor nudge me. "Better behave, Y/N."

"Look who's talking." I looked expectantly at him and he was smiling guiltily, rubbing the butt of his sword. Then he gestured forward. "Ladies first."

I was fidgeting with the hem of my shirt when we got out of the vans. The long car ride left me dizzy, but I could still stand so I told myself I'd be fine. Manhattan looked like how I expected it to look, except something was off. I figured it was because of all the Greek magic surrounding it. I wondered what happened to the mortals.

Soon Percy and Annabeth Chase came to where we were, and then they announced some things. Near the end of their pep talk, I heard someone calling my name. I found Connor at the back of the crowd, smiling and wearing armor like more than half of us already. "Hi, Y/N. Mind helping me?"

He turned around, showing me his loose armor straps. Was he doing this on purpose?

"Yeah, of course." I went and adjusted them. As I did so, I felt tension grow between us. It was too quiet, with the awkward buzz of our surroundings droning into either sides of my head. My shaking fingers pulled at the leather straps and my feet felt deformed in my shoes. "Done."

"Hey." He turned around and gently took both of my hands. I felt like a shock went through my body. Maybe I was just touch starved, but I felt a bit...giddy when that happened. Or was it a crush?

I mean, he had always made me laugh (that often made me consider if I had a rotten sense of humor as well), and I was always down to hang out with him, but lately I found myself smiling a little wider than usual when he came into view. I would feel butterflies when thinking of him and sometimes I'd even feel more conscious of how I'd looked when he talked to me. Hold on...what?

I swallowed thickly and forced myself to look him in the eye.

"I have an extra condition. We both try not to die, and I'll prepare a surprise for you when this is all over, yeah?"

"Okay. And what do I do?"

He seemed to be thinking, but then he dropped the thought process. "Nothing. Just wait. And survive."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "What are you planning?"

"That's a secret." He drew circles on the back of my hands with his thumbs, then let go. "They're calling me. See you around, princess, and thanks for the..." He motioned to his armor. I began to wave, but I realized something was missing. His scabbard was empty, and his celestial bronze sword leaned against the van.

I picked it up and called his name. He spun on his heel, and as he went to retrieve it his expression told me that he left it on purpose.

No more words were exchanged, but before he left to join his group I jokingly blew a kiss, slightly giddy. He made a disbelieving face, then he seemed to understand. He grinned, did a salute and marched out of sight.

The battle was over. We survived...and I hardly believed it. I was too tired to register anything else. The only things in my mind were tired hungry hurts. My sword arm ached.

The battlefield was a mess. Debris was littered everywhere. Monster dust was scattered around and made the place look like some gold-themed parade had just passed by. The demigod corpses, however, I won't address. I didn't want to accept that I had seen one of my own half-siblings dead before me just minutes ago.

I collapsed and sat down on the ground, wiping away dirt and monster dust and maybe a few tears from my face. I had just survived my first war. The way that I said it made it sound like it would happen again, and I'd have to expect it. Like a grim annual event.

But isn't that how the life of a demigod goes? Just being tossed around in the washing machine of life, plunged into dangerous situations every now and then. I would never get a rest. I would always be chased by monsters, I would always get hurt. This battle was only the start of it (or maybe the middle if I die young) and I was sure I'd encounter worse problems in the future.

My knees were wobbly when I stood. They were scraped and bloody. I figured I'd need water to wash away the dirt, so I went to look for a place where I could clean up.

But then I heard a voice calling my name, and the voice turned into two voices, and they seemed to get closer. I knew those voices—those were the Stolls.

They reached me before I could spot them, and the shorter of the two slammed into me, engulfing me in a hug.

I let out a squeak against Connor's shoulder in surprise, taking in his warmth. He smelled like coke and shaving cream and something fruity but I could also smell blood and smoke and sweat on him. Though his arms firmly caged me his hands were shaking and weak. His breathing was ragged and I could feel a tear in his shirt.

But he was here, he was alive and so was Travis and they were real, not ghosts, not hallucinations, and they stood right in front of me. Just as scratched-up and beaten as I was, but otherwise alive.

"Kept my promise, kept my promise," I said, out of breath. "And you kept yours, and Travis is okay, that's good, that's great..." Connor was nodding along as I mumbled things.

Travis reached out his hand and I squeezed it, silently telling him all that had to be said.

Connor pulled away and studied my face while cupping my cheeks with his calloused hands. "Complete? All parts of the Y/N still here?"

I weakly cracked a smile. "Yes, I'm still whole."

"Good." He hugged me again, this time tighter. I hugged back, nuzzling my face into his shirt and playing with the curls of hair at the base of his neck. I sighed. It was a relief to feel another living person near me again, and this time we weren't fighting for our lives anymore.

Travis joined in, putting his arms around both of us and resting his head against Connor's. He whispered how thankful he was to the gods that we had made it out alive and that he'd steal candy for all three of us soon. That sounded promising.

The Battle of Manhattan was finished. It was over now. We would be okay.

A few months passed and I had managed to enroll into a school—Goode High School, the same one Percy Jackson had went to, apparently. Then, even more months passed, and since Goode didn't have a football team, it scheduled homecoming so that it celebrated the swim team's alumni returning.

I was a new student, so I didn't know much about the graduates or the swim team other than Percy Jackson was on it. All I did was worry about the homecoming dance, since it was the only event I thought I'd be involved in.

Posters of the upcoming event were everywhere, and I had already planned my dress and how I'd get to school and how I'd do my hair and makeup. All I needed now was to let fate decide if I would go alone or not.

I had a few friends, of course—that girl from history period, the twins from literature class, Rachel Dare who was always in the art room, the Stolls who had also gotten in, and Percy—but they all seemed too busy. And I couldn't picture myself being asked out by any of them! Well, maybe except for one.

A week before the special night, I was starting to lose hope. I prepared to go alone and just talk with anyone I could on the night of the event, and then I'd go home. Plain and simple.

Among my plans for the dance, I also found myself thinking about Connor. The saying "distance brings fondness" may have started to develop truth on my end. After we settled back into camp after the war, we had gotten occupied with our own lives again. And though we were in the same school and had a few classes together, I barely saw him.

When I did, he was going home or shoving something in his locker before rushing off to another class. I don't think either of us anticipated high school to be this much of a hassle. I often longed to hang out with him during his free time, but finding him was hard. Sometimes I'd even think, this would be more interesting if Connor was here during boring discussions. Damn it, Stoll, why are you always on my mind?

Okay, fine, I'll say it. I missed him. Terribly. I missed the fun we'd have. And I missed the stupid smile he wore all the time when messing with me. I wanted to hug him again, too.

Anyway, back to the present. One week before homecoming. I woke up to a text from Connor, jolting me awake from my sleepy haze.

headcahe (the shorter 1)
gud am y/nnnn
>:))
i heard vp will b pwtrolling outside tmr so
b carefuj!!!

I squinted, trying to read the message. Then it set in that Connor texted me, and I rolled back over in bed, punching my pillow. He put a >:)! The voice inside my head squealed.

Wait. The vice principal? Patrolling the school at 8 in the morning? That's not good.

I told myself I'd just be careful and try to avoid her. Run into the front doors without her looking if I had to. I did not need a lecture about something as unimportant as my shirt color from her.

I arrived at school as always, and took my time scanning the grounds from afar. No one was there. I went up to the farthest sides of the front gate. No one. That made my anxiety spike. Was she hiding? No, what gave her a reason to hide from students?

I was starting to feel ridiculous snooping around the bushes in front of the school, so I gave up and speed walked over to the front doors. They were closed. Weird.

"Oh, man," I said to myself when I pulled the handle. They were locked. I swore as I pulled again. I saw students inside, so no way was school cancelled. I knocked on the glass, but no one heard.

I was in such disbelief I laughed. For another 10 minutes I stood there, knocking and hoping someone would see me. Just when I was about to try and climb through a window, someone unlocked it and let me inside. 

I thought it was Connor at first, but it was Travis. "Morning, Y/N. You're later than usual."

"Yeah, it was locked," I said, frowning and tapping the door handle. "Thanks. I'll see you around?" I was in a rush to get to my homeroom period and get my heavy backpack off.

"See you." 

I entered the hallway going to my classroom. There, the passage was packed with people chatting and preparing for the day. I bumped into some girl on my way to my locker. I was about to start working on my locker combination when the PA system turned on and blared an announcement about everyone having to clear out of the hallways for an extra early class. I was just about to join them when the voice said my name.

I froze, listening. The voice over the PA system said to remain standing. Just then I noticed some things along the walls, things that couldn't be seen in the crowd formed by students earlier. My initials were on the lower areas of the lockers, repeated every few feet. Ribbons in bold colors formed arrows, pointing down the hallway. 

Intrigued, I followed them. They led to the last classroom at the end of the hall. I remembered that it was unused and wondered what was in there. Then I heard music blaring—not just any music, it was my favorite song playing!

I pushed open the door—thankfully it wasn't locked this time—and entered. The room was decorated with many colors, balloons and streamers lying here and there. A boom box lay on the ground beside the doorway, blasting my favorite song. The chairs and tables were pushed to the back of the classroom. Half the lights were turned off and the shutters were closed, so the room was darker than it should have been in the morning. A revolving disco light slowly spun in one corner, throwing dots of red, green, yellow, pink, blue, and purple light across the room.

Someone was standing in the center of the floor. It was Connor, in slacks an a blue suit vest. He was holding a blue roll of cartolina to match, a cheesy pick-up line written on the poster. Well, I assumed it was a pick-up line, because that's what usually happens, right? My dyslexia made it hard to read, but the letters were enough for me to figure out what it said.

Connor looked at me with puppy eyes. "Hi, Y/N; so, homecoming?"

My mouth hung open at the room's display, but mostly just at him. He looked so good. I could feel my heart fluttering in my chest and my cheeks ached for me to smile.

"Y-you like it?" He asked, looking around the room. "I kind of blackmailed the school to let me be part of the decorations team, so if you like this I'll try my best to slip some things into the theme—"

"Yes," I said, cutting him off and dropping my backpack. "Yes, Connor, of course I'll go with you!"

"Really?" He asked as I strode over to him, gently taking hold of his wrists.

"Yes, dummy," I replied, pushing away the poster he was still holding. "You really did all this? Stalled me to get me alone, even?"

I felt him pull me closer and he giggled when I did the same by pulling his collar. "Yeah, that was me. Anything for you, Y/N. I mean, I like you, and maybe I'm even in love. I'll start by bringing you to the dance, yeah?"

★ kee speaks p.s. we'll never know what's on the poster. 1. author couldnt figure out a pickup line creative enough 2. connor and y/n are both dyslexic 3. connor forgot what it was. also him giggling was so babygirl