[Third Person's PoV]
"A picnic basket?" Thalia asked, her expression deadpan.
"What? You don't want to?" Lucian replied, holding up the basket he had just pulled from his shadow. "A little afternoon snack, watching the sunset, and when it gets dark, fireworks under the stars and moon."
Thalia made a gagging motion, pretending to puke. "Ugh! That sounds disgustingly sweet."
"You're just a hater," Lucian scoffed, placing the basket by his waist and walking ahead. "Come on, that sounds like the ideal date!"
Thalia scoffed as she folded her arms. "Since when have you been a romantic? It's weird and unnatural."
"Your face is weird and unnatural," Lucian shot back.
He immediately ducked, dodging a swing aimed at his head. Laughing, he weaved around, effortlessly evading the flurry of punches and kicks Thalia threw at him.
As he leaned back to dodge another, he smirked. "Besides, are you really going to say no to my cooking? You sure you wanna pass up what's in here?" He started fanning the basket, wafting the scent toward her.
Thalia froze as her nose twitched. "…What's in there?"
"Chicken sandwiches, burgers, drinks, a variety of potato dishes, homemade pizza, a couple of desserts like cheesecake and pudding—"
"Say no more." Thalia snatched the basket from his hands and marched ahead. "You know what? A picnic actually sounds perfect."
Lucian rolled his eyes. "Fatass."
Thalia didn't even hesitate—she spun on her heel and sent a kick flying backward. Lucian barely managed to block, crossing his arms just in time.
"What!? I was complimenting your ass from behind as you walked ahead. What's wrong with that?" Lucian exclaimed in mock injustice.
Without missing a beat, Thalia spun again, aiming another kick at him. A small blush crossed her face.
"First of all, you perverted bastard, I knew exactly what you meant! And second of all, I'm going to go get changed, so stop staring at my butt!" Her blush deepened as she stomped away.
Lucian sighed dramatically. "Please don't change, you look amazing right now—a snack for sore eyes."
"That's not how the saying goes," Thalia scoffed.
Before she could protest further, Lucian suddenly scooped her up and slung her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.
"By the time you get changed, the food will be cold," he said matter-of-factly, already marching forward.
"Wah! Lucian! You bastard, put me down this instant!" Thalia screamed, thrashing and kicking.
"Don't wanna. Now come on, vámonos," Lucian said, puffing out his chest and striding ahead with exaggerated confidence.
Thalia gripped the basket tightly, flailing. "Lucian! If you don't release me right now, I swear I'll scream!"
Lucian snapped his fingers. Shadows surged around her, wrapping over her mouth.
Her eyes widened in disbelief as she slowly turned to glare at the back of his head.
"MMMH HMMM CRHMMM?!?!" Thalia muffled voice screamed which translated to: 'Are you crazy?!?!'
Lucian turned his head, flashing a blindingly innocent smile. "I'm kidnapping you, hahaha!" He skipped forward, still carrying her over his shoulder.
Thalia's eye twitched. Her bloodshot gaze drilled into the back of his head, pure rage radiating from her.
The dryads hidden behind the trees peeked out, watching the scene in stunned silence… but did absolutely nothing to stop it.
---
Lucian finally set Thalia down at the top of a large hill, where they could see the lake, the forest, and even Camp Half-Blood from above. It was a breathtaking view.
Not that Thalia cared—she was still bound by his shadow constructs, legs tied to prevent escape.
Ignoring her shaking fury and bloodshot eyes, Lucian grabbed the basket from her hands, still grinning. Flowers practically bloomed in the background behind him.
He set the basket down and pulled out a red-and-white checkered blanket. With a dramatic flick, he spread it across the grass before skipping back over to Thalia.
She was still staring at him in such disbelief that she forgot her hands weren't tied.
Lucian picked her up in a princess carry and gently placed her onto the picnic blanket. Then, he sat down across from her, the basket perfectly centered between them.
Hugging his legs, he took a deep breath. "Ahhh~ isn't nature wonderful?" he asked, flashing that same innocent, glowing smile.
Thalia's rage peaked. Without thinking, she unleashed her [Aura of Intimidation]. A wave of crimson energy surged from her, twisting into the shape of a distorted, demonic skull.
Lucian just kept smiling.
"Pfttt—" He couldn't hold it in any longer. His composure shattered as he burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! I'm sorry! I couldn't help it! It was just too funny!" He snapped his fingers, releasing her restraints.
Thalia turned into a streak of lightning, tackling Lucian to the ground. Straddling his waist, her hands wrapped tightly around his neck, she glared down at him with a murderous expression.
"I'm going to fucking kill you, you stupid brat!"
Lucian, completely unfazed, simply rested his arms behind his head and smirked.
"Ooooh, kinky~ I like that."
Thalia froze. Her grip faltered as her expression shifted into deep contemplation. Then, with a heavy sigh, she released him and rolled off.
"I'm going to kill you in your sleep when you least expect it, you bastard," she grumbled.
Sliding back to her original spot, she grabbed a burger from the picnic basket, crossing her legs as she took a bite. She chewed slowly, covering her mouth with her hand as she kept her gaze pointedly away from Lucian.
Her face burned.
'T-That perverted bastard! That perverted pig! He had a fucking boner when I was on top of him!'
"..."
'D-Did I really excite him!? God damn it! Why do I feel kinda proud of that!? The fuck is wrong with me?!'
Lucian, still sprawled on the blanket, stared at the sky with an air of nonchalance.
Internally, however, he was screaming.
'AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH! FUCKING KILL ME NOW! SHE DEFINITELY FELT IT! SHE DEFINITELY FUCKING FELT IT! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME?! STUPID PUBERTY! I'M A GROWING BOY, SO IT'S NATURAL—BUT DID IT REALLY HAVE TO HAPPEN WHEN SHE WAS ON TOP OF ME, WITH HER HANDS AROUND MY NECK!? NOW I LOOK LIKE A FUCKING PERVERT!! AAAAAAAAHHHHH!'
Still keeping up his act, Lucian sat up, casually unpacking the rest of the food onto the blanket. He grabbed something to eat, chewing absentmindedly.
Both of them, lost in their own embarrassment, had the same thought:
'I can't taste anything… This is so fucking embarrassing.'
An awkward silence settled over them. Whenever they tried to talk, their words came out in stiff, one-word responses. But slowly, one word turned to two, then to three, until finally, they were speaking in full sentences again.
Before long, they were laughing. Their appetites returned as they devoured the meal Lucian's shadow clones had prepared.
Now lying on the blanket, Thalia rested her hands over her stomach, while Lucian kept his arms behind his head, his legs lazily swaying side to side. They watched as the sky turned orange with the setting sun, chuckling at Lucian's exaggerated retellings of their past adventures.
Lucian moved the picnic basket aside, leaving an empty space between them. As the sun dipped lower and stars started to twinkle, a cool night breeze swept over them.
Thalia shivered.
"Ugh, I really should've changed. How the hell did I let a bastard like you convince me to stay like this?"
Lucian rolled his eyes before extending an arm toward her.
Thalia blinked, confused, until he made a small beckoning motion with his hand.
She hesitated, blushing. 'Oh, what the hell. We've been through way more embarrassing situations.'
With a sigh, she rolled closer, allowing Lucian to pull her into his embrace. Her head rested on his chest, and for a moment, she just listened to his heartbeat.
'I suppose this isn't so bad…'
She buried her face against his chest, breathing in his scent. A fluttering sensation built in her stomach when she felt him lean down and press a soft kiss to the top of her head.
'Damn it… I hate how good that felt.'
Before she could react, shadows swirled around her, wrapping her in warmth. Lucian had used [Shadow Equip] to drape one of his sweaters over her.
It was slightly oversized, thanks to his larger build, covering her bottom and extending past her hands. Thalia tugged the collar up over her nose, inhaling deeply.
'It smells like him…'
"I'm keeping this," she announced, her tone leaving no room for argument.
"What—? But that's my favorite sweater!" Lucian protested.
"Too bad. Get a new favorite. This one's mine now," she said smugly.
Lucian sighed, shaking his head. "Fine… Keep it."
Thalia smirked, cuddling closer to him in triumph.
"..."
"...Thanks," she muttered softly, closing her eyes.
Lucian merely hummed in confirmation as he and Thalia remained lost in their own world, ignoring the bright campfires and the lively Fourth of July celebration happening in the background. The sounds of laughter, music, and crackling flames filled the air, but to them, it was nothing more than distant noise—irrelevant and unimportant.
Neither of them was tired enough to sleep, but they kept their eyes closed, too focused on the warmth of being tangled together.
Phewwww—BOOM!
Both Lucian and Thalia opened their eyes just in time to see a massive purple firework explode across the sky, illuminating the night in dazzling light.
Phew! Phew! Phew! Phew!
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
A cascade of fireworks followed, each bursting in vibrant colors that painted the darkness above. The display wasn't just random; the fireworks moved and formed images, weaving a visual tale. One set of explosions morphed into an animated retelling of the recent quest Lucian and Percy had undertaken.
Lucian's face twisted in irritation as he watched the scene unfold. "I looked nothing like that while fighting Heracles! This is blasphemy!"
Thalia, however, was struggling to contain her laughter, hiding her face against Lucian's chest as she shook with amusement. The animated version of Heracles was depicted in all his towering, godly glory—while Lucian's figure looked… significantly less flattering.
They continued watching the fireworks, but Thalia soon lost interest in the sky. Instead, she turned her gaze to Lucian, observing the subtle expressions that crossed his face as he watched the display.
Lucian noticed and raised an eyebrow. "You're missing the fireworks."
Thalia leaned in and kissed him gently on the lips. "Thank you, Lucian. Today was amazing. I had a blast." She pulled back, grinning brightly.
Lucian, slightly flustered, muttered, "Well… I'm glad you enjoyed yourself."
Thalia sighed dramatically. "Well, the day would have been better if you weren't such an ass, but I guess beggars can't be choosers. I'll just have to be content with this, so count yourself fortunate."
"Oh, so lucky," Lucian deadpanned.
"Yes, yes, you are," Thalia said smugly. "After all, I'm such a considerate girlfriend. You must've done a lot of good deeds in your past lives to earn this much luck."
Lucian snorted and leaned in, pulling her closer before kissing her lips playfully. "And people call me narcissistic…"
They chuckled between their kisses, the fireworks above casting a warm glow around them, making the moment feel even more surreal.
That was when they both sensed something—something fast, approaching rapidly.
Their heads snapped to the side just in time to see a figure streaking toward them. Annabeth, wings of gleaming celestial bronze spread wide, was descending at full speed.
She hurtled toward the ground, coming in way too fast. Lucian and Thalia sat up just as Annabeth skidded across the grass, kicking up dirt, before tumbling into an ungraceful roll.
"Annabeth!" they both shouted in alarm.
Annabeth's head popped up from the ground, her face smeared with dirt, blood trickling from her nose. Her eyes, shadowed by deep bags, gleamed with manic excitement.
With a crazed look, she began crawling toward them.
"I did it…" she panted, her voice shaky with exhilaration. "It's complete! My first homunculus! My first artificial spirit!"
Still on her hands and knees, she reached into her pouch, pulling out a small mechanical heart. It gleamed with intricate cogs and runes, glowing faintly with a warm orange light.
Annabeth grabbed Lucian's hand and pressed the heart into his palm, gripping it tightly as she stared into his eyes with feverish intensity.
"Take this…" she whispered, her breath uneven. "And fill it with all of your shadow and darkness energy. Once you're done, come with me… and witness the birth of my greatest creation!"
Lucian and Thalia stared at her, utterly baffled.
Annabeth's grip tightened. "Stop looking at me like I'm crazy and start charging that thing up! If it's your energy, I know he'll be strong!"
Lucian blinked. Thalia raised an eyebrow.
"…Annabeth, when was the last time you slept?" Lucian asked cautiously.
Annabeth ignored him, her grin widening into something slightly unhinged.
"Hurry up, dammit!"
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