[Third Person's PoV]
As Lucian entered his classroom, he released a deep sigh. His desk, much to his dismay, was overflowing with an assortment of chocolates, candies, and colorful notes tucked between wrappers. A few of the girls in his class—many of whom he barely even spoke to—cast him bashful glances, some quickly looking away when he met their eyes. The familiar awkward tension of Valentine's Day hung in the air.
Walking beside him were Annabeth and Bianca. Annabeth immediately caught sight of the sweets piled on Lucian's desk and grimaced. A low, irritated growl escaped her as she crossed her arms, clearly unimpressed by the display.
Not that Annabeth's own desk had been spared. Though not quite as overwhelmed as Lucian's, hers bore a modest collection of cards and gifts. Despite her prickly demeanor, she had garnered a fair number of admirers throughout the school year. It helped, of course, that both she and Lucian had taken potions that subtly enhanced their physical appearance. Their features were sharper, more symmetrical, their presence more magnetic.
Lucian and Annabeth were undeniably striking to look at, often drawing the attention of students wherever they went. Even Bianca, though quieter and more reserved, wasn't immune to admiration. As the daughter of Hades and another user of the potions, she carried an air of mystery that intrigued more than a few classmates.
As Lucian made his way to his desk, stepping carefully to avoid stepping on any stray wrappers or gifts, he reached into his backpack. From inside, he pulled out a carefully prepared bouquet of white chocolate roses, arranged neatly with a small, plush white bear nestled in the center.
"Here…" he said simply, extending the bouquet toward Chloe, who had been watching him with wide eyes.
She blinked in surprise, her expression morphing into one of awe as her cheeks flushed a deep crimson. "F-For me?" she asked, her voice almost a whisper.
Lucian rolled his eyes and sighed, though a hint of warmth crept into his tone. "You're not so bad," he said with a slight smirk. "So I don't mind giving you something."
Then, with a faint tilt of his head, he added, "Besides, I realized you've probably never received a Valentine's Day gift before. I figured you deserved to know what it's like. So… Happy Valentine's Day."
Chloe looked down at the bouquet in her hands, holding it as if it were made of glass. Her lips trembled, fighting to contain a smile that threatened to stretch from ear to ear. "Thank you…" she squeaked, her voice cracking with emotion. Her eyes shimmered, teetering on the edge of tears. "That was… really thoughtful of you."
She brought the bouquet to her nose and let out a small giggle. 'It smells like chocolate…' she thought dreamily, her feet kicking beneath her desk, unable to contain her giddiness.
Lucian didn't linger. He moved on, his next stop already in mind. Reaching into his bag again, he pulled out a book that was wrapped neatly with a red ribbon. He approached Lasis and held it out.
"Although you get on my nerves and are kind of a perv," he said bluntly, "I don't hate you enough to leave you out. Even pervs like you deserve a little love on Valentine's Day."
Lasis blinked at the gift in her hand, blinking rapidly before laughing. "Well, I could've done without being called a perv, but… I appreciate the sentiment. Thanks, Lucian."
Curious, she untied the ribbon and opened the cover. It looked like a book at first glance, but as the pages fluttered open, her eyes widened. The middle of the book had been hollowed out in the shape of a heart, and nestled inside were rows of bite-sized chocolates. The untouched pages surrounding the cutout all carried a repeating, handwritten message: Happy Valentine's Day.
Lasis's face turned a deep red as she stared at the chocolates, momentarily stunned. She glanced up, only to find Lucian had already moved ahead, not waiting for a reaction. Her glasses sat crooked on her face, and she quickly adjusted them before plucking one of the chocolates from the heart-shaped center.
She popped it into her mouth, chewing slowly as she lowered her gaze to hide the warmth spreading across her face. 'Sweet…' he thought, smiling softly to herself.
When Lucian reached Atropos, a soft smile curved his lips. "You were a little harder to figure out," he admitted, his voice carrying a hint of warmth. "But I thought about it for a while… and I realized that with the kind of person you are, you'd appreciate something meaningful—something that lasts—rather than something fleeting like momentary pleasure."
Atropos tried to keep her expression neutral, but a faint upward tilt betrayed her lips. To be loved was one thing—but to be understood was another. And Lucian had done exactly that. He saw through her quiet exterior and recognized her need for depth, for significance.
Gently, he reached for her hand, his fingers brushing over hers before holding it delicately. From his pocket, he pulled out a ring—a beautiful black gem shaped like a rose, glinting darkly under the classroom lights.
Without hesitation, Lucian slipped it onto her middle finger. Atropos's eyes widened in shock, her usually pale ears flushing a deep red. She opened her mouth to say something, but no words came out.
Lucian smirked, clearly enjoying her stunned reaction. With a teasing glint in his eyes, he raised her hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to the ring, never breaking eye contact. "Happy Valentine's Day~," he said, flashing her a roguish grin.
Atropos quickly withdrew her hand, her gaze dropping to her desk. She was far too flustered to even look him in the face, her heart thudding wildly in her chest.
Lucian chuckled to himself, but as he turned back to the class, he noticed the shift in atmosphere. A heavy silence had fallen. Everyone was staring—eyes wide, mouths slightly open, disbelief painted on their faces.
Some of the girls were openly staring at the three sisters, a hint of envy in their eyes. The boys, on the other hand, glared at Lucian with a mix of exasperation and frustration.
"What?" Lucian asked, brows raised as he scanned the classroom.
"Aren't you dating Annabeth?!" the guy next to Atropos blurted out, looking as though Lucian had just committed some grand act of betrayal.
Lucian tilted his head, unbothered. "Are you seriously that single that you're more invested in my love life than your own?" he asked with a lazy grin. "Go get one."
"Oh, shut up!" the guy growled in response. "Eat a dick!"
Lucian snorted, "Grow one."
The class erupted into laughter at their playful exchange. They'd been classmates for nearly six months—by now, everyone was used to Lucian's sharp tongue and the occasional round of banter.
Meanwhile, Annabeth had made her way to Lucian's desk. Her brow furrowed as she sifted through the mountain of sweets and gifts. "Some of these aren't even from people in our class!" she muttered in disbelief.
She turned to Lucian with a stern expression. "You better not eat a single piece."
"The same goes for you," Lucian shot back, gesturing to her own collection of gifts.
They stared each other down, arms crossed, eyes narrowed.
"I'll eat your pile, you eat mine?" Annabeth offered, arching an eyebrow.
"Deal," Lucian nodded.
"They weren't meant for you, Annabeth!" one of the girls in the class shouted, clearly frustrated.
Annabeth didn't hesitate. "What's mine is his, and what's his is mine! So if they were meant for him, then they're mine, too!" she snapped, clutching the chocolates protectively in her arms like a dragon hoarding treasure.
---
Elsewhere in the hallway, Thalia was on her way to class when she noticed a crowd gathered near the door. Her eyes narrowed with suspicion.
"What now?" she muttered.
Beside her were two classmates she'd grown close to, both of whom shrugged in confusion.
The trio walked toward the commotion, ears picking up whispers as they pushed through the curious onlookers.
"Who could've left something like that?"
"It's so sweet though…"
"I wish I had a boyfriend that thoughtful…"
Thalia frowned. "Boyfriend?"
Finally breaking through the crowd, her eyes landed on her desk—and she froze.
Her desk was completely surrounded by flowers, large gifts, and a single oversized card propped against a bouquet. On the front was an illustration of chibi versions of her and Lucian. Lucian's chibi form was hugging a very punked-out, deadpan-faced Thalia, while little pink hearts floated all around.
Thalia slapped a hand to her face and let out a loud groan. "I'm going to kill him. I am actually going to kill him."
"Awwww! Thalia, we didn't know you had a boyfriend!" one of her new friends squealed.
"Not after I'm down killing him I won't!" Thalia growled as she marched forward and snatched up the card. She opened it—and promptly shut it again.
'To my cougar—' the card had read.
Lucian had started calling her a cougar the moment she turned 18, and no matter how many times she protested, he only seemed more committed to the nickname.
Taking a deep breath, she muttered, "Yup… I'm killing him."
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