Work Text:
Archie and Atlanta are officially a couple but are keeping it on the down low until they are ready to tell the team.
The medical room beneath Olympus Academy was unusually quiet after the chaos of the battle. The distant sounds of the others talking upstairs barely reached the lower level, leaving the room wrapped in soft silence broken only by the occasional clink of metal trays and the faint hum of fluorescent lights overhead. The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and ambrosia, and the tension from the mission still lingered heavily in the room even though the danger had passed hours ago.
Atlanta sat on one of the examination beds with a torn sleeve hanging off her shoulder and several bruises darkening her skin. A shallow cut curved along her collarbone, and there were scrapes across her arms from where a drakon had thrown her against a stone wall during the fight. She insisted she was fine, but Archie clearly did not agree.
“You should’ve let me take that hit instead,” Archie muttered for probably the tenth time as he carefully dabbed antiseptic onto the cut near her shoulder.
Atlanta hissed softly at the sting before rolling her eyes with affectionate amusement. “Archie, if you say that one more time, I’m charging you for emotional damages.”
“I’m serious.”
“I know,” she said gently.
Archie’s expression remained tense as he leaned closer, inspecting another bruise on her arm. His dark brows furrowed so deeply that Atlanta couldn’t stop herself from smiling. He looked completely focused, completely worried, and ridiculously adorable while trying to pretend he was calm about it.
“You’re staring,” Archie said quietly without looking up.
“You’re worrying.”
“That’s because you got hurt.”
“That’s because monsters keep trying to kill us.”
“That’s not funny.”
Atlanta’s smile softened instantly. She reached up and brushed her fingers lightly against his cheek. “You’re cute when you worry.”
Archie finally looked at her then, his serious expression faltering immediately. “Cute?”
“Very.”
“That’s not exactly the image I’m going for.”
“Oh no,” Atlanta teased. “The mighty descendant of Achilles has been reduced to adorable boyfriend status.”
The word boyfriend sent visible warmth rushing into Archie’s face, and Atlanta absolutely loved the reaction. Even after officially becoming a couple two months ago, Archie still looked secretly pleased every time she called him that.
Archie set the antiseptic aside with a quiet sigh. “You know, I’m trying to take care of you right now.”
“And you’re doing a great job.” She tilted her head innocently. “Very heroic. Very handsome.”
“You are impossible.”
“You like impossible.”
Archie gave her a helpless smile before stepping closer between her knees where she sat on the bed. “Yeah,” he admitted softly. “I really do.”
Atlanta’s teasing grin melted into something gentler as she looked up at him. Moments like this still made her heart race in ways battle never could. Archie was usually so guarded around everyone else, always trying to appear confident and untouchable, but when they were alone together he let himself soften. He let himself care openly. And Atlanta loved every version of him.
His fingers carefully brushed against her shoulder again as he checked the cut one last time. “Does this hurt?”
“Not anymore.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
Atlanta leaned forward until their noses nearly touched. “I think you distracted me.”
Archie laughed quietly under his breath. “You flirt even when you’re injured.”
“You flirt harder when I’m injured.”
“That’s because I nearly lost my mind watching that monster throw you across the room.”
Atlanta’s expression softened again. “Archie…”
“I hated it,” he admitted. “I hate seeing you hurt.”
The honesty in his voice made her chest ache warmly. Before he could pull back behind his usual walls again, Atlanta cupped his face and kissed him softly.
Archie immediately melted into it.
The kiss started gentle and slow, full of relief and lingering fear from the battle, but quickly deepened when Archie’s hands slid carefully to her waist. Atlanta smiled against his lips when he kissed her again with even more affection than before, lingering close like he needed reassurance that she was really okay.
“You’re still worrying,” she whispered.
“You’re still hurt.”
“I’m alive.”
“Barely.”
Atlanta laughed softly before kissing him again. “You’re dramatic.”
“You almost got crushed by a drakon.”
“And you almost got stabbed by a cyclops.”
“That’s different.”
“How?”
“I’m me.”
Atlanta stared at him for a moment before bursting into laughter. “That is the dumbest thing you’ve ever said.”
Archie grinned proudly. “And yet you’re still dating me.”
“Unfortunately, yes.”
“Unfortunately?”
She pretended to think about it before pulling him down for another kiss. “Very unfortunately.”
Neither of them noticed the medical room door had opened slightly several moments earlier.
Neil stood frozen in the hallway, one hand still resting on the doorframe as his eyes widened almost comically. He had originally come downstairs looking for bandages because Odie had somehow managed to hurt himself opening a juice bottle, but now he felt like he had accidentally stumbled into the discovery of the century.
Archie and Atlanta were kissing.
Actually kissing.
Not arguing. Not competitive flirting. Not “we almost died” emotional confusion. Full on couple kissing.
Neil’s jaw slowly dropped.
“Oh my gods,” he whispered to himself.
Inside the room, Atlanta’s fingers slid into Archie’s hair while Archie kissed her forehead and murmured something that made her smile brightly. Neil could practically feel years of unresolved tension finally making sense in real time.
“I knew it,” he whispered excitedly. “I knew it!”
He should probably leave. Immediately.
Instead he watched another five seconds as Archie brushed his thumb across Atlanta’s cheek with so much tenderness Neil almost felt emotional about it.
Then Archie kissed her again.
Neil finally backed away from the doorway before they noticed him and sprinted upstairs like he had personally uncovered a massive Olympian conspiracy.
He found Theresa, Jay, Odie, and Chiron gathered near the main hall. Odie was unsuccessfully attempting to wrap a bandage around his hand while Jay offered absolutely no useful assistance whatsoever.
Neil burst into the room dramatically. “I have unbelievable news.”
Jay looked up lazily. “Did you finally discover mirrors?”
“This is serious!”
Theresa immediately narrowed her eyes. “Whenever Neil says that, it usually isn’t.”
Neil pointed toward the stairs. “Archie and Atlanta are together.”
Odie blinked. “Yeah, they went to the medical room together.”
“No,” Neil said impatiently. “Together together.”
Jay snorted. “What, because they’re helping each other with injuries?”
“I literally saw them kissing!”
That got everyone’s attention for approximately two seconds before Jay laughed loudly.
“Sure you did.”
“I did!”
Theresa crossed her arms skeptically. “Neil, Atlanta was injured during the mission. Archie’s probably just taking care of her.”
“They were making out!”
Odie tilted his head thoughtfully. “Maybe it was CPR?”
Neil stared at him in disbelief. “Odie, you do not use tongue during CPR.”
Odie frowned. “You don’t?”
“NO.”
Jay nearly doubled over laughing while Theresa shook her head with amusement.
“You’re imagining things,” Theresa said. “Archie and Atlanta flirt all the time.”
“Exactly!” Neil exclaimed. “Because they’re secretly dating!”
Jay waved dismissively. “Please. If Archie and Atlanta were together, the entire building would explode from unresolved tension.”
“It’s true!”
Odie smiled sympathetically. “I think battle stress might be getting to you.”
Neil groaned dramatically and dropped into a chair. “Why does nobody believe me?”
“Because,” Jay said smugly, “Archie and Atlanta would never survive keeping a relationship secret. Atlanta would accidentally smile at him for too long and Archie would combust.”
Neil opened his mouth to argue before stopping suddenly.
Honestly… that sounded surprisingly accurate.
Still, he knew what he saw.
Downstairs, Archie had finally finished bandaging Atlanta’s shoulder. The tension from earlier had faded almost completely now, replaced by warmth and quiet affection. Atlanta leaned comfortably against him while his arm rested protectively around her waist.
“You know,” Atlanta said softly, tracing circles against his chest, “you don’t have to look at me like I’m made of glass.”
“I know.”
“You’re doing it anyway.”
Archie sighed. “Can you blame me?”
Atlanta smiled fondly before kissing the corner of his mouth. “No.”
His hand gently squeezed her waist. “I just keep replaying what happened out there.”
“I’m okay.”
“You scared me.”
Atlanta’s teasing expression softened instantly. “I’m sorry.”
Archie rested his forehead against hers. “Don’t apologize for getting hurt.”
“You’re really sweet when you’re worried.”
“I thought you said I was cute.”
“You’re both.”
Archie groaned quietly. “You’re never letting that go, are you?”
“Absolutely not.”
He laughed before kissing her again, softer this time, full of lingering affection and relief. Atlanta practically melted against him, completely content wrapped in his arms while the rest of the world disappeared for a little while.
Upstairs, Neil was still trying unsuccessfully to convince the others.
“I’m telling you,” he insisted, pacing dramatically. “There was romantic tension. Intense romantic tension.”
Jay grinned. “Neil, you think someone ordering you extra fries is romantic tension.”
“That happened one time.”
“Three times,” Theresa corrected.
Neil ignored her. “Archie was holding her face.”
“Checking for injuries,” Jay said.
“They kissed!”
“Forehead kiss?” Theresa guessed.
“Multiple kisses!”
Odie gasped softly. “Cheek kisses?”
Neil looked moments away from screaming. “Lip kisses!”
Jay burst out laughing again while Theresa shook her head.
“You’re unbelievable,” Theresa said.
Neil threw himself backward onto the couch dramatically. “Fine. Don’t believe me.”
“We don’t,” Jay confirmed immediately.
Neil crossed his arms with a huff but slowly relaxed after a moment.
Because honestly?
Even if nobody believed him, he found himself strangely happy about it.
Archie and Atlanta made sense.
More than sense, really.
Neil thought about the way Archie looked at her downstairs, like she was the only thing keeping him grounded after the chaos of battle. He thought about how soft Atlanta’s voice became around him, how easily she smiled when Archie worried over her.
It was real.
And judging from how secretive they were being, they clearly were not ready for the rest of the team to know yet.
Neil sighed quietly to himself.
For once in his life, maybe gossip did not need to be shared immediately.
A slow grin spread across his face.
He was absolutely going to tease them later, though.
Downstairs, completely unaware that their secret had technically already been discovered, Archie brushed another kiss against Atlanta’s lips while she laughed softly against him.
“You know,” she murmured, “eventually we’re going to have to tell them.”
Archie groaned dramatically. “Can we wait until after the next near death experience?”
Atlanta smirked. “That only gives us, like, three days.”
“Perfect.”
She laughed warmly before wrapping her arms around his neck again. “You’re impossible.”
“And you love me anyway.”
Atlanta smiled softly at that, her heart fluttering every single time he said it so naturally now.
“Yeah,” she whispered before kissing him again. “I really do.”