Summoned Trials

Author's note: I own nothing but my OC, this is my first story and don't expect regular updates. Sorry!

I just wanted to get this out on my brother's birthday, Happy birthday, kid.

Chapter 1: Do Facepalms Count?

He really hated snores, especially when it's him you're talking about, and it irked him a lot when someone did. Exiting the murkiness from his dreamless sleep with vengeance in mind, he moved to smack the snoring idiot, his hand moving like a whip, heading straight for the dunderhead who dared snored in his presence. The corners of his mouth twitched upwards, eyes opening blearily, to watch the source of his troubles get a handy…

(What the? Why's the light fading awa-)

The sharp hit of a palm on his face rang in his ears. What he didn't expect was the sting that followed, nor the tears that gather in the corner of his eyes.

(Arrrggh, that hurts... son of a crazy lunatic godforsaken dam-Wait. He slapped HIMSELF, and that meant…)

"I was snoring?!"

Somebody on his left snorted, and he turned his head to look at the stranger beside him.

"That's what you wake up to?" He asked, and snickered him. "Dude, I knew you had some screws loose, but slapping yourself? Dang! Knew I should've brought my camera. This is a Kodak moment man, priceless."

The guy wore an army fatigue jacket, with a plain brown shirt underneath it. He had an oversized slack on and he looked like a Latino Santa's elf, with curly black hair, pointy ears, a cheerful, babyish face and a mischievous smile that told you this guy lived for the unnatural part of life, the chaotic side.

(He smiled; thinking about the Dark Side of the Force…and frowned; what is he thinking about? Gotta hurry up and describe this…stranger? Friend? Acquaintance?)

His long nimble fingers were constantly on the move

( .. err .. not from the cops, I mean, dunno, sugar rush or hyperactivity?)

But what was most notable was his eyes, brown, normal, sure. But there was this depth to them, as if he was hiding a deep dark secret…..

(The thing is, who is this guy? Where am I? I know I'm a guy, but deep down, whom am I? I don't remember anything at all, not what I did yesterday, not any personal information, my name? my age? Any relations? Family? Friends? All this thoughts he processed, with a growing fear. So many questions, so many… mysteries…)

He didn't hyperventilate, nor did anything stupid, all it took was the sight of the stranger, Latino guy, staring worriedly at him, then it kicked him. The expression was easily read, and he didn't like it.

(This guy knows me? Then… I mustn't keep him worried… I don't want to be a burden…)

He decided right there and then, that he wouldn't be a burden, a rusty link, someone weak… He felt powerless, unable to control a burning desire in his heart that told him something. He would carry it out with conviction, if he was a nobody, then he would put on a mask that would reassure people. A façade, because for all he knew, for all his heart, body, mind, or soul knew, sensed, whatever, is that he cannot stand being worried for. It's not his ego, nor his pride, but rather, it's the plain simple fact that he's simply not worth it. He couldn't trust himself enough, and so a layer of deception was laid on an empty foundation, a blank slate.

Waving of his… friend's concern aside with a wave of his hand, he smirked instead.

"Perhaps you should have brought a mirror instead, because that's a nice place for half-eaten food to be."

He hoped he had nailed Latino guy's personality; a bit fun loving, easygoing, upbeat, energetic, funny, flirty and loves to tell jokes constantly kind of guy. Well, he nailed it. His smile grew wider as Latino guy went cross-eyed as he attempted to look at whatever food scrapes he was trying to pick from his teeth.

"Man, I'm telling you, these veggies keep doing this to me." He said, acting annoyed.

Behind his seat, a girl giggled softly. Latino guy harrumphed at that.

"God, Piper stop laughing, wait, you knew something about this didn't you?" He asked.

"So did Jason and Zeke." She said.

The girl's voice (Piper?) was… musical, soothing, like wind chimes, in the sense that one can hear it even in the most violent of storms, where following it will lead to your doom or salvation.

He blinked. That was deep. Ignoring the glare Latino guy send at him, he pondered on which name was his. If so, what's his first name? Last name? Family name? Nickname?

"Well, we were going to tell you, Leo, but you didn't really gave us a chance to tell you, seeing as you were making silly jokes about coach and his megaphone. You can't blame us if we accidentally… ah… forget. Teehee."

Latino guy rolled his eyes.

(No, not Latino guy anymore. Leo, he supposed.)

"Haha. You guys are a riot. Real honesty, right there."

He turned around and looked at her, grinning and holding up a thumbs up. She wore faded jeans, and a fleece snowboarding jacket. She had uneven chocolate brown hair, with thin strands braided down the sides. She didn't wear makeup and her eyes… Wait what? Changeable eye colours?

For some reason, he winced at that. It reminded him of a kaleidoscope and an old man who beat up girls. He quickly schooled his wince into a childlike expression: Curiosity.

"Wow, I didn't know one could have kaleidoscopic eyes." He commented.

(He winced again, rather bothered by this recently discovered quirk of his. He also discovered, that his brain automatically gave him excuses and/or brutally honest observations and/or obvious stuff to say, like so.)

"Ah, sorry," he said, not sounding very sorry. "Slow brain." He pointed at his head. If anything, she looked amused.

"You know, that's what Jason said when we wer-" She stopped, and looked elsewhere, a blush adorning her face. Leo "Ohoh-ed," and turned around having finished cleaning his teeth.

"On the rooftops a couple weeks back? Just so you know, Zeke and I were definitely aware of your late night excursion with Jason you know. In fact, I believe there was a meteor shower that night? I'm heartbroken, Pipes, that you didn't invite us. Yet, I'm so proud of you. Did you do anything with Jason?" Leo whispered the last part conspiratorially and made a face at her when she ignored him, looking away, acting almost like an Ice Queen.

Almost, if she wasn't blushing or holding a sleeping guy's hand. He turned to look at him.

(So, this is Jason, then?)

He wore a purple shirt, with unreadable words printed on, a thin windbreaker jacket over it and normal jeans. He could also be described as good-looking, having the features of a Roman statue, tidy, military cropped blond hair, and a small scar on the corner of his mouth. He looks to be tall, with an athletic build, and having muscular and tanned arms.

"Piper," he said, "whatever you relationship with Jason is, I want you to know that Leo and I completely support you, and will do whatever necessary-"

"Will the both of you stop it?!" She snapped.

He gave her a chuckle and settled down in his seat. He then looked at Leo, who was fiddling with some nuts and pipe cleaners and wires etc, etc. Well, no time like the present.

"Humor me, what's my name? Hey! That rhymes!" He half rhymed/half asked.

Leo snorted at the silly, rhyming (or just me) but replied anyway.

"Zeke. Zeke Slider."