The boy sitting across from them was something she hadn't seen in awhile. She couldn't exactly place it, but there was a way about him that spoke of hard times and suffering. Almost as though he shared the same mannerisms as veterans of war.
Her eyes couldn't leave him. Just sitting there, on the other side of the coffee shop. Seemingly at peace as he listened to whatever music was playing through the headphones in his ears. But she saw through it, part of being a child of Aphrodite she guessed. And what she saw beneath was not near as pleasant as the lie he had carefully and unconsciously constructed for the people around him like it was second nature.
She understood the way that his eyes jumped from side to side. Every time a conversation got a bit to loud or the noise in general reached a higher level than was considered usual. It was barely there, but still noticeable if you knew too look for it, a flinch. A slight jump that came from years worth of experience with avoiding things associated with loud noises. Such as fights and yelling and generally chaotic and violent incidents in everyday life.
She would almost bet this vanilla milkshake that she was looking at someone who was abused. Long sleeves despite the almost eighty degree wheater, black jeans and combat boots. The hood pulled up to mostly cover his face in a rather poor attempt to hide the bruise forming just on his jaw line was very telling to someone who grew up seeing these kinds of things.
Abruptly standing, her table mates stared at her in undisguised curiosity. Their gazes trying to meet hers as she kept her eyes locked on the boy just fifteen feet away, three tables over. She was then gathering her stuff and making her way past the other patrons and avoiding little children as she walked past. Wanting to reach him as fast as possible. She had a hunch, one she wanted to work out as fast possible.
She was not oblivious to the curious gazes of Charles Beckendorf and Katie Gardner on her back. Their faces probably the picture of puzzled. But she did pointedly ignore their looks. They had had their backs to the boy this entire time and would undeniably understand once they saw her mission. They had seen people like this before as well.
It was as she drew closer that she felt the shift in the air. The same shift she had come to associate with those few particularly powerful half bloods. The ones who were just a tiny bit more god than man in the end. The feeling was one she had come to see as someone who was either capable of protecting everyone in a certain area or condemning them if they didn't know how to properly defend against monsters.
But this revelation made her day even better. Despite her earlier hunch that he needed some help, help that she could hopefully provide. She now knew she was capable of much more than just the basic aid that a person like him would undoubtedly need. Now she could take him back to camp and allow him to heal and grow and not end up like so many others, dead and meaningless, wandering aimlessly for the rest of eternity in the fields of Asphodel.
"Hello." Was the first word that made its way from her lips to his ears. His head raised slightly and he pulled out the headphones. Rolling them up he nodded to her but didn't smile back.
"Hi." It was a simple response. One that probably shouldn't have garnered such a deep reaction. But his deep baritone voice was like hot fudge dripping over a strawberry.
"What were you listening too?" And there it began, the stuttering. Something else she was, yet again, very familiar with. Although this was a set of different reasons than the rest.
"T-the fra-y." Came the quite response.
She wanted to hold him. He reminded her of those kittens and puppies she'd see on the side of the street. Wanting to take them home, care for them and tell them everything would be okay. Provide the love needed until finally they stopped flinching from touch and enjoyed having their stomachs full every day instead of scrounging for food and fighting for every little bit against cruelty.
It was only by associating the look on his now red face with something akin to embarrassed that she knew. And the realization slowly dawned her that she had said her thoughts aloud. Probably creating a awkward atomosphere to which he would undoubtedly excuse himself from.
She was busy looking down at her hands when a slight laugh made itself known. The chuckle having sent shivers of pleasure down her spine. Her dignity had been a little price to pay to bring a small amount of joy to his day. But it was when he looked up and his eyes locked with hers that she understood and her breath was taken.
The hood had flipped down. And sweet damn she was glad it did. Slightly tanned skin, and a messy mop of shaggy jet black hair met her eyes. A small smile crossed full lips and his eyes, though shaded, were beautiful. A deep green and blue in color they seemed to swirl around and make a unique pattern. Similar to what she remembered from the beach off the coast. Crashing into each other. She would dare to compare them to a stained glass window. Fragile but undeniably beautiful and made with the abilty to withstand anything.
"I'm Percy." The smile was broken. It had been shattered and pasted back into his face. Bits and pieces were missing but she took it in stride.
"Well, Percy, I'm Silena, and I would love to tell you about something amazing." The hand that reached over the table was taken with ease. His grip was strong, though gentle. The same kind of gentle strength that she also knew from the tides of the ocean. And the currents as well. This boy was going to be happy one day, and she was going to make certain of it.
