Disclaimer! I don't own PJO or HOO! Part of my spamtastic new story barrage!
My tale starts while reading the Blood of Olympus… for the fourth or so time. I'm sitting in my kitchen, Soldatino playing in the background, warm green-and-gold-sprinkled molasses cookies next to me. Life is pretty normal, considering my dad's gone, my mom's on a business trip in Australia, and my sister… hopefully she's alright. I only have memories of Dad from when I was one or two. I remember him, with his cheery brown eyes and scruffy brown hair, my tiny hands smearing green frosting all over his face.
I get pulled from my reminiscing when I hear a knock at the door. I get up from my seat at the mahogany table after putting my book in my backpack and peer over the marble center island. I spot a girl a bit older than myself at the window, her black hair pulled into a loose braid, looking down at something. She appears to be speaking and her midnight-colored eyes are filled with worry and anxiety, though her face shows no emotion.
I make my way to the door and disarm the house. I open the door and gaze upon what the girl is looking at and talking to. A boy my age lies limp on the bench on the porch, his black hair sticking to his forehead, a grimace on his face. A short man with a baseball bat is checking his temperature. The man makes a face to as if to say, 'He's burning up'. I know I shouldn't invite complete strangers into my house, but being Hellenic Polytheistic, I practice a modified version of Xenia. I make sure I won't be harmed by those I'm inviting in, then tend to their needs. "Bring him in." I instruct without hesitation. The two look at me like I'm crazy. "What? I practice a slightly-modified version of Xenia. Need-tending first, questions later." I explain, opening the door more.
"Thank you." The girl murmurs, picking the boy up and maneuvering him inside, the short man following quickly after. I turn off the music and move the couch pillows in the family room. The girl places the boy down and the man stays by his side. I hand him a first-aid kit and he nods in thanks.
While the man cares for the boy on the couch, I take the girl into the kitchen and sit her at the table. I grab two mugs and start up the Keurig, poking my hand around in the Lazy-Susan for the hot chocolate K-Cups. "Take a cookie if you want." I call over my shoulder after spying the girl eying the cookies. She bashfully takes a cookie and I smile. Moments later, I meander back to the kitchen table with two cups of hot chocolate. "Chocolate is universal. Right?" I smile, remembering what Reyna said to Annabeth in the Mark of Athena.
The girl smiles gently back. "My thoughts exactly." I give her a quick once-over and decide she's not a threat to me. She sips her hot chocolate and wistfully sighs. "It's like I'm back where I belong…. With my friends and comrades…" She sighs again, staring into her mug.
"I wish I had a place like that…" I mutter. Going through school with no friends, single mom always on business trips, no dad to speak of, my sister…
"Hey, are you alright?" The girl asks. I snap out of my self-pity-wallowing and look at her. "You look like you're about to cry. Something wrong?" She asks, scooching her chair towards me.
"Yeah, I'm fine. It's nothing. Just thinking about some stuff I'd rather not remember." I wipe away the budding tears in my eyes. "I'm Bianca Polaris. And you are?" I introduce myself, sticking my hand for a handshake.
"Reyna. Just Reyna. A pleasure." Reyna takes my hand with a good, firm grip. I eye her skeptically. Is she who I think she is?
"The pleasure's mine. You've got a strong grip." I note casually, sipping my hot chocolate.
Reyna nods. "As do you. How did you come to get such a strong grip?" She replies.
I shrug. "Martial arts has taken up quite a bit of my time. And you?" I answer. Reyna pauses and appears to think over her answer.
"I sword fight, and I inherited my mother's strength. How long have you been practicing?" She ponders.
I do a bit of counting before replying. "Eight years." We continue to chat for a good fifteen minutes before the short man comes into the kitchen.
"Reyna, Cupcake's up, though he's a bit dazed. He's tripping all over himself." The short man explains.
"That's good to hear, Gleeson. I'll be right there." Reyna informs the short man.
The man turns to me. "Thanks for taking us in, Cupcake. Gleeson Hedge's the name, don't wear it out."
I smirk. "Bianca Polaris. Nice to meet you, Coach." Hedge goes wide-eyed.
"How did you know I was a coach?" He asks incredulously.
"I saw you with a baseball bat earlier. You didn't look like you played, so I figured that you're a coach." I reply, gears in my head slowly turning. "My Sherlockian powers of deduction are right again!" I cheer, doing a fist pump. I put Soldatino back on, albeit against my better judgement, and started singing along quietly; despite the fact I'm not alone.
"Tu sei il mio soldatino, la ragione per cui vivo. Non ti scordar di me, io vegliero su di te…" I hear a faint gasp behind me and I turn to see the boy from earlier leaning against the door frame.
"Where did… you hear that?" The boy asks warily, wobbling towards me. Reyna and Hedge move to steady him, but he pushes them away. "Where did you… hear that?" He asks again after my lack of response.
"Soundcloud. It's a music app." I reply, moving close to the boy. "My name's Bianca Polaris, what's yours?" I stick out my hand for a handshake, but the boy just stares wide-eyed at my extended appendage.
"Why are you being so nice? I've just met you." The boy responds, swaying the slightest bit. I take him by the shoulders and sit him in the nearest chair. The boy's expression turns to shocked, probably because I grabbed him.
"Is there something wrong with being nice to people? I just try and make peoples' days better. I listen to their problems and try to work out any reasonable solution. Is there something wrong with that?" I respond, looking the dark-haired boy straight in the eye.
"Nico." He mutters, looking away from my eyes. "My name is Nico."
I give him a cheery smile. "Nice to meet you, Nico. Want a cookie?" I push the plate towards him. He looks to Reyna and she nods, as if to say 'it's not poisoned'. He slowly reaches up and takes a cookie reluctantly. "So how are you feeling, Mister Nico?" I ask, flopping into the chair I was previously in.
"I've felt better. Why'd you invite us in?" Nico mumbles, swallowing a bite of molasses-y goodness. "We're quite the… sketchy… bunch."
"I practice a modified version of Xenia. I make sure who I'm inviting in won't hurt me, and the rest is pretty much the same." I sigh, and look out the window, wondering 'Dad, where are you?'.
"Hey. Are you sure you're alright? Bianca?" Reyna's voice pulls me out of my deep thought, her hand on my shoulder; shaking me slightly.
"Huh?" I ask, shaking my head quickly, to snap back to the present.
"You were spacing out again. You can tell us if something's wrong, well, maybe not Gleeson. He'll probably suggest breaking things." Reyna suggests. I chuckle a little at that.
"I just miss my family. Dad hasn't been home in thirteen years, my mom's in Australia on business for a few months, and Visucia…" I bite back a sob. "She's been gone for years." I manage to choke out.
"Sorry to pry, but who is Visucia?" Reyna asks quietly.
"My twin sister."
So, how was it?