This is my first fanfic, so feel free to leave some constructive criticism, but please don't flame.
1
Jay ran at top speed down the street. There had been a sighting, apparently Cronus was at the park. The rest of his team was with him, Archie and Atlanta slightly ahead, even. They were approaching the clearing he was in when Atlanta suddenly stopped cold. Archie ran into her and they both motioned at them to stop. They crouched in the bushes and Jay was about to open his mouth to ask what was going on when Theresa covered his mouth with her hand. She motioned at the clearing.
Cronus was there, but he was shouting at somebody or rather, some people. They could see shadows moving methodically around the clearing, attacking and retreating as a unit. The way the moved together, it was impossible to see who the leader was.
"Come out you cowards!" Cronus demanded. Suddenly an arrow was shot at him. It hit the ground at his feet and he laughed, "You missed!" before the arrow exploded into smoke.
"Now!" Somebody screamed. All the seven heroes could see were the silhouettes moving and weaving in and out. There were seven in total, with Cronus. Suddenly one of the figures tackled Cronus to the ground. The two rolled around before one of them, and it certainly was not Cronus, got dominant position. Whoever it was lifted a sword and brought it crashing down only to find that the God had sunk through one of his portals.
"Damn it!" The person yelled, stabbing their sword into the ground where he'd been. The person then stood and said, "C'mon. We have to go before somebody finds out we were here."
Jay motioned for his team to leap into the clearing, where the smoke was clearing.
"Too late," Archie called. Six forms whipped around to face them. They all wore dark clothes and hoods, so it was impossible to see their faces. The one in front, obviously the leader, pulled it's blade from the ground and brandished it.
"What are you doing?" One of the shadows demanded as the leader sheathed the blade.
"Call it a strategic retreat, or maybe Juno forbidding me to get in a fight with these ones. Either way, we're leaving."
Atlanta turned to Jay and mouthed: Juno? He shrugged.
"Afraid we'll win?" Atlanta asked the retreating figures. The front one stiffened.
One of the flanking two cursed and grabbed the leader's arm. It hissed something about pride, temper and not giving in to temptation. The leader shook it off and pulled out it's sword.
"You want a fight?" It asked, and Jay was now sure 'it' was really a she.
The flanking figures tried to stop her again, lifting her easily.
"Put me down!" she demanded.
"Take her home," a guy said. "Let her cool down." The three of them dissappeared, and the other three figures approached the heroes, no weapons raised. The seven heroes stood on edge, except for Neil, who was looking in his mirror.
"That's close enough," Jay said as they came within sight of the heroes. One was a girl and two were guys. The girl had curly brown hair with bangs cut straight across her brow and glasses. One of the guys, the one who had spoken, was tall, muscled well and had dark skin. He had a battle ax strapepd across his back. The last guy had light brown hair and had a sword strapped across his shoulder.
They stood for a while, both groups, eyeing each other, before the dark boy said, "I'm Bruno." Held his hand out to Jay, who shook it.
"I'm Jay. This is my team. Archie, Atlanta, Neil, Herry, Odie and Theresa." He gestured to the teens.
"This is Markkis," Bruno waved at the second boy, who nodded tersely."And Carey." The small girl smiled and waved shyly.
"What was with your leader?" Theresa asked suddenly.
Bruno chuckled, but it was Markkis who spoke. "Maya... she can't resist a challenge. She's an amazing leader, and we'd go back to Hell again for her, but she has... Pride issues."
"You guys went to Hades for her?" Odie asked.
"Hades?" Carey asked. "Um, yeah. She'd been kidnapped by Pluto's son, Karlos."
"Pluto?" Herry asked. "Like, the planet?"
"No, Pluto, like, the Roman God." Markkis corrected.
"Roman God?" Neil suddenly looked up. "The Romans have gods?"
"Yeah." Bruno said. "We're the children of the Roman Gods."
The seven heroes looked at them in shock. "Demigods?" Jay asked.
"No way," Atlanta shook her head.
"Yeah. My mother's Minerva, the Roman Goddess of wisdom. Or, in Greek terms, Athena." Bruno confirmed.
"That is so cool!" Odie said.
"My mother's Proserpina. Or, Persephone." Carey added.
"Theresa's mentor." Herry informed her. Theresa smiled at the girl.
"And my dad's Mars, God of war." Markkis finished.
"Ares?" Archie lifted an eyebrow.
"Yeah." The boy shrugged. "We should probably go check on Maya," he added a moment later.
"Why?" Atlanta asked.
They all pointed at the sky. Thunder was rumbling and lightning struck nearby. "She's pissed at Jared, I'm guessing." Bruno said.
"Five bucks says it's Matt." Markkis challenged.
"You're on." The Roman demigods shook hands and stared walking away. Carey looked back at them.
"Why don't you guys come with us?" She asked. The seven heroes looked at each other before following them.
...
The demigods were staying at a brownstone very similar to the ones the heroes were inhabiting. They were arguing about why the leader was mad as they walked up the steps and tossed the door open.
"It's not my fault you have issues!" A boy's voice yelled.
The four demigods looked at each other. "Jared." They said in unision.
"Jared I swear I'm going to murder you! Screw the damned prophecy!" There was the thud of bodies hitting the floor and then the pair rolled down the stairs, arms at each others throats, neither gaining the advantage until lightning came down and struck Jared. Maya jumped to her feet and ran into the other room. She tore through the house like a hurricane before stopping in front of the group at the door. Jared was still on the ground.
"Bruno. Ax. Now." She panted.
"No way!" the dark-skinned boy held his ax above her reach. Maya scowled. She had long, black hair and ice-blue eyes and was currently tapping her foot until Jared grabbed her from behind and lifted her. She elbowed him in the gut and he pulled her to the ground with him. A blonde boy stepped over the two tumbling teens. He was at least Herry's size and build.
"I'm Matt," he said.
They exchanged introductions and then stopped to watch the remaining two argue.
"Hey, sis!" Matt exclaimed. Maya looked up. "Don't break his leg again."
"No promises." Maya sat on his back and the brunette beneath her kept saying, "Okay I give, I give." Finally Matt lifted Maya into his arms as if she weighed the equivalent of a dust-bunny. She huffed.
"They're brother and sister?" Archie asked.
"Half siblings," they said in unision.
"Matt's dad's Vulcan and Maya's dad's Jupiter." Jared said, brushing himself down as he stood. "Mine's Apollo. That's why I'm the best shot here. I was trained by him and Diana."
"Wanna bet?" Atlanta challenged. "I'm a descendant of Artemis."
"My father's the god of archery," Jared said. "Nice try."
"And you say I have pride issues," Maya said sarcastically. "I'm calm, you can put me down." Matt did, and the two teams stood facing each other. Atlanta and Jared were in the midst of a glare-off. Maya raised an eyebrow and hit him in the back of the head.
"So who're Vulcan, Diana and Jupiter?" Jay asked. He hated not knowing.
"Vulcan's the Roman Hephaestus. Diana's Artemis and my dad, Jupiter, is the Roman Zeus." Maya exlplained. A couple jaws dropped at her words.
"i think you should come with us," Jay said. "We have something to show you."
Twenty minutes later, the thirteen of them were squished in the middle of the supply closet, where Herry pulled the light cord and the portal opened. The lot of them practically fell through to be met by Hera.
"Juno!" the Romans said, leaping up and grinning at the Goddess.
"I'm not surprised you all met," she shook her head. "Come on, we've been waiting."
"Son!" Ares exclaimed from behind him. He turned around.
"Hey Mars," he said, smirking.
"How've ya been, Markkis?" Ares swept the boy away from the rest of them.
"I feel replaced," Archie said. Jay patted him on the back. Neil had wandered over to see Aphrodite, so it was the eleven of them following Hera to the living room area.
"Jared. I didn't expect to see you here." Artemis said, walking over to stand next to Atlanta.
"Yeah, I didn't expect to be here." He rubbed the back of his head nervously. "How've you been, Diana?"
"Good. Your dad's office is down the hall," she pointed and Jared walked over, stopping at the door.
"Dad, change to Roman! You gained so much weight as a Greek! And what's with the accent?" he asked, disappearing into the room. The heroes laughed. Soon it was the seven heroes and Maya sitting there with Hercules and Artemis.
Ten minutes later, just Jay and Maya.
Most of the Heroes were at the brownstone, including the two leaders.
Jay's PoV
"So you're a leader?" I tossed out randomly.
"Yeah. I'm guessing you are, too." She looked at me with a knowing smirk. I nodded. "How long have you... you know, been here?" She asked.
"Over a year." I answered. "How long have you and your team been together?"
"Four years or so." She shrugged. "We don't always work like a team, though. But I got the alpha complex, and I'm more powerful, so I lead."
"Alpha complex?" I ask.
"I trained alone with Lupa, who's a wolf, for years before we became a team. I got the protective instincts, loyalty and alpha complex from that." I nodded.
"Understandable." I said.
"I've heard from Juno you sometimes doubt your leadership." That was not a question. I rubbed the back of my head.
"A little," I admitted.
"I don't have that problem. I know I was born to lead, my instincts just take over. It's more than a reflex. They've saved all our heads countless times." She looked up at me again with those deep blue eyes. "You were born to be a leader too. You just have to trust yourself more."
"Easy for you to say," I muttered. She arched an eyebrow.
"That's why I'm here, Jay. We`re supposed to learn from each other and I can assure you, i have more flaws than you do. Starting with Roman pride issues." Suddenly there was a beep and she pulled out her phone and groaned.
"I'll be back," She said, throwing open the door.
"What?" I asked.
"Just Jared being Jared," She called, sprinting down the street. Archie stood.
"Well, we goin after her or what?"
Maya's POV.
I flew down the street to the park in the center of town and raced down the nearest pathway. Jared was standing in a pasture, hlding his bow, whacking a harpy with it. I groaned and pulled my sword out.
"You're an idiot!" I called as I reached him.
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, fearless leader," Jared retorted, sarcasm dripping off his voice. I rolled my eyes.
"Do you want help or not?" i demanded.
"Help," he admitted. I smirked and used my powers to knock the thing out of the air bfore giving a high kick to it's temple, knocking it out cold.
"Thanks," Jared said.
"Don't mention it," I said. He ran a hand through his brown hair looking at that thing and cursing under his breath.
"Weren't you supposed to be with Carey?" I asked suddenly. He nodded. Carey looked around before coming out from behind her bush, bow in hand. She straightened her glasses and smiled shyly.
"I didn't have a good shot. I've got to learn to fight with more than just this," she exclaimed.
I laughed, but whirled around when I heard somebody behind me. Relaxed when I saw it was Jay and his group. Jared frowned, grabbing my waist and pulling me to him protectively. He still wasn't sure about them. Idiot.
I wanted to smack him. He was just like Karlos. I pulled away and gave him a look. Jay cleared his throat and I smiled at him.
"These are really the guys Juno was telling us about?" Jared asked.
"No, they're astronauts." I retorted sarcastically. "Yes, Jared. They are."
"You two are being rude," Carey informed us. Jared and I looked away from each other, boring holes into some trees. Jay burst out laughing. His group joined in after a second, seeing the humor in the way Jared and I treated each other, I guess. We had a short glare off before he was knocked off his feet by the harpy, which had regained consciousness. He grabbed it around the neck, but was soon lifted off his feet. I cursed and threw my sword with what was, normally, perfect aim. Carey raised her bow, pulling back as an arrow appeared in the nylon cord bowstring.
"I can't get a good shot," She said. Jay stepped forward, laying a hand on her shoulder.
"We'll help." He offered. I nodded, but immediately took charge again.
"Herry, you're as strong as Hercules, right?" i asked.
"Yeah, why?" he asked. I pointed at Jared and the Harpy.
"Could you throw me up there?" I asked. He looked confused, but nodded. He twined his hands and I placed my foot in them before he launched me back into my element.
Jay's POV.
"Is she nuts?" Archie exclaimed as Maya sailed up toward the Harpy.
"Let's hope not," Theresa said.
I was shaking my head, watching. She seemed suspended in the air as the Harpy dropped Jared. The boy flew down towards us as Herry caught him and set him on his feet.
"Thanks, i owe you one," he smiled.
"Don't mention it," Herry replied.
"How has she been up there that long?" Atlanta asked.
"That's not physically possible!" Odie said, rubbing his eyes.
"Maya? She's fine," Jared dismissed. "Carey, call Bruno and tell him if he tells Matt about this, he's dead."
Carey shrugged and dialed somebody on her phone, stepping away. Maya finally pulled out a retractable pole, much like my own, and whacked the harpy across the head, baseball style. The thing fell. Maya floated slowly down until she was on her feet again.
"Yeah." Jared shrugged before we could say anything. "We were trained by the gods at our island. It's off the shore of where Rome used to be, and no regular mortals can find it."
"That is so cool!" Odie announced. Maya smirked.
All this happened a week ago. the thirteen of us are pretty similar, and yet we're all so different. Maya and I trust totally different things with our leading for one. Still, we get along. Hera sets us into teams of two and lets us get to know each other more, and of course, i'm paired with the other leader. She and I wander aimlessly through a garden somewhere in the school.
"So what's with you and that Jared guy?" I ask. She groans.
"We used to be together, sort of. But Jared's really possessive. I broke things off." She explains. I nod. I'm expecting her to carry on, when she asks, "What about you and Theresa?"
I go pale as a sheet and start sputtering.
"She's... we're not... that is..." I can't seem to get a full sentence out. Maya grins.
"Well, seing as how 'she's not', 'you aren't' and 'that is' you'd better go ask her out before she gets impatient," Maya suggests.
I deflate. "I don't know what to do." I admit. "She's Theresa."
"And she's still a girl. Go buy her flowers." She shoves me toward the door. "I already know a lot about you." I smile gratefully and turn to the door.
"And Jay," She calls. I half turn to face her. "Don't split yourself into two people. Just some advice I learned from Romulus and Remus."
She walks out to see Hera, so I shrug and continue on. "Romulus and Remus," I murmur.
Maya POV
Juno looks slightly surprised to see me. I smile at her and she smiles back. I ask where dad is, and she wordlessly points through a door. My eyes widen a bit.
Dad looks... old. When I see him on our island, he's usually dark haired, like me, and tall, clean shaven. Young, ageless looking. Not like this. He has wild snowy hair and wrinkles. I lean against the doorframe.
"I think I like your appearence better as Jupiter," I tease. He turns to see me and smiles.
"Maya," he says, holding his arms open. I sink into his frail embrace.
"No, I'm serious." I laugh. He changes shape until he's a foot taller than me. He hugs me tighter and I look up to the Jupiter I know.
"Better?" He asks.
"Much." We walk into the area with the others, where Bruno and Archie seem to be talking battle strategy. Markkis and Theresa are arguing, no surprise. That boy likes to argue. Jared and Atlanta are talking hunting. Matt and Herry are comparing strength, and the only way Matt compares in strength to Herry is that he works with his dad, Vulcan in the forges a lot. Carey and Odie are talking about some gadget or another.
"You should be proud." Dad tells me. I look around at my team mingling with Jay's.
"You're right," I agree. "And I am." So proud.
I can't help smiling. This is going to be better than I thought.
To make this clearer, in Jay's POV it'll be the Greek names and in Maya's it'll be the Roman.