Nunchi
Nunchi, sometimes noonchi, is a Korean concept signifying the subtle art and ability to listen and gauge others' moods. In Western culture, nunchi could be described as the concept of emotional intelligence. It is of central importance to the dynamics of interpersonal relationships. / Wikipedia
Opps, someone said it was portugeuse. Guess it was mixed up.
Ready. Set. Go.
Frank
Frank was sitting right at the edge of the ledge, a place where Percy frequently visited. The sunset did not look well like any other that Frank had seen; this particular sunset seemed to be rather red, which should have been beautiful for most, pretty for some. Yet, Frank thought that it was the scariest sunset he had ever seen. After all, red was the color of flame and fire and fire would burn his existence into the Underworld, pretty literally.
Oh, how he hated red.
Sometimes, he would hate the people that are (not were, Frank chided himself, Leo is definitely still alive) associated with red. Namely, Leo. He really did not like Leo the first time he had seen that guy. Well, have you ever seen that guy? The way he turned his gaze on Hazel whenever she walked past, or when he lighted his fingers up to impress… whoever he was interested in.
To be fair, Leo had returned with a fireproof pouch to protect that feeble thin wood of his. However, no one can really blame Frank when he says that he is still afraid that the thin, fragile wood would instantaneously combust, bringing Frank's existence along with it.
To hell with it! Frank threw another pebble into the sea, gazing into the dark sky. The stars started to appear, and Frank does think he preferred the night sky. The stars shone brightly and he like to think that the stars are all winking at him, no matter whomever else said otherwise.
Angered, not by any means by who or what, but more of himself, Frank stood up quickly, his toes dangling precariously off the ledge a little and let out a guttural scream. The scream brought a little of his energy with it and he seemed to find himself, free-falling into the sea.
Closing his eyes to accept his fate, where he will soon find himself drenched wet, and of course, unable to explain to Hazel or anyone else what he was doing, he sighed.
Only to be pulled backwards.
Whaa…
"What do you think you are doing, Frankie-boy?"
Face-to-face with his distant… what was it again? Cousin? Brother?
"Oh hey, it's you."
"Oh yes, it's me."
Percy huffed before pressing the huge teen onto the stone ledge before dusting himself and proceeded to sit beside Frank.
"What's with the suicidal thoughts?"
Frank threw another pebble into the sea, which hopped before sinking down. He sighed.
"Frankie-boy."
"What?" Frank answered, feeling rather annoyed. "Don't call me Frankie-boy."
Percy gave him one glance and pursed his lips. Frank turned back to the sea and picked up another pebble. He threw another pebble into the sea, with no luck that the pebble had hopped more than before.
"Ouch."
Frank swiveled his head to look at the teen that was seated beside him. Percy had his eyes closed and his eyebrows scrunched together—a perfect testament that the "ouch" came from him.
"What?" Frank panicked internally. Was Percy hurt? Was Percy injured somewhere? Had Percy accidentally injured himself when he was pulling Frank back up the ledge? However, before Frank could express his worries to the child of Neptune, said child opened his sea green eyes.
"The fishes said ouch." Percy's sea green eyes gazed straight into Frank's eyes.
"Huh?"
Percy frowned and leaned in closer, "Are you by any means, deaf?" Percy grabbed Frank's ears and gave them a good tug (earning a strangled "Hey!" from the big teen). "I said, the fishes said ouch."
"I heard you the first time!" Frank replied angrily, his cold fingers closing in on his ears, soothing the red ears from the pain.
"Uh-huh." Percy raised his eyebrows, "Then why did you 'huh?' me?"
"Well… the reply was unexpected?"
"Oh, the hippocampi cursed you as well."
"What?"
Percy did not reply, instead, his finger was pointing to something in the horizon. Frank saw a few hippocampi in the sea, raising his snout defiantly, giving dolphin-shrieks (perhaps, cursing Frank) and gave him one evil eye before swimming away.
"What…" Frank was confused and turned to Percy for help.
"You were throwing pebbles, Frankie-boy."
"Uh…" Then Frank got it. Oh.
Percy seemed to ignore the fact that Frank got why the sea creatures were cursing him and continued to babble, "Well, your first pebble hit this octopus straight on the eye and it got pretty pissed off. He kind of screamed… My ears almost burst, mind you. The second pebble hit onto this newborn dolphin and the mother was really angry. The rest of the pebbles hit some fishes and hippocampi. Be glad that they weren't that angry, actually."
"Oh." Frank did not know what to reply.
Percy turned to him and gave a bright smile, "Well, the newborn dolphin was pretty chill about it. Mind you though, the mother was screeching like a banshee."
"That's what brought you here?"
"Nope!" Percy grinned, looking up into the sky. His hair poked his eye and he brushed the strand of hair away.
"Frankie, do you see that constellation over there?"
Frank looked up and saw the constellation. It was shaped like a girl holding a bow. Somewhat like a female version Orion, but not really as well. A milder… more beautiful version of Orion.
On a side note, "I told you to stop calling me 'Frankie-boy'!"
"That's Zoe Nightshade."
Frank thought that he had heard the name before and suddenly, he remembered where he had heard of that before, "The hunter."
"Yeah."
"She's beautiful."
Percy grinned, albeit the pained smile and unshed tears glistening in the eyes, "Yes, I think she is beautiful as well."
"You fell in love with her?"
"What?" Now, Percy was flustered. "What? Of course not! Zoe hated me!"
"Keyword: hated."
"Well, yeah. She's a hunter. I'm a boy. I mean she's destined to hate me."
"But not anymore."
Percy's grin faltered, "Well, she's dead."
Frank's eyebrows furrowed, "You know that I don't mean it that way."
"Yeah, I know that, 'dolt."
"We saved Artemis, and she kind of sacrificed ourselves. Killed by Atlas. Artemis made her part of the stars she loved so much…"
Percy trailed off, looking at the stars. Frank knew that despite the teen looking tough, he was actually pretty soft in the inside. Of course, he was hurting a lot as well. So many deaths… All these deaths were kind of on him. Of course, he is hurting. Frank clutched the fireproof pouch—was Leo's death (no of course not, Leo is not dead)…
Frank did not want to think of it at all.
Percy looked at Frank again; His eyes glistened as he dragged Frank into the sea with one swift pull. He engaged his arm to grab the other's wrist, pulling it together with him when he threw himself off the ledge and jumped into the sea.
Frank thought that he knew Percy. Frank thought that he would know Percy after so many adventures with him.
Well, he was wrong.
Frank realized that he did not know Percy at all the moment he felt his wrist being pulled and the sudden sensation of his chest and face hitting the water. His eyes flew shut the moment salt water clashed with his eyes but his mouth was just a tad slower in closing, hence, Frank drank a lot of saltwater.
Soft giggles went into his ears and Frank realized that he got hear again.
Not to mention, see.
He opened his eyes, while spluttering out saltwater and turned a few rounds before spotting a totally dry Percy on the ledge above him.
"That was uncalled for!" Frank shouted.
"Pranks are supposed to be uncalled for." Percy laughed before standing up and jumping off the ledge, the other side, mind you, where the land was.
"Ta-ta, Frankie-boy!"
"What!" Frank shouted, his arms and legs still moving as he tried his best to tread water, "Say what!"
Frank could hear the pout in the others' voice when he replied, with soft giggles, "Ta-ta means bye bye! In other words, I'm leaving you behind!"
"You better watch out, you seaweed kelp!"
A bit more laughter.
"I'll catch you!"
A distant shout told Frank that Percy was already halfway back to the camp, "Of course! Try to get out of the waters before the harpies catch you!"
"Urgh! PERCY JACKSON!"
A lack of reply told Frank that Percy was really gone. Frank hit the water hard before he felt himself moving.
He looked down and saw the hippocampi that cursed him just now carrying him. Frank smiled, guess that seaweed called him.
Frank stared up and saw Zoe Nightshade; the stars blinking as if Zoe herself was winking at him. Frank smiled.
If his wood ever caught fire, then just put it out with water.
Next Chapter: Leo
"Of course, you are an asshole."