To StonedGlory- I like adding in references- It's kind of fun seeing people getting them :D And you did, so thank you! :P
Sorry for not updating much recently- I've been rereading PJO :3
"Oh!"
"No!" But Charlie had found the stereo and was now waving at it. "Charlie, don't!" Roxy ordered, but her boyfriend wasn't listening.
"What's he doing?" Sophia asked.
"Being Charlie." Roxy muttered, reluctantly getting up from her comfortable seat on the sofa to drag the hyperactive mutant away. "Bad Charlie."
"Noooo!" Charlie broke free and, with a wave of his hand, a wall of water sprung up between him and Roxy. "Bad Roxy!" He corrected, his voice muffled slightly. She hit the water wall, making a small splash, but nothing else.
"He's not pressing anything." Tobias noted, frowning at his supposed mutant counterpart.
"No, he doesn't need to. He's a bit of a tech genius." Roxy sighed, dropping back onto the couch and slouching in defeat. "I'm gonna kill him."
"I can still hear you!"
"Good!"
"And you always say you're going to kill me, but that never happens!" He paused and looked at her through the water. "You love me too much, clearly!" Sophia choked on her hot chocolate.
"Oh. My. Gods." She swivelled to face her partner. "That was a Tobias comment if I ever heard it." He chewed his thumbnail for a moment, his eyes fixed on the ceiling. Sophia thought he looked rather cute when he concentrated, his eyebrows scrunching together.
"Yeah." He eventually agreed. "But he needs a bit Tobster-zest."
"Oh, Seltik, no…" Roxy whimpered, hiding her face in her hands. The water wall vanished and Charlie bounced forward.
"What da matter with my Roxy?" He demanded concernedly, dropping to his knees in front of her and removing her hands.
"You two," She jerked her head at Tobias, "are idiots."
"I know." They said together. She snatched her hands back and folded her arms crossly, drawing her knees up to her chest. Charlie flicked her leg.
"Ow!" She kicked him in the chest, knocking him back. "Bad Charlie!" If he was hurt, he didn't show it, laughing and jumping to his feet. Tobias figured it was some of that mutant pain-tolerance or something.
He waved at the stereo and it started playing Olly Murs' Dance With Me Tonight. Roxy groaned in defeat and seemed to try and make herself as small as possible, but he was having none of it, grabbing her by the wrists and hauling her to her feet, singing along.
Sophia was impressed- he could sing- but was jealous too.
Tobias must have sensed as much though as he tapped her on the shoulder and offered his hand, his eyes gleaming cheekily. She beamed at him and that made everything worthwhile.
They were far clumsier than Charlie and Roxy, but they didn't mind. It was fun and energetic and kept the two boys from being stupid for a good half an hour.
The dancing only stopped when Alvie, Max and Charlie's twin siblings appeared in the doorway.
"Hi!" Charlie beamed, deftly passing Roxy to Leon and hauling his sister into the dance; so fast the change, Leon and Roxy barely seemed to register what was going on until it had happened.
"Try it and I'll stab you." Max warned, eyeing his older brother suspiciously.
"No, I'm good." He smiled, his eyes flicking to Sophia. Max made immature kissing noises, but stopped upon seeing the mischievous gleam in his brother's eyes.
"You are dancing!" Charlie declared, matching up his sister and Max and grabbing Alvie.
"No!" Alvie squeaked. Charlie didn't hear him.
"Save your brother." Sophia muttered, pushing Tobias into Charlie when they passed. Somehow, Charlie ended up with Sophia and Tobias had tripped and knocked Alvie flat. It was like dominos- Alvie collided with Max, who staggered into Leon, who collided with Roxy. The only ones left standing were Charlie, Sophia and Lucy.
"See! How fun was that!"
"You!" Roxy pushed Max away and scrambled to her feet. "You and your parties!"
"Hey! People like them!"
"It is true." Leon agreed, staring bemusedly at Alvie. "You OK?"
"Think so."
"Good." He grinned, getting up and hauling the smaller boy to his feet. "You should see Charlie when we go to a bigger party. Gets everyone- even the shy ones- up and on their feet, dancing and having fun."
"Really?"
"I have that effect on people." Charlie smiled proudly. "I'm hungry!" He declared, looking pointedly at his siblings and girlfriend. They all rolled their eyes, but their smiles showed that this was the norm.
"Me too." Tobias agreed. He and Charlie shared a single glance and, as though they had been friends for years, darted off to the kitchen simultaneously.
"Charlie!"
"Tobias!"
"Idiots." Percy nodded, smiling and stirring his ice-cream to see if it could get any bluer. "That sums them up nicely."
"They are funny together though." Alfie grinned. "I feel sorry for Alvie though."
"You feel sorry for someone?" Jo scoffed. "That'll be the day."
"Just because I'm Darkness does not mean I'm entirely heartless." She just hummed disbelievingly. Alfie stuck his tongue out at her, but she didn't react.
"How on earth did you two get together?" Annabeth laughed.
"She couldn't resist me." Alfie smirked.
"Hell." Jo replied at the same time. She glowered at him, crossing her arms firmly over her chest. "If we weren't blooming soul mates, I'd have never looked at you twice."
"Mm-hm." He still wore that look that was clearly infuriating Jo further, that one that implied that he was right and she was too stubborn to admit it. "Think about the kids."
"Those poor kids, stuck with a dad like you."
"I thought I was a good dad."
"Children." Percy cut in, frowning at his ice-cream bowl. It had melted and gone all icky and goopy. "No arguing."
"Wanna go?" Alfie challenged cheekily.
"Son of Poseidon, you… you test tube baby." Annabeth snorted into her ice-cream.
"Test tube baby?" She said incredulously. Percy wiped ice-cream from her chin.
"I'll have you know I'm no test tube baby. Born and bred one hell of a mutant."
"Hell being the polite term." Jo sniped. Alfie ignored her.
"What about you, Jo? Born or made a mutant?" Annabeth asked kindly, her tone insinuating that Jo didn't have to reply if she didn't want to.
"Made." Jo muttered, shifting uncomfortably. Alfie nudged her gently, his expression softening a fraction. They may have argued continuously and openly hated each other, but there was definitely some love there. "It's a long story."
"I love stories." Percy beamed. Annabeth slapped his leg. "But not all stories." He added hastily. "Some stories are just private stories." Jo smiled weakly, her eyes shining with gratitude.
"If you hadn't been made a mutant though, you'd have never met me."
"I'd have met you," She corrected, "but-"
"You wouldn't be with me at all then, you poor thing."
"I could live just fine without you." The defiance was back. Percy and Annabeth sensed another quarrel rising, but judging by the humoured look on Alfie's face it wasn't anything serious.
"Where would you go?"
"As far from you as possible!"
"You can't escape me, you know that." The door slammed open and an over-enthusiastic 'woo!' reached them. "And there's Charlie."
"Party party party!" He laughed, dancing and spinning through the living room. The Jackson boys, Sophia, Roxy and the mutant twins trailed in, looking exhausted.
"Oh dear." Jo sympathised, getting up to try and calm her son. Emphasis on try.
"You OK?" Percy laughed softly as his three sons dropped, as one, onto the empty sofa.
"He's mad."
"Definitely gives Tobias a run for his money." Max sighed, sinking lower in his seat and looking all for a nap.
"What money?" Tobias countered. Max smiled feebly, dozing already.
"Alvie?"
"Mad." He agreed.
"Where's Connor?" Charlie spun to a stop and looked around eagerly.
"Leave you brother alone, he's asleep."
"Not for long!" He declared, charging up the stairs and rushing along, opening every door. He gave a wicked laugh and disappeared into Alvie's room. "GET UP, CONNOR!" There was a startled yell and a thud. "WAKEY WAKEY SLEEPING BEAUTY!"
"CHARLIE!" Charlie hurriedly reappeared and cleared the stairs easily, vaulting over the banister onto the floor. Connor stumbled out onto the landing, blinking in the sudden brightness. "Dad!" Alfie got up then and grabbed his eldest son by the arm. Charlie fought, complaining childishly, but there was no point fighting against a senior mutant such as his father.
"Sit." Alfie ordered, directing Charlie into his vacated seat.
"I'm not a dog."
"Technically, you're a wolf, but hey." Alfie shrugged. "Whatever."
"Booooored!" Charlie writhed in the chair, over-exaggerating the non-existent uncomfortable state of the chair. Alfie twisted his hand in the air. A Rubix Cube appeared in his palm and he handed it to his son. "Oooh!" Charlie sat up and eagerly started trying to solve the puzzle cube.
Sorry that's not much, but I literally have no ideas right now D:
