Sorry this took FOREVER and is SO SHORT. I am still on this. I swear. I've just been super busy!
"It's really not your fault, that no one cares to talk about it." – Paramore, Emergency.
Olivia was furious.
Her eyes were narrowed, the laugh lines no longer recognizable and her mouth set in an angry pout which terrified Travis more than anything he had ever faced. He could see the headline now, "Delinquent found in ditch, cop mother suspected."
He was sat in the kitchen, his back to the wall and his hands clutching the chair for dear life. His jeans were slightly ratty, and his hair tousled. His eyes were wide and his face was no longer impish, but uncharacteristically pale.
Olivia had her claws around the table, and she was leaning scarily close to Travis. She leaned back, and then exploded again.
"Let me get this straight. You were thrown out of community college before you even registered?" Olivia asked, her voice scarily muted and controlled. Travis felt the familiar signs that she was about to trigger a series of episodes in which neither could be held accountable for the things they said.
"For the last time, Mom, it wasn't my fault!" He stated, and he was telling the truth. It hadn't been. He'd gone to register, when, and he had to admit, it sounded farfetched, a hellhound burst through the double doors and had proceeded to attempt to maul him. He'd done what any demigod would have done, and proceeded to slash the crap out of him. Of course, mortals didn't see that.
So, apparently, Travis just started wailing on some foreign kid. Right.
Olivia shook her head, pinching the bridge of her nose with her thumb and forefinger.
"I thought things were going to be different, Travis," she sighed, and Travis took a deep breath.
"Things with demigods don't change."
"You don't need to remind me," she sighed again, before continuing. "I was just trying, you know, to be a family again," she stated, and Travis couldn't help but be reminded of Luke. Luke had been his half-brother. Luke had only wanted his family to be a family.
Travis straightened his back a bit, relinquishing hold of the chair. It had now bridged that awkward moment where the Great Olivia Stoll was reaching the point of tears. And he never knew what to do.
"I know, Mom. But for a cop, having Hermes kids is hard. Wait until Connor gets into the swing of things," he pointed out, and she groaned. Travis shook his head.
"I am sorry, Mom. I swear to…I swear to my dad, I did not wake up this morning with intent to destroy some monster in the presence of mortals. It just happens. You know the deal."
Olivia still did not look happy, and Travis had a feeling he'd just cost her a promotion.
"Maybe…Maybe I should head back to Camp, you know? It's all easier, and…" he began, but Olivia cut him off.
"No. No, stay here, hun. I'm just…My partner got the promotion, you know? I'm a bit angry about that, because my partner's a worthless piece of crap but…I'm babbling, hun. Look, it's Friday. How about you go visit Katie? Let things cool down a bit. I have to try and soothe things at the station. The receptionist thinks you need to go to court, so I have to go work wonders," she suggested, and it felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from Travis.
He could see Katie. He was not going to end up in a ditch. His mom was going to sort things out.
Well, he supposed Chiron might make an appearance and do some funky stuff with the Mist. He didn't know. But either way, he was heading to New Jersey.