Early morning training

A/N: Hey! I hope you all like this one-shot of when Chris and Clarisse meet in the arena. I was thinking about writing a longer story about them, not just one-shots. Let me know what you think in the comments!

Wandering round the camp at 2am Chris looked around the darkness, noticing things he normally wouldn't. Like how big camp is, or how clear the night sky is. Camp was always so much more peaceful at night, no noisy campers running around or anything like that. Normally he wouldn't be out at this time, it was against camp rules. But since the labyrinth he had found himself outside at night much more often.

At that moment Clarisse was training in the arena. She had been struggling to sleep and knew no good would come of lying quietly in bed. Her ADHD just wouldn't have it. So she had decided to sneak out and practice her knife throwing on the dummies, not that she needed any practice. She threw the knives again and again, hitting the dummies in the chest, neck, head, and stomach. Everywhere that could be fatal. As she was so focused she failed to notice someone creep into the arena, until their arms were wrapped securely around her from behind.

"What are you doing out so early?" Chris whispered against her ear. Clarisse jumped slightly and rolled her eyes to try and cover up her surprise,

"Training, what does it look like" She sneered, twirling her dagger and pausing in throwing it to speak to Chris. Her reply caused him to chuckle quietly.

"Ok, ok. Why are you out here so early?" He repeated, pulling Clarisse against him.

"I couldn't sleep" She held a smile and leant into his comforting arms, putting the dagger in her hand back into the sheath on her leg.

"Why"

"Does it matter!?"

"No, sorry" Chris squeezed her tighter and kissed her cheek, enjoying a moment when she was calm, and not wanting to ruin it.

"Good" She replied, a tinge of red showing on her cheeks from his loving kiss, "Anyway, what are you doing out?" Chris sighed and pressed his face into his girlfriend's hair, leaving one word to explain his early morning walk,

"Nightmares" He explained. Clarisse instantly softened; she knew how bad the traumas were that haunted his nights so she didn't press the issue further.

"It's ok" He smiled faintly; not wanting her to worry, "I just needed a time out". Clarisse chuckled dryly,

"Don't we all" she replied before turning round in his arms to face him. Demigod nightmares were bad, and the more you went through; the worse they got. Clarisse couldn't even begin to imagine what went on in Chris' head at night.

"Guess so" Chris agreed and tightened his arms round her middle, pulling her closer to him, the emptiness of camp provided them with privacy they rarely got, if this was in the day he would never have gotten away with hugging her like this.

"Hey, look" He smiled at her before pointing up at the night sky.

"What?" Clarisse frowned slightly; she didn't know much about stars, or any of the constellations, but she looked up anyway, following his outstretched hand.

"See that bright star?" He questioned, innocently, and looked back down to her. Although they were almost the same height, Chris was still an inch or two taller.

"Uh yea, why?" Looking back to Chris, Clarisse raised an eyebrow at him. He smirked.

"Well, it reminds me of you"

Clarisse frowned, unsure whether to be annoyed or happy at his comparison. Noticing her frown, Chris tucked a stray piece of hair behind her ear and hurried on.

"It's bright, beautiful, and shining amazingly through all the darkness around it. Just like you do" He smiled, causing a faint blush to creep onto Clarisse's cheeks.

"Oh" She replied, unsure of how to reply. He chuckled slightly at her reply and pressed a swift kiss onto her lips, drawing her closer.

When they both parted Chris was smiling as he pulled Clarisse's head to rest on his chest.

"It's also the brightest one I the sky" He carried on, hugging her waist tight.

"Ok I get it, enough of comparing me to a giant ball of gas!" Clarisse rolled her eyes and he pressed his lips to her head,

"You sure? I could go on…" Chris teased, smirking lightly.

"No! Don't you dare!" She insisted and pressed her face into his chest to hide the blush deepening on her cheeks. Chris chuckled and pulled her head gently back to look at her, smirking again when he saw the blush,

"Your cheeks say otherwise"

"Rodriguez!" Clarisse groaned.