To 8Ball3- Thank you ^_^
To An-Unnamed-Goose- Yeah, why not? XD
Apollo sat next to Frank, checking his vitals for the millionth time. Frank had recruited the few uninjured legionnaires to help him document the damage and begin repairs. It would not be so simple, far easier said than done. War left behind a catastrophe far greater than the capabilities of a mop and bucket.
And there were the funerals to arrange too. No-one counted them. They weren't numbers, they were friends, family, people worth fighting for, even if they could no longer fight themselves.
"We'll start with the city." Frank instructed. "I heard Lou was there, so we'll have a lot of work to do."
"That's putting it nicely." Leila scoffed. "I couldn't even get a coffee without a full-blown obstacle course and nearly breaking my neck."
"Wow, that easy?" Frank half-joked. She was not impressed, smacking her notebook on his knee. "Apollo, I'm fine. You can stop fussing."
"I have to fuss." Apollo argued, flapping his hands. "I need to be busy."
"Busy yourself with this then." Pierre suggested, grabbing Apollo's arm. Pranjal drew up a spare chair and together, they forced Apollo to sit. "You've done all you can here." Pierre reassured. "If you have to, help us with this."
"But-"
"Do as you're told, Granddad." Pranjal grinned. Apollo whipped round in his seat.
"What did I tell you about that?" He hissed. Pranjal laughed and patted his head. Apollo glowered.
"I think we should implant better security in the sewers." Leila tapped her pen on her notebook. Apollo saw she had made notes of damages all over New Rome, pages of them. "And also try and Lou-proof them until needed."
"Nothing is Lou-proof." Frank corrected, shaking his head. "Any word on her yet?"
"Reyna called her mom in."
"Which one?"
"Blonde one. Scary. And loud."
"But they've not found her?"
"Not as far as I know." Leila sighed. "They found Jason though. Apparently, he makes a very bad Santa. He's fine though, that silver archer lady is looking after him."
"That's Thalia, his sister."
"Oh, that makes much more sense."
Apollo pressed his lips together, concern and relief mingling in his chest. He was glad to hear Jason had been found, and he did want to see him again, to check up on himself and apologise for everything.
And then there was Louisa. She was not his biggest fan, they could all agree on that, but he would not wish harm on her again. He had seen and heard about what she could do, he now understood the gods were right to be worried about her fates. But he would not vote to kill her again, if he ever regained his godhood. He understood her need to fight as she did, as she would continue to do, if found alive. The least he could do would be to vote in her favour, if possible.
"There's major structural damage from fires and the storm and the lightning." Pierre made a face at his notes. "I helped the citizens shore it up as best we could, but we need to look at that ASAP. People are still camping on Temple Hill as their homes aren't safe."
"OK." Frank nodded, making notes of his own. Pranjal clapped twice, grinning.
"Terminus is getting a new nose!" Mock cheers went up around their group, followed by feeble laughter. "I voted they should give him, like, a witch's nose." He made the shape with his fingers, smiling slyly.
"Nah, piggy nose." Leila insisted, tipping her nose up with her thumb.
"Make him the new Voldemort!" Pierre demanded gleefully.
"Voldemort is the last thing we need right now!"
"Ah, we could take him. He couldn't even kill a baby!"
"Um… the city needs rebuilding?"
"Can we build a Hogwarts?"
"No."
"You're a Muggle."
"Thanks, Leila. Appreciate that."
"Anytime, Praetor."
"Come on, Lou. You're not going to let old Skelly-Bones get the better of you, are you?" A hand touched the top of her head and then tucked under her chin, lifting her head gently. Jason grinned at her. She could taste blood, her head was swimming. She would kill for a nap right about now, but seeing Jason, she thought she should kill him first.
"School." She croaked, blood dribbling down her chin and staining his fingers.
"Yeah, I know." Jason grimaced apologetically. "But hey. You saved me. I save you." He smiled again. "That's fair, isn't it?"
"Schoooool."
"I'll go back to school afterwards, I promise."
"Break. Spine."
"Yes, OK." He leaned down, gripping her by the elbows. "Up you get, come on. We've got work to do." She groaned. Heaviness pulled at her eyes. Sleep sounded so good right now. Just five minutes? Tarquin could hold his horses, she just wanted five minutes of kip. After everything she had done and been through, five minutes wasn't a lot to ask for. "No, no, wake up." Jason ordered.
"Nooooo." She whined. "You bastard."
"Yeah, I know." He pulled her to her feet, pushing her sword into her hand. His fingers gave her a static shock and she started, blinking quickly as her brain started to tick over. His face came into focus, his smile still in place. "You with me?"
"Will kill you." She promised.
"Mm. You'll have to beat Thalia to it."
"Done." She looked around, brushing blood from her face. Tarquin was watching them. "He's takin' up my Pokémon time." She complained.
"And my study time."
"Go back, I've got this."
"Yes. The Lou-shaped hole in the wall really defines 'got this'."
"Mmph." Louisa spat out blood. "You do have a sense of humour."
"You've realised that hundreds of times and yet, you always sound surprised."
"Eh." She shrugged her good shoulder. Jason had come prepared. He had a canteen of water in his bag, tipping it over her head. It wasn't enough, and it definitely wasn't salt water, but she could work with it. A familiar crackling flitted over her skin. Her shoulder was healing, she could move her arm. She swapped her sword to her left hand, settling her fingers around the familiar grip.
Thunder rippled overhead as she filled her lungs with the scent of the storm. Jason readied his sword too, and the sky flashed with lightning.
"Just because there are two of you now," Tarquin snarled, "does not mean you're a threat."
"And you think you are?" Jason smirked. "That's nice."
"This city is under my control!"
"Bitch please." Louisa laughed, spitting out more blood. "This ain't your city. It's ours."
How Jessica knew the layout of Camp Jupiter, Reyna had no idea. She did not see the woman even so much as glance at street signs. She even knew shortcuts that Reyna herself didn't. It niggled in Reyna's mind, and then she had to ask. Jessica smiled over her shoulder at her.
"Lou showed me."
"But you've never been here."
"I have. Through Lou's paintings. She wanted to show me everything."
"Huh."
"Don't worry. Everyone else thinks she has a very active imagination." Reyna hummed, not entirely convinced. Jessica turned left and they emerged on the road to Temple Hill, about twenty minutes quicker than the normal route. "Ah." She smiled. "I should sign Lou up to Google Maps. How are you holding up, Hop-a-long?" Reyna's arms were starting to smart and her hands were cramping and bruising on the grips.
"I'm fine."
"Mm." Jessica squinted at her disbelievingly. Reyna held her gaze for the count of five. Jessica wagged at finger at her. "You," she said, "are stubborn. We're going to get on great. But," she stressed, warm smile turning into a dead glare, "that does not erase my bat. You have been warned." She spun on her heel before Reyna could respond and marched off. Reyna hurried after her, now realising why Louisa was so irritating.
Once again, Jessica knew where she was going, humming to herself. She marched all the way to Neptune's sorry excuse of a temple, laughing victoriously at seeing the crooked door ajar.
Storm was inside, lying down with her legs neatly tucked under her. She lifted her head, snorting a warning as the door opened. "It's me." Jessica retorted. "Wind back that attitude." Storm's ears flattened apologetically, perking up again when Reyna shuffled in. Seeing no threat, the mare relaxed. She shifted her wing.
Louisa was under the feathers, lying on her side on the floor, her back to the door. Her hair had come free of its ponytail, a wild mess of curls and tangles. Blood-splattered, charred armour had been tossed in the corner. Reyna moved closer, biting the inside of her cheek. She watched Louisa carefully, unwittingly holding her breath.
Louisa was breathing, stunted, shallow breaths that seemed more like hiccups than the usual intake, but she was breathing.
Reyna laughed- relieved, amazed, stunned. Jessica helped her sit on the floor. Reyna put a hand on Louisa's head.
"I hate you." She whispered, not letting her voice be any louder lest she start crying. Jessica was kneeling next to her. She put one hand on Louisa's shoulder, reaching around her to grip her arm and roll her onto her back.
Louisa was grimacing as she slept fitfully, a thin layer of grime and dried blood on her face. Her clothes hadn't fared much better, tattered and dusted heavily with masonry, dampened by plumbing and yet more blood. Her fingers twitched, restless and fluttering with random, pale green sparks.
"Huh." Jessica said. Her fingers rested on Louisa's pulse, following the second hand on her watch. Storm huffed. "She's weak. Why did you bring her here?" Storm shook her head, nuzzling Jessica's face. "Fine, fine."
Reyna was studying Louisa's face, seeing the purple of bruises under the dirt and blood. Why had she taken Tarquin on herself? And, if the stories were true, why did she throw a DVD player at him and not use something more practical, like her sword?
Jessica shook her by the arm. "Reyna!" Reyna started, suddenly realising Jessica had been trying to get her attention for a while. Plotting murder quietly took time, and could be very distracting. "Have you got any ambrosia on you?"
"I- no, I don't." Reyna forced herself to focus, putting the murder plots on a backburner for now. "I've got supplies at the praetorium." Jessica nodded once.
A minute later, Reyna had a newfound respect for this woman. Jessica had sat Reyna on Storm's back- with the pegasus's permission- and then manoeuvred Louisa on as well, lying her forward against the mare's neck. Storm rose carefully. Jessica picked up Reyna's crutches and then led the pegasus out. Reyna had to duck to avoid headbutting the doorframe, resting her head on Louisa's back. She did not sit back up once they were outside, listening to Louisa's hiccup-breathing and faint heartbeat. "Jessica?"
"Mm?"
"I can try something, but… I'm not sure how well it'll work with a mortal and a pegasus."
"What is it?" Reyna explained her power from her mother. Jessica looked impressed. Reyna was too- it seemed Louisa hadn't told her mom everything. "It works better with more people, but I can try with us." Jessica nodded, patting Storm's neck. The mare flicked her ear.
"OK. Let's try it." Reyna held her hand out. Jessica took it. Storm halted as Reyna put her other hand on her neck, turning her head to watch curiously.
Reyna shifted, resting her forehead between Louisa's shoulders. She took a breath, closing her eyes. When she called on her power, it worked as it always had, despite her concerns. She imagined it flowing into Louisa, sharing all the strength she could muster.
It was only when Storm jolted did she open her eyes again and look up. Jessica was leaning on the pegasus, looking like she had spent a week in a loop-de-loop on a rollercoaster. Storm was tottering, head bowed, ears flat, exhausted.
Jessica heaved. "Ugh, did it work?" Reyna sat up, the world see-sawing around her. She moved Louisa's hair gently, uncovering her face. "Lou?" Jessica gripped her daughter's arm. "You hear me, madam? You wake up, come on." She shook her arm, frowning and bleary-eyed. "Louisa Eloise Smith-Jackson, get your ass up." Reyna blinked. Eloise?
Louisa groaned.
"No." She mumbled. "Sleep." She hid her face in Storm's mane. Jessica gaped at her, laughing. She looked at Reyna, beaming.
"I won't get my bat." She promised. "This time." Reyna smiled weakly.
"I appreciate that."
