The water stung as it ran across the open cuts and bruises on my face; my fingers in my left hand were sore when I flexed them against the bathroom wall.
"So," I rushed to grab the shower curtain to cover my groin, "you want to tell me what you were thinking, you bloody moron?" Melinoe said with a bored expression as her voice emoted fury. She leaned against the locked bathroom door, her ghostly figure gaining some colour.
"Get out," I demanded in embarrassment.
She tutted as she walked to the mirrored cabinet, knowing full well she was going to ignore me. I reached for my towel and covered myself up before grabbing a second towel to dry myself.
"Sit down." She switched the trimmers on and off to test the battery. My pair of scissors peeked out of her men's jean pocket. She always liked to bitch about pocket space not being a thing for women.
I sat down, covering my lower half, not that she paid my lack of clothes any mind.
"So Persephone sent you." I said as I tugged on my beard, "How is she?"
A grin took resident of her face, and anyone who knew Melinoe knew a grin didn't belong on it, "No, no," She waved off, "Mother was perfectly fine with the man she loves as a son and her husband, our father, beating each other bloody."
"Oh, good." She yanked a thick strand of my hair. I let out a hiss, "It wasn't much of a fight."
"What were you thinking?"
"I wasn't." I said in a low voice as I closed my eyes, "I didn't think. I just wanted to hit him."
"Liar." She said as she grazed the trimmer against my head, her tone was flat.
I breathed out through my nostrils, "I wanted to see him. I wanted him to deny it, I guess." I shrugged, which caused her to force my head to face straight ahead.
For the longest time, the only thing that could be heard was the hum of my trimmer as well as the snips of my scissors.
She brushed off the strands of hair, "I should've warned you."
"About?" I questioned.
"That he can be cruel." Her chest heaved as she breathed deeply, "You know that most of the crap he's associated with is either really Thanatos or generally moronic lies that people reach with death."
"Yeah." I jerk my head as she catches a knot in my head.
She jerks my head back into place, "He may be the best of a bad bunch, but dad has done a lot of questionable stuff. A lot of us have, I have, mum has." She shrugs.
"Yeah, but you're not like that anymore." I reasoned.
She let out a morbid chuckle, "Yeah, I grew with the times." She shook her head, "But dad and the other two, they can't."
"You mean they won't," I said with a slight heat to my voice.
"No, Alton. As much as time has changed even us, some things will never change."
"Sounds like you're making excuses."
She let out a huff, "Sounds like you're still the same petulant brat being a pissy bitch about his parentage."
"Ouch." I said with a small smile, "That hurt more than dad's hits."
She let out a small chuckle, "I try. Someone has gotta keep you level headed." She gives my head a bump as she brushes away my hair that clung to my neck.
"So," I started this time, "how fucked am I?"
She released a mix between a sigh and a laugh, "Well, you announced yourself as dad's son by going at it with him."
"He was holding back," I stated.
"So were you." She added.
"You weren't there." I reminded her.
"Shut up." She warned, I raised my hand in surrender, "They know you exist. You pretty much whipped your dick out and told the Fates to suck it."
"I did not." I laughed as I protested.
"And you told dad you would fight him to protect the daughter of the Lord of the Sky."
"Could be better, right?" I hazard a guess.
"Could be worse." My sister, who was usually the glass, was a half-empty type of being, tried to make a positive spin on the shit storm I stepped into slash caused.
"All right. Get out. I need a shower."
"You just showered." She groaned out.
"You just cut my hair." I groaned out in return, "I refuse to be itchy all night."
She rolled her eyes as she walked towards the door, "Love you, princess." She said.
"Love you too dickhead." I called out to her.
I cut the fruit into bite-sized chunks and then placed them into the bowl.
My regular routine is completely thrown off course, with my guest all currently squeezed into a king-sized bed. Despite being in a self-imposed exile, I did add a couple of extra bedrooms to my home, knowing full well that one of my sisters would appear and crash my home and peace, be it Goddess or witch.
Still, the kids chose to cram themselves together, probably the thought of them being able to quickly run away together when shit hits the fan.
"Good morning," I said over my shoulder.
Thalia walked sans leather jacket, she viciously rubbed her eyes, "Mornin'." She let out a yawn as she took a seat at the kitchen aisle.
It took a while for her eyes to adjust, but when they did, her nose wrinkled as her eyes drank me in, "You look good, and you look like shit at the same time."
I snorted at that, alright my long matted hair made me look like a bum, and since my Gamer aspect ended itself, I haven't quite healed as well as I did back then, hence the slowly reducing swelling of my face.
"You should see my father." I snorted out.
Her eyes widened, "Did you actually find and fight your," She looked around as if he was going to appear from nowhere, "father?"
"I said I would."
She huffed, "You said you were going to put a foot up his arse." She tried and failed to copy my accent.
"Yeah, that's what that means." I shrugged.
"How are you still alive?"
"I'm too stupid to die."
"Well that fuckin' answers everything." She groaned out in annoyance a tad bit loudly.
I motioned for her to lower her voice as her companions were still asleep before passing her the bowl of fruit and cereal.
"Eat." I then moved to the fridge, "You want anything to drink?"
"Coffee." She tried her luck.
I turned around and gave her a flat look; in return, she gave me a challenging look before letting out appeasing sigh, "OJ." I nodded and took out the pitcher and poured her a cup.
"What happens now? Is your dad gonna leave me alone?"
I ran a hand through my hair, "No." My elbows then rested on the countertop as I leaned over it, "He's going to try and kill you." I let out a groan, "I poked the bear."
"Oh, thanks, you saved me and screwed me over in the same night." She snarked.
"First all of all, don't word it like that." I grimaced, "And second, give it time, his anger will simmer."
"Or he'll succeed in killing me before then."
I shook my head, "No, he'll try, but I swore I would protect you."
"Why?" She questioned.
"Why, what?"
She rolled her eyes, "Come on, don't be stupid. Why do you care? Why are," She let out a deep breath, "why are you doing this for me? You know we should be technically mortal enemies, right?"
"We're not our fathers kid."
She didn't say anything as she slowly ate her food.
"Alton?" Annabeth is so god damn adorable that I didn't even mind the one hundred questions the girl asked me.
I kept my eyes on the road, "Yeah, Annabeth?"
"How come monsters are scared of you?" My eyes glanced at her in the rearview mirror.
"Not all monsters." These kids are bringing up memories that I would rather stay buried, "The ones that serve my father, though." I winced.
"Wh-h-hy?" Grover questioned as he lost a bout of bravery he gained yesterday. I'm guessing after seeing my healing face, he must have realised that I wasn't just letting out steam, and I had actually confronted my father.
I don't know whether or not he's more afraid that I'm crazy enough to fight my father or that I'm here mostly no worse for wear.
The hand lazily holding the steering wheel rapped against the leather cover, "I lost my temper." I said simply, "Made a mess in the Underworld." I shrugged, "I guess some are still reeling from it."
"That bad, huh?" Luke grinned as he munched on the road snacks he grabbed from my home. I could see Thalia was still pouting in the back seat.
"Luke called dibs," Annabeth said to the older girl.
"She's right," I said in a sing-song voice.
"This is bull-spit." She didn't stumble then, "I got to the front door first."
"He called dibs."
"I called dibs." Luke and I said at the same time.
I turned my attention to the youngest member of the group, "Annabeth, dibs are sacred. If someone calls first, you abide by it."
She nodded as she listened to my sage advice.
"I did abide by it," Thalia moaned, "I'm-"
"Whining about it," Grover said under his breath, causing everyone but Sparky to laugh.
My pickup came to a slow halt in the middle of the road as I spotted a familiar set of red hair coupled with a silver parka standing in the middle of the road. The pickup stopped a meter before her.
"Luke, if you have anything scathing to say, keep your mouth shut." His brows went up to his hairline.
I popped the pickup in reverse and backed up at an angle. She time around gave me a questioning look. I rolled down my window, "What, you think I'm leaving my car in the middle of the road because you wanted to make a mysterious entrance?"
She rolled her eyes.
She scowled at me in her teenage form; honestly, it was a lot less intimidating than the numerous looks she has sent me over the last few years we've known each other.
"You're a liar." She accused.
"The fuck I am." I felt a spike of annoyance run through me at the accusation, "I'm many things, but I don't lie, hells whenever I get in trouble most of the time it's because I'm blunt."
A blink and you miss it amused expression graced her face, "You said you were not in contact with your father."
"I wasn't." I groaned.
She gave me a withering look, "I'm sure he still has your blood on his blade."
We stopped outside of a tent more prominent than the other ones I could see littering her temporary base, "When we first met, I never once said I used," I empathised the last word, "to speak with Hades on a regular basis. I simply told you I don't speak with him anymore. See? 'Anymore.' Which up till last night was hundred percent true."
She gave me a flat look, "An omission of information is no better."
I snapped my fingers, "But I ain't a liar."
She gave me a mock round of applause, "Yes. Well done, you have the moral high ground."
I rolled my eyes, "I would still have the moral high ground against most gods and goddess' even if I went on a murder spree."
Grover's fearful and nervous bleet finally broke out, as many hands rested on bows, arrows and daggers.
Neither the Goddess of the Hunt nor I paid it any other mind than an errant acknowledgement. Artemis sighed with annoyance, "I handed you that one."
I let out a snort, "Morals aren't exactly something you've all been depicted of having."
"Watch it." She warned, only when did I raise a hand in surrender did she lower her finger, "Keep the boy out of trouble." She commanded me.
I was tempted to drag my feet just to annoy her, but instead, I kept my expression firm as I regarded her, "As well as Annabeth." I supplied.
"I will offer her-"
"Nothing." I cut her off, causing the Goddess to give me an actual glare, though I didn't back down, "You want to offer Thalia a place with your girls? Fine, that's fair. She should have the choice, but the squirt is way too young."
"Who are you calling, squirt?" Annabeth's high voice questioned with adorable fury.
"Zip it shrimpy." She huffed her blonde ponytail jumped over her shoulder, I kneaded her head, and despite her ire evident on her face, she leaned into the touch.
"You'll fight me on this?" Artemis said after she took a deep breath.
"As well as your sister," I said as my eyes flickered to a perched owl that was curiously awake and fascinated by the young girl that was stuck to my side. The brief action wasn't noticed by the kids, but a seasoned warrior like the Goddess in front of me caught the movement and repeated it herself.
"She's a kid. If you really want her in your ranks, you can ask her when she is older," I let out a deep breath, "But give her a chance to grow."
Artemis' jaw clenched as she regarded me; eventually, she nodded, "Fine."
"Thank you, Artemis." I nodded in return.
She grunted at my thanks, dismissing me as she strode into her tent, but before calling for Thalia to follow, the youngest daughter of Zeus looked to me for some form of guidance.
"She will ask you to join her Hunters." Thalia glanced all around us as many still kept their eyes on us.
"Isn't that a good thing?" Luke questioned.
"It is neither bad nor good." I shrugged in response which seemed to have earned the ire of a bronze skinned teen girl as she neared Artemis' tent.
"What should I do?" Thalia asked me.
I was tempted to shrug once again, but even I knew the ballsey girl was nothing but a little lost, "You are your own person Thalia Grace," I placed a hand on her shoulder, "no matter what you do, I promise you will not be alone."
Her eyes flickered from her friends and oddly enough me to then the Goddess tent as if she was comparing her makeshift group to the Goddess' and hers.
"Well, she made up her mind." Luke snorted out with an amused grin, but then it quickly faded as he noticed glares were being thrown at the both of us.
"Come on, lad." I lead the two blondes and the satyr to a couple of logs adjacent to each other, "Think nothing of it." I told the boy as he tried to figure out what we could have possibly done to earn their anger and hate. He opened his mouth to question it nonetheless, but Grover shushed him in time, whispering a later to the blonde demi-god.
I pulled out a pack of plastic playing cards, drawing the blonde duo's attention.
"Alton, where did you get those?" Annabeth questioned as she cocked her head to the side.
"My pocket." I shrugged in response.
Luke gave me a wry smile, "You keep a deck of cards on you all the time?"
"Yep." I popped the p as I dealt out cards to the three, "You know how to play basic blackjack?"
Grover nodded, but the two shook their heads. As I explained the rules and the cards' value, we played a few short rounds. Thalia came back in a huff, followed by a now calm Artemis and her hunter who joined her earlier.
"What are you doing?"
"Losing," I said as I kept my eyes on the youngest, as her eyes were stuck on a perpetual thought.
"Are you gambling? With children?" Artemis said with an accusing voice.
"No. I would be taken to the effing cleaners if I was." I said as I kept my eyes on the devious girl, "I know your game because you're so adorable you think you can get away with everything."
"No." Her bright eyes and cheeky grin told me a different story.
"You're an idiot," Artemis said flatly.
I rolled my eyes and turned my attention to the youngest of Zeus' brood, "You ready?"
She didn't say anything as she gave me a firm nod, making sure to keep her eyes firmly on our group.
I brought up two fingers to the edge of my forehead and gave the Goddess a lazy salute, "See ya around."
We left the campsite with hardly any trouble. Luke and Grover were talking to each other in a low whisper the moment we were out of earshot, though I could feel their gazes on my back.
"You okay, kiddo?"
Thalia's face turned rigid, and she gave me a curt nod, "Peachy."
"Fuckin' A-okay."
She gave me a glance at the corner of her eye, "Language." She said with a sly voice as some of the rigidness left her.
A/N – 13/05/2021