Like always, anger burned in Reyna's chest. It was like an old friend she had known since birth, but she tried to push it deep down inside. Frank had his meltdown only a day ago, and Reyna had been so pissed she went off to a side room to throw around a few cleaning supplies. Nico had checked on her and complained that he had to clean up the mess. She ended up helping him, but they didn't talk much.
Nico just said he would be there for her. Reyna talked to him a little after getting home, but there wasn't much to say. Frank was mad, and he took it out on Reyna. When Reyna had walked into the gym today, Frank completely ignored her and just started training.
A sigh left Reyna as she cleared her mind of Frank. She leaned back against the chair that she sat in and studied the two people in front of her. Lupa sat at her desk and was looking over a contract. Specifically, it was Reyna's new contract. Octavian stood off to Lupa's side and was looking over it as well.
Reyna wouldn't lie by saying she wasn't nervous. Contract negotiations weren't her thing, but she had hired an independent lawyer to look over the contract. It was Octavian who gave her the advice, and after the lawyer approved the contract, Reyna brought it before Lupa.
The contract wasn't anything too crazy. Reyna just wanted a pay increase, one that would match Annabeth Chase. It wasn't that she was jealous of Annabeth, but Lupa told Reyna to be paid according to how much she thought she was worth. Reyna thought she was worth being paid like a champion.
Of course, Reyna would take a lower salary. Being able to work with Lupa was a dream come true, and she could take less money just for that to continue. Lupa hummed and looked up at Reyna, "What was the name of your anger management therapist?"
"What?" Reyna asked after a moment. She frowned and tried to remember what Lupa was talking about.
"Your anger management therapist. I can't quite remember their name," Lupa repeated. She met Reyna's eyes, and the younger fighter felt like a deer in the headlights, unable to look away. "What was it?"
"It's been like four years. I don't remember," Reyna began. She shifted awkwardly and felt like Lupa was seeing right through her. Lupa made a noise, looking unconvinced. Reyna swallowed painfully.
"Do you remember the two clauses we put in your first contract?" Lupa questioned. Reyna looked down but nodded. "A suspension clause and an anger management clause. You have avoided being suspended, but I also know that you did not fulfill your anger management."
Reyna just stared at the desk, not sure what to say. She didn't need anger management then, and she didn't need it now. Lupa studied her and spoke, "I think you should think about taking an anger management class or two. It might help you."
"Lupa," Octavian began. Lupa raised her hand.
"I'll agree to this contract," Lupa said. "On the condition that we keep the suspension clause in there. If you won't take the classes, you should have another motivator to keep your temper."
Reyna nodded after a moment. The suspension clause wasn't the worst thing in the world. Normally, Lupa had a 'three strikes and you're out' policy. Being suspended once was bad but forgivable. Twice was even worse, but three times meant the end of someone's time in the Wolves. With the suspension clause, Reyna was already on her final strike. She couldn't afford to be suspended, or she would be out.
"Good," Lupa finished, standing up from her desk. "We'll celebrate your new contract for lunch tomorrow. What would you like?"
"The team can decide," Reyna answered after a moment. Lupa studied her for a moment before nodding and stepped out of the room. Reyna laid her head back against the chair and stared up at the ceiling. A bitter laugh left her. What were another four years with the stupid suspension clause?
"Why did you lie to Lupa?" Octavian questioned. Reyna closed her eyes. She thought he had walked out with Lupa.
"I don't need anger management," Reyna made her case. She stood and turned towards the door.
"I meant about Bryce," Octavian clarified. Reyna froze and slowly looked at him. Her eyes narrowed harshly.
"I'm not sure what you're talking about," Reyna said tensely. A sigh left Octavian, and he shook his head.
"Bryce and I ran in the same social circles when we were younger," Octavian stated. "Bryce always bragged about the things he did in his public school, taunting us that we couldn't get away with it in our private school. Everything that he did always got swept under the rug by his father."
"Until Nico was arrested," Octavian revealed. "Assault and battery. It landed Bryce in the hospital, and all of his past crimes were revealed like a stack of dominoes falling down. I was there when his father screamed at him about what he tried to do to Nico."
"Bryce deserved what he got," Reyna said with a shrug. She looked away from Octavian.
"I don't disagree, but Lupa thinks that it is your fault Nico attacked Bryce. That it's your fault he got arrested," Octavian explained. Reyna held up her hand.
"It was," Reyna confirmed. "Simple as that."
"It's not as simple as that," Octavian argued. "You took the fall for it."
"You can't tell Lupa. At all," Reyna pleaded, turning on Octavian. He studied her quietly. "Got it?"
"Why?" Octavian challenged. "Why would you take the fall for that? Lupa almost didn't give you a contract, and when she did, it had some of the harshest restrictions I have ever seen. Not to mention how long she chewed you out for."
"Lupa thinks that you punched Bryce for absolutely no reason. That you let your anger get the best of you," Octavian explained. "Bryce retaliated, and Nico attacked him because of what he did. Why don't you tell Lupa the truth?"
"I punched Bryce because of what he did to Nico," Reyna finally stated. "I don't care what Lupa thinks about me, but it's not my place to share Nico's secret. It's not my place to tell Lupa that Bryce tried to force Nico into a blowjob and then later cornered him in the bathroom with his buddies, and God knows what they would have done if I didn't follow behind."
"I was defending Nico, but Lupa doesn't need to know that. I'm not willing to spill Nico's secret, and I ask that you don't either," Reyna finished explaining. Octavian just watched her for a long moment. He finally shook his head.
"Okay. I won't," Octavian muttered, shaking his head at the whole thing. "I don't know why Bryce targeted Nico, but I do think he made a huge mistake in pissing you off. I also think that you shouldn't have taken all the blame."
"Octavian, I made my choice," Reyna declared. She closed her eyes as bad memories started to flood back into her mind. "Lupa thinks I punched Bryce for no reason, and as far as I'm concerned, that is the truth."
Octavian left the room. Reyna watched him go and sighed. She hung her head and then collapsed back into the chair. Reyna laid her head back and stared up at the ceiling. There was a knock a moment later, and she heard the door open.
"Hey, Lupa. I brought the-"
"Thalia," Reyna greeted after a moment of staring dumbly. Thalia returned the dumbfounded stare. Truthfully, she texted Thalia, and when she didn't get an answer back, she kind of just gave up. It wasn't until Annabeth explained about Thalia dropping her phone that Reyna relaxed, but she also felt like Annabeth had been teasing her.
"Reyna," Thalia greeted back after a few moments. She gripped the white bag in her hands that Reyna knew had all kinds of sweets inside.
"Can we talk?" Reyna slowly asked. Thalia studied her for a moment and then nodded. She closed the door behind her and walked further into the office. "I'm sorry about what I said. I really didn't mean to say that you slept with anyone you found attractive."
"So, you don't think I'm a whore," Thalia interrupted.
"I never said you were a whore," Reyna began.
"Then what did you mean?" Thalia questioned accusingly. Reyna felt her temper already flaring, but she closed her eyes and tried to take a deep breath. Reyna could not get mad at the first thing Thalia said. She thought back to what Nico told her.
"I didn't mean anything. All I wanted to do was hurt you because I was mad," Reyna slowly answered. She opened her eyes. "That's the same reason you called me an asshole. I know you didn't mean it."
"I kind of did," Thalia corrected. She set the bag on Lupa's desk and then sat down near Reyna. "What you said was uncalled for."
Reyna clenched her fists and bit the inside of her cheek in nervousness. If she wanted a relationship with Thalia she needed to open up. Reyna let out a deep breath and nodded, "I know. And, I'm sorry I said it."
"You know that I wouldn't manipulate you like that, right? That's not something I would do," Thalia said.
"I know," Reyna muttered. She gritted her teeth. It would be easier just to storm away and not deal with this conversation. Why did she want to open up so badly? "I wanted to sleep with you, and I don't regret that. It just upset me so much that you tried to make a decision for both of us about our relationship."
"I care about myself too much to date you again and get so invested, only for you to shut me out once again," Thalia shot back. She stood and started to pace back and forth. "I'm sorry too. About calling you an asshole. About just assuming that you hadn't changed."
"What do we do then?" Reyna asked quietly. Thalia stopped pacing and looked at her. "I'm trying to do my best, Thalia. I've been trying to open up, and it's hard. If it means getting to be with you again, I'll do my best."
"I am amazing," Thalia declared with a shrug. She averted her eyes after a moment. Reyna stood and moved towards Thalia. "I put so much into our relationship the first time, and you gave me nothing in return. I don't know if I can make myself do it again."
"Thalia, I won't be mad if you tell me the truth," Reyna promised quietly. "Do you want to date me?"
"I do," Thalia answered after a few moments. Reyna felt her heart soar, but she tried to keep it cool. "But, you have to open up. Reyna, I will not put all that energy in again only for you to shrug or not answer when I ask how you are feeling."
"I know," Reyna muttered quietly. She looked away and rubbed her forehead. "You have to give me time, though. You can't expect me to just completely open up on our first date. I'm going to work on it, but you have to tell me what to do."
"You should already know what to do," Thalia snapped. She stepped away from Reyna and started to pace again. "Just open up to me, dammit! How hard can that be?! When I ask you how your day is, don't just tell me 'it's fine.' I know it's not fine. I know how you act when you're pissed or upset, but you never tell me why!"
"I'm pissed that you went on a date," Reyna admitted suddenly. Thalia stopped pacing and looked with total surprise at her. "I was so angry that you would have sex with me and then date someone not even a week later. Especially since we hadn't talked yet. And, I am so jealous of the thought of someone who isn't me dating you."
Thalia watched her for a long moment. She finally tried making a joke, probably hoping to relieve tension, "Would you fight my date for me? With me as the prize."
"Are you worth it?" Reyna countered. She sighed and slowly sat back down, not in the mood for Thalia's way of brushing off serious topics. And people said Reyna was bad about it. Reyna laid her head back. "I just need to know, Thalia."
"How about this," Thalia began in a hushed tone, walking towards Reyna. "You do your best to open up to me more, and I'll be patient with you. A trial run, maybe?"
"I would like that," Reyna answered. "I'm really sorry about what I said."
"It's okay," Thalia ensured. She sat on Reyna's lap, and Reyna's breath hitched. Thalia smirked. "You are so easy, you know that?"
"You're just heavy," Reyna shot back. She kept her mouth shut as Thalia gently kissed her neck. "You're not mad at me for what I said?"
"No," Thalia promised as she slowly traced up Reyna's neck and to her jaw with her lips. Thalia peppered kisses all the way back to Reyna's ear. "But, you're making it up to me tonight. Get Nico out of the apartment, and I'll come over. How do you feel about toys?"
Reyna felt her face heat up, and from the smirk on Thalia's face, it was the exact reaction she wanted. Thalia continued, "It's a good thing you can't spar for a few more days. Your ass is going to be sore tomorrow."
Reyna choked on her spit and tried to breathe. Thalia stopped her with a kiss. A tongue slipped into her mouth, and Reyna didn't even care where she was anymore. She slid her hand up Thalia's shirt and pulled her closer, so she was properly if not awkwardly straddling Reyna.
The world could have stopped at that moment, and Reyna wouldn't care. She roamed up and down Thalia's body with one hand and ran the other through the other woman's hair. Thalia ran both hands through Reyna's hair, still kissing her aggressively. Reyna allowed for Thalia's tongue to explore all over her mouth.
Reyna closed her eyes and breathed heavily as Thalia finally pulled away. Thalia rested her forehead against Reyna's, "So much better than the date I went on."
"It better be," Reyna growled, and she kissed Thalia aggressively again, slipping her tongue in Thalia's mouth and trying to fight her for dominance. After a few seconds, Reyna won the battle.
"Hey, Thalia!" Jason called as he barged into the room. Thalia jumped in surprise, and Reyna almost yelped as Thalia involuntarily bit down on her tongue.
Thalia was off of Reyna's lap before Jason could look up from his phone. Reyna immediately brought her hand to her mouth and felt her tongue. Was she bleeding? Jason looked at Reyna and smiled, "Oh, hey."
Jason looked in between the two of them. The smile disappeared, now replaced by a frown. Reyna knew that her clothes and hair were disheveled, but she hoped that Jason would just think it was from being at the gym. Jason spoke, "Lupa is ready to leave for lunch if you are, Thalia. Should we go?"
"Yeah. I was just looking for her to give her the brownies," Thalia quickly explained. She started to walk towards the door with Jason and then looked back at Reyna. Thalia made a calling motion. "I need to get a new phone while we're out."
Reyna watched Thalia leave the office and tried to blink the tears out of her eyes. She stood and felt her tongue. Reyna was bleeding. She almost groaned, but she realized that Jason hadn't moved an inch. He stared a hole into her. Reyna spoke and tried to keep her words as normal as possible, "Everything okay?"
"Don't do this," Jason pleaded suddenly. He walked towards Reyna. "Don't date Thalia again or string her along as some kind of fling. She deserves better than that. She deserves someone who will actually return her feelings. Do you know how heartbroken she was the first time you two dated? She cried for weeks, even if she tried to hide it. I heard that you just moved on."
"Jason," Reyna began.
"I know you just dated her to get back at me. You led her on and on and on just to get back at me," Jason interrupted hotly. "I won't let you do it again."
Reyna remained silent. While her first reason for dating Thalia wasn't great, she ended up really having feelings for her. Hell, Reyna had fallen hard for her. Just because she didn't let everyone see her mope didn't mean she wasn't hurt by the breakup. Jason watched her closely, then he finally looked down.
"If anything happens between you and Thalia, just treat her right. Please," Jason pleaded softly.
"Nothing happened," Reyna lied. She looked at Jason. "For the record, I did like her."
Jason didn't say a word. He turned and walked towards the door. Reyna sighed, "Jason."
Jason stopped walking and turned back to look at her. It was hard to read the look in his eyes. The two of them used to be so close, but between him leaving the gym and having to run his own company, the two of them drifted apart. The breakup with Thalia didn't help anything.
Reyna was tired, though. She was just tired of walking on eggshells around him or just being mad at his existence. Reyna spoke, "Happy birthday."
"Thanks," Jason said after a moment. He seemed taken aback by her reaction. Reyna gave him a small smile and then walked past Jason to go take care of her tongue and then lift weights. "Do you want to come to lunch?"
Reyna stopped walking and looked back at him. She studied him and finally spoke, "I shouldn't."
"You're one of my oldest friends," Jason countered with a shrug. He walked towards her. "Annabeth, Frank, and Hazel are getting lunch together anyway. I'll let them know you're coming with Thalia and I instead. Besides, I think Thalia would want you there."
Reyna wished she could figure out Jason's game. She could understand the getting mad thing, but why was he now turning around and inviting her to lunch? Did he actually miss her? What was he trying to do?
"Yeah. That would be nice," Reyna finally said. Jason smiled at her, and it looked genuine. "Just give me ten minutes to take a quick shower and change clothes."
"We'll give you fifteen," Jason offered. He walked out of the office, and Reyna followed. "It's been a while since we sat down and talked. I kind of missed it."
"Me too," Reyna said. Did it have something to do with Jason showing Reyna that he didn't hate the fact she might have another relationship with Thalia? Was he trying to get her comfortable to interrogate her later? Reyna looked down and wished she could figure out Jason's intentions. Instead, she would just have to enjoy lunch. And hopefully, Thalia wouldn't embarrass Reyna in public.