Annabeth
"TACOS!" Leo yelled,holding the bags up. As he passed them around,Jason glanced warily at his own. Leo put his hands up.
"Grace,as your overly scary sister is now here I refused to try to kill you. Hence,here is your perfectly non spicy taco."
Jason smirked as Thalia laughed. Just then Percy walked in with his hands in his pockets. He stopped when he saw all of us gathered together. Leo held up a bag,a weird grimace on his face. "Taco?"
He shrugged and muttered "Why not?" as he plopped down and took a big bite. Nobody made any effort to speak as we all silently ate. I tried catching Percy's eye but he wouldn't look up. Judging by her body language,it looked like Penny was itching to leave the room. As I locked eyes with Piper,she shrugged but her eyes said the message; 'Don't bother.'
"So," Leo said,smacking his lips "I was thinking,why don't we invite Will around more?"
"What?" Apollo asked,looking up. Nico started coughing,putting his fist up to his mouth. Penny passed him a bottle of water and then turned her glance back to Leo,who was grinning for some reason.
"I mean,the dude is chill. Also he's helped us a lot,first Penny,then Jason."
"Yes because we all love getting into accidents," Penny rolled her eyes "But yeah I do like him. Wait." she frowned,narrowing her eyes at Leo "What's going on?"
Leo stood up,pretending to straighten up a make believe tie "I have a conscious. Now if you'll excuse me,I need to use the bathroom."
"Don't use mine."
"Yours it is." Leo winked at her,making her roll her eyes and turning her attention back to us.
"But the elf is right,maybe we should all have a pizza night." She suggested, looking at Apollo. He shrugged and said "Well it wouldn't hurt to have the little runt around."
"Don't you have a twin sister?" Percy smirked,putting the bag on the coffee table "Artemis?"
To my surprise,Penny started laughing and Apollo's face went red. Thalia frowned. "What?"
"Before me and Apollo got together we used to have the best time together," she grinned as Apollo groaned and put his head in his hands "This one time,while Apollo was taking a bath-"
"DON'T!" Apollo yelped,putting his hands over her mouth "Come on Penny,let's go wash some dishes."
"But you hate-"
Apollo quickly pulled her up to her feet and led her towards the kitchen. Thalia raised her eyebrows and smirked.
"Well if his sister was enough to scare the dude," she chuckled "She's my idol."
Penny
"I won't tell!" I laughed. He looked up to the ceiling and whispered, thank you. Smirking,I grabbed a cloth to clean the counter.
"Those were the good old days," I sighed,smiling "Man I miss her."
"Hmph." he grumbled,leaning against fridge. I burst out laughing again. "What's wrong? scared that she'll become my favorite Solace kid?"
"Well as long as I'm dating you,I'm not. Wait-" he glanced at me "You're not gay are you?" I threw my towel at him as he grinned "No surprises." I replied. His smirk melted off.
"Wait what?"
"Dumbfuck." I sighed,rolling my eyes. Just then my phone started ringing. I pulled it out and stared,my heart dropping.
"It's dad." I announced,looking at him. Apollo bit his lip.
"You want me to-?" he asked,heading to the door. I grabbed his hand,shaking my head.
Stay.
He nodded,lacing his fingers through mine. Taking a deep breath,I picked up. "Hey dad."
"Hey squirt," he said in a warm tone. I could almost see the smile he probably held right now. "How've you been?"
"Yeah..I'm doing good Dad." I answered,then added "Percy too."
"Ah..good good." he clearly wanted to talk about my brother,but didn't. "My dear..something has happened."
I frowned "What? Is it Percy-"
"Not your brother,no." He interrupted. Something was up,he never tried to interrupt me. Especially if I mention Percy. He took a deep breath.
"I have already sent you a boarding pass and some information. You'll be flying in first class in three days."
"Wait,what? Why-"
"Penny,my love," he interrupted again,his voice shaky "It's your mother."
Annabeth
"Ahhh," Leo grinned,walking back in "I just dropped a deuce!"
"Valdez,we did not ask." Jason sighed as Piper tried hard not to laugh "Also,Penny is going to kill you."
"Ah,that's where my Leo charm comes in," he snickered,shooting finger guns at Jason "All da ladies love it!"
"Also,Apollo is going to kill you."
"It works on men too. I have irresistable charm." Leo puckered his lips and struck a pose. Thalia gagged as we all burst out laughing. Well,not all of us. Percy simply put on a grin that wasn't convincing enough. His green eyes jumped over to mine,but he looked away just as quickly. I noticed that Nico was observing us. Suddenly Penny walked out of the kitchen in a frenzy,Apollo following.
"Penny wait-" he said before she slammed her door shut. Leo whistled.
"Damn Solace,what did you do now?"
"Why do you always assume it's me?" he sighed,shaking his head "anyways,no Mr Holmes. Her dad called."
"What did he say?" Percy asked,jumping to his feet,looking agitated. Apollo put his hands in his pocket,looking elsewhere.
"She's going to France. Something about..your mom." he finished slowly. Leo froze in his steps. I frowned. Something in his expression was just not right. Meanwhile, Percy's eyes widened,his face frozen with fury and confusion.
"Wait what? Okay I'm going with her" he stated, but Apollo stopped him.
"Percy.." Apollo took a step back "Your dad said only Penny could come. Not you, or anyone else."
"What do you mean I can't come? Who the fuck does he think he is?" He yelled,slamming his fist on the table. "If something happened to mom,I should be there too!"
"Percy hold on okay? Maybe..maybe-" Piper hesitated,trying to come up with the right words. Percy's eyes bore into hers.
"Well?"
"Just hold on. Maybe Penny isn't saying something. Just wait. It makes no sense that he only wants her. Just hold on and breath." Piper said in a soft tone,giving him a half smile. Percy's shoulders went down and he sighed. "Okay. Okay,fine." he glanced around at all of our concerned (and scared) faces, looking a little embarrassed. After five minutes Penny came in,looking weary.
"Hi." she said,putting her hands in her back pockets. Percy crossed his arms,looking at her expectingly.
"Well?"
Penny took a deep breath "Something happened to mum." she muttered,looking down at her feet "Dad sent me a plane ticket,I'm going to France in three days."
Percy shrugged "Cool. I'm coming."
"Dad said no."
"Who made him the boss?" he said casually,a storm brewing in his eyes. All of us tensed.
"Percy..." she sighed "I'll be gone for a week,tops. Dad told me to come alone,not to bring anyone."
"But-" he threw his hands up,all anger draining away "Penny please,if it's mom then I wanna be there-" he pleaded.
"I'm sorry Percy," She cut him off,bringing her glance back to her twin looking strong as steel "But that's final."
Percy's expression melted,his body relaxing. His eyes however,remained cold as ever "Fine. Have it your way." Penny glared at him one more time before turning and stomping off to her room.
"Percy,are you-" Apollo started,but Percy turned away. "It's okay. I have my secrets,and she can have hers." he responded cooly,heading out of the apartment. Jason sighed.
"Cmon Nico,we'll break into the jelly bean stash and give some to him." he said,getting up "I'm fine Thals,really." he added,looking at his sister's concerned face.
"We have a jelly bean stash?" Leo asked,his eyes wide "Nevermind. Yeah let's go." He added,following Jason and Nico out. Apollo looked at me.
"Can you..." he added,pointing to Penny's door "I would,but I think she needs some space."
"Yeah sure thing." I nodded,wanting to check on Percy. But perhaps he needed space too.
