"There is no way that a restaurant made this," Thalia uttered in total disbelief as she took another bite of pizza. "You stole this shit straight from Italy."
"Oh yeah, I totally did; just teleported right there," Percy replied with a mouthful of delicious food. Annabeth rolled her eyes as crumbs popped out of Percy's mouth and hit the table. Thalia chuckled and focused back on her slice of the excellent pie.
"It's an Italian pizza place. We should go there for lunch sometime," Annabeth suggested to her friends. Thalia grinned at the idea, but the door behind her opened and then slammed shut. Her grin faded away when she turned her head to see another member of their vigilante group.
Did Thalia want to spend her life fighting criminals who thought they could hurt people? Actually, yeah. She really enjoyed it. Not only did she have an excuse to hit people, she was also really good at it. Thalia, however, didn't expect to fall for one of those criminals.
"We need to talk," Clarisse growled. Clarisse La Rue was the outlier of their special volunteer group, having picked her up a few months ago. Clarisse had been the right hand woman of a mob boss, but she defected to their side as they were taking down the bastard's empire. Probably because it turned out that her boss was a child rapist.
Thalia had been more than happy to break their no killing rule on that one. Granted, she thought the piece of shit deserved to suffer, but she could only hope that he was suffering wherever he currently rotted. After Clarisse helped them kill her boss, she asked to join them. They would be stupid to turn down a freak with super speed and almost inhuman strength.
Their group was a strange one. The leader was Percy Jackson. How the hell he became the leader Thalia wasn't sure, but he was also the first one to jump to action or defend his friends. He also came up with the insane idea that they travel from state to state and take down the worst criminals there.
Annabeth Chase, his girlfriend, should have talked him out of it. Instead, she started saying things like 'we can do a lot of good' and 'I can make a name for myself, one that everyone will remember'. Then, Annabeth joined her boyfriend's crusade. The only thing that Thalia loved more than her friends was adventure, so she already had her bags packed before Annabeth made up her mind. Her younger brother followed closely behind.
The four of them jumped from state to state, taking down all the big time criminals along the way. They made plenty of friends and contacts along the way, and some others joined their little ragtag group, like Clarisse. A hand slamming against the table snapped Thalia out of her thoughts.
"We need to talk about that bitch," Clarisse growled. Thalia wanted to chime in and tell Clarisse that that bitch had a name, and it was Reyna. She instead decided that keeping her mouth shut was a better call.
"We do," Annabeth agreed, putting down her drink. They had been in this city for months now, and it didn't seem like they were making any progress. No matter how many times they arrested Reyna, she seemed to be back on the streets the next day. They all knew that Reyna had the police in her back pocket, but they were hoping the police would snap out of their fear after the third or fourth arrest. Maybe the thirtieth would be the charm?
"Jason and I were talking, and I even brought this up to Annabeth. We think that she might be the lesser of two evils," Percy began.
"Lesser of two evils," Clarisse repeated, clearly displeased with where he was going. She leaned on the table, and the opposite end lifted slightly, responding to her weight.
"Yes," Annabeth confirmed. "If we look at the data, there has been less crime, less deaths, and less overall chaos since she took over."
"So we're gonna just ignore her molesting Thalia?!" Clarisse yelled, anger breaking her composure. The room fell into a deadly and impregnable silence. Annabeth's jaw dropped, and Percy's eyes became as wide as clean dinner plates. "And you want to fucking tell me she is the lesser of two evils!? Really, bitch?!"
"Thalia, why didn't you tell us?" Annabeth turned to ask her friend, horrified concern seeping into her tone. Thalia sat there like a kid caught with their hand in the cookie jar. She couldn't exactly tell the others that she liked it, especially with how this had been sprung on all of them. They couldn't know she was falling, had fallen like a damn shooting star actually, for a criminal.
Thalia wasn't sure at what point she got a crush on Reyna. At first, she fought the woman because it was her job, but Reyna always seemed to match her skill. Their fights had always been close, and Thalia barely managed to eek out the victory.
Then, the two started chatting during their fights. Thalia had started it: asking the other woman how her day was. Reyna had been so shocked by the sudden question she had froze in place; Thalia punched her in the nose for that mistake. Reyna was so cute when she was clutching her nose and complaining about Thalia pulling a cheap shot. It was so much fun.
At some point, Thalia wanted nothing more than to grab Reyna and kiss her. Was it when she realized that most of Reyna's plans weren't going to happen? She didn't seem to put effort into keeping her plans from being foiled. Instead, it seemed like she wanted Thalia to be there for them.
When Thalia finally kissed Reyna, she wasn't sure what the hell was going on in her head. Reyna looked like she was having the same problem. Then, it got really heavy, really fast. Looking back on it, Thalia could see how Clarisse got the wrong impression.
First, they had been going after a criminal. More importantly, Thalia's hands were cuffed behind her back, and she had just yelped because Reyna twisted her nipple so tightly, probably as payback for hitting her nose with that kiss. It wasn't intentional, just habitual at that point.
Thalia wished Clarisse had been, like, ten minutes late. Hell, even five minutes would have been good at the rate the two were going. She just wanted to get laid. It had been almost half a year now, and Thalia just wanted it so bad.
"What happened?" Annabeth questioned again, still concerned over the matter. Thalia remained silent and thought about what to say.
Hey guys, you know that criminal who we all agree is an emotionless psychopath? Turns out she does have feelings. It's just hard to find them, and lust happens to be one of the most prominent ones. Also, I let her cuff my hands behind my back and I was totally ready for her to fuck me stupid.
Yeah, silence was a better option. Annabeth frowned at her friend's quietness and stood from her seat. She gently approached Thalia and spoke, "We can talk about this alone if you want."
"Yeah. I would like that," Thalia replied bashfully. Annabeth was the most rational out of all of them. She would understand, or she would call Thalia an idiot. She wouldn't judge her too harshly. Hopefully.
Percy stood up as well, but before he left the room, he stopped to consolingly squeeze Thalia's shoulder. Clarisse just grunted, muttering about the waste of time that their meeting was before walking back out the way she came. Annabeth closed the door behind them and turned, glaring inquisitively at Thalia.
"Am I ripping her head off, or do you have something to tell me?" Annabeth questioned harshly, ice dripping from her every word.
"That obvious?" Thalia asked rhetorically as she rubbed the back of her neck and gave a sheepish grin.
"Thalia, she's a criminal!" Annabeth hissed. She brought her hand up to irritatingly massage her temples, no doubt annoyed to hell over Thalia's actions. "You do understand why this is a bad idea, right?"
"You just said she was the lesser of two evils," Thalia pointed out, trying to defuse the blonde's accusations. Annabeth sighed exasperatedly and sat in the chair next to Thalia. "And, I wanted her to do it. I put the handcuffs on myself."
"Handcuffs," Annabeth repeated. Thalia shrugged under her harsh gaze. "Do you know how damn stupid that is? What if she decided to do worse to you? To not stop until you were crying or worse? What if she just kidnapped you?"
"She wouldn't," Thalia dismissed nonchalantly.
"Thalia, you do not know that," Annabeth lectured impatiently. "You have heard all of the stories about her. Other criminals are scared shitless by her, and you think she's just going to gently have casual sex with you and then leave you be?"
Thalia crossed her arms and looked down at her lap to think it over. For the last week, they endlessly discussed how this city was an absolute shithole before Reyna took over. Now, it wasn't so bad. Crime had gone down, nearly cut in half. It seemed like anyone who wanted to break the law went to Reyna for permission first. So if they could get Reyna on their side, maybe they could completely turn this town around for the better.
But could they really get a criminal to conform? Well, Clarisse had joined up with them; who was to say they couldn't do the same with Reyna? Other than the therapist that told them Reyna was a sociopath and also suffered from Alexithymia.
It took Annabeth thirty minutes to explain to all of them what that was. Clarisse kept asking what was the difference between that and a psychopath. Annabeth kept trying to explain it to her, and Clarisse kept insisting there was no difference. She eventually got mad and stormed out.
Thalia tried to understand, but it still didn't make sense. How could someone not know what emotions they were feeling? She was pretty sure that Reyna knew full and well what emotions she was experiencing, considering how she shoved her tongue so perversely into Thalia's mouth.
Percy didn't seem to put two and two together. He just stared at Annabeth the entire time, pure confusion clouding his eyes. Percy then got up to leave, saying he was going to lie down because Annabeth's lecture had given him a headache. Annabeth had glared menacingly at him before excusing herself to go join him.
The only one who seemed to understand it was Jason. Thalia asked him to describe it in his own way, and he just repeated what Annabeth had said. How was that his own way? How was repeating the words that Annabeth told them going to clarify it anymore for Thalia? Just because Jason was saying it instead wouldn't change anything.
"I just knew," Thalia began again, looking up at Annabeth. "I was stunned, Annabeth. I was out of it, and I woke up with her sitting on me. She could have just handcuffed my hands herself and had her way. But, she didn't. She waited for me to wake up and choose."
"She only put one cuff on. Told me to put my hands behind my back and lock the other one on," Thalia explained.
"If you didn't?" Annabeth questioned, gesturing for her to continue.
"She was going to handcuff my wrist to my ankle and leave me," Thalia answered. "I know you guys are worried, but I just have this feeling about her. She's a criminal, messed up in the head, and maybe evil. She's not a total piece of shit, though. Not irredeemable."
"Are you so sure about that?" Annabeth pressed as she sat down next to Thalia. All Thalia could do was look away from her. "We have been at a stalemate with her. Do we really think we can change things? If so, we have to tell everyone what really happened between you and her."
"We can't," Thalia protested the idea, despite Annabeth's reproachful survey. "Clarisse will just scream and curse at me. Percy won't let me in on jobs anymore. Jason will be worried sick."
"You are an idiot for what you did, Thalia. It was reckless, stupid, and dangerous," Annabeth deconstructed. "And, we should pull you from the field. You nearly had intercourse with the criminal we're trying to stop. How do we know you won't let her get away next time?"
"Because you know me better than that!" Thalia snapped as she jumped to her feet, growing impatient with this interrogation. "It was just a heat of the moment thing!"
"Was it?" Annabeth asked unfazed. Her voice made it clear she wasn't buying Thalia's bullshit lie. "I know damn well you're always flirting with her. I've seen how you perk up when Percy mentions we're moving out to stop her. I know this isn't some simple crush, and I'm worried it's going to get you hurt."
"Whatever," Thalia cut off her friend, turning to walk away from the whole conversation. Annabeth grabbed her arm to stop her.
"Do you really think we can reform this criminal?" Annabeth questioned.
"Reyna. Her name is Reyna," Thalia seethed, glaring back at Annabeth.
Annabeth's eyes widened slightly before narrowing again. Her look became suspicious, "How do you know that?"
"She told me. When she revealed that she knew my name. I really think we can work with her, Annabeth. I really do," Thalia explained.
"Is it your brain or your pants that are saying that?" Annabeth questioned accusingly. As if to make her point more dramatic, she turned and walked out of the room before Thalia could respond. Thalia sighed and laid her head back. She wasn't going to debate Annabeth's questions. Mostly because she had one of her own: why the hell couldn't it be both?
"Guys, this pizza is so good," Percy moaned as he opened another box of pizza. Annabeth turned and glared harshly at him.
"Perseus Jackson! Stop eating pizza! That is your third box today. You're going to give yourself a heart attack!" Annabeth scolded. She stepped back and rubbed her forehead for the ensuing headache.
"Says the woman who is on her third energy drink," Jason chimed in.
"You two have such an annoying bromance," Thalia muttered. She turned to look at Clarisse, her hand offering the held out the controller. "Want to play?"
"I want to stop fucking around with that damn bitch," Clarisse snapped. She shoved herself off of the wall. "Fuck this. I'm leaving."
"Clarisse," Annabeth began, trying to stop her comrade. Clarisse stormed out of the room, shoving the door open. "Wait!"
"Going on vacation! Be back whenever the fuck I want!" Clarisse yelled back as she slammed the door shut, leaving it shaking loosely on its hinges. Percy frowned and got up to chase after Clarisse. He jumped back as the door almost came free and fell onto him.
"Oh, we are going to need to get that fixed," Percy sighed as he rubbed the back of his neck.
"What has Clarisse so upset?" Jason asked curiously as he looked at them. He turned off the console and sat down on the couch, grabbing a slice of pizza and digging into it.
"Clarisse thinks that Thalia's girlfriend tried to force herself on her," Percy revealed. He looked into the open hallway. "I would go after her, but I can see where she busted down a few more doors with her super speed."
"She's not my girlfriend!" Thalia interjected. Her face felt like it was burning a stove-top red. Jason looked at her and looked lost.
"The criminal we have been trying to take down. Her name is Reyna, and Thalia decided she wanted some of that ass," Annabeth explained dryly as she lazily grabbed her fourth energy drink. "Thalia was going to let Reyna do whatever her fucked up mind desired. Clarisse walked in on them, with Thalia handcuffed and being taken care of."
"I was not!" Thalia almost yelled, embarrassed at this terrible situation. "We didn't get anywhere! Clarisse threw her out the window before we could."
Jason just stared incredulously at Thalia. His eyes were as wide as the full moon, and she couldn't tell what he was thinking. Was he judging her? Worried? Laughing at her? Jason finally looked down and massaged his forehead, "That's so stupid, Thalia! She's a criminal!"
"Clarisse was a criminal, but we let her in!" Thalia complained.
"No one really likes her, but we need her" Percy corrected, but it looked like he was struggling to contain a mischievous grin. "On the other hand, I'm not so sure about this other criminal. Reyna, right? That's her name? She's a loose cannon, no doubt. A little crazy… well, a lot."
"We're all crazy," Thalia decided, hopefully ending this big debate. She sighed exhaustively and laid back on the couch. Thalia's eyes focused on the ceiling. She felt like they had made a mistake in not telling Clarisse the truth, but there was no winning with that woman. Thalia closed her eyes tightly, hoping desperately that everything would work out.
