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Title: Chasing Origins: Sam's Story – The Heart of War
Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus
PJatO Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Rick Riordan for he created the awesomeness that is Nico di Angelo. And everything else related to Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus. Aside from the Gods, of course. They are all copyright by the old Greeks. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.
Warnings: shounen-ai, fluff, family, explicit intercourse, anal, abuse, rape (mentioned), hetero
Main Pairing: Trend/Sam
Side Pairings: Leroy/Sam, Erik/Sam, Jonas/Sam, Chuck/Sam, Trend/Others, Trend/Derek, Sander/Derek, Sander/Jonas, Sander/Stella, Vic/Derek, Erik/Derek, Jonas/Derek, Marshall/Sara, Herc/Thea, Loki/Blance, Liam/Malene, Nico/Percy, Chris/Clarisse, Ares/Aphrodite
Percy Jackson Characters: Perseus Jackson, Nico di Angelo, Clarisse la Rue, Chris Rodriguez, Malcolm Cage, Will Solace, Jason Grace
Godly Characters: Ares, Aphrodite, Chiron
Own Pegasi: Trickster (Sander), Fighter (Sam), Rush
Own Characters: Samuel Elijah James Raser III (Ares), Trend Ignatius Austin (Athena), Charles Smith (Athena), Marshall Mikaelson (Enyo), Erik Anderson (Enyo), Jonas Meyer (Enyalios), Derek Rhys (Demeter), Rainbow Jordan (Iris), Melissa Montgomery (Dionysus), Victor Kruger (Hephaestus), Stella Ribeiro (Aphrodite), Takara Phenia Thompson (Trivia), Loki Murdock (Mercury), Blance Lamour (Chione), Sara Mers (Mars), Joanna Foxx (Vulcan)
Sam's Family: Samuel Elijah James Raser II, Jolene Raser, Liam O'Riley, Malene O'Riley, Selene O'Riley, Lene O'Riley, Leah O'Riley, Lara O'Riley
Own Characters of the Next Generation:
Nicercy: Bianca Maria 'Bia' di Angelo, Hades Poseidon 'Donny' di Angelo
Chrisse: Calandra 'Cally' Rodriguez, Chrysander 'Sander' Rodriguez, Charisma 'Carry' Rodriguez
Pipabeth: Theadora Tiphane 'Thea' Chase
Matie: Amarilla 'Amy' Cage
Jayna: Hercules 'Herc' Grace
Frazeleo: Nicole Esperanza 'Nico' Zhang
Summary: This is Sam's story, his origins leading up to 'Chasing Fireflies'. The first time his mom told him that he was a son of Ares, how he moved to New Athens and met his biggest hero, Percy di Angelo. His relationship with Leroy and those that followed. How the scrawny boy turned into the biggest hero of their generation. His first quest with Sander and how he got the Heart of War from Aphrodite. How he first met his pegasus Fighter and how the four Sons of War became friends.
Chasing Origins: Sam's Story
The Heart of War
Seventh Partition: The Dating Year
/February 2029 – Athena Academy, New Athens\
Sam was disgusted by all the happy couples surrounding him. Derek was still seeing Victor, which was kind of okay because Victor build awesome stuff and Sam could test it together with Derek. Jonas and Sander were constantly being disgustingly cute, but that was okay too because Sander was just adorable when he was with someone – he had been the same way when he had been with Derek too, all dopey grin and happy sparkly eyes. Marshall and Sara were now officially dating since Halloween, which meant that Sara was spending every break she got in New Athens, so that relationship was over the top awesome because it brought Sam his baby sister closer. Okay, so maybe Sam wasn't disgusted by all the happy couples, maybe he just had a problem that Trend seemed to change boyfriends more often than Sander changed his socks. But it was also partly the fact that everybody was paired up like that, all his friends were dating.
Which in the end was why Sam was glad for the addition to their training sessions – even though it meant to watch Sander and Jonas making lovey faces at one another. But there was also Erik. Tall, sandy-blonde Erik with the intriguing half-smirk. Marshall's little half-brother and Jonas' best friend was a great guy, easy to talk to. And a good distraction from earlier mentioned lovey faces, as well as Trend's muscular, delicious body and the way Marshall kept talking about Sara (whenever he did talk, that is). So Sam spend a lot of his time with Erik these days.
Like right now. The six Sons of War (even though Trend denied Jonas and Erik real membership, both were by definition sons of war, their parents were after all respectively Enyalios and Enyo) had just finished their morning training. Every morning, five o'clock sharp, did they meet up in Demeter Park and go through some duel routines before jogging until the first one collapsed. Or until they had to go to school. Jog to school, just to torture them some more. Jonas and Sander were still in a shower stall, together. Most likely doing things the others did not want to witness, which was why Sam had hurried out. Marshall must have slipped past them already and Trend had hurried to get a quick number with the lover of the week. So Erik and Sam were alone in the locker room of the school's gym, getting dressed. And while doing so, they were talking about My Little Pony. It was so awesome to have a fellow brony as a friend. Dropping the towel around his waist, Sam laughed at something Erik had said while grabbing his boxer-shorts. The smile slipped off his face when a piece of paper fell out of the folded cloth. Bending down, he picked it up.
With his attention somewhere else, he didn't notice the brightly red-faced blonde staring at his ass. Or the way Erik shifted nervously while Sam read the card. Or how Erik blushed even more when Sam giggled and smiled again. Erik's heart was trying to break out of his ribcage.
"Oh my gods, you won't believe this!", exclaimed Sam and whirled around to face Erik. "I have a secret admirer! Someone must have sneaked into the locker room while we were in the showers!"
"Y—You sound excited?", observed Erik, trying very hard not to stare at Sam's junk greedily.
"Huh? Yeah, sure", shrugged the son of Ares while (finally) putting his boxer-shorts on.
"You just... You give off this fuck-off vibe whenever someone flirts with you", pointed Erik out.
"Because most of those are just weirdos", huffed Sam, getting into his red shirt. "But this one is different. I mean, look at what he wrote. How he likes the way my eyes light up when I talk about something I like and how he admires my ambition and how hard I train. It also sounds really nervous and shy, which is kind of adorable. Whoever wrote that must be a real sweetheart."
"So... You're... not totally against having a boyfriend then...?", asked the son of Enyo slowly.
Sam blinked and sat down in slow motion as he realized that Erik was right. It had been one and a half years now, since he had been with Leroy. Nineteen months of hard training, of being with his friends and feeling strong. He had been intimate with a boy, with Sander, during the last summer. It had felt good, Sander had made him feel good. And with all the happiness around him, yes. Yes, he wanted a boyfriend. He wanted someone to be intimate with, someone to go on dates with.
"I... guess so...", whispered Sam stunned, running one hand through his mohawk.
Erik took a deep breath, so deep he feared his lungs would burst. His hands were shaking when he took the heart-shaped box of chocolate from his locker and his face was burning with a blush as he turned toward Sam with the chocolate in his hands.
"I—If you would maybe perhaps consider then that... it would be wonderful for me... I would like to, I'd love to, it would be amazing if you'd...", stammered Erik, turning more and more red.
"Huh?", grunted Sam confused, ripped out of his thoughts as he stared up at Erik. "What?"
"The letter is from me!", rushed Erik out, his face as red as a tomato.
"O—Oh...", nodded Sam, turning red himself and even redder when he noticed the box of chocolates in Erik's hands. "W—Wait. You're... You mean you... and... me...?"
"I—If you want to", nodded Erik embarrassed and fearful. "I mean, you don't have t—to. I just like you an awful lot and ever since my best friend and your best friend hooked up, we spend a lot of time together and I like spending time with you. I want to spend more time with you. A—As your boyfriend. You just said that you like the author of the letter and the idea o—of having a b—boyfriend and I promise you I'd be a really good boyfriend for y—you, really."
Sam just continued to stare at the box of delicious looking pralines. It was true, he wanted a boyfriend and wanting a boyfriend was probably okay, right? He was just the son of Ares, the ultimate god of war, the conqueror of everything. He couldn't bottom. But blushing, stuttering Erik kind of looked like a bottom, probably. Maybe he could risk it? Just maybe? He had been training with Erik for five months, been friends with him for four months and had been meeting with Erik every Saturday morning to watch My Little Pony for a month now. He knew Erik, knew that Erik was a good guy. It wasn't like with Leroy, with someone he didn't know at all who just asked him out. Erik was a friend, someone he knew. Someone he liked – whose personality he liked.
"S—Sam?", asked Erik nervously, shifting some. "Say something, please. Even if it's a no. That's okay too, I like being friends with you. But I'd like it even more if you'd want to be my valentine."
Oh. Right. Tomorrow was Valentine's Day. Sam stared some more, his mouth open. Erik looked adorably flustered as he stared at Sam so pleadingly, his sandy-blonde hair in a wet mess from the shower, skin glistering with pearls of water still. Sam had the sudden urge to lick them off. He never had a valentine before. And Erik was cute. And hot. And sweet. Just as the son of Enyo wanted to fall into another rambling about wanting Sam, the mohawked boy cut him off by firmly pressing his lips upon Erik's. Erik gave a little yelp, but that didn't stop Sam from kissing him. While Sam clung to the blonde's face, holding it firmly in place so the son of Enyo wouldn't escape the kiss, Erik slowly melted into the kiss, hesitantly wrapping his arms around Sam's waist.
"Yes", nodded Sam, his lips only a breath apart from Erik's.
"Yes, like you will be my valentine?", asked the son of Enyo nervously.
"Yes, like I will be your boyfriend", corrected Sam, grinning against Erik's lips.
"Oh gosh, awesome", gasped Erik wide-eyed and hugged the air out of Enyo.
/April 2029 – Athena Academy, New Athens\
So things were getting a little easier after that. Being with Erik was really easy. Nearly natural. At least for Sam. He did know that it wasn't as easy for Erik, who was bending every way possible to please Sam. Things were great though. He finally didn't feel like a fifth wheel anymore. He could meet up with Sander and Jonas on double-dates, which was awesome because he and Sander were best friends and Erik and Jonas were best friends. Sometimes, when Sara was over for the weekend or so, her and Marshall would tag along too. And Trend with whoever was the fling of the week.
And then there was Derek. The son of Demeter was less than happy. He was currently getting out of the shower in the gym after Victor's basketball training. The son of Hephaestus followed him, drying his dreads up. Derek licked his lips as he stared the older boy up and down. The dark skin, glistering with drips of water, the sixpack and those strong arms. Victor Kruger was delicious.
"So, you got math next period, right?", asked Vic curiously.
"Yeah. You have biology with Sammy", hummed Derek and nodded.
"Yeah, that's something I wanted to talk about with you...", drawled Vic nervously.
"Mh? What's up, Vic?", asked Derek confused and started putting his clothes on.
"You and Sam. Look, I think we're really having fun and you staring at him really didn't bother me all that much. I'm a guy too, I like looking at something pretty too", started Victor slowly. "But this whole animosity thing you have going on ever since Sam hooked up with Erik, it's annoying. Really. And kind of insulting, because you keep getting jealous over a guy who is not me."
"So you're breaking up with me?", clarified Derek with a huff.
"Look, I like spending time with you, sex is great and all, but... yeah, I'm breaking up."
"Okay", shrugged the son of Demeter and got dressed.
"Okay? Just like that...?", asked Victor surprised and watched Derek walk away.
Derek turned around for a last time. "Yes, just like that. It was nice with you, but I have a mission."
/May 2029 – Sam's Apartment, New Rome\
Sam was kissing down Erik's torso, the blonde arching into the caress. He was thrusting slow and cautious. It was exhausting and annoying and quite frankly kind of disgusting. He disliked the tight, warm feeling around his cock, he hated how he had to do all the work. It was exhausting. And all the whining and begging 'More, harder, please', urgh. He had no idea why everyone hyped sex so much. It was no fun at all. He's had better orgasms jerking off. Sam tried hard to think of something pleasant, but in the end it helped to be a horny teenager. Grunting a little, he came, closely followed by a loudly moaning Erik. Another thing he didn't quite get. All that noise. Not just the begging. The moaning and whining and whimpering. That stuff didn't feel that good, why all the noise?
Pulling out, he tied the condom up and threw it carelessly onto the floor before collapsing next to Erik. The blonde snuggled up to him delighted, rubbing his cum-smeared stomach against him. Ew.
He liked Erik. A lot. He enjoyed being with Erik. They had fun, Sam loved going on dates with Erik, cuddling with him in the morning and watching cartoons. It was easy to talk to Erik too. It was just the sex that bothered Sam. But he supposed that was part of a relationship, so well.
"I'll go take a shower. I got training with Trend in an hour", stated Sam and untangled himself.
"We trained this morning?", grunted Jonas confused. "And didn't you say you'd meet with Sander tonight for extra sparring too? Don't you think you... overdo things...?"
"Right", snorted Sam and leaned against the door, showing off his arms. "You were saying?"
Erik blushed and stared at the delicious arms, gaping with open mouth. "Have fun, babe."
"Thought so", snorted Sam and got showered.
When he came back from the shower, Erik was already deep asleep. That boy was so easily knocked out. Rolling his eyes, Sam grabbed his jacket and left the apartment.
Erik was sleeping peacefully. Sam was very... thorough. It was tiring. He was still half-asleep when someone knocked on the door. Frowning confused, he sat up. It was Sam's apartment. Did Sam forget his keys? Wrapping a sheet around his waist, he went to open the door.
"Derek", stated Erik surprised. "Uhm, Sam's not here. He went to train with Trend."
"I know. I came to talk to you", chimed Derek with a pleasant smile.
He looked Erik up and down. Erik may not be a Sam, but he wasn't bad to look at either. All cute blush and... cum on his sixpack. Huh. Smirking amused, Derek entered the room and stole Erik's sheet. The son of Enyo yelped embarrassed and tried to hide his privates. Cute thing, that one.
"So, how are things with Sam?", asked Derek and got comfortable on the couch.
He didn't trust the bed at the moment. Erik hurried to got at least into a pair of sweatpants.
"Good. I guess. I mean... Good", mumbled Erik with a frown.
"Doesn't sound good, hun", snorted Derek with one cocked eyebrow. "Tell me about it."
"I don't think I please him in bed", blurted Erik out, glaring at the ground. "I just... I don't have the feeling that he has fun when we sleep with each other. I don't think I satisfy him."
"Oh, honey, maybe you need someone who can be... satisfied by you", smirked Derek wickedly, running one finger down Erik's torso. "I'm pretty sure you could satisfy me lots of times. And think about it, do you really want to be with someone you can't please? Isn't that... upsetting?"
/June 2029 – Rodriguez Household, New Athens\
Sander was laying on the couch, arms behind his head. His dad was at the park with his baby sister, Cally was out with her own friends and his mom was at work. He was waiting for his boyfriend. But as soon as he opened the door for Jonas, he regretted that.
"Why do you look upset, Jonas?", asked Sander confused.
"I'm sorry. I'm... You're sweet and kind and I'm sorry, but I just...", stuttered Jonas, staring up at Sander with those wide, green eyes of his. "Sam made Erik feel like he'd bad in bed and then came Derek and now Erik is confused and Trend never really made us feel like we belong to you four anyway. I think it's best for Erik to get a little distance to you guys and I'm his best friend, so..."
"So you're breaking up with me because your best friend is in a bad place...?", summed Sander up.
Jonas nodded, head lowered. "I'm sorry. I really like you, but if we stop training with you guys and I'm still dating you, I just... I think Erik needs some distance and I want to be there for him."
"It's fine", nodded Sander with a small, sad smile. "I mean, he's your best friend, you want to be there for him, I get that. It's okay. I just hope Erik will be fine. I didn't even know anything happened? I didn't even know Sam and Erik broke up."
"It's only been like a week or so", shrugged Jonas. "And now he's sleeping with Derek and I don't like that. I don't think Derek is good for him. So I need to focus on him for now."
"Wait, what? He's with Derek now...?", mumbled Sander confused.
"Not my story to tell", smiled Jonas and shook his head before kissing Sander's cheek.
Heaving a sigh, Sander watched Jonas leave. He understood the importance of friendship. He did not understand what exactly was going on with Erik, but he understood that Jonas wanted to be there for his friend and if the problem was really with having broken up with Sam – with Sander's best friend – then it would be complicated for Jonas to stay together with Sander since Sander was attached by the hip to his friends too. Shaking his head, Sander did what he thought best.
Half an hour later and he was standing in front of Sam's door, with the most giant tub of chocolate-chip ice-cream. Sam was still only in his boxer-shorts and his eyes were red when he opened.
"San?", mumbled Sam confused. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard you were dumped when I was being dumped. I figured we could watch stupid movies and eat this tub of ice-cream with lots of chocolate-sauce?", suggested Sander with a sheepish grin.
Sam ushered him inside and the two boys collapsed on the couch together after Sam got them two spoons and the chocolate-sauce. For the first ten or so minutes, neither of them said anything.
"I suck as a boyfriend", blurted Sam out, shoving another spoon full of ice-cream in.
"Mh? What does that mean?", asked Sander confused, licking the chocolate-sauce off his fingers.
"A week ago, Erik asked me if I'm happy with him because I don't seem... pleased in bed. What kind of boyfriend makes his boyfriend feel as though he sucks in bed?!", growled Sam upset. "I wanted to be good for Erik, I wanted to be happy! Why can't I be happy?!"
"What... uhm... what was the problem in bed then?", asked Sander unsure.
"I don't like it!", blurted Sam out and blushed. "But that's my problem and not his, I didn't want to make him feel like it was his and now I made him upset and now he's sleeping with Derek!"
"What...?", asked Sander surprised. "So Derek really stole your boyfriend?"
"I don't know", sighed Sam and shook his head. "I know I made Erik feel unsure about himself and I just guess that Derek gave him the last push and now they're... I don't know if they're a couple or if they just have sex, but yeah. Is... Is Derek good at this stuff? At sex? I mean, how was it for you? With Derek and with Jonas? Did you, what did you do? What did they do?"
"Derek is a bit of a control-freak, whether he tops or bottoms", shrugged Sander thoughtful. "And Jonas is a totally greedy bottom, like seriously. I guess everybody is different there. But don't worry, you'll find the right one too, Sam. Come, some more chocolate, mh?"
Sam nodded, head resting against Sander's shoulder as he shoved more ice down his throat.
/July 2029 – Mexican Boarder\
So, after lots of chocolate and even more training, both Sander and Sam had started feeling better. Of course then came summer. And with summer came trouble. Aka the hydra terrorizing the Mexican boarder. But Cally had a broken leg. So Sam, Sander and Bianca Maria were going.
"You know, Donny misses you coming over, Sander", noted Bianca Maria as they sat together around the fire, eating what Sam had cooked them. "You're so busy with training these days."
"Yeah. I'm sorry for that", nodded Sander embarrassed and blushed a little.
"Okay, we should take shifts", said Bia, looking at Sander amused for a second. "I take first."
After dinner, Sam and Sander nearly instantly fell asleep. They had been on their feet for too long now. But they got woken up again all too soon by Bianca Maria's screams. And the shaking of the earth. Which was linked. Groaning tired, Sam sat up and reached for his stormlighter, clicking it open to turn into his by now well-loved sword. The double-edged sword glistered in the faint moonlight as Sam and Sander left their tent. Bianca Maria hung in the jaw of one of the hydra's head. Not the fire-spitting one, noted Sam as another head suddenly set their tent on fire. At least one thing. The earth beneath the beast split open, still shaking as Bianca Maria controlled it. Freaking handy, that. She was the ultimate Hades – death and earth and wealth.
"I distract the other heads, you go for the heart", stated Sander seriously.
Sam felt the excitement, the rush of adrenaline running through his body as he charged. Bianca Maria and Sander had the five heads well-distracted, the hydra was caught in a crack in the earth with one of its feet. Still, it lunged for Sam with one strong, clawed hand. Sam gasped in pain as the claws sliced his side, but he still thrust his blade deep into the monster's rip-cage. Sam closed his eyes, enjoying the feeling of the warm liquid running down his hands just before the hydra disintegrated. The wind carried the remains of the hydra away. Bianca Maria fell with a loud screech, but thanks to Sander's gentleman-nature, he caught her bridal style, grinning.
"You should try not to get eaten by the monster next time", suggested Sander and put her down.
"Right", growled Bia with a nasty glare, trying to rid herself off the slobber. "I'll take a bath in the lake and try to get the foul smell and sour slime off myself."
Sander grinned amused as he watched Bianca Maria storm off. She was used to be the glorious hero and not the one covered in slobber and spit. She was also annoyed that she didn't have her best friend with her this time around. When he turned some, he saw Sam, still standing there, staring at his blood-covered blade in fascination and with pride. When his eyes wandered some, Sander had to blush. Yep, Sam was hard. He had to blush even more when he noticed that this kind of turned him on. Sam, covered in blood and monster-ash, weapon still at the ready. He also didn't have sex in like two months, so maybe he was also a little bit desperate and horny.
"Sam? You alright?", asked Sander as he stepped up to his best friend.
Sam whirled around and dropped his sword in favor of wrapping his arms around Sander's neck. He pulled Sander against him with an ease that actually surprised Sander a little, but the surprise didn't matter much once their lips met in a harsh, demanding kiss. Seconds later and Sam was already pulling on Sander's shirt. Sander obliged, breaking the kiss long enough to get rid of both their shirts. As they stumbled backward to the tent, Sander was fumbling with the button of his jeans and just before he fell onto his butt, he got it open. Sam sat down between his legs, ripping the jeans off him before shrugging out of his own jeans. Reattaching his lips to Sander's, the son of Ares pushed his own boxers down, while Sander Sander wiggled out of his own. As they deepened their kiss, Sam rubbed their hard erections against each other. Both moaned into the kiss. Sam started to kiss down Sander's neck, licking the sweat off his skin. Biting Sander's one nipple and tugging on the other with his fingers. His free hand more scratched than slid down Sander's torso.
"Hey there, you don't have to do everything", grunted Sander amused and grabbed Sam by the shoulders, rolling them over. "I want some of the fun too. Let me taste you, Sam."
Sam looked unsure for a second, he was so used to having sex with Erik, who just laid there and enjoyed, he had nearly forgotten how things used to be with Sam when they had been on their last quest. Sam gasped and collapsed on the ground as Sander's lips engulfed his cock, tongue teasingly licking along Sam's hardness. He spread his legs for better access as Sander caressed his thighs. He may have had better orgasms jerking off compared to fucking Erik, but Sander's blowjobs, they were on top of his list, that was for sure. Moaning softly, he thrust up into Sander's mouth.
"F—Fuck, I'll... a—ah...", gasped Sam as he came.
He was panting hard as Sander leaned up to kiss him passionately, his cock slipping between Sam's thighs. The cum there used as lubricant as Sam pressed his legs close for friction. He grinned amused as Sander basically fucked his legs. They were still kissing hard, Sam's hands scratching Sander's back. Why was being with Sander so much easier than being with Erik had been? He yelped a little surprised as Sander came and covered him in cum.
"Oh damn, you always make a fucking mess, San", groaned Sam, glaring down at his legs.
"Sorry", mumbled Sander embarrassed. "Could have used condoms if we had brought any..."
The brunette hastily grabbed some paper towels and started cleaning the mess up. Sam smiled amused at his friend before pulling Sander down onto the ground with him. At first, the legacy of Hermes looked a little confused, but when Sam snuggled up to him, he smiled.
/November 2029 – Athena Academy, New Athens\
Savior of Chiron and slayer of the hydra. The one who got showered with presents by the mighty War God and the beautiful Love Goddess. Yes, Sam heard the low whispers of admiration behind his back. It had been mildly embarrassing at camp, but now back in school, it was even worse. They were sitting in Mister Cage's history class and just talking about how Herakles had slayed the hydra when their classmates demanded for more recent history and asked Sander and Sam how they did it. Of course Sander was up in an instant, loudly relaying how basically Sam had defeated the beast with one hand and with his eyes closed. Okay, Sam was exaggerating, but the way Sander told it was exaggerating too and the way the others swooned, it really sounded as though Sam had just killed it on his own. This was so embarrassing. He buried his face between his hands as the bell rang. Everyone was piling around him, asking a million questions at once.
"Now, guys, lay off him", ordered a pleasantly dark voice. "Leave him alone."
Sam looked up gratefully at a charming Chuck. The blonde shook his head amused.
"Thank you", sighed the son of Ares, ruffling his hair. "This is so embarrassing."
"I noticed", snorted Chuck amused, winking at him. "Still, you should take the praise. You earned it. After all, you slayed the hydra. Even if Sander's story may have been exaggerated, I don't doubt that you were just as heroic as he described it. Take credit for what you accomplished."
"Thanks", mumbled Sam embarrassed, blushing furiously.
/Christmas Eve 2029 – Rodriguez Household, New Athens\
So there was no family Christmas this year. His mom couldn't make it home this year, uncle Liam was following some serious lead about his brother again and Malene was pissed at her husband for ditching them on Christmas, so she had declared there would not be a big Christmas this year.
But Clarisse and Chris had invited the 'lost puppies' to the Rodriguez Christmas.
Because Marshall's grandpa was sick – nothing serious, but still, his grandma was too busy tending to him to really concentrate on Christmas. So it was all three of them, Marshall, Trend and Sam, at the Rodriguez table, watching how Chris sliced the turkey. Carry Rodriguez was screaming for the largest cut (and trying to shove her vegetables over to Sander's plate).
Trend smiled a little as he looked at Sam. He had missed Sam so much, even though he wasn't even really sure why. After all, they lived close by, they saw each other often, but he felt as though they were drifting farther away from each other with every new relationship. It wasn't his fault that he just tried to find happiness, right? It wasn't his fault that Sam didn't seem to want him.
After dinner, they were all full. Clarisse was talking interested with Marshall, while Sander and Cally had to clean the table and do the dishes. Chris was fighting with Carry, trying to put the seven-years-old to sleep upstairs. And Trend and Sam stood outside on the balcony of the first floor, looking at the beautifully decorated houses of the neighborhood.
"So... Wow. I think these whole relationship-things don't do us much good. We used to be so close", mused Sam softly, looking a little upset. "What's going on in your life, Trend?"
"Not much", shrugged the son of Athena, unsure what a good answer would be. "You?"
"I'm not really sure what I'm doing with my life at the moment", sighed Sam and ran one hand through his mohawk. "I mean, this whole hero-business is so... Wow."
"Yeah", laughed Trend softly, nudging Sam a little. "But you're good at it."
"I guess so", shrugged Sam, frowning thoughtful. "But is it really something to be proud of? That I'm good at killing? Even if they're dangerous monsters. Life is life, isn't it?"
"I don't see you protesting to a steak either and I think that killing for the carnal pleasure of eating isn't much different than killing to save innocent mortal's life, mh?", offered the blonde softly.
Sam smiled slightly and nodded, rubbing his arms as the air grew more chilly. "Guess you're right."
"Here, take my hoodie", offered Trend as he noticed the shivering of the boy next to him.
Sam blushed a delicate red as he took the hoodie. They stayed there for a little while in silence.
"So, where is Derek? Not running after you like a lost puppy anymore?", asked Trend playfully.
"You two, you're like cat and dog", sighed Sam and rolled his eyes. "But no, Derek already had plans. With his boyfriend...s. Not sure about the terminus yet. I think that he's currently sleeping with both, Erik and Jonas. Not sure how that happened, but I think when Derek and Erik started to fall apart, Jonas got added into the equation. So right now, they're kind of... a threesome?"
"Interesting", nodded Trend with one cocked eyebrow.
"Kinda weird thought", laughed Sam and shook his head. "I mean, what do you do with two boyfriends? I was already completely overwhelmed with one boyfriend."
"I'd have an idea or two what to do with two boyfriends...", drawled Trend mischievously.
"Pervert", laughed Sam and hit Trend's upper arm.
"Uhm, guys? You coming back inside? Dessert is ready", called Sander, cocking one eyebrow.
Trend and Sam nodded and followed Sander back inside to finish Christmas dinner.
Author's note: So, since I've had that much before even reaching the 30s, I figured I'd split it up after all. So there'll be two more chapters. Next one will feature Jonas/Sam, Sander having his first girlfriend, Derek being grumpy (as always) and there'll be a Nemean Lion! ;)