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Disclaimer: aGAIN, I don't own these characters or the PJO universe, Rick Riordan does.

KATIE

Katie was, to say the least, taken aback.

"Talk? After what you did?" Her smile faltered, the bliss she felt just moments ago evaporated into the humid air that filled the store, "Ever since we were twelve, you have been pranking me," Her voice was filled with hurt, and she saw Travis just a few feet in front of her, standing by the door, shuffling his weight from one foot to the other.

She walked away from the cash register and met his eyes, "But, after all these years, I never thought you'd do something like this."

Travis took a breath, pursing his lips, "Katie, please," He started, "It's not what you—"

"Oh come on," She interrupted, her voice rose. He had the audacity to excuse his actions? The last thing Katie was prepared for was forgiveness, and even then, he did seem more sincere than usual.

"You never stop and I have no idea why I'm always your target!" She was yelling now, five years of pure hatred spilling out through her words, "What have I done to—"

She would've continued on with her tangent, but quicker than she could comprehend, Travis had walked right up to her, his face inches away from hers. His stern expression was completely foreign to her, and she'd never seen his nostrils flared.

"Luke had a demigod loot your precious garden," He simply stated, her eyes immediately went from angry to nervous, "I swear, I would never do that to you."

Katie tore her eyes away from his gaze, he was taller than her by a few inches, and staring up at someone who looked that bitter was embarrassing.

For a while, they both were silent. For once, neither headstrong demigods knew what to say to each other. Then, Travis took his hands out of his pocket and angled Katie's jaw towards him. This close to someone she thought she hated conflicted Katie more than she'd ever known.

She didn't know what epiphany washed over her, but soon, Katie had her lips on his; her arms wrapped around his chiseled shoulders. Surprisingly, Travis didn't show the slightest hesitation and instantly cupped her cheeks, deepening the kiss.

"Ahem," someone cleared their throat in the doorway, snapping the two back to reality. Percy stood their grinning.

"Chiron sent me," He said, trying not to laugh, "I heard you and Luke had a nice chat."

Travis slipped his arm around Katie's waist, her expression showed just how confused she was at the moment.

"Wait," She said, holding up her hands, "Yeah how did you know that Luke was the one who ruined my garden."

Travis sighed, "Via Iris message, looked like he needed your healing medicinal plants for back-up," he winced when he remembered Katie's face upon seeing her trashed garden.

"Okay, you have some explaining to do," Percy said to him, but then checked his watch, "but this can wait until after dinner."

TRAVIS

Well what was he supposed to do? Kissing her seemed like the easiest way to ease her mind. What with the war coming and her quota being amped up by the hour, Travis could see the stress on Katie's face.

To his surprise, she initiated the kiss, which was the last thing he'd suspected her to do. It was pleasing to him nevertheless, and all the anger in Katie that Travis saw just melted into their kiss.

And, Gods, her skin was warm to the touch, reminding him of the mini season between winter and spring, where the weather was utterly perfect. She was most definitely her mother's daughter.

Percy, of course, had to go and ruin it. He could've stood in that store all day just with Katie, and it felt like his feelings for her reached an all knew height when they kissed.

"You're not a bad kisser," Katie joked when they were walking back to their cabins, "I mean compared to some other guys."

"Other guys?" Travis narrowed his eyes, "Now just how many people have you kissed?"

Katie smirked, raising her eyebrows at him, "Will, Jake Mason, and Ethan, at least before he went all crazy," Her mind perked up, "what about you?"

"My first girlfriend was Silena Beauregard," He smiled.

"You were born lucky weren't you," Katie laughed, she weaved her fingers through Travis' as they walked in silence, "So, are we going to figure this out?"

He knew all too well that she was referring to their kiss back at the store. Travis looked down at his shoes, which he seemed to be doing more of lately, "I wouldn't mind at all, but we do have bigger things to worry about."

Katie quickly tried to hide her disappointment, "Right, right, of course." Thankfully, she had reached her cabin, and she could hear her siblings inside doing something that would probably burn their grass roof.

"I, uh, better go make sure that everything is okay," She said, untangling her nimble fingers from his, but before she left, he made sure to kiss her.

"Thanks for not looting my store," She cracked a smile.

"Anytime," He grinned.

The next morning, the whole camp was in chaos. Horns were blasting off everywhere, and demigods were scrambling to get into place. Travis remembered what Percy had told him earlier the other day.

Be ready at all times, we might have to go into battle as early as tomorrow

"Had to jinx it Perce," Travis groaned, hurrying out of bed to get ready. Connor had done the same, waking up the rest of the cabin and making sure everybody had the necessary battle gear.

"Will and the rest of the Apollo kids are already off," Connor informed him, "they're setting up a default point for people with injuries."

"Good," Travis replied, "It's not a war unless you get a scar out of it anyways." His wild, crooked grin was back and brighter than ever.

After rounding up the Hermes cabins, Travis led them to their ranks, his leadership skills flawlessly blended with his brothers, keeping everybody in check.

"Show time," Travis sighed as each cabin fell in suit to travel to the city.