AJ

AJ couldn't believe that Aria had agreed to his plan.

AJ wasn't thinking strategically about how monsters have a harder time smelling demigods when not traveling in packs or that they didn't have much for supplies. He just wanted some time alone to get a grip on the emotions.

Ever since he had spending most of his time with Aria and Felix, he had started to find himself both of them, and when Aria decided to bring him along for the quest, AJ had started to fret that he'd do or say something that would push one or the other away from him. Besides, the prophecy did say "But suspicions about one will be seeded."

AJ didn't know when he had started to find himself attracted to both of his questmates, but he was. Aria just had this air about her that put him at ease and made him feel comfortable. He knew that he could never be mad or upset at her, no matter what she did. On the other hand, Felix was cocky, witty, and open for anything. The son of Tyche was the older brother he always wanted; he was easy to hang out with, willing to try new things, and was a great person to joke around with.

After leaving Jared's, he started to head towards Nordstrom, trying not to think about alone time with Felix, when something caught his attention out of the corner of his eye. At first it looked looked like an empty storefront, but the longer he looked at it, a new store faded in like a mirage. It looked like a classic general store with healing stones, dream catchers, and organic foods on sale.

As AJ got closer, he looked up at the sign for the store. 'Rainbow Organic Foods & Lifestyles' written in cursive hung above the door. Maybe it was because Janet had fed him lots of organic food or something else, but AJ found himself wandering into the store, weaving between hand-woven tie-dye handbags, herbal ointments, and aura stones.

As he maneuvered to the cash register, a middle aged woman with olive skin and long, soft black hair came out from the back to greet him. She was wearing a blouse that looked as if it was made of prisms over her black slacks. Any other person would've struggled to place this woman, but AJ had been stealing sneaks at her face for the last three years.

"Mom...I mean Iris," AJ said staring at the goddess. He could feel his cheeks heating up, hoping he didn't make a fool of himself in front of her.

Iris beamed, literally, "It's so nice to see you." She came out from behind the counter and hugged him, "Well, your father did a good job at raising you. The budding artist from what I've seen." If his face wasn't blushing before, it was now. He never gave a thought that she'd be looking at his art skills.

"What are you doing here mom?" AJ still wasn't used to calling the rainbow goddess 'mom' to her face, "What are you doing here at the Mall of America?"

Iris laughed and leaned back, "This? This is expansion. There came a point where mortals began to pass over me more and more, so I eased up on my duties and opened a store. Turns out that heroes stop in quiet often to stock up on items. I decided to capitalize and open a shop in the Mall of America. Sure, Plutus demands a portion of my profits, but I make more than enough as is." AJ had a hard time believing that heroes like Odysseus, Perseus, and Hercules needed dream catchers and all-natural green tea supplements.

"Enough about me though," Iris smiled, "Congrats on coming out."

AJ gave her a confused look, "Wait...you don't think it's a bit...you know...cliche that a child of Iris is LGBT?"

Iris smiled, "Of course not. I find it touching they picked me to represent them. Just as I don't find myself bound by the earth, they don't let social rules bind them." Iris placed a hand on AJ's shoulder, sending a wave of happiness through him, "Be yourself, and you'll be fine."

AJ nodded, but then remembered why he was actually there, "Oh, um Mom, I was wondering...is there anyway you could help me and my friends find the Necklace of Harmonia?"

Iris's smile grew a bit, "I think I can help you there. Plutus doesn't usually come out during the day to collect the profits. You'll want to wait until after the mall closes to approach him. To do that though, you'll have to get on the night guard's good side, that includes his guard dog."

AJ shrugged, "Mom, I can run somewhere around twenty miles an hour. I can out run a greyhoud if I wanted to."

"This isn't a greyhound," Iris replied, "This a hound known for tracking down it's prey relentlessly. If you want to be able to go about the mall at night, you're going to have to stop an unstoppable force."

AJ looked at her, "And how do you suggest I do that?"

Iris looked him over, "Your senses are crossed, so you know how certain words carry color, right?" AJ nodded, normally when people talked to him, their words were one color, only shifting a bit when their tone changed. Aria's words carried a honey-amber coloration, Felix's dialog was emerald green; Iris's though...AJ couldn't pin down a color. It was every color at the same time, reflecting the color of the world around her.

Iris went on, "Well, emotions carry the same colors as well. When the time comes, you'll know what emotion will be required. Now, I believe you and your friends need some supplies." She snapped her fingers and one of tie-dyed bags appeared in her hand, "You'll find plenty of organic foods, fruit jerky, and ambrosia for your quest in here. Now, let's make sure your well-protected." She nodded at the keychain at AJ's waist.

AJ pulled it off and handed it to her. Iris fingered it abit before causing the sica to spring to full size, "Roman Sica...normally I'd now be having a bi-polar moment, but your friends at your camp helped remedied that." AJ had heard a bit about that event, but not to much, "Anyway, I'm happy you chose a curved blade, but your range is a bit short..." Her eyes began to radiate like a thousands nuclear rainbows as the celestial bronze of his sica began to turn from bronze into a reflective, metallic rainbow. As soon as her eyes returned to normal, she handed it back to him, "Throw it at that Cupid fountain."

AJ raised an eyebrow, "This isn't one of those 'you break it, you buy it deals'?"

The rainbow goddess shook her head, "Your my son, it's on the house." AJ shrugged and threw the sica. It flew blade over handle, lopping off one of the Cupid wings before it pulled a 180 and began to fly back to him, a rainbow trailing after it as it landed handle-first in his hand.

Iris smiled, "It'll always return back to your hands after you throw it. Makes for a nice long range and melee weapon."

AJ smiled at his mother, "Thanks...not sure if we'll get into a fight, but thanks." He gave her another hug before starting for the exit to meet up with his friends.

As AJ left the story, he heard her call to him, "AJ, don't forget, you don't have to pick right now."

AJ then remembered his emotional dilemma that he had left at the door, his two attractive friends...