Disclaimer: I do not own anything.

Warnings: Violence. Language. Implied f/f.

Just Be Friends

Chapter Four

Thalia II

"Thank you," said Persis grudgingly as she and Thalia trudged through the harrowing snow. "If not for you, I'd probably be a dolphin now."

"Don't mention it," said Thalia, smirking at the thought of Persis turning into a dolphin. "But I would definitely kill to see it,"

"So why didn't you let me insult Mr. D?"

Thalia opened her mouth to respond, but finding no real answer, she closed her mouth, ignoring Persis' questioning look. The daughter of Poseidon had brought up a fair point. Thalia would be laughing her ass off if anyone was turned into a dolphin but the thought of anything remotely bad happening to the daughter of Poseidon made her chest twist oddly. It was odd. But she supposed they had bond over the short time they have.

Especially at night where Thalia would wake up stifling a scream—or she'd continue to be tortured in Morpheus' hands. At first, the daughter of Zeus had been furious at the daughter of Poseidon for entering her cabin without permission—and to witness her moment of weakness.

Of course, yelling at Persis had proved to be futile if she hoped the other girl would cease trying to help her. Persis was just stubborn like that. Annoying, but oddly nice—she complemented Thalia who was probably even more stubborn than she.

Some nights, Thalia would wake to those sea-green eyes, peering down at her.

Somehow, the daughter of Zeus didn't mind so much anymore.

"Brr... it's freezing." Blinking, the daughter of Zeus drifted back to reality—ADHD does that, brings you to another plane of reality. Thalia wasn't disturbed by the cold as she was decked out in a large and comfy overcoat but Persis had only a sweater. Persis was rubbing her hands furiously. "Freaking cold. Mr. D did this on purpose—he wants us to freeze."

Thalia snorted. "Wouldn't put it past him." Persis didn't seem to have heard her, still shivering pathetically. Smirking, Thalia allowed Persis to freeze until she noticed that the daughter of Poseidon's lips were really turning blue. Oh. "I thought you were being dramatic. Didn't know you were really that cold."

Persis scowled at her. "Great observations skills, Pinecone face. I'm not like you."

She'd let that slide for now. But she'd definitely get the brunette back for this. Thalia Grace never forgets a slight. For now, Thalia sighed and pulled off her coat, throwing it over the both of them.

She registered Persis' look of surprise. The daughter of Poseidon was looking at her doubtfully. "I didn't know you were this... considerate."

"When am I never?" Deciding that she getting too nice, Thalia added, "I just took pity on you. You look real pathetic."

Persis snorted, shuffling closer to her cousin; Thalia was mildly surprised to find the smaller girl smiling up at her and that there was a sudden warmth in her hand.

Her heart thudded. And for the first time in forever, Thalia felt the sudden urge to smile back. No mockery, no sarcasm. Just a plain smile.

Sweet and bitter was the smile.

But it was a smile nevertheless.

Thalia had no idea how long they stood there, amidst the snow, looking at one another with their linked hands. But shouts and yells of rage drew their attention to the basketball court where a son of Ares and a Huntress of Artemis looked ready to kill one another with a basketball. The Huntress looked like she really wanted to draw her bow too.

Only then did she remember Chiron had asked them to inform the cabin leaders that they have a game of Capture-The-Flag with the Hunters today.

Persis seemed to be thinking the same thing too, because she dropped her hand from Thalia's and said, "I think I'll go inform the cabin leaders." She made to slid out of the jacket but Thalia didn't relent. She stepped out, placing the coat on Persis' shoulders instead.

"Keep it," said Thalia gruffly. "I can stand the cold since I'm used to it. You can't." And without giving Persis a chance to protest—because if they stopped to debate who'd have the coat, they'd end up with a bitter argument fueled by their pride—she strode quickly over to the court, with an authoritative scowl on her face.

She didn't like the Huntresses and she despised the children of Ares. She pinned them with a perfect-ten glare. "Beat it," she snapped.

The Huntress and son of Ares both knew better than to challenge her and they scrambled away, not before throwing glares behind at her. They hated one another but they were so in sync. Thalia smirked slightly to herself; they'd be mortified if they noticed.

The daughter of Zeus turned, hands shoved into her jeans pocket, about to leave when she caught a speck of black amid the snow. She paused, squinting and she saw the newest addition to Camp Half-Blood poking about in the snow.

Nico di Angelo looked lonely with no one else in sight and he was hunched over something. Remembering that his older sister had abandoned him, Thalia, without thinking twice (as usual), stomped over to the brat. She peered over his shoulder, seeing him poking the snow with bare hands.

"What're you doing?" Nico wasn't trying to build a snowman or anything for the matter. He was just sort of staring at the snow he held, as if wondering how quickly they will melt with his body heat.

Nico didn't turn to acknowledge her and she felt a tick of annoyance taking seed. "Hey!"

"I heard you," said the boy softly. "I'm just holding snow. Can't you see?"

"I thought you'd be playing your stupid Mythomagic cards," admitted Thalia, crouching beside him.

"The game isn't stupid," said Nico, but he didn't sound vehement. Thalia felt sorry for the little guy, he was so subdued after his argument with his sister. He looked at her briefly, and his bangs fell over his eyes at the movement of his head. Instinctively, Thalia reached out to brush the hair out of the way to see his face better.

Up close, his skin didn't have a healthy shade despite being olive-colored. She suspected, from his sharp features, that he was part Italian.

"Can you speak Italian?"

Nico looked puzzled. "I... think so. My mom was Italian, wasn't she?" She didn't answer because she didn't know herself. But Nico didn't wait for her answer; her silence seemed to satisfy him because he dropped the handful of snow and flopped onto his back.

She stared at the odd boy but he kept his eyes fixed on the sky. "It's relaxing," said Nico suddenly. "looking at the never-changing clouds. They're forever there. A constant—something I think I desperately need." He sounded so lost Thalia actually felt sorry for him.

She could understand how lost he was—she, too, felt like she was on uneven ground once she realized how many years had passed since her 'death' and how everyone had been changed by time. She was skeptical about what he said, however. She eyed him doubtfully. "Are you sure it's relaxing?"

He didn't answer but he kicked his legs out, swiping her feet under her.

"You little shit!" Thalia snarled angrily as she fell onto her back. "I'll kill you!"

"Just look, Zeus girl," said Nico; he didn't sound scared. Oh, if that brat thought that was an empty threat, he was going to regret it. "Don't you feel like your father's watching over you if you look up from here? I'm sure it'd be more soothing for you than it is for me."

Thalia shot him a furious glare from the corner of her eyes before fixing her stare upward.

The clouds inched a little but that might have been Thalia's imagination or wishful thinking. But if she kept blinking, the clouds seemed to be in a fixated position—Nico could be right, she thought grudgingly. She turned her head to the boy, waiting for a smart comment, but he didn't speak.

She couldn't be sure from her vantage point of view, but Nico might have been smiling.

She looked up at the sky again; suddenly struck by the realization she had never looked at the sky from this point of view. All her life, she had been too busy working out a way to stay alive and keep those around her happy and breathing that she had not stopped—not even for a second—to appreciate the beauty surrounding her.

The brat was right.

It was as if time had stopped—no matter how briefly—along with the unmoving clouds.

And, for the first time since she woke, Thalia felt like she was on even footing again.

"Thalia Grace won't go down so easily," she muttered. She clenched her fists. "I'm not going to to lose, not even to time itself." Especially not to Kronos.

But Nico heard her. She could hear the grin in his voice: "You show them."

She huffed slightly. "Don't need a brat like you to tell me."

For the first time, Thalia felt like she could catch up; felt like she was the old Thalia who was always in control again.

The sky was clear.

xxx

Author's Note

There: Perlia and Thalico bonding. Next chap: expect some Perico bonding!

Tell me what you think!