A/N: Heya boys and girls! Back again with some more ridiculously sassy canines an fluff-ish-ness. Got some backstory and a little bit of cutesy stuff going on. Anyway not much to say except thanks for sticking with me so far and hope you're having as much fun reading this as I am writing it. Don't forget to tell what ya liked or what a want so I know what to tweak. Now without further ado; CHAPTER 11

Disclaimer: I don't own PJO or HOO, I own mah plot and Oc's.

Chapter 11: What Were You Expecting?

Artemis reflexively brought out her knives and readied a stance, he raised his hands in a universal surrender sign while letting the smile reduce to a smirk, "I get ya don't like the nickname but ain't this too much of an over-reaction?"

She squinted at him, rich chocolate skin and long lashes, platinum eyes and hair as black as darkness itself. She knew it was Noir but her mind was fighting with her, telling her to skewer the male in front of her as Noir was a wolf. He simply stepped forward and bent himself in half, touching his toes before coming back up.

"Here maybe this'll help ya out." He scrunched his eyes up in focus before he grimaced and a black mass burst from behind him. It quickly straightened itself out before whipping wildly in every direction. She noted they were in fact tails, black and sleek dextrously waving in the air. He shot her a smirk as she lowered her knives.

"Woof" he said grinning as she went from suspicious to angry in seconds flat.

"What do you mean 'woof'?! You're supposed to be a wolf! How are you human now, why do you still have the ears, and were the tails really necessary Noir?"

"Really? The ears are awesome, I like my tails since they're always useful, and c'mon Arty; ya really expect me to be able to speak and control unnatural flames and not be able to manage a humanoid form? What were you expecting? Tiny wolf and giant wolf to be my only party tricks?"

Artemis glared. Hard. She wasn't happy with this but at the same time she was. True the wolf was quiet and she always wanted him to talk since he had either sass or meaningful input, but she doubted her Hunt was going to take this well. Speak of the devil, Thalia walked in, "Milady I thought I heard an unfamiliar-"

She stopped as she eyed Noir with the full on wolf ears and tails whipping restlessly behind him. Her mouth dropped open as she realized precisely who was standing in front of her.

"Thunder Bug!"

Thalia fainted.

-Line Break-

It took a whole lot of promising not to use bows, arrows, knives, or any form of power from the girls before Noir finally walked out of the tent startling everyone. Artemis looked back to find out way and realized he had changed from his jeans and shirt to a pair of black combat pants with boots to match. Three platinum chains dangled from the right side of his waist as two belts hung off his hips, held at the front by an ornate cross. He had an over coat on that stayed open at the base as it trailed behind him at shin height. It was white with a black fur lined hood, decorated with a black and platinum trim with another set of three platinum chains hanging on the left side of the vest. He had on black fingerless gloves with platinum seals on the backs, each emblemized with a black Omegas.

With the black tails trailing behind, he left and imposing figure standing taller than when Artemis had woke him. He stood 6 foot flat and was rather stunning to look at. His chocolate skin was a perfect warmth to match his blazing platinum eyes that were framed by long lashes. A mess of windblown hair fell down on his head, lightly shadowing his eyes making them seem more radiant. His grin was warm, disarming and promised mischief all at the same time. He was handsome, he was tall, and he was their wolf.

"Heya Hunters! Good to see ya all in one piece!"

They stared, mouths open, eyes bugging out. There was a series of clicks as Noir did his light speed trick and closed their mouths before reappearing where he had started.

"You guys are gonna catch flies if ya leave ya mouths open ya know?"

Irritation quickly replaced shock, "You disgusting male! We actually bathed with you!"

"False. You bathed with Noir who had his eyes closed by the way."

"Yes but you are him!"

"Entirely separate consciousnesses sharing a host for the time being. Besides I've been asleep for the greater portion of these travels. I come out to play tag and instigate some prank wars but other than that Noir is just a rather fairly intelligent wolf. Besides you're all so…young. Ick!"

"Some of us are millennia old!"

"'Xactly! Ya still a bunch a younglings, I have no interest in pedophilia. That's just nasty ya know?"

They simply glowered at him. He sighed, "Oh for fu- Look regardless of this form or what interactions were previous I was not part of that. Also I have no record for Noir's memories that have seen any inappropriate parts of any of you this I swear on the Styx."

Thunder boomed signifying the oath and they waited as he pulled out a hackey sack from nowhere and bounced it around with a great deal of skill while they waited for the Styx to claim his soul. Nothing happened. They relaxed, even if only marginally. They still eyed him curiously as if waiting for an explanation but apparently he had been absorbed by the hackey sack he was playing with, frustrating everyone there.

"Yup, that's Noir alright. Easily distracted and loses track of where and what he was doing. Like the one time he ended up walking across the lake at camp as he followed a butterfly." Thalia was still annoyed and being prone to rash actions fueled by ADHD she shot the sack out of the air with a growl. Noir yelped and bounced through the air landing behind Artemis where he hid, peeking out over one shoulder.

"Yeesh, if ya wanted to join all ya had to do was ask. Like holy Hades that coulda been my foot man!"

"It won't be the only sack pinned to a tree if I don't get an explanation, preferably NOW!" Thalia's bellow sent quite a few of her sisters scrambling as she started to spark with electricity.

Noir simply raised an eyebrow, "Anger issues much? I'll answer them, but after you cool off, got something to take care of in the meantime. Have fun and don't get eaten by anything scary while I'm gone!"

Thalia roared in frustration and lunged for him but he was already gone. Her spear appeared in her hand as she sent a thick bolt of lightning into the hackey sack which promptly disintegrated. Artemis knew her Lieutenant hated not knowing or being left in the dark so she decided to fill the girls in on what she knew so far. She had them gather up and she recounted the incident in the Throne Room for them and watch as they paled drastically at the mention of how he shrugged off the Master Bolt and floored Ares with little effort.

"Who or what have we been traveling with?" Thalia asked looking troubled. True Noir was scary powerful but he was warm and gentle. Lily was right when she said he was a boy but that was just a characteristic part of him; much like his sarcasm and wit. The caring warmth he always displayed and his addicting playful nature. The Hunt was collectively contemplating they're belief about all men being pigs. Maybe, just maybe they could believe it was only some.

"Great! I was worried I'd have to point out that I couldn't be a pig since I'm a wolf. Churro anyone? Just thought it'd be nice to share."

Everyone stared incredulously at Noir who was simply floating suspended mid-air above the group as if lying on his back. He did in fact have a platter filled with Churros, some filled with Dulcé de Leché and others filled with chocolate.

"You left us contemplating the ideals we founded this group on that you rattled, to go buy Mexican fried desert pastries?" Thalia asked, a hint of anger and amusement leaking into her voice.

"Yup" he said popping the 'p', "It's been decades since I had churros kiddo, had a craving. Sue me if ya like but they'll still be delicious." The Hunt collectively tossed their hands into the air in exasperation as Noir happily munched on a Churro.

"Sure ya don't want any? They're still nice and warm, plus it'll make for a great snack while we chat. Plus I get to rest my arm. Holding this plate after duking it out with that Cheshire cunt really took it outta me."

"That's what you actually left for isn't it?" All heads turned to see Lily standing just outside the circle looking up at Noir. He vanished while the plate of Churros floated down to Thalia. She shrugged and tried one, giving an approving nod before offering the plate to the Hunters who looked skeptical. Noir reappeared back where he had been floating except this time wrapped around Lily tightly, a look of relief painted plainly on his face.

"Noir, I'm alright you don't have to worry."

"Ha! As if! Those bastards had the audacity to lay their hands on you, don't think they got to live through that with all their limbs kiddo. I might not like showing affection but no one touches the one I do care for." The air grew tangibly colder with Noir's expression as it shifted to a lethal calm, "No one." The Hunt shivered slightly as the temperature rose but did look appreciatively at Noir as he continued to cradle Lily to his chest. No matter how they looked at it he saved them and had fought beside them, turning what should have been their collective grave into a crowning victory. Even if they had passed out for the conclusion of the battle.

"Anyway, I love you too Noir but could you maybe get us down and explain? We all just need that one question answered and we can forget about this. You're still you just with less fur and more human characteristics, I'm sure the Hunt will be fine with it, just explain please." Lily turned on the puppy dog eyes just to make a point. He caved of course but hesitated, he cocked his head as if listening to something and gave a nod.

"C'mon. We're going to Olympus, I might as well make it one thing and explain to the council while I'm at it. With this happening maybe Cosmos will come join me…I miss the big guy dearly really…" Artemis winced at the thought of the Hunt trying to adapt to a massive celestial reptile traveling with them. It would be rather…inconvenient to say the least. Not to mention completely conspicuous. She didn't have time to think on it further as Noir finally set Lily down, "A'ight Hunters, kindly keep your hands and feet inside the existential flux to stay in one piece" the Hunt paled drastically, "Just kidding!" he grinned at them and clapped his hands together. When their vision corrected itself they noted they were in the throne room of Olympus. Noir walked forward and pointed a finger gun upwards, he let his thumb fall. A platinum fire burst exploded outwards, twisting into a lotus blossom before collapsing in on itself and dispersing in a wave of flames.

"Showoff…" Artemis shot at him, he grinned in reply and waited for the council to arrive with the Hunt. They were still a little apprehensive but it didn't last long as he conjured a softball sized sun in his hand. Their jaws dropped until he tossed it to Thalia who juggled it around thinking it was going to burn but rather didn't. It was cool to the touch but the surface still roiled all the same. The girls took turns holding and inspecting it while Noir happily piggybacked Lily around. The Olympians flashed in one at a time, eyeing the 18 year old with the black tales suspiciously and then turned towards Thalia who was tossing a freaking sun back and forth between her hands, whistling a merry tune. By the time Athena flashed in, Poseidon, Hermes, Apollo, Hestia, Hephaestus, and Demeter were playing catch with the Hunt; with a miniature sun. She quickly pulsed a message to the rest of the council and they promptly flashed in. They all stared for a second before Zeus interrupted the game that had started to escalate as wicked curves and fastballs were swapped. The Hunt and Olympians were having a great time with it until Zeus cleared his throat and they realized why they were here.

Noir was the last catch, shrunk it, and ate it.

"Whoa! Talk about a spicy meatball man!"

The assembly facepalmed.

"Who called this meeting, the method of summon was not anything we've ever had on the council." Zeus scanned the crowd looking for whoever did it but was interrupted by a yelp. Hestia was being cuddled by the strange teen that had eaten the sun. Hold up a second…that sounded weird even in his mind. Hestia looked perplexed but didn't pull away as she observed the teen smiling down at her, then she noticed the ears.

"The wolf…" He nodded excitedly and hugged her again.

"Sorry but your just soooooooooooooooooo cute!" He continued to nuzzle her for another second before his tails shot around and formed a cocoon of comfort around the two. Hestia shrugged from her seat and situated herself to a way that suited her more and leaned back feeling quite cozy. He smiled down at her once more before looking back up.

"Well obviously you should know who I am by now if not, woof." His smirk was devilish and screamed mischief as the Olympians were affirmed of Hestia's previous proclamation. Aphrodite actually pouted, "And what? No hug for me?"

His smirk softened to a smile, the air about him changed as he excused himself from beneath Hestia and walked over to the Love Goddess. Hephaestus was already resigned to his wife's ways while Ares was fuming. Aphrodite stepped down and was quietly engulfed in a hug. There was no lust as everyone expected, rather there was warmth. Slowly but surely it pulsed through the room as Noir held Aphrodite to his chest. She buried her face in the crook of his neck and took in the warmth. Every secret she kept, every heart break she had witnessed, every second of sadness she had caused her husband was quieted. Even if it was only a moment, she basked in it. The original purity of love she felt when she first got her domain. There weren't the heartbroken cries of young girls whose boyfriends cheated on them, no more husbands breaking beneath the weight of their divorces, no more families' wails as they lost those precious to them. It was just warmth. Peaceful, wholesome, warmth. She smiled and for the first time in a long time she let her make up fall away. Her low cut dress was swapped for a white blouse and he legs were enclosed in a simple pair of blue jeans.

Her eyes went to crystal clear, sea blue and her hair fell to her mid back in a single curtain of black. She shrunk to the age of sixteen and happily reveled in the warmth of the embrace that was more satisfying than millennia of cheating and meaningless sex could ever bring. She felt as if her sins were gone, her slate washed clean, and she no longer had two tons hanging off her left ring finger. She felt whole again, and words would never be able to express her gratitude as he released her. She tried to hold on longer, stay in that warm embrace but he wouldn't let her.

"That feeling my dear? Hang onto it for dear life. Make it real and let go of what has been done. Look towards the future child, and make what you miss your reality. Let no urge bar you, let no weight be your bane, fight the horrors, and forever march forward. You can lie to yourself but you cannot lie to me, Love is your battlefield my dear. Remember you are the general."

She met his eyes and nodded, she wiped away the tears that had fallen and her mouth set in a determined line. He smiled and pecked her on the cheek before returning to his seat where He closed Hestia's gaping mouth before situating her back in his lap, wrapped up in his tails. The Olympians looked to him, then to Aphrodite, and then back to him. He sighed and waved her over and she happily bounced over, joining her aunt on his lap. Once they were situated comfortably, he looked up and addressed the council.

"Certain events and smug looking Cheshire bastards have led to my earlier than anticipated awakening. Damn shame too, I was having a nice nap. Regardless, I have time to use and I will be doing precisely that. In fact I would hate to have to explain again." He clapped his hands and suddenly the camp leaders were there as well. Some were random like Butch, Lou Ellen, and Clover who were the offspring of minor gods but they didn't question it. Percy saw the gods, then the Hunters, and then the boy with wolf ears and multiple tales.

"Noir?" he questioned

A grin graced Noir's features, "Remind me why they call you dim again? It's certainly not true."

Percy simply blushed and bowed to the Olympians along with the rest of the campers.

"Well then with that out of the way" he pulled Aphrodite closer to his chest and she snuggled in, "let's get on with a story shall we?"

-Look up in the sky! It's a bird, It's a plane! Nope! Line Break!-

It took a little while, and Noir turning down multiple girls the extra space in his lap, to get everyone situated for the tale. Athena was practically bouncing with excitement with a recorder in hand, ready for anything. Most of the males in the room were glaring at Noir who was busily being ogled by the females in the room. For his part however he was completely ignoring them and working different braids into Aphrodite's waist length hair. His finger were deft and the movements smooth, his hands seemed to dance through the weaves seamlessly and Aphrodite looked quite comfortable with it too. Eventually everyone was seated either by their parent's throne or on a couch near the hearth provided by their tale master for the day.

"Well then, now that everyone is ready let's begin. You all know who I am and regardless of my own lack of a name feel free to think of me as Noir as well. As for what I am, that requires a bit more of a back story. You all know that Chaos created the universe and whatnot correct?" nods all around, "Good but where did Chaos originate from?"

Silence ruled the throne room until Athena (of course) piped up. "How can the creator have a creator?"

"Easy, what, or rather, who preceded Chaos?" The throne room was quiet. "Don't worry, they are a mere rumor even to the Primordials. You see that Chaos is the maker of the universe, but there is a force and a being that manages it that precedes him/her. As such they precede everything, for what is the one thing we all share at our basest level?"

You could hear a pin drop, it was that quiet. Finally the most unexpected voice rose, "We exist…" Noir positively beamed at Aphrodite who blushed and curled further into his side to get away from the stares of disbelief. "Correct kiddo! Any who yeah, we all exist before anything else and that's where Helix comes into the picture. Helix was the beginning of everything and no one knows how long they have been around. They were there before even time began because they existed while everything else did not. They were dichotomy, housing existence while existing in an area of non-existence. Follow me so far?" A couple of nods and more scrunched up eye brows. "Well at one point Helix decided that they wanted to have more things to exist outside of them self, as such they released existence bringing everything into being. However in doing do they were forced to take on non-existence, hence why very few know of them and even fewer believe in them."

"But where's Chaos in all this?" Athena gave her daughter a proud look before scowling at Percy who was sitting beside her giving her the same look.

"Clever girl, and good question but we'll get to that. As it was with everything being there all at once there was no rules nor order and everything was in disarray. Including consciousness. Consciousness is an aspect of living things but unfortunately there was nothing to host it. So it, along with a select few other aspects, attached themselves to the absolutes that were there at the beginning, regardless of their collective formlessness. So consciousness was given to Creation, Destruction, Life, Death, Time, Space, Love, Justice, but also negative forces such as Greed, Envy, Lust, Wrath, Gluttony, Deception, Ambition, and even more. That was the birth place of the First."

It clicked. He wasn't a god or a Primordial. He was an existence who is as old as existence itself. The Olympians collectively sat farther back in their thrones, eyes wide, and arm rests gripped tight. Noir simply grinned, not a kind, warm, mischievous grin. It was cold. It sucked the warmth from the room, frost started to gather despite the hearth burning behind him.

"So ya finally know what you're dealing with younglings?"

The Olympians were honestly sweating nervously at this point, not to say that the campers and Hunters were fairing any better, that grin was a few screws loose short of insane.

"Ooof!" He looked down at Aphrodite who smiling innocently while Hestia stifled her laughter. He rubbed at his ribs with a wry grin, "Fine Fine. Enough screwing around. That was when my Master was born truthfully. From there I don't have the details but I was created in time for the birth of this planet. I have watched from the shadows as the Chaos brought the Primordials forth unto the world and gave them their domains. I watched as their rule came to peak, watched as they birthed the first gods and monsters, watched as they fell either to scythe, madness, or to the void. I watched as their children took up the mantle, watched as Prometheus formed the first man, watched as Kronos devolved to madness and used them as his amusement. I watched as the prophecy was given, I even planted a bit of my power into Rhea so she had the courage and strength to hide you Zeus. I gave her the plan and even used the shadows to augment the wine mustard mix you gave him. Truly you didn't believe just that would be enough to affect a Titan did you?"

Zeus's mouth was on the floor at this point.

He chuckled and continued, "I watched as your siblings emerged, watched as you fought your father and escaped, barred the door with shadows just in case you needed the time ya know? I watched as you ran, watched as you trained, watched as you fought. I gave your mother sanctuary and brought her from her husband, I was the one who helped the Cyclopses and Hecatonchires with the method of binding energies to enchanted metals to forge your symbols. I even strengthened Hades's shadows as he helped restrain your father. I was there for the claiming of the domains, and your fall to arrogance Zeus. I have watched from the shadows for millennia and my master for even longer, from a place I cannot reach. Regardless that is my story and the brief history of those like me. There is more you will hear from the mouth of another but what you must know is that The Seven Deadly Sins, as they are called on this planet, are awake and seek control. They will eviscerate Chaos, but if they want to do so they must start here. With you. Much like you, were are bound to a set of laws that prevents us from acting out within the universe but we can deny that. It takes a great deal of power to do and they cannot risk it yet. First because I would be able to locate them immediately and burn away their existence before things get out of hand, and two they wouldn't be able to stand up to my master who has slept for longer than them. As such he is easily the most powerful. With all his domains he might just be able to rival Helix at this point!"

He let out a bellowing laugh that despite shaking the room with warmth did nothing for the collective shudder the other occupants shared. He was just so casual about comparing his boss to the one that gave him his initial existence that everyone, not only believed him, but feared what his opponents could possibly have in store that he didn't just smite them already.

"Regardless of that, they're starting with all forces that might oppose them and using them against one another. The Primordials are already asleep, but even the Titans aren't stupid enough to let them run rampant, hence why they're pitting them against you. It might not be a lot of power between the two factions but it's less firepower aimed at them. They want every advantage and pulling out the stops to smash the foot soldiers isn't beyond them, they whisper one veiled truth here and there and suddenly parents will turn on their children."

The Olympians would have been offended at being called foot soldiers but realistically it was true.

"Well, with that said we need to get back to our regular scheduling. By that I mean Percy getting a quest." Percy, for his part, paled. Noir smirked, "Don't worry, I'm gonna come along too! I can help out a bit but I don't want the Fates to bug me so it'll be minimal. Powers will be kept to a base too but oh well. Also I can't be the guide either in the Labyrinth, basically I'm limited to combat but at least it's something. In the mean time I would recommend training for bo- I mean the camp and the Olympians themselves preparing for war. This isn't going to be an easy fight but with a little balance it might be fun. Alright thanks for listening and hope ya enjoyed the story, now off with ya!"

He clapped his hands and both campers and Hunters alike were returned to their proper placement. He grinned one last time at the Olympians, and vanished as well.

"Well at least we learned something today!"

Athena was promptly hit with a plush Pegasus.

A/N: Thanks for reading and if you had all the funz feel free to leave a review!