EDIT: Forgot that Phoebe was dead, so I edited it. A new chapter will be out soon! I'm just busy with school and final exams. Also a special Christmas thing I'm making for someone.
300 REVIEWS WTF ARE YOU GUYS OKAY I MADE THIS FIC FOR KICKS
REVIEWS
Cloudypelt: Chapter order response to reviews. OMG OMG OMG WHY DO I GET SO MUCH LOOOOVE *hides*. Aw that's okay you're not the only one. *squeaks and hides again* DUDE HAVE YOU SEEN THE ASK-OTGW BLOG BC IT'S HILARIOUS I LOVE IT. And nobody can wait. Nobody.
Icestorm238: Omg why I make people happy. SISTER AND BROTHER BONDS FTW *kicks chair in half* omg im so sorry chair. Will knew it wasn't good from the beginning, he just wasn't aware of how bad it would be. Omg I will thank you! *kawaii sparkle*
TMRisLifeNewtmas4Ever: Ahahaha omg *hides bc compliments*
Water-an'-Wisdom: AT CHRISTMAS THEY GET TOGETHER AT CHRISTMAS I PROMISE IT WILL BE MY CHRISTMAS PRESENT TO YOU GUYS. I should make a sequel to this about the drama of their dating…"How Not to Mess With Your OTP." I can see it now. Omg I am so including it in the toothbrush one-shot I'm writing. And we're all pervs in our own ways. It turns out my friend has written bedroom scenes, speaking of which. This was surprising, seeing how she's a Catholic school girl and has never enrolled in public school all her life. Funny. Me? I do makeouts.
MegglesGG: HOW DO I LIIIIVE WITHOUT YOOOOUUUU…Will comparing people to Nico is the best. Yes Apollo and Artemis and Thalia and omg I'm glad to get you excited!
Rainbowchameleon: Which dirty haiku? Haha that's my response to everything basically. WHY IS THIS YOUR FAVORITE *hides under bed*
Evarria: All praise Leo Valdez master of great lines. Omg thanks! Apollo is already the father to so many demigods but yeah! Also Artemis should be everyone's awesome aunt. Thalia is about to ship it, 99.99% of the Hunters do already (that 0.01% is Thalia). So close yet so far Will. I'll try to add it in! I don't really want to flood people with too many diseases, also I don't want to stereotype.
Lmb111514: Yay hunters! Poor Will though.
Will: You still can't hug me
*"Can't Touch This" starts playing in background*
Will: I should've seen that coming.
Me: Ha!
Okay back to your review. I thrive for awkwardness you have no idea. You will, and it will be!
LOSTcharlie-claireLOST: Everyone Loves Leo. *"Everyone Loves Raymond" theme plays in the background* Yay a new adjective to use. OMG IM GONNA BE FAMOUS EVERYONE (also I've heard of tvtropes but I've never actually used it lol). Will and Apollo interaction is always great. Well, I've never seen it as a big deal? I mean in Homestuck Rose is a lesbian and it's not a big deal it's just there. Like it's part of the character. It's a character trait. I sorta make it part of the characters? It's not a big deal to me I just blend it all together. Also I basically made every OC up on the spot when I write the chapter it's just "okay her name is Lexi and she's asexual plus Lexi has always sounded like a Spanish name to me so she's Hispanic and she's more focused on friendship than actual love and she's huffy OKAY DONE." Ye I'm awesome *rains awesomeness*. *everyone hides under bed with us* Well it's crowded now.
Neon Wish: Thalia is fab okay.
MoonlightFairy782: Do you know how long it took me to write that without me. I NEED TO WRITE THAT THAT'S CHAPTER 21 NOW OKAY
SilverDawn1313: *sarcastic round of applause for Apollo* Yes Marina and the Diamonds forever. YAY THALIA *sparkles*
CheetosPotato: Ah yes the brilliancy of Apollo. Well Thanksgiving is over so yeah I guess.
Blackberry Explosion: Frame that poem and put it up on my wall. Haha dill pickles. Also Alex is non-binary, zher is just the pronoun I chose (I use it on my non-binary days).
Annabeth Chase: Annabeth why you read this. ALSO THANKS SO MUCH AHHHHHHHHHHHHH
Guest: *strikes fabulous pose* He sees all the booties. All of them. Yes I always bring entertainment. I don't know how they'll do it but they will. Ye new characters woo *party hats*
IShallThinkOfTheUsernameLater: YAY COOKIES I DON'T LIKE RAISINS EITHER ALSO I DON'T HAVE RUBBER BANDS BUT I HAVE BRACES TOO. Non-digital clocks are so complicated, but there's one digital clock at my school on military time what. Oh boy that must've been hilarious. YEAH SCREW HONORS PROJECTS. ALSO WINDOW-PAINTING COOLIO. YEAH HEADCANONS *punches brick*. Also somebody finally noticed the reference with Amelia hallelujah *confetti*. Omg she would be. *"Celebrate" plays in background* Ship Thalia with everyone ship her with me lol. Ah yes those lines showcase their dorkiness lol. Omg why this your favorite.
That's So Random: Random Fandom next bc it rhymes. *SCREAMS OVER HUNTERS WITH YOU* Yes I saw it I'm on it too also fab poetry is fab. Omg that's so many lines lol. Artemis is the best okay. Yes it's the word-count thing that's a problem. Yeah I'll try the Scholastic thing once I get the chance! Thanks for the good luck! Also Will I'm sorry.
Will: No you're not.
Me: Eh guess you're right.
Oh god my weaknesses I fall for cute kisses and hand-holding and confessions and weddings and kids and Solangelo. As an older sister of small children with small friends who sees her grandparents regularly I can confirm that there is hardly a difference, and that Solangelo totally is like that. Nah Nico just heard too much Taylor Swift during his "makeover" in the Aphrodite cabin plus Annabeth likes her and now he can't get her songs out of his head. It's this thing they had on Cartoon Network the episodes are on YouTube. *funeral held for Jason's and Luke Skywalker's hands*
Moonshroom420: Oh no take cover *take cover*. I'm Thalia/Everyone trash actually lol.
Harmonic Bunny: Chapter order response again. I giggled when I wrote that amg. Yes Jason and Annabeth feel our pain. Yes keep reading. Haha I have the best author's notes. NO YOU MUST SLEEP CHILD. Well okay Solangelo is an explanation BUT SLEEP IMMEDIATELY OKAY?
Everythingpotterish: Thanks, and I'll try!
ThePirateOfTheSeaOfMonsters: OMG EVERYONE LOVES THIS WHY? Is there seriously a canon for this story now? Yes they do they're awesome. I will, to both updating and writing!
Screeching Harmony: YES HUNTERS AND HERE'S MORE MY FRIEND!
Sabrina-luna-potter: This mystery five-episode series on Cartoon Network earlier this month. Well Will was working up the courage but it just disappeared bc Thalia cockblocked.
Infinitecity: Here's more Thalia! Haha you know they will. I do but he says I doesn't *ignores Will yelling "SHE DOES NOT CARE AT ALL!" in background*. Yes I will keep the torture going!
Dragonsaredead: DRAGONS LIVE! Ahaha glad you found it! Ah yes SPN slays me inside.
Daddy Directioner: I thought you were the dad of a member of One Direction at first and started panicking omfg. Yeah, I typed the first chapter up on my kindle, which is far from reliable. Thanks! The conversation is the best I s2g.
Guest: I WILL ALL OF YOU HOLD YOUR HORSES
Solangelo Love XOXO: *That superhero from Megaman voice* And I love you, random citizen! Also your hot chocolate story slayed me I could not stop freaking out.
TreebuttonDemigod: Chapter order response again (for the third time in this author's note sheesh). NOBODY CAN EXCEPT FOR MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS I THINK. Jason in MoA is me ever since I was born lol. Haha I've always been mediocre at writing I think but Homestuck and ff pushed me to improve. WAIT NO I'M NOT EVEN THAT GOOD DON'T FEEL ASHAMED OF YOUR WRITING JUST BECAUSE YOU THINK I'M BETTER. Everyone's world is narrow at some point or another seriously. DUDE SRSLY PUSH YOURSELF TO IMPROVE I MEAN LOOK AT MY OLDER FANFICTIONS THEY ARE TERRIBLE IF SOMEONE LIKE ME CAN IMPROVE YOU CAN TOO ALL OF YOU LOVELIES CAN IMPROVE DON'T THINK I'M BETTER AT WRITING THAN ANY OF YOU I JUST READ TOO MUCH AS A KID AND IT STUCK TO ME OKAY? Oh wow your dad better make sure you're okay. Haha I've actually reviewed on wrong chapters before (I've been on this site for two years of course I have).
Dauntlessinthetardis: She's back, ladies and gentlemen! One of the most amazing usernames ever! *party happens that leaves everyone hung over in the morning* Welp. That happened. Ah I'm sorry that you squeaked hope you didn't attract any mice to you. Also that is the only hashtag that matters now every other hashtag can go home for all I care.
MidnightEevee: I actually want to complete that haiku omg. Next time make it relevant Apollo, you only confused Will. Will was about to but now his courage has gone down the drain. People will never stop cockblocking. Ever.
Thereadingturtle: Wow ff why you be a bitch like this? It's A. P. HSIAO I have no idea what ff did wrong. Yay for reviewers that have been reading since the beginning *tries to high five you but falls*
13Vickytoria24: Thank you omg. Still don't know why people say this is their fav though. I will keep writing, and you're welcome!
A. P . HSIAO: Yay! It's okay, me either. Yes the haikus are amazing. That is how I would react as well. Omg please don't die ily too much. Take cover, this is a long one.
Guest: I like responding to reviews so the readers can feel appreciated. I'll try to cut out most of my ramblings, though. Next story I write I'll respond by PM like most people do. And sometimes linebreaks are needed, like a time switch or POV switch. Thanks for the plot compliment though! Haha some might want me to reply though so I'll just keep doing it.
CreCra: Excuse you they ARE manly-okay maybe not. They keep on getting cockblocked lol.
Guest: They are royally screwed (And by that I don't mean screwing each other).
ToneishaShipper: The mystery is that Will thinks Nico likes Percy lol. Everyone knows actually lol. I saw your review lol. Yes whenever people do that I have to fight the urge to murder them. Also backstory more like SAHDHUIAHDWHAGHURSD. It did make sense. WHY IS THIS YOUR FAVORITE FIC IN THE PJO SECTION? Naw it didn't look like flattery lol. Aha long reviews are my drug. Glad you asked! My pronouns change each day (I feel male today actually). And no, it didn't! YES YOU CAN BE FRIENDS WITH THEM!
A reviewer: Have some more, my darling! And thank you! I most certainly will!
Chapter ideas belong to the articulate A. P. HSIAO, the thematic That's So Random, and the darling That Dam Guest!
Disclaimer: I don't own Rick Riordan and I'm not McDonald's wait I typed that wrong ah well. Also I have a dam hard time when it comes to not making "Titan's Curse" refs.
Chapter 17: Huntresses Abound-dedicated to A. P. HSIAO
Thalia grinned cheekily at the astonished crowd of campers. Many had frozen with forks and spoons halfway to their mouths. A few Aphrodite campers were frozen in the act of reapplying makeup. One of the Stolls-which one, she wasn't sure-even had a finger in his nose.
Jason was staring at his sister with a huge grin, despite him cradling his hand. A week after the Hunters had finally heard that the war was over, once everyone was situated again and the dead properly treated, they had gone up to Camp Half-Blood, where Thalia and Jason had a very heartfelt reunion. She had only been able to visit him once since then, and she wished she could make more time in her schedule for him. Unfortunately, the Hunters were very busy. Thalia grinned back at her brother.
She looked back at the pavilion, eyes sweeping the crowd, until her eyes landed on two people in particular.
Nico seemed to have perked up at Thalia's appearance, and raised a hand in greeting. Thalia waved back, although she was a bit confused. Wasn't his hair longer last she saw him? He was sitting across from none other than Will Solace, who looked oddly enough like a deer caught in the headlights.
Thalia heard the whispers of her Hunters behind her, and she had to fight the urge to strangle them. Nico and Will were the reason why she was getting so many headaches.
Jason had told her about Nico's crush on the blonde boy last time she had been in camp, and while Thalia had barely any interest in romance, she was hoping that Nico would be happy. She knew he had been through a lot, a lot more than any other demigod she knew (save for a few Hunters), and that he was a bit delicate. But, according to countless Iris messages from Jason, Will seemed to be good for Nico. The boy had opened up more, and he was forging friendships with some other campers. Nico was even over Percy, which was good. At least, Thalia thought so. She didn't know that Nico even liked Percy, although she had her suspicions.
But her Hunters had caught wind of Will and Nico, or "Solangelo," as they insisted on calling it. Thalia still wasn't sure where. She blamed the Aphrodite cabin, since there were a few daughters of Aphrodite in the ranks of the Hunters, surprisingly. At any rate, it had spread through the Hunters like wildfire. A few didn't particularly care, while some made snarky jokes whenever the topic came up. But many had jumped on board with it, and it annoyed Thalia to no end. Some people just could not shut up at times.
"Thalia!"
Thalia's thoughts were interrupted by a sudden pair of arms wrapped around her. She gasped, then looked down to see a familiar head of blonde hair.
"Jason!" she laughed, wrapping one arm around him as well, and ruffling his messy blonde hair. "How are ya, little bro? Everything good with Piper?"
"Yeah, yeah. She went home for a few days, since it's her dad's birthday, but she'll be back by Sunday evening."
"Ah, so two more days, then?"
"Yeah, they haven't seen each other in a while. Gods, Thals, I missed you!"
"Missed you too."
"Hey, hey, hey! It's my favorite daughter of Zeus!"
Thalia looked up from Jason to glare at Leo. "Yeah, because I'm the only one."
"Hey, easy, princess."
Thalia huffed, while Leo's girlfriend-Calypso, wasn't it?-put a hand on her boyfriend's arm. "Leo, you really shouldn't," she chided him.
Leo grinned goofily at her. "Whatever you say, babe." He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. Thalia mentally gagged. Good thing she had never wanted to date anyone, of any gender. It just held no interest for her.
"Excuse me!"
The quartet moved over to the side as a Taiwanese girl dressed in greasy overalls, short black hair pulled back into a ponytail, moved past them to tackle a Hunter in a parka. Thalia recognized her. Angeline Han, daughter of Hephaestus, was rather close to Charlie Barnwell, the Hunter daughter of Apollo. Thalia had grown used to this. Charlie hugged Angeline back and immediately started chattering to her about "fanfiction" and "update." She groaned inwardly when she caught the word "Solangelo" in their conversation. Charlie was one of the biggest shippers of it, probably having been infected by Angeline.
(A/N: These are the characters our contest winner, A. P. HSIAO, and LOSTcharlie-claireLOST, sent in. Hope I do them justice!)
"Hey."
Thalia turned around to grin at the newcomers to the group. "Nico! You brought Will!" she cried. She held her hand out for a high five as a greeting, to which Nico hesitantly complied.
"Yes, hi to everyone, but Jason, what did you do with your hand?" Will frowned at Jason. Jason looked sheepish. It was then that Thalia noticed the paper towel Jason had pressed against his hand.
"Oh, yeah. Um, the conch startled me, so I sorta stabbed my hand with the fork."
Everyone stared, while Will made a squawking sound. "Infirmary. Come on. You are getting that bandaged."
Jason didn't protest, merely waving to the group as Will grabbed his arm and yanked him off to the infirmary. Calypso rolled her eyes as Leo laughed and Thalia snorted. Nico crossed her arms and rolled his eyes as well.
"Okay, so while I've been gone, what has gone down in camp?" Thalia asked. The Hunters heard plenty of news from half-blood siblings, but they weren't always exact and up-to-date.
"Drew scaled the rock wall on a dare and failed miserably," Leo said.
"There was a Star Wars marathon. Or was it Star Trek?" Calypso tapped her lip in thought. "I still can't tell the difference."
"It's easy. Star Trek has the guys with pointy ears that look like Leo," Nico told her.
Leo nodded, until realizing what Nico had said. "HEY!"
"It's true."
Thalia laughed again. A few other campers came up to her and said their hello's, to which Thalia responded and asked them what was up. Leo, Calypso, and Nico continued their debate over whether Leo was secretly half-Vulcan and half-god, instead of half-human.
A few minutes passed until Thalia was able to rejoin the conversation, which had led to Leo somehow assembling a miniature version of the Enterprise, the iconic ship that was a huge part of the franchise. Nico and Calypso were giving him looks of disbelief. Thalia also gave him one.
"What? Shouldn't you be used to this by now?" Leo exclaimed. Nico slowly shook his head. Leo huffed and disassembled it, which was even faster than the assembly of it, not to mention just as weird.
"Anyways…Oh, yeah! Last week, at Capture the Flag, the Hecate cabin enchanted their team's flag so that when you picked it up, Justin Bieber music started playing." Everyone cringed at the mention of the dreaded pop star's name. "That Alice chick from Apollo got the flag, and she was so startled she dropped it and fell off Zeus's fist. Needless to say, they won."
"Isn't that against the rules?"
"Eh, I don't know. I think they did something similar in the past with Apollo, Ares, and death metal. Apparently the camper holding the flag couldn't hear for a week afterwards."
Thalia nodded. "Oh, yeah, I remember that." She grinned. "That was awesome!"
"Aren't you sadistic?"
"You know it." Thalia punched Leo in the shoulder. He grimaced, only partially joking.
Calypso cleared her throat. "So much has happened in the past month. I am not sure where to begin!"
"Well, we could always go and get caught up some place, I have some awesome stories to tell as well. Say, Percy and Annabeth are off today, right?"
"Not yet, they're getting out early. They were planning to visit camp once school was over," Nico said.
"Perfect! We'll pick them up. Anyone else that could come along?"
Leo scratched his head. "A few of your Hunters? I bet they're dying to catch up with their friends here as well."
Thalia nodded. "Yeah, they've been antsy. We'll just need a nice place to do it. Would Chiron let you guys out of camp?"
"Maybe? There's barely been any monster attacks, after all. Not since that son of Demeter in like…October?"
Nico nodded, confirming Leo's statement.
"Probably licking their wounds still after the war," Thalia snickered. The others grinned with her, although Nico's was more of a half-smile.
"Back to where to eat for lunch. Any ideas?" Leo asked.
"Somewhere not very expensive, I don't think any of us have much money," Nico suggested.
"Fast food then. Cici's Pizza?" Thalia threw in, then realized her mistake. "Wait, no. That place isn't very cheap."
"Burger King?"
"Maybe? The Hunters had it a few days ago, though."
"You guys go out to eat?"
"Once a month, as a reward for our hard work hunting."
"Ooh!" Calypso raised her hand. "That place with the golden archways into heaven!"
Thalia blinked.
"What," Nico said.
"That's how Leo describes it."
Leo coughed. "She means McDonald's."
"Ah." Thalia looked at Nico. "That's your favorite, right?"
Nico shuffled his feet, looking embarrassed. "Uh, sorta."
She smirked. "Want me to get you like fifty Happy Meals?"
"Absolutely not!"
Everyone turned to see two blonde males approaching. One was Jason, pushing his glasses up clumsily with a bandaged hand. The other was Will, and he did not look very happy. Thalia had never really talked to the guy much, even when she had been a full-time camper those few months, before the quest…
Thalia shook her head, snapping herself out of the reverie. "What do you mean?"
Nico groaned. "Will, don't."
"He's not having fifty Happy Meals!"
"Will, she's joking."
"Oh." Will turned red. "Yeah, sorry."
Okay, that was weird. But Thalia didn't really mind. She had dealt with weirder, as a demigod. "It's all right," she chuckled. "You can tag along to make sure I don't really give him fifty Happy Meals."
"Really? But the infirmary might need me-"
"Come off it, Will," Nico sighed. "You don't have to be in there all the time. Your last day off was, what, Halloween?"
"Before Halloween," Will corrected. Nico raised an eyebrow.
"And you're the one telling me not to stay cooped up all the time."
"That's different!" Will cried, gesturing wildly with his hands. "At least there I'm near people!"
Nico muttered an Italian curse that did not sound very flattering. Thalia was going to have to learn it later. "No, it's not really. You need a scenery change."
"But-"
"Doctor's orders, Solace."
"I'm the one supposed to be saying that to you, Death Head."
Thalia, Jason, Calypso, and Leo watched the two boys debate back and forth. "Bit like watching a tennis match," Jason commented, rubbing the back of his neck.
"Very," Calypso agreed. "But what does kicking a ball over a yellow fork have to do with it?"
"That's football, Callie," Leo told her.
"I thought football was the white ball and the goals?"
"That's…Actually, you're semi-right."
Will and Nico ignored Calypso and Leo. "Well, I guessed the tables have turned," Nico smirked.
"You can't tell me what to do. I'm older!" Will protested.
"Your birthday is only a few months before mine. And, technically, I am."
"I'm taller!"
"I come from a time where people were shorter. Plus, your dad is one of the tallest Olympians."
"I'm blonde?"
"No."
Will sighed, running a hand over his face. "Fine. I'll-I'll go ask for a day off."
"Perfect!" Thalia chimed in. Both boys jumped, and Thalia huffed. Had they really gotten so wrapped up in their conversation that they had forgotten all about the other three people with them? "We'll see what Hunters want to come, along with maybe a few campers. I'll even ask Grover!"
"Just as long as he doesn't eat my tools," Leo said.
"He doesn't even like eating tools. Says they're too greasy."
"The fact that he has tried to eat tools says things by itself."
"Maybe if Juniper can come along, she can restrain him?" Jason suggested.
"Great! Is that all?" Will asked.
"We'll also pick up Percy and Annabeth early from school. You weren't here when we agreed to that," Thalia answered.
At the mention of Percy's name, the smile on Will's face seem to falter. Thalia frowned. What was so wrong about Percy? But she blinked, and the smile reappeared. "That's…great!" the blonde boy exclaimed.
Nico frowned, while Jason, Calypso, and Leo looked at him funny. His reaction hadn't been missed by everyone, it appeared. "Um, yeah," Jason said nervously. "So we'll just…start rounding people up?"
Thalia shrugged. "Seems like it." She then turned to the pavilion to see a very familiar satyr talking eagerly to a green-skinned redheaded girl. "HEY, UNDERWOOD!" Thalia yelled, marching up to them and leaving the others behind.
*YEAH I'M LIVING IN THE STATE OF DREAMING, LIVING IN A MAKE-BELIEVE LAND*
"So…who's gonna get them?" Angeline asked.
A small band of campers and hunters mixed together stared at the outside of Goode High School. The building was pure red brick, and looked like a school that Thalia's mom could've attended as a teen. Or maybe all schools looked so ageless and boring. To be honest, it intimidated Thalia. She had never liked schools, and now that she had grown used to being a free spirit with the Hunters, she felt even more negatively about them. It was like if she put even just one of her pinky toes inside the building, it would gobble her up and confine her to the prison cells better known as "classrooms."
"Who looks old enough to be an adult?" Leo asked, and everyone started looking at each other.
Thalia had convinced Grover to go, but Juniper had to stay behind. The nymphs were still preparing for the winter, helping the animals in the forest hibernate and gathering berries and other foods. Grover had been reluctant to go, but he had not seen Thalia in so long, and Percy had been too busy to visit camp much, along with Annabeth. It was only the urging of his girlfriend that sold him on the idea, and also the chance to eat fries.
A few other Hunters had agreed to come, as did some campers. Thalia couldn't remember the names of all of them, but she remembered Lou Ellen from Hecate and Miranda Gardner from Demeter. The two girls stood rather close together, which made Thalia raise an eyebrow. That was new. Angeline and Charlie had also come. So did Patricia, Rose, Katniss, Trixie, Suzanna, and Lily-six Hunters total, besides Thalia. It was about eighteen people altogether, and when Percy and Annabeth joined them it would become twenty.
At first, Chiron had been hesitant to let such a large group of demigods into the city. But Thalia had reminded him that the Hunters were very skilled with their weapons, and their wolves were at the ready. Not to mention that the campers were also skilled, and many of them had powers as well. They would only be gone for a few hours, and if there was trouble they would return immediately. And that some of them weren't even demigods, such as Grover and Rose. Finally, Chiron relented, much to the whooping of the group.
"Patricia, how old are you again?" Thalia asked,
Patricia gave her a look. "Um, no. I may be able to remember the Revolutionary War, but no way in Tartarus do I look over seventeen."
"Will?" Lou Ellen asked.
"Is it because I'm six feet tall?"
"Maybe?"
"Lou, I highly doubt I'll be able to sign them out."
"Angeline, you try."
"Are you trying to get me in juvie, Charlie?!"
"Nico?" Jason asked.
"You're kidding me, Jason."
"Eh, yeah, you don't really look old enough."
Nico sighed.
Rose finally stepped forward. "I will go."
"You sure?" Lily asked, concern showing for the other nymph.
Rose smiled gently at her. "I do look the oldest, not to mention I technically am."
Thalia nodded. Rose was actually the oldest, both in age and looks. She had been serving Artemis since the Dark Ages. "All right then, Rose. Just say you're…" Thalia tilted her head. Rose had dark brown hair and eerily pink eyes, like the roses she had been named after. "…Percy's cousin or something," the daughter of Zeus finished. "You look enough like him for you to pass off as it."
Rose bowed. "Of course, milady. Shall I bring them straight out here?"
"Yeah. Although, I think we should move. Bunch of teenagers out when school is still in session, someone's gonna get suspicious. How about…" Thalia tapped on her lip and looked around the area. "There!" she exclaimed, pointing at a tree surrounded by park benches a block or two away. "It's perfect."
"Yes, milady. I shall bring them straight here." Rose bowed again and walked up to the main doors, the ones that would bring her to the main office.
Lily tapped her index fingers together, her cheeks tinted the same green as her eyes. "Shouldn't someone go with her? Y'know, to make sure it's all okay."
"Don't worry, Lily, it'll be alright," Patricia reassured her. "Let's just go sit down, I'm a bit winded from all this walking!"
The rest of the group agreed, and as one they walked towards the trees and branches. Jason resumed his story about Katie chasing Travis Stoll up the rock wall, and Thalia laughed, although she did shake her head. She remembered the bets on them that had run like wildfire throughout the camp the fall before the Battle of the Labyrinth, and so far they still weren't together. According to Jason, the bets were still going, although a "new couple" had stolen most of the betting attention away from them.
"You guys are so hung up over them," Thalia scoffed, inspecting the sole of her boots for rocks.
"Shh! They might hear you!" Jason hissed, jerking his head to the bench next to them.
On that bench, Lou Ellen was laughing over a joke that Will had just finished telling. Miranda laughed besides her, and even Nico was smiling. The four were so deeply engaged in conversation, Thalia doubted they could even hear her and Jason conversing.
"You're so paranoid," she scoffed. "Look at them! If they can hear us, I'd be very surprised."
"You never know," Jason told her.
Thalia snorted. "What, they've got ears in the backs of their heads?"
"Maybe. But, listen. I think something's up."
She frowned. "What do you mean?"
Jason scooted closer to his older sister. "Well, you're not really around enough to notice this, but Will seems more…I don't know. Stressed?"
Thalia slowly nodded, remembering Will's reaction to Percy's name. "Yeah, I guess."
"Yeah. I don't know what it is. I asked Lou Ellen and Cecil, but neither of them claim to know anything. And I think it's getting to Nico. He's sort of retreating in on himself. You see how he's smiling right now?" Jason shook his head. "A week ago, I heard him bust out laughing over this really corny joke Will said. It wasn't even that funny! But now he's just smiling."
"Maybe you're reading too much into this."
Jason shook his head. "I'm not," he insisted. "It's not easy to make Miranda laugh either, but she's dying over there."
"You're insane. Who are you and what have you down with my brother?"
"Thalia, I'm serious."
Thalia looked in Jason's eyes and saw that he was telling the truth. There was no humor there, only a deep concern for his friend. Maybe he was right. After all, Thalia wasn't always in camp.
"Fine. Let's say you're right. What do you want me to do about it?"
"I don't know. Talk to them about it? Maybe Nico. You've always gotten along decently with him."
Thalia shrugged. "Maybe. I don't hang with Solace much anyways."
"Why are we whispering?" someone whispered behind them.
Jason jumped, yelping, and Thalia stiffened before reaching for her bow and arrow.
"Oops. Did I scare you?"
"Leo!" Jason whisper-shouted back, whipping around to face his best friend. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to figure out why we're whispering," Leo whispered back. Only his head was visible, as it was poking out over the top of the park bench. "I even have Callie with me!"
Calypso's head popped up next to his, and she smiled tentatively at them. "Hello," she whispered.
Thalia face-palmed. "You guys are idiots," she whispered.
"True, true. But why are we whispering?" Leo whisper-asked again.
"Because we are trying to have a private conversation," Jason whisper-replied.
"What is it about?
"It's private," Thalia whispered forcefully.
"Chill, Thals," Jason whisper-scolded.
"Are you whispering about Will? We heard his name," Calypso whispered.
"How long have you been there?"
Calypso shrugged. "I don't know, a moment or two? Not that long."
Thalia scowled. "It doesn't matter. Just leave us alone!" she whispered-shouted.
"You know, I'm rather tempted to make a 'Hey little mama let me whisper in your ear' joke, but I think one of you would punch me," a new voice said. This one wasn't whispering.
Thalia jumped again, but then she recognized the voice, and turned around with a grin. "Percy!"
"The one and only," Percy grinned. Annabeth stood next to him, her hand wrapped around his arm. Rose bowed to Thalia as she passed her and walked over to the bench where Lily sat with Patricia, Katniss, and the other Hunters. The green-eyed nymph squealed at the sight of Rose and wrapped her arms around her. Rose chuckled and planted a kiss on top of Lily's red hair.
"Annabeth!" Thalia exclaimed, running up to the blonde girl and wrapping her arms around her, picking her up easily and swinging her around. Annabeth giggled.
"Put me down before I too get dizzy!" she gasped. Thalia obliged. Next to them, she heard Jason and Grover greeting Percy.
"I know, I know. But, gods-it's been forever! How are you? How's studies? Still planning to be an architect?"
"Of course! The architect club here is even planning to take a trip to a new building downtown in a few weeks, as the end-of-the-semester trip! It's gonna be awesome!"
"That's great! It does sound pretty cool." Thalia had no interest in buildings.
Behind her, someone coughed. "What about me?"
Thalia turned from Annabeth to see Percy mock-glaring at her. Jason walked up to Annabeth and gave her a hug, and the two blondes started chattering away about temples and altars. Grover followed him.
"Great to see you again, bro!" Thalia walked up to Percy and wrapped her arms around him, scowling to herself when she realized that Percy had actually grown a bit taller. Sometimes Thalia wished she could grow taller, as staying the same height forever was a downside to being a Hunter.
"I know! It's been so damn long!" He hugged her back. Thalia grinned.
"Yeah, we're gonna have a dam good time at lunch today," she replied as she broke away from the hug, putting emphasis on the "dam."
Percy raised an eyebrow, smiling slyly at her. He caught what she had done there. "Yes, a dam good time."
"The dam best of dam good times."
"Yes, but to have a dam good time, we need Grover!"
Grover looked up at them with a frown. "What?"
"Grover! My dam good friend!" Percy exclaimed.
The satyr frowned at him, until understanding dawned on him, and he laughed, waggling a finger at them. "You guys are too dam much," he said.
Jason and Annabeth stared at them. "Are we missing something here?" Jason asked.
"Not a dam thing at all!" Thalia laughed.
"Nope, not at all!" Grover chorused.
Annabeth sighed. "Is this an inside joke?"
"Annabeth, you have hit the dam nail on the head!" Percy responded.
The blonde girl rolled her eyes. "You're such a Seaweed Brain."
"Dam it, Wise Girl, I know you love me."
"While that is true, it doesn't change your 'damn' idiocy."
"Wise Girrrrllll!"
"What is the reason for this excessive use of profanity, milady?" Rose asked, frowning at Thalia.
"It's to show dam good of a time we're gonna have!" Thalia replied, grinning cheekily.
"…I do not understand."
"Guys," Lily groaned, "can we stop? I wanna go eat!" The others nodded along with her. Lou Ellen looked ready to cast magic spells on them, and Nico's glare was similar to hers.
"Dammit," Grover muttered. Thalia sighed too.
"Yes, we'll stop, dam it," Percy said.
"Shut it, Jackson!"
Everyone stared at Will, who was glowering at Percy with his arms crossed. The son of Poseidon raised his hands in surrender.
"Fine. I'll stop. Plus, I don't think you can swear in public restaurants anyways." Percy looked surprised, his expression probably mirroring Thalia's. Up until now, the blonde boy had seemed easygoing enough, if not rather sarcastic.
Nico, who was standing next to Will, put a hand on his arm. "Will…" he murmured. "Don't look like you're gonna murder him."
Will blinked and looked down at Nico. "Did you say something?"
"You're glaring at Percy."
"Oh. Sorry. Are we going now?"
"Sure, if everyone's ready," Thalia interjected before Nico could answer. She then turned to the others. "Ready, you guys?"
"Yes!" they answered, many of them sounded exasperated. Thalia rolled her eyes. They didn't have to sound so exasperated.
"The McDonald's is near Central Park, correct?" Katniss asked.
"Yes," Annabeth answered.
"Perfect."
"Obviously."
The Hunter laughed, and Percy slid his arm through Annabeth's. She frowned up at him, but stood on her toes to place a cheek on Percy's cheek anyways. Katniss stuck a finger in her throat and pretended to gag.
"C'mon, Callie, let's go!" Leo grabbed Calypso's arm and started running to be in front of the group. The girl shrieked at first, but laughed and jogged alongside him. Jason followed, yelling at them to wait for him.
Rose and Lily walked behind them, hand-in-hand as well, although Lily was skipping more than she was actually walking. Patricia and Trixie caught up to them and they all started chattering eagerly about hunting methods.
Suzanna started asking Lou Ellen and Miranda about plants and healing spells, and Lou Ellen managed to pull Will into the conversation, although he looked reluctant to. Suzanna wrinkled her nose at Will's presence but didn't say a word. Katniss fell back from Percy and Annabeth and joined them. Nico lingered besides Will, but didn't really participate in the conversation. Charlie and Angeline walked a few feet away, deep in a round of Rock-Paper-Scissors.
Thalia walked behind all of them, mostly to make sure her Hunters wouldn't pull any bows and arrows out and start shooting all the boys. It had happened before, even though it was just a few teens that had stumbled on them hunting. The wounds had been pretty hard to explain to the hospital.
After a few minutes of ambling towards Central Park, Nico dropped away from the group of people and shoved his hands in his pockets, walking by himself. Thalia frowned. This was the old Nico she remembered. He just glared down at the sidewalk and hunched his shoulders close together.
Thalia wasn't sure it was such a good idea, but she walked up to the son of Hades, making sure her Hunters were still in her line of vision. "Hey."
Nico jumped and whipped his head up to face Thalia. Perhaps the daughter of Zeus was mistaken, but Nico seemed expectant, like he was hoping someone was there. However, it seemed to drop when he saw who it was. "Oh. Hey, Thalia."
"Hey, yourself. Things still going good?"
"Yeah, I guess."
Thalia raised an eyebrow. "You guess? What's going on?"
"It's just cold, and I'm hungry and tired of walking."
"Yeah, yeah, kid. I know that. We all feel ya. But you're looking pretty down." She leaned in closer to him. "This about Solace?" she whispered.
"Ugh. I don't want to talk about this right now. I still can't believe Jason told you!"
"In his defense, he was so caught up at the time that he let it slip. And you chased him around for a solid ten minutes afterwards. Plus, I swore on the River Styx not to tell a soul unless you gave me explicit permission." Thunder boomed lightly overhead, and Thalia frowned, looking up at the light gray sky. She wasn't sure if the thunder was booming to remind her of her promise, or if it was because of her, period. Or if it was because it was going to rain, she thought the news channel at the electronics store she and the Hunters had passed earlier had said something about a chance of rain. If that was the case, she hoped they would make it before it started to pour.
"Yeah, I know, but…"
"Hey, it's alright, Nico." Thalia looked down at Nico and smiled what she hoped was a comforting smile. "If I was in your position, I would be nervous too. Well, not exactly, since I don't have an interest in romance and never will. But still."
"Thanks."
She couldn't tell if that was sarcastic or if Nico really meant that. Thalia hoped she did. "But seriously. Is something up with you two? Will looked like he was ready to jump on Percy and throttle him right there and then."
"I…I don't know what's going on either,"
Thalia stopped short and stared at Nico. "Nico, I swear, if he has done anything to hurt you, I will personally take every arrow I can find and shove them up his sorry di-"
"Please don't," Nico muttered, his face turning pale. "That sounds really painful."
"Ah. Yeah. I wouldn't know, since I don't have one." She started walking again, and the son of Hades followed, falling into pace with her.
"Let's just forget that, okay?"
"Sure. But if he does, I'm not gonna hesitate."
"I am fully aware of that."
"I know you are, kid."
Silence. Thalia knew there was more, but she wasn't going to weasel it out of Nico if he didn't want to tell her. She wasn't going to force him to do anything he didn't want to do.
Then Nico groaned and ran a hand down his face. "Okay, I think I know what might be bothering him."
"You think, or you're sure?"
"Think. Like I said, Will hasn't told me anything. But apparently, he hasn't told anyone else anything either."
"And how do you know this?"
"…I may or may not have asked his cabin and his other friends?"
Thalia laughed. "Oh, man, looks like you've got it baaaaad!"
"Shut up, Thalia."
"Nope." Thalia turned around and walked backwards so she could face Nico. "I can't be tamed, di Angelo."
Nico glowered at her and she chuckled. "C'mon, you know you do."
"I do not like him that much."
Thalia raised an eyebrow as high as she could.
"Okay, maybe I do."
Thalia raised her other eyebrow to the same height as the other one, causing her piercings to being jostled. Nico looked nervous. "Your eyebrows are scary," he told her.
"They ain't coming down 'til you admit it."
Nico sighed. "Yes. Fine. I have it bad for Will Solace. Are you satisfied?"
"Maybe. So what do you think Will could be so worked up about?"
More silence. "Me."
Thalia stopped once again. "Wait, what?"
"I mean, it makes sense, right? He's not telling a soul about it, and nobody has a clue as to what it is. So it probably has something to do with someone. And I think it might be me? I don't know who else. He treats everyone else the same as always, and I think he treats me like he usually does, but-"
"Hold up, di Angelo. You're rambling," Thalia cut him off, starting to walk backwards again. "Maybe you've got it worse than I thought. Perhaps you should tell him before your infatuation gets worse?"
Before she even finished her last sentence, Nico was shaking his head furiously. "No way! He's stressed enough, I don't want to add to it! And what if he doesn't like me?"
"Then ask about what's stressing him out again!"
"He's not gonna tell me!"
Gods, why don't people talk to each other?! Thalia thought. "Well, it's either one or the other, so take your pick. That's all I got, bud."
Nico frowned, craning his head to look behind Thalia. "Um, Thalia?"
"Nope. You ain't changing the subject on me."
"But-"
"No buts, unless if you mean butt as in-"
BAM!
Thalia shrieked as she rammed right into someone, and they both fell over. The person let out a yell of surprise, but Thalia wasn't able to identify the owner. Other people started talking.
"Hey!"
"What the fuck-"
"Oh my gods!" (That was Nico.)
Thalia found herself lying on her side on the pavement. Her back ached, and one of her shoes was nearly off. Fortunately, she didn't feel so bad.
"Oh, man."
"Oh my gods!"
"Thals! You alright?"
Three people appeared above Thalia: Percy, Annabeth, and Jason. Her brother knelt down next to her. "Anything hurt? Broken?"
"Yeah, my ass and my pride," Thalia grumbled, still winded from the fall. Jason chuckled and reached out a hand for her to take. She took it and allowed herself to be pulled up, before looking around to see who she had bumped into.
Well, speak of the Devil, and he shall come. Or, in this case, stand where you could bump into him.
Will Solace was sitting up, rubbing his head and grimacing. Lou Ellen waved her hands as she nervously chanted a few spells to help him. Miranda hovered nearby, fanning herself with her hand like she didn't know what to do. Leo was digging around in his pockets for what Thalia suspected was either ambrosia or nectar. Calypso was also digging around in hers. And-unsurprisingly, Thalia added silently to herself-Nico was knelt down in front of Will, probably asking him if he was alright.
That was all Thalia could see before a bunch of silvery parkas blocked her line of vision.
"Milady! Are you alright?" Rose asked, eyes glowing brighter with concern. Lily jumped up beside her, chattering about how Thalia was probably grievously injured. Charlie dug her hands in her pockets, and Angeline was doing the same.
Katniss had pulled her bow out. "Would you like me to shoot the blonde boy, milady, for harming you? Or the black-haired one, for distracting you? Because I don't really care which one." Suzanna, Patricia, and Trixie also had their bows out, and all were glaring in Will's direction.
Thalia shook her head, blinking violently. "Whoa, whoa, whoa! I'm fine, I'm okay, and it was just an accident."
"You sure?" Patricia asked.
"Found a bottle of nectar!" Charlie grinned, waving the bottle in the air.
"Thanks, but I don't need it." The Hunter frowned and stuffed the bottle back in one of her pockets. "Just make sure we're all okay."
"Sure." Charlie agreed sullenly, and jogged over to the rest of their group. Angeline followed.
Thalia rolled her eyes and insisted once again that she was fine, and that nobody needed to be shot. She then turned to look around at where they were, and her eyes fell on the McDonald's. "Ah, we're here!" she proclaimed, putting her hands on her hips. "Finally!"
"Yes, we are. The golden archways to heaven!" Calypso declared, skipping up to stand next to Thalia. The daughter of Zeus took this to mean that Will was alright. And it was confirmed when Charlie walked up to her and gave her a thumbs up.
Thalia turned around and walked up to Will, who was rubbing his head and wincing gingerly. Lou Ellen and Nico stood on either side of him, arms poised as if to catch him when he fell.
"Hey, man, that was completely my fault. I wasn't looking where I was going. Sorry."
"S'okay, I understand. Let's just go in, alright? We came all this way."
Thalia nodded, and turned to the rest of the group. "Alright, then! Everyone know where they're ordering?"
*HEY BOY YOU GOT ME ON MY TIP TOES*
Nico regretted Thalia's idea.
The lunch had, fortunately, passed without a hitch, although all of the Hunters had spent it glaring at Will. The son of Apollo himself had spent it squirming under their gaze and asking Lou Ellen to cast a spell that would protect him. He couldn't be blamed, honestly. Nobody would ever want to be on the bad side of any of the Hunters.
Then came the walk back to the Empire State Building, where Argus would be waiting for them. Nothing else had happened then, until Thalia confronted Nico.
The Hunter was fed up of hearing Nico speculate about what was up with Will, and finally snapped at him to either investigate it himself, or tell Will his feelings. Of course there was no way in hell Nico would admit his feelings. So he went with the first option.
Nico walked up to Will and asked if he could talk to him after they got back to camp, in front of the pine tree. Will looked panicked, and for a split second Nico thought he was going to say no, but then he sighed, closing his eyes, and agreed. Nico wasn't sure why, but he was glad that he did, anyways.
Once everyone was back at camp, they all tumbled out of the car. The Hunters were first, relieved to be away from all the boys, and Thalia was forced to follow them, although she did glare at Nico as if to say "You'll be the one with arrows up your dick if you don't do this so help me Zeus." Percy and Annabeth were next, jogging up to old friends and catching up. Leo, Jason, Angeline, and Calypso followed, while Lou Ellen and Miranda were last to leave.
Now Argus had driven the car away, and Nico was standing with his arms crossed, facing Will, at the bottom of Half-Blood Hill. Will looked like he wanted to be anywhere but there. Funny, since that was exactly how Nico felt. But he knew, deep down, that he had to do this.
They both stood there in silence for a few minutes. Nico just couldn't bring himself to ask what was bothering Will again. He already knew Will would refuse to answer him. Will rocked back and forth on his feet, looking anywhere but at Nico.
Finally, he couldn't take it any longer. He blurted out, "What is it with you and eyes?"
Will stopped rocking and gave him a weird look, although he avoided his gaze as always, merely flickering his eyes up. "What?"
"You're doing it right now. You don't really look people in the eyes when you're talking with them, and I've been wondering why."
Will's answer surprised him. "You're asking about-? Oh. Oh, yeah. Oh, okay, you aren't-Okay. It's not about-Okay." He sounded…relieved?
"Will? That's not really an answer."
"I know, it's just a little bit complicated, and I really should've told you sooner, I just kept on forgetting to."
Nico raised an eyebrow. "Continue."
"Okay!" Will clapped his hands together loudly, wincing slightly at the loud noise the action made. "There's this mental condition, sort of, and it's known as Asperger's Syndrome. It's typically classified as a form of…autism, I think? I think they started calling it a separate thing. Anyways, people with this typically have ADHD and sometimes OCD. They also tend to not look people in the eyes when speaking or whatever, and ramble on about a topic they're sorta obsessed with. Also some rocking back and forth and finger-tapping, along with having difficulty understanding idioms and stuff."
Nico blinked. Will had spoken so fast, he didn't catch all of it, save for the first two sentences, along with "ADHD," "in the eyes when speaking," "rocking," and "idioms and stuff." "I'm sorry, I don't think I caught all of that."
Will sighed and tilted his hand back and forth. "Eh. It's sorta complicated, and a lot to take in at first. I didn't understand it either when I first learned about it."
"Okay…" Nico's brain was still trying to process the information. He didn't know much about autism, much less that there was different types of it. "Is there, uh, a book or something explaining this? In Ancient Greek, of course."
Will brightened at Nico's attitude. He seemed happy that Nico was taking this so well. "Oh, yeah, there is! It's in my cabin, though, so…"
"Is this what's been stressing you out this whole time?"
Nico wasn't expecting Will's grin to slide off his face, and that alone told Nico that this wasn't it. "Will, I'm serious. What is it? I'm worried."
A twig snapped in the woods nearby, and a string of foreign curses followed. Nico silently cursed as well. So close. "Who's there?!" he barked, drawing out his sword. Will nervously balled his hands into fists, looking wildly around.
"Stand your ground!" a female voice hissed from the woods.
"Um, does she mean us?" Will asked.
"I don't think so," was Nico's response.
An arrow flew out of the woods, imbedding itself in the ground between the boys. They both yelped and scrambled away from it, Nico nearly dropping his sword.
"Oh, wow, you entirely missed the point of that," another girl's voice drawled, dripping with sarcasm.
"Sorry, I just don't want to hurt them!" another girl answered, supposedly defending herself.
Nico regained his composure and raised his sword up behind his head, backing up to the base of the hill, so nobody could sneak up on him. "Show yourself!" he barked in the direction of the trees. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Will back up to hill as well, although he looked like a fish out of water. Nico realized Will was basically defenseless, and even then he had little-to-none experience actually fighting. Nico was going to have to defend him. The thought of defending Will sent a rush of warmth through him, and he had to remind himself that right now was not a good time to be fantasizing about his crush.
"Why would we reveal ourselves to you?!" the second girl's voice rang out.
"I don't know, so we can see what we're fighting?" Will quipped.
Zing!
Another arrow flew out of the woods, and Nico could barely register the punching glove attached to it before it hit Will smack in the face. The blonde fell back onto the ground, with a loud THUMP!
"WILL!" the son of Hades shouted. He did drop his sword that time and ran over to him.
Will's eyes were closed, and he was limp on the ground. A small trail of blood oozed from his nose, where the glove had hit him. The arrow in question laid a few feet away, but Nico ignored it. Will was more important. He always was, no matter what was stressing him out or any type of Asperger's at all.
"Will?" Nico asked, and gingerly picked up the son of Apollo's wrist to feel for a pulse, just like how he had taught him. It felt wrong, almost, how the tables had turned: The doctor the patient, and the patient…Well, technically, Nico wasn't a patient anymore. But he was certain that, as far as Will was concerned, he was. And he was sort of the doctor now, anyways.
A steady beating pulsated in Will's wrist, and Nico nearly collapsed with relief. Will was alive, just knocked out cold. But that had still been a nasty knockout, so he would have to take him to the infirmary as soon as possible, even if he had to drag him. And seeing how Will had quite more than one or two inches on Nico, despite him being only a few months older, he might actually have to drag him.
Nico was just about to start dragging him to the infirmary where at least half of the Apollo cabin would be, until he heard the voices from behind him.
"Shit."
"You…Did you just…YOU IDIOT! YOU KNOCKED HIM OUT!"
"You said to! What was the point of giving me that arrow, then?"
"To shoot somewhere other than his head?"
"I was merciful and avoided his groin, he'll probably thank me for that later."
"We're trying to knock some sense into them, not literally knock them out!"
"Hush, all of you!"
Nico turned just in time to see a ebony-skinned girl in a parka walk out of the trees, followed by many others. He dropped Will's wrist and stood up.
"The Hunters." He still resented them after all these years, despite having a good friend be one of them.
The girl regarded him coolly. "Hello as well. The harm to your boyfriend was unintentional."
Nico narrowed his eyes. "He's not my boyfriend."
"Sure, keep telling yourself that," a girl in the group muttered. Nico glared in her direction, and the girl-whoever she was-shut up accordingly.
"Okay, if it wasn't intentional, then why did you still do it? With a boxing glove, no less."
Another Hunter started tapping her fingers nervously on her bow. "Um, should we tell him? Or should we-"
"Gods, Clara, he's gonna figure it out sooner or later. Boys are actually smarter than we give them credit for, surprisingly enough," another Hunter chided.
Nico decided to let the insult slide. This was a group meant for girls only, of course. It made sense that they would be slightly sexist. Although if they were going for worldwide equality, that slogan was not going to get them very far.
"Lay it on me," he said, spreading his arms out wide. "I have a few guesses, obviously, and at least half involve Will and me."
"Oh, great, he really has," yet another Hunter muttered. Nico gave up on trying to count them.
"Allow me to explain," the first girl said, her hands clasped together. She held her chin up high and her shoulders back, radiating an air of royalty. "The unintentional injury of your boyfriend-"
"He's not-"
But the Hunter continued to speak as if Nico simply wasn't there at all, only raising her voice slightly. "-and the shooting of the first arrow was because some of us wanted to attempt to get you together."
"Some?!" another Hunter asked incredulously.
Nico wanted a Hunter to pull out another boxing glove arrow and hit him with it. Great. The Hunters shipped it. They knew. And they, like everyone else and their mother, was trying to get him together with him. An immortal all-girl's club shipped him with someone. That was definitely not on Nico's bucket list.
"Look, I guess that I…appreciate that you guys care, but…please, can you not? Enough people have been messing with us as it is, and I'd prefer not to get shot in the face by a maniac."
"Excuse me?!"
A tiny brunette girl shoved her way up to the front of the group. She glared at Nico with deep brown eyes covered by glasses. "Did you just call me a maniac?!" she demanded, shaking her first with the bow in it at him. A few Hunters stared glaring as well. Even the first girl with the air of royalty glowered at him.
Nico gulped. He had fucked up, big-time. "Look, I didn't mean it-"
"SHUT UP!"
Faster than the eye could blink, the girl had pulled out an arrow and strung it on the bow. In the next instance an arrow was flying towards Nico.
The son of Hades yelped as he ducked, the arrow sailing harmlessly over his head and embedding itself in the sparsely-grassed hill behind him. He shuddered. That arrow had no boxing glove on it, only a sharpened silver tip. It was definitely not good for his health.
He turned back from the arrow to find that at least half of the Hunters had their bows and arrows trained on him. He gulped and slowly stood back up, hands raised in surrender.
"You dare insult us, son of Hades?" The girl who had chided Clara spat.
Nico started to shake his head violently. "No-No! I didn't mean it-"
"Whatever! Let 'em rip, girls!"
At least a dozen arrows let loose all at once, trained only on one destination: Nico.
Nico had to think fast, lest he risk dying by the arrows. He twisted and ducked to avoid them, probably pulling off what looked like a very complicated-and very comical-dance routine. The arrows flew harmlessly into the hill.
A Hunter cursed in what sounded like Romanian. "We're wasting arrows!"
Geez, glad that you think that if none of the arrows have hit me then they're being wasted, Nico snapped in his head, but he had to avoid another barrage of arrows.
"Stay still, son of Hades, so we can shoot you!"
"Wow, I feel loved."
"Don't insult us again, or you will-"
"What the hell is going on here?!"
Many of the Hunters paled, some dropping their weapons. However, Nico had never been so glad to hear that voice in his life.
Thalia Grace stomped up to the group, electric blue eyes flashing with anger. She was trailed by Charlie, who looked extremely nervous.
"Hey, Thalia, let's not kill them all, okay?" Charlie asked. "Lady Artemis wouldn't approve!"
"Charlie, right now, I could NOT give less of a shit." Thalia marched up to the front of the group and started yelling at them. "Jesus Christ, I leave you all alone for more than three hours, and this is what you come up with?! An ambush?! Are you fucking kidding me?! What the actual hell!"
"But, milady-" a Hunter started to process.
"The next person to call me that is dead meat, I swear," Thalia snarled, and the Hunter shut her mouth.
"This is not acceptable behavior. What if you actually killed one of them? Or, at the least, gravely injured one of them? Apollo wouldn't be very happy, even if we are followers of his sister. And do you really want the god of the dead after you?"
Silence. A few Hunters lowered their heads in shame.
"Good. Now, we're gonna set up in the Artemis cabin. Since arrangements were already made for Capture the Flag, you're still gonna play. But I will come up with a different punishment later. Am I clear?"
"Yes, milady," was the answer from the dejected chorus of Hunters.
"What did I say about-Actually, you know what? I don't really care right now. Hunters, with me. Charlie, help Nico take Solace to the infirmary."
And with that, Thalia marched off back in the direction of the cabins. After a few grumbles, the group of Hunters that had attacked Nico and Will followed her, some shooting glares at Nico, a few at Charlie. Charlie just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms while Nico glared back.
When they were a few yards away, Charlie turned around and walked over to where Will was lying on the ground, and Nico followed. His heart beat when he saw that, even though he was technically still on his back, Will had awoken and was lying back on one of his elbows, grimacing as he rubbed his face where the arrow had hit.
"Sorry about that. Some of my fellow Hunters are more than a bit off in the head," Charlie apologized. "Can you stand up?"
Will made a face and slowly pushed himself off from the ground. "I think-WHOA!"
He stumbled, nearly falling flat on his face. Before he knew it, Nico had run up to Will and caught him. "Obviously, you can't," he said. Will straightened himself up, although he left a hand on Nico's shoulder for support, causing it to burn with warmth.
"No, no, I can. I'm just slightly…woozy. You can let go now."
"No. You're gonna fall again."
Will took his hand off and tried to walk. "I'm fi-" He tripped again. This time, Charlie caught him. Even though he knew it was irrational, a spark of jealously towards Charlie lit up in Nico.
Charlie casually took one of Will's arms and draped it across her shoulders. "Ay, Nico!" she called. "Take his other arm, will ya? We gotta get him to the infirmary, stat."
Will started to protest as Nico walked up to him and took his other arm. "What-no! I'm the doctor, not the patient! You can't-"
"Sorry, Solace. The tables have turned," Nico told him, ignoring the burning of his shoulders.
"They have not!"
"Think of this as payback for those three days."
"You enjoyed them."
Nico bit his lip. He did enjoy them, at least partially (mostly because he got to spend time with Will). "Eh, only a little. Let's see how you are when you're on assigned bed-rest."
"You are enjoying this way too much, aren't you."
Charlie coughed, startling both boys. "Quit your bickering. Will's face injury isn't gonna get better any sooner if you both keep on fighting like this."
"Oh, I-" Will sighed. "Fine. Let me be the patient this time around."
Nico laughed, and together he and Charlie carried the dizzy son of Apollo to the camp infirmary.
Suddenly I advance the plot. Fun, right? (I played the entire battle scene out in my head and for some reason Will had glasses? Also first proper battle scene that I can recall writing woop)
I barfed up a Solangelo one-shot called "Underneath the Mistletoe." The events of that one-shot do not affect the events of this story, however, jsyk. Also I barfed up a Solangelo drabble called "Nico-Sexual." There's something wrong with me I s2g.
Also my account turned two years old on Saturday woop woop!
And Connor and Lacy were supposed to get together this chapter, BUT I had to push it back to next chapter, because Hunters. You'll have to wait for the next chapter, I'm afraid. Sorry!
Plus author Emimawi is starting up a really cool story! It takes place 22 years after the Second Giant War, about five demigods on a quest to stop Eris, the goddess of Discord, and my character Shannon Walker is in it! Also there's a genderfluid character as one of the main characters and I literally screamed when I found out. Representation of my gender woohoo!
Also started using my WattPad and AO3 majorly. WattPad is TailsDoll13, AO3 is Gamzee_Makaraoni.
Also this story may be seeing a sequel! One where everyone is annoying Solangelo while they're dating! It'll probably have a longer lifespan, and not be quite as dramatic at this one. What do you guys think? Of course, I have other fanfictions to work on, so it might not be a main focus of mine. I might start in in April? I have an idea for the first chapter already.
One last ramble: Speaking of ThePirateOfTheSeaOfMonster's review, is there like a "canon" for this story? Like, headcanons or stuff that you see happening in this story? I'd be interested to see them.
Now, if you don't mind, I'm off to find gasoline and matches so I can burn America for letting a murderer walk free because he's a white policeman. So leave me your favorite lines!
Deranged Shadow Fangirl
P.S. I'm gonna publish the toothbrush one-shot at some point don't worry.