I do not own Percy Jackson nor Heroes of Olympus, they belong to Rick Riordan.
Chapter Eight - Carlos
They trained from the time he got home to the time they went to bed. They trained for two weeks, Alyx gaining back any weight she lost and well…
"You have a freaking six pack?" He yelled when she pulled off her regular shirt to pull on her training shirt. She looked down at it.
"Guess so." She replied. He scowled at her arms. They were muscular and well built, like she'd been training all her life. She'd probably had. His dad raised an eyebrow, leaning against his shop. She pulled on her shirt and pulled her hair back in a short ponytail. Her nail polish had picked off during the training days, but she'd didn't bother repainting them. Her tattoos and scars glimmered in the setting sun. She started her stretches, her body flexing. Her back muscles, forearms, legs and abdomen were well built and were basically the perfect athlete's body. He frowned deeply and started his stretches. He saw his dad disappear into his shop, keeping it open to keep an eye on them.
During the first week, he noticed the changes in his body immediately. He was sore the first week, but his muscles didn't feel heavy and his body moved better than before.
The Mist, the magical barrier that separates the mortals from seeing the real thing, made the kids at the school believe Mr. Candelaria was the principal the whole time.
They trained until his mom came out, calling that dinner was ready. They wiped themselves of the sweat and headed inside, serving their plates.
"Don't eat too much." Alyx scolded, hitting his arm when he got up to get a second plate. He scowled and piled on some more noodles.
"You're not my mother." He replied.
"Carlos, love, be careful with your tone. She's right, she's trying to build you up, and eating a lot won't help." His mom said, scrolling through pictures on her phone.
"Mom!" He hissed. "She's over there eating like there's no tomorrow!"
"I have fast metabolism." She said, getting up and piling on some noodles and chicken. "Besides," She poked his side. "I see your muscles coming in." She sat down, happily slurping on her food. He sat down as he scratched his neck. Alyx leaned back, patting her stomach happily. She looked at her nails.
"I need to file them again…" She mumbled.
"They'd be wicked in combat." He said.
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I wouldn't wanna be scratched by those, that's for sure."
"Heh." She flexed her fingers and then leaned forward, her eyes growing a bit darker. "Also, I would like to ask you something." His mom raised an eyebrow.
"Yes?" Her hands clenched a bit.
"I would like to take Carlos east."
"East?" His dad raised his eyebrow next, putting down his cup. "What do you mean?"
"I would like to take him to New York, to Camp Half-Blood." His parents immediately reacted.
"No."
"Of course!"
His dad looked at his mom with a stern expression.
"Silena, we're not letting our seventeen year old son go off on a dangerous adventure with a girl we don't even know well. Besides, what do you hope to find there?"
"My memory." That shut him up. She looked down. "I know you don't have full trust in me yet, but I promise I'll protect him with my life." He poked her arm, concerned.
"But…" He started. "I'm not even fully trained yet."
"I'll train you along the way." She replied. "Please. I… I need to go that way, and I need help." The two looked at each other, biting their lips.
"We'll talk with you tomorrow. Let us talk about this."
He crawled into her bed (he'd been doing this a lot lately, mostly because he loved her comfort) and stared at her while she wrote something on her desk.
"What are you doing?" She shrugged, putting her pencil down and getting up, stretching.
"I just did a couple of things to add on my list of what I need to teach you." She crawled in bed, poking his nose. "So how come you've been sleeping in my bed? If your dad catches us, he'll most likely take my head."
"The only reason he's so protective is because I'm his oldest right now." He looked down. "When Harper left for college, he got really overprotective."
"Oh." She laid down, pursing her lips. He nuzzled close to her and happily fell asleep, her arm wrapping around his body and keeping him close.
The next day, they gave approval reluctantly. He trained the best he could, and she realized that while watching his abilities.
They gathered in the living room Friday night, showered and their bellies full, they sat the bean bag while his parents sat on the couch. There were two hiking backpacks and eight boxes sitting at their feet. Alyx leaned forward, eyeing the packs and boxes.
"What's this?" She asked.
"Gifts." His mom said happily. "In these packs are items to help you on your quest." She patted one. "Food, water, ambrosia, nectar and first aid kits are in both packs. In Alyx's, there's a map, rope and some throwing knives that you can use if you are incapable of using your sword or dagger." She clapped her hands, a glint in her eyes that made him take a mental note to never tick her off. "There's also new bars of monster proof soap inside. You may pack clothes and personal items tonight."
"In Carlos's pack, there are similar items, but you may pack whatever you want to take along." They looked at each other, grinning.
"Now," his dad said, handing Alyx five of them, and him the other three. He scowled a bit.
"Why does she get more?"
"Because I'm more likeable." He made a face.
"Go ahead and open them." He opened his first box, revealing a beautifully crafted Celestial Bronze sword.
"Oh wow…" He said. The handle was wrapped in black leather, and the end had a black gem with engraving on the bottom. CMB.
"My initials?" He asked.
"Yes." He opened the second box, revealing a dagger, Celestial Bronze, similar to the sword. His initials were on the bottom of the dagger as well.
"Cool!" He opened the third, revealing two black scabbards for the weapons.
"So cool…" Alyx said in awe. He grinned and opened the last, revealing a…
"An earring?" He asked, extremely confused. She tilted her head, opening the same sized box, revealing the same earring. They were made of silver metal, and were rather shiny.
"It took us awhile to create these, but put them on." His dad said. Alyx was quick to do hers, taking out the bottom one on her left ear and putting it on.
"Ooh." She said in awe.
"Tap it." She tilted her head but touched it lightly with her finger tip. It shone, and then a mask slid over her face. It covered her nose and her whole lower part of her face. It reminded him of Bucky's mask from Captain America, but more feminine, lighter looking and smaller looking.
"Whoa." Her voice was different, low and husky, almost seductive sounding. His mom shivered.
"I told you it'd work!" She said happily.
"Um, don't mean to interrupt the mood and all, but I don't wear jewelry." He said.
"Just put it on." He wrinkled his nose but picked it up, putting it to the same ear. It clipped on, immediately closing in on his skin and piercing in like a real earring. He squeaked but tapped it and it did the same thing to him.
"That's…" It was completely breathable, and his voice did sound different. Deeper and more… Mature? She laughed and the mask went back to the earring form. He tapped it and it went back. He watched her open her boxes. The second were holsters for her dagger and a leather strap with holds for the throwing knives. The third were combat boots.
"Steel toed." His dad said, putting his chin in his hand, looking a bit excited. "Light and durable for any terrain." She whistled, examining them.
"Nice…" She muttered, thoroughly impressed. She picked up a jacket next. Leather, like a biker's jacket and fine material.
"Wow…" she muttered, running her fingers down it. She smiled, folding it up and laying it in her lap. She picked up the fourth but his mom stopped her.
"Leave that for when the time comes." She raised an eyebrow but nodded and sat it aside. She picked up the last.
"Oh that is my best work by far." His dad said proudly, smiling to his ears. She opened it and gasped. Inside was a double edged sword, the blades dark grey, red ancient Greek engraved in it. The handle was black leather, and was so beautifully designed, he felt slightly jealous.
"Wow…" She said, standing and twirling it. "It's gorgeous."
"It's made of Stygian Iron, Celestial Bronze, Imperial Gold and steel." She slid her fingers over the blade.
"How'd you get those materials?" Carlos asked.
"It was difficult, but I have my connections." He boasted. "Took a lot of hours, but those three are my best work yet. What do you think?" She bowed a bit.
"Thank you."
"And one more thing." His mom got up, handing two envelopes to her. He peeked over her arm to get a look. She raised an eyebrow but opened the first, pulling out…
"Tickets?" She asked.
"Train tickets. The first will take you from here to Denver, the second from Denver to Santa Fe and so on." They looked at each other and she gently put them back, opening the second and gasping.
"Oh no, we can't accept this!" She immediately handed it back, but she pushed it into her hand.
"It's okay. Take it."
"B-But… It's too much…"
"Take it, Alyx." She smiled, squeezing her wrists. "I give my full trust in you."
His mom gave them plastic bags, like vacuum bags, a toothbrush holder, and a few other items. He laid out his clothes for the next day, and zipped up his pack. He set it on his desk, glancing at the homework and putting it in his backpack. That wouldn't be done for a while. He crawled into bed, staring at the ceiling until he closed his eyes.
Thankfully, he had no dreams that night. He slept solid, and when he woke up, he groggily took a shower. It woke him up good, and then he stared at himself in the mirror, patting his stomach. His thighs or bottom didn't let up. He pouted and pulled on his underwear.
"Man, if I knew my age and was in age range, I'd so tap that." He gasped and whipped around, seeing her leaning against the doorway, chewing on her finger nail, eyeing his body carefully. She was dressed in all black, skinny jeans, a skin tight t-shirt and socks. Her gloves were on and her hair was still damp from her shower. The strap for her throwing knives were around her thigh, the holster for her dagger nowhere to be seen, but he saw a belt through her loops.
"Weirdo." He muttered, pulling on his shirt. He pulled on his pants and grabbed his socks and pack.
The oven was on when they got downstairs. His mom was cooking, making a hearty breakfast. His dad and Pearl sat at the table, his dad drinking coffee and reading something on his tablet.
"Good morning." He greeted as he put down his mug.
"Morning." He sat down, tapping his fingers immediately. Alyx served herself some coffee, asking if she could help with anything.
"Oh no, no." His mom said, gently sitting Alyx down. "You need to rest up if you are to fight later." Alyx frowned deeply but nodded.
They ate a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage and toast. After they finished, Alyx leaned back and patted her stomach, whistling.
"That was absolutely delicious." She said.
"Thank you." His mom said. When they were eating, he had watched his mom take out a tray of cookies.
"Did you make cookies?" He asked, standing on his tiptoes to look over her shoulder.
"Yes, dear." She zipped it up and handed it to him.
"Yes!"
They brushed their teeth and packed up the rest of their things. Then they pulled on their shoes. She slid on a hoodie.
"No jacket?" He asked, zipping up his own.
"No. At least not until the weather warms up a bit." She adjusted her gloves. He made sure he had everything and she double checked too.
They sat in the park, since the train didn't leave for another hour. They nibbled on cookies, Alyx nodding in pleasure as she finished hers.
"Wow…" She mumbled, licking her fingers. "If anything, your mom should've opened a bakery."
"She sells sweets at her salon."
"Damn, wow." She licked her lips, looking around. Thankfully, there weren't many people around, so no one could question their packs. He yawned, leaning back, sighing.
Then there was a scream and a guy fell out of the sky.
To Be Continued...