"Death smiles at us all, all a man can do is smile back."

Maya

The table was way too crowded for Mayas liking. It was common for campers to try to get to know transfers, but this was different. Everyone wanted to talk to P.J. but P.J. didn't seem to want to talk to anyone.

"There's too many people here." P.J. muttered to Maya, and despite herself she cracked a smile. At least she wasn't the only one uncomfortable.

"So where did you grow up P.J.?" Jennifer Lacran daughter of Venus asked, showing no shame as she batted her eye lashes at the boy.

P.J. fixed his eyes on his plate. Boiled unseasoned chicken and a small bowl of white rice. Plane as possible. He muttered out some sort of response that was quickly swept away by the noise in the room.

"What was that?"

He didn't say anything more. Instead he stood up, grabbed his plate of flavorless food, and walked toward the kitchen.

The whole group around Maya seemed to deflate.

"What's his problem?" Dave, a member of the 3rd cohort asked no one in particular.

"Must not like people." Jennifer questioned.

Maya studied the retreating form of P.J. as he walked right through the doors of the kitchen. No doubt to find a quieter place to eat.

"Well, that's an odd Greek." Maya started as the voice spoke directly into her ear. As she turned she caught sight of Medicus.

Medicus was a Lar. A son of Mercury from the golden age of the Roman empire. He was small in size, about 5 foot 2. And with his brown locks and elfish features he reminded Maya of a Christmas elf. Though the sword and toga defiantly didn't drive the point home. As far as Lares go Medicus was one of Mayas favorites.

"He's not really a people person." Maya supplied unhelpfully as the Lar tugged at his beard appearing to be deep in thought.

"I see. But I hear he cut you down." Then he turned to Dave. "And I hear he tossed you around as well."

"He cut through half the camp." Dave mumbled in his defense.

"And yet there he is, eating in the kitchen like a common servant. An odd individual indeed." He continued to tug at his chin. "Where is he from?"

Maya thought back to her earlier conversation with him. "Wis... Wisconsin I think, but he spent a lot of time in Northern Africa and the Middle East."

Medicuses eyebrows rose slightly in surprise. "A desert warrior. Interesting."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dave cut in.

Medicus turned to him. "I mean it's interesting. I would love to hear more of the story of Mr. Calista."

Maya snorted. "He doesn't talk."

The Lar turned to Maya once again. "Does he not talk, or do you not ask the right questions?"

Mayas retort died in her throat. Its not like he opens up to the easy questions so why would he open up for the tougher questions.

"Medicus, the dude just decided to eat in the kitchen. It's not Mayas fault she can't get him to open up." Dave supplied.

"I suppose not, but that is his choice." He said as he began to float away, apparently lost in thought and mumbling to himself. "A desert warrior..."

The conversation seemed to stall as Maya and the others all began to eat. Silence sat over the group like a blanket before it was broken by Vinny, a son of Apollo from the 4th cohort who was the closest thing Maya had to a best friend.

"How's your ass Maya? You landed pretty hard on it."

A smattering of laughter made its way though the group, only to double as Mayas comeback rang out.

"How's your ass going to be after I plant my boot in it?"

With laughter came the sense of ease, and with ease came conversation. Soon the group was a rambling mass of laughing individuals and cheerful demeaners.

As dinner gave way to evening muster P.J. reappeared, only for Maya to smack him on the shoulder. "You aren't allowed to eat in the kitchen."

"Sorry." P.J. mumbled out.

"No sorry you are my responsibility, you get in trouble, I get in trouble and I wont be getting in trouble."

He met her eyes with his steely gaze and for once she didn't look away. She stared him down.

The stare down lasted nearly a full minute with neither person saying anything or backing down. Maya could feel the tension in the air as there eyes stayed locked. Despite that he didn't show anything.

'I'll never play cards with you' Maya thought to herself.

Finally it was Maya who tore her gaze away. "Good, Now lets go. Evening Muster is about to happen. I need to run and get my equipment, you go to camp, and we'll meet there."

"Yes ma'am"

"Good. And remember. Keep your nose clean." The 4 final words were reinforced with pokes in his chest.

He didn't say anything. Not that she would have let him. She had already turned away and began a steady jog to her barracks.

"Fucking Greek." She muttered to herself.

Muster gave way without issue and soon the demigods were released. Lights out was in 2 hours but Maya was tired. Despite that she continued to give P.J. the tour. Showing things she hadn't been able to show before. They even managed to take a few minutes to walk the shore of the Little Tiber before gate close.

Despite the good tour P.J. remained almost completely silent. Only giving 1 word answers or shrugging his shoulders.

Despite Maya being used to the silence she still felt slightly annoyed with The Greek demigod. He was being rude, and she couldn't help but feel ignored.

"So what do you like to do for fun?" Maya asked as she picked up a stone and flung it into the river.

P.J. glanced her way for a moment before he responded. "Who has time for hobbies?"

There it was again, him immediately shutting down conversations. Though this time Maya wasn't having it.

"Well if you did, what would you do?"

She watched as he picked up a stone, and turned it over in his hands once. He looked out into the river as if he was debating on throwing it.

"I don't know." He said letting the stone slip from his fingers.

Maya felt a sliver of sadness. Despite how annoying he was, she couldn't help feel like he needed something to make him happy. Or hell maybe just a smile.

"Well what do you enjoy doing?" Maya pushed.

She watched him when she asked that. Trying to get a read, a reaction, something. Alas there was none. He glanced her way then back to the river before he set his eyes on the opposite shore. Silence stretcher between them.

For some unfathomable reason the silence was the final straw for Maya.

"You know, you don't have to be an asshole. I asked you a simple fucking question. All I need is a simple fucking answer. It's my job to keep you in line for a week so I figured at the very least you would have the common decency to make small talk. I don't even want to watch you, I'm being ordered too. So for fuck sake stop being such a fucking 2 tone frivolous cunt." Maya stormed off. Seething was an understatement. She was beyond mad that he didn't have common decency.

She practically marched to Logan's office. Kicking in the door as she went.

Logan was sitting at his desk, the bowl of popcorn that sat precariously on his lap fell to the floor as Maya stormed in.

"I am not dealing with him any more." Maya practically screamed. She stormed through the room and stopped in front of Logans desk.

Logan was clearly startled but he composed himself quickly. "You know I was going to finish that."

"I don't care, I'll dig any fucking trench you want, I'll tear apart the camp and rebuild it 10 feet to the north. I am not spending another second with that selfish asshole."

Logan bent down and scooped a handful of popcorn off the ground and tossed a few in his mouth. "So what's the deal. He's bragging because he beat you? News flash its not bragging if you can back..."

"He's not bragging, he's a rude asshole." Maya cut him off. "He won't say a single fucking word, he doesn't talk, he might as well be mute." She seethed.

Logan popped a few more kernels into his mouth. "So why are you mad? It sounds to me like he's perfect. You put up with him for a week then you're done."

"I'm not dealing with him for a week."

Logan rose to his feet and brushed his pants off. "You are going to deal with him for a week because this is a direct order."

Maya began to protest before he silenced her with a wave of his hand. "I will talk to him don't worry. You just need to calm down for a minute so I can ask you where he is."

Maya gritted her teeth. "He's down by the Little Tiber."

Logan paused as he scrunched his eyebrows, "What's he doing down there?"

"I took him on a tour because I wanted him to see the camp and city."

"Ahhh, alright then." He glanced at the clock "You're dismissed for the night. I'll go talk to him and make sure he is more manageable tomorrow."

Maya pursed her lips, It was far from ideal. In fact the thought of spending the next 6 days with him made her skin boil but direct orders are direct orders.

"Thank you Logan."