New chapter! Got 3 reviews, so i'm really happy right now. Enjoy!

CHAPTER 2: FRANK-LY SPEAKING

FRANK

Frank wondered where it all went wrong.

Him and Hazel had been assigned border patrol - the Fifth always got the worst jobs. From basilisk hunting to latrine duty, it was getting old, fast. He and Hazel were singled out even more - the two freaks of the fifth.

Hazel was the only one who knew about his… unconventional powers, and he was the only one who knew about her magic.

But back to the topic at hand.

Him and Hazel were patrolling the border. Hazel was his best (read: only) friend, and despite the grumbling and occasional bickering, they made a pretty good team. They had been out there for hours, the early morning fog hanging heavy around them, when the unexpected happened.

By unexpected, he meant a goddess and a half-blood arriving in a car. The demigod radiated power, almost as if he was a god aswell.

Ok, he didn't know she was a goddess at first. What he did know was that she was beautiful. Frank stared at her, slack-jawed.

They had just finished their routine check and were about to head back to camp with the pair when the sounds of a struggle reached - a distant, but unmistakable clash of metal and roars of unfamiliar creatures. Frank's heart skipped a beat. His first thought was of the camp's safety.

"Hazel," he said, breaking the silence. "Did you hear that?"

Hazel, ironically perceptive, nodded. Her blind eyes were sharp despite her lack of sight. "Yeah, sounds like trouble."

And it was indeed trouble. Telekhines emerged from the tunnel, chasing after the new guy.

The Telekhines were relentless, and Frank found himself caught in a battle, dodging and striking in an effort to hold his ground. Hazel was holding her own, her blade dancing through the air, but the monsters kept coming, their numbers seemingly endless.

Hazel glanced over. "We've got to-"

It only took a second for her to be injured. A Telekhine had managed to slip past Frank's defense, its claws raking across Hazel's shoulder. She fell to her knees, her face contorted in pain.

"Hazel!" Frank shouted, his voice filled with panic. He fought his way to her side, desperately trying to fend off the surrounding monsters. "Hang in there!"

The battle raged on, Frank swinging his sword in wide arcs, trying to keep the Telekhines at bay. Hazel, though clearly in pain, managed to muster enough strength to cast a spell, creating a somewhat protective barrier around herself to buy them some time.

Frank would never understand how she did that.

Great. Now the new guy knew about her magic. Or not. He seemed too busy trying not to die, (which was fair enough), and the pretty lady wasn't doing much.

Frank's mind raced. He had to get Hazel to safety, but the monsters kept coming. It was then that new guy made his dramatic entrance. The newcomer was already in the midst of the fierce battle. Frank watched him using water as a weapon.

That guy had better join the fifth.

The Telekhines were clearly disoriented by Percy's display. Their snarls turned into hesitant growls as they tried to figure out what was happening. Frank saw an opportunity and quickly grabbed Hazel, supporting her as he began to retreat toward the camp.

"Frank!" New guy called out. "Get her to safety!"

He didn't need to be told twice. Frank carried Hazel, struggling under her weight as he navigated through the chaos.

He glanced back to see Percy engaging the monsters with a ruthless efficiency, his powers causing the Telekhines to dissolve into puddles of dark, viscous liquid.

Frank unconsciously gulped.

That guy had better join the fifth.

THE UNFORGIVEN

When Hazel wanted to be, she could be really loud. Like, really loud.

They had made it back to Camp Jupiter, and the atmosphere was buzzing. A goddess visiting camp was almost unheard of. Hazel was in one of the infirmary tents, her shoulder being tended to by the camp's healers. Frank, exhausted and still catching his breath, sat nearby, trying to process everything that had happened.

Hazel was recounting the battle, her voice full of frustration. "I can't believe it! I've been on border patrol for ages, and the one time we're actually facing danger, I get hurt! It's so typical."

Frank laughed. "You did great out there, Hazel. We all did. And your magic-"

Hazel made a face. "Yeah, but I wasn't exactly subtle. Did you see the look on Venus' face when I started using my powers?"

"She's a goddess, Hazel. I'm sure she's seen worse."

"I suppose." Hazel said. "Who's the new guy?"

"Percy Jackson. Son of Venus. It's clear that he's got a lot of power. I've never seen anyone handle water like that."

"Water?"

Frank recounted the gruesome way Percy had dealt with the monsters. Hazel frowned. "I didn't know a son of Venus could do all that."

"Me neither," Frank admitted. "But I'm more worried about what comes next. Venus said something about 'unleashing Death' and the Feast of Fortune. It doesn't sound like we're out of the woods yet. Percy's obviously a part of it."

"Yeah, but he's also got a lot to figure out. He's new to this, and powers - well, they're not exactly easy to control. We know that."

Frank nodded in agreement. "True. But we'll help him. That's what we do here. We work together."

"Who knows," Hazel said. "Maybe he'll join the fifth."

Frank made a face. "I hope he does, but really? Freaks and geeks, y'know?"

A new voice came from the entrance to the tent. "Did you just say 'freaks and geeks'?"

Frank jumped, turning to see Percy standing in the doorway. He looked amused.

"Uh, yeah," Frank said, slightly flustered. "I mean, that's just what we-"

Percy laughed."Don't worry about it man. Reyna told me to come find you."

"For?"

Percy shrugged. "I don't know. She was interrogating me with metal dogs. Metal dogs! Can you believe that?"

Frank could, in fact, believe it. Reyna and her metal greyhounds were infamous in camp, mainly for their uncanny ability to detect lies, and their overall overkill intimidating presence.

"Yeah, sounds like her," Frank said, grinning. "She's got a thing for dramatic entrances. I'll go see what she needs. You should get some rest, Percy."

Percy shook his head. It seemed like he wanted to get involved. In what way, Frank didn't know. "Thanks, but I'm good. I'd rather come with you."

Frank nodded. "Fine by me. You'll be right by yourself, right Hazel?"

"I'm not a baby Frank." She crossed her arms, but she looked amused.

Frank raised his hands in surrender. "Just watching out for you."

Percy seemed to notice Hazel for the first time. "Hey, you're Hazel, right? You got hurt pretty badly, you alright?"

Hazel nodded, a faint smile on her face. "Yeah, that's me. I'm alright, though. Frank's just overprotective."

"Hey!" Frank protested.

"And thank you for helping out with those monsters. I've never seen anyone use water like that before."

"You-" Percy suddenly looked much less friendly. "You saw that?"

Hazel was about to say something, probably about the fact she techinally hadn't saw anything, Frank jumped in. "Oh no, she's just tired. Right Hazel?"

Instead of responding to Frank, she said to Percy: "Watch out for Reyna. She can be pretty intense."

"I'll keep that in mind."

With that, Frank and Percy left the infirmary tent, heading toward Reyna's quarters.

"Dude," Percy bumped Frank's shoulder. "You so like her."

Frank's face turned crimson. "What? No, I-"

Frank tried to recover his composure. "Whatever. Just keep your focus. Reyna's not someone you want to annoy."

"Got it. No annoying Reyna," he said. "But don't try to change the subject."

"Shut up."

Percy grinned, clearly enjoying Frank's embarrassment. "Come on, man. It's pretty obvious."

"Is it?" Frank asked, but his face was in his hands.

"Yup. We can all see it."

"Who's we? Hazel's blind."

To his credit, Percy didn't seem that surprised. Percy chuckled. "Hazel might be blind, but she's not oblivious."

Frank groaned. "Great. Now I'm the camp's worst-kept secret."

Percy patted him on the back. "Hey, don't sweat it. It's pretty normal to have a crush on someone."

"Normal?" Frank said, raising an eyebrow. "I'm pretty sure I'm anything but."

"Yeah, normal. And at least you're not making it awkward for everyone. You're handling it fine." Percy's grin widened. "Besides, it could be worse. She could not like you back."

Frank spluttered indignantly. "She doesn't-"

Percy's grin only widened as he waggled his eyebrows. "Hey, look on the bright side. If she doesn't like you back, at least you'll have a good story to tell. And if she does, well, that's even better."

"Thanks, Percy. That's really comforting."

"Glad I could help." The conversation with Percy had been oddly comforting, even if it was a little embarrassing.

They arrived at the Principia, where Reyna did, well, whatever Praetors did.

They reached the entrance to Reyna's quarters, and Frank took a deep breath before knocking. The door creaked open, and Reyna's stern face greeted them.

"Ah, Percy Jackson and Frank Zhang," she said. "Come in."

"You don't need to act like you're executing us," Percy said.

"I'm the Praetor, Percy. I know you're new to all this, but I am the one in charge here."

"Uh huh." Percy didn't sound convinced. "Seems like a pyramid scheme."

Whatever Reyna thought Percy would say, that was apparently not it. "That's not what a pyramid scheme is."

Frank tried to suppress a smile at Percy's boldness, but Reyna's gaze was now fixed on him. Oh well, it was his funeral.

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Ok, maybe not a pyramid scheme, but you have child soldiers!"

"That's not-" Reyna rubbed her temples. "How are you so annoying?"

He flashed a grin. "I try."

Frank had never heard anyone speak to Reyna like that, and truthfully he felt slightly left out. Was this some form of weird flirting?

Reyna focused on him. "What did you say?"

It was at that moment Frank realised he was unfortunate to have said that last bit aloud. Frank gulped, suddenly aware of the awkward silence that had fallen. He glanced at Percy, who was looking far too pleased with himself.

"Uh, nothing," Frank said quickly. "I was just, uh, admiring Percy's ability to make things interesting."

Reyna's gaze shifted back to Percy. "Interesting is one word for it. Let's focus on the matter at hand."

Percy tilted his head, still grinning. "Sure thing. What do you need to know?"

Reyna sighed, trying to regain control of the situation. Frank wasn't sure she had ever seen anything like Percy. To be fair, he hadn't either. "I need a detailed account of your powers and how you used them today. We need to understand what kind of threat you might pose, or if you can be of help."

Percy's grin faded slightly, but he still looked casual. "I don't think I'm a threat. I just did what I had to do to get us out of that mess."

"I'm not accusing you of anything," Reyna said, her tone softening just a bit. "But the more we know about your abilities, the better we can prepare for what's coming. Venus mentioned something about 'unleashing Death,' and I need to know if there's any truth to that."

Percy's expression grew serious. "I understand. My powers… They're tied to water. I can manipulate it in various ways, which is why I was able to handle the Telekhines the way I did. But I didn't know I could… use them to that extent."

Reyna nodded, taking in the information. "And your connection to Venus - does that mean you have other powers, or is it just water?"

Percy shrugged. "I'm not sure. My memory's kind of hazy."

"Hazy?" Reyna raised a singular eyebrow. It was kind of uncanny.

Percy nodded, looking a bit uncomfortable. "Yeah, hazy. I don't remember much about my powers or even my past, really. It's all a bit mixed up right now."

Apparently that wasn't enough of an explanation. "By mixed up you mean…"

"I mean I can't remember anything before I woke up at the wolf house."

"That's pretty standard." At Percy's incredulous look, Reyna rolled her eyes. "The wolf house part, not the whole amnesiac thing."

"Right." Percy said.

"Let's focus on why you're here," she said, her tone shifting to businesslike. "I need to understand more about what happened today. Specifically, your powers and the nature of your involvement in the battle."

Percy raised an eyebrow. "I don't see why that's relevant. We beat the monsters, right?"

"We? You beat the monsters, and I'd like to know how."

"I killed them." Percy said simply. "What more's to it?"

"Well, according to Probatio Zhang over here, there was a swarm of Telekhines."

"Hold on," Frank said. "I never said that."

"Am I wrong?" Reyna's expression held a hint of something dangerous. Frank sunk back into his seat.

Percy looked at Frank, betrayed. He gave a small, apologetic shrug.

Percy looked back at Reyna, his expression guarded. "I just did what needed to be done."

Reyna nodded. "I believe you, but understanding the nature of your abilities and their limits will help us prepare better. It's not just about today's battle but also about what might come next."

Percy sighed. "Alright, I can give you more details. My power over water lets me control it in different ways. I can manipulate it, create waves, and even-" his breath hitched. "And even control blood. That's why I was able to handle the Telekhines."

"A son of Venus, controlling water." Reyna said. "Wait, blood?"

Percy nodded, looking somewhat pained. "Yeah, it's not something I'm proud of. I didn't know I could do it until the Telekhines. I only used it because I needed to, and I'm not sure how much control I have over it."

Frank's expression shifted from curiosity to concern. "That sounds… unnatural." Reyna nodded.

Percy's eyes flicked between Reyna and Frank, his anger obvious. "Look, I didn't ask for these powers, and I sure as Hades didn't ask for this kind of treatment. I'm just trying to figure out what's going on."

Reyna crossed her arms, her gaze sharp. "It's not about what you want or don't want, Percy. We're trying to protect everyone here. If you can control blood, that's a significant concern."

Percy's frustration flared. "And what makes you think I want to hurt anyone? I'm trying to keep control. But how can I if everyone's always questioning me?"

"Questioning you is my job," Reyna snapped. "We need to ensure that you're not a danger to the camp. If you're going to be part of this camp, you need to prove that you can control your powers."

"Why should I be a part of a camp for gods that don't care about me?" Percy's fists clenched. "And prove what? That I'm not a monster? You think I don't already feel like one?"

Frank stepped in, trying to mediate. "Percy, Reyna's right. We need to understand what we're dealing with. We just want to make sure everyone is safe."

Percy glared at him. "Safe? You think putting me through this fucking interrogation is going to make anyone feel safer? I'm not some experiment."

Reyna's tone softened, but she remained firm. "No one's saying you are. But until we understand your abilities better, we can't just ignore the potential risks. We need to find a way to work together."

Percy shook his head, frustration and hurt evident in his voice. "You know what? I'm tired of being treated like a ticking time bomb. I'm doing my best to help. Maybe you should try trusting me a little."

Frank heard an explosion. "Did you just destroy the plumbing?"

Reyna sighed. "I think he might have. What am I going to do with you?"

Percy's face flushed. "I didn't mean to-" he started, but his voice was cut off by the sudden, urgent noise of rushing water and the frantic shouts of legionnaires.

Frank turned to Percy. "You destroyed the plumbing.

"I told you, I'm still trying to get a handle on these powers. I didn't mean to-"

Reyna rolled her eyes so much Frank was sure she could see her brain. "Follow me."

The three of them rushed out of Reyna's quarters and into the heart of the camp. Frank glanced back at Percy, who was clearly struggling with his emotions and trying to regain control. Water was surging across the the barracks.

Reyna barked orders to nearby campers, and they quickly began working to contain the flood and repair the damage. Percy, looking defeated, tried to help but was clearly out of his depth.

Frank approached him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Percy, just breathe. It's okay. We'll get through this. Let's focus on cleaning up."

"I didn't mean for any of this to happen. I just... I need to get control of this."

Reyna returned. "We all have our challenges. The important thing is that you're here and trying to help. Let's work together to fix this, and then we'll talk more about how to manage your powers."

Percy managed a small, grateful nod. "Thanks, Reyna."

"You're going to therapy."

Record scratch, what? Frank turned to Reyna. "What did you say?"

"Percy is going to therapy," Reyna repeated, her tone brooking no argument. "It's clear that you're struggling with more than just controlling your powers. We need to address whatever's going on inside your head too."

Percy's eyes widened in surprise. "Therapy? You can't be serious."

"I'm very serious," Reyna said firmly. "Your powers are one thing, but mental and emotional health is equally important. We need to make sure you're stable and prepared for whatever comes next."

Frank looked between Percy and Reyna, trying to process the new development. "I didn't know we had therapy here."

Reyna nodded. "We do. It's not just about fighting monsters. Being a demigod can take a toll, and we have resources to help with that. Percy needs to work through his issues and learn how to manage his powers effectively."

Percy looked torn. "I appreciate the concern, but I don't know if I'm ready for that. I'm here to help, but this… this feels like too much right now."

"Percy," Reyna said gently, "I understand this is a lot to take in, but it's for your own good. If you want to be part of this camp and work alongside us, we need to ensure you're in a good place mentally and emotionally."

Frank stepped in, trying to offer support. "Percy, I know it might not seem fair, but Reyna's right. We have resources here to help. It might actually make things a bit easier for you in the long run."

Percy sighed, his frustration giving way to a tired resignation. "Alright, fine. I'll go to therapy."

"Good," Reyna nodded. "I'll be escorting you every Tuesday at 5pm."

"Escort me?"

"Escort you," Reyna repeated. "You're in therapy for a reason."

"I'm not in therapy yet." Percy said. "And isn't today Tuesday?"

Reyna winked. "Be there." And then she was gone.

"Dude! Did Reyna just…"

"Yeah," Percy said, looking resigned. "I guess I'm going to therapy."

Frank tried to lighten the mood. "Hey, on the bright side, at least you're not going through it alone. And Reyna's probably the best person to make sure you stick to it."

"Force me to it, you mean. But thanks."

"What're friends for?" Frank cursed his awkwardness. Him and Percy weren't friends, he barely knew him. But to his surprise, Percy didn't object.

"Thanks, Frank. I guess it's nice to have someone on my side, even if it's just for this."

Frank shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Yeah, well, it's not exactly the smoothest introduction, but we've all had our moments. Besides, it's better to face this stuff head-on, right?"

Percy managed a faint smile. "Yeah, I suppose."

They ran into Hazel near the camp's central square. "Hey, you two," Hazel called out. "What's going on?"

Frank cleared his throat, glancing at Percy before answering. "Percy's going to therapy."

"Therapy? Is everything okay?"

Percy kicked a rock. "Not exactly. I kinda... caused a bit of a mess. Reyna thinks it's best if I get some help managing my powers and emotions."

"That sounds like a good idea. It's tough adjusting to new powers, and dealing with everything that comes with being a demigod can be overwhelming."

"Yeah, that's what Frank said," Percy replied, managing a grateful nod in Hazel's direction. "Thanks for understanding."

If Hazel noticed the nod, she didn't say anything. "You're not alone in this. We've all had to face our own challenges. If you ever need someone to talk to or just hang out with, I'm here."

Percy's smile grew a little more genuine. "Thanks, Hazel. I might take you up on that."

Hazel nodded. "And who knows? Maybe therapy will help you figure out your powers and make things easier."

Percy chuckled softly. "Here's hoping."

As they continued walking, Frank couldn't shake the feeling that this unexpected turn of events might be the start of a new chapter for Percy - and for all of them.

THE UNFORGIVEN

Ok, in his defense, Frank didn't mean to turn into an squirrel.

Him and Hazel were walking back to the barracks after Percy had left to go find Reyna for his therapy. (He had grumbled about it the whole time, but still.)

Hazel had needed to go find her brother, another child of Pluto called Nico di Angelo, who Frank thought was a little (read: extremely) scary, so he didn't go along. His amazing idea to pass the time: a nap.

It was just his luck he woke up as a squirrel.

Frank blinked, his tiny paws scrabbling at the unfamiliar texture of fur. He stared at his little paws, then at the surrounding environment from a new, very low perspective. The barracks were suddenly much more intimidating from this height.

At first, he thought it was a dream. The world seemed much bigger and more daunting from his new vantage point. His first instinct was to panic, and that was a fair reaction to becoming a small furry animal.

Great, he muttered to himself, his voice coming out as a high-pitched squeak. This is just what I needed.

Frank scurried around, trying to find some sort of solution or at least a way to get back to his human form. As he darted around the camp, trying to avoid the larger beings - both human and otherwise - he couldn't help but feel a bit ridiculous. Ok, a lot ridiculous.

In his tiny, furry state, he was forced to observe the chaos of camp life from a completely different angle. Campers and creatures bustled about, oblivious to the fact that a squirrel was running amok among them.

He tried to focus, remembering that his powers could be unstable and unpredictable. It wasn't the first time they had acted up, and certainly not the last.

The sound of footsteps approaching made him freeze. Frank darted under a pile of leaves, hoping to remain unnoticed.

"Frank?" Hazel called out. "Where did you go?" Ok, it was just Hazel.

Frank tried to call out, but all that came out was a series of squeaks. Hazel's eyes widened as she spotted a small, bushy-tailed creature darting around the tree.

She approached the tree. "Is that you?"

Frank chattered in response, trying to signal his… unusual situation. Hazel giggled. "You're a squirrel!"

Frank rolled his tiny squirrel-y eyes. No need to rub it in his face.

"Hold on, Frank. I'll get you down." Frank watched, half relieved and half mortified, as Hazel carefully plucked him from the tree. He tried to wriggle free but quickly realized that it was futile. Hazel carried him down and set him gently on the ground.

"Okay, let's get you back to normal," she said, trying to stifle her amusement. "Any idea how this happened?"

Frank shook his head, his tiny squirrel ears twitching in frustration. "Squeak!" he said, which wasn't exactly helpful.

"Just like we talked about about, remember? Deep breath in, deep breath out." Hazel's attempt to guide Frank through calming down was met with a series of frantic squirrel chirps. "How hard could this be?"

Five minutes, a dozen groans from Hazel, and a bunch more squeaks later, Frank could confidently say that this was not going to be easy.

"Maybe if you focus really hard on being human again, it'll help."

Frank sighed but did as she said, picturing his his limbs stretching back into their usual form. Slowly but surely he grew.

There was that familiar shimmer ad Hazel used her own magic to try and help him. "Come on, Frank. Concentrate. Imagine yourself back to normal."

A tingling sensation spread through Frank's body, and Hazel watched in awe as his squirrel form began to shimmer and change. Within moments, there was a burst of light, and Frank transformed back into his human self, collapsing gently onto the ground. He groaned, stretching his limbs and rubbing his eyes. "Thanks, Hazel. That was… not fun."

Hazel giggled. "Glad you're back to normal. Let's avoid any more unexpected transformations, okay?"

Frank smiled weakly. "Definitely. I think I've had enough surprises for one day."

As they walked back to the barracks, the sun was starting to set, casting a warm golden glow over the camp. Frank and Hazel strolled side by side, the earlier chaos giving way to a more relaxed atmosphere.

"Thanks for helping me out," Frank said, glancing at Hazel with a grateful smile. "I don't know what I would've done without you."

Hazel grinned, her eyes twinkling with warmth. "It was no trouble. Besides, it's not every day I get to rescue someone from turning into a squirrel."

Frank chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Yeah, well, I guess I'm full of surprises."

"You definitely keep things interesting," Hazel said, her tone light and teasing. "But I wouldn't have it any other way."

The somewhat happy moment was interrupted by Frank tripping over a rock.

Hazel burst into a fit of giggles. "I thought I was meant to be the blind one."

"Don't have to be a jerk about it," Frank grumbled, but his smile was evident.

They neaared Temple Hill, and Hazel stopped to look at Frank. Well, not look, but you know what I mean. "You know, it's really nice to have someone around who doesn't take things too seriously all the time."

Frank met her gaze, his smile growing. "I could say the same about you. You've got this way of making everything seem a bit brighter."

Hazel's cheeks flushed slightly, and she looked down, fiddling with her hair. "Well, I guess we make a pretty good team, then."

Frank's heart skipped a beat at her words. "Yeah, I'd say so."

There was a comfortable silence between them, filled with the sound of rustling leaves and distant laughter. Frank took a deep breath, feeling a sense of contentment he hadn't experienced in a while.

Hazel reached out, gently touching Frank's arm. "If you ever need to talk, or just hang out, you know I'm here, right?"

Frank's eyes met hers, and he felt a warmth spread through him. "I know. And I appreciate it more than you know."

Don't blush don't blush don't blush. Frank blushed furiously.

They stood there for a moment, the world around them fading as they simply enjoyed each other's presence. It was a small, quiet moment of connection, but it felt big.

As they headed up the hill, Frank couldn't help but notice there was no shrine to Pluto.

As they ascended Temple Hill, the absence of a shrine to Pluto became even more obvious. The camp's layout prominently featured various shrines, each dedicated to the major Roman gods, but Pluto's temple was missing. Instead there was just an empty space.

"You're looking at something," Hazel said.

"How'd you know?"

She grinned. "Magic."

Hazel had sort-of explained her unique form of perception before. She mentioned it was like a sixth sense, able to sense people through the earth. Frank didn't really understand.

"So what are you so distracted about?" Hazel asked.

He looked at the empty space where Pluto's temple (or rather, lack of it,) was. "There's no temple for your dad."

"Yeah, there's no shrine to Pluto here. Nico is really angry about it."

Frank furrowed his brow. "It seems strange. I mean, for someone who's so," he struggled to think of the right word, "Important, it's kinda weird that there's no temple."

Hazel gave a small frown. "It's not uncommon for deities like Pluto to be less visible. Romans and their traditions, y'know?"

Frank nodded, appreciating her attempt to provide clarity. "I suppose that makes sense. It's just a bit unsettling."

"Hey," Hazel grinned. "At least it's not an outhouse like Neptune's."

Frank shared her smile. "Could always be worse."

The two continued their walk in thoughtful silence, the air between them filled with an easy camaraderie. The gentle rustling of leaves and distant sounds of the camp's activity created a soothing backdrop.

As they reached the top of Temple Hill, nearing Jupiter's temple, the camp's bustling life was visible in the distance. Hazel faced Frank with a kind expression. "Thanks for today, Frank. You were really great about everything."

Frank's smile was warm. "I'm glad I could be there. And thanks for being so understanding."

"Hey, what're friends for? If you ever need me, I'm here."

"I'll definitely keep that in mind." Frank was trying his best not to be sappy.

As the sun began to set over camp, the vibrant colors of dusk painted the sky. The orange colours kind of reminded him of Hazel. Ok, maybe he was a little sappy, sue him.

Hazel had been more quiet than usual, and Frank noticed. "Hey, Hazel," Frank said gently, "are you alright? You seem a bit off."

Hazel's voice was strained as she replied, "I'm fine, just a bit tired."

Frank wasn't convinced. "If you need to take a break or talk about anything…"

They continued walking, but as they neared the Temple of Mars, Hazel's breathing became increasingly uneven. Frank could hear the subtle changes in her voice and noticed her hand trembling slightly.

"Hazel?" he asked, his concern growing. "What's going on?"

Hazel's voice wavered. "I- I don't- I'm feeling really overwhelmed right now. I think I'm having a-"

Being best friends with Hazel paid off. Frank realised that she was having a panic attack.

He moved closer to her, trying to offer comfort. "Hazel, listen to my voice. I'm right here. Just focus on my breathing, okay? Like you taught me."

He began to breathe deeply and steadily, making sure she could hear him clearly. "Inhale slowly through your nose… and exhale through your mouth."

Hazel tried to follow, but her breaths were still erratic. Frank gently placed a reassuring hand on her arm. "You're doing great. Just keep focusing on the sound of my voice. You're safe."

Hazel's breathing started to synchronize with Frank's voice. Frank continued to guide her through the breathing exercises the way she had taught him.

"Good job, Hazel," he said, his voice filled with encouragement. "Keep breathing slowly. You're doing really well."

Gradually, Hazel's breathing steadied, and the panic subsided. She took a few more deep breaths. "I think I'm ok now."

He nodded. "What was it about?"

Hazel's breath hitched.

Frank silently cursed himself. i"If you don't want to talk about it, that's ok."

"It was just-" Hazel frowned. "I couldn't feel anything. I couldn't hear anything, or sense with my magic or anything."

That didn't sound normal. "Are you… ok now?"

She nodded. "Yeah. Thank you Frank."

"You don't have to thank me. You taught me how to help with the panic attacks."

Hazel nodded, her breathing now completely calm. "I didn't realize it would feel this way."

"Anytime." Frank said. Don't be awkward don't be awkward-

Hazel tilted her head towards Frank, her expression filled with… something. Frank's heart skipped a beat, and before he could fully process what was happening, Hazel leaned in slightly.

Frank felt a gentle, brief touch of her lips against his. The kiss was soft and fleeting, but it carried a depth of emotion that neither of them had expected. Jupiter have mercy, they were kissing in Mars' temple.

Hazel pulled back slightly, her cheeks flushed. "Let's head to the barracks," She said softly.

He nodded, dazed. "Yeah. Let's go."

Frank hoped that his father wouldn't smite them for kissing in his temple, but he couldn't find it in himself to care that much. Hazel Levesque had just kissed him.

Frank Zhang was over the moon.

That's the chapter over! Frazel is so cute! I promise I'll do a Percy POV next.

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