I have no idea how to work an abacus, so don't even ask how it works.

The Brother Of Hercules

Chapter 8

Maelstrom And The Steaming Amazon

Prometheus Academy

Poetry Class

While class was in session the class had to listen to the "detailed" poem of Tempest, which held a lot of anger and blood-lust, causing the class to be in fear of the girl, minus Maelstrom since he sometimes trained with the girl and is use to her "quirks", though on occasion he sometimes finds himself being chased by the amazon threatening to chop him up with her sword because of his unfortunate honesty, though the fact that he smiles during them and laughs almost makes it look like a messed up game of tag, though she doesn't show it Tempest enjoys those chases as well.

Once finished, the class was nearly scared to death of Tempest's poem, with the teacher trying to explain the problem with it, causing the girl to become angry, throwing her poem away and flipping to her seat and cutting the tongues of her enemies, causing Cassandra to smile at the idea happening to Icarus, since the boy still annoys her with his antics, causing Naruto to tell her to be nice, or her definition of nice, making her slap his shoulder, making him chuckle.

During the couple's talk they missed the look in Tempest's eye towards them, though she brushes it off as nothing.

Next came Maelstrom's turn of his poem. (A.N. I'm rubbish at poems since I only know and enjoy Edger Alan Poe's The Raven poem, so I'm skipping it.)

While the class cheered about his poem, which involved family and friends, along with a possibly love in the future, which caused Cassandra to smile at such a poem, and Tempest to have a slight look of interest.

Which the teacher congratulated Maelstrom and has brother for their poems, saying how it must run in their family, causing Maelstrom to rub the back of his neck nervously, "Well our father, Zeus." Causing a few people to laugh since the god was also the god of drama. (A.N. I think that's true since I only know the basics.)

Though that didn't stop the "pout" on Tempest's face, "Hate him, hate this class." She huffs, though it didn't stop a slight flutter in her heart, but she just brushes it of as her wanting to pay him back for showing her up.

Once class finished, Tempest started mumbling to herself, wanting to leave the school and explore the world, fighting and killing her enemies, wanting to quench her blood-lust somehow.

All the while she was striking fighting poses, "Ur, Tempest?" Feeling a tap on her shoulder.

She suddenly "epped", but it quickly turn into an "ai yaaaaa!" Sending the poor boy flying with a kick, who turned out to be Maelstrom, not expecting the sudden action.

Accidentally hitting a statue, sitting up, he says aloud, "I think you've gotten better at that~ Also you forgot your poem~" Showing he was slightly dizzy, while thinking, "Next time, DON'T let my guard down around her~" Rubbing the his head.

At first Tempest's was about to apologise, but her amazonian training kicked in, "Keep it!" Brushing and walking away from him, leaving him puzzled, "Huh, but I thought she'd gotten use to me!?"

While in a puzzlement, he suddenly heard crumbling, looking up, he noticed the giant ball on the statue beginning to roll off of it, quickly standing up he caught it before it could cause any damage, unfortunately the kick and knock to the head still made Maelstrom slightly dizzy, along with quickly getting up, causing the ball to roll down his back, where he tried to stop it, but it then made him roll to the top of it, where he began running, not wanting to get rolled over, "IS THIS BECAUSE OF MY PAST PRANKS AND LETTING MY GUARD DOWN!? AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGHHHH!"

While that was happening, Icarus and Cassandra were making their way to their next class, with Hercules already at his own, while walking Cassandra had a vision explaining about a giant boulder destroying everything, with Icarus asking where, she just simply said, "Turn around."

Like she said, the bolder was rolling towards them, with Mael running on the top of it, too panicky to try and stop the "ball" he was running on.

Thankfully Icarus managed to push Cassandra out of the way, though her abacus ended up getting crushed in the incident.

After rolling around the corner, he disappears, with both Icarus and Cassandra looking at each other in puzzlement, since they expected something like that from Hercules, though Cassandra replies, "I guess Mael sometimes has a Herc-day from time to time." Figuring that's what happened, both began running, trying to see where their friend, and boyfriend, was going and making sure he's alright, unfortunately they lost sight of him.

While that was happening, Tempest was thinking to herself, "I've always been a warrior, fighting enemies and spilling the blood has always been apart of my training and upbringing, I mean, granted my training with Maelstrom has certainly improved my skills, (plus it's fun trying to chase and chop him up,) but training isn't real experience, so I just need something to sate my blood-lust," While she was thinking, she couldn't hear the boulder that Maelstrom was on, which was heading towards her.

As she was walking she spotted a flyer on a pillar, seeing it was a "sword for hire" job, as well as moving out of the way of the boulder, she became fired up at the thought of defeating her foes with her blades.

Unfortunately, as the boulder was passing her, there was a slight bump, causing Maelstrom to go flying through the air, "LOOK OUTTTT!"

Which caused him to land right on top of the distracted amazon warrior, where both landed in a heap on the floor.

Maelstrom had his eyes closed, slowly they began to open, that is until they widen it the startled pair of sky-blue eyes, which was starring into his own deep blue eyes, but what really surprised them both was their lips were connected, showing that they were kissing.

Quickly realising what he just did, Maelstrom jumped away, "OH MY GOD, I am sooo sorry Tempest, t-t-that was a complete accident!"

Gaining her senses, her eyes were filled with rage, while her cheeks were crimson red at what just happened, "YOU DARE DO SUCH A THING TO A PROUD AMAZON WARRIOR, I SEE YOU'RE JUST AS CLUMSY AS YOUR BROTHER, BUT AT LEAST HE NEVER ATTACKED ME IN SUCH A WAY!"

Steadily moving away from the amazon, he holds his hands up, scared out of his minds, "N-N-Now Tempest, it wasn't intentional, I truly am sorry, please forgive me, I-I-I'll do anything for your forgiveness."

The moment he said those words, he regretted them after spotting the look in her eyes, they held such torment that not even Hades could top it off.

Once Tempest heard his plea, she thought to herself, "I could always use a helping hand, yeah, someone to carry my weapons while I fight and pass them to me, besides, with Maelstrom's strength he would make a perfect pack-mule."

With that in mind she faced away from him, "Very well, you're forgiven," He sighed in relief, "IF you be my slave for the day and carry my weapons to a job I'm about to accomplish." Once finished, she had a slight gleam and smirk on her face, showing a sadistic side of herself that she kinda liked.

Hearing her request, Maelstrom couldn't help but groan in agony, which for some reason Tempest enjoyed the sound of, unfortunately, he did say he'd do anything, besides it was only for a day, what's the worst that could happen.

Abacus Valley

Maelstrom just realised even thinking such a phrase would bring nothing but bad luck, since Tempest believed it'd be a good idea to make him carry a comfy throne with her on it, along with her weapons, which would allow her to conserve her energy for the fighting, but also gave her a sense of superiority over any male, plus with Maelstrom's godly strength it should be no problem, minus the humiliation he'd get from it. (A.N. Think of Trigun where Vash had to carry the girls using a pair of car seats, only without the struggling.)

Though seeing the back of his spiky hair near her legs was giving her strange ideas, yet even now she couldn't get the kiss out of her head, even if it was accidental, with his head near her legs, thankfully they were crossed, along with thinking of the kiss, made her thoughts both confusing and muddled, but she tried to keep her head in the game, wanting to focus on the mercenary mission instead of her school life, though it will be difficult with the male of her thoughts carrying her.

As for Maelstrom, he had a sour look on his face, the fact that he ended up walking right into being a slave for the day, along with having to carry Tempest around was really putting him in a mood, though while his mind was going through such turmoil, along with Tempest having her mind else where, she ended up switching legs, which in turn made her leg briefly brush one of them up against his cheek, causing him to blush at the smoothness of her legs and caused Tempest to blush at how close to her legs he was, " Quit brushing up against me slave, it feels weird!" She orders.

Hearing her say that made him grumble silently with a red face.

Abacus Store

While that was happening, Hercules and the others were at Abacus Valley in order to get Cassandra's Abacus repaired, though Hercules couldn't believe his ears, "Seriously, MY brother, Maelstrom, the perfect student and prank-master, did ALL of that!?"

Turns out Cassandra and Icarus told Hercules about what happened, with Cassandra shrugging, "It surprised us too, but I guess even a wonderful boyfriend like Mael has his Herc-days."

Hercules just nods his head, until he realised he'd just been insulted, "Hey, I'm not that bad."

His two friends looked at him weirdly, making him realised, "Oh-h-h-h, I guess I should've done the same training as Mael when he started it."

Once they were inside, missing Maelstrom and Tempest applying for the "sword for hire" job, with the man telling her that with her "resume" saying how "vivid" it was, which caused her to jump on the desk and holding her weapons, ask when she can start, Maelstrom just looks at her blankly, having the chair off his back and resting against it, "Well, you're excited about slaying monsters aren't you." He says, stating the obvious.

Quickly turning her sights onto Maelstrom, sending him a harsh glare, though he wasn't really afraid of it, she replied, "Why shouldn't I, unlike you I've been stir-crazy not being able to run my blades through anything!"

When she said that, Maelstrom couldn't help but say, "So that's why you were stiff and ended up kicking me into a statue, your amazon warrior blood was wanting some action that didn't involve training, for a moment I thought I did something wrong."

When he said that, both amazon and demigod were reminded of their accidental kiss, causing the amazon to growl and point her sword at the blond's neck, causing him to lean back slightly and gulp, while speaking quietly, "W-W-With certain incidents (gulp!) not withstanding!"

Just as things were getting strained, another bloke rushed in screaming like little girl, yelling about Centaurs being back, not realising that he may have just saved Maelstrom's neck.

But before she could get her blood-lust quenched, the man at the desk told them that they need to go through the paperwork first, she was about to push it onto Maelstrom until he stopped her and told her that they'd want her info done by herself, otherwise it'd be seen as fraud or something, which the man who hired her agreed with.

Though she was upset at her "slave" for talking back, she got to work writing the forms.

Unfortunately, while she was filling out her paperwork, Hercules had already finished her job for her, causing the frustrated amazon to get even more frustrated, with Maelstrom standing behind her, leaning against her chair, though when he saw the vein on Tempest's forehead start to pulse, he winced, "Okay, even I've gotta admit, that's just bad timing."

After saying this he caught the attention of Icarus and Cassandra, with his girlfriend asking him, "Mael!? What're you doing here with Tempest!?"

With Icarus jumping in, "Yeah, and with a nice comfy looking chair too?" Causing the couple to face-palm.

Though they moved on from that and Maelstrom told them "some" of the things, "Ye~ah, turns out while running on that boulder I ended up hitting a bump along the way and got knocked off on it, then I ended up crashing into Tempest and as an apology I have to be her slave for the day." Not wanting his girlfriend to hear about the accident that happened because of it for obvious reasons.

At first they were surprised, but they realised that they shouldn't really be that surprised, Maelstrom was just having a Herc-day (though not the way they picture), so figuring that they don't want a sword entering their bodies, they just left it alone.

Unfortunately, due to Hercules not liking the fact that Tempest was getting paid for her protection against the centaurs, though it would seem because of his "hero-work" the Techno-Greeks decided to hire Hercules as their personal hero, though Maelstrom did catch the guy's slip of the word, volunteer.

But seeing Tempest get furious about losing her job and storming out, he tells his friends that he best keep an eye on her, which they all agreed with, even Cassandra seeing how angry the amazon was.

Later

It turns out, Maelstrom was right, Tempest was so angry that they ended up in a satyr's only bar, though Maelstrom isn't worried, since he knows the type of fury Tempest had in her, "Tempest, I can understand your fury about Hercules swooping in and taking away your job/frustration release, but if anyone's to blame it'd be those tight-fisted money horders, so even though I'm reluctant, I'll help you out as best as I can."

Hearing Maelstrom actually say that, she looked at him in shock, "Y-You actually agree with my vengeance, b-b-but aren't you suppose to be a hero!?" The fact that he got the amazon warrior princess to stutter goes to show how shocked she was.

Maelstrom on the other hand was amused at the fact he got her to stutter, but decided to answer her question, "I MAY be a hero-in-training, but the fact that they went back on their word, after getting you to go through all those paperwork just to get the boot, they could've at least apologise and pay you the full commission for the inconvenience, also my brother needs to learn that some people don't have the backing of a hero's gym or the gods, so they have to make another living, it might be a sword for hire, but until someone offers them a better deal they're stuck with it."

She couldn't help but agree with what Maelstrom said, she has a slight backing of her mother and Themyscira, but there are others less fortunate, "And, you're alright with that?" Wanting confirmation.

Giving a sigh, he replied, "Yes, only, how do you feel about... Pranks?"

"They are childish and immature, also they are unbecoming of a warrior princess." She was quick to reply.

Instead of being undeterred, he raised an eyebrow, "Oh, not even Revenge-Pranks?" He asks, giving a cunning fox-like grin, the moment he said "revenge-pranks" the thing she first thought was a scarf suddenly pops up, showing a fox's head, somehow showing an excited gleam in it's eyes, and if she was mistaken the fox somehow has a large grin.

Then it came to her, "Wait, that's the fox I keep seeing around school, just after someone gets pranked!"

Maelstrom rubs the back of his neck, "Ye~ah, he only does that to people who deserves it, though his main target is Adonis."

When she heard that name, her face changed from surprise to a heated scowl, knowing how the pompous idiot walks around like he's of the hype, though unfortunately, she releases a sigh, since she can't really do anything to to privileged prince otherwise it could cause a war, though she has no doubt her sisters would win, but there would be heavy lost from both sides,"I suppose the spoiled man-child does deserve such treatment," She smirked at some of the pranks she witnessed happening to Adonis, "Anyway, what would you suggest IF I did admit to wanting to pull some pranks on them, as well as you brother to a less extent." Since Hercules was her (friend's?)training partner's brother it shouldn't be something too humiliating, just enough to learn his lesson.

Though as Maelstrom was brainstorming, a certain group of centaurs marched up to the mortals, with the leader wanting to challenge one of them to a fight.

The two looked at each other, with Maelstrom sighing since he can already see where this was going, "(sigh) I'm sure you want this one, since you still need to release some more steam after what happened."

After saying that caused the amazon to have a challenging smirk, with both the leader and amazon stepping out of the bar, the other centaurs moved to make sure the male mortal wouldn't try to rescue his friend, but all he had was a relaxed look on his face, with the second in command asking, "Aren't ya worried for ya girl getting hurt?"

Looking at the centaur, Maelstrom just shrugs his shoulders, "I'm more worried about your leader, the girl he's face against is an amazon warrior,"

Before he could continue everyone in the bar could hear loud banging, crashing, thumping and stuff breaking, at one point Maelstrom noticed four horseshoes being thrown back inside, then suddenly a knocked out and bruised leader was thrown back in, heading for Maelstrom, but putting some of his strength into his legs he managed to jump high enough until flipped over and his feet touched the ceiling, allowing him to lightly push off from it and head to the ground where he landed back on his feet.

Looking at the other centaurs, he finishes, "Also she's not MY girl, if anything we're... "difficult" friends." Since she is an amazon it was very challenging to try and stay on her good side, though after the kiss it became only slightly harder, since she could've told him never to speak with her again, but instead, he became her slave for the day, meaning that there's some progress, kinda.

Tempest came marching back in, only managing to hear the "difficult" friends part, though she ignored it for now, since she managed to relax slightly after that short battle, "Next!" She calls out.

After that it turned out that Tempest somehow became the leader of the centaur gang, making Naruto give a lazy surprised look, "Well now, that's a surprise!" For some reason he felt like he was missing a mask that coves his mouth and nose when he said that, but brushes it off.

Though Tempest did hear him, she suddenly became pumped up, forgetting about Maelstrom's idea of pranking the Techno Greeks and Hercules, and thoughts of being the centaurs leader became more appealing, unfortunately because he'd agreed to be her slave for the day, he couldn't really go against her orders, placing his hand on his face, "Why, why, why, did I have to say I'd do anything after what happened, me and my big mouth."

Hearing Maelstrom's complaint, Tempest moves towards him, "Slave, enough of your complaining and go and get my chair, we have planning to do." She orders him, not realising she was rubbing salt into the wound.

Monday

As it turned out, there was no need for Maelstrom or Kurama to prank anyone, since the Techno Greeks were complete yellow-bellies, and they kept calling for Hercules for every little thing, after Maelstrom went to grab some human food for him and Tempest when he was still her slave and spotted the geeks hiding away from a bush, with Hercules arriving just to find a mouse instead, then Hercules explained that this has been happening everytime they called for his help.

Making Maelstrom shake his head, telling his brother that it was his own fault for volunteering being their "on-call" hero and if he'd have let Tempest chase the centaurs away then none of this would've happened.

After the two parted ways, Maelstrom decided to go back Abacus Valley with Icarus and Cassandra, wanting to apologies for accidentally breaking Cassandra's old Abacus by buying a new one for her, along with apologising for not spending any time with her, but she understood that he needed to keep his promise, besides it wasn't like Tempest made him a slave for the whole week so she left it be.

That is until a group of Centaurs charged at the three, with Cassandra stating how she hates men with ponytails, Maelstrom got in front of the two, with the centaurs screeching to a halt, "Well hey there Mael, what the heck are you doing here?"

Maelstrom just smiles, "I'm just here with my friends, getting my girlfriend, Cassandra there a new abacus as an apology for breaking her old one and not spending enough time with her."

That made the centaurs nod in understanding, though the second in-command had a question, "But wait, aren't you suppose to be with our new leader, Tempest, or something."

Maelstrom was quick to deny that, "No you guy's, I told you, me and Tempest are just training partners, "Difficult" friends at best."

Icarus and Cassandra understood his term, since it would be difficult being friends with an amazon, though the centaurs didn't fully understood, but they could respect that, somewhat.

As that was happening, the group moved towards the others, unfortunately, Tempest just ended up in the mud, having been defeated by the ex-leader of the centaurs.

Seeing her downed form, Maelstrom moves to help her, though as she tries to stand, she gives out a yelp of pain, just before she falls, Maelstrom caught her, "Whoa! Are you alright?"

Shaking of her surprise, she replies back, "I'm fine, let go of me!" As she moves to take a step she suddenly collapses again.

Maelstrom moves towards her, "Here, let me have a look," While she tries to protest, Maelstrom already had her foot raised, moving it around slightly, causing her to wince in pain, "Looks like a very bad sprain," taking his top off, he began ripping it apart, taking an abacus he broke the sides off of it and uses them for splints, then wraps the rags from his top to create bandages for her, "There you go, from what I understand, you'll have to keep off it for a few days."

Though she was slightly thankful at his thoughtfulness, she tried to stand up, "Whoa now Tempest, I know your a warrior, but even warriors should know when it's time to heal oneself so that they can fight at peak conditions, so for now, I suppose I could carry you, at least one more time."

Looking towards Cassandra, as though asking for permission, which she gave since Tempest shouldn't damage her foot anymore than she should.

So with that said, before Tempest could protest, Maelstrom picked her up and started walking back to Athens, leaving Hercules and his friends to finish things off from there.

Though as Maelstrom was walking, Tempest was trying to struggle, exclaiming that a warrior shouldn't be carried or babied, as she kept complaining, along with smacking him on his bare chest, she ended up tiring herself out, resting her head on his chest now, "H-How (huff) is it, that, y-y-you're not tired from my h-h-hits to you?" While she asked that she couldn't help but find the beating of Maelstrom's heart rather soothing.

Maelstrom just smiles, "What do you expect, I'm one of the son's of Zeus and Hera, even though we are mortal we've still got our godly strength."

She knew he wasn't really bragging, just simply stating a fact, while making there way home, he managed to gain her address, just before she fell asleep in his arms, unconsciously snuggling closer to his chest, making him look at her in puzzlement, yet he couldn't help but say to himself, "All women are weird!" Pretty much stating a fact that all men think.

Though what he doesn't know was a pair of glowing eyes from a certain goddess saw the whole thing, along with the accidental kiss, which caused her to squeal in excitement at her "drama" possibly continuing, but who knows.

The End.

There you have it, a run-in with the centaurs and the Techno Greeks, as well as Maelstrom and Tempest's relationship seeming to be slowly growing as well, but will Tempest's tsundere-mode become stronger, or will she slowly open up more to the blond demigod, well we'll have to wait and see.

I Do Not Own Naruto Or Hercules.