Notes: This chapter contains mild spoilers for the story written by astroqueen, which follows Maddie before life at Camp Half Blood, and will eventually follow the events of this story from a different perspective. To read, follow this link here! s/13692338/1/Heroes-and-Halfbloods-Maddie-s-Story

Chapter Text

Marcus left the Big House and walked towards the training grounds. If I'm going to be up against them… I'm going to need to be at my best. As he walked, he noticed things had already started to change for him around Camp. People didn't look at him the same, if they looked at him at all. I spent so long trying to get people to leave me alone… Guess all I needed to do was break the rules without Aaron around. Who would've guessed. As he walked, Marcus kept his eye out for Maddie. He wanted to be the one to tell her about his new… punishment.

Unfortunately, Marcus didn't run into Maddie on his way to the training grounds. Or any friendly face for that matter. The tension in camp was through the roof, and while usually Marcus didn't mind being ignored, this silent hostility was… unsettling. Drawing his pocket watch, Marcus swung it into sword form, and started sliding through his stances, each movement clear and focused.

Horizontal swing.

What the hell is happening here?

Riposte left.

I leave for a week and suddenly the whole camp hates me?

Downward thrust, switch hands.

Something's going on.

"It's not the whole camp Marcus. Just some." Came a voice from behind him.

Marcus sighed. Why is it always when I'm trying to relax? "What are you talking about Aphrodite?" Marcus answered without turning around.

"Now Marcus, is that any way to speak to a Goddess? Especially one who's done nothing but been on your side since the first day we met?" Aphrodite's voice was soothing, though whether that was because what she said was true or because of her power as a Goddess, Marcus didn't know.

With a sigh, Marcus turned, seeing Aphrodite sitting on a bench by the side of the sand training area, legs crossed at the knee, her elbow resting on her top leg and her chin in her hand with a teasing expression, looking so much like Chastity that Marcus had to remind himself who he was speaking to. "Why do you look like that?"

"That's quite the rude question Marcus. You never ask a Lady why she looks a certain way, even more so for a Goddess."

"Humor me." Marcus growled, starting to go through his forms again.

"Fine. I thought it appropriate, considering the occasion. Yet another step towards you finally accepting the one Love has picked for you. Granted, it's a step that was forced on you, but we both knew you were too stubborn to take the first step on your own. And look at you! Already you've traded flirtatious remarks, though she claims to have a 'boyfriend'. Naughty boy Marcus. Naughty indeed."

Marcus' swing faltered, throwing him off balance. "I don't know what you're talking about! That's just how we are!"

"Sure. Whatever you say Marcus." Aphrodite gave him a knowing smile.

"Anyway, what was that you said before, about it not being the whole camp?"

"Oh, well while you were gone an old… friend decided that it might be time to address some grievances. Very publicly." Aphrodite tossed her hair, much the same way Chastity had in the Big House meeting. She doesn't like whoever this 'friend' is…

"Care to elaborate? Or perhaps name drop?" Marcus asked.

"Oh, there's no need. He's coming here to make his grievances known in person. Usually that wouldn't be something I would interfere with but… well, he's bringing friends. And as much as I think you have an issue with respect, my Marcus, I also love when you overcome the odds, so I thought a little warning was called for." With that, Aphrodite threw Marcus a wink that made him blush against his will before she disappeared. Looking through where Aphrodite had been, Marcus saw a group of half-bloods approaching, led by a tall boy with blonde hair, carrying a bow. Of fucking course it's him… Marcus scowled.

"Marcus! The chosen one returns!" The boy cried out mockingly. Marcus looked him up and down. Scrawny. Filthy. He's changed over the years. He used to be the perfect Apollo child… Now he looks more like a wannabe.

"What do you want?" Marcus scoffed, letting his sword hang at his side in a relaxed grip, but one where he could still swing it at a moment's notice.

"We just want to see what happens when Chiron's favorite is punished. From what I can see? Not much." The boy sneered. "This is exactly like the Olympians and their pet horse. Their favorites can get away with murder scot free, while the rest of us aren't even allowed to step outside camp boundaries!"

Marcus tuned him out as he continued his tirade to those he had brought with him. No less than ten half-bloods were gathered, and from what he could the majority of them were Fringers. Interesting… Guess he didn't take last time too well after all.

"-and now the Great Marcus has returned to us, fresh from yet another example of breaking the will of the Olympians and what does he get? Not even a slap on the wrist punishment! And the rest of them, Maddie and the others. What did they get? Not even a visit to the Big House! Olympian favoritism at its finest."

"Say her name again, and I'll cut out your tongue, Thomas." Marcus said quietly, much quieter than Thomas' shouting had been, but his words weren't missed. Thomas turned to him, his hand creeping to the quiver of arrows at his side. This has been coming for years you bastard… Ever since you hurt Maddie...

"What was that? I don't think I heard you right Marcus. It seemed like you were threatening me. You know, the one with ten allies at his back and a ranged weapon while you stand there alone with a glorified stick." He sneered.

"You heard me alright. If you say her name again, I'll cut out your tongue. And now, I'll break your hand for good measure. See how good your Apollo healing skills are, now that he's abandoned you." Marcus tightened his grip on his blade.

With a shout from Thomas, three of his half-bloods surged forward, each swinging a weapon at Marcus as they came. Pathetic. With barely any effort, Marcus struck the first down just as they reached him and, using the momentum from his first swing to spin him entirely, lashed out with a kick to the jaw that knocked the second to reach him out cold before he even hit the ground. The third half-blood hesitated, seeing what happened, and that was their mistake. Macus lunged forward and caught them with a hilt strike to the stomach, knocking the wind out of them before following it up with a strike to the jaw, knocking them out cold.

"Come on Thomas. Is that the best your 'followers' got? Ever think if you could prove your worth to the Olympians, you wouldn't have this giant chip on your shoulder?"

"Shut up! Get him!" Thomas shouted, his voice cracking with tension. But the rest of his followers had seen what had happened. They had heard the stories from Capture the Flag and his times outside camp, but they had assumed they were overblown lies, this line of thinking being fed by Thomas, but seeing how easy that had been for him...

"Give it a rest Thomas. If you want a fight, fight me yourself. Otherwise, do what you did last time and run away. Like a bitch with its tail between its legs." Marcus saw Thomas snap in that moment, with a snarl, he raised his bow, drew, and fired in a single motion. Marcus saw the arrow coming for him and swatted it out of the air with his sword. I've been waiting a long time for this. This time, Maddie won't save you from me.

Thomas fired arrow after arrow at Marcus, who casually side stepped each one, walking closer and closer to him. He's out of practice. Perfect. Marcus saw the rest of the half-bloods that had been with Thomas turn and run just as Thomas fired his last arrow, reaching into an empty quiver. Marcus swatted the last one out of the air and charged, closing the remaining distance between him and Thomas in mere moments. Without warning, Thomas lashed out with his bow, cracking Marcus on the shoulder. With a flinch of pain, Marcus stepped back, barely dodging a second swing from Thomas. Shit. Maybe not so out of practice. Marcus blocked blow after blow from Thomas, who was swinging his bow as if it were a staff, doing anything he could to hurt Marcus, the sneer never leaving his face. Finally, he overextended, and that was the moment Marcus needed. Side-stepping, he allowed Thomas' momentum to carry him flying past he lashed out with his free hand, grabbing the back of Thomas' shirt and pulled, swinging his leg out as he did, tripping him and putting him flat on his back. Before he could do anything else, Marcus knelt quickly, his knee pressing under Thomas' sternum to keep him feeling just breathless enough to not act.

"Comfortable? No? Good." Marcus panted, trying to catch his breath.

"Fuck… You…" Thomas coughed.

"Ooh, now we can't have that. Thought you would have learned some manners over the years." Marcus scoffed.

"You… and… Maddie… can both… kiss… my ass…" Thomas spat at him.

Marcus' eyes were like ice, and Thomas' expression turned from one of rage to one of terror. Marcus didn't know what came over him next, but all he saw was a red fog as he heard the words he spoke, though the words were ones he never intended to say. "I warned you twice what would happen if you let her name come out of your mouth again… Guess you're as stupid as you look." Marcus stood, bringing his sword around.

Thomas looked up at him, terrified. Marcus rested the tip of his sword against Thomas' cheek and Thomas lay there, too frozen in fear to react. Out of the corner of his eye, Marcus saw a red haired woman standing by the edge of the training grounds in a torn black dress, red hair falling into her face, with the one eye that was visible a bright green. She looked… Familiar…

"Marcus!" The voice cracked through the air, bringing Marcus back to his senses. Turning, Marcus saw Chastity running across the training area. Before he could react, she grabbed his sword from his hand, changing it back to its pocket watch form. "I let you out of my sight for an hour and this is what you do?! I get it, this scumbag deserves everything you do, but any problems you cause are my problems now, remember?!"

Marcus shook his head, allowing Chastity to force his pocket watch back into his hand as he saw Thomas scramble to his feet and flee out of the corner of his eye. As Chastity continued lecturing him, Marcus let his mind wander, and he realized something that made him look at Chastity in a different light.

Nobody has even been able to change my weapon's form… Except Maddie.