Disclaimer: Don't own PJO or the Whiskered Warrior.

Lunar Phases

A Little White Lie

Dishonesty.

The trait held as the ideal of tricksters, mischiefs and criminals. From the smallest white lie to the grandest fabrication, all of sapient life is capable of it. Mortals, monsters, titans and even gods. Especially gods. The gods thrived off of deceit, the gods survived because of deceit. Even Apollo, the god of truths, was a dishonest being – granted, most of his deceit was done by acts of omission. Dishonesty, for better or worse, was made a natural part of life as soon as the first story tumbled out of sapient lips.

November 28th, 2008

The shower was running.

"Stupid neighbors." Thalia groaned and rolled onto her other side of her bed, covering her head with her pillow.

There were boons and cons to having the ability to enhance her senses, she found. The upside was that, even while she slept, her subconscious' awareness worked as if she were still awake without impacting her sleep. Super effective for when she was living on the road or on a quest. The downside was that a lot of benign sounds would snap her awake, such as her downstairs neighbor's shower going off at full blast.

The persistence of the abused shower head had her groan again and roll back to her other side. An eye cracked open and peered into the darkness of her bedroom, seeking out her digital alarm clock.

04:52 flashed at her in dimmed red lighting. The lone eye was joined by its twin, and then they blinked.

"Who in their right mind wakes up before five on a Friday?" Thalia grumbled to herself. She groaned again when she realized she just spoke out loud, which meant her cognitive functions were past the process of booting up, and were buffering. For all of her faults, she despised her inability to return to sleep after waking the most. It's why she always took the first shift of watch when she lived on the road.

Frustrated with the start of her Friday, Thalia threw her covers aside and grabbed a change of clothes before she headed for the bathroom. If her neighbors thought their loud shower was going to be taken lightly, they were going to be in for a rude awakening. She pushed the door open and went for the sink, then paused. Odd, there was already a stack of clothing in her usual spot.

I don't remember putting anything here last night. Thalia furrowed her brows. After Whiskers' random call from his mom and uncle, they gorged themselves on Leto's various flavors of pie. After being put in a near food coma, she remembered getting help back to her room from the matronly Goddess before succumbing to her body's desire to sleep off the feast she put away. Not once was there a chance for her to set anything out.

Thalia set her clothes down beside the mystery stack, grabbing the white article that was sitting second from the top. The boxers set atop of it flopped to the toilet between the sink and shower. She unfolded the white shirt and stared at the crescent moon set between the pectoral outline. This shirt looked very familiar.

The squeak of the shower faucet accompanied by the ceased sound of falling water alerted Thalia as she came out of her sleepy haze. She looked at the mirror, it was slightly fogged. Oh, so it wasn't her neighbor's shower that had been running. Her gaze fell on the shirt in her hand and she looked up when the shower curtain pulled back.

Modesty protected by his grip on a blue towel that was wound around his waist, Whiskers held the curtain open. From inside of her shower. Their eyes met, just briefly, before her ADHD decided that she needed to watch a very daring droplet of water trace a path from the side of his head, down his neck, over the marble-like clavicle and further still down the pectorals that tormented her rest since September. It was as the droplet hit the towel-to-waistline barrier that she realized only one of them in the room had clothes on. And, to her growing mortification, that the one with clothes on had been staring at the body of the one without.

Thankfully, that whole event, though it felt like the droplet took hours to traverse Whisker's body, occurred in under a second.

"…Thalia." He nodded at her when her eyes darted back up to his.

"Whiskers." Thalia blinked. In her mind she repeated a simple, calm mantra: Keep eye contact. Keep eye contact. Keep eye contact. Hey, where's that droplet goin—Keep eye contact!

Follow it! Aphrodite wasn't even being discreet. Not that she ever really was.

"You're making this weird."

What? How? Right. Staring. Stop staring. How? Blink!

Mercifully, she did. And upon doing so, came up with an instant retort.

"I'm not the one using my best friend's shower without permission." Thalia crossed her arms and did the best to ignore the heat in her face. "Especially while there's a perfectly good one in the bedroom he was given to sleep in."

"Gran-Gran was using it when I got back from my run."

Of course, she was—wait, what? Thalia furrowed her brows. "Run?"

"Morning run. Sometimes later, sometimes earlier." Whiskers shrugged and released the curtain to scratch the back of his head. Droplets of water fell from the act and landed near her toes—Eye contact! He's still talking! "Woke up at one. Felt restless at two. Went for a run to clear my head. Came back, Gran-Gran was in the shower, so I came in here. Didn't mean to wake you, sorry."

He snuck into her room while she was asleep. How the heck did he do that? Was Artemis' training that good? She needed some remedial lessons, maybe she could ask Bianca for some tips.

No, forget that lost cause! Think of the possibilities he could surprise you with! Aphrodite tittered. Thalia almost arched her brow.

Like what? Breakfast? Thalia scoffed back.

Although, being served breakfast in bed did sound rather appealing. Having it made before she woke, eating it without leaving the comfort of her sheets. Some well cooked pancakes or waffles with an assortment of fruits, whipped cream and syrup...Maybe chocolate chips to sprinkle atop it. Ugh, great. Now she was hungry. If only she hadn't had to obliterate her traitorous toaster—It knows what it did.

I was thinking more along the lines of tossing a salad, dear.

Who would want to eat a salad in their bed?

Well, you've done it. You've convinced me that dropping out of public school was the right call. Aphrodite huffed. Thalia heard nails clack as fingers drummed on the arm of a chair, likely a throne. Was–Was the goddess of love bothering her during a Council meeting? Seriously?! That school didn't teach you anything worthwhile! I'll have to make a note to pull some of my funding from it.

Are you bothering me about this during a meeting?

I think of plenty things during a meeting, dear. Besides, it's just a report from Artemis, and she's about as distracted as I am for whatever reason. …Actually, now I'm curious about it, Aphrodite hummed. Yep. She glared at Apollo for a microsecond before she sat down. I'm afraid I must deduce what that is about, ta-ta for now, Thalia. Don't do anything I wouldn't do with a boy that fine.

"You okay?"

"Fine." Thalia rubbed her temples. Her head was bowed and—When did he step out of the shower? Was it normal for a guy's legs to look delicious, or was she just that hungry? Wait, is he talking? No? Good—Eye contact, Thalia! Focus! "Just a small headache. So, why did you sneak through my room?"

"To… use your shower?"

"Okay, but why not wait?"

"Gran-Gran told me you would be fine with it. From what she said, I thought we woke you by accident and she talked to you before you went back to sleep."

"…So, she lied to you."

"Apparently, yes." Whiskers grumbled and crossed his arms, tightening his che–Eye contact! He'd pinched the bridge of his nose and growled before he sighed. "Thalia, I'm sorry I snuck into your shower. Can you chew me out after I get dressed?"

Oh, right, Whiskers was still naked. Unintentionally, Thalia glanced down to verify and-Yep. The six-pack resting above that towel verified it. Heat flew to her face and she quickly backed out.

"Y-yeah, sure, just, uh, don't take too long."

"Wasn't planning t–" She'd slammed the door shut behind her before he finished speaking, but she heard the words all the same. With a groan, she slumped against the door and buried her face in her hands.

Stupid sexy Whiskers.

You should give her something as part of your apology. Like the heart of one of your enemies.

Naruto paused in the midst of pulling his pants up. He fastened them in place and glanced at the Sköll on his left arm. The deity-devouring wolf's image was staring at him.

"What are you talking about?"

Must I really explain this, Boy? The Fox asked. Naruto glanced at the tattoo again, arched his notched eyebrow, before he grabbed his shirt and started to pull it on. The Fox scoffed. You are an embarrassment to all males practicing courtship rituals.

"I'll take that as a compliment, thanks." Naruto muttered, lip curled at the thought of indulging in such acts. He pulled his shirt down over his stomach and moved to walk out the door. His lips pursed and his hand hovered over the knob.

Thalia was probably on the other side of that door. It was still really early and he really didn't feel like getting involved in another argument with her so soon. Especially when she was in the right to be upset—

Hence, if you get the heart or the head of one of your enemies and offer it to her as an apology, she may forgive you for intruding her den.

"Pretty sure she'll refuse either of those." Naruto deadpanned.

More for us, then!

"We've gone over this, Fox." He pinched the bridge of his nose. "I'm not consuming the heart or the head or any other part of my enemies."

Compromise! I'll do it for you!

"That's definitely not happening." Naruto muttered. He crossed his arms and glowered at the door. Though Thalia was in the right to be upset, he hadn't snuck in with malicious intentions. He was lied to, he was as much a victim in this scenario as she was. So, opening the door and getting yelled at or shocked or whatever else she might do didn't seem like it would be fair.

If you're so insistent on avoiding the consequences to your actions, turn your head up and look to the left. The Fox grunted.

He did.

A window, eight or nine feet from the ground, was there. Mostly for natural light purposes, but it had been covered up by the acrophobic waiting on the other side of the bathroom door. Another interesting tidbit as of note, the window hadn't been nailed shut. Naruto's lips curled into a small smile.

Bingo.

A soft leap, followed by a reach for the ledge, and he'd pulled his left arm up, using it and his curled right leg as a wedge to keep himself up while his right hand opened the window. He crawled out and looked down. Wow, that was high. How the heck did Thalia live in a pentho–Right, she covered most of the windows and kept herself seated with her back to the rest.

Do not fall. The Fox growled. It'd take longer than a week to heal that much damage. Even with your Idiot Uncle's help.

Remind me not to introduce you to my mother. Naruto thought sourly as he pulled himself out to the window ledge and closed the window behind him. He might think his Uncle Fred was annoying at times, but he didn't want The Fox and Mom to find common ground based upon that. It likely wouldn't end well for him.

"Alright, I'm here. Now what?" The mortal muttered to himself. He craned his neck out and looked up. Ten, fifteen feet maybe to the next ledge, which was hopefully the roof. There would be an access door he could use to get back to the apartment. He frowned. "Can't make that jump."

Old Sage, preserve me. The Fox grumbled. You can make it without jumping like an idiot. Use your chakra.

"…My what?" Naruto blinked. He could've sworn he'd heard that term before.

Oh, right. Stupid Snake-faced Scientist…

"The what-faced who-now?"

Don't worry about it, we'll use my chakra. The Fox sighed. Naruto was worried about it. He wanted to pursue that line of thought, but a heavy pelting of thick snow flurry reminded him that this probably wasn't the time. Just so you know, this is going to hurt, Boy. And I'm not sorry.

"Just tell me what to do." Naruto grumbled. He'd gotten far too accustomed to getting hurt lately. What was one more time?

Put your hand on the side of the building.

He did, the frozen concrete almost made him recoil. He grimaced when a boiling pressure suddenly flowed through it. Suddenly, it felt as if something had melted the ice and adhered his palm to the concrete structure.

Now, swing around and do the same with your other hand.

"Fox, I am not dislocating my arm."

Have you already forgotten that your anatomy was altered and made stronger after that overgrown mutt's bite? The Fox asked snidely. Naruto pursed his lips and fought back the heat that rushed to his face. He may have forgotten that, yes. Without another word, he swung around — mildly annoyed that his shoulder didn't dislocate out of spite — and pressed his other hand to the wall.

Use your feet to propel yourself, I will ensure we remain attached. The Fox explained dryly. It snickered suddenly. Just don't look down, Boy.

As he braved the frigid airs high above the Big Apple, Naruto grumbled curses at smug foxes, angry girl friends, weird secret energies, and lying grandparents. Nary five minutes had passed before he reached the top. After hauling himself over the ledge, he planted his rear in the thick, soft white powder that covered the roof and flopped to his back.

"That sucked." He huffed, chest heaving. His eyes closed and he growled. "Why am I so tired?!"

I might have used some of your measly unused chakra to supplement my own. It's like exercising a muscle for the first time. You're tired because you never use it. The Fox admitted with an audible smirk. Golden eyebrows furrowed as the teen pushed himself up into a seated position.

"There's that word again. What the hell is—?"

Chakra, you uneducated Neanderthal, is the combination of Spiritual, Mental and Physical energy that flows throughout every living thing. The Fox explained tiredly. Your deities have it in spades, although it feels more like diluted forms of the natural chakra that's around us.

"…Oh, wonderful." Naruto rubbed his temple with his right hand. "I'm talking to a spirit animal."

Old Sage, preserve me. The Fox growled. I am not a spirit, I am a sentient creature composed of life energy, you ungrateful little—!

"That sounds like you just made that up. Did you just make that up?" A smirk spread across his face when The Fox snarled at him before going quiet. It was the little things he had to take solace in. He got to his feet and started looking for an access door. Once he found the door, and after he broke off the long since frozen handle with a solid kick, he started making his way down the access stairs.

Now all he had to do was deal with the fallout of this whole event.

As all deities did in regards to their domains, Leto liked to think herself a more than decent matronly goddess. Sure, she might have technically abducted her daughter's adopted son, but she'd cast the boy out of her Hunters twice – granted, only the first time had been done by choice. The second? Not so much. Regardless, the boy needed direction and grounding after spending so much time alone.

That was without mentioning the pent up energy that the boy radiated clearly for all to see, hence why she allowed his early morning run in the cold New York winter. The misleading information about young Thalia's shower was, admittedly, influenced by some of Apollo's romantic-comedies in hopes he'd find an alternate way of burning that energy. Alas, he'd gone and blabbed about her little white lie to Zeus' demigod. The glare the girl in question had given her after emerging, quite red faced, from her room was nothing short of hostile.

Leto paid it no mind, she'd be forgiven as soon as the two teens began to listen to what their hearts were screaming at their heads.

That being said, first her grandson needed to have his head checked.

"You came in from the roof?" Leto asked incredulously. Even Thalia had stopped glaring at her to give him a look. Granted that had started after he had walked through the front door, rather than out of her room. Admittedly, it was amusing to watch her look back from her room to him several times in bewilderment.

"Yep." Naruto sighed after he finished his sip of the hot cocoa Leto had made for him. She'd given it to him after she noticed his minute trembling. He glanced at Thalia. "Shower's open, by the way."

"Yeah! I figured that out, thanks." She mumbled, crossing her arms and leaning back. "How did you even reach the roof?"

"I climbed out the window." Naruto blinked. Both Leto and Thalia both looked out the nearest window. A flurry of snowfall blanketed the prestigious city that the Olympians call home. They turned back to the lone blond in the apartment. He arched an eyebrow. "What?"

"How?" Thalia asked in Leto's stead.

"I climb trees all the time."

"That's not—We're a little higher up than most trees, Whiskers!"

"The trick is to not look down."

"Don't get smart with me!"

"I'm not, though? That's some of Mom's advice."

"Oh, Artemis…" Leto pinched the bridge of her nose. Of course her daughter encouraged such reckless activities. The things she'd heard her daughter's Hunters participating in over the years were too many. She didn't even bother trying to keep track of her son's children's infamous and foolish endeavors. Those were far too numerous, even for an immortal to keep track of.

"I just—no, screw it. I'm going to shower, but this isn't over." Thalia glared at Naruto before she stomped off to her room. The boy frowned.

"What'd I do this time?" He mumbled before taking a sip of his cocoa. "It wasn't like the bathroom door can be locked on the inside."

Leto sighed and rubbed her temples. For all of his keen skills in survival, her grandson was utterly clueless where it mattered and Thalia was apparently hell-bent on ignoring the signs entirely. She might have to rethink her strategy in this. It would seem Apollo's romantic-comedies likely weren't the best source material for her to base her plans off of.

Thalia was normally not one to tolerate the complaints of others for long, especially not so early in the morning. When her former classmates bemoaned how 'cruel' and 'unforgiving' their parents or teachers were, she scoffed. That Woman had left a two year old boy in the woods, and her own father's fathering nature was a joke. She could count on two fingers off one hand the times Zeus was ever considered kind to his children — outside of immortalizing them, anyway.

The first: Granting Artemis eight wishes she could call upon at any time upon her arrival to Olympus, even letting her hold onto two after granting the first six.

The second, and known mostly to demigods: Approving Athena's desire for the expansion of shared knowledge by commissioning libraries and schools, generally wherever and whenever she asked.

Given those two instances of blatant favoritism out of, what was it now, hundreds of children at least? Yeah, suffice to say Thalia wasn't impressed by Zeus' parenting skills. Being turned into a magical pine tree to be spared an afterlife in the clutches of her uncle didn't even factor into her reasoning.

That all said, she understood why Luke had succumbed to The Crooked One's whispers. All of the Greek gods had their own problems comprehending the concept of parenting. However, just because they weren't the best parents didn't mean they didn't care on some level. Again, she thought of being turned into a tree. Not the best way to show you care, but Zeus interfered on her behalf and she was still alive, so…That, and the fact that Artemis even used a phone – or the godly equivalent of one – to call Whiskers was still a mind blowing concept. Even if Apollo took over after, the goddess of the hunt had made the initial call.

Hence, when she walked out of her room after her shower and found Whiskers sitting on her couch, staring at a piece of paper in his hands as if it had stabbed him in the same spot his tattoo did, she was only mildly concerned. Before she could even inquire, he held it out to her and flopped back in his seat. Arching a brow at his reaction, she glanced at the note she was handed.

"'Forgot something in Athens, be back in a bit. Borrowed the car. Don't do anything I wouldn't do. —Gran-Gran'," Thalia snorted, her concern washed away. Geez, most members of Cabin Seven would kill to meet Leto once, and here Whiskers is pouting over a note she left him. She wondered if the campers would keep true to that wish if they knew Leto preferred to be addressed as 'Gran-Gran'. The letter was dropped to the coffee table and she looked at him when he let out another groan. "So, what's your issue?"

"My issue is that my grandmother essentially stranded me in New York City." Whiskers grumbled, rubbing his hands over his face.

"Didn't you drive here?"

"She took my keys."

"And hotwiring is out of the question."

"Yes." He gave her a flat stare when she arched her brow at him. "Look, I'm not exactly keen on ruining my truck after I spent a month fixing it."

"So you're stuck in New York. Oh the horror."

"Bite me. I'm not okay being so close to The Mountain right now without any sort of divine protection."

"Oh, get over yourself, Whiskers." Thalia scoffed and crossed her arms. "It's not like he's watching you with a lightning bolt primed and ready, waiting for you to screw something else up."

"It wouldn't surpr—Wait. What do you mean 'screw something else up'?" Whiskers frowned at her. He looked like a petulant kitten that just got its food taken away. It was so cu-Not cute. Adorable? Endearing? Attra—Nope, subject change needed. Trying to get away from that train of thought passing through her mind, Thalia smirked at him.

"Do you want me to start with your hotel room in New Jersey, or go earlier?"

"That – I was making lunch."

"After beating up a mob boss."

"How was I supposed to know who that jerk was? He was threatening to break someone's fingers!"

"Well then you got your police record wiped and were hired to work in Valhalla."

"I can't even begin to stress how much you really shouldn't talk about that out loud."

"Let's not forget the Colorado Incident."

"That doesn't count as a screw up."

"Let me reiterate: Colorado Incident."

"...I said I was sorry."

"And that's just this past year." Thalia almost dared him to argue further, but he crossed his arms and glowered at her coffee table. She snorted and crashed down on the seat beside him. "You need to relax, Whiskers. 'Daddy Dearest' won't eradicate you without reason."

"I'm less than five feet away from you, that might be reason enough." Whiskers grumbled. She huffed out a small laugh.

"Okay, fair." Thalia glanced out the window at the Empire State Building, before looking back at him. She reached out and gently poked him in the arm, smirking when he jumped. "But you're tense. What gives?"

"I'm not big on cities. Haven't really been since I met Khonsu." He glanced at her, then back at the window. "Not because of the smells, or the loud noises, or because of all the people. I can block all of that out." His hands balled into fists. "What I can't stand about cities...are the ghosts."

"...Seriously?" Thalia sniggered. "You're afraid of ghosts?"

"No." Whiskers scowled at her. She smirked.

"You are."

"I'm not afraid of ghosts, Thalia." He grumbled and slumped down in his seat. "I'm bothered by them."

"Aw, don't worry, Whiskers." Thalia reached out and ruffled his hair. He smacked her hand away and turned to look at her, his adorable scowl still in place. "There's no ghosts here."

"There's no ghosts here."

Naruto glanced past Thalia at the spectral figures just behind her, in the corner of the room. A small family of three. A woman with half of her face ripped and shredded with glass still embedded in it, a man with his throat slit, and a girl no older than five cradling her head like it was a doll. He looked back at Thalia, who was blissfully unaware of the history behind her, then back at the table.

"Right."

They're gone. The Fox assured him. He looked back from the corner of his eye, and sure enough they were. He huffed and looked back at the table. A familiar book caught his eye and he almost reached out for it–

"Besides, if there were, I'd deal with them." Thalia crossed her arms and sat back in her seat. She reached behind her to the pepper spray canister on the side table. It flipped in her hand and she grinned, brandishing it to him. "Being able to use Celestial Bronze has its perks."

"Not all ghosts are malicious, Tree Girl." Naruto sighed as he sat back. His fist pressed into his cheek as he leaned on the arm of the couch. "Some just want to keep living their lives, unaware of what happened to them. Others want someone to help them pass on."

"So they ask you?" Thalia asked, sliding her pepper spray canister into her pocket. "Wouldn't they go to Nico, or Bianca?"

"Not sure about Nico, but I'm not sure they could bother Bianca if they wanted to. A demigod is not as connected to their parent's domain after they join The Hunt," he shrugged. "If you'd joined, for example, you'd probably lose your greater atmokinesis within a month. General static, possibly lightning, might remain, but I dunno. It's hard to say."

"No more lightning powers? Bummer," she frowned. "I like shocking things."

"Yeah, I'm aware," he deadpanned. She crossed her arms.

"I'm not apologizing. Stop doing stupid and suicidal stuff." Her foot raised up and pushed into his shoulder in a gentle kick. "Like climbing up the side of a building in a snowstorm."

"I was fine. Please get your foot off of my arm." She did, but the annoyance remained in her eyes. "Look, I wasn't in the mood to fight about sneaking into your room. I'm sorry I did, okay?"

"...Yeah, I guess. You were lied to." She relented, but her arms still remained crossed. She shifted in her seat. "All you did was use my shower, right?"

"Um, yes?" He arched his brow when Thalia looked away from him. Weird, why was her face getting red? It wasn't like he'd seen a diary or a stuffed animal or something. She had been buried under no less than five blankets. "Thalia, what other reason would I have for going in your room while you're asleep?"

Old Sage, preserve me – to mate with her, you absolute moron! The Fox deadpanned.

"She thinks I would–? Thalia, you didn't think I would actually do anything to you in your sleep do you?" Naruto frowned. Surely, she didn't – his chest felt like it was crushed when she refused to meet his eyes. She did. She actually thought he would–! His blood boiled and he shot up, outraged. "Th-That's just– I can't even–! I mean, seriously!?"

"N-No, I–! It's just–!" She glanced at him and then away again, her face darkening. He scowled. What, now, she didn't want to look at him? Was she that upset?! He didn't even do anything!

"Thalia, I'd get it if it was another guy, but-but me?!"

Hm, that's odd. His stomach had twisted just as the thought of some other guy being in Thalia's room crossed his mind's eye. Luke's face replaced the shadowed figure for some reason – okay, his blood pressure was spiking and things were starting to smell weird. He needed to blow off some steam. With a frustrated growl, he stormed over to the door.

"W-Whiskers, where are you–?"

"Out." He snarled, throwing the door open. He paused long enough to glance at her over his shoulder. "Don't wait up."

"Whiskers, wait!" Thalia grimaced as the door slammed behind him. She flopped onto the couch and rubbed her temples. Then growled and threw her arms up. "Great! Awesome! Thank you, Aphrodite! Thank you for your absolutely $&*% timing!"

As soon as he apologized for sneaking into her room again, images and scenarios had flooded into her head, all of them rather suggestive. Worse yet, all of them revolved around the shower incident from this morning. All of them had to be done by the one who'd been tormenting her.

Not exactly the sort of language I wanted to hear when I tuned back in. Aphrodite's voice drawled in the back of her head. The smell of sweet perfume filled the air before leather crinkled. "Why exactly am I being cursed?"

"Don't give me that!" Thalia hissed, turning to glare at the goddess that manifested in the seat where Whiskers had previously sat. She pointed at the goddess accusingly. "You know exactly what you did!"

"I've done many things, Thalia Grace. This morning alone, I've broken up three celebrity couples while I oversaw the amazing start to your day and suffered through the dull arrowhead's report. In the past twelve hours, I reunited fourteen hundred estranged loves. Thirty-five minutes ago, I slept with fifty mortals simultaneously." Aphrodite smirked at her as her face burned from the images that comment conjured and began to file her nails. "You'll have to be a little more specific."

"You...showed me those...those…" Thalia couldn't exactly articulate it. It was too hot. Literally, figuratively, every way in between. She groaned into her hands again. The way that Whiskers would touch her, how she would hold him, and how he stared at her... Gods, even now those thoughts wouldn't leave her head!

"Oh, my, Thalia! That's rather...That's rather salacious. Especially for you. I almost wish I'd put these thoughts in your head, but they're far too tame for me. They are more along Eros'..." Aphrodite's elation dimmed into a frown. Her nostrils flared and her eyes flashed through several hundred colors. "No. No, he wouldn't dare! That ungrateful little bastard!"

The next thing Thalia knew, she was on Olympus. In front of the Council. All assembled. Even Dionysus was present.

Well, this definitely isn't how I thought my day would go. Thalia grimaced, crossing her arms. She ignored the expected glare from her divine stepmother, and was mildly surprised by the brief one given to her by Hermes. Why was–Right. Luke. Well, she'll just have to deal with that.

"Aphrodite, for what purpose did you bring my demigod before us?" Zeus asked, voice rumbling across the room. He sounded more annoyed at her presence than at her initial abduction. Thalia felt so loved.

"Because, Zeus, an impossibility has come to pass," Aphrodite said with a frown. "My trusted son, Eros, has betrayed Olympus."

AN: All's fair in Love and War.