Marcus sat on the steps of the Big House. Gazing out along the fields of Camp Half Blood, he attempted to bring some calm back to his reeling mind, sorting out his feelings while he waited for Chiron to finally allow him back to see Maddie. Anxiety. Was Maddie going to be fine? Yes. Of course. She had Ambrosia, plus Chiron is looking after her now. Guilt. I should have been there sooner... I was warned. I should've listened. Anger. Damn that Elliot... I don't care what his reason was, I'll never forgive him for this. Marcus also couldn't stop thinking about what Chiron had said, and his own response. Family huh...? I used to know what that felt like. Aaron, Alicia, Kelly, Hunter... They were my family. Now Maddie is all I have left...
"Uh oh. Marcus has brooding face again." A voice called out. Marcus pulled himself back to the present, watching Chastity walk through the fields towards the Big House. Again, Marcus felt a small twinge of guilt about what had happened in the game. "What's wrong now? Maddie mad at you for leaving her behind to go off on your own?"
Marcus shook his head, dropping his eyes back down to the dirt. "No. Maddie... She's getting first aid right now."
"So, the rumors were true." Chastity replied, sitting next to Marcus on the Big House porch steps. "All of them are then, I take it. You took down a group of ten Hephaestus kids who thought they were tough shit, then you attacked Elliot?"
Marcus looked at her. "Is that what they're saying? It was four Hephaestus campers who were the epitome of arrogant Olympian. And Elliot was fighting Maddie, causing her armor to burn her, and in her Berserker state she wouldn't have thought to do anything about it. I had to stop him."
"Mhm. And after you stopped him?"
Marcus looked away. "I don't know what happened... I guess I understand now a bit of what Maddie goes through every time she holds her spear." Marcus felt a light hit to the top of his head. He turned back to Chastity, who was shaking her head at him. "Ow! What was that for?"
"For being an idiot. Of course you lost it when Maddie went down. You two are literally the closest friends I've ever seen. It makes sense you'd go a little psycho when somebody hurt her." Chastity shrugged. "Although, if you could NOT attack my new roommate, that would be great."
Marcus couldn't help but smile a little at that. "Fine. I won't attack him anymore. Happy?"
Chastity scoffed. "You're kidding right? After what you pulled at Zeus' Fist? Nuh uh. No way. You have a LONG way to go before I let that little stunt go!"
"Oh, come on Chastity. We both know all's fair in Capture the Flag."
"Okay and? I didn't say I was mad because it was Capture the Flag!"
Marcus looked at Chastity, trying to get a read on where this was going. "Okay? Look isn't it your specialty to use mind tricks on people? I just did the same thing."
"Mind tricks...?"
"Yeah. You know," Marcus mimed playing a small lyre, "all your seduction mind trick stuff. Faking intent to get into your opponent's head. I just took a page out of your book."
Chastity just looked at him for a long moment, her face slowly flushing. Marcus only had a seconds warning of her cheeks turning red before she cried out "Ugh! You can be so impossible sometimes Marcus!" Chastity shot to her feet. "Forget it!"
Marcus watched as she stormed away, taken aback by the sudden shift. What the hell was that all about...?
"You've got to be kidding." Chastity groaned. Marcus couldn't help but agree. Looking around the meeting table at the Big House, he saw the group he was expected to take to the warehouse outside New York City. Of course it's this group... The Gods must be torturing me. Around him were gathered Jason, Phillip, Joel, Elliot, Chastity, and Maddie. Marcus shook his head. Not only are you making me guide them to those half-bloods, you're making me take the new guys too? Great. Chiron sat at the head of the table, relaying to the newcomers some of the information he had already shared with Marcus and Maddie.
"I don't know about all of you, but I'm really excited about this!" Elliot cried out, a huge grin on his face. Marcus scowled. This guy... One day he's literally trying to kill Maddie, the next he's acting like we're all best friends... What the hell is going on with him?
"Well y'all can do what you want, but I'm more than happy to be given an excuse to leave this place." Joel yawned. "When do we leave?"
"As soon as this briefing is over." Chiron replied.
"What? But I never agreed to this!" Jason whined.
Chiron turned to Jason. "I would have thought you'd appreciate the opportunity to show you talents. Especially after your abysmal performance in Capture the Flag."
Everybody else around the table laughed except for Marcus, who was left in the dark. Maddie leaned over and whispered in his ear, "He kept getting caught in the Hephaestus traps. Apparently, he was almost killed by a giant rolling boulder trap."
Marcus shook his head. "A boulder trap? In a forest? How do you not notice that?"
"I panicked okay!" Jason cried out. "Fine! I'll go along on your little mission!"
"Well, if my new boyfriend is going, then I guess I will too." Chastity exclaimed, leaning against Phillip. Marcus raised an eyebrow. They're... dating? That seems a bit sudden for somebody who just found out he was t ransported 200 years in the future... Marcus looked at Phillip and saw him shift uncomfortab ly. Ah... She's using him and he agreed to it. But why? And against who?
"I've never been one to stay put in one place for very long." Phillip said, jolting Marcus out of his thoughts, "Plus, this scouting mission sounds right up my alley. Count me in."
"Excellent." Chiron replied, rolling himself out of the door towards the porch. "then if you all could follow me; I'll introduce you to your travel arrangements."
Travel arrangements? Marcus looked at Maddie, who looked just as confused as he did. Can't really blame her though... She gets a day of bed rest then she's sent off on a quest with us. I better keep a closer eye on her this time. Marcus put his hand on her head and messed with her hair, causing her to giggle as he followed Chiron out of the Big House, followed by the rest of the group. What he saw in front of the Big House was something he'd never seen at Camp Half Blood before.
"Is that... a bus?" Jason asked. "It looks so... Normal."
"Ah. Yes well, this group being twice the size of the normal group we'd send out on quests, we put together something to make it a bit... safer." Chiron replied.
"Safer? You're kidding me, right? Why would I spend any time on this hunk of junk?" Chastity scoffed. Marcus sighed. Somebody's in a bad mood... Guess she woke up in the right bed for once. Looking at the bus in front of them however, Marcus would have to agree. The bus looked... old. He doubted it could make a trip to the closest town, let alone to New York City.
"Don't let looks deceive you Chastity." Chiron chided. "This vehicle has been reinforced to hopefully block some of your godly auras from being read by Monsters. This should cut down on the dangers of your travel, as well as allowing you all to travel together. Besides, I'm told this is a repurposed... Greyhound I believe? Anyway, this vehicle comes complete with an indoor restroom, the seating has all been modified to allow for modification into full bunk spreads, and I'm assured the Hephaestus Cabin has combed through the engine and done their own... tuning up I believe they called it."
For some reason, this didn't exactly put Marcus' mind at ease. However, it was still better than waiting here a second longer. If I have to go back there... Let's just get it over with. Marcus walked over to the bus, surprised when the door opened, and a seemingly totally ordinary mortal was sitting behind the wheel. Dressed in a basic blue coat and slacks , this man looked as ordinary as you could get. What's your secret I wonder...
" Oh, and don't mind the driver." Chiron explained from behind him. "Randy is a mortal who we've used the mist on to make him believe he's under new employ, and the bus itself, again, has been modified to provide him protection if need be while you all are taking care of your own duties."
Marcus shrugged and brushed past Randy to a seat towards the back of the bus. Using a mortal to cart around Half-Bloods? That seems to go against Chiron's usual reluctance to put regular mortals in danger. I wonder what his deal is...? After some more fussing about, the rest of the group joined Marcus on the bus, and they were on their way. Marcus gazed out the window as Maddie sat in the seat next to him, cautiously chatting with Jason and Elliot, who had seemed to convince her he hadn't meant for their fight to go so far. Joel sat himself halfway back on the bus, leaned his seat back, put his duffel bag on his lap, closed his eyes, crossed his arms, and almost immediately began snoring. Chastity pulled Phillip into a seat on the opposite side of the bus from Marcus, but far enough back that he could still see them. With a group like this, let's hope this shielding works. I'd feel almost sorry for any monster we run into.
Some Time Before...
"So, the new girl is already making moves on Marcus? Damn she moves fast!" Aaron laughed.
Marcus choked on his drink, sputtering and coughing. He glared at Aaron across the picnic table, and for a second hating the way the bonfire light only accented the sparkle of amusement in his eyes. "W-what are you talking about?"
Hunter leaned against the table, his hand on Marcus' shoulder. "Oh come on Marcus, half the camp has heard about your one on one training session with the Aphrodite girl. What was her name again? Chastity?"
Marcus turned his glare to Hunter, his hulking frame shaking with barely concealed laughter. "What do you mean half the camp knows...?"
Kelly came over, having just dropped part of her meal into the fire, and sat in her usual seat on the other side of Hunter, leaning forward to join in, a wide grin on her face as she took on a breathless tone. "Well, from what I heard Marcus, you and little miss Chastity went at it for hours, you being so dominant and demanding that you wouldn't allow her to catch her breath for more than five minutes!" Marcus felt his face flush as both Aaron and Hunter roared with laughter.
"What's so funny?" Maddie asked innocently, sitting next to Marcus.
"Nothing!" Marcus said quickly, patting Maddie on the head, as it had become habit by this point. "I'll... I'll tell you when you're older."
Maddie pouted at this, and Aaron shot back, "Oh come on Marcus! It does have to do with her new friend after all!"
"Drop it Aaron." Marcus said through clenched teeth. "Nothing. Happened."
Hunter, still recovering from his laughter, replied, "So, you're saying you didn't give the girl the workout she keeps saying you did?"
"Look, it was a combat lesson. That was it. Maddie asked me to tutor Chastity-"
"Oh, tutor now? And what lessons did you teach her I wonder? You use your whip?" Aaron grinned, looking over Marcus' shoulder. Marcus stood up, about to retort, when he stopped. What is he looking at...?
"Hey Marcus. I heard you had quite the... interesting day."
Marcus froze. Oh no... no, no, no... He turned and saw Alicia standing right behind him, arms crossed and fire in her eyes. "Alicia. Hi."
"Is that why you weren't at the lake before dinner?" Alicia replied, her tone turning sharp.
"The... Lake...?"
"You forgot. Of course you did, why am I not even surprised. You asked me to go canoeing with you before dinner."
Marcus' heart sank. Shit... He hadn't meant to stand her up, truly he hadn't but... "Crap right. Listen, I'm really sorry. Maddie asked me for a favor and-"
"Ah. Right. Of course. Maddie asked you, and you can't turn her down I suppose." Alicia said, the fire starting to fade from her eyes. "After all, it's not like her to ask you for things."
"Duh. Usually he never gives her the chance to! He just jumps in, all heroic and gallant." Aaron called out with a dramatic sigh. Marcus flipped him the bird behind his back, hoping Maddie wouldn't see and causing him and Hunter to laugh again.
Maddie looked up at Alicia from where she was sitting, with tears standing in her eyes. "I'm sorry Alicia... If I'd known Marcus had plans, I wouldn't have asked him..."
"No, no, sweetie you're fine!" Alicia said, sitting next to Maddie and giving her a hug. "We'll just agree that Marcus is a big dumbass who can't remember things unless you write them on his face okay?"
As Maddie nodded, smiling, Marcus frowned. I'm not that much of an idiot... Marcus sat down on the other side of Alicia. "Look, I'm really sorry... would you maybe wanna go after dinner...? After all, I hear canoeing by moonlight is pretty romantic..." Marcus mentally kicked himself. Romantic? You idiot why would you say something like that?! Now she's gonna turn you down because she'll think it's a date!
Alicia turned and looked at him, a slow smile spreading across her face, her blue eyes twinkling in the fire light. "Romantic?"
"Um... I mean..."
"No. I like the sound of that. Let's go right after dinner." Alicia smiled at him and went to go make her offering to the Gods.
Aaron whistled in astonishment at Marcus while Hunter just nodded his head and clapped softly. "Well played my friend. Well played." Hunter said.
"Yeah, who would've known you could actually be smooth." Aaron added.
Marcus just felt himself smile. She wanted to do something romantic... Does that mean what I think...? Marcus looked at Alicia from where she stood across the bonfire, no longer hiding her smile. As he did, out of the corner of his eye he saw a shimmer of movement. Looking, Marcus saw Aphrodite standing near the base of a tree by the pavilion. Meeting his eyes, Aphrodite smiled and shook her head. Marcus saw this and knew it for what it was. A warning... Marcus turned and looked again at Alicia, who was walking back to the table with them. Bite me Aphrodite. I make my own decisions.