Story bits

Lance laughed and threw his head back. "Beach day!" He yelled, running to the pier. "Lance! Wait up!" Pidge yelled, chasing after him. AS a son of Hermes, Lance was fast.
Pidge was a daughter of Athena, and Hunk was a son of Hepheastus. Allura and Lotor were Aphrodite kids, and Keith was from Ares. The group had come from Camp Half-Blood to Califonia, specifically, New Rome. There, they met up with Nadia, Nike kid, Ryan, Vulcan, and Ina, Minerva/ They said they were bringing one of their other friends, another demigod, with them.
"Lance! Allura!" Nadia yelled, running up to them. They embraced, smiles all around. "Where's Keith?" Ina asked. "He's running late. Ran into some gargoyles on his way." She nodded. Completely normal. "Where are Ryan and yur friends?" Allura asked, walking up. "They're over there." Ina said, pointing. "RYAN! JAMES! GET OVER HERE!" Nadia yelled. Two of the people on surf boards turned towards them, and began paddling over. "Hey Lance!" Ryan called. "What's up?" He ran to the edge of the pier, leaning over to talk to his friend. "Nothing much. You?" Ryan shrugged, water sliding off his built biceps. "Where's your friend?" "Right there." Ryan said, pointing. Another board, this one white and black, came into view. Lance's heart stuttered when he saw it's owner.
White trunks clinging to things, tanned skin and very, very nice abs and arms, with a slender waist. His hands, which looked gentle, clung to the side of the board, black beaded braclets on their wrists. His arm had the SPQR tattoo, along with a dove, crossed torches and severl stripes on his forearm, and he had built biceps. He laughed and brought one hand up, and that's when Lance saw his face. Chiseled chin, sparkling white teeth, purple eyes shining with amusement. Chocolate brown hair, dripping bangs being pushed back from his face with one hand.
"Hey." He said with a smile.
Ryan sighed. "James, stop trying to glamor him."
"But his expression! It was priceless!" James says. "And don't act like it didn't affect you too." Ryan rolled his eyes. "James, this is Lance." "Pleasure to meet you." James says. "Trust me, the pleasure is all mine." Lance blurts. "James is a son of Venus, and legacy of Hecate." Nadia explains. "He's the reason there's no one to bother us and we have this part of the beach all to ourselves." "You'd be suprised how responsive people are when pretty boy here asks them to do something." Ina adds. "Let me guess. You're James?" Lotor says, coming over. "Yep. Lotor and Allura, right?" HE asks, pointing at each of them. "So you're the one causing problems at Camp Jupiter." She says. "Hey, it's not my fault all the girls and boys think I'm pretty." He says with a grin. "I t is when you use it as a distraction during war games." Nadia protests. "No, it's using all of my abilities. I've explained this multiple times." He points out. "Where's your other friend? Mullet you said."
Lotor shrugs. "Monsters." James nodded. "Alright. Well, we have some extra boards if you wanna use them, and Nadia brought matches for a bonfire later."
Three hours and a few surfing lessons later, and the group is sitting on the end of the pier or on boards, watching the sunset. "I guess Keith isn't showing up." Pidge mumbles.
But then they hear the familiar roar of an engine, all turning their heads. "Wait, I know that sound." James mutters, standing and running towards it. The others follow, Lance getting there first. "Mullet!" He yells, crashing into his friend. "Off! Hey Lance." Keith says, patting his back. "We were wondering when you'd show up." Pidge says. he shrugs, laying his leather jacket on the bike. "Monsters. What are you gonna do?" He greets the others, hugging Ryan and Lotor.
"Hey Keith." James says.
He's hung back from the others, hands in his pockets. And either Lance's eyes are fooling him, or he's blushing a bit.
"James." Keith says breathlessly. Then he smiles. "James!" He runs at the other and picks him up in a hug, causing him to laugh. He wraps his arms around Keith's neck and his legs around his waist as Keith grabs his thighs. "I missed you." Keith murmurs. James leans back and cups his face, smiling at him. "I missed you too." Then they kiss, and the others stare at them in shock.
/They sat on the board, James in front and Keith behind, arms wrapped around James's midsection.

"Hey Keith." James says.
He's hung back from the others, hands in his pockets. And either Lance's eyes are fooling him, or he's blushing a bit.
"James." Keith says breathlessly. Then he frowns. "What are you doing here? What is he doing here?" He asks, turning to the others.
"They invited me. I- I can go if you want." James offers. Keith sighs. "No, it's fine."
"Ookay. Well, who wants to start the bonfire?" Nadia asks. Pidge and Lance cheer, and the group heads back down the beach. "What's up with them?" Allura asks Ryan. "I dunno. Keith!" HE called, and the other came over. "what?" "Do you and James know each other?" Keith shrugs. "Kinda." "No, I want actual answers." Allura says, grabbing his arms. "What is your problem with him?" "Look, it's none of your buisness, all right?" He says. "Just drop it."
They try to. But whenever James looks at Keith his smile falls, or he looks down at the ground.
Keith won't look at him, and when he does, he scowls.
"I'm gonna see if I can catch a few more waves." James says, standing. "Oh no you don't. You're going to tell us what's wrong with you and Keith." Ryan says, grabbing his arm. "What's there to talk about? He used his powers make me think we were friends and tried to make me fall for him. When I found out I got mad and told him to fuck off. End of story." Keith says. "I never used my powers on you. Ever. Why can't you believe me?" James asked. His voice sounds so small.
"You haven't given me any reason to." Keith says. "Why should I have to? You're literally the only person I've ever met that I haven't had to prove myself to! The only person who saw me as more than just a pretty face at first. And now I'm not even that to you."
"Why do you even care anyway? It was months ago. You even changed schools." James scoffs. "Yeah, and you know why? Because it actually hurt to be around you. I- I fell in love with you Keith. And I thought you loved me back. But the second you found out who my mom was, you assumed I'd tricked you. That I'd magiced my way into your heart. You told me you hated me. You repeated every rumor anyone had ever spread about me, and every insult anyone had ever told me. And you expected me to stay? To pretend it never happened? That you meant nothing to me?"
Keith stared at the sand silently. "I can't believe that I actually fell for you." James says before storming off.
The others turned to Keith. "What?" "Are you gonna say something?" Lance asks. "Keith, that's messed up." Allura says. "You can't just do that to someone." "He used his powers as a demigod on me! What did you want me to do?" "Why do you think he used his powers on you?" Ryan asked. "His eyes. They glowed sometimes." Nadia groans. "Keith, his eyes don't glow when he uses magic. At least, not that kind. Defensive magic, or when he's trying to dull his effect on people yes, but not when he's trying to get someone to like him." "Did you ever consider that he was trying to dull his powers? Lessen their effects on you?" Ina asks. Keith frowns. "Well, no." She sighs. "You're an idiot. Tomorrow morning, you're going to talk to him." Nadia says. "Or what?" "Or I forcibly lock you in a room with him until you've talked your problems out."

W james

He sat on the board, straddling it and staring at the moon. "Maybe Diana was onto something when she swore off love." He mutters. "James?" A feminine voice asks. "Luca?" The naid brings her head out of the water. "What's wrong?" "Why do you assume something is wrong?" He asks her. She rolls her eyes and leans her arms on his board. "You only come out here when you're mad. Or sad. And the last time you said something like that, Keith had just broken up with you. So what is it?" He sighs and brings his leg onto the board, crossing them. "You know how I told you my friends invited me to come to the beach with them?" She nodded. "Well, some of their other friends were there too. So was Keith." she frowns. "What happened?" "He told them. About what happened. That I used my powers to make him fall in love with me." "James, you can't let him say that. Did you try and tell him you didn't? That you'd never do that?" He nodded. "He didn't believe me. HE's never going to believe me." She frowns again. "Unacceptable. You're head over heels for him. And you're going to tell him." 

The board starts to move swiftly back towards the shore, and James grabs the sides to keep from falling off. "Luca, what are you doing?" "You're going to talk to him." "Luca, stop." He says. "Nothing good is going to come from that." "James, you've been moping about him for months. We're fixing this." They kept speeding towards the shore, the faint glow of the fire coming into view. "Luca, stop! We're going to crash!" James says. "Not until you talk to him. This is for the best James." The beach gets closer, and he sees the other's stand.  They're going to crash straight into them. He takes a deep breath and turn to the naid. "Luca, STOP!" He demands, pouring all his strength into his voice.

They stop moving, and her eyes gloss over. Then she shakes her head and turns to glare at him. "You- you used your charm speak on me." James covers his mouth with his hands. "Luca, I- I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." Her nostrils flared. "You dare! You dare use charm speak on me? The only person who cares for you? Who looks out for you? You used your charm speak on me?!" "Luca, I'm sorry." He said, eyes tearing up. "Sorry isn't good enough!" She roars. "Luca, please." He says, reaching for her. "Go away!" She yells, throwing her arms out.

A wave appears and shoves him and his board away. He goes flying far down the coastline, out of sight. She hears yelling and sees the other demigods running towards her. her eyes widen with the realization of what she'd done. She goes to the shore, running onto the beach. "James!" She calls. "James! JAMES!" She yells. The other mortals get closer, and she turns back to the sea, diving in. "Wait! Wait!" One of them calls. A girl.

She has brown skin and white hair, along with crystal blue eyes. "Luca! That's your name, right?" She asks, kneeling by the water's edge. "Yes. I am Luca." "My name's Allura. I'm a friend of Romelle's." Luca gasps. "Romelle? Is she okay?" The nymph was like a sister to her. "Yes, yes, she's fine." Allura says. "Can you help us? We need to find James." "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to send him away." Allura smiles softly. "I know. But can you help us find him? We just need to make sure he's okay." Luca sees the other demigods approach, and she scowls. "I won't help him." She says, glaring at Keith. "Who?" Allura asks. She brings an arm out of the water to point accusingly at Keith. "Him. The one with the raven black hair and violet eyes. He hurt James." Keith stiffens. "Yes, yes he did. And he's going to apologize. But he can't do that if we can't find James." Luca lowers her hand. "I shall help you. But not him. When one breaks the heart of a child of Venus, especially one whom is my friend, I do not forgive easily. The goddess has always been kind to me and my sisters, and to hurt one of her own is a direct insult to us."  "She is our mother as well." Lotor says, kneeling next to Allura. "You are Lotor, yes? Romelle has mentioned you in her letters. She fancies you." Lotor flushes a bit. "I know. I care for her as well. James is like our brother. If he's hurting, maybe we can help him." He says.

Luca considers this for a moment. "I shall help the children of the love goddess. But none others." She began to swim down the shore. "Come, We must hurry. he is most likely injured, and there have been rouge spirits in the forest lately."

They split into two groups. Lotor, Allura and Luca scour the coastline while the others check the woods.

They find him in the morning. He lays on his back in the sand, lips parted and breathing. But his once smooth abdomen has three vicious claw marks on it. Long and jagged in the center, tapering out at the edges. Old ones, as they have scarred over. But they weren't there the day before. Luca and Allura run to his side, kneeling next to him. "James? Are you okay?" Luca asks. "James, please wake up." Lotor pleads. He doesn't stir. "Guys! They found him!" Nadia yells to the others. They run over, Hunk already pulling out ambrosia and nectar. Luca takes it from him, pouring some between James's lips. "Please James, wake up." She pleads. "James, wake up." Keith says. He groans a bit, shifting. "James?' Luca asks. "Luca?" He whispers. She smiles and hugs him as he sits up, wincing a bit. "I'm so sorry." She says into his shoulder. "It's alright. It was an accident." He assures. "I'm not mad." She pulls back and he sits all the way up, wincing as he does so. "What happened to you?" Allura asks, gesturing to his side. "You know, it's a funny story. But basically, I fought some gryphons at school. And, well.." Luca laughs. "I remember that. Before you met Alexandria." "Who's that?" Lotor asked. "A nymph from the forest near Camp Jupiter. Specializes in herbal healing remedies." "We better get the healers to check you out." Ina suggests. "Medically or normally?" James asks. She rolls her eyes. "Medically. But they'll probably do both."

They got back to the main pavillion, and a girl marched over and slapped the back of Keith's head. "You mother fucking son of a bitch! What the hell are you doing here?" She asks. "Ow. Who are you?" He asks, rubbing the back of his head. "This is Marie. Part of the fifth cohort." Ryan explains. "Yeah, and you're the dumbass who broke James my little brother's heart!" "She's also a child of Venus." "Damn right! Do you have any idea how sad he was after you broke up with him? He didn't say anything for days. He could have his pick of almost anyone here or in the real world, but he chose you. And you left him! You idiot!" She slapped his arm this time. "an you stop hitting me?" he asked. "Can you explain why you though James magiced his way into your heart? Why you decided Monday morning before school was a good time to break up with him? Why you did it at all?" She asks, propping her hands on her hips. "James finally leaves camp for something other than school, and he comes back with his claw scars hurting, scratches all over his back, and he's sad again! Explain yourself!" She demands. "Why? I don't even know you." Keith asks. She crosses her arms. "Because you do not want to be on the fifth corhort's bad side. James is one of our most valuable members, and when he's feeling down, it affects all of us. Last time, the Apollo kids sang and played nothing but sad songs, the Mars kids didn't even want to fight, the Minerva and Vulcan kids couldn't make or write anything, and even the legacies were mopey. He's the most powerful child of the love goddess since Piper McClean, and his emotions affect all of us."

The guys crossed their arms and made a wall in front of Keith, glaring down at him. A wall of Mars and Vulcan sons and legacies, all glaring at him. Their arms were flexed and their chests puffed out, protecting their centroun."Guys, it's fine. Let him through." James's voice said. One glanced back. "You sure?" "Micheal, I'll be fine. Let him through." The boys part, and Keith steps forward, sinking onto the couch next to James.

White jeans and a dark green shirt, his black and white Vans on as well. And a black hoodie, one Keith used to own. The Garrison logo on the right breast and back, his name stitched on the right pocket. "You wanted to talk to me?" James says. "Can we lose the guard dogs?" Keith asks, waving to the others boys, who still haven't left. "Micheal? Matthew?" "We're watching you Kogane." One says. Then they all stand and walk away, leaving Keith and James alone.

"I wanted to say I'm sorry. For how I treated you." Keith starts. "I shouldn't have assumed you used your magic on me, or said what I did." James sips from his goblet. "No, you shouldn't have." "Look, I know-" Keith sighed and ran a hand over his face. "I know I hurt you. A lot. And I'm sorry for that. I think I owe you an explination." "I already know why." James said, setting his goblet down on the table. "You don't trust your emotions. You know your dad hurt your mom, and you don't trust other people. You've told me as much yourself. You also were mad because I didn't tell you I was a demigod. But I didn't tell you because I didn't know you were on either, and I wanted to keep you away from that. But that gave you no right to treat me the way you did or say what you did." Keith bowed his head. "I know. And I'm sorry." "Saying I'm sorry isn't good enough." James scoffs. "You honestly think two words is going to fix everything? It's going to take a lot more than an apology the others forced you to give for me to forgive you." James says, standing. He shrugs off the hoodie, holding it out to Keith. "I think this belongs to you." Keith took it numbly, fingers brushing against the others. "See you around Keith." James says, He steps over Keith's legs and walks over to his guys. One throws an arm around his shoulders and says something, making him smile. They head out of the dining hall, falling into place around James in a protective circle.

The next time Keith sees James, he's being pinned by him on the colesseum floor. His hands are pinned next to his head, and James is sitting on his hips. "Had enough?" James asks, smirking. "You wish." Keith says. He bucks his hips and tries to flip them over and pin James beneath him, but fails. James slides out of his grip and picks up his discarded sword, kicking his legs put from under him. His back hits the floor again, and when he looks up, James is pointing the sword at his jugular. "Ah ah ah." He tuts, when Keith tries to move. His bangs have fallen in his face, covering one of his eyes as he looks down at him with a victoruious grin. "I think we both know who's won this fight." He says. Keith sighs and lets his head fall back on the ground. That same group of guys cheers and laughs as James James lowers the sword. "Yeah James!" Micheal calls. "Adam, you owe me 20 drachmas!" Matthew calls. James smirks, and tucks the sword into his scabbard. "You're still doing the same moves." He says, offering him a hand.  Keith takes it and James pulls him off the ground. "You've got to learn some new moves." He tells him. Keith sighs. "What I know works perfectly fine." James rolls his eyes. "Yeah, on basic monsters. It won't work on the stronger ones. you have to use their body weight against them. Brash and straight forward attacks don't do anything but disadvantage you." James says. "Watch Micheal and Matthew do it." He turns towards his friends. "M & M! COME HERE!" The two other boys hustle over. "Yeah?" "Show him some of those techinuques I showed you. The ones from last week." Matthew nods. "Sure thing. What are you gonna do?" James grinned. "I'm going to take the rest of the afternoon off and take a real Roman bath. It's been forever since I've had one." Micheal grinned. 'You need it. I'd been meaning to tell you that you smell." James rolled his eyes and began walking away. "Says the one who doesn't use deoderant." 

"Hey! What about my sword?" Keith asked. James glanced over his shoulder, smiling. "You get it back when you beat me." Then he walked out the colleseum arch, disappearing into the throngs of people. Matthew smiled and cracked his knuckles. "Well Kogane, looks like it's just the three of us. You ready to learn how to properly fight?"

James sat atop the pearl white pegasus, purple eyes shining in the moonlight. He shouted orders as his cohort ran around him. Upon hearing his voice, the formed ranks, making a wall of shields and spears. A few more orders and they launched their spears, and the archers fired. "TWELFTH LEGION FLIMUTA!" He yelled. His forces roared and charged, unsheathing swords and clashing with the other cohorts. The third and second turned and ran as the fourth and fifth rained hell down on them. The leaders of the first and second tried to rally their troops, but it was useless. They stormed the fortresses walls, taking down anyone in their path. Once inside, James took two of the younger members, jumping off his steed and shouting at the, They nodded and ran with him, knocking down everyone in their path. The boy smacked one in the head with the hilt of his blade and kicked another in the groin while the girl slashed at one's arm and jumped off another's back. They quickly reached the other standards, and James motioned for them to grab them.

The boy grabbed the third and the girl the second while James grabbed the first. The pegasus came back and he helped the two onto it's back. Then he grabbed the reins in his free hand and lead them outside. The fighting stopped and the third and fourth cohorts cheered loudly as their youngest and newest members emerged from the fortress victoriously. The praetor laughed. "Victory to the fourth and fifth!" The kids were presented with laurel wreaths and medals, smiling the whole time. They ate at James's table as he told the others of how they captured the standards and took down the guards. They were stars.

Keith cupped his face and tilted it upwards, kissing James passionately. He felt his hands grab his shirt, Kissing back and fisting it for a moment before he got shoved away and his back hit the hard pavement. "WHAT THE TARTARUS?" James yelled. "WHAT THE HADES WAS THAT?" His purple eyes were almost glowing with anger and pain. "ITS BEEN MONTHS! MONTHS KEITH, AND YOU DECIDE THAT NOW IS THE TIME TO APOLOGIZE? TO SAY YOU'RE SORRY?" "James, I-" He starts. "Shut up." James snaps. Keith's tongue feels like cement. "You're going to listen to me, and you're going to listen well." James orders. Keith nods.

"You are not going to give me any empty apologies. No big gestures to try and win me back. To big display of affection as a way of apologizing. I was miserable for weeks because of what you said. A few 'I'm sorry" s aren't going to fix that. Neither are apologies that others make you give me. Now tell me, are you really sorry? Or is it just empty words?"

"I am sorry. I swear I am. I mean it. And I'm so sorry if I ever hurt you and I wish I could make it to where I never said any of those things and it's breaking my heart to see you in so much pain especially when I know that I'm the one who caused it. And I'd do anything to make you happy again and for you to forgive me and take me back because I was a complete ass and I said terrible things and you didn't deserve that and you don't deserve that, you deserve the whole goddamn fucking world James and I wish you could see that instead of putting yourself down and doubting yourself all the time. I wish you weren't afraid of letting people see your scars because you think that if you don't look like how they want you to you think they'll reject you and you'll be alone and I'm babbling but my point is I'm sorry and I love you, more than all the gods in the world and I love you so fucking much that it's insane and I'm so sorry and I love you James." Keith blurts, the words spilling out of his mouth before he even has a chance to think about them.

Lance looks back and forth between the two of them, eyes wide with shock and jaw dropped.

James is suddenly on top of Keith, kissing him softly. God how he missed those lips. Slightly chapped but soft, pushing against his own.