Explanations and more mysteries
3 years ago, I got reunited with my biological father, Tony Stark. My hair is brown like his, but I don't have his eye color. When he got custody, he took me shopping. I got so many clothes, and some hiking boots in my favorite color purple. He adopted Annabeth, too. I told him we're not separating. He got her clothes, too, as well as a drawing tablet. When he took us home, me and Annabeth had our own rooms in Stark Tower. Mine has a drum set! He enrolled me in ballet and gymnastics. He let Annabeth choose architecture, and enrolled her in classes. He treats us both equally, and Annabeth truly sees him as her father, too. He loves her, as he loves me.
As he lives in Manhattan, he drives us to camp in his limo.
Since I was 12, my mother let me travel with her. When I'm with her, it's like, like, I'm always safe. Sure, there's been monsters after us, but she always kills them. When we set up camp, I sleep in her tent, in her arms. She never says it, but I know she cherishes me. As her only daughter, I can travel with the Hunt. I know that she got in trouble for my birth, but, she tells me she regrets nothing. I'm her baby, her only child, her most treasured gift.
As I train with my axes, my mother's lieutenant Zoe approaches me. She watches me train for awhile in silence, then speaks up.
Zoe: Thy axes art missing the bullseye.
She steps behind me, arranging my stance correctly. She kicks my feet into the correct form, her hands pulling mine to the end of the axe. She motions for me to throw, and it's perfect. She nods in approval, and sits on a boulder, still watching. I train for hours, well into the evening. I throw my jacket off, leaving me in just a tank top and sports bra. I hear Zoe gasp, and glance over to see her face bright red and her hands covering her eyes. I brush it off, turning back to the target.
Zoe POV.
Why did she strip half naked?! These feelings are unacceptable, she's my Lady's daughter, this shouldn't happen!
When she was younger, it was different. She was so cute, always curious, always asking questions. When my Lady was busy, I would hunt. I would hunt deer for Eun-ji, cooking for her. As Artemis's lieutenant, her daughter's safety is my responsibility in her absence.
But, things have been different lately. These feelings, these dreams, they're not right. Her lips on mine, my hands tugging her hair, holding her waist, seeing her naked body.
I shudder, clearing my head. She looks over, her sepia brown skin glistening with sweat. I barely control my arousal, watching her muscles ripple. Her shoulders flex, raising the axe. My hand snakes inside my thighs, before I snatch it back.
I helped raise this girl, I can't think of her like this. For heaven's sake, I used to bathe her. No no no, don't think of her naked.
Why is she walking over? Her hands cup my face, oh she's speaking.
Eun-ji POV
I glance at Zoe, her face red. I try to focus on my training, but her little whines are reaaaally distracting. I look at her fully, her hands covering her face. It almost seems like she's in pain. I drop my axes and walk over. As I cup her face, seeing if she hurt, she stares at me, wide-eyed. Her face is redder than ever, and I feel her heartbeat through my fingers. Why is it so fast? I speak, smooshing her face every which way.
E: you're so red, are you okay? Zoe. Zooooeee, sweetheart, you in there? Yo-
She kisses me, and pushes me away, running. As she runs, I could swear I heard her saying she loves me. Must be my ears.
The next day, I return to Camp Half-blood, the situation with Zoe still banging around my head. Annabeth runs to me, jumping into my arms, telling me to hide her. She says that Luke was trying to get her, and here he comes, laughing.
We're still a little family. After everything, we still have each other. We spread a picnic under Thalia's tree. They brought sandwiches, mine without tomatoes. As we eat, Annabeth fills me in about the boy. Me and Luke share a look, she's talking like she has a crush. I know we're all still kids, but, but, she's my kid, damnit. It's a weird feeling, your kid sister telling you about boys.
He lost his mother, the poor boy. My heart aches, he's so young, too young. His black hair is perpetually messy, and his face depressed. I would be, too.
He stays in the Hermes cabin, being unclaimed. Luke promised to look after him, and shows him around.
I go to the Artemis cabin, Annabeth following. She practically lives here, and even has her own bed. She sits on my bed, kicking her feet childishly, as I look fooooorrr, oh here. My journal. I jot down what Zoe did, trying to guess her reasons. Only conclusion is that she's serious. She loves me. I don't know what to feel. I, I, can't think. I go to Thalia's tree, confiding in her.
E: Hey, Thals. Something weird happened. Zoe, she kissed me, I don't know, oh gods, I don't know. I wish you were here. You always have answers. I miss you, T.
I sit against her tree, drawing. When I finish each one, I tilt the page, as if to show her. I know it's stupid, but we were, are, best friends. I wanted to be more, but I was too scared to tell her. Even if she maybe can't hear me, I want to include her. That night, I don't bother going to the cabin, instead laying against her tree. Annabeth comes and lays with me. She lays her face on my chest, sitting on my lap. We sleep all night, peaceful under our girl.
Until I have a nightmare. My grandfather, Zeus, tries to kill me. Thalia, bless her, fights him. It doesn't matter that I'm physically older than her, she's still my... something. My mother fights, also. Her auburn hair flashing in the thunder, her mouth pulled back in a snarl. She crouches, pulling her knives out. Zeus, in self defense, blasts her, and she roars in pain. She looks at me, crying. She lays there, breathing slower and slower, until she...
I wake up in Luke's arms, Annabeth still in my lap, clutching my shirt. He strokes my hair, comfortingly. I lean my head on his shoulders, crying.
E: Why, Luke? Why did she...
I stop, sobbing. Why did she fight them, we were right there, RIGHT THERE. Why did she leave us?
I go back to sleep, my head on Luke's lap. He pets my hair, and sleeps too.