𝐖𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊 𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐂! percy jackson

xxxiii. Aphrodite's (Wait, Venus?) Wisdom

━━ chapter thirty-three
aphrodite's (wait, venus?) wisdom

✿✼:*ﾟ:༅｡.｡༅:*･ﾟﾟ･⭑

    ━━Buford the Table was apparently the answer to all of their problems. Spinning off like a table on helicopter steroids, it disappeared off with Frank's dirty laundry to lead the eagles off their scent while they took the long way to Charleston Harbor. The night was stressful and lonely, for Percy passed out early, Annabeth was brooding to herself in her room, Piper was spending time with Jason, Frank was sleeping, Hazel was sleeping, and Leo was manning the navigation. Fiona was alone in the mess hall, glowering at the Camp Half-Blood live visuals. 

    It made her miss home, and it wasn't even her home she was seeing. 

    (This had to work, otherwise, Fiona will lose everything. Her brother, her home, her family...)

    The only other member on this ship that she hadn't mentioned, Sam Flora, stepped into the mess hall. As soon as he saw Fiona, he gave her an awkward smile and rushed towards the magic plates for a late-night snack. 

     Fiona arched a brow at him, watching his scurry past her. "I'm not going to bite."

    Sam jumped in hearing her speak. He glanced at her, picking up a magic bowl that immediately filled up with Fruit Loops cereal. "You sure?"

     The daughter of Pluto frowned. "I'm not going to bite," she told him again.

     He turned around to her, grabbing a spoon and scooping up a mouthful of cereal into his mouth. Not even fully swallowing it, Sam said, "Probably not, but━like━you're scary. That whole seance thing you did? Scary."

     Fiona wasn't amused (she wasn't in the mood to be). "Why are you eating cereal at this time? And Fruit Loops? You know that's just sugar."

    Sam looked at her as though she had committed blasphemy. "Excuse you, Fruit Loops is gold tier cereal. It's the best thing ever created," he scooped another mouthful. "You're missing out," he then added with a full mouth.

    Fiona scoffed and stood up. "I never said I didn't like it," she smirked at him lightly and grabbed herself her own bowl. It filled up with the sugary goodness. "It's a treat back home. I only have it on special holidays."

     The son of Athena pursed his lips, surprised by her. Then, he rubbed his nose and sat down at the table. Fiona decided to join him. "I like having them when I gotta think."

    All of the sudden, Sam looked upset, and Fiona immediately thought, uhhhh... what do I do? "Um ... what are you thinking about?" she asked him.

     Sam met her gaze, as if wondering whether to tell her not, before letting out a dramatic sigh and leaning back in his chair. "Annabeth doesn't think I can do anything! She was younger than me when she went on her first quest. And I'm more capable than people think I am. Just because I like flower crowns and romance novels and don't like fighting in the sun doesn't mean I don't know how to defend myself!" he sighed again, and glumy set his spoon in his bowl. The milk plopped! "I had a dream, and I knew I was supposed to help save your brother. Why else would the gods show me that? But maybe they're wrong, you know? Maybe Annabeth is right. Maybe I should have stayed back at Camp..." he glanced at the visuals as they settled on a campfire with multiple kids singing around it. Fiona felt her own spark of pain in her heart, missing Camp Jupiter. 

    She kissed her teeth, and set aside her cereal, too. "The gods do stuff for reasons," she told Sam. "Half of the time, we have absolutely no idea why they do, or what those reasons are, but they're important. You were meant to see my brother, and I have every faith that you will help us rescue him. And I don't put my faith in many people."