Set In Stone (Thea X Nico)

"Fight me, Thea"

(Thea's POV)

The next morning I woke up at 6 feeling well-rested, which tends to happen after crying myself to sleep. I sat up on my bed, looking at the fire that was still ablaze on the far wall. Did that thing ever go out? I looked over at Leo's bed, Leo still lay fast asleep snoring and Kathie my other half-sister was sleeping in the bed beside him. I end up getting off the bed and heading for the bathroom to take a morning shower. Once showered, I brush out my long red hair and put it in a braid. I put on my camp shirt, black jeans, and black converse before grabbing my bow and axe heading to the arena before breakfast. I walked out of the cabin and stop in my tracks when I look across the field to see cabin 13. My memories of talking to Nico last night flashed through my head. I just stood there frozen when suddenly Nico walked out of the forest headed to his cabin. He stood at the edge of the forest, freezing when he notices me. I broke into a run to the arena not looking back at Nico. It was still fairly dark due to it being winter and it being now 6:30 in the morning so I ended up walking on the beach watching the sunrise.

After my walk on the beach, I headed to breakfast. I sat next to Leo with my plate full of chocolate and other treats with a huge grin on my face looking at the treats. 

"Um Thea, what type of breakfast is that?" He furrowed his eyebrows at me.

"Well, I wasn't really allowed sweets as breakfast as a kid so I'm taking advantage of this free treats and no parents to say no." I dig into my Hersheys bar getting chocolate all over my face and hands. Leo weakly smiles and then goes back to eating. 

"Everything okay Leo? You seem quiet...?" He looks up at me and forces a smile.

"Oh yeah I'm fine, just tired and well actually I miss my girlfriend." He starts bending his spoon.

"Gi-girlfriend!? How did I not know this?" I get up into his face making him laugh.

"Well we met yesterday and yes my girlfriend Calypso is visiting Olympus. She said she'd be back a couple of days ago but still hasn't returned. " He frowns slightly and returns to eating. 

We finish breakfast and for some reason, I notice Nico wasn't there. Why was he in the woods that early in the morning? My mind wanders around the thought of Nico so much that I bump into him making myself fall over onto my butt.

"Geeze what the-" the harsh voice of the Hades boy stops when he sees me. His eyes widen looking at me. He holds out his hand and pulls me up.

"Sorry about that wasn't looking where I was going." I smile at him after dusting myself off. He was wearing black jeans just like mine and a normal black t-shirt, his hair looked insanely messy and the bags under his eyes seemed darker than usual. Did he sleep in the woods? I look up and notice him looking up and then down frowning slightly. Is there something on me? Why is he looking at me like that?

"Everything okay Nico?" He snaps out of his gaze and nods slightly.

"Yeah sorry um...do you want to train with me?" He rubs the back of his neck almost embarrassed. 

"I don't see why not." I give him a big smile and he slowly walks to the arena and I follow closely. 

When at the arena he pulls out his beautiful black Stygian iron sword that almost radiates darkness. He grins at the blade as he spun it in his hand. I held out my axe and flung it at a dummy hitting it right in the head. Nico smirks but then frowns again once he notices I was looking at him. I go to retrieve it and freeze starring at the axe still in the dummy. 

"Axes are so lame Thea swords or bows are better." Timothy looks at the axe and frowns. I grab it from his hand and then toss it at the bull's eye getting dead center. I smile widely then facing Timothy winking at him. "Whatever Thea." I go and grab the axe from the tree-