𝐝𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐲, l. castellan

𝟎𝟎𝟕. percy jackson's talent

DOOMSDAY

____________

VALERIA IS SITTING on the steps to the Aphrodite Cabin reading when she hears a young voice from across the yard, and she looks up to see the new kid, Percy Jackson — walking alongside several members of Cabin Eleven, including Luke — whirling around to face Clarisse and her friends.

"Hey!" he exclaims, stumbling slightly as his shoulder bumps into Luke's chest.

Clarisse barely hesitates before thrusting her hand out to shove Percy to the ground, causing Valeria to drop her book and hastily cross the path leading to the group. Luke steps forward, "Whoa! Hey. Knock it off, Clarisse. It's like his first day, come on."

Valeria is hardly surprised that Luke is the one to speak out in Percy's defense. Ever since she's known him, Luke has made it his responsibility to welcome all new arrivals to camp, as well as helping them get settled and giving them a tour of the valley. Therefore, Valeria allows Luke to handle the issue of Clarisse's taunting as she reaches Percy's side.

Chris moves to lend a hand to the newcomer, hoisting him off the dirt. Valeria dusts the back of Percy's orange shirt off with her palm as he glances at her and Chris in both gratitude and confusion. She nods at him before averting her eyes to Luke's. They share a look, and then Clarisse begins to speak.

"Wait, so this is the kid who killed the Minotaur." She points at the boy in front of her with a smirk. "Is that right?"

Percy blinks. "Yeah?"

"I'll bet," Clarisse says, slowly making her way closer to Percy. "Look, you want attention around here, dummy? You better be ready for it when it comes."

Clarisse abruptly steps forward, startling Percy as he instinctively flinches back. Valeria stifles an eye roll when a chorus of laughter erupts from Clarisse's friends as they brush past Luke's siblings, finally deciding to take their leave. Valeria's gaze follows the Ares girl for a few seconds longer, a deep sigh causing her chest to rise and fall steadily.

Although they've been attending camp together for the past four years, Valeria and Clarisse have only interacted and spoken on a handful of occasions — one of those occasions being the Winter Solstice. They'd briefly talked about their parents, Aphrodite and Ares, and jokingly mentioned the fact that they could be considered siblings due to the ongoing affair between the god of war and the goddess of love.

Much to Valeria's luck, Clarisse seemed to be in a rather polite mood that night and engaged in the conversation with an open mind. However, following their return to camp the next day, neither Clarisse nor Valeria made any attempts to continue the "friendship." They seemingly left it on Olympus with their parents.

Now, they are rivals in Capture the Flag and hardly even considered acquaintances in any other circumstance.

After Luke and Chris' cabin mates disperse and go their separate ways around camp, Percy purses his lips together and motions toward Clarisse. "Well, she seems nice," he says sarcastically.

"She actually can be," Valeria puts forth, though her words are quickly disregarded.

"Ares kids," Luke tells him while clicking his tongue. "They come by it honestly."