Mira Patil: The Thief of the Gods

Do You Have Bleach?

There's this thing that is known as common knowledge, something I lack. Common knowledge is turning around if someone is shirtless. Common knowledge is not bolting out of the room with your face on fire and your eyes short-circuiting.

"Annabeth, do you guys keep bleach around here?" I ask.

Annabeth looks at me with surprise.

"Yeah, but why do you need it?" she inquires, setting the dagger she has been sharpening down. "I need to wash my eyes."

"With bleach? C'mon, Mira, tell me what you saw."

"Ok," I say.

I lean in and whisper in Annabeth's ear, "I saw Nico without a shirt."

Annabeth gives me a shocked look. Rachel Dare, the girl who has been sitting on Annabeth's other side, pipes up.

"Nico without a shirt...huh, I would have paid to see that."

I gawk at her statement.

"You would also pay to see Percy without a shirt," Annabeth mutters, picking up her dagger again.

Rachel, hearing Annabeth's comment, replies, "I would. Y'know he accidently sent me a picture of-"

"Anyways," Annabeth says, glaring at Rachel. "Nico being bold enough to not have a shirt on in front of you is-I must say-the funniest thing."

"I don't think he knew that he wasn't wearing a shirt," I say, sitting down next to Annabeth.

She chuckles and continues, "you're making a big deal out of nothing. What's done is done and since you told him about it, I'm sure he won't be too embarrassed."

"Um, about that...I may have bolted as soon as his back was turned."

Rachel snorts.

"We need to work on your social cues," she says, tucking a strand of red hair behind her ear.

Annabeth nods in agreement and, checking the watch on her wrist, says, "Nico should be here soon. I'll leave you to it, Rachel!"

Annabeth strides away, her dagger glistening under the sunlight.

(>_<)

After a couple of minutes, I feel someone breathing down my neck. I shriek and, grabbing the person with one hand, I punch the person. The person flails and falls to the ground with a big "oof."

"Bro, calm down, it's just Nico," Rachel says, smiling at the person on the ground.

I look down to find Nico looking up at me with a dazed look.

"Oh my god, Nico, I'm sorry," I say, trying to pick him up.

He refuses my gesture and continues gasping for air.

"I think the ground is a good place to rest," Nico says.

Rachel's green eyes search Nico's face, which, of course, is contorted in pain, since I, y'know, punched him. After a moment, Rachel and I offer him a hand. Nico, being the person he is, ignores our helpful gesture and stands up on his own. Rachel then motions for me to leave, but Nico stops me.

"You're here about the prophecy, right?" Nico asks. "I want Mira to hear it too."

Rachel pauses and, after a brief moment, gestures for me to sit down. We all sit down and Rachel closes her eyes. Suddenly, a green mist swirls around her and she starts speaking in a voice that sounds like it's being played on an old record player, dusty and slightly out of tune.

"Two must journey to the west,

And complete the forbidden god's test,

One shall yield to the embrace of Nature,