Anyone who knows Arya Jackson for more than five minutes knows her opinion of the world, and demigods not so fair place in it. Unfortunately, since the war Arya isn't that easy to get to know. To most she's little more than a legend.
Arya is fine w...
"...it would have been nice, she supposed. It would have been nice to have one person who knew the absolute truth about her—and didn't hate her for it...It would have been really, really nice."
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10.
Truth Bombs
"TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT HEAD OF YOURS" Arya said as Ace leaned against the bed. He had been thumbing the pages of his book in an effort to get the concentration to read. Except he couldn't get the conversation with Connor out of his head.
"I just can't stop thinking about how one of the first things out of his mouth was a 'thank you' on behalf of camp, just because I joined in a quest."
He felt a little bad that he wasn't more concerned about Annabeth getting that letter out, even though a part of his brain had been running through possibilities. Or Arya and Connors' moment of utter strain at the necessary topic of another battle, even though he had to physically push that into the back of his head like he did most things that he wanted to learn more about with Arya.
The girl across from him didn't stop looking at him. He watched as her fingers started to play with the golden strings of her gauntlets, one of a few nervous habits. He couldn't read her enough to figure out what she was thinking.
"Sounds about right. You have to remember that most of them have been through this before. No offense but they probably understand the burden of what you took on better than you understand it yourself. They are grateful for anyone who will help prevent them from going through it again."
Ace looked up at her for the first time, meeting her bright green eyes that he saw in his dreams. The words didn't come out strained and her posture didn't indicate that she was on edge. Maybe the news about Annabeth had taken some weight off her shoulders.
He decided to push back a little. See what she would give him.
"Tell me about him, about your friends in general."
Something resembling a very small grin tugged at her lips as her fingers stopped playing with the gauntlets. For a brief period she just stared at him, trying to see if she could get him to back down on his own. "That's asking for the deep stuff."
Ace also grinned at her and added a chuckle "How is asking your friends the 'deep stuff'?"
"If we go down this road I think you'll regret your words."
He was fully smiling at her and the banter she was giving him, just in awe at the sides of her he was still discovering "Probably."
Ace gave Arya the space to think and debate. The banter stopped and any amusement on her face dropped. As the seconds ticked by he was worried that she would shut him out, possibly kick him out too. The two of them had come far in these last two weeks but she still had so many defenses up that he wasn't sure he would ever be able to break through.
