nobody's soldier, percy jackson

3. the blonde kid wants glory

"Knock it off, Clarisse" an older boy said as Venus approached the group "it's like his first day, come on."

Venus had watched the girl, Clarisse, shove Percy to the ground.

She didn't understand what friends did, but she knew it wasn't that.

Venus stood in front of Percy and offered her hand to him, which he took, letting her help pull him up even though he could have done it on his own.

"Wait, so this is the kid who killed the Minotaur. Is that right?" Clarisse said.

"Yeah?" Percy answered.

Venus moved so that she was standing next to him, crossing her arms while she gave Clarisse a hard look.

Clarisse and the rest of the group behind her looked at Venus, but made no move to annoy or bully her.

They knew who she was.

Good.

"I'll bet. Look, you want attention around here, dummy? You better be ready for it when it comes" Clarisse said.

She moved forward slightly, making Percy flinch.

Venus looked at Percy with a mixture of confusion and... she didn't know what it was called. She just knew she felt sorry.

Clarisse laughed as she turned and walked away.

"Well, she seems nice" Percy said sarcastically.

"Ares kids," the older boy from before said "they come by it honestly."

"Great," Venus sighed "more siblings."

"What?" Percy said, looking at her.

"Ares is my father," she responded, rolling her eyes "and Aphrodite is my mother."

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Venus then asked, looking at the older boy. "Wow, you're pretty."

"I'm Luke" the boy smiled at her comment.

"And you're Venus" he nodded.

Venus frowned at that.

"Wait, why don't they mess with you?" Percy asked, returning to the previous conversation.

"They know better" Luke responded.

"Luke's the strongest swordsman at camp" another boy said.

"So, they leave you alone because 'glory?'" Percy asked, and Luke nodded.

"So if I get glory, Clarisse wouldn't mess with me either?"

"Exactly" Luke said.

"And people think I'm a big deal?" Percy continued.

"Well, sorta, but—"

"And my dad's for no choice but to claim me" Percy realised, though it wasn't a realisation it was just a hope.

Venus shook her head. "Gods don't like being rushed. Or being told what to do. So, just... see what happens?"

"That sounds dumb" Percy pointed out.

"I'm a goddess" she reminded him blankly.

"You can't force the gods to do anything" Luke agreed, making Percy look away from Venus.

"Well, yeah, but... it would make it harder for him to pretend I don't exist, right?"

"Maybe" Luke thought.

"Well, great. Where do we start?" Percy asked.

"Do I have to be apart of this?" Venus sighed.

"You got anything better to do?" Luke shrugged.