thickskinned,˚⟡˖ perseus jackson.

thirteen, quest blues.

THICKSKINNED.
' quest blues.'
CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

"IT'S NOT ENOUGH, Luke tell her that it's not enough!" Silena pleaded, furiously shoving money into my pocket.

"Silena, stop!" I pushed her hands out of the way, Silena's generosity was always appreciated but I already had received money from my father.

It was a peculiar experience, but at the same time, Chiron had given it to me — so I'm not fully trusting of the idea that it was Hermes.

"Chris, knock some sense into your sister, she's being stubborn." Silena argued, trying to zip open the front pocket of my rucksack.

"Silena—." I groaned, pulling the money out and placing it in her hands, squeezing them tightly shut at the same time. "It's such a sweet gesture, but I don't need it!"

"Nonsense, okay? You're going on a quest, and I want you to get some souvenirs to remember it by!" Silena tugs her hands away, the money still ending up in my palms.

She claps her hands together. "I'm so proud of you! So is Charlie, he wishes you the best of luck. Unfortunately, he's busy right now but he promised that he'll get you a hamburger ready for when you get back." She exclaims, and I can't help but grin widely.

"Thank you, Silena." Before I can properly finish my sentence, she squeezes my organs tight with a strong embrace. The sweetest scent clouding my nostrils as my head rested on her shoulder.

"Please, be safe." She kisses my forehead before she pulls away, and her eyes lay upon Chris and Luke, two boys who looked equally emotional as she was.

She shakes her head, whilst giggling, and leaves the cabin with a flick of her gorgeous, dark hair.

When Chris appears in front of me, I notice his right hand in a fist, as if he was holding something in it. I shake my head as I see Luke doing the same thing.

"I've got enough money, i'm sure 500 dollars is enough for a quest that's mostly going to have us in the underworld." I tell them both, but Chris simply shakes his head.

"Drachmas." He sighs, placing a bag of them on the bed. "You'll need them, especially if you're going to the underworld." He picks up my bag and places them inside, carefully.

"Chris.." I mumbled, and he just sighed, his glare too nervous to even meet mine.

"Listen to Silena, please be safe." He stated, seriously. His voice had changed, even though the lack of emotion made it sound very similar.

"I promise, I will be." I reassure him, and a slight smile appears on his lips. He hesitantly wraps his arms around me, and I feel his breath shudder slightly.

I hated how much Chris thought.

He was always thinking about something, his mind travelling to the worst case scenarios of all time. If I was even going to practice my archery with the Stolls, I'd have to wear so much gear that I'd sweat in minus degree weather.

Chris was the typical protective older brother, but I'd always preferred to see him angry rather than emotional. It breaks my heart to leave him, I hadn't done that, ever.

Luke approached me too, a slight chuckle escaped his lips as he handed me his bag of necessities. He releases his fist, only to reveal a bag of red twizzlers — my favourite.

"Luke, you shouldn't have." I giggled, snatching the back out of his hands almost immediately, with no hesitation.

He innocently shrugs, looking back at me with a grin. "I stole your m&m's so, it was only fair." He nodded, putting his hands on his hips. "Plus, I'd never share my money with you."

I smacked him around the shoulder playfully, and he quickly pulls me into his arms, tightly squeezing me as he ruffled my hair with his spare hand.

"You're going to do so well." He tells me, and I can hear his chest shake as if he was on the edge of letting out tears.

He lets go of me gently and then looks down at me, his hand on my shoulder. "Just focus on getting to the underworld okay? And if Hades doesn't have it, don't go looking for it anywhere else. You have to come back, and get another separate quest." He told me, as if he'd already predicted how the quest would play out.

Chris clears his throat quickly, stepping into the conversation. "You're confusing her." He says, and Luke just shies away.

"What he means is, if the lightening bolt isn't with Hades, then something's wrong." Chris corrects Luke, but I still remain confused.

"Why wouldn't it be with Hades?" I ask, looking up at the two of them.

"It's a hypothetical scenario, Jadey. If anything isn't right, don't go looking to fix it." Chris' voice is more stern this time around, so I find it a good idea to just stay quiet.

"I'm sure Annabeth will know what's right, she'll take us back to camp." I smile, and Luke nods, releasing a large breath he had been holding.

"Good luck, Ria." Luke finally says, approaching me. Before I could say anything, he slips a few drachmas into my zipper's pocket.

"I'll need it." I chuckle, and Chris quickly interferes.

"No you won't." He says, his hand squeezing my left cheek with his cold palms. "You're the strongest girl I know." He chuckles, his eyes subtly filling with water.

"Besides Clarisse?" I joke, and he simply shakes his head in response.

"I remember you telling me about how you beat her very recently. I'm sure no monster is worse than Clarisse in 'Capture the flag.' He says, and as I recall the moment, I smile.

Battling alongside Percy may just give me the confidence I need, if i'm doing it for him. So he can get his mother back.

"I love you, Chris." I tell him, and my brother just shakes his head, pulling me into a tight hug.

"If anything happens to you, Ilaria—."

"I'll see you later." I interrupt him. I couldn't promise anything, to anyone. Not to Chris, or for Luke. Or for any other Hermes kid that sees me for more than just their cabin-mate.

I'm a beloved sister, and friend. And for that reason, and that reason alone: if something has to happen to anyone, it'll happen to me. A sacrifice will have to be made, Grover told me. That stupid yarn, fate, what a myth.

I took a deep breath as I left the cabin, the rucksack closed tight on my back.

I look around the camp as I walk away from it, spotting a few familiar faces who don't consider that it could be the last time they ever see me.

I hate being dramatic, and I despise being emotional. But a gut feeling is a gut feeling, after all.

CHARMING SPEAKS.
I'm actually hurting, imagine if I literally just killed her off. Should I do it straight away; with Medusa? Should I get herrrr abducted? I'd hate to strip away Percy's sacrificial scene, but should I? I'm kidding! Maybe! Love you all so much, thanks for reading!

THICKSKINNED.
# Pjo fanfiction.
✐ WRITTEN BY @ Charmingwp.