Demigod One-Shots

Connor Stoll

Two people requested Connor, but neither were specific so my mind immediately jumped to angst so here it goes.

Connor remembers when he was younger and his mom would strap him and Travis into their respective car seats. They would drive five hours out to their aunts house for Thanksgiving dinner. All the strange old ladies, who his mom insisted he knew and were family, would pinch his cheeks and tell him how he takes after his brother and they were basically twins. He remembers being angry at them for always comparing him to his older brother.

He wasn't angry at Travis, though. Travis was the one who took his wrist in his hand and pulled him through the group of women and up the stairs away from all the prying hands and curious onlookers.

They ended up in what apparently was their older cousins bedroom. When they rushed in she awed and ruffled their hair. Connor remembers glancing at Travis for help, but he looked as worried as Connor felt so he kept his mouth shut.

"Hi little guys," she kneeled in front of them. "Both of you grew so much since last time. Say, how about we have a little fun?"

Connor had glanced at Travis and he looked back and shrugged. Having fun seemed like a great idea, much better then the fake gossip fest downstairs.

Connor looked back at their cousin and nodded with a smile. Their cousin cheered. She picked both of them up and put them on the edge of her bed.

She walked over to her dresser and picked a few things off the top before rummaging for more in the drawers

Both could barely get out a word of protest before they ended up with clips in their hair and gunk on their face. Their cousin was giggling and taking pictures with her phone. Connor couldn't help the tears that dripped down his face. This wasn't fun. This was no fun at all.

Travis bit his trembling lip and jumped off the bed pulling the crying Connor with him. Travis lead them to the tacky bathroom and locked the door behind them. They wet the washcloths and cleaned off their faces as best as they could. They ripped out the clips from their hair and threw them in the trash.

They were about to leave when Travis had an idea. He told Connor his plan and they both grinned mischievously. They opened the women's shampoo bottle from the shower and Travis took out the itching powder he had in his pocket. He brought it because he knew this wasn't going to be a good trip and knew they could have some fun with it. He was never more grateful for planning ahead.

Connor remembers them pouring the itching powder into the bottle, screwing on the top, and shaking it up. Later their mom would receive a call and they would be yelled at, but it was worth it. Connor remembers thinking it wasn't too bad to be compared to his brother anymore.

They left the bathroom and went back down the stairs. When they were halfway down, Travis stopped Connor and out a finger up to his lips to tell him to be quiet. They crouched and eavesdropped on their relatives gossiping.

"They're both little troublemakers, I know, but they mean well I promise." Connor remembers hearing his mom's voice and smiling when she said that. He knew even at that age that him and Travis gave her trouble. "Excuse me."

They heard footsteps and the bathroom door closed. "She is crazy."

"Absolutely."

"Going back to that same man, twice? I might love my sister, but she doesn't always make the best choices."

"I feel so bad for her, both her boys look barely anything like her. I bet they take after their father."

"Mhm."

Connor looked at Travis with wide eyes and Travis looked back at him with the same expression plastered on his face.

Connor remembers sneaking downstairs and adding a few of their own ingredients in the food. It was for their mom and they were proud of themselves. Even when they weren't invited back for next year they were proud.

Connor remembers much later showing up at Camp Half-Blood. Everyone thought they were twins and could never tell them apart, but Connor didn't mind too much. If he had to share his reputation, his life, with someone else then he was happy it was his older brother.

Then he remembers meeting the Aphrodite kids and being reminded of their cousin. They took a liking to pranking them. It didn't help when they'd give them makeovers to get back at them. It just fueled the fire.

Connor remembers Katie Gardner hinting that they were the snitches because of their pranks and their brother. It reminded Connor of their family and how they insulted their mom because of their father.

But now Connor is glancing longingly across the campgrounds as Travis and Katie play one on one volleyball. Katie hits it to the far back corner and Travis goes running for it. He trips and face plants in the sand. Katie laughs and ducks under the net.

She picks him up and dusts off the sand. She laughs and pecks him on the cheek. He picks her up and swings her around.

Connor remembers when they were two leaves on a branch. They were two of the same, inseparable. They were widely considered the same person so why are they splitting apart now and for a girl? A girl who accused them of being traitors?

Connor remembers thinking it wouldn't be too bad to be just like his older brother. Oh how wrong he was. Connor never wanted to be like him anyways.

Originally this was going to be different, but I looked up who was older and it was Travis so this changed a bit. If Connor was older this would've been a different more angsty story, but he's not so here it is.