Better As A Team (Heroes of Olympus/Lorien Legacies Crossover Fanfic)

Chapter 10

Max's POV:

Leo and I sit there, talking until nighttime, when I realize something. Something big. 

"Leo?" I call out to him.

"Yeah?"

I hesitate. "We can't be together, you know. Percy wouldn't agree with it and there are too many differences between us," I explain, which breaks my heart in half as I realize is true.

After a long silence between Leo and I, Leo responds with, "I don't care what Percy thinks. He can't separate us. I won't let him. I'll keep holding on. That's a promise."

"You shouldn't make a promise you can't keep." I reply. I avoid his eyes and wish I was somewhere else, away from the pain of something you can't have.

The higher you go, the harder you fall, right?

"Goodnight, Max," Leo says and leaves. I'm left all alone in Percy's room, the door closed with pain burning inside me.

'We can't be together'. That was true, but the reasons weren't. Percy would agree, I know that, and just because we're different from each other doesn't mean we're not right for each other. The real reason is because I don't want to fall in love. I don't have time for it now, it'll just slow me down. And let's just say I don't exactly have the best past with love.

Sometimes love ends happily, and sometimes it ends in disaster. In pain and hate.

Percy walks into the room right then. He takes one look at me and notices that something's up.

"Max, are you alright?" He asks, concern crystal clear in his voice.

"I'm fine," I reply, even though I'm not. Lying is my strong suit. It's what kept me alive all these years.

"You can sleep next to me if you want," Percy offers. I shake my head no.

"I won't be able to sleep tonight,"I bluff. Percy purses his lips and climbs into his bed. I lie on the floor after turning the lights off and shutting the door closed.

I try my best to sleep, and when I do, I'm glad I did.

I have another dream about the blond Garde, John Smith. We're in Ohio again, but this time, there are no signs of any Mogs or Setrákus Ra. That's a relief.

"Hey, hey, are you there? Can you hear me?" I hear a male voice call out to me. There's just a bunch of static at first, then it morphs into the blond Garde.

I can just barely nod my head yes. "Alright, what number are you?" He asks me. I try to say 'Number Two', but I can't speak, and I can barely move.

"Forget it, we don't have much time. My name is John Smith, I'm a Garde, like you, find me in P------e, Ohio. Hurry, my Cêpan and I will be leaving soon," he explains, the city name being nothing but static. Then he's gone, and so is Ohio. I see only darkness, and I wake with a start in Percy's room, safe and sound, but not for long.

I'm in the same condition I was when I woke up from the first dream; palms sweaty, beads of sweat forming on my forehead, and a racing heart and pounding head.

What's a city in Ohio that starts with P?

Paradise.

Paradise, Ohio. That's where John Smith, another Garde, is. He said to hurry, that he and his Cêpan are leaving soon. He still has his Cêpan? That's surprising.

But I can't leave Percy, Leo, and the others. I made a deal with Percy, that I would help them until their quest ended. I can't break that deal. Deals aren't like promises. They're not easily broken like promises are.

I don't go to the mess hall that morning. I just stay in Percy's room the whole time, waiting for absolutely nothing.

Percy bursts through the door laughing like crazy just then, but I don't bother asking why. I just sit there on the floor, realizing what I've been waiting for. I was waiting for him, for Percy. I need to ask him something. But I'm afraid it'll effect the quest. Like the butterfly effect.

"Oh, hey Max. Why weren't you at breakfast this morning? I was worried about you," Percy asks.

Yeah, worried. That's why you came in here laughing like the best joke ever was just told a half hour after you realized I was missing.

"I'm not one of the seven, I shouldn't be going on this quest. I don't know why I am, I should've left when I had the chance. I'm not one of you." I realize I blurt out those words, and I even surprise myself. I look up at Percy with sad eyes. He looks down at me, and I don't bother reading the emotion on his face.

"Max, just because you're not one of the seven doesn't mean you can't go on the quest. And you are one of us-"

I jump up to my feet and stare at Percy. "No, I'm not! Percy, you don't understand! It's better if you just leave me here, right where we are. I'll go on my own quest, the quest I was born to do. You just don't understand how different I am from you! We're the complete opposite, but you don't know that! I'm not supposed to be with you right now! And it's about time you know that!" I yell at him in frustration and anger.

Percy just stares at me in shock, then he sighs. I clench my jaw and clench my fists so hard my knuckles become a pale white.

Then Percy embraces me in a tight hug. My eyes water with tears, and I let one fall freely down my cheek. I shut my eyes as hard as I can so the tears can go away. After a while, Percy's still hugging me and all my tears have dried.

"I don't need to understand, I just need to know. You're a demigod, and that's it. You're a half-blood, and you belong with us." Percy smiles.

Yes, I am a demigod, but that's not it. Yes, I'm a daughter of Poseidon, Greek God of the sea and water, but that's not it.

I'm also a Garde. I'm a Garde and a demigod, and that's it. I have two quests to complete, but I can only do one at a time. The Garde need my help, but not as much as the demigods do.

I'll help Percy, and even though I can't keep one, I promise to.

But I know that that promise will be broken very soon.

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