The Heroes Of Olympus

Chapter 33

Hades and Hazel came back to everyone laughing.

'Woah, that's one side of Hades I've never seen.' Percy whispered to Annabeth.

'Frank and Leo are left, I suppose?' Zeus said. Ares nodded.

'Fine, then. Frank, you go now.'

Frank followed Ares.

Ares sat on his throne. Frank and he looked at each other.

'Er- hi, Mars.' Frank said, waving his hand.

'Mars? You will call your dad by his name? Mars?'

'So, do you want me to call you dad...or pop...or father...or daddy...or h-'

'No, no.' Mars grumbled. 'Mars is fine.'

'Cool. High-five?' Frank said raising his palm in the air.

Mars looked at him blankly. 'A high-five?' He asked.

'Yeah. Y-you don't know what that is?' He slowly started lowering his hand.

'I know what a high-five is. But... who asks for a high-five to their godly parent? Especially if it's me? The god of war!' Mars was talking in an especially sweet tone now, like he was trying to suppress his anger.

'Okay. Relax. You don't have to give one.... I mean, whatever you want.' They remained silent for a minute or so.

'So...' Mars said.

'Yeah...sooo. Oh- here's an interesting fact. It takes only four seconds of silence for a conversation to become awkward. Isn't that cool?'

Mars looked at Frank, and then stood up. 'Son, you did a great job out there. I mean, I was so proud of you that I actually made a list of all the giants you had slain and all the animals you turned into. Now I can show off to the other Gods, whenever I want to.'

Frank grinned.

'Hey, I never knew that you could ever be proud of me.'

Mars nodded. 'I am.'

'You know, I have like, a lot of questions I needed to ask you, but- but they can't come up now. I don't know why.'

'Oh, don't get worried. Here,' Mars gave Frank a watch. 'Whenever you want to ask me anything, just click on the screen.'

'And you will be available 24/7?'

'For you, only.'

'But why? You do that for all your kids?'

'No, no. You are different...special.' Mars grinned.

'Well, I can't argue. Thanks, dad.'