Life is a Journey (a theyna fanfic)

A Much Needed Conversation

Reyna's clothes are much too big for her. They didn't use to be of course, in fact at one point in time Reyna's clothes would've been too small for Thalia, but those days had long since passed.

High school came and Reyna no longer stood at Thalia's shoulder, but rather the opposite and Thalia was forced into the agony of forever looking up into the eyes of a woman who already had so many things to hold over her. Like good grades, a moral compass, and the actual ability to exercise willingly. Truly, Reyna had too much to hold over Thalia, and what did Thalia have in return?

Just years of photos taken at the perfect timing in order to showcase Reyna's sleep deprived antics and most regretted life decisions. Of course, it wasn't quite as much as half a foot in height, but she cherished it all the same and Reyna learned to keep the teasing to a certain agreed upon level.

Unfortunately, she had no such things to hold over Hylla's head.

"So, a little birdie told me that someone's finally making a move on my sister," Hylla's smirk is pure evil and her eyes are focused in for the kill. Thalia tries to meet her gaze with her own.

"For the last time, I was wearing her shirt because Percy threw my suitcase out the window!" Thalia snaps at the older girl who only howls with laughter, not even bothering to hide her glee at Percy's "accident". How someone could "accidentally" chuck a full suitcase out the window is beyond her, Percy had never explained in detail and she had never given him the chance to come near her suitcase again for fear of a repeat incident.

They're currently resting at the top of a ski trail, Thalia finally managed to convince Reyna to let them go; unfortunately, due to poor planning, Reyna and Annabeth's competitive streaks, and Piper's need to record anything mildly interesting with her camera, Thalia had ended up alone at the top of the mountain, with a very inexperienced Hylla who is currently trying not to slide all the way down the mountain on her butt. Somehow she still manages to look dignified in bright neon yellow skis.

"Well, I mean, there are other people's clothing in here Thalia," Hylla volunteers, "and I doubt that all of your clothes were in that one suitcase. You're supposed to be here for a full three months."

Thalia's ears are turning pink and it has absolutely nothing to do with the cold.

"I swear to god Hylla I will kick you down this mountain," she growls at the woman, who promptly slips on a patch of ice onto her back, leaving Thalia gazing down at her still laughing form.

"You totally stole her shirt didn't you?" Hylla's grin is cheeky and she reminds Thalia vaguely of a thirteen-year-old Jason trying to give her girl advice after dating one girl in middle school for a week. Her chest aches.

"Hylla, we sleep in the same bed, why would I need her shirt?!" Thalia finally yells, exasperated, she no longer cares if she's being subtle or not, she long gave up that fight with Hylla. Hylla whose known her since she got out of Juvie, who was the first "adult" who hadn't looked at her like she'd just killed their puppy.

Hylla doesn't miss a beat, sitting up, scattering bits of snow and beaming at her.

"So you admit that you like how she smells?"

"Oh my God Hylla!" Thalia promptly shouts and slams her palms into her face. Hylla begins cackling once more, entire body shaking with the movement while Thalia reminds herself to breathe properly and not strangle Hylla, no matter how much she wants to.

"I missed this," Hylla finally manages once she's stopped laughing long enough to breathe. Thalia wants to pretend she doesn't know what she means, but she does. She's missed being able to talk to her without fear of breaking her. She's missed it too, even if she still doesn't feel as strong as she used to be.