The Kid Needs Help

Chapter 2

Malcolm didn't force anything else that day, instead he made himself busy training with Will, and planning his next encounter.  He had meant to ask why Percy was doing schoolwork over the summer, but had gotten so distracted by Shakespeare it had slipped his mind entirely until it was too late, but with any luck they would be able to do the same thing tomorrow, and he could ask then.  For today though, one study session was enough, he didn't want to overwhelm Percy, or himself, for that matter.

Will knew immediately their was something on his friend's mind though, and was rather annoyed their fight training wasn't his main focus, so when he disarmed the child of Athena with a wrist flick that would never have gotten the other boy on a normal day, he dropped his sword as well and sighed.  
"Whats up with you today?"
"What do you mean?"
"You're distracted."
"So?  I'm a halfblood, it comes with the territory."  Will cracked a smile and rolled his eyes as he plopped down on a hay bale, Malcolm joined him without having to be prompted.
"Ok, so you're more distracted than usual, I mean usually I'm never a match for you in hand to hand combat, that's kinda the whole reason I train with you, so how did I just disarm you with a trick that Percy has already taught first year campers to deflect?"  Malcolm huffed.
"What?  I'm not allowed to have an off day?"
"No you are, I'm just also allowed to ask about it, as any decent best friend would."  Will answered slyly, earning an eye roll from the other boy before he finally sighed in defeat.
"Fine."  Will perked up, impish smile gracing his face as he waited for an elaboration expectantly.

So Malcolm explained the situation, from Annabeth begging for his help, to actually having a great time with Percy, to his genuine worry for the older boy's mental state.  
"I guess I'm just distracted because I don't know how to help him the way Annabeth wants me to, I mean, talking about Shakespeare is one thing, getting him to actually open up and lean on someone?  Well no one ever accused halfbloods of having healthy coping mechanisms, and Percy is basically a poster boy for that."  Will was silent a moment, thinking it over, since his relationship with Nico had started he had become closer with all of the Seven, and Percy had made it a point to be on good terms with almost everybody at camp even before the war, so Will considered him a good friend, and wouldn't want to do anything to lead his Athenian friend, and indirectly in turn, Percy, astray.  
"I guess all you can do is be there when he's ready to open up.  Annabeth is right, you're the right person for the job if there ever was one.  No friendship starts off with the deep stuff, you just have to wait for him, and maybe one day he'll open up."
"So I'm just stuck?"
"If that's really how you want to view it.  You're also befriending someone who really needs a friend right now, and even if you never become the friend, the more people he knows he can rely on the better, right?"  Malcolm ducked his head in agreement, feeling selfish for looking at it so negatively and silly for needing it all spelled out for him by a third party.  
"Thanks Will, I don't know why she didn't ask you to do this, you're way better suited for it than me."  He said, face still lowered, fixated on the ground, but Will just chuckled and shook his head.
"Why didn't she ask the boyfriend of the kid who's sister he believes he let die, then later had to reject, directly before his own relationship, which he had used as one of the reasons to reject Nico, ended?  Yeah it's a mystery."  There was a pause and Malcolm huffed out a laugh.
"Okay, yeah, fair point."
"And here I thought children of Athena were supposed to be smart."  
"Listen, we're good at strategy, there's nothing in the rule book about social intelligence, as I remember, that's more up the Apollo route."  Will scoffed but hopped off the hay bail, sweeping up his sword in the process.
"So can we, like, practice now?  I really need to get better at this stuff, who knows when the gods will get in their next scuffle that threatens the entire human race."  
"Fine!  I'll pay attention this time, if your're that worried about it."  Malcolm followed his lead and after picking up his sword he got into stance, a smirk playing on his lips because he knew that Will really had no chance against him.