The Old Jackson Twins Book 2

Chapter Eleven

"I know, darling." Hela stroked Fenris's fur, then yawned. "It's terribly boring here, isn't it?"

The wolf whined, then batted at a passing piece of debris.

"But you'll see. Soon enough, a ship will come along for us to hijack, and then we can get revenge on my brothers."

His expression almost seemed to say Are you sure?

"I promise, Fenris." Hela stared out across the vast sea of debris that used to be Asgard, where she and Fenris floated in zero-g.

"Soon we will be free."

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"I swear to Hades, if this Fury guy doesn't get here by tomorrow night, we're saying fuck it and leaving."

"You do realize that's a horrible idea, right?"

"I'm so bored here, though."

"You get bored everywhere."

"I don't get bored with you."

Reyna paused, her hands stilling over her sword and the rag she was using to polish it, then turned to look at Aria. "That was the cheesiest and most illogical thing you have ever said to me."

She pouted. "I get the cheesy part, but why is it illogical?"

"Because you're with me right now, but also complaining about how you're bored."

"It was supposed to be romantic, okay?" Aria stared at the ground, her face turning bright red.

"Yeah, I know." Reyna went back to her blade, scratching at a bit of dried mud from the night before.

After a moment, she felt arms around her waist, and a face pressed against the place where her neck met her back. "Hey, you okay?"

"I'm fine. I just... need you."

Reyna shoved aside her blade and turned around, burying her face in Aria's hair as Aria tucked against her collarbone. "It's been a long few weeks."

"I miss the way we were a few months ago, back when we didn't have to deal with this."

Reyna didn't say anything, just breathed in Aria's scent - the normal rain and sea salt from their days by the ocean - and tried to relax.

And that is when Nick Fury decided to show up.

"Does nobody know how to knock?" she complained.

He glowered at her. "Are you Aria Jackson?"

"I am." Aria's voice was muffled, as she didn't move from where she was.

"Get up. I'm on a tight schedule."

"We are, too," Reyna snapped, "and you've kept us waiting on you for nine days." She instantly disliked the guy.

"Up," he said sharply.

Aria muttered a few unfriendly words, but pulled herself up, her eyes flickering dangerously. That was the look Reyna was afraid of.

The one that meant someone was probably about to get hurt.

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Nick waited a moment, but the other girl didn't get the hint. "If you could give us a moment-" he started, but Aria cut him off.

"She stays."

"Unfortunately, this is top-secret SHIELD business-"

"For one thing, she already knows everything about me. For another, I'm going to tell her everything anyways. Also, I'm not cooperating without her. She goes, I do, too."

He had to pause for a moment. "Do you really believe you have any power in this situation?"

"Yeah." Aria crossed her arms. "I do."

Unbelievably, the other girl stifled a laugh. "You are something else," she said with a smile.

"I'm ninety per cent sure that's why you love me." Her tone and eyes both softened when she looked at the other girl, then got harsh again when she looked back at him. "Reyna stays. End of discussion."

Nick probably could have argued his case, gotten the other girl - Reyna - to leave, but it didn't seem worth it. Instead, he pulled out a folder and a pen.

"Full name?"

"Ariadne Estelle Jackson."

"Date of birth?"

"August 18th, 1993."

"Parent's names?"

"My mother's name is Sally Blofis, and my stepfather's name is Paul Blofis."

"Do you know your biological father's name?"

"Poseidon."

He waited for a moment. "Poseidon what?"

"Just Poseidon." She smirked. "God of the ocean."

Reyna rolled her eyes. "Are you serious?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Like Thor and Loki?"

"Excuse you, my dad is Greek, not Norse. And he's an actual, immortal, powerful god, so take that, Asgardians!"

Reyna shook her head and sighed. "Half of me is wondering how the fuck I fell in love with you, and the other half is wondering how the fuck I could ever live without you."

Aria smiled sweetly at her.

He looked back at his paper. "Okay, you know what? We're gonna cover that in all the other questions. Place of residence?"

"Wandering vigilante."

This is going to be a looooooooooooooong interview.

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"Please, please, please tell me your twin's interview went better than mine's," Annabeth said, collapsing on the ground next to Reyna.

"Doubtful. At least Percy didn't have to explain all the shit with their dad."

"Ooh, yeah, that's a good point."

Reyna stared into space. "It was painful to watch."

"We're right here!" Percy and Aria protested.

"We know."