Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto or Percy Jackson.
Fils de l'Amour: The Lost Hero
Chapter 13: Homecoming, Pride and Parties
Hera began to elegantly read the thirteenth chapter.
Tristan was able to pay for four tickets back to Long Island, and the trip was incredibly smooth. Naruto attributed it to Jason's presence on the plane.
"Now, if only Thalia would get on a plane."
"Shut it Jackson."
Naruto was a bit unsettled that he would have to wait for Miu to return to camp and that he had to hide his staff. Apparently when you twisted a specific part of the staff it shrunk down into what Piper called a laser pointer.
"Nice," the guys snickered, who didn't love using that thing?
Naruto enjoyed the laser part until Piper took it away from him when the stewardess threatened to take it from him.
"Boo!" the guys proclaimed.
He pouted the whole flight back to Camp Half-Blood.
"I feel your pain," Leo patted his heart.
A few hours after they returned, Chiron called for a cabin counselor meeting for a debriefing. It was during this meeting Jason told the rest of the counselors about his history and what Juno had told him.
"It has began," Percy said in a mysterious voice, but Annabeth slapped his arm with a roll of her eyes.
"What do we do with this information?" Will of cabin seven asked.
Annabeth was giving Jason a wary and angry look
Athena smirked while Annabeth looked apologetic to Jason, who was pouting at her.
while the others look just as confused.
"I think," Jason said. "That if Juno...Hera...Whatever, I think she wanted to bring the two camps together to stop Gaia and the giants. So if you wanted to find Percy Jackson, you'd have to go to Camp Jupiter."
"That was fun," Leo smiled as Reyna gave him a withering glare. Remembering what happened with the Argo II.
"That's assuming Percy is there," Butch said. "Remember, Jason, we were told to find a demigod at the Grand Canyon."
"Plus, you said Jupiter is in California, which is bad luck for us," Annabeth said.
"For clear reason," Reyna commented towards the great divide.
"It is?" Naruto asked, blinking. He leaned back in his chair and scratched his cheeks. "Huh, I thought it was rather lucky. I mean; I managed to beat a giant."
"All casually-like," Hermes snickered.
"What?!" The counselors, sans Leo and Jason, turned to Naruto and he chuckled sheepishly.
"Oh yeah, did I forget to mention that?"
"Yes!"
"Whoops!" Naruto chuckled as he scratched the back of his head. "Well, I fought Enceladus, the Anti-Athena."
The counselors began murmuring in disbelief while Annabeth blinked several times before beaming. Her nephew made good on his heritage.
"Indeed." Athena beamed as well.
"How did you beat him?" She asked. The details were sure to be amazing.
"Well, after a few of my personal attacks failed, Athena came to me in a brief vision," Naruto said. The counselors continued to murmur but fell silent at his next words. "Then she sent me her spear to use!"
Annabeth's jaw fell. "H-Her spear?"
"She's so jealous." Thalia smirked as Annabeth sulked a bit, she was jealous too!
"Yep! It sucked a lot though. Made me all boring and analytical," Naruto said, shuddering at the notion. He grinned and pointed a thumb at himself. "I'm Konohagakure's Number One Knuckle-Headed Ninja, and I can't live up to that name if I'm all smart."
That got a few snickers as Athena blanched as Annabeth hung her head.
"Sure fits the description," Will said with a huff while the other demigods snickered at Cabin Ten's counselor's proclamation.
"I want the full story later," Annabeth said, trying – and failing miserably, mind you – not to let her jealousy show.
"See."
"Shut up, Thalia!"
"It still begs the question: What do we do now?"
"We need to make contact with Camp Jupiter," Jason said. "We need to unite the camps for the coming war."
"Uniting the camps, huh? I'm in!" Naruto said, throwing his opinion in.
"Naruto," Chiron said after a long moment of silence. "Your vote will not count."
"Centaur say what?" Percy blinked.
"What?" Naruto looked at the trainer in confusion.
"You left the camp without permission," Chiron said.
"I do it all the time," Percy said with a confused look.
"I know, yet you still come back alive," Dionysus sighed.
He sighed. "I'm sorry, but as the current Camp Director, I have to revoke your status as counselor." That stirred the other counselors from their shock, bursting into whispers. Chiron stamped his hooves and frowned at them all. "You all forget that it was Naruto who left camp on a quest that was not his own."
"Chiron, Percy did the same thing," Annabeth said. "Twice!"
"Yeah." Percy agreed with other Annabeth.
"I know, and it is because of that that I am revoking Naruto's status," Chiron said. "Percy was the only member of his cabin, so he was instead punished with chores after his return.
Percy looked down, all those toilets that needed to be cleaned. And without his powers! The smell!
Naruto is no longer the only eligible leader of Cabin Ten, there is another."
"Piper," Leo glared at her, "This was your plot all along!"
"Be quiet, Leo." The charmspeaker rolled her multi-colored eyes.
Naruto blinked before he followed Chiron's line of thought and grinned. He glanced at Piper, who was welcomed to recount her experience on the quest. "Okay, Chiron, you win." The counselors looked back at Naruto. He shrugged. "I can't be here year round, I have things to settle back home eventually.
"Ninja time," Apollo grinned as Aphrodite pouted. She wanted her baby close to home!
Besides, I already have a new counselor in mind."
"Please tell me it isn't Tanaka," Butch said. The other campers looked equally worried while Piper had a scowl on her face.
"For good reason," Piper nodded.
"No, Drew had her chance and I'll bet she's had to wear the shoes often when I was away," Naruto said. He crossed his arms over his chest and grinned. "I choose Piper McLean to take my place."
"What?" Piper asked, looking shocked.
Naruto stretched and got out of his seat. "I've got to go break it to the others. I know they'll all be heartbroken.
Aphrodite squealed in joy.
"What is wrong with you?" Artemis asked her rival.
She received no answer.
I'll leave you guys to it then."
"Wha-Wait! Naruto! I don't-!" Piper was cut off lamely as Naruto opened a window and jumped out it. "...Want to be counselor..."
"It is a bit of a chore," Piper sighed.
"Well, beauty queen, welcome to the club," Leo said, frowning. He sighed and resumed tinkering with his Boom Stick.
Hermes and Apollo snickered at that.
"I'd rather be in the forges than at meetings, but my cabin chose me to be the counselor. Ingrates. Who stops their curse? Me. Who wants to rebuild his awesome dragon? Me. Who is the last person that wants to be here? First two guesses don't count."
"You've done a good job so far," the smith god said.
"Yeah, but meetings! Bleh."
Chiron chuckled. "Well, Naruto has made a fine choice from what I've heard tonight. Take a seat, Ms. McLean. We have a lot of things to discuss."
"Well that went better than I thought it would," Naruto said. Of course Drew threw a small fit when she found out Piper was going to be the new head counselor, but he managed to nip that in the bud with a one on one conversation.
"He's amazing," Piper awed.
Lacy took it a bit harder, calling his punishment unfair and saying it was out of Chiron's jurisdiction.
"Indeed," Aphrodite gave a swift nod.
Naruto just laughed and ruffled her hair, telling her he was fine with it. He had a much larger goal in mind than cabin counselor.
"Your sisters are stranger than Matatabi. I thank the Rikudou for only burdening me with one," Kurama said.
"I hear ya," Apollo nodded, he was fine with just Artemis, and Athena, but he was tighter with his twin.
"Yeah, but they're great when they want to be," Naruto said. He interlaced his hands behind his head as he walked to the small enclosure that he would normally find Grover's girlfriend Juniper. Sure enough, she was there taking care of a few animals.
"Naruto," She said with a smile, standing from where she was kneeling next to a few rabbits nibbling on some vegetation. "Glad to see you're back. Sorry about your position being revoked."
"Trees love talking," Demeter nodded.
"How did you...? Word must get around fast," Naruto said.
"I just told her," Grover said from his place to their left, glaring at the rabbits.
Percy snickered as Annabeth tried –and failed miserable- to hold in her own giggles.
"What did the rabbits ever do to you?" Naruto asked.
"They're bullies!"
"He did not just say that?" Frank said with a blink.
"He did," Percy nodded.
"I love them," Aphrodite chirped with a wide grin.
"Grover, how many times do I have to tell you to get over what happened when you were six?" Juniper asked.
"Ah childhood trauma," Ares said with fondness.
"Like jars?"
"I'll slit your throat," Ares glared at Hermes.
"But Juniper..."
"Grover..." Juniper put her hands on her hips and glared at him. The satyr Pan had chosen as his successor and champion swallowed before inching his way out of the woods.
"Talk about submissive," Kurama said.
Percy blanched at that, along with Annabeth, Thalia, and Nico. They did not want to hear that.
Naruto snickered, getting a dirty look from Grover, before he sobered up and grinned. "So, I found one of those sanctuaries you told me about."
"Really?" Grover asked.
"Yeah, there was a family of lions in it," Naruto said. He pulled out the seal he made on the scrap piece of paper Miu had gotten him in Detroit and placed it on the ground. His hands came together in a seal and Naruto channeled his chakra. "Fuin: Kai!"
The golden lion and cub appeared again in front of them.
Artemis and Demeter frowned deep at this.
"Er, not that I'm not a fan of statues, but...those are statues...golden statues," Grover said.
"Yeah, I know. I found them in a cave," Naruto said. "On their quest, I left the group for a second and the others encountered the guy that turned people to gold."
"Midas," Juniper said, frowning as she knelt next to the statue. She looked at Naruto. "Do you know how to get them out?"
"Thanks to me," Jason smiled, happy to have helped.
"I do, but they're not the only ones I found in the sanctuary," Naruto said. He lifted his thumb to his mouth and took a few steps back as he bit it. Drawing the required blood, Naruto's hands blurred through hand seals before he slammed his hand down onto the ground. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
"This should be interesting," Hermes commented.
Juniper and Grover blinked as the ground and Naruto were enveloped in smoke. After it cleared, their jaws fell when their eyes landed on Fukasaku.
"Never see a toad with a goatee, have ya? Me either." Thalia said.
The old toad was looking around and then looked at Naruto with a grin.
"Naruto-chan. It is time, is it not?" he asked.
"You know it, Pa," Naruto said, nodding.
Fukasaku nodded before he hopped back and went through the same seals. "Kuchiyose no Jutsu!"
Another plume of smoke enveloped the area. It cleared to reveal the mother lioness and her cubs along with a purple toad that was the same height as Fukasaku. She looked around before her eyes narrowed on Naruto.
"That's a bad look," Leo muttered, it was the look teachers would give him.
Naruto's smile fell. "Oh no."
Crack.
"Ow!" Naruto was on his knees, holding his head. "Why do you always hit me!?"
"You haven't been eating your grubs, Naruto-chan! Look at you, all skin and bone!"
"By the Fates, it's Demeter toad," Hades blanched.
His sister glared at him for that.
"That doesn't excuse you hitting me, you crazy old toad!" Crack. "Ow!"
While this exchange went on for the next few minutes, Grover couldn't tear his eyes away from the two toads, Fukasaku especially.
"Sages flock together," Hermes grinned.
The old toad was lightly petting the lioness' muzzle while she nursed her kittens.
"Ma, Naruto-chan, I believe we've fooled around long enough." The two looked at Fukasaku before nodding, righting themselves and acting like it never happened. Fukasaku hopped over to the golden statue and picked it up like it were a feather.
"Someone pump that thing with roids or what?" Ares whistled.
"Holy..."
"Gods..." Grover shared his girlfriend's sentiment.
Naruto, remembering they were there, scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Oh, hey, sorry. Got caught up in reconnecting with Ma."
"Naruto...That frog-"
"Toad! Geez, it's really not that hard to see the difference is it?" Naruto asked.
"Some champion of Pan," Ares mocked, getting glares all around.
"Uh...No, I guess not," Grover said, taking another look at them. "He's...What is he?"
"Humph, boy's eyes are worse than a snake's," Ma said. She hopped up to Naruto's shoulder and slapped him upside the head. "Manners, Naruto-chan, introduce us."
"Grover, this is Ma, or Shima-baachan, and the other one is Pa, or Fukasaku-sensei," Naruto said. He grinned. "They taught me how to be a sage."
"Not weird at all," Nico said.
"That explains the feeling they give off," Grover said under his breath. "But why can't I understand them?"
Apollo snapped his fingers, "Damn language barriers."
Naruto blinked and looked at Shima. "Have you understood anything he's said?"
"No," she said. "I have the gist of it, though. I feel like I will no longer be needed here, Naruto-chan. Pa! Don't be slacking off now!"
"Just go home already you crazy old bat!" Fukasaku glared at his wife.
"Who are you calling old, you old fart?!" Shima hopped down and began arguing with her husband.
"Aw, toad versions of Zeus and Hera," Aphrodite cooed. The married couple glared at the love goddess.
At the end of it, she dispelled the summoning and went back to the mountain the Toads called home.
Naruto turned back to Grover, who was watching the interaction with awe. "They must be speaking my homeland's native tongue, which, according to Anna-oba, is a bit of a blend of several Asian languages, Japanese being the most similar."
"So...you're trilingual," Grover said. He shook his head. "Should've known. Athena's children..."
"We try," Annabeth nodded.
"I'm just her grandson, I'm not all that smart." Naruto waved it off.
Athena frowned at that.
He looked at Fukasaku, who was still holding the statue, and pointed past Juniper. "If you go in that direction, you should find some running water. Dunk it in and wait for them to return to normal."
"Send a few clones with me, I don't want to risk the kitten's life when the father wakes up," Fukasaku said.
"Smart," Piper nodded, that would be one ticked off daddy lion.
Naruto nodded and made three. They left the clearing and Naruto went over to the lioness, sitting next to her head and patting it gently.
"Don't worry, your family will be whole again soon," Naruto said. The lioness made a groan and he chuckled. "Wish I knew what that meant."
"She said 'thanks cub'," Grover said, walking over and sitting next to Naruto. Juniper joined them and rested her head on the satyr's shoulder. The kittens finished eating and came out to play, investigating the dryad and her boyfriend while the lioness rested her head in Naruto's lap.
"Aww," the goddesses and demigoddesses cooed at the scene.
"This is what it's all about," Grover said. He smiled as he pet a kitten.
"Indeed," Artemis smiled softly.
"You've got that right," Naruto said. He scratched the lioness' ear and she rubbed herself on his leg. "So...I can't go around not calling you anything." The lioness let a rumbling purr escape her and turned to lick Naruto's arm. "Joō...How's that sound?"
"What's it mean?" Juniper asked.
"Queen," Naruto said,
"Smart," Hera smirked.
smiling as the newly named Joō licked his arm again. "So what should we call the others?"
"This little cutie seems like a Simon," Juniper said, holding one of the kittens up to her nose and pressing it against his. The kitten just licked her face. "Like Simonides of Ceos."
"The poet, right?" Naruto asked.
"Aw yeah," Apollo grinned.
He had a few cycles of clones reading up right now. He looked at Joō. "What do you think?"
Joō let out a low roar.
"She likes it." Grover chuckled as he looked over at a kitten that was pouncing at a fluttering moth. "And that would be Simba."
"Loved that one," Piper smiled, it was such a cute story. But still strong. Go Disney!
Naruto furrowed his brow. "I don't recognize that name."
"It's from a movie," Juniper said, giggling at the newly named prince. She looked at the last cub in Grover's lap, lavishing in his attention. "And for the third prince?"
"Neji," Naruto said with a soft smile. The couple gave him a look and Naruto swallowed. "It was the name given to my friend. He...Died in the war."
"That's sweet of him," Hestia smiled softly.
"Sorry," Grover said.
"It's alright. Still hurts though," Naruto said. He looked up and to the direction that Fukasaku went. "Finally! I was worried we were too late."
"What do you mean?" Grover asked. He craned around to follow Naruto's gaze. Joō lifted her head and then rose to her full height. Naruto followed her with a smile as three figures came from the brush. Joō walked forwards and her head brushed against the smaller lion, the two embracing and nipping at each other's necks.
The married gods smiled at the scene, it was sweet. Well, except Hephaestus.
"That is so precious," Juniper said as she hugged Simon to her chest.
"He's Mufasa." Grover grinned, chuckling sheepishly when Juniper gave him a glare. "What?"
"Really?"
"I like it!"
"It's a boss name," Leo nodded in agreement.
"Then the name of this one is yet to be determined," Fukasaku said as he carried the smaller cub in his arms. Naruto came forward and carefully, under the scrutinizing eye of Joō and Mufasa, picked the cub up. She, as he discovered when he picked the young lioness up, was shuddering from the water, mewing pitifully.
"Oh, I want to cuddle her," Hazel cooed along with the other girls. Except Reyna…who only looked mildly interested. Not that she ever would!
"I leave them in your care, Naruto-chan. And don't forget, Bunta-chan wants to have a drink with you soon."
"Yes, Fukasaku-sensei," Naruto said as he sat down while Joō approached him. The toad nodded and exploded into smoke, leaving nothing behind. Naruto looked at the two lions as he took in the chakra of nature around him to increase his body temperature. "So young and tiny... Well, I only got to meet you from the Long Island Sound, but I don't think Sound is a good name."
"Nonsense!" Apollo argued.
"Nala?" Grover asked. He, Juniper and the three cubs joined the watching parents as Naruto heated the final cub up.
"No more Lion King!" Juniper said.
"You put that foot down, sister," Piper nodded.
"But..."
"No!"
"Fine," Grover said, defeated.
"Whipped," Nico rolled his eyes.
"Karura," Naruto said after a moment. He had a smile on his face. "It was the name of my friend's mother. It means "add water" I think..."
"Poetic," Poseidon chuckled, getting a nod from his sunny nephew.
"I think that's perfect," Juniper said, smiling.
Grover nodded and scratched the ear of Simba. "They can stay for a few days, but then I'll put a nature's blessing on them and release them into the wild."
"Fine by me," Naruto said as he used his jacket to dry the newly named Karura off.
"Gaara would approve," Kurama said.
Naruto's smile widened.
"That hottie?" Aphrodite smiled with glazed eyes. Ooh, what a handsome man. Ares simmered.
A week passed and the American Lions, as Naruto learned they were called, were released into the wild.
"At least they can try to repopulate," Artemis sighed in relief. She had been saddened when they were gone.
This pleased Miu, who returned the day after Mufasa and Karura were released from their golden prison, because she did not want to share Naruto's attention with the cubs any longer.
"Attention seeker," Hades scoffed, "I wonder where they share that from?"
Zeus glared at him for the remark.
Naruto made, with Leo's help (when the boy wasn't working on his ship), special bands that went around each member of the small pride's leg, not hindering them in anyway. The bands were designed to track them and grow with them,
"That's good," Artemis said with a pleased smile. It was important to know where they were located to help them.
so they wouldn't need to be adjusted, thanks to Uzumaki sealing techniques that he refused to share with anyone.
"Smart plan," Athena nodded. No need to show all your cards.
Now, Naruto was working on a new seal.
"Just one section of the cabin..." Naruto put the piece of paper on the wall and for a second, his small portion of the room was bright orange
"Um, no," Aphrodite frowned.
before the seal sparked and fell off. Naruto groaned and glared at the ceiling. "Not cool, Kaachan."
"Deal with it," the love goddess huffed with crossed arms.
"Embrace the pink, Naruto," Lacy said with a giggle.
"Never! Orange is the color of the gods!
"Meh." The gods said.
...Er, well, maybe not Kaachan's, but I'm sure the others like it!" Naruto nodded sagely as if it were fact.
"The camp shirts are orange," Mitchell said.
"He's got a point," Percy nodded, the shirts were awesome.
"See?! Someone likes it!" Naruto crossed his arms smugly. "Thank you Mitchell."
"I never said I liked that the shirts were orange," Mitchell said.
Naruto scowled at him. "I thought we were in this together."
"Traitor, mutiny!" Leo proclaimed.
"Yar," Nico said, sounding like a pirate. He liked pirates.
Mitchell snorted and went back to his homework for Ancient Greek. "I was just stating a fact. Thought you would appreciate it."
"Thanks." Naruto gave his brother a flat glare. He flopped back on his bed with a scowl. "Back to the drawing board."
"Shouldn't you be helping Annabeth and Leo?" Lacy asked.
"I am. Shouldn't you be doing your homework?" Naruto asked.
Lacy pouted and looked back at her desk. "Stupid clones..."
"Right?" Annabeth pouted.
"That support should go here," Annabeth said pointing at a spot above her. One of the many pairs of clones that were helping in Bunker Nine nodded and lifted the support up. She nodded as they put it in place. "Perfect!"
"Annabeth approved." Percy smirked as Annabeth smiled back at him.
"I'll say." Annabeth turned to see Nyssa soaking in the view of the shirtless blonds lifting heavy metal.
Leo made a gagging noise.
Annabeth gave Nyssa a flat glare. "Nyssa. I thought you were working on the bow."
"Leo said he had it covered," Nyssa said, waving at her while she kept watching the clones. The daughter of Hephaestus nibbled on her bottom lip as she watched the clone closest to her bend over.
"The girl has taste," Aphrodite nodded, making her husband glare at her.
"Hey, focus," Annabeth said, slapping the girl on the arm.
"Yeah, stop ogling him like a piece of meat." Annabeth frowned.
Nyssa frowned at her and looked back with a pout as the clones dispelled. "Aw..."
"Is this what I'm like?" Leo asked his friends.
"Yes." His friends said.
"Well…I'm not very sorry."
"We've got a job to do and you ogling my nephew is not part of it," Annabeth said.
"It's not a bad bonus though," Nyssa said, grinning slightly. Annabeth rolled her eyes as she turned back to the plans. Nyssa leaned over her shoulder. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
"May I have your blessing?" Aphrodite smirked.
Annabeth pursed her lips, Nyssa wasn't a bad girl.
"If it has anything to do with bringing more Naruto clones over here, I don't want to hear it."
"Amen," the blonde nodded to her other.
"Damn." Nyssa snapped her fingers. "I guess I'll have to go with my other question."
"And that would be?" Annabeth made a small adjustment on the plans for the fuel source.
"...How did you get Jackson to notice you?"
"…He is a lot like you," Annabeth frowned as Percy looked sheepish.
Annabeth paused mid pencil stroke, blinking in surprise. She turned to look at Nyssa. "You want to ask him out, don't you?"
Nyssa nodded.
Annabeth crossed her arms and leaned back against the desk. She looked Nyssa over, inwardly smirking at the ability to make her fidget uncomfortably.
"All Athena," Poseidon rolled his eyes.
She needed to be sure that the girl wasn't just interested in Naruto's body and was interested in him for who he was. Her nephew was more than just a pretty boy, he was smart when he needed to be.
"Very true," Piper nodded, she'd hate for her brother to be treated like that.
For a second her frown deepened. She missed Percy.
"At least I have someone to remind me of you," the Architect smirked to her boyfriend.
Percy rolled his eyes at that.
Annabeth pushed that line of thought aside for now and focused on the task at hand. "Are you sure?"
"Yes," Nyssa said. "Come on, don't tell me Jackson didn't make you feel funny. Like a piston going full-throttle in your gut?
"Maybe not that," Annabeth flushed at the analogy as Percy grinned at her.
And he's actually mature, unlike the little boys we have running around here most of the time."
"True," the girls nodded in agreement, getting the guys to pout a little.
"And the fact that he's very good looking?" Annabeth asked, not betraying anything.
"...Bonus?" Nyssa smiled nervously.
"A sexy one," Aphrodite nodded.
Annabeth's eyes narrowed slightly. Nyssa sighed and clasped her hands together. "Come on, Annabeth, you know me. I really, really like him. Please?"
Annabeth added a smidge more to her glare, making Nyssa fidget just a bit more.
Athena gave her daughter an approving look. Always make them sweat.
A few seconds ticked by, then Annabeth sighed and started to rub her head. "Fine."
"Yes!" Nyssa pumped her fist victoriously. "Thanks, Annabeth. So, um, any idea of how I get him to go out with me?"
"Not your strong suit, Heph." Apollo grinned as his brother glared at him.
Annabeth hummed in thought. "The Christmas Party is tomorrow, right?"
"Yeah."
"Be direct." Annabeth turned back to her schematics,
"Got through to this one," Annabeth smirked at Percy.
"I was slow, I'll admit it."
"Damn right," Thalia grunted. It was painful, that's how slow it was.
trying to get her mind off the party and what she just agreed to.
"Direct, huh?" Nyssa walked away while tapping her chin. She grinned. "I can do direct."
"Leo direct?" Piper asked.
"Hey," Leo frowned, she made it sound like a bad thing.
Naruto hammered a nail into the wall and took a streamer from a daughter of Apollo. She, along with two of her sisters and a few girls from Demeter's cabin, had asked him to join them with decoration for the party.
"Yes, asking," Artemis commented as Apollo frowned along with his aunt.
Not one to turn down the offer to help – unless it came to math
"Brother!"
"Percy, be quiet." Annabeth sighed.
– Naruto agreed. So here he was, standing on a ladder, hanging a golden shimmering streamer thing on the wall. "Is this good?"
"Just a bit higher, Naruto."
Naruto grunted and pushed it up a bit higher. "Here?"
"A smidge to the left!"
"Looking for his best side," Aphrodite smirked, making the parents of the girls grumble a little.
"How about now?" He asked.
"No, now it needs to go right."
"Um, can just one of you tell me where to put it?" Naruto turned to look at them, slightly disturbed by their intense stares.
"Wolves after meat," Reyna frowned.
"No." They all had dreamy smiles too, weird.
"He is dense," Jason said, even he understood those looks.
"I think it looks fine as it is."
Naruto looked past the girls, who had turned around, and beamed. "Hi, Nyssa!"
"Go bold or go home!" Hazel sniggered.
"Hey Naruto," Nyssa said, giving her own light smile as she walked in. "Can you come down here for a second? I need to tell you something."
"Sure!" Naruto jumped down, grateful he didn't have to deal with standing on a ladder any longer. He blinked in confusion at seeing the other girls glare at Nyssa, but shrugged it off.
"Taking their eye candy…"
"Mom." Piper warned, getting a pout from the love goddess.
He stopped a good arm's length away from her. "So what can I do for you?"
Nyssa closed the space between them with a small secretive smile on her face. "Are you going to the Christmas Party with anyone?"
Naruto frowned and blinked. "No...Why?"
The smith god was mumbling under his breath now as Leo groaned a little, just weird to see his sister flirting.
Nyssa's smile widened and she put her hands on either side of his face. Before he could ask what she was doing, Naruto found himself tasting cooked marshmallows. He heard the other girls gasp, and felt his body relax into the kiss.
"That's…bold alright," Annabeth blinked. Huh, guess Nyssa really did understand her other's words. It worked for Percy after all.
Nyssa broke away just as he started to reciprocate.
"Ooh, a tease~" Aphrodite beamed at her step-daughter while her husband glared at her commentary.
"Pick me up at my cabin at seven tomorrow. See you later, Naruto," she said, running a finger down the middle mark on his right cheek. Nyssa smirked and walked away, leaving him stunned and frozen in place.
"She's good…better then Leo anyway."
"Hey!" Leo glared at the amused love daughter.
His eyes dropped to her swaying hips and he licked his dampened lips.
"I don't want to hear this!" Leo wailed, covering his ears.
The other girls followed after her, each looking angry or annoyed.
Aphrodite flew into another burst of giggles.
Naruto ignored them, instead just put his hand on his cheek and let it slide over to his lips, trying to come to terms with what just happened.
"You got a date," Frank smiled, he thought Nyssa was a nice girl. Good for Naruto.
"Way to go, Naruto!" Kurama said with a laugh. "Guess you can answer Matatabi's question now."
"Yeah..." Naruto said, not looking away from the door or moving his hand from his lips. He didn't react when Leo walked in, covered in soot, grinning like a loon.
"He hasn't heard yet no doubt," Annabeth looked amused as Leo groaned.
"Naruto! Dude, ready to suit up tomorrow?" Leo asked.
"Hm?"
"Tomorrow? Party?" Leo said, looking at Naruto like he was crazy. "Dude, we're going to be the center of attention! Wingman, remember?"
"Oh gods no," Leo palmed his face, his other's brilliant plan! Ruined by his own blood!
"Wing-what?" Naruto asked.
"The chicas, dude!" Leo pulled Naruto into a one-armed hug and put his hand on Naruto's arm. "You." He put his hand on his own chest. "Me." He looked out at space and wiped his hand across their line of vision. "All the girls...I've been working on my lines for an hour now!"
"You work on those?!" Hazel blinked in bewilderment.
"Duh," Leo rolled his eyes. Most were natural, but he liked to practice as well.
"Oh..." Naruto said. He blinked. "Uh, sorry...I think...I think I have a date."
"What!?" Leo asked, pushing away from Naruto like he was diseased.
Leo glared at all the couples, "Damn you and your happiness!"
"Leo, calm down." Piper said soothingly.
"I am calm!"
"With who!?"
"Nyssa."
Leo's eye twitched for a second before he donned a thoughtful look. Leo hummed before giving Naruto a stern glare. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere."
"You're honestly going to get your sister to back down?" Thalia asked Leo.
"For the good of the plan."
"Your plan must suck."
Leo just glared at the hunter.
Naruto nodded slowly. He wasn't sure he remembered how to walk yet.
Leo nodded and stormed out of the room, grumbling under his breath about sisters ruining his plans for domination.
"What?" Zeus frowned, making Leo sweat.
Domination of the ladies, that is.
The goddesses and demigoddesses glared at Leo. Some the gods gave him secret thumbs up.
Naruto just took a seat at one of the already decorated tables, rubbing his lips while still thinking about the kiss. Ten minutes passed before Leo returned. Only now, he had two black eyes.
"Look! Panda Leo!"
"Shut it, Zhang!"
"I see negotiation have failed," Piper commented, getting a whine from Leo.
"Okay...That didn't work. Ow. Luckily, I have a new plan," Leo said. He winced when he blinked and then pointed at Naruto. "You...Be the worst date you can be.
"Leo!" the girls scolded the boy, who crossed his arms.
"I see no fault in my logic!"
"I concur." Aphrodite nodded.
"Mom, Naruto is not breaking hearts. He banned it and so did I no doubt."
"…Sweetie he does it just by standing there."
"And if he has a date too." Piper countered, getting a thoughtful look from her mother.
"Piper, dear, that is great thinking!" Aphrodite squealed, making Piper frown having to think that up.
Like, so bad it'll be legendary! That'll teach Nyssa to interfere in my plans."
"You are a terrible brother," Ares told his nephew, but grinned, "Nice!"
Leo blanched at the compliment from his least favorite uncle.
"What?" Naruto blinked and frowned. "Why would I do that?"
"Dude, I'm your wingman! Haven't you ever heard the phrase bros before...Uh, on second thought, don't want to call my own sister that," Leo said, wincing.
"Smart play," Apollo nodded as Artemis simmered. She hated that phrase.
Naruto just stared at him blankly. Leo shook his head. "Anyway, the fate of my life is at stake here!"
"How?"
"My single-life! If you have a date, how am I supposed to get a date?"
"Ask?" Percy said, getting Leo to roll his eyes. Naïve fool!
"...Ask someone to go with you?"
"...What are you smoking and where can I get some?" Leo shook his head
"Dating is far more difficult than that," Aphrodite shook her head, it was a science! One most difficult to master.
and sighed. "Look, this is pretty basic Animal Planet stuff, man.
Artemis' gaze turned to Leo, who squirmed under it.
Guys need to stick together like girls do. Here's how it works: Girls talk to you, and with me being your wingman, they consequently talk to me, and I show them awesome!"
Apollo rubbed his chin, "The kid's smart."
"Thank you."
Naruto furrowed his brows together. "Wait...That makes me sound like I'm bait..."
"What? No, dude, you're the wingman. You help me keep afloat in the never ending sea of chicas."
"That's bait," Thalia said plainly.
"...What do I get out of this?"
"My, uh..." Leo thought about it for a second. "My friendship?"
"I thought I already had that?"
"...I have many levels of friendship. You get bumped up one."
"How generous."
"I try," Leo smirked at Piper's dry look.
Naruto shook his head. "Why don't you go to Jason? Girls like him."
Piper frowned as Jason smiled weakly.
"He's going with Piper, the traitors..."
"Sorry Leo," the couple said, but the boy waved it off. No biggie.
"What?"
"...Oh so she didn't tell you?" Leo grinned, wincing as his bruises were stretched. "Yeah, she asked him."
Naruto pursed his lips in thought. He couldn't really do anything if Piper asked Jason out. There was no real malice about them dating, but still, Athena's words bothered him. Why would the goddess of strategy warn him about not trusting Jason? Was it because he was Roman or something?
"Yes." Athena said with no shame.
"We could team up and spy on them! Make sure nothing happens," Leo said.
"Leo," Jason looked hurt, but Leo was stern. His love life was at stake!
Naruto put his face in his hands and sighed. "No...I may not like it, but I trust Piper."
"Do you trust a hormonal boy who's the son of Zeus? Er, Jupiter?" Leo asked. "You know, the guy who's been married for how long and has had how many affairs?
Hera's face soured.
Come on...Who knows what's going on in the sex driven head of his?"
"I am not like that!" Jason exclaimed loudly.
"Thank the Fates," Hera said, looking at her husband. Who readily ignored her look.
Naruto blinked. "Like you?"
"Wha-a-at? Me? No way! I'm as pure as an angel," Leo said. He smiled and a fire halo appeared above his head. "See?"
"More like a Diablo." Reyna said dryly, getting Leo to pout.
Naruto smirked. "Nice try, but I was trained by a guy who called himself the Super-Pervert."
Athena frowned deeply at that while the boy's mother giggled fiercely.
Leo blinked and the halo extinguished. "Really?"
"He even wrote some books." Naruto pointedly decided to leave out his involvement in writing two of them.
"Wonderful!" the love goddess smiled.
"Aphrodite, that is not good at all," Athena frowned, her legacy shouldn't be writing smut of all things!
"...Do we have a Greek translation for it?"
"No." Naruto glared flatly at the boy.
"Come on!" Leo threw himself at Naruto's feet. "Look at my face, dude! I need this! Help a brother out!"
"He's begging." Percy shook his head.
Ares jeered at his smith brother, who gave a fiery glare back.
"Let go of my leg!"
"Give me a book! I'll do my own translation!"
"No!" Naruto got up and started to go back to his cabin, dragging Leo along the way.
"That's just embarrassing." Nico shook his head.
"Seriously, dude, let go!"
"I refuse to let it go!"
"My leg or the book?"
"Both!"
"Tenacious." Hermes laughed, liking his nephew's spunk.
Naruto groaned and pulled himself into the doorway of Aphrodite's cabin. He couldn't fully enter because of Leo's unwelcome presence on his leg, so he had to grab his staff and try to pry the son of Hephaestus off.
"Ah the lever," Athena looked on fondly, as did Hephaestus.
Seeing the sad puppy-like look on Leo's face, Naruto sighed. "Look, I'll...I'll get the first book translated for you, okay?"
"...Really?"
"I want a copy!" Apollo grinned, it was literature after all.
"Yes! If it'll shut you up...I got all the rights to them in Ero-sennin's will and it'll be good practice for me. Translating, I mean! Not that it would be practice for anything else." Naruto hung his head in defeat. He hated writing the books, they brought out the worst in him.
"The best, he means the best," Aphrodite insisted.
Athena begged to differ.
"Yes!" Leo hopped up and grinned. "Thanks dude, see you later!"
Naruto groaned again, rubbing his forehead. He hated reading Ero-sennin's work...It was a lot more than he was ever ready to read. Man, he thought he was done with perverts.
Apollo dropped out of his throne, rolling in laughter along with Hermes as the gods grumbled at them. But they didn't really disagree with their reaction either.
"Now, you need to keep looking at other girls, make sure they stay interested," Drew said.
Aphrodite nodded as Piper frowned. Her other better cut in.
She fixed the black jacket her brother was wearing with a click of her tongue. "Did you have to wear the orange shirt?"
"Don't diss my orange.
"He makes it work," the love goddess said with a begrudging sigh.
And besides, I hate dressing up," Naruto said. He scrunched his nose up at the thought and pulled at the collar of his shirt. Drew slapped his hand away. "Why did it have to be a tight shirt?"
"Because, my simple big brother, girls like seeing your chest. Even if it's hidden by this thin cloth," she said.
Annabeth hummed, looking at Percy up and down. The boy started to sweat a little.
She sighed and sat him on the bed, messing his hair up a bit. "You should be a model."
"An underwear model!" one of their sisters said, making the others snicker.
"Brilliant." Aphrodite beamed.
"No." Athena, Annabeth, and Piper said.
"Aww."
"That's-that's not funny," Piper said, trying to hide her own amusement.
"My dad has a few connections," Lacy said with a giggle. "We could use the money for camp!"
"As helpful as that would be, I'll pass," Naruto said dryly.
"But think of all those parties you could get us into!" one of the girls said, pouting at him. "Think of the possibilities for us!"
"Yes, think of your siblings!" the love goddess said.
Hermes nodded, "Connections are important." And he would know.
"Yeah, and then Piper's dad could help too!"
"Hey!" Piper's amusement had turned into embarrassment. "My dad is not a piece of meat!"
"I beg to differ," Drew said, smirking.
"So do I," Aphrodite's eyes glazed over. Piper turned green.
"Hey, still a couple of guys in here," Mitchel said, scowling. He turned to Liam, another young son of Aphrodite. "Seriously, as if there wasn't enough estrogen."
"Amen, dude."
"At least we have Naruto now," Cole, another of the few sons, said.
"Praise the testosterone." Ares whooped.
"And Naruto is going to be late," Piper said. She went over and pulled him away from Drew. "And despite whatever youbelieve, Drew, Naruto should never be late for a first date."
"I've only been on one date before and the girl cried." Naruto frowned slightly.
"That sucks bro," Leo said with sympathy.
"And I think she might have been using me."
"Why that little-!" the love goddess snarled. How dare some little wench use her child! It was the other way around!
His feelings toward Sakura were confusing; he didn't have them anymore, but it was still was weird thinking back on it.
"Just means you need practice using them," Drew said.
"Thanks for helping, Drew!" Piper rolled her eyes and pushed Naruto to the door. "Go. Be nice, be yourself and forget anything Drew told you."
"I've dated more than you, McLean! What's your score again? Zero?"
"She has a point," Aphrodite whispered to her daughter, getting a pout.
"One!" Piper said smirking as she followed Naruto out. "I have to go pick up my date!"
"I hope you trip in mud!"
"Love you, too, Drew!"
"I can just feel the bunnies and rainbows," Leo sighed out whimsically.
Naruto didn't have to walk as far as Piper did. He found himself in front of Cabin Nine's metal door within a few seconds and knocked on it.
"Relax. Unlike the first date, this girl likes you, obviously."
Naruto took a deep breath. "Yeah, I know."
The door opened and Leo stepped out. He looked good in Naruto's opinion. A nice suit, flashy suspenders and a bowtie worked for him.
"I rock those things like a boss," Leo smugly said.
The son of Hephaestus's eyes had returned to normal, seems he got some medical attention.
"Is that what you're wearing?" Leo asked, a brow arched.
"Why is everyone asking me that? I'm comfortable! ...More or less," Naruto said. He glanced down at his dark pants and glared at the tennis shoes Drew had shoved onto his feet. How the hell were they supposed to support him if he needed to land from a rooftop? His toes couldn't spread to take the kine-kisthe-...The force of the landing.
"Hope my other helps with that lesson," Annabeth sighed, Naruto had a lot of work to do.
He shook the thought off and crossed his arms, frowning. "Why, is that what you're wearing?"
"I make this look good," Leo said, holding his suspenders out in front of him before letting them snap back into place. He glared at Naruto and crossed his own arms. "And unlike you, I've got a real wingman this time."
"After you begged and pleaded with Jack."
Some of the guys snickered at that while Leo glared at them, "Hey, it isn't easy!" he complained.
"Shut up, Nyssa," Leo said, frowning. "Why are you meeting so early anyway? The party doesn't start for another hour."
"To make-out of course," Aphrodite smirked as her husband fumed.
"It's called a 'date' for a reason, Leo," Nyssa said. Their argument was drowned out as Naruto looked Nyssa over subtly. Her red bandana was still keeping her hair back, but rather than sweaty and matted, her hair was brushed and looked like liquid chocolate. She had a light red blouse on and tight pants that clung to her curves, keeping true to her tomboy personality.
"Hm, not bad," the love goddess commented with a rub of her chin.
Her eyes met his just as he snapped back up to look into them and she smirked. "See something you like?"
"Uh...Er, yes?"
"You're an idiot, Naruto," Kurama said. Naruto grit his teeth slightly in response to that, while Nyssa's smirk widened and Leo groaned.
"Great...Well as fun as it is hearing you two flirt, I'm going to go practice my lines again.
"Getting nervous?"
"Silence Jackson."
Don't stay out too late and Naruto?"
"Yeah, Leo?"
"I will fryyou if you hurt her."
"Aw," Piper pinched Leo's cheek, "That's adorable."
"I could take him!"
"Leo!" Nyssa glared at him while Naruto swallowed.
"Right." The son of Aphrodite nodded.
"And if you go further than first base."
"LEO!"
"Pot meet kettle," Hazel rolled her eyes.
Naruto felt his cheeks heat up at the prospect. "Yeah, okay..."
"Glad we understand each other," Leo said. He grinned and grabbed the door while Nyssa, her own face as red as her bandanna, grabbed Naruto's arm and led him away. "You two behave now, ya hear?"
"Shut up, Leo!"
Leo just cackled as he closed the door. "Consider us even, sis!"
"Yeah, that's what you get for ruining my other's plan!"
"So...is there anything specific you want to talk about?" Naruto asked as he and Nyssa walked through the camp. The party wasn't for another hour, and if that wasn't nerve wracking enough, he had no idea what to do.
"Like Percy," Annabeth giggled as her boyfriend pouted.
"I improvised."
"Very strategic." The blonde nodded with a grin.
"Well..." Nyssa hummed for a moment in thought. She shrugged. "All I know is that you're from this distant island."
"Get to know each other?" Naruto gained a small smile. They stopped walking and turned to face each other. "We could introduce ourselves properly..."
"He likes to introduce himself a lot," Demeter commented.
"I'm pretty sure we did that when you first got here," Nyssa said, smirking at him.
"It doesn't hurt to do it again." Naruto gave her a grin. "Naruto Uzumaki. I like ramen, training and my family, which is admittedly a lot bigger than I first thought it was.
"Big time." Everyone said together.
I don't like stuck up assholes, megalomaniacs or traitors. My dream for the future is to be the greatest Hokage that Konohagakure no Sato has ever seen."
"Hokage?" Nyssa asked.
"The leader of my village." Naruto beamed proudly.
"And he most certainly will," Athena nodded, knowing he could do it.
"I didn't see you as a political man," Nyssa said. She smiled. "Nyssa Glades. I like tinkering with things in the forge and other hot things."
"So Leo's sister," Piper shook her head in amusement.
Naruto rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "I'm not that-"
"Son of Aphrodite, your argument is invalid." Nyssa cut him off.
"Honestly it is," Aphrodite sighed, loving how modest her boy was. He was just so cute.
"I don't like when other girls at camp talk about me behind my back, but what girl does? I also don't like it when something I try to make falls short or doesn't work when it should.
"Amen sister." Leo nodded.
My dream for the future...hm, I don't know. Survive for that long, I guess."
"The dream of many," Hades said, getting uncomfortable looks from the demigods.
"So negative," Naruto said teasingly. She shoved him lightly and he laughed. They resumed walking together and wound up on the beach. Without much care for their clothes, both sat down in the sand. Naruto looked up at the stars and frowned slightly. "I miss Konoha."
"Boo, it's much better here." The love goddess huffed.
"It's rather beautiful there." Demeter said as Artemis nodded in agreement.
"What's it like? Your home?" Nyssa asked. She turned her head to look at him.
Naruto let a smile fall on his face as he leaned back on his palms. "It's awesome. Konoha is one of the strongest villages on the continent. And it's beautiful, surrounded by trees...nature's everywhere."
"The satyrs and naiads would probably love it," Nyssa said.
"Definitely." Percy nodded.
"Yeah..." Naruto sat quiet for a moment. "I don't think I'll be a year rounder...I can't bear to be away from home for that long."
Nyssa let a laugh escape her. "You and I couldn't disagree more on that. I wouldn't leave camp for anything in the world."
"Bad home life," Annabeth said with a knowing look.
"Not even for your mom?" Naruto asked.
Nyssa frowned. "My mom...She's more interested in her job than raising a kid.
Hephaestus frowned at that.
I knew after my fourteenth birthday that I would be better off on my own than bothering her."
Naruto frowned, empathizing with her. He moved a bit closer and rested his hands on his knees. "You don't really think that do you?"
"The last time I remember my mom taking any active interest in me was when she heard I got into a fight and nearly got someone killed in shop class," Nyssa said.
"That could happen to anyone," Leo argued. He would know, he almost cut off his shop teacher's finger once. The dude was such a no talent hack.
"It wasn't my fault. A stupid monster was in the school. A cyclops, of all things, disguised himself as a student and sniffed me out.
"Ouch," Percy frowned, remembering how he and Tyson met.
I was in shop when he couldn't control himself. I don't know what the others saw but he tossed a boy at a table and the engine that was dangling above it nearly fell on him. I pulled him out of the way, but I guess the others saw me push him and then try to save my own skin."
"Mortals are dumb like that," Percy nodded.
"What happened to the cyclops?" Naruto asked.
"I threw a wrench at him and nailed him in the eye. He stumbled back and fell under the engine. That's why I pulled the kid out of the way. The engine fell after that."
"Nice use of your surroundings," Hermes praised.
"That makes you a hero."
"Tell that to my mom." Nyssa scoffed. "I've heard stories about how parents drop their kids off in the summer and then pick them up at the end. Me? I'm fine here. I've got the forge and my cabin, that's all I need."
"Aww," Leo frowned, but he understood completely. He'd never go back to Foster Care or what was left of his family.
"That sounds lonely," Naruto said softly.
Nyssa swallowed. "It is."
Naruto scratched the back of his neck. "Look, Nyssa...if we...you know, don't go anywhere...I'll still be your friend. You don't have to be alone."
"Trying to cover his bases, smart." Apollo nodded as Hephaestus frowned.
"Still have to try to go somewhere before we get that far," Nyssa said with a soft smile.
"Yeah, I guess we should do that," Naruto said with a chuckle. He looked back up at the stars. "But still...I'll always be your friend."
"He's a sweet guy," Piper smiled at her brother.
Nyssa let her head rest on Naruto's shoulder. He didn't move her or move his arms, letting her get comfortable. "Thanks, Naruto."
"No problem." They sat in silence for a few minutes, enjoying each other's presence. After fifteen had gone passed, he looked down at her. "So...when does the party start?"
Nyssa looked up at him with a sly smile. "Who cares about a stupid party?"
"Ooh," Hazel giggled as Piper was smiling too.
"...Something tells me I don't."
"I retract my previous statement. You're not an idiot. But you are still stupid, Naruto."
"We like them like that," Annabeth kissed Percy on the cheek, the scene was very mood setting.
Percy smiled and gave her a peck back.
Naruto ignored Kurama as Nyssa leaned up and gently pressed her lips against his.
"Aww," some of the girls said. It was cute.
Hera pursed her lips, she was barely mentioned, let alone was not seen at all.
"I liked it, it was a nice funny chapter." Apollo grinned.
"Oh, I can't wait to see their relationship make it or break it," Aphrodite tittered.
Hephaestus just looked grumpy.