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When the hunters of Artemis showed up and asked for the children of Athena to fight on their side during Capture The Flag, Chiron didn’t say no, in fact he immediately said yes. So Malcolm Pace, the Athena cabin leader, was put in charge of coming up with the idea. Along with Thaila, the Artemis cabin leader and lieutenant.
When they saw each other they shook hands. They’ve met before, through Annabeth, Malcolm’s older sister, and one of Thaila’s best friends.
They had been brainstorming together with their cabins for the entire time they got, it was a guaranteed win. It was using the powers of everyone and exploiting their opponents weaknesses, using their surroundings and enhancing their abilities.
They were destined to win.
But they didn’t.
Just because of Malcolm’s smart headed boyfriend.
Malcolm was at his post. His sword in hand with all of his armor on. Most only wore their chest plate, and helmet or one or the other. Sometimes the arm guards, but never it all.
Malcolm almost always wore it all because he hated infirmary visits. He didn’t get hurt easily, he just didn’t want to get hurt.
He was fiddling with the string on his right arm guard. His post was more dead than he was expecting it to be, but he promised to not leave it.
As he was messing with the string the whole thing loosened and he heard leaf’s crunch nearby, so he rushed to tighten it back up.
Looking back on it, taking it off would’ve been wiser- I mean he’s the son of the goddess of wisdom. Doing something wise- wouldn't've made sense you know?
“Not paying attention, now Pace; are we?” A familiar voice teased Malcolm as he finished tightening up his arm guard.
Malcolm kicked his sword off his foot into the air and caught it before looking up and making eye contact with-, “Connor, “His boyfriend, “What do you want?”
Connor smiled, his blue eyes twinkling with delight, “Just wanted to see you, “He looked him up and down, “ Amor .”
Malcolm started to open his mouth but stopped and shut it again and just stared at Connor’s smiling mouth.
“Blushing, are we, cariño? ” Connor smiled, once again. Just then did Malcolm notice the sword behind his back. He was distracting him.
Malcolm then stood up straight and walked forward towards Connor ignoring all of the names that were being called towards him.
“ Bonito vida”
“Amor”
“Bombón”
“Gordito lindo”
“Cielo”
“Cariño”
Malcolm walked Connor into a tree without either of them realizing it.
Connor was flat backed to the tree and looking deathly terrified.
“Are you scared?” Malcolm whispered, inches from his lips. Instead of responding Connor nodded. Malcolm smiled and grabbed his hand that had his sword, “How about this? We can duel, if you win. I will tell you where the flag is. If I win, You tell me when the flag is. We both have permission to leave and tell our team. Deal?”
Connor stared at his boyfriend for a second wide eyed before smiling, “Deal.”
A couple of seconds later Malcolm and Connor were both a couple of feet away from each other in a fighting stance.
“You’re going down Blondie!” Connor laughed, as he spun his sword in a small circle.
“You have blue eyes, “Malcolm laughed back in response, lowering himself to the ground.
Instead of responding to Malcolm’s comment Connor jumped left swinging his sword at Malcolm’s. Malcolm had been fast enough to deflect it and knock Connor’s sword out of his hand out of his hand in just one move.
He decided not to try to get back his own sword, Connor grabbed the handle of Malcolm’s sword and tried to knock it out of his hand. He had been unsuccessful as Malcolm flipped him with a quick ‘Sorry’ and turned back to face him.
Connor grabbed his own sword and turned to face Malcolm again but once he did he was forced into a tree, his sword being thrown out of his hand from the pressure.
Connor tried to fight Malcolm back to his sword a couple of times but failed each time then finally- he quit.
“You win, “He sighed, throwing his head onto the tree., “I surrender. For real. I’m telling the truth and all.” He didn’t bother to open his eyes to see the smug look his boyfriend was giving him.
“Open your eyes.” Malcolm whispered. It had been in his ear which sent a shiver down his spine. Reluctantly he opened them and saw the shorter boy looking in his eyes, something behind them.
“Can I kiss you?” Malcolm whispered, desperation seeping into his voice as he threw his sword away and wrapped his arms around Connor’s neck.
“Yes, “Connor nodded instantly, wrapping his arms around Malcolm’s waist.
Malcolm pressed his lips to Connor’s and smiled pushing him closer into the tree.
A couple of minutes later Malcolm pulled away and whispered in Connor’s ear, “You’ve been played, babe.”
“What, “Connor asked, almost immediately snapping out of his daze.
Instead of responding Malcolm grabbed his sword and Connor’s before running away.
Connor was left confused until one of his teammates, Yan, a child of the Apollo cabin, ran up next to him and yelled at him.
“What’s wrong with you? Why are you just standing here? And where is your sword?!” They stuttered on their steps before pulling a dagger out of their waistband and handing it to him., “Take this and let’s go!” As they said, ‘let's’ odd but Connor brushed it off remembering they were raised in Hong Kong.
He followed Yan blindly through the forest confusion filling his brain.
‘You’ve been played, babe.’
Was that alliteration?
Then-
“ And the blue team wins!!! ” Chiron’s voice rings out through the forest. And just them does it register in Connor’s thick skull what his boyfriend meant.
It was all a distraction.
He didn’t have time after Capture The Flag to talk with Malcolm about what he’d done so he tried for after dinner. Then, after dinner he still wasn’t able to. The Hunters were talking about how they planned on joining in on the joined companionship that the Greek and Roman camps had. And that author Goddess was currently in Olympus talking with Zeus about it. So when he tried to talk with him afterwards, the other cabins were so intrigued on how the Athena and Artemis and cabins worked together so quickly. No one was giving a straight answer so they thinned out- thankfully.
Finally Malcolm was alone. Connor saw him by the campfire, it was lit, just not big. Not many were around but he saw two that stuck out, two that he was talking to, Will Solace, and Nico DiAngelo. He smiled.
He skipped over to them and suprisingling, none of them noticed., “Whatcha doin’?”
All three of the boys jumped at the sudden presence.
“Gods, Connor, “Malcolm groaned while throwing his head back slightly to look at him., “I’d expect that from Nico, not you.”
“Yeah well I’m mad at you, so I don’t really care right now, I’ve got like like 2 fucks to give you for the rest of our relationship, “Connor smiled, sitting down with him and kissing his forehead, “Though, like I just said, I am very fucking pissed at you for that stunt you pulled during capture the flag. Pull that shit again and I’ll be meeting you in Elysium or the Fields of Asphodel. Your choice.”
“Probably The Fields of Asphodel, if you don’t go on your own quest at some point, “Nico shrugged before taking a sip of Gatorade. Connor assumed he had shadow traveled during Capture The Flag.
“Well if I was in Asphodel wouldn’t I forget him?” Malcolm asked, intertwining their fingers and leaning on Connor.
“Probably, but some people actually remember from when they were alive. Like Hazel did, “Nico shrugged, before taking another swift sip of his Gatorade., “She remembered her mom, her ex-boyfriend, our dad, and a lot of other small stuff the dead usually forget. I’d tell you to go ask Jason or Leo or my sister- Bianca- not Hazel. But I know all of them were Elysium.”
“Hm”
Around midnight Connor rolled over in bed, he couldn’t sleep. Nothing unusual for him- or any demigod for that matter. He sat up and looked around his cabin.
Once the minor gods children started to get cabins the Hermes cabin thinned, it wasn’t enough, but it was still noticeable. I mean you could go to the bathroom at night without tripping over someone now.
He sighed lightly sitting up and pulling on his vans, he always slept with socks on which his own brother- same mother same father- said was repulsive. He ignored his comments knowing he was really just a jerk. And plus whenever he needed to get out quickly at night he didn’t need to worry about getting socks for shoes, he could just put them on. (His brother who would just throw crocs on in the middle of the night made him repulsed)
As he walked his foot steps could be heard, the barrier was working nicely since it was supposed to rain, but it wasn’t. He smiled to himself slightly being grateful for the dry nights. He didn’t even know where he was walking, his legs just went on autopilot as his brain wandered. But once he found was back in focus he found himself with the blonde boy who kept him together. He looked to his left just to make sure he was where he was, and sure enough the rock wall was there.
He knelled down next to Malcolm who seemed to be focused on something, his eyes fixated on the distance. At first Connor tried to find it with his eyes too but he quickly gave up with a huffed laugh. Malcolm didn’t react to the sound so he slowly raised his hand to Malcolm’s face and grabbed his glasses.
Almost instantly the side of Malcolm’s left hand his Connor’s, which was holding his glasses, while his other hand pushed his chest back.
Connor looked up at Malcolm with widened eyes, he knew the reflex was bound to happen but he never got shoved before. So he was laying flat on his back, just barely looking over his chest and sprawled out knees when he laughed.
“Jeez Malcolm, “He smiled, straining himself to sit up, accepting the hand Malcolm offered to make it easier, “Mind giving me a warning the next time you almost knock the wind out of me?”
“Sorry i didn’t mean to hit your chest that hard, “Malcolm muttered out while holding his knees to his chest.
“We’ll actually it was going to be a pickup line about how pretty you look in the moonlight, but thank you. That did kinda hurt too., “Connor smiled as he rested his chin of Malcolm shoulder, his lips just barely touching the skin of his neck.
Malcolm smiled slightly while pulling his head away from Connor’s staying lips, “I’d love to hear the pick up line.”
“Mind giving me a warning the next time you almost knock the wind out of me?” Connor asked again, “Because I think I might die if I have to see you so pretty.”
Malcolm stared at Connor unamused for a second before blinking, “Uh, it was awesome. I love it Con, “He leaned in and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek.
“You don’t have to lie, it’s written all over your face., “Connor frowned, avoiding Malcolm’s eyes.
“Oh babe! I’m sorry, it just really fucking sucked. It made no sense, “Connor looked even more hurt of that was even possible, “But- I- Uh- What if I told you a secret to make it up to you?”
Connor instantly perked up, “Im intrigued?”
Malcolm sighed, “I lied. I didn’t plan what I did during capture the flag. It was completely random.”
“ I knew it .”
“No you did not.”
“Uh- yes I did.”
“No.”
“Yes!”
“No!”
“Yes!”
Malcolm frowned before getting an idea, “Connor here, please.”
“Why?”
“Just come here”
Connor reluctantly leaned forward towards Malcolm, thankfully he didn’t regret it. Malcolm kissed him and wrapped his arms around Connor neck.
Connor relaxed into the kiss before stopping quickly to pull away, “Uhm you uh, “He blinked, “This isn’t a ruse right?”
Malcolm smiled, “No Connor it’s not a ruse.”
“Oh ok, just wanted to make sure I wasn’t being faked out again, “He laughed lightly before pressing another kiss onto Malcolm’s lips, his pressing back.
“Wait, “Malcolm laughed, as Connor kissed his neck, “Who do you think is out here that I’d be faking you out for?”
“I don’t know, “Connor shrugged before a hint of amusement raised in his voice, “Your mom.”
Malcolm smiled before grabbing Connor’s face and kissing him again, “Remember the word is that I’m single, only a couple people know. So”
“No marks, “Connor laughed as he kissed his neck again, “I know. And don’t worry I wasn’t planning on doing anything that could leave a mark.”
“Good”