Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Here I am. In snowy and grass on a stupid Alaskan island dying. Left to die, even if that wasn't the intention he was still left behind. They couldn't care if I died here and now. Leaking blood and whatever else. I can feel the air on my open chest, and my fucked up arm. Air thats getting colder as the sun sets over the water horizon, the tides move the reflections of colors from the setting sky. I gag on my blood and spit in my dry mouth. Coughing makes it worse, way worse. My chest stings and tenses, pain I wish I avoided. Imma dumbass thinking I could kill a bear. I wish I didn't go throw circle justice. This island is just another prison. Another way to get rid of me. As Lonely and cold as one. It's just a grosser cell. At least a cell has blankets and no wild animals. At least a cell isn't so far from my mom and dad.

But somewhere in my brain, I think this is the right choice. That my fate is to die where no one cares about. Fate to realize that I'm weak. Fate to realize that I can't always be right. Why did I even think of killing the spirit bear? What was my plan there? Why think of killing that nest of sparrows? What did they do?

I look at the sparrow nest again. The grey, small fluff balls whine out chirps. Hungry and desperate chirps. My eyebrows lower. They're so goddamn annoying. Shut up for once. She's coming I'm sure, no need to be up her ass. Imagine if I yelled for my mom over and over, she'd have a headache I'm sure... Stop it. Shut up.

I breathe too deeply and my chest stings. I swear I felt my organs and bones for a second. My eyes water as I whine at the feeling.

"...mom.." my dry throat feels awful in the cold. I can't call for her, she's too far away. She's not here for me. Not anymore.

I see the sparrow mama laid on the nest, her beak full with a worm. The baby sparrows chirp and fight for the worm. I can't feel my arm no more, if I did I'd throw a rock at the tree. Lucky them to have their mom. If mom was here she'd help me, I'd hope... I wish she was here. I wish someone was here besides so stupid birds and hungry bugs. The chirps are killing my ears, but the memory of the seagulls' laughs are killing me. I want to hear a human voice. I want to hear a familiar voice. Like Mom's voice... I mean, or Garvey's, hell, even dad's or Peter's.

I want my mom. Tears fall down my cheek. I want to see her. I want see her pretty smile. I want her comfort and warmth. I want her love and attention. I'm sorry, Mom. It hurts. I love you, Mom. More tears make my cheeks cold. I didn't mean it when I said you all that shit to you. I'm sorry. My fuzzy and limb arm starts to have a burning pain. I try to move. Please help me. Mom. Help me away from pain for once. I shut my eyes and imagine her face. Her smile she's given me no matter what happens to her. My hips ache. Mama, I need you. For once please-...

...

"Unbelievable!" Aphrodite yells to herself, although she isn't by herself watching the scene.

"What's wrong now, gorgeous?" Hermes floats above her, mocking slightly.

"My own son loves Cindy more than me!" Aphrodite glares at Cole down below. "Like she's his- his real mom. She's not! All she did is raise him! That's no big deal compared for what I've done for him as his real Mom!"

"He's never met you, doesn't know you're real. What have you ever done for that boy?" Hermes sings his words. His hand gently touches her cheek, her face led by his hand. "Honestly. If you want that son's love, then claim your son. Do something about it then, rather then mope."

"...make a letter to Zeus. Now." Aphrodite fixes her hair, straightening her posture.

Hermes smile is now showing his teeth."What shall it say?"

"Tell him I need a storm at this island. Lightning included."

Aphrodite lets her perfect, wavy hair fall over her bare shoulders neatly. Hermes kisses her a soft goodbye on the cheek.

Chapter Text

...Dying is quieter than I thought.

I open my eyes to see the land around me. I listen to the land I'm on. It's pretty. The animals sing, the land hums, the colors are like a painting. Funny how I can only see now, as I'm laying on death's door. I think I'm fine dying like this. It's a lot more pretty and calm than my life has been.

I guess that's it then...

...

Fog hovers over the island, quiet and cold. Calm after the storm. Rain drops slid off leaf onto the grass below. Patches of snow and ice are slushy. The hum of bugs and song of birds are the only sound heard from the island. The smell of burnt wood mix with the smell of wet grass. But rotting is more strong of a smell. Cole lays mangled and motionless, besides from his stomach rising and falling. He looks lifeless. On the edge of death if not already.

A sparrow climbs onto the broken tree next to him, baby feathers in her mouth. The sparrow sets the feathers down as more sparrows join her. The chirp like they're chatting. They peak at the swarm of bugs around the boy. The sparrows all stop when a swan.

The swan is neat. Her feathers slightly pink in color. Her eyes look done up. Not that black color that birds or most animals have. Blue eyes, or maybe purple. The swan avoids the openings on the given up husk. No longer what he was, nor what he'll ever be again.

The swan perches on Cole, it looks at her knot of sparrows.

"I'm sorry about your chicks, I had no intention of that happening. I can sense you're heart break..."

The mother sparrow chirps. Her chirps loud, loud and pained. Her chirps start a riot of chirps from the rest of the knot. The swan seems to dismiss them, perched confidently on Cole's chest.

"I'm sorry. The storm wasn't meant for any of you. I'll make it up to you"

A sparrow chirps softly.

"Promise."

The swan presses her head against Cole's nose, listening for breathing. Her feathers sway and part as Cole's slow breath hits her head.

"Go, this doesn't involve you all."

The sparrows flap their wings and flying off. None staying for a second more.

The swan gets off Cole with a flap and a hop onto the grass next to his head. She steps around in the shush in the grass till she's above his head. More blood leaks from Cole's mouth, down his cheek and neck. One bug lands on his cheek, wanting a taste of the warm, fresh blood, leaking from Cole. The swan loses the form, not much she can do in that form other than be discreet.

Off white feathers transform into a pearly dress. Wings to soft, full arms. Long hair growing with the now tall body, long enough to cover her chest automatically. The woman's body has preferred spots of chub and curves. No flaws, straight beauty. Beauty unmatched, chosen, like she could be anyone's type on command.

It's like it's Aphrodite herself! Oh wait-

She runs her hand along Cole's cheek down to his neck. Her two fingers pressed against his neck, her mouth whispering numbers. Numbers counted  the rhythm of a heart beat, a slow one.

"...good enough"

She leans over Cole, pulling back his hair and kissing his forehead. A pink drop of water drips onto his face. Slowly, Cole seems to come more lively. Cheeks flush, breath more noticeably after a gasp, speed of blood flow seems to decrease.

The lady wipes the blood with a wet cloth she got from somewhere. Cole whines and pulls away from the cloth touching his lip. She grabs his face and holds him still.

"Shhh... I'm not hurting you"

Cole didn't get a chance to relax, he coughs up blood. Between the gags are cries, mixed with him trying to stop himself from the action. The open wound on his chest leans more blood, showing a glimpse of his broken ribs under the scratched up meat of Cole's chest. She's probably seen worse. The lady holds his face to the side so all that he coughs up lands on the grass instead of his face, along with puked fish. The lady smacks at the bugs, keeping them from bothering him in the moment.

Cole sighs when he's down coughing, tears leaving his shut eyes. He relaxes the best he can as the Lady gets back to cleaning him. The wet and bloody cloth gets thrown to the side once done being used. She now has a new fabric and sticks it to his wounds with water. She's careful not to hurt him too bad, but once in awhile Cole will reject the help. But the lady gets him to calm down again and again.

"Better?"

Cole tries to open his eyes, but little strength to do so he just sees the light of the sky through his lashes.

"You can rest, it's better if you do"

"No..."

Cole's voice is quiet and horsed. The Lady picks him up, she holds him against her body. He limply rest on her. She holds his neck and bottom to avoid him ragdolling all the way as she carries him away from here. She listens to his rambling with a smile.

The lady arrive to the desired location. The field is luscious and has a single tree on the hill she climbed. Her eyes meet with a man familiar to her, she gets her wine from him all the time. She gets to him and smirks.

A:"Is there room for him?"

D:"The hell happened to this one? Harpy? Cyclops?"

The man opens his soda can. As he leads the lady into a cabin with medical supplies.

A:"A white bear"

The man raises an eyebrow, taking a sip before speaking.

D:"That's a first. And he's your kid I assume? I don't think you'd help anyone else's kid."

The Lady nods, setting Cole down in a bed. His body gets comfy unconsciously. The soft consumes his body.

D:"Not a lot of them get claimed this quick into the camp."

A:"We're busy. Bye bye"

D:"Bye"

The lady waits for the man to correct himself.

D:"Goodbye, beautiful"

A:"There you go"

The lady's outfit turns into something more normal, a more human outfit choice, as she walks back down the hill. The man sighs and looks at Cole.

Chapter Text

Cindy hums as she makes dinner, some song that she hummed a million times by now. She's just cooking some simple Mac and cheese and hotdogs, well the hotdogs are made simply. She made the Mac and cheese with multiple cheeses and fancy noodles that William likes. The curly ones. But Cole's not a picky eater, so Cindy goes ahead and puts broccoli in it. Willaim needs his veggies too.

Cole swings his stubby legs, head resting on his arms as he waits. His face squishes against the knitted wool on his arms.

"Mom...Moooomm- are you almost done?"

"Yep, no need to pout"

Cindy takes the Mac and cheese out of the oven and plates Cole's food not too long later. The kid's plate is in the shape of a frog, Mac and cheese on one eye of the frog plate, ketchup on the other eye, and cut up hotdogs on the smile. Cole smiles. His mom smiles back, Cole responds to that with playful sticking out his tongue, she does the same.

"Love you"

"Mhm-" Cole stuffs his mouth with Mac and cheese. "you too"

It seems to get darker.

"Mom?"

Cole's eyes fluttered, sensitive to the light. Light isn't that bright in there but eyes can be sensitive when closed for a week or 3 straight. Cole's hands grip the at.oow blanket over his body.

Slowly his ears tone into his surroundings. He hears lots of talking and walking outside, just a lot of noise of activities, but a lot more of talking right in front of him.

?:"so an albino bear?"

?:"no, a spirit bear is a white version of a black bear. Not albino because it's skin and eyes are still black"

?:"well how would you know? Huh?"

?:"that's what the definition says"

?:"whatever, a bear attack is a bear attack. Now back up you two, gotta give him the drink"

Cole feels liquid go into his mouth after a straw is put to his lips. He was about to spit it out, until he tasted it. He kept drinking. He would question it if he wasn't already questioning why he's alive still. Also why and where he is.

Cole's hand goes up to grabs the cup. He takes a peak, seeing blurry silhouettes around the bed he's laying in.

?:"is he wake?"

?:"Good morning"

?:"its 11:30"

?:"that's still morning"

Cole pushes the cup away, as he tries to open his eyes. The first face he's met with is a smiling girl. Tan skin, brown hair, pretty girl his age maybe. She's obviously Native American by her features and looks, took Cole minute to realize that since the main race he sees where he lives is 99.9% white. Only reason he could tell is because he actually listened to somethings Garvey yapped about.

All Cole could think about is wondering if he's high, because next to bed is a teen with horns and furry legs. Definitely drugs, has to be. But the other two seem normal, they're just a native girl and a guy with goggles. What kid his age wears goggles?

?:"hi! Now don't panic-"

Cole looks around as his eyes adjusted. He sits up, he doesn't feel nearly as bad as he last remembered.

C:"yeah no. don't panic my ass. Where am I?"

?:"Camp half-blood"

Cole looks at horned teen.

C:"I'm in a camp? What type of camp name is that?"

Cole looks at the cup the pretty girl holds, it's half empty.

C:"so like, a camp where? It's a lot warmer here than in Alaska"

?:"New York"

C:"..."

Cole is trying to stay calm in this situation, but he's scared. He glared at all of them, daring them to try anything.

C:"one of you better explain what the hell is happening before I-"

"I see Colt is awake"

Said a man with the attitude of an uncle that's babysitting. The man wears a button up with shorts, his hair brown and wavy, his eyes purple.

?:"his name is Cole"

Man:"I don't care. Just keep him calm, he's a grumpy shit"

Cole looks at his arm, it's wrapped but useable. He's wearing a hospital gown with the letters 'CHB' in Greek font. He pulls the blanket back over himself.

?:"let's start over."

The girl goes to Cole's bed side and pulls a hand on his shoulder. Her hand was brushed off.

?:"this is camp half-blood, a camp for demigod child to be safe. Greek Gods are real, you can process that later, and they're our parents so we have to be here."

C:"...so I was kidnapped and brought to a loco camp?"

?:"I know it's strange at first, but you'll get used to it"

C:"I don't think I will get to it, since I'll be going home-"

Man:"you can't go home"

C:"what do you mean I can't go home?"

Man:"it's not safe and you can't unless you go on a quest. Blah blah- other rules as to why"

The man opens a pop can and drinks in. The horned guy walked out, like he was just stopping by to see him.

C:"that's bullshit"

?:"I know it seems like that at first, but you're safer here"

C:"you all are crazy-"

Cole gets out of the bed and starts for the door. His hips ache and his legs feel weak, but it's a lot better condition than he was when he last closed his eyes.

?:"Cole wai-"

Man:"he's not going anywhere, don't worry"

Cole opens the door and walks onto the porch. He looks at his surroundings. A hill with a single tree, lots of open space around them. Cole pauses for a second before walking to the other side of the porch and looks behind the building. His eyes widen to what he sees. Lots of kids, some in armor he'd seen in history class, some had weapons, they all had orange shirt with the same logo. But there's more then just kids here, there's things that seem unreal and only in stories. Either that horse is too far to see right or that horse is half man. but there's also people with goat legs?

Cole looks at the man and native girl watching him from the door.

C:"can you explain better?"

Chapter Text

The sun is setting, making the sky colorful. Kids pile into their cabins, chatting about the day. Pushing and teasing each other on their way to bed. Almost everyone goes into their cabins for the night.

Cole peaks out at the others from the medical cabin he’s trapped in.

Since he woke up he’s been there for four days. Piper, one of the first people he met there, has been answering his questions. Other than that he refuses to talk to anyone else. Those girls with good fashion he saw the first day he woke keep trying to ask him questions. If he wasn’t so freaked out by the situation, he’d be barking back some rude things. Instead he’s using all his energy to look calm, mostly tough.

This Piper kid keeps getting comments like “you’re like Garvey” or close to that from Cole. Yet hasn’t gotten who that is. She doesn’t seem offended by it though, more curious reactions than anything else.

Cole has spent those days piecing the information together, rethinking what he thought the structure of the world was, thinking back to times where he’s seen odd things, mapping, but mostly planning. That’s all he did with his time is think. He couldn’t stop thinking, never could.

He is allowed to stand and walk around of course, but didn’t go far from the bed and seats he had within reach. So leaving the porch didn’t happen.

Dionysus, that man Cole met, you guessed it, the first day, well was a god apparently. Just another problem to this situation for Cole. A problem as in annoying, Cole couldn’t give two shits if it was a god, he told him to do something better than bother him. Not that he fully believes he’s a god yet. He looked like just another guy on Earth. Dionysus was one of the camp counselors, the other guy was named Ciron.

Cole wobbles out the door onto the porch. Fuzzy static mixed with pains prick at his hip. He avoids the left leg as he walks. He licks his lips, dry but leftover taste of that drink. That drink really works, without it Cole would not be standing on his own. Other than that pain, he still can’t breathe deeply just yet, his dominant hand is left for now, he still has deep and gross scarring, and there’s a new pain at his shoulder blades.

His shoulder blades feel numb at best and a million knots at worse. On and off, nothing consistent.

The porch is cold wood under his bare feet. The orange shirt and basketball shorts do nothing against the night wind.

As the last cabin’s door shut, the kids’ voices disappear, leaving Cole with nothing to watch. Cole’s eyes soften as the quiet sinks in. His face relaxes, eyes adjusting with the fading light.

“…it’s just as l.. quiet as the island,” Cole says to himself, his voice full of resentment.

“I never got to ask about the island yet, was it as pretty as they say?”

Cole’s neck twist towards sound to his side. His hands clenching into fist before even looking. Next to him, where the circle table sits on the porch, is a middle aged man in a wheelchair, in his lap a blanket and a book on the table.

“What the hell, Chiron,” Cole unclenches his hands and rubs his palms down his shirt.

“Scare ya?” Chiron said, tilting his head against a head rest.

“No! I said I didn’t want people around,” Cole reminds him.

Chiron pats another seat at the table, “Why are you out here?”

Cole looks at the chair, rolls his eyes, then back at Chiron, “I’m leaving.”

Chiron smiles, like Cole wasn’t serious, “cool cool. Well before you go back in for bed I got that blanket cleaned for you, couldn’t get the scent out though.”

Cole looks down at the blanket in Chiron’s lap, now aware of the familiar pattern and bright colors of the at.oow that are hard to see in the dark. His pale hands yanked off the man’s lap. He brings it to his nose, and yep that wood smell that Garvey had glued to him is still there. He wraps it around himself soon after.

“Ok, now I’m going,” Cole announces.

“To bed?” Chiron’s thumb suggests the door to Cole, “no where else you can go really.”

Cole rolls his eyes, his feet stomp to the porch stairs. Chiron gets firmer with his words, “what makes you think you’ll leave that easy?”

Cole gives him a look that would make his father snap, “you’re in a wheelchair. I’d love to see you roll after me.”

“I’m in a wheelchair still for your comfort and if you can’t seem to realize, you’re not somewhere you’d survive on your own,” Chiron clarifies, “don’t make me chase you.”

Cole smiles, ready to laugh. Then his smile falls into a frown with slightly parted lips. His eyes looking down at himself than out to the field. He can’t even see any roads, just trees and grasses looking dark and unsafe, especially past that one tree on the hill.

“No yeah, you’re right…” Cole pulls the at.oow back around and holds against his chest. His takes a step away from the steps down to the grass, his face towards the ground with suddenly big, puppy eyes, “I have no shoes on, let alone in a state days away from home…”

Chiron rolls the wheels to Cole, so here’s close enough to pat his shoulder. His voice softens up again, “I get it, you weren’t thinking. Let’s get you to bed and we can talk about this more, yeah?”

“Yeah…” Cole bites his own lip till his mouth stays that guilt bringing frown, doing everything in his power to smack his hand off. Cole let’s his feet follow Chiron back to the door.

Chiron grabs the door handle as Cole stands next to him. But with Chiron’s back to him, Cole drops the act and runs out into the grass.

Cole runs through the grass already to the tree, thanking track and field for once in his life. He clutches the at.oow to his chest, his grip tighting the more pain that strings down his leg from his hip. Cole pants, his breath coming out as clouds in the night air. Cole almost forgot to not breath too deeply. Dispite the pain, and regret, he smiles. Smiles at being free.

Cole yells out his words for the woods to hear, “See you later loonies!!” Cole throws his left arm into the arm along with “WOOO!” That got the attention on some animal in the brushes.

Cole is right at the tree, almost past it. But than he here’s it, fast thumps against the grass. Thumbs getting closer and in the rhythm of galloping.

Galloping. It was galloping.

A sharp pain hits his hip as he makes a miss step on the run down that hill and past the tree. He slows down, hand going to his side. Hands come from up behind and grab Cole under his arms, and lift him into the air like nothing. He didn’t have time to realize what happened before who ever grabbed him and himself go tumbling down the hill due to going down a hill too fast.