You just… don’t want to think.

After returning to your camp and the thoughts of your mother and house refusing to settle in the back of your mind, you throw yourself back into camp activities as much as you can. It helps a bit that most of the time you are too tired to think and by the end of the day you pass out in your bed almost immediately. You wish you were more subtle as the worried looks Percy, Melanie, Annabeth, Stephanie, and Flumen give you when they think you aren’t paying attention. You want it to stop because last thing you need to feel like is a burden to them as well. That said, you were still so angry and sad that your mom was gone to the point you were just falling apart; you let lava from the wall sear your skin to distract you from the future, you let campers land blows on you to focus on that pain than your loss, and you pushed yourself hard without any of the finesse so you couldn’t let yourself think.

It comes to a head when Stephanie grabs you and drags you to the river where Flumen usually resides after you let a blow dislocate your elbow and you couldn’t stop the pained cry from escaping your mouth. She had been patient enough, but someone had to talk to you.

She roughly tosses you into the river and you grunt as the water’s strength set your elbow back in place and soothes away the pain of the setting.

“I’m fine now.” You mumble without looking at her, “Thanks.”

“Shut up.” She growls, “You are anything but fine right now Langnan. You are going to sit here and talk to me even if I have to wait all night.”

“And if the harpies come?” You fire back.

“Flumen will be more than happy to help.” She replied icily.

Ah… did Flumen talk about your… interactions?

Well Stephanie isn’t looking at you like an incurable pervert so you won’t bring it up if she doesn’t.

You sigh and just let the energy of the creek fill you, and that proves to be your undoing as your emotions and sadness hit you the moment you stop trying to hold everything back.

You cry miserably and Stephanie takes a step back in shock.

And it is too much for you to stop.

You want to stop, to try to stem the tears, but the valve as opened and you can’t stop the sheer output of grief.

You stiffen when arms encircle you and you realize Stephanie is holding you. You can’t fathom why she would or what it means, but you cling to her desperately. She whispering comforting words and sweet nothings and you drink in as much consoling as you can from her. You can’t bring yourself to let go as any comfort is a blessing and you sobs subside into panting as you finally just can’t cry anymore.

You lean against her and she supports your weight without complaint.

“You want to talk?” She offers at last.