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[sub][sub][color=black] Collab Between [@Rodiak] & [@Pyxis][/color][/sub][/sub]

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The day had started slow for Anzu. She had spent the night out in the cabin's roof, an occurrence that she had developed in the past few years. The night sky, the cool air on her cheeks, and the sound of the trees dancing around her lulled her into a better sleep than her brother's snores. Falling asleep under the same night sky - the same one as the one back home - made her feel like Anzu was back there. Just for a few minutes before sleep took over.

That morning she had woken up to the sun shining down on her face and Ume's tiny teeth nibbling her fingers. After finally managing to shake off the sleep with the help of the sun, Anzu picked up Ume and placed the rat on her shoulder before climbing down the side of the cabin. It was one of those days for her. She had promised Imani and Carlos she'd see them in the arena today and watch Carlos get his ass kicked, but the hole in her chest was too much. 

Anzu missed her home. She had been for years now. She had thought that living with so many people would keep her mind busy and preoccupied, but that hadn't been the case. She missed her [i]O bāchan[/i]'s miso in the mornings, her aunts gossiping by the gardens and her father's [i]oden[/i]. Anzu had been planning to visit this summer, but her grandmother had denied her request to visit. She still had much to learn.

After breakfast, Anzu picked up one of the books she had borrowed from Erin a few weeks ago, her swords, and made her way to her spot on the beach. There was a little nook by the side of the cliff, just big enough for two people to sit in. She let Ume sit on her lap as she began to read. The words and taken over her, painting the majestic landscapes and colorful characters into her mind that she had forgotten about everything else. It wasn't until Ume began to get fidgety that she placed her bookmark in the book and decided to make her way back to camp.

Instead of heading to her cabin, she decided to pay someone a little visit. Carlos was probably still in the arena trying to compete for that stupid ring. Anzu took the opportunity to climb in through the window. Her eyes looked over that familiar interior, a place she had spent so much time in that it had become more of her cabin than the one she shared with Tyler. There were little remnants of her all around. One of her hair brushes by the nightstand, a pair of sandals by the door, some of her mugs on the counter, and her second favorite sweater thrown over the couch. 

Anzu removed her boots and placed them neatly by the door before walking over to the bed. Immediately Ume jumped off her shoulder and down to it. Anzu did the same, making sure Ume was out of the way as she laid there and stared up at the ceiling. Her mind trying to make sense of the wood patterns on the beams over her until her head began to ache. Still, she continued to stare until she heard the door open. 

Carlos took a deep breath before he rolled his eyes one last time at Elias's direction and began to make his way to his own cabin. He wanted to relax for the rest of the day and forget about losing the ring to Pierre. He really had to work on concentrating on one thing at a time. If only he had paid more attention and not messed around like the rest of the campers, he could have won. Too bad his luck didn't make him smarter or sharper. Elias was right, he needed to pay more attention during training.

When Carlos finally arrived at his cabin, he pushed the door open and immediately kicked off his shoes, throwing them against the wall where he didn't see the pair of black boots. He let out a yawn as he stretched and made his way to the cabin's small kitchen. There he opened the mini-fridge and pulled out one of the soda cans. Cherry coke. He was about to take a sip when he noticed the figure sitting in his bed. He jumped, spilling some of the soda on his shirt and the floor.

[color=7F6B5D]"Gods! Zu, I thought I was about to get mugged!"[/color] He turned around to put down the can and pick up a rag to clean up the spill. Seriously, that girl was a fucking cat. She could sneak into anywhere, and no one would even bat an eye. How the hell did she do it? 

[color=7F6B5D]"Hey,"[/color] He finally looked at her, frowning when he saw that distant look in her eyes. Carlos sighed and put down the soda can before making his way to the bed. He looked down at Anzu as he reached down and brushed some of the pink hair out of her forehead. [color=7F6B5D]"One of those days?"[/color] he knew them all too well. They had been occurring a lot more often. It worried Carlos. 

Anzu didn't say anything. Her eyes locked with his for a second before they began to take in his other features: his eyebrows, the warm eyes, the high cheekbones, and strong jaw. That scar on his right eyebrow she had given him the first time they went on a date. Anzu nodded, reaching over to tug his shirt and pulling him down with her. Carlos had been one of the few sources of comfort for her in this place for so long now. He knew her so well, knew her better than she did. He always managed to make her laugh in the most fucked up situations. He knew how to ground her when the panic attacks hit- as rare as those were, he had always been there. 

[color=d998a0]"Ew, you're all wet."[/color] Anzu pulled back when she felt the front of his shirt. She glared at the shirt as if it had just insulted her and her family. 

[color=7F6B5D]"Yeah, wonder how that happened."[/color] Carlos rolled his eyes but smiled down at the girl in his bed. He pulled back just enough for him to take off his shirt and throw it to the side. [color=7F6B5D]"I didn't see you in the arena."[/color] He settled down next to Anzu, turning his body towards her. He already knew where she had been. Carlos didn't mind that Anzu hadn't been there to see him compete. He hadn't won anyway, so that spared him some teasing from the girl next to him. 

[color=d998a0]"Mmm,"[/color] Anzu wiggled her body closer to Carlos and pressed her forehead against his chest. [color=d998a0]"Beach. I was in my little hole. Reading."[/color] Her hand slipped around his torse and began to draw little circles on his lower back. [color=d998a0]"Finished the book Erin let me borrow."[/color] She already felt so much better. Carlos had always had that effect on her. Make her forget, even for a little while, of her home and how much she missed the Japanese beaches. She pressed her face further into his chest and closed her eyes just a little longer like this. 

[color=7F6B5D]"When you say 'your little hole,' I really picture something else."[/color] Carlos snorted. Anzu should really come up with a better name for her spot on the beach. Calling it her "her little hole" really made minds wonder as to what the hell she was doing. [color=7F6B5D]"Call it the Zu Cave, or Super Secret Hideout, oh or call it Awesome Hole- no scratch that one."[/color] Gods, Carlos was horrible at coming up with names. The last time he had been allowed to name his team in capture the flag, he had called the group [i]Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies[/i]. The funny thing was, they had won, and now that name was written down for everyone to see. 

Carlos looked down, watching Anzu relax against him. He always loved seeing her like this. So carefree and relaxed. Unworried of the pressure her family had been putting on her for so long. He understood why he missed them, but he also didn't get why she was so eager to go back. Anzu knew it wasn't safe; she had to. It worried Carlos from time to time that she would finally get fed up with the camp and leave without telling him or her family. Carlos sighed softly as he ran his fingers through the pastel pink of Anzu's hair. 

Anzu laughed softly, pressing her lips against the tanned skin in front of her to muffle her laughter. [color=d998a0]"Shut up, idiot."[/color] She pulled back to look at Carlos. [color=d998a0]"Mr. Team leader of the Fire Breathing Rubber Duckies. I can't believe they let you name the team [i]and[/i] lead it."[/color] She reached up to gently pinch Carlos's nose playfully. [color=d998a0]"Idiot."[/color] Her voice tender and full of affection. She leaned in, pressing their lips together for a few seconds.

[color=d998a0]"... Thank you."[/color] Anzu sat up, shivers running up her spine from the now missing warmth of Carlos's bare chest. [color=d998a0]"I should get going. Return the book to Erin before she kills me."[/color] She looked around, looking for Ume. The rat was bundled up in Carlos's shirt that he had thrown at the floor. [color=d998a0]"Dinner at my cabin? I told Tyler it was my turn to cook."[/color] She stretched her arms over her head and let out a soft groan as her back cracked. 

Carlos had been taken back by the kiss. He hadn't expected it. Just the night before, the two of them had had a fight and an ugly one at that. It had also been the reason why he had been so surprised to see Anzu in his cabin when he first came in. If he had known that this was the reason why he would have kept his mouth shut the night before. [color=7F6B5D]"Uh, right."[/color] He sat up, looking at Anzu with a frown. [color=7F6B5D]"You weren't here to hear it from Mr. D."[/color] He reached over and took her hand. He knew Anzu was tougher than she let on, but still... [color=7F6B5D]"Erin was blamed for stealing Aphrodite's Dove this morning. Ares blamed her, and she was given a week to get it back."[/color]

[color=d998a0]"What. The. Fuck."[/color] Anzu looked back at Carlos. Erin? Seriously? That girl wouldn't steal shit, let alone leave the fucking camp to steal some stupid bird. For Gods sake, that was the dumbest accusation ever. [color=d998a0]"You're fucking kidding me, right? You got to be. Son of a fuck nugget you're not."[/color] But the expression on Carlos's face told her no. He was not kidding. Not one bit. 

[color=d998a0]"Should I go to her? Fuck, she must be freaking out."[/color] Anzu pulled her hand back and began to pace in front of the bed. She was worried, rightfully so; she knew Erin wasn't capable of that sort of thing. It was a setup. It was so fucking clear. 

Carlos shook his head. It wasn't a good idea for Anzu to head over to Erin right now. [color=7F6B5D]"She has people with her right now. Tyler and Kyrin are with her. Some others too."[/color] He knew how bad Anzu's temper could get. It was just a matter of time for her to explode in anger and frustration. Better him to bare the front of it than Erin and a bunch of guys. Anzu would probably waste no time and just drag Erin out of camp without mercy. 

[color=7F6B5D]"We'll go see her when she's calm."[/color] Carlos stood up, walking to her and pulling her against his chest again. [color=7F6B5D]"We can wait outside if you want."[/color] He brushed a hand through her hair, trying to calm her. 

Anzu let Carlos wrap his arms around her. She knew he was right, but her hands were already shaking, itching to grab her swords and storm her way to Erin and drag her out to complete that fucking quest. She took a few deep breaths trying to calm down. Carlos was right. Wait until Erin was calm. Wait outside the cabin and make you she was okay. 

[color=d998a0]"Yeah."[/color] Anzu nodded, looking at Carlos. [color=d998a0]"Let's go."[/color] She wasted no time as she picked up Ume and walked over to her boots. The rat snuggled closer to her cheek as if trying to comfort her. When she was ready, she adjusted the swords that hung behind her and nodded at Carlos, letting him know she was ready. 

Carlos returned the nod once his shoes were on. He opened the door for Anzu and followed close behind her, keeping his eyes on her. He had to make sure she didn't slip again. They made their way past a few other cabins until they made it to Hades' cabin. There he pulled Anzu under one of the trees and away from the sun. There was no need to [color=7F6B5D]"You know she's a tough kid, Zu."[/color] He reached over and took her hand in his, squeezing it reassuringly. [color=d998a0]"Have you seen how she sends her hounds after some people? She's got this in the bag."[/color]

[color=d998a0]"I know. I fucking know."[/color] Anzu kept her dark eyes on the door. She knew Erin, but that didn't mean she wouldn't worry about the girl. Her fingers gripping Carlos's hand. [color=d998a0]"I'm still going to worry."[/color]
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