Chapter Text
Malcolm POV:
It was Malcolm’s third year being a year-rounder, since his father hadn’t been able to have him stay over for the rest of the year. Malcolm didn’t mind it much, since he enjoyed staying at camp, the only bad part was the fact that he’d need to stay in the Athena cabin alone for the next few months.
Since Annabeth had started at New Rome’s college, Malcolm had been the only year-round Athena camper. It did get quite lonely without all his siblings around, but at least before he’d had Annabeth. Now he didn’t.
It wasn’t all bad though, since he had more privacy, and Malcolm wasn’t at his cabin a lot other than for sleeping anyway.
It had reached December, and the magic barriers protecting camp had allowed snow to come in, so the younger campers were out there enjoying the snow in all kinds of ways.
Malcolm had resorted to sitting at the porch of his cabin, watching a few Hermes, Hephaestus and Apollo kids building an igloo.(Harley, the son of Hephaestus, was definitely doing most of the work.)
Malcolm watched as the four kids had no architectural correlation whatsoever, as the igloo’s roof was higher on one side. How it hadn't toppled over, Malcolm wasn't sure.
“I bet it’s gonna come crashing down any minute,” said a sudden voice from Malcolm’s left. He jumped at the noise and turned to see Connor Stoll leaning on the porch railing, a grin plastered on his face.
“Most likely, yeah.” Malcolm agreed, studying the Stoll brother for a moment. His curly dark hair was hidden under a red and orange beanie with a Caduceus placed on the front as a logo.
“It would be funny to watch,” Connor said, a hint of mischief in his voice. “Can I sit?"
Malcolm looked at him with skepticism, but nodded. Connor sat himself down on the step under Malcolms on the porch stairs.
“Who do you think will cause the downfall?” Connor asked, nudging Malcolms knee with his shoulder.
“Oh definitely Julia, she’s the biggest and most clumsy.” Said Malcolm, closing the book he’d been reading and placing it beside him.
“Nah, my bets on Yan.” Connor responded. “And for the record, Julia’s not clumsy, have you seen her when it comes to pranks? She's the most not-clumsy person I know.”
“I guess, but I've been watching them all for the past few minutes. She’s already been close to knocking it over twice.” Malcolm shot back, ignoring the grammatical inaccuracy in Connor’s sentence.
“Wanna bet?” Connor said with his signature grin. “Two drachma.”
“I don’t do bets,” Malcolm explained.
“Come on, just for once.” Connor said, leaning back on his elbows, resting them on the step above the one he sat on.
“Whatever, sure.” Malcolm gave in, though he couldn't help but smile slightly.
For the past few weeks, Connor had taken a liking to hanging out with Malcolm. For what reason, Malcolm didn't know.
But whatever the reason, Malcolm welcomed the son of Hermes in his daily life, as he was Malcolm’s polar opposite in many ways. Malcolm viewed it almost as a learning experience.
The two demigods watched in silence as Julia Feingold, Yan, Harley and Cecil Markowittz worked on their igloo.
Eventually, the igloo fell, trapping Harley and Cecil under the mountain of snow, while Julia laughed and Yan tried digging them out.
“Dang, you got it.” Connor said, moving his elbows to rest on his knees. “I owe you two drachma.”
“I guess you do,” Malcolm said, a smile playing on his lips. “Should we help them?”
“Probably,” said Connor. “But I can't be bothered to get up.”
Malcolm chuckled, and Connor looked over at him with a smile and a gleam in his eyes.
-
A few days later, it was nearing Christmas, and Malcolm had been debating whether to call his father and ask to come home and celebrate.
Malcolm knew a lot of campers were going home for the holidays, he even had himself a few years back. But Malcolm wasn’t sure he was allowed or even wanted to this year.
Ever since his dad had started going out with some professor lady, he hadn’t had much time for Malcolm. But Malcolm didn’t mind too much, since, again, he loved camp.
“Any plans for the holidays?” Connor Stoll appeared when Malcolm had been helping out in the infirmary.
“Not really,” Malcolm responded. “What about you?”
“Nah,” replied Connor, walking around behind Malcolm as he shelved some medical supplies. “Travis is staying at college with Katie, so I’m stuck here.”
“Oh,” Malcolm said. “What about your mom?”
“Don’t really know where she is nowadays.” Connor explained. “She was involved in a heist or something and since then she’s gone radio silent.”
“Dang,” Malcolm said, pausing with the work to talk with Connor.
“So are you staying here for christmas?” Connor asked, tinkering with a loose thread of his T-shirt.
“I think so,” said Malcolm, watching Connor’s hands pulling at the thread, seemingly trying to rip the thread off. “Let me?”
Connor blinked, then registered that Malcolm wanted to rip off the loose thread, and nodded. Malcolm grabbed the hem of the shirt, twisting the thread around his pointer finger, then pulling, watching as the thread ripped clean off, leaving the T-shirt looking normal again.
“Thanks,” said Connor, looking at Malcolm like he was magic.
“No problem. Don’t look at me like that.” Replied Malcolm, smiling and feeling his cheeks heat up at the reaction. “Annabeth taught me that, it's a pretty regular trick.”
“Right.” Said Connor. “Still, thanks.”
Malcolm nodded and went back to work, Connor still beside him, talking Malcolm’s ears off.
Malcolm also noticed Will Solace, Apollo cabin counsellor and head of the infirmary, watching the two with a smile on his face.