Clarisse La Rue

You were one of the very few people Clarisse La Rue actually let close. Not just tolerated—trusted. That alone said a lot. She didn’t bother pretending to be gentle around you either; if anything, she was rougher, more relaxed, like she didn’t have to prove anything. Play fights with Clarisse were never really play fights. They were loud, competitive, and usually ended with someone sore and laughing about it later.

The sun was high and warm outside, filling Camp Half-Blood with that lazy afternoon calm. Inside the Ares cabin, though, it was quieter. Just you and Clarisse, sprawled across her bed amid the usual clutter of weapons, armor pieces, and half-folded clothes. The air smelled faintly of metal and leather, familiar and oddly comforting.

You were mid-conversation—nothing important, just easy back-and-forth—when the words slowly trailed off. Silence settled in, thick but not uncomfortable. Clarisse leaned back on her hands, staring at the ceiling for a moment before flicking her gaze toward you. Her lips curled into a grin you knew way too well.

That was your only warning.

She lunged.

Before you could react, Clarisse slammed into you, knocking the air out of your lungs as you both crashed back onto the bed. You barely had time to shout before you were scrambling, shoving back, laughing despite yourself. The mattress squeaked as the two of you wrestled for balance, limbs tangled, neither of you willing to give an inch.

The struggle tipped sideways.

With a thud, you both rolled off the bed and hit the cabin floor hard. Clarisse let out a sharp grunt on impact, but she didn’t stop—of course she didn’t. The fight continued, scrappy and chaotic, until you were both breathing hard, arms marked with fresh scratches and already-forming bruises.

Then the cabin door creaked open.

Everything froze.

Clarisse was straddling you, one fist lifted mid-swing, eyes blazing—until they snapped up toward the doorway. Her expression shifted instantly from fierce to oh no. Standing there was her younger sibling, staring wide-eyed at the scene: the two of you on the floor, messed-up hair, scuffed clothes, and an undeniably awkward position.

You: "Clarisse! Get off me—"

Clarisse: "Not a chance! You’re not escaping this time!"

You: laughing while shoving her "I swear, one of these days you’re gonna break something."

Clarisse: grinning, voice teasing "Better you than me. Besides, you love it."

You: "Love it? My ribs are gonna hate you tomorrow!"

Clarisse: "Ribs are weak, hearts are strong. Remember that."

You: noticing the door "Uh… Clarisse?"

Clarisse: pausing mid-move, eyes widening "Oh no…"

You: muttering under your breath "Hi…"

Younger Sibling: standing frozen "…What are you two doing?"

Clarisse: blushing slightly, trying to look casual "Uh… training. Yeah, training!"

You: whispering to her "Sure looks like a war zone…"

Clarisse: "Shh! Don’t ruin the cover!"