Snippet #2265443

"I didn't think of a name for myself, Agent." Theo shrugged and watched his feet as he walked behind her. "Maybe... uh... um...huh...Well, what makes me different from the rest of the group? I'm the shortest, I think. We could call me Finn... Like Finn the Half-Great? He's better than some but less than others?" She didn't read; she wouldn't get the reference. "He's famous. But obviously not real. His dad was a giant but his mother was a human. So he came out half-giant. And that's kinda like me... I'm smart, right? But if I beat Viktor in a game of Chess, he might attack me. And I cannot bodily defend myself; the best defense is to run. As far as you can. Or keep punching until they realize you don't know what you're doing."

Then they got to the luncheon hall. Tables got quiet as they passed. Theo sighed and looked at Anna. "Ignore them," he mumbled and put his arm up around her shoulders like a comforting hug, the way she touched him in the stalls. "I think you're still beautiful." He was surprised at how sincere he sounded, and that he said it at all.