Chapter 1: i didn't see it coming
Chapter Text
The scent of baked strawberries filled the air and Nico’s nose wrinkled in an attempt to block it out. Or maybe it was more out of habit born from anxiety. Either way, he was currently leading his boyfriend through the fields of strawberries hoping to get to the forest that borders their home. Nico nearly laughs when he realizes he thought of camp as home. He’d come a long way since hiding in a labyrinth at the age of 10 with only Minos to accompany him.
“Angel, where are you taking me?” The lightheartedness in Nico’s heart dissipated at the nickname. He wasn’t trying to lead Will on, really, he just wasn’t sure how to talk about his feelings until today. Hence why he was dragging Will away to what he considered the most secluded place of camp.
Nico didn’t reply and continued dragging Will by his wrist until they were a good distance from the fields. Then, he dropped Will’s hand and turned.
“We need to talk.” Nico watched Will’s face change from amused to serious in the span of seconds. Nico’s stomach started tumbling and turning on itself as he took a breath.
“I want you to know that what I’m going to say isn’t sparked by anything you did, I truly think it was a product of what was happening. Kind of like what happens after wars, um,” Nico stumbled, trying to avoid the images of the last five years forcing their way into the forefront of his head. “In any case, I think-”
“Neeks, wait, is this what I think it is?” Will cut him off and watched him with pinched eyebrows and concerned blue eyes, the same eyes Nico looked for every morning.
“I think we should break up.” Nico spills out and tries to hold Will’s eyes until it becomes too much and he looks off into the woods behind him. It was a good thing Nico didn’t eat much at breakfast because even with a nearly empty stomach, he felt like he was going to be sick at any moment. The words hung in the air between the two and Nico felt like his skin was starting to crawl.
“I- Well,-” Will tries a couple times to say something but each time he stops. “Has- Have you thought about this a while?”
Nico looks back up at him and wishes he didn’t. Will’s eyes were watering with unshed tears and Nico felt worse about what he was going to say.
“Kind of.” He mumbled. “It’s just-complicated.”
“Why?” Will asked, voice cracking. “I thought we were steady. We’ve been through a year and the Triumvirate and- Why?”
Nico chewed on his bottom lip while he searched for the right words to explain it.
“I-You know how after wars, people tend to rush through relationships? Soldiers come back and get married and start domestic lives and it’s all great at first but then, it hits them that maybe they didn’t want that life? Maybe they were afraid that they were going to lose what they had so they rushed to make sure they could keep and protect it? That’s the best way I can explain it. I don’t have any experience in the world except you, and that’s not terrible, that’s not a bad thing, it’s just, I’d rather,” Nico bites his lip and makes a face, “I’d rather gain some...world experience…and I think we rushed into this .”
Will’s mouth was parted and he looked at Nico with a small amount of shock. Nico had decided before initiating this moment he was going to give Will all the explanation he could. It was only fair, after all.
“So, you just want time to, what, go out with other people?” Will asked, trying to understand what Nico was saying.
“I mean, sure, but also to not, damnit, I- I’m not sure how to explain this.” Nico took a breath. “I guess it’s like not being tied down?”
Will nodded as Nico spoke. He brought a hand to wipe his eyes and took a breath.
“Okay.”
“Okay?”
“Okay. If you want to break up, then okay. It’d be pointless to try and make something work where one person doesn’t want it to work. So, okay. Go ahead, date other people, tour the world, don’t let me tie you down.” Will said, trying really hard not to let any negative emotion fill his words. Nico could tell though, he could always tell.
“I’m so-”
“Don’t say it if you don’t mean it.” Will cut him off and looked at the ground. “If it's possible, I’d like to try and stay friends, but I’m going to need some time.”
“Yeah, I understand. I’ll...be here when you’re ready.” Nico said and then watched as his, now ex, boyfriend walked back to main camp leaving Nico to wrestle over his feelings once more. Breaking up with Will was the only thing that made sense in Nico’s mind, so why did he still feel like something was writhing around in his chest? Maybe talking to Hazel would help.
****
“Praetors, I know your schedules are quite full at the moment, but if you could spare a moment to hear our case.” The voice came to the couple bent over maps and Hazel stood straight, turning to the newcomer. It was an older man with dark eyes and a balding head.
“I’m sorry but we really are bu-”
“I’ll hear you out and fill in Praetor Levesque later.” Frank placed a hand on Hazel’s arm and squeezed. Hazel’s eyes softened as Frank smiled at her.
“I’ll be right back, promise.” Frank led the man out of the principia and onto the grass outside. Hazel turned back to the maps laid in front of her. According to Lavinia's report, the southeast corner of New Rome should be fully reconstructed in the next week. Leila had swung by yesterday to drop off designs for more temple updates. Those were a constantly running project at the moment and combined with picking up Camp Jupiter after the Triumvirate a year ago, Hazel and Frank were finally catching up. After southeast New Rome is completed, the last thing to do is finish Jason’s plans. Hazel let out a sigh. She’d hoped that it wouldn’t have taken this long to finish repairs but apparently the old saying was right: Rome wasn't built in a day.
“Hey, breathe.” Frank’s hand found its way to rest on Hazel’s waist drawing her out of the thoughts building into a full overwhelming panic. She took a breath and turned to him with a smile.
“Welcome back.” Frank pulled her closer and pressed a kiss to her forehead.
“Good to be back. So that was Calvin, he lives in the northwest section of New Rome and he wanted to report that there’s an issue with the water. He says it tastes like metal.”
Hazel frowned. They’d just finished the new system a week ago. If there were already problems then they’d need to revisit the design. Not to mention providing a way for citizens to filter their water on their own until the issue gets resolved.
“I’ll talk to Hank and see what he has to say. For now, let’s just make a priority to get filters to sector 5.” Frank pulled away and marked the area that the system fed.
“We’re losing our date night, aren’t we?” Hazel said, already knowing the answer. Frank gave her a look of sympathy. For some reason though, she had a feeling he wasn’t actually upset by this fact.
“I’m sorry, love. It’ll even out after the rebuild.” That was what he had been telling her for a year. He wasn’t wrong, but it’d be easier if he didn’t respond to senators and legionnaires calling for not-really-but-named-emergency meetings.
“Yeah, after the rebuild.” Hazel frowned at the temple designs before her and not for the first time, wondered if Frank was pulling away from her.
After dinner that night, Hazel found herself traipsing through New Rome alone as Frank led the meeting regarding building supplies for the new temples. The roads were dim as the northwest was known more for family groups and the majority of these groups would be heading for bed soon. Hazel found the pump system and turned a valve, cutting off the entrance line. She checked the gauges but it was of no use to her. She couldn’t understand what she was seeing so she left it be and started her walk back to camp. As she got closer to the main road, she could see couples moving through shops and buildings. Seeing them reminded her of Frank and the growing drift between them. As she walked along the brick street, she thought about when it started and she realized it had been a few weeks. She decided, as she slid into her bed, that she should talk to Frank about it. If anything, his response could tell her whether she needs to worry or not. She wondered if Annabeth could help her.
***
Percy’s jaw was clenched and he knew he needed to relax it or he’d regret it later. He currently bent over a textbook at a little cafe in New Rome and as he reread the same paragraph for a fourth time, it still didn’t sink in. He cursed, pushed back and shut the book without marking the page. He may be able to kill giants on a battlefield but that means next to shit when he’s got an exam in his history course in two days.
“Relax your jaw. I could hear your teeth grinding from the cart.” Annabeth set a coffee cup in front of him and Percy shot her a flat look. He did as she told him though and opened his mouth in a yawn.
“That bad, huh?” She asked and Percy nodded.
“Four times.” He took a sip of his drink. “I read the same paragraph four times and I still don’t know what it said.”
“Terrible.” Annabeth teased. Percy gave her a lopsided smile.
“Truly the worst.” He leaned forward over the table. “Hey, uh, wanted to ask if it’s alright with you, Ricky invited me to hang out with him and his friends tonight.”
Annabeth got quiet and looked over Percy once. Her eyes took on the kind of calculating look Percy once feared.
“Yeah, I guess so. What are you guys going to do?” She asked, tone light but Percy had a feeling there was something underneath it.
“He just mentioned going out to Oakland.” Percy waited for the inevitable question and bit back a sigh.
“Just gonna wander Oakland?”
“I dunno, Wise Girl. I just figured it’d be nice to try and get to know my roommate.”
“Could I come?” And there it was. Percy loves Annabeth. That’s a fact of the universe, as constant as the ocean waves and Artemis raising the moon every night. He’s been through hell with her and he’d never have it differently because it made them who they are now.
However, lately, he’s been noticing small things. Small, suffocating things that leave him more wound up than not. He’s not sure what the deal is, why suddenly in his mind Annabeth changed from a security measure, something he could crawl to for support, into a cage of thorns.
“I’d have to ask Ricky, but I wouldn’t mind.” Percy lied.
“Okay, let me know.” And just like that the conversation moved on with Annabeth playing with Percy’s hand.
+++
“Hey, what’d Ricky say?” Annabeth and Percy were laying in Percy’s bed after his English class. He’d absolutely not asked Ricky about her tagging along.
“He said he intended it to be a guys’ night. But maybe next time?” He offered. She got real quiet next to him.
“Are you tired of me?” She sounded so small and Percy’s heart clenched.
“Of course not.” Percy looked down at her. “Why would you think that?”
“Lately it just seems like we’re not always on the same page or we’re doing different things and I’m afraid that, I don’t know, maybe you were getting bored. We’re each other’s first partners anyways, it wouldn’t be unheard of.” She moved to lay across his chest and stare up at him.
“Annabeth, if something were up, I’d absolutely tell you. You’d probably be the first to know anyways.” He tucked a strand of blond hair behind her ear.
“Then why are you lying to me about tonight?” She asked, her entire demeanor shifting. Percy stilled.
“What?”
“I asked Ricky if you’d asked about me tagging along and he gave me a look and said We’re not going out tonight . So, wanna tell me what that’s about?”
Percy sat up, causing Annabeth to slide off him.
“Okay, look, I just wanted a night to myself. Lately, we’ve been together nonstop and that’s not terrible, okay? It’s just a lot.” He explained.
“So why didn’t you just tell me you wanted a night to yourself instead of lying and dragging your roommate into it?” She was watching him now, waiting to find a break in his armor.
“I didn’t say it outright because in the past it’s obviously upset you.”
“And you thought I’d feel better when I found out you lied?”
“Not necessarily but I figured I could explain it then!” Percy threw his arms up. Annabeth’s tone was like she was looking for a fight. If this was going to happen now, Percy was ready to go in.
“So what if I want to hang out with my boyfriend , Seaweed Brain?!”
“Fine! But every second of the day? Really? Are you that needy?” He regretted it as soon as it left his mouth.
“ I’m the needy one?! What about you slinking across campus after a nightmare in the middle of the night? Or what about the constant reassurances you needed last summer?”
“I didn’t mean to say that, Annie. I’m just-”
“No! Freudian slips don’t work like that. You do feel that way to some extent.”
“Damnit, Annabeth, I’m trying to talk here and explain shit. Why’re you always acting like you’re a hundred percent right about everything?”
“Because I usually am.”
They stood in silence, watching each other, waiting for the other to speak or move.
“Do you really not feel the same way? Like you’re suffocating when I’m around? Or like you still can’t shake what happened, even though it’s been years?”
“Oh, I’m suffocating you? I’ll fix that.” Annabeth grabbed her bag and burst out of Percy’s dorm room as Percy called after her. When it was clear she wasn’t coming back, Percy slammed his door and shook his head.
Chapter 2: til it pulled us to that time and place
Notes:
I don't have many thoughts for this chapter but know that next chapter we start back on the circle of plots so that means we'll be seeing Annabeth and Piper again <3 I hope this chapter sits well with you all!!
Chapter Text
The moonlight filtered through the treetops as Thalia walked through the Hunters’ campsite. She and Reyna were taking watch and had split up to do a perimeter check. The air was lukewarm causing Thalia to keep her hair pinned up. After reaching the last tent, she turned around and made her way back to the boulder overlooking their little space. Reyna was already laying on the rock, staring up at the sky.
Reyna seemed to have come into her own as a huntress but there was always something about her that Thalia couldn't put her finger on. Thalia prided herself on being aware of her fellow huntresses’ emotions but she always seemed to fall just short when it came to their newest addition.
"Surprisingly quiet night." She says sitting down on the rock. Reyna moves to sit up but Thalia waves her hand and lays back with her.
"Yeah, I was expecting more action considering the Leukrokotta earlier."
Thalia gives a weary smile. She finds her eyes drawn to the stars that make up Zoë’s constellation. If she were still alive, how would she talk to Reyna? She wondered. Then it hit her like a brick: Zoë would be blunt but also confide something in the girl.
"What are you thinking about?" Reyna asked. Thalia turned to look at her.
"I was thinking about Zoë." Thalia answered honestly. Thalia knew the other girl didn't know who that was and was awaiting the question.
"Is she nice?" It finally came. Thalia took a deep breath.
"Well, we didn't really get along when she was alive. We grew on each other though and in the end, her death was one of the hardest."
"How did she…?" Reyna trailed off.
"She fought in the Titan War. She pushed until the end and...she was amazing." Thalia replied. She lifted her hand to trace Zoë's stars with her finger. "See that constellation? That's her. She's always watching over us now."
Reyna stayed quiet next to Thalia as she mulled over Zoë's story. Thalia tried to let her be but patience was never a strength of hers.
"So, how are you doing with the other girls?" She asked. Reyna looked away from the sky and from Thalia, instead gazing into the trees in their surrounding area.
"I'm doing okay. There's not a whole lot of us so it's easy to get to know each other." She sat up and folded her arms around her knees, hugging them close to her. She was guarding something. Thalia frowned but sat up to keep trying.
"Sure, learning names and stuff is easy, but are you connecting with them? Trusting them? That sorta thing." Thalia's voice trips over the words. She's not used to making talk like this and it shows.
"Yeah, sure. I mean, as well as possible."
Silence falls between them again and Thalia curses.
"Hey, uh, have you heard from Jason recently?" Reyna asked, keeping her head down. The questions reminded Thalia of her recent thoughts and she wished she could put them out of mind again.
"Um, not super...recently…" She said. "Last I heard he uh, was going to Camp Half-Blood for a week. But that was, a month ago or so."
Gods, it sounded terrible out loud. Thalia forced herself not to cringe or scowl but the reminder that she once again had been ignoring her brother accidentally was almost too much. It's not that she doesn't want to see him, it's just that he brought up too many regrets. Ones that Thalia had spent years trying to get over.
"Oh, that's cool." Reyna's voice was flat and while Thalia wasn't too familiar with people, she recognized it was probably time to stop talking.
"Yeah." She said. "I'm gonna, um, walk the perimeter. Holler if you need me." And with that she stood up from the boulder, shouldered her bow and started walking along their campsite.
If I looked harder for Jason, would I be happier?
***
Lights twinkled on the rooftop of Cabin 1 at Camp Half-Blood. That was the first thing Piper noticed walking up to the building. The next was Jason standing above the lights waving down to her. She gave a small chuckle and made her way around the back of the cabin to a ladder propped against the white walls. She started climbing and when she got to the top, Jason was already there offering a hand out to her. She looked into his blue eyes and felt her stomach curl. She was reminded of a conversation she had with Annabeth the week before.
“How do you know Percy’s the one?” Piper had asked. Lately, she felt like whatever she had with Jason wasn’t all quite there.
“It’s hard to explain but there’s just a feeling.” Annabeth had laughed then. “Imagine me, saying something’s correct based on a feeling.”
Piper had joined her laughter because it was a little funny. Annabeth is the kind of person who searched for any sort of logic to dictate what was right or not.
“I guess that’s how I know.” Annabeth had said later on. “It’s because I base it on a feeling instead of data and logic. Percy makes me… a better version of me. One that does things like base facts on feelings.”
Piper had internalized that and thought about what that meant for her and Jason. Piper didn’t think she changed much around him, and she definitely didn’t do things she wouldn’t normally do. Jason was a great person, and an even better friend, but whatever they had going together wasn’t working for Piper. She was reminded of this every time they were alone, like now.
“Evening, Pipes.” Jason helped her step over the lip of the roof and guided her to the blanket laid out. Plates were already set up and a laptop sitting on the black screen sat on the corner of the blanket. Since Jason travelled between camps and Piper had been helping her father pack up for Los Angeles again, they hadn’t seen each other much. The weird thing is that Piper should have missed him or felt even a little sad they weren’t together for some time, but instead, she had gone days without even thinking about him. That almost scared her when she realized it.
“Hi, Jason. What do you have planned for us tonight?” She asked him after they sat down.
“Well, I was thinking we could watch something and just, um, cuddle?” Jason blushed as he offered his idea. Piper thought it was adorable that he still got nervous about just cuddling. For Piper, cuddling was something platonic relationships and romantic relationships had. It was important for humans to have physical affection with people they trust. At least, that’s how Piper justified sitting on the roof in Jason’s arms as Sense8 played in the background. At some point, Piper found herself facing Jason and something changed in their atmosphere. Jason looked down at her and the churning in her stomach returned. His cheeks turned pink and he leaned forward to kiss her. She pulled back. He stopped and looked at her with confusion.
“Uh, Pipes? You okay?” He asked. Piper hesitated.
“Yeah, I’m okay.” She said swallowing the anxieties inside her. “Sorry, I don’t know what happened.”
She leaned in to meet his lips and they kissed. It was very chaste, as it always was. Piper wondered sometimes why Jason was always so respectful. She knew that her other guy friends were trying to take The Next Step with their partners. But in all honesty, Piper was more than okay with not making that step. When she thought about that and Jason in the same thought, she tended to find herself scrunching her face.
Jason pulled away from her with a hand on her hip. He looked like he wanted to say something but he couldn’t find the words. Maybe he was trying to take that step but wanted to make sure Piper was comfortable. Piper bit the bullet.
“You can kiss me harder.”
A weird expression crossed his face and Piper thought she misread the situation.
“Oh, um, Pipes that’s-”
“You don’t have to!” She tried to amend. “I was just, if you wanted to.”
Jason disentangled himself from Piper and sat up. Piper sat up too, hoping to talk about what was going on between them.
“This isn’t working.” He stated. Piper’s mouth fell open in surprise.
“What’s not working?” She asked. She already knew what Jason’s next words were going to be but she still wanted to hear them.
“Us.” He said quietly. “I just- Lately, we’ve been...very distant from each other.”
Piper closed her mouth and swallowed her anxieties. Jason wasn’t looking at her but at his hands that were folded in his lap.
“Is it me?” He asked. Her heart twisted.
“No, Jason, no. You’re the perfect boyfriend.” She reassured him. He scowled at that.
“Am I? I don’t...We’ve never… done that before…”
“Doing that doesn’t mean anything. There’s a thing about it. I-” Piper took a breath. “You know what? You’re right. We aren’t the same. Maybe we’d really just be better off as friends because well, I still love you...like you mean a lot to me.”
“Me too.”
“But I don’t...necessarily want to…” She trailed off trying to figure out the nicest way to say what she was trying to say.
“Kiss me and do that ?” He supplied.
“Yeah!” She leaned forward in excitement. He got it. He got her .
“Yeah, okay, phew. Because, same.” Now, Jason finally looked up at her and they sat there a moment before laughing.
“That was painful.” Piper said between laughs.
“It really was. It shouldn’t have been.” Jason looked embarrassed. “Anyways, so um, another episode?”
“Yeah, sounds great.” The two went back to watching their series but this time both laying on their stomachs and feeling like some of the weight had dropped off their shoulders. There were still things Piper was thinking about, like how her dad was doing and if Shel had started summer school yet, but for now, under the stars surrounded by twinkling lights, the turmoil in her had calmed down. Hers and Jason’s breakup reminded her of when Leo and Calypso called things off. And who knows, maybe in the end, it would be for the same reasons. Leo could probably help her decide that one.
***
The flight back from Indiana had been only majorly awkward. Calypso shifted behind Leo often and Leo’s silence spoke louder than necessary. Festus creaked a few times causing Leo to tell him “Be quiet!” and then the mechanical dragon would settle down again.
“Hey, Leo? When we land, we should talk.” Calypso said to him over the rushing wind. Leo didn’t respond but he nodded letting her know that he heard her. They had maybe 30 minutes until they would be in view of Camp Half-Blood and landing just outside the property line. They did land and Leo walked Festus back to Bunker 9 with Calypso following behind them. Festus bounded through the giant doors and settled on his concrete slab. Leo poured out motor oil and hot sauce in a trough-like container and set it in front of the dragon. He wandered over to where Calypso was leaning against a worktable.
“So.” He said, initiating their conversation.
“So.” Calypso pulled her dirty blond hair over her shoulder and ran a hand through it, detangling the knots made from wind.
“Okay, let’s just…” Leo looked from Festus to his (kind of?) girlfriend and shook his head. “...say it at the same time.”
“Okay.” Calypso dropped her hands. “1...2…”
“We should stay on bre-”
“I may’ve kissed Li-”
They both jolted and stepped away from each other, regarding the other with wide eyes.
“You don’t wanna try dating again?” Leo asked, looking for confirmation.
“Absolutely not.” Calypso started grinning. “You kissed Lityerses?”
“I-'' Leo's cheeks got warm and he realized that may have not been the best way to approach his thoughts. “That doesn’t matter. Are you...is it something I did?”
“Absolutely not.” Calypso said again, still grinning. “I just think that we may have put too much pressure on ourselves and well, I will be honest, I do not think you really liked me, I think you just felt a sense of duty to me.”
Leo let out an open laugh.
“And apparently if you kissed Lityerses, my suspicion may be correct.” Her brown eyes sparkled with amusement.
“What suspicion?” Leo’s grin wouldn’t go away and he settled back into leaning against the worktable.
“That you’re gay.” Leo watched Calypso’s face as she spoke. He really didn’t want there to be hard feelings between them because when they weren’t focusing on dating each other, they made a really good team and Leo would hate to lose this friendship. But he was in luck. The only expression she wore was amusement and she nudged him with her shoulder.
“Tell me I’m right.”
“Okay, you may be right.” Leo responded. “I don’t really know what label, but yes. I, apparently, like guys.”
The two sat there grinning and letting out short, giddy laughs here and there.
“So, Leo Valdez, does this mean I can be your wingwoman?” Calypso jokes. Leo rolled his eyes.
“I think you’ve spent too much time with me.” He pushed off the worktable and started powering down the lights. “I think though, if you plan to stick around, I’ll let you be my wingwoman.”
Calypso had walked over to the entrance and offered a hand to Leo when he got close.
“Then I will accept the role with grace. Shall we go to dinner?” She asked.
“Yeah, that works.” They started walking through the woods, stepping over gnarled roots when Calypso spoke again.
"So are you into Lityerses or was that a one off thing?"
“Calll.” Leo whined as Calypso giggled.
+++
Leo drifted awake to the sounds of children laughing and running around outside. Leo sat up and peeked out of his window to see Will, Kayla and Austin around the campfire from last night cleaning it out. His eyes were drawn to Will, who was squatting down and sweeping ash into a bucket. His blue eyes were bright and he grinned at his sister who was trying to wipe off ash from her hands only succeeding in smearing it everywhere.
Will said something to her causing her to stop glaring long enough to laugh. Somehow, without realizing it, Leo had started smiling from his bed.
"Mornin', Leo!" Harley's voice called from outside his pod. Leo jolted and let the curtains to his window fall closed. Leo wondered for a brief moment how Harley knew he was awake, then remembered that he had installed a lighting system to indicate when the person inside the pods was sleeping or not.
"Morning, Harley." Leo replied. He decided it was time to get out of bed and face the day. That started with rousing his siblings awake and then eventually sending them to breakfast. It was always a lowkey affair early in the morning.
The Hephaestus kids weren't as reliant on the sun as the Apollo kids but they still woke up early to check in on their various projects. Therefore, when breakfast rolled around, all Leo had to do was tell them it was time and they all filed out of their cabin and down to the pavilion.
Some days they beat Calypso there, other days Calypso was already sitting there, waiting for Leo to show up. Today, however, Calypso was sitting at the Hades table, talking to Nico, when Leo and his siblings showed up. She noticed him sit down at their table and said goodbye to the son of Hades before heading in his direction. Leo, for his part, was still watching Nico. The brunette looked lonely sitting at the large table by himself, tapping the table, and a part of him wanted to offer a seat at the Hephaestus table.
He knew Chiron had only allowed Nico to sit with Will because of a "doctor's note" Will forged. But now after…what happened, Nico either sat at the Hades table alone, or next to Dionysus for some reason at the Great Table.
Leo thought that Nico di Angelo was a very pretty person. His dark eyes glittered often and he started growing his hair out, which had grown fuller now that he had settled into camp and was getting the nutrients his body needed. Leo would be lying if he said he didn't think about him, he did. And often at that. Calypso had figured it out before he did. She asked him about it after an archery session one day and Leo spluttered, trying to deny any attraction to the then-taken boy. Calypso simply smirked and let it go.
"You're staring again." Leo pulled out of his thoughts and realized he had, in fact, been staring at Nico. Calypso sat down next to him on the wooden bench.
"No, I'm not." Leo said defensively. He looked away from the boy and instead asked his cup for orange juice.
“Why not just ask him out already?” Calypso asked, waving her cup around. Breakfast was brought out and they all got into line to get food. When they sat back down, Leo replied.
“It seems weird right now.” Leo said in between bites of egg. “I mean, he and Will only broke up two weeks ago and I don’t wanna be that guy who swoops in the moment someone is single.” Plus there’s something else but I’m too afraid to say it out loud.
“Oh, c’mon, Leo. Two weeks is enough time, right?” Calypso said. In moments like this, Leo is reminded how much of a culture shock Calypso went through adjusting to the modern world.
“Uhh, well, actually Cal, it’s not really enough time.”
“We were over it in less than a day. You mean to tell me that two weeks is not enough?”
“We were different from them. They…” Leo paused trying to find the right words. “Well, they seemed to actually like each other. That’s part of why it was so surprising when they broke up.”
“So, they’re not over it?” She gave him a confused look. “So then, Nico wouldn’t want a boyfriend?”
“Well, that’s kinda the thing,” Leo pushed some eggs around with his fork. “I don’t really know and won’t unless I ask him. But I don’t want to bring up any bad feelings so I won’t ask him.”
“What if I did?”
Leo paused and looked over at her. She was looking directly at him with her dark eyes wide and expectant.
“You?”
“Yeah, what if I ask him if he’s looking for another boyfriend or if he wants to stay single. And while I’m at it, if he’s looking, I’ll talk about you.” She laughed. “You know, be your wingwoman, like I said I would.”
Leo thought it over and came to the conclusion that this would probably not end well but he also really wanted to know how Nico was and if anything, he could at least befriend the boy.
“Yeah, okay, sure.” Leo smiled. “What could go wrong?”
What could go wrong? Will getting jealous and hating Leo’s guts for one.
***
Will was staring. Calypso knew this because she was watching him. Her first step in her Get Leo and Nico Together plan was to make sure Will wasn’t still in love with Nico. This means watching him for a short while to make sure he wasn’t secretly pining over his ex. In the three days since hers and Leo’s conversation at breakfast, Calypso was able to learn that Will was in fact not still in love with Nico, or at least he didn’t appear to be. Instead, he spent quite a bit of time watching Lou Ellen, which Calypso thought was different, but who was she to judge. The only thing this meant was that Calypso could help two couples come to be instead of one.
“Hey, Leo.” She said to the boy next to her. She was helping him teach an arts project but mostly she stood around waiting for him to ask for more supplies.
“Yeah, Cal.” Leo replied. “Nice touch there.” He told the younger boy in front of him. The kid looked up with stars in his eyes.
“You think Will has a crush on Lou Ellen?” Calypso asked once she was close enough to whisper. Leo paused his movements and a flash of hurt fell over his face before he schooled it back to normal.
“I don’t know. Why are you asking?” He turned away to prep for the next lesson.
“I’ve been watching him-”
“Creepy.”
“Hush.” She lightly slapped his arm. “I’ve been watching him and lately he’s seemed to be staring at Lou Ellen.”
Leo glanced at the girl in question. She was sitting next to Cecil Markowitz. They seemed to be having a private conversation that Leo didn’t trust one bit. They’d glance up, look around, and then focus back on their conversation.
Lou Ellen was a pretty girl. She had dark, wavy hair that fell to her chin with purple tips and deep green eyes that were startling on first impression. She had a light smatter of freckles across her arms and face and a look in her eyes that said she was always watching her surroundings.
Calypso noticed Leo was still looking at her. She assumed what he was thinking.
“She kinda looks like Nico, huh?” Leo startled and looked away.
“I guess? Why are you bringing this up?”
“ Because if Will moves on with someone else, there’s even less of a chance he’ll hate you for snatching Nico up.”
Leo blushed at Calypso’s wording.
“I’m not snatching him up . And watch your volume.”
“Aw, you’re embarrassed.”
“I’m not. Don’t you have something else to do, other than bother me?” Leo snapped. Calypso stepped back with her hands up.
“Okay, okay. Sorry for pushing.” Leo took a breath.
“Sorry for snapping.”
“You’re right though. I could be doing something else.” With a grin at Leo, she left the Arts and Crafts shed looking for Nico. As she walked across the green lawn, she saw Piper McLean leaving the Aphrodite cabin with what looked like an overnight bag.
Interesting. I wonder where she’s going.
Chapter 3: when the floodgates opened, we cried an ocean
Notes:
3,999 words and there's crying in all three scenes <3
First note: I'm going to put a warning of internalized aphobia here because it can be hard not to know what's up. It's Jason's scene so if that's an issue, skip from "'Lightning boy, you there?' Percy says" to "He leaves tomorrow morning..."
Second note: Teenagers are gonna teenager. Meaning, they're going to do things whether adults want them to or not. Underage sex is mentioned this chapter, also in Jason's scene. I'll summarize his scene in the end notes if you'd prefer to skip it altogether.
That's all the notes I have, enjoy
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Annabeth’s dorm room is exactly how one would expect: A disaster that seems to have some semblance of a chaotic organization system. There were piles of books and papers everywhere, crumbs of some food on the floor, coffee cups spilling out of the wastebasket and Daedalus’ laptop on her bed. The one place that seemed relatively clean and organized was the student desk at the foot of her bed. The room was messy, it was chaotic, it was Annabeth and Piper adored it.
“Piper!” Annabeth squealed when she opened her door to see the girl on the other side. “What are you doing here?”
“I was around,” Piper grinned and let the blond hug her. “I thought I could stop by.”
“Always. Come on in!” Annabeth moves to make room on her bed for both girls to sit down. “How are you? Why were you out here? How’s Jason?”
Piper laughed at Annabeth’s rapid fire questions.
“I’m doing okay. I was helping dad move back to L.A. and I figured since I was already on this side of the country I could check in with you, Percy and the others over here.” She intentionally avoided commenting on Jason and the look in Annabeth’s eyes told her the daughter of Athena noticed.
“Well, any opportunity to see you is a good one.”
“I know, it feels like forever since we last talked.”
“It’s even worse when I remember it’s only been three weeks.” Annabeth scowls at the wall across from her. There’s something to her that seems to be holding a lot of tension and Piper sets aside her anxieties to ask about her.
“Are you okay? You seem a little tense.” Piper sets a hand on one of hers. Annabeth looks at her and sighs.
“I think I’m okay?” She says. Piper’s hackles rise as Annabeth’s eyes start to shine.
“What happened?” Piper asks. That releases the floodgates and Annabeth lets out a self deprecating laugh.
“Percy and I got into a fight.” She inhales. “Gods, that sounds so dumb to say aloud but it happened and I haven’t spoken to him in weeks and I don’t know what to do.”
Piper’s eyes widened at the admission. Percy and Annabeth were always the constant among their friends. Everyone knew that as long as they were together then nothing was going to go wrong. Hearing about them fighting settled like a lead ball in Piper’s stomach.
“He said that I was suffocating him and he lied about hanging out with his roommate just to spend time alone.” Annabeth cries. Piper looks around and gets up to grab the tissues in the corner of her friend’s desk. She sets them on the bed between them.
“Thanks.” Annabeth grabs one and blows her nose. “Am I needy?”
“I don’t think so, but I’m also not in a relationship with you.” Piper says gently.
“Was there anything else he said? Maybe about what he’s feeling?”
“Not that I remember. I was pretty riled up so I don’t remember much but I do remember he was upset.” Annabeth says. “What if this is the end for us?”
Piper bites her lip and pushes the lead ball that jumped into her throat back to her stomach.
“Then it simply is.” Annabeth lets out a sob.
“And if it is,” Piper starts, “Then we let it hurt, pick ourselves up and keep going.”
Annabeth looks at her with shock and confusion.
“If he can’t see how absolutely perfect you are, then he’s not the one. Even if he makes you do crazy things.”
“I don’t want this to be the end.” Annabeth whispers. “What would you do if it were you and Jason?”
Piper cringes at that. She knows she should tell her friend but with the conversation topic it seemed like maybe now wasn’t the right time.
“Um, well,” She fumbles for the right words, “I’d talk to him. And try to keep a steady head? And be honest. Honesty is important.” After all, honesty is what allowed her and Jason to stay friends.
Annabeth listens to Piper and tries to absorb her words. She looks at the brunette and smiles.
“I’ll think about it.” She says and Piper smiles because if there’s one thing Annabeth is good at, it’s thinking about things. “Enough about my drama...what’s going on with Jason?”
Piper freezes. She half-hoped that in crying over Percy, Annabeth would forget how she reacted earlier to her questions.
“Pipes, you can talk to me, you know.” Annabeth says. “But I understand if you're not ready.”
Piper bites her lip. What did Leo say about it again?
“Just say it.” Leo grinned.
“Just say it.” Piper said, tone flat. Leo nodded.
“You’ll feel sick to your stomach, you’ll wanna run, maybe you’ll sweat, but in the end, just say it.” Leo’s smile faded. “Annabeth is your friend. She’ll support you no matter what. Plus, not to name names or anything, but look at how she treats Nico.”
Piper took a deep breath. Right. Annabeth is probably the best person to talk to outside of Leo.
“I already feel sick.” Piper stated. Leo laughed.
“You will for a little bit.”
“Piper?” Annabeth asks. Piper takes a deep breath.
“Okay, um, first off, Jason and I broke up.”
“Oh, Piper! I’m so sorry.” Annabeth’s eyes widen. “Oh, I’m terrible! Crying over problems when the worst actually happened with you!”
“Okay, whoa, Annie, wait.” Piper says. Annabeth closes her mouth.
“It was a mutual decision. Something with us...changed.” Piper explains. “We weren’t, um, the same as when we started dating?”
This would be infinitely easier if Annabeth wasn’t watching her like a, well like an owl, trying to come to her own conclusion first.
“Just say it.”
“Mostly because, well, I think I’m gay.” A rush of air leaves Piper’s chest and she holds it, waiting to see how Annabeth takes it. Sure, the blond was nice to Nico and Leo but well, they were on the outer circles of her friends...and they were guys...and Piper wasn’t really sure how Annabeth would react about one of her close friends and-
Annabeth takes one of Piper’s hands and meets her eyes.
“Thank you for telling me.” She says. Her voice is gentle and envelops Piper like a soft, cotton sweater. “I mean it. I know that probably took a lot of bravery and I’m glad you trust me.”
Piper doesn’t know when she starts crying, but she’s aware of Annabeth handing her a tissue. She accepts it and wipes her eyes. Annabeth lays her head on Piper’s shoulder.
“Why is living normally harder than life threatening quests?” She asks. Piper laughs. It’s a fair question though. Piper doesn’t remember the Argo II quest being harder than coming out and navigating relationships.
“Maybe because now we have to actually figure out who we are outside of trauma.” Piper suggests. Annabeth inhales sharply and sits up.
“Wait.” She says, eyes wide. “Oh, I’m such a bonehead!”
Piper watches in confusion as Annabeth gets up and picks up a book. She returns to her bed and flips open a page, scans it then closes the book.
“Piper you’re a genius!” She cries. Piper smiles and tries to understand.
“What are you talking about?”
“That’s why Percy wants space.” Annabeth says it like it’s obvious. “All our time together is painted with war and trauma and, quite literally, hell.”
She stops talking and swallows.
“He’s trying to figure out what he’s supposed to do just the same as I am. But for him, he learns by internalizing. Something I know and didn’t take into account. I need physical support though, even if it’s just being in the same room.”
“So there was a miscommunication. And your guys’ love languages aren’t matching right now.” Piper summarizes. Annabeth looks at her in awe. Her brain was obviously still going through the multiple trains of thought but Annabeth gave her a smile.
“Exactly.”
They sit in silence for a brief moment as Annabeth sorts through her thoughts.
“Hey, do you wanna go get food?” Piper offers. Annabeth gets up and grabs her shoes and a jacket.
“That sounds great.”
As the two leave Annabeth's dorm, Piper finds herself thinking about Jason.
I genuinely hope he's doing alright.
***
The night air is cool but inside Cabin 1, warmth fills every corner as Jason, Leo, and Nico sit around holding cards. Percy and Frank’s faces are on a laptop set up to face the three lounging in various positions.
“Jason, fours?” Percy’s voice crackles over the connection. Jason grins at the camera and shakes his head.
“Liar.” Nico says staring at the floor. Jason sighs and flashes a four at the laptop.
“Thank you, Nico. Make a pair for me.” Percy says. Leo sets the pair of fours on the floor next to Percy’s pile. It was difficult at first to make their ‘guy nights’ work with Percy and Frank permanently in New Rome, then with Jason travelling outside Camp Half-Blood so much. Eventually, Chiron caved and granted Leo a laptop. After that, it didn’t take long for Leo to figure out just what the connection piece was that brought monsters.
“Nico, ones.” Percy says. Nico scowls at him and throws a one of diamonds at the laptop. The others laugh as it slaps the camera and drops to the keyboard. Nico even smiles softly. It took a little bit of encouragement to bring Nico fully into their group but after he showed up one night, he fit in perfectly much to his surprise.
“How’s Annabeth, Perce?” Jason asks, taking one of Leo’s twos. Percy scowls at the floor in front him and Frank.
“Honestly? We’re having a rough go right now.” He says. “But I think we’ll work it out.”
“Damn, dude. I’m sorry.” Jason says. Percy waves it off.
“What about you and Piper?” Percy grins. “How’d the rooftop date go? Did you, eh, try what we talked about?”
Jason blushes and avoids the question.
“Frank, threes?” He asks. Percy laughs at the unanswered question.
“Oh, yeah! You guys haven’t heard. Our boy’s flyin’ solo now.” Leo says, causing Jason’s blush to deepen.
“Oh?” Percy gave Jason a questioning look. “What happened?”
Jason threw his cards down and rubbed the back of his neck.
“Well, we uh, we started the way you and I talked about and then something went weird and well, we uh, decided to end things. I’m not...upset about it though.” Jason explains.
Percy smiles at him and Jason’s a little afraid of what’s going to come out of his mouth next.
“Well, I’m sure there’s other girls around camp that’ll be interested .”
Jason turns bright red, Leo howls with laughter, Frank chuckles and when Jason peeks at Nico, he can see the pale kid shaking his head and his shoulders shake with silent laughter.
“Shut up, water boy.” Jason mumbles.
“Speaking of interesting things, how’s it going with Hazel?” Leo asks the laptop, absolutely unaware of the daggers being shot out of the brown eyes from the boy next to him.
“Oh, um,” Frank sobers up and glances at Nico. The child of Hades sends him a promising glare, causing his eyes to widen.
“Later.” This doesn’t seem to help his case because Nico’s glare gets worse. Frank swallows hard.
“I mean, um, uh,” He brings a hand to the back of his neck, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Valdez.”
Nico looks back to Leo, waiting to see what he would respond with. This time, Leo seems to feel Nico’s gaze and realizes it’s best to not respond. After a beat of silence, Nico speaks.
“Thought so.” He gives a smug smile to the two.
“Aww, c’mon, Neeks. It’s only natural.” Percy says. Nico’s glare softens as he meets Percy’s eyes through the screen.
“Double standard that Hazel can’t mess around but you did.” Nico blushes, opens his mouth to speak but after finding nothing to respond with, he snaps it shut. “She’s my little sister.”
“She’s like everyone’s little sister, dude.” Percy says. “It is kinda weird to hear about it. But, you know, it’s the getting older thing.”
Jason frowns at the floor, If it’s a getting older thing, why does he seem to be missing out on it? He’s Percy’s age. He was already in a steady relationship. A few, in fact.
“I’m not discussing this.” Nico says. “There is no universe that I’ll sit by and let her boyfriend talk about her like that.”
“You good, bud?” Leo nudges Jason’s shoulder and redirects the conversation.
“Oh, um, yeah. I’m fine.” He lies. Everyone seems to buy it except Percy who only watches him with interest.
“Okay, well, it’s about curfew. We should get going.” Leo says standing up. He picks up stray cards and piles them in front of Jason. Nico is already out the door and Leo leaves with a little wave.
“Now that it’s just us three. I’ve got a question.” Frank says. He’s fiddling with something outside the frame but Jason assumes it’s his fingers.
“Yeah, what’s up?” Jason asks. Frank takes a deep breath.
“I haven’t actually been able to talk to Hazel about me.” He stutters through the sentence. “I’ve been talking to Leo about it and Leo says to just do it, just come out and say it, but everytime I try, I clam up.”
Percy and Jason glance at each other, a little confused, before it clicks into place.
“Oooh,” Percy starts, “That you’re trans?”
Frank nods.
“What have you done so far?” Jason asks, then realizes it comes out differently than he intended. “I mean, like, how has she not figured it out?”
“Uh, well, usually I um, eh, wellitaketheleadandshecanttouchkindadeal.” Frank says all rushed together. Percy stifles a laugh.
“Oh.” Jason says. He’s found himself really out of his depth here and he thinks Percy should take the lead.
“Okay, firstly, yes. Just coming out with it is the course, but sometimes it’s really not that easy to. I mean, when I told Annabeth I was bi, I talked about it in circles even though I knew she would be fine with it.” Percy starts talking. “Knowing you, I think it’d be best to find somewhere secluded and well, if you guys are already doing stuff, talking about sex shouldn’t be taboo.”
Frank frowns at the keyboard but nods along.
“I’m sorry I’m not better at this one, but you got this. And Hazel’s not going to treat you any different, I know that much.” Percy says.
“Yeah, she’s really cool and she’ll be ready to do some workarounds?” Jason loses steam towards the end.
“Thanks. I’m gonna...head out.” Frank says, still lost in thought.
“Okay, big guy. Good luck and all.” Percy says. He leaves camera view to walk Frank out of the dorm. Jason sits on camera staring at nothing, his own head running in circles.
“Lightning boy, you there?” Percy says and Jason jolts back to reality. “Oh good, you were starting to scare me.”
“Oh, sorry, I was just lost in thought.” Jason says.
“Yeah, I know.”
Silence filters between them, not uncomfortable but Jason wishes Percy would just say what he was thinking.
“You’re really not into the whole sex thing, are you?” Percy finally asks. Jason refuses to meet his eyes and tries to come up with a way to not answer but still maintain his masculinity.
“You know there's nothing wrong with that.” Percy says. Jason is still searching for words.
“Doesn’t make you any less-”
“I’m gonna disconnect. I’ll see you around.” Jason ends the call before he gets a response and he stares at the now darkening screen. The issue is that Percy wasn’t wrong. It wasn’t just with Piper but he couldn’t see himself having sex with anybody . He could feel the hot tears starting to sting his eyes and he hated it. He hates the tears, he hates himself and he hates that he doesn’t feel the same way his friends did. He leaves tomorrow morning for item collection. Maybe this time around he could just...stay away longer. He could try to clear his head and fix himself. He lays down in his bed facing Thalia’s old bunk. He wonders for a moment what she would say to him if she knew he was like this.
***
The fire inside Thalia’s tent was warm and Thalia was huddled around it. The Hunt had stopped in the Rockies that night so it was cooler than it had been lately for them. Thankfully, the silver jackets they wore were temperature friendly and adjusted as they needed.
Thalia clenches her teeth and moves closer to the fire. A rubbing sound on the vinyl of her tent comes to her attention.
“Hello?” She calls out, reaching for her bow. Last she checked, everyone else had fallen asleep.
“Hi, Thalia. It’s Reyna. May I enter?” Reyna calls from the outside. Thalia relaxes and sets her bow back down.
“Oh, yeah. Come on in.”
Reyna unzips the tent and opens it, letting cold air blow in. She steps through and then kneels by the fire opposite of Thalia. Her hair is chin length now, grown out a bit from when she chopped it off from first joining, but still doesn’t cover her ears much.
“Are you doing okay?” Thalia asks, concerned. Maybe Reyna was feeling ill…
“Um, actually, I have something that I want to talk about, but um, I don’t want the Lady to know.” Reyna looks at her hands in her lap. Thalia’s eyebrows rise to her hairline. On principle, at least in Thalia’s experience, anything that started with I don’t want the Lady to know ends poorly.
“It’s not what it sounds like!” Reyna says quickly after hearing no response. “I’ve stuck to the rules, I mean, you would know if I didn’t and um, I don’t even, guys are, no. No guys.”
“Oh, no! Please don’t think I assumed anything. You’re fine, Reyna. I promise.” Thalia tries to placate her.
“Okay, um, cool.” Reyna’s cheeks heated up and she shook her head before focusing back to the task at hand. “So, what I really wanted to talk about…”
Thalia waits as patiently as she can manage as Reyna searches for the words. Time passes and Thalia begins looking around her tent, wondering if she should Iris call Jason after this. But that brings up thoughts of Jason and she cringes at the guilty thoughts creeping into her mind.
“I made a mistake.” Reyna says, startling Thalia back to attention.
“What do you mean?” Thalia asks, trying to understand what Reyna was talking about. “Your performance lately has been exceptional as always. I’ve really seen you grow and connect with the other girls. I know that was a problem when we talked a couple weeks ago.”
“Yeah, um, no, I mean,” Reyna takes a deep breath, “I’m talking about joining the Hunt.”
Thalia’s mouth fell open and for the first time in a while, she was at a loss for what to respond with. That would explain why she doesn’t want the Lady to know.
“I know I told Apollo that I was secure in my decision but, between us? I’m so tired, Thals. I knew joining wouldn’t be sunshine and roses and easy, but I had hoped it would give me purpose and I’m not getting that. In fact, my nightmares haven’t gone away, I’m exhausted all the time and I just want to find someplace I can just live. Without having to fight.”
As she speaks, Thalia realizes that what she was saying was what Thalia herself had been feeling lately.
“And I don’t want to let you down, even more so the Lady, but I needed to say something otherwise this situation would just turn into like my home was.” Reyna looks at Thalia and the brunette can see tears sliding down her cheeks. That jolts her into action.
“Oh, please,” Thalia says, sliding to sit next to her. “Your emotions are valid and important, even if they hurt somebody else, letting them out allows people to understand where you’re at mentally and it allows people to help you. It’s not a crime to ask for help, Reyna.”
She puts an arm around the girl she’s grown to love and she squeezes her.
“I’m serious, Reyna. If you’re not doing well here, then it's time to move on. And the Lady won’t be upset over that, I promise. She cares for your wellbeing.”
Reyna shakes against Thalia’s side and takes deep breaths to try and calm down. Thalia continues to hold her and reassure her. It’s quite a few minutes later when Reyna finds herself under control again.
“How do you think I should tell the Lady?” She asks. Thalia takes a moment to think.
“I think you should just be honest and transparent. She’s more likely to not ask questions that way and she’ll probably bless you if you’re transparent.”
“Okay.” Reyna sniffles. “Did you ever regret joining?”
And that was the million dollar question, wasn’t it? Thalia inhales sharply and weighs whether she wants to open the floodgates of her own inner turmoil. She decides that since Reyna is being vulnerable, she could too.
“Not at first, no.” Thalia’s voice is quiet and she stares off at something. “When I first joined up, I thought that this was all I had going for me. I didn’t want some ancient prophecy on my shoulders, my mother was dead, and I had assumed my brother was too. So I figured, this was the best path for me.”
Reyna stays quiet as Thalia talks but Thalia senses Reyna has questions. On one hand, Thalia is afraid to admit this to her of all people, but on the other hand, she feels that Reyna would be one of the only ones who would understand.
“When I ran into Jason about two years ago, my entire world was flipped upside down.” Thalia feels the tears stinging her eyes. “Every feeling I’d had about losing him came crashing in and I felt,” A deep inhale, “I felt terribly guilty. If I had just looked a little harder, questioned a little more, I probably would have found him. But I didn’t and because of that, I don’t even know my own baby brother.”
Silence rings through the tent and Thalia wishes she could just fall asleep for months.
“He adored you.” Reyna says finally. Thalia’s breath hitches. “He looked up to you. He didn’t remember you exactly, because Greek and Roman issues, but he remembered a warm feeling about his life before Lupa. He often told me he thought he was crazy, but the warmth made him feel safe. And in battle, when he was unsure, he reached out for memories of that warmth.”
Thalia’s cries rang through the tent.
“I can also tell you that getting you back, that was the happiest I’d ever seen him.” Reyna hugs her. “I do think though, he would love to have this conversation with you and I think it would help both of you heal.”
“Jeez, look at us.” Thalia jokes through her tears. “What a pair of disasters we are.”
“If I have to be a disaster, I’m glad it’s with you.”
“You’re a really good person, Reyna. Personal history or not. I’m really glad our paths aligned for a while.”
“It’s not like I’m dying, I just won’t be around that much.”
“Speaking of, we should talk to the Lady.”
“Okay.” Reyna and Thalia both stand, pull their jackets closer to themselves and set off to Artemis’ tent together.
“Where are you going to go after this?” Thalia asks on the way.
“I’m going to head home. See if Camp Jupiter has something for me. I’ll start there at least.”
Reyna glances up at Zoë Nightshade and smiles. She hopes silently that Praetor Frank has something for her to do.
Notes:
Jason's scene summary:
Jason, Leo, and Nico are playing go fish over a video call with Frank and Percy. Jason lies about if he has cards or not, Nico calls him on it. Jason asks Percy how he and Annabeth are, Percy mentions they're going through a rough patch but they'll work it out as always. Percy asks Jason how his rooftop date with Piper went, specifically mentioning something he and Jason talked about. Jason gets awkward and explains they broke up in mutual agreement. Percy says something suggesting Jason's a catch and other girls would want to sleep with him and the cabin explodes with noise. Leo asks Frank about his relationship with Hazel in that context, Nico gets protective and shuts down the conversation about his sister. Curfew approaches, Leo and Nico leave the cabin and Frank, Percy and Jason stay on the call. Frank asks Percy for advice about coming out to Hazel as trans, especially for sex reasons. Percy encourages him and Frank leaves Percy's dorm, thoughtful. Percy and Jason talk about Jason's own feeling regarding sex and Jason shuts down on Percy before ending the call. He goes to sleep upset with himself.
Chapter 4: i know you know me, you don't have to show me
Notes:
An update!! Wow, okay, so this is really getting into some more of the meat of the plots, some resolutions are in sight...some are not. I can't give an estimate for when the next chapter will be up. If you're not following my tumblr, I've started the new semester so I'm going to be overloaded with schoolwork(I'm Percy from chapter 1 now lol) so there will be a longer wait period until I can get the chapter out.
In the meantime, there's no warnings for this chapter, I don't think, it is a little sad towards the end, but trauma lingers y'all.
Lastly, if I could get you're thoughts an opinions on this little survey, I'd much appreciate it. It'll help me determine what y'all wanna read next. <3 (https://forms.gle/TZ4W4dQY6cNfi6HB7)
Chapter Text
Frank taps on the wall in Hazel’s room. She jumps and turns around to find the source standing in front of her, hands in front of him and toying with his fingers. He’s nervous again. He’s been really nervous around her lately. Frank sees her bite back the frown and smiles at him instead.
“ Mon bijou ,” Hazel sighs, “Are you okay?”
This startles Frank into fixing his hands and his posture. He forces his shoulders to relax and he gives her a big smile.
“Yeah, I’m good. Sorry, I’m not sure what happened.” He shakes it off. He needs to do this. It’s time and he has a vague sense of how to start it.
“Well, come here then.” She opens her arms for a hug and Frank steps into them. She wraps her arms around him and for a moment, he doesn’t feel anything except her warmth. The hug lasts longer than expected but not unwanted. He shifts, causing her to lower her arms. He takes her hand and sits down on her bunk with her.
“You know, Praetor, if I didn’t know you any better, I’d say you were trying something unsavory .” Hazel says, eyes lighting up. Whatever upset she’d had earlier melted away, allowing her to flirt. The line startles a chuckle out of him.
“I’m just trying to have some quality time with my girlfriend, shush.” He says, kissing her cheek. She seems to have a better plan, one that involves turning her head and meeting his lips with her own. It’s short and she pulls away, starting to chew on her lip.
“Hey, are you sure you’re okay? You’ve been kind of… different lately and I just wanna make sure.” She takes his hands in her own and meets his eyes.
Frank takes a deep breath. Hazel, I’m trans. C’mon, you can say it.
“I promise I’m okay. I’ve been trying to-” Frank starts but he’s interrupted by a knocking sound outside Hazel’s room.
“One sec, Nico!” Hazel calls before turning her attention back to Frank. Nico?
“Nico?” Frank asks. Hazel ducks her head and has a sheepish smile on her face. “Haze?”
“Well, um, off the books, dad’s gotten Nico and I a private tutor because of the whole...being out of touch for about 80 years thing. I need Nico for it though because, well, our tutor is kind of...dead.” Hazel mumbles behind her corkscrew curls. “Nico’s here to get me.”
“Oh.” Frank says. It always makes his head hurt trying to think about Hazel’s past and what that meant for them...and him.
“Anyways, what did you want to say?” Hazel asked, bringing her eyes back to Frank. And there goes the ember he stoked earlier. Shit.
“I was just gonna say, I’ve been trying to corner you for a date. This Friday?” He lies, partially. He did want to go out Friday but that wasn’t what he wanted to ask.
“Oh,” Hazel’s mood fell, “I don’t know. I’m supposed to meet with Hank about the Little Tiber filters.”
“That’s-” Hazel’s door creeps open.
“Zhang, I swear to the gods, I don’t care if it’ll start a war, you better be…” Nico’s voice trails off as he moves his hand from over his eyes. Hazel’s eyes widen and Frank’s cheeks heat up.
“Nico!” Hazel shrieks. Her brother just gives her a flat stare.
“It’s way past time and I’m pretty sure Signor Elias said in our first meeting that he doesn’t approve of tardiness.” Nico scolds her.
“He’s dead, he can wait another ten minutes.” Hazel shoots back. Frank watches the argument like a tennis match, gaze bouncing between the two siblings.
“That’s rude, even in death.”
“I don’t particularly care right now. Why did you just break into my room?”
“Because, well, you know why .” He hisses.
“I’m gonna bury you alive.”
“No you won’t, because you love me.”
“It wouldn’t even hurt you, you’d just pop out of the ground like a weasel.”
“A very cute weasel.”
Hazel sighs in defeat and shoots Frank a look that says “See what I have to deal with?!” that caused Frank to fight really hard against laughing.
“I’ll see you later. Let me see if I can reschedule with Hank.” She says softly. As she stands, she kisses him goodbye.
“Love you.” She says walking out behind Nico..
“Love you, too.” Frank responds. Another chance out the window. What was he going to do? And why is Nico so uptight about him and Hazel messing around? He and Will did, a lot, if Frank remembers right.
***
The infirmary was surprisingly quiet for the first time in a few days. Most of the current patients were sleeping off various medications, leaving Will a chance to start on the project he’d been wanting to do. The infirmary had records of every camper dating back to the mid-1800s and it was getting rather cluttered so Will had asked Frog from Athena’s cabin if they had any ideas for a solution. Luckily for Will, they did. They provided Will with trash bags, quite a few boxes and a binder full of graphing paper. The idea was the binder would be separated by year, then sorted in alphabetical order from last name. The boxes were to hold the really important documents, such as any vaccination records, any notes of outbreaks in camp, what was used for treatment, etc. and then once everything was compiled, the boxes would go to the attic in the Big House.
Will had started the project after he and Nico broke up two months ago and he had made his way to the 1930s. Currently, he has three folders open on the desk and is noting the names of the old campers that came before him. He finishes writing Levey and then starts sorting through Levey’s file. This is how Calypso finds him.
“Hi there.” She says, her head tilted and a smile on her face. Will’s head shoots up and he immediately does a once over, searching for any injury. He finds none so he goes back to sifting through fragile papers.
“Did you need something?” He asks. He had never really talked to her before but he thought she was nice. She and Leo were still really close, and Will would know. He watched Leo a lot…
"Oh, no, I don't need medical attention or anything." She says. "I haven't really gotten to know you, and well, I'd like to?"
Will looks back up at her, trying to figure out her angle. Was she trying to befriend him or boyfriend him? He decides it's nicer to shut it down instead of accidentally leading her on.
"Sure, we can try to be friends ." He emphasizes. Calypso lets out a twinkling laugh.
"No, really, I just wanted to be friends." She says.
"That was pretty asshole-ish of me, huh?" Will winces, replaying the conversation so far in his mind. Gods, where was his bedside manner? "I'm sorry, can we start over?"
Calypso laughs again but nods.
"Hi, I'm Will. Welcome to the infirmary. You can sit anywhere that's not patient beds or on any documents." He says. Calypso bows her head with a smile.
"Hello, Will. Nice to really meet you, I'm Calypso." She looks around and decides to sit on the counter where medics usually pull meds from. She hops up and situates herself before laying her hands in her lap and facing Will.
"So why did you decide to come talk today?" Will asks. Lately she hung around Leo more and Will thought they may be heading towards getting back together.
"Leo's busy," She waves her hand and Will's chest grows slightly heavier, "So I figured what a better day than today!"
"And you and Leo…" Will tries to find the words to ask but before he can get the rest of the question out, Calypso is laughing, openly and fully.
"Gods, no!" She cries. "I love Leo, he's important to me, but no, not like that. We're one hundred percent over, never trying again."
Oh.
"Oh, um, cool." He says. It's quiet as Will continues working. For a moment, he forgets Calypso is there, then she moves.
"Yeah, he uh, he's actually moving on." Her voice is casual, almost forced but Will waves it off as first conversation nervousness.
"Yeah? Good for him, who's he crushing on?" Will asks. A tiny spark of hope had flared up in his chest when she said those words.
"It may be tactless of me to outright say it to you, but I feel like you deserve to know." Calypso's voice had moved from casual to cautious. Will feels his stomach drop before she speaks again. "He's taken a fancy to Nico."
Will didn't think his world could shift any further but the gods just loved proving him wrong. He swallows down disappointment and frustration and says nothing in response.
"I shouldn't have said anything, I'm sorry Will. I just thought it would be better for you to know before it happens." Calypso slides off the counter and approaches him. She lays a hand on his arm.
"No, don't be sorry. I'm okay," Will lies, "and good for them. They'll be good."
"Really?" Calypso asks. Will nods and forces a smile to his face.
"Really." He affirms. Calypso lights up and squeezes his arm.
"Oh, good." She says. "I figured you'd have been more upset, I mean, you and Nico were the next Percy and Annabeth from what I've heard. Everyone was shocked when you broke up."
So was I .
"Yeah," Will chuckles, "If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, though. You know that."
"Do I ever." She agrees. "But now I'm curious, do you have any new item of interest? I've heard a few people have you as theirs."
"Ah, not really." Will says. "Well, I mean, maybe."
As long as he doesn't say who, it should be fine, right?
"Oh! I knew it!" Calypso chirps. Will's heart skips a beat.
"You do?" He asks.
"Yeah! I saw you watching her and it's just so cute. You know, she is really pretty."
"Oh, yeah, and just so we're on the same page, who is it?"
"Lou Ellen, of course! Don't play dumb with me."
Lou Ellen?! Will's mouth parts in surprise and he quickly turns away to recompose himself.
“Aw, you don’t have to be shy!” Calypso says. “Besides, from what I’ve heard, I think you’d have a good shot at it. You should ask her out.”
“Um, yeah, maybe.” Will says. He’s still trying to process Calypso thinking he likes Lou Ellen.
“Well, okay, it seems like you have a lot of work to do.” The girl says stepping away. “I’ll leave you to it now, but hey, I do think you should, what did Leo call it? Shoot your shot? With Lou Ellen.”
And with that, she leaves Will in the Infirmary, still processing their conversation and flipping through old, dusty files. He looks around at the cabinets and sighs.
“Why can’t we just go digital yet? Annabeth probably has a way.” He grumbles to himself reaching for the next stack.
***
Annabeth knocks on Percy’s dorm door and waits. She chews on her lip and thinks over her plan. Apologize, explain the love languages thing, offer a solution. That’s what she came up with when thinking about how to approach this topic.
The door opens revealing a short, redhead boy who was only in sweats and socks.
"Hey, Ricky, um, is Percy here?" Annabeth asks. The boy steps away from the doorway and lets her inside.
"Perce, it's for you." The redhead says before putting earbuds in. Percy sits cross-legged on his bed surrounded by various open textbooks and a notebook. He looks up when Annabeth slides his desk chair over.
"Can he...still hear us?" Annabeth asks, sitting down and setting her bag in her lap.
"Nah, his music is loud and he's pretty deaf as it is." Percy replies. He straightens his back and stretches then looks at Annabeth.
"I'm-"
"Hey, about-"
They speak at the same time and stop, expecting the other to finish their sentence.
"You go." Percy says. Annabeth takes a breath.
"I'm sorry for flying off the handle." She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. "I was so worried about my own feelings I didn't stop to think about how you were handling the transition."
Percy nods as she speaks.
"I should have been more cautious of your trauma.” She says, then furrows her eyebrows. That didn’t come out like she had wanted.
“ My trauma? Not, you know, ours ?” Percy asks. Annabeth cringes.
“That’s not what I meant.” She starts playing with her fingers.
“I thought Freudian slips don’t work like that.” He mimics her words from their last fight.
“Perseus, that’s not what I meant and you know it.”
Percy’s eyes grow dark at the use of his whole name. He scowls at the floor.
“Get out, Annie.” He states. Annabeth’s jaw drops.
“Wait, what?” She cries. She leans forward to put a hand on his arm and he withdraws it.
“If you don’t leave, we’re going to get into another fight and say things we don’t mean. I’m too angry right now to talk.” He grits out. Annabeth withdraws and bites her lip.
“When should I come back?” She asks, tone flat.
“I’ll come find you.” Percy says. Annabeth stands up and puts the chair back at the desk then heads towards the door.
“I’m not the only one fucked up, Annie.” Percy says as Annabeth lets the door close behind her. She stands in the hallway, staring at nothingness and tries to process where that went so wrong. She thought she had figured it out after talking to Piper but apparently things were just as bad, if not worse. Maybe it was time to go to an even older friendship, maybe it was time to reach out to Thalia.
***
The Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest was huge. Thalia somewhat regretted going through Idaho but there was more coverage, even if she didn’t like going up and down the mountains. Artemis had come back and was currently with the rest of the hunters while Thalia went on this trip. She needed to. There were too many memories and too many thoughts that had been swirling around her head not to.
The night is coming and she knows she needs to find shelter. She left her tent back with the hunters just to lighten her load. There are trees all around her(another benefit of going through the forests) so she didn’t need the tent anyways. The leaves of the trees rustle as she runs by. She alternates between running and wandering, she had been since Fishlake back in Utah.
Of course he has to be in fucking north Montana. She thought when she finally got a letter from Jason.
Hey Thals!
I know it’s been literal months since we last talked and everything, but it’s hard keeping in touch, especially with Hermes putting our requests behind everyone else’s because we “don’t pay as well”. Anyways, I’m headed to Montana, Kootenai to be specific. I’m working with Chloris to set up a site here. She wanted to be as North as possible but well, I’m not about to risk treading into Canada again .
Anyways, I’ll be around there somewhere if you wanna catch up.
See ya,
Jason
Thalia shakes her head and scales the closest tree to settle into the safety of crooked branches and yellowing leaves around her. She pulls out the letter again and rereads it. It was vague, of course, she figures that at least he was being cautious. She still wishes she has more to go on than Kootenai Forest and “furthest north”. She shakes her head and peers out into the sky to look at what lays above her...to look at Zoë.
“What do I say when I get there?” She asks. She knows her old friend won’t answer, but she still half-hopes the answer would come to her like a lightning bolt.
“I think I really fucked up, Zoë. I mean, I should have looked harder. Not that it would have helped, sure, but I don’t know. I think I gave up on him for…” She takes a deep breath and says the thoughts that had been plaguing her since she found Jason alive. “I think I gave up on him for Luke.”
Above her Zoë’s stars twinkle and Thalia almost wishes she could have a spar with her again.
“I know, I need to let him go and stop thinking about him, but he was my family. But that makes it all the worse, doesn’t it?” Something warm trailed down her cheek. “I left my actual brother for a traitor. I mean, fuck, Zo, Luke and I, we were a hell of a team. Could that have been Jason? D’ya think if I followed him to the wolf house Lupa would have had to take me too?”
Even though she waits for an answer, nothing responds to her words.
“Do you think he hates me? Even a little bit? I mean, I always harbored some ill will towards Bianca when she made the decision so easily and so readily. I know Nico will never say it, but she left him behind like he meant nothing. Am I any different than that? I did it first, you know?”
The night animals start to emerge from their day beds and the underbrush rustle as they move through. An elk meanders through below her, a bat flies through the air in her area, and the predators stalk the prey. The circle of life moves on.
“I don’t know, Zo, maybe he’ll hate me for bringing it up, maybe he won’t. Maybe it’s never crossed his mind before. I guess I’ll find out in a couple days, huh?” With the last few words, Thalia pulls her parka closer to herself and settles further into the crook of the tree. It reminds her of being on the run, holding Luke’s hand and dragging Annabeth behind them. She sends out a small prayer of hope that Reyna got to her camp safely and lets the darkness overtake her.
Chapter 5: i think we're chosen, like our fates were woven
Summary:
Reyna gets back to Camp Jupiter, hoping she'll have a place still.
Leo gets locked in a closet on accident and well, if Nico ends up there too, it sure wasn't Calypso's fault.
Percy and Annabeth get some lunch and finally get that talk.
Thalia catches up to Jason and they have a much needed sibling bonding moment.
Notes:
I'm not dead! I'm sorry it took wayy too long to update but hey, we got one out. I don't expect the next one to be soon either, it took a lot to get this done and I'm just sorry lmao. Anyways, 5000 words, can I get a hell yeah? (Joking <3)
Chapter Text
Reyna ducks into the Caldecott Tunnel, and walks alongside the cars barreling past her. She could have gone around the back, over the hills, but sometimes it was just easier to go in the front way. She waits a moment for the tunnel to empty then takes another turn into the maintenance walkway and comes to stop in front of two campers she’d never seen before.
“Who are you?” The boy asks, shifting into a defensive stance. Reyna holds her head high and her hands up.
“Reyna Ramírez-Arellano, former Praetor of the Twelfth Legion Fulminata.” She replies easily, though her heart is starting to pick up in speed. The two guardians share a look then the first one speaks.
“I’m sure the Praetors would like to see you.” He turns and starts walking down the tunnel. Reyna follows after nodding at the other second guard. Her companion stays quiet as they walk along the path to the center of the forum. Reyna takes in the surroundings and notices that everything looks just a little different. In the distance there is a new structure that she's never seen.
"Hey, what's that?" She asks, pointing at the building.
"The water cleaning system. The Praetors made that a primary focus after the Triumvirate." He explains. She nods, silent, and considers her decision to return again. Maybe they really didn't have anything for her. No, that's a lie. There's always something to do in the Twelfth Legion. As her thoughts continued to build in her head, she arrived at the steps of Principia.
"Wait here a moment." The guard tells her then enters the space.
"Praetors, if you have a moment, there is someone here to see you." Reyna hears voices engage in a short conversation.
"We've got a moment." Frank says.
"We actually, really don't." Hazel follows up.
"Hazel, we have to-"
"One thing at a time, Frank."
"Things don't happen one at a time, Hazel. We've talked about this."
Reyna winces at the biting tone both praetors are adopting. It may be informal but she decides to enter the room without her presence being accepted.
"Good afternoon, praetors." She says, tucking her hair behind her ear. "I don't mean to interrupt for long."
"Reyna!" Hazel says, surprise flooding her features. Frank's mouth is parted and he stares at her. The guard glances between the three awkwardly and then starts sneaking out. Reyna doesn't draw attention to him.
"What are you doing here?" Frank finds his voice. Hazel elbows him. "I mean, like, is everything okay?"
"Is it the Hunt? Do you need support?" Hazel inquires. She turns fully to face Reyna and the ex-huntress finds herself hesitant to explain. These are friends though, it's okay.
"It's not the Hunt, they're okay. Well, they were when I left them in Idaho." Reyna says. "I've," she takes a breath, "I've left the Hunt."
Silence pervades every crevice of the room as the words sink in. The understanding enters Hazel's eyes and she furrows her brow.
"Oh, are you...are you coming back then?" She asks. Her hands curl on the edges of her purple cloak, as if she were afraid Reyna would snatch it off her back. Reyna tried not to take the action personally and buried the feeling of regret deep in her chest.
"If you would accept me, I would like to return, and be an advisor as you need me, if at all." Reyna says. She turned those words over in her head the entire trip back home but even as she said them, they still didn't taste right in her mouth.
"Oh, yeah, uh, sure. We could always use the help around here nowadays." Frank says. He sets a hand on Hazel's shoulder closest to him. She visibly relaxes and the knot in Reyna's stomach loosens.
"Yeah, of course you're welcome here, Reyna. This is your home too." Hazel tells her.
+++
"She's hovering again." Hazel had muttered under her breath. Frank had glanced up at Reyna, who stood a few feet away studying the aquaduct.
"I think she's just trying to figure out her place here. It's different for her, and us, now. Give her some time." Frank had said.
Hazel had given her time. It had been three days and she was still under foot, awaiting direct orders, each meeting, each day. Even now, Reyna waits outside the Principia while Hazel and Frank talk alone.
"I just think you're being a little hard on her." Frank says. He's been trying to give Reyna the benefit of the doubt and was trying to make Hazel see his side.
"I think she's not helpful. I think she should retire to New Rome." Hazel responds. Frank drops his arms and studies her for a moment.
"Are you afraid she's going to take your role?" He asks. Hazel's hands clench on her arms and she doesn't answer. "Oh, gemstone, no. Reyna doesn't want the power or responsibilities."
"You don't know that." Hazel says quietly. "She's a Roman, through and through. Any Roman worth their salt wants power, wants leadership."
"She doesn't. Hazel, think about it. She led the camp through two wars. She lost everything she thought she knew. Her world was turned upside down too."
"You seem awfully keen to defend her." Hazel comments. She sees Frank's jaw tighten briefly. "Do you care about her?"
"Of course I do. She's my friend."
"Would you rather her be your partner? You've been talking to her more than me lately anyways." Hazel's vision wobbled and she looked away.
"Hey, gemstone, look at me." Frank's voice was closer. She shakes her head and then feels Frank's hand on her cheek. She gives in and looks up at him.
"Since the moment I saw you, I've thought you are the most breathtaking girl I've ever seen. You said yourself that any Roman worth their salt wants power and that doesn't end in leadership. You are all I want, all I ever want, Hazel." Frank tells her. He strokes her cheek with his thumb and she feels a tear slide down her cheek.
"What are you hiding from me, Frank?" She whispers. She watches the confusion and fear mix in his eyes and bites his lip.
"I'm not ready to tell you but I want you to know that I love you and I trust you implicitly. Reyna was Praetor, you are Praetor. Do you understand that?"
Hazel nods and files away his words for later. She takes a steadying breath and rests in Frank's hold for a moment. Then a knock sounds through the room.
"Reyna, come back-" Hazel starts without turning around.
"Reyna's here?" A familiar voice asks. Hazel turns to see Jason Grace poking his head in the room and smiling at the two of them.
"Jason! You're back!" Hazel says.
"Yeah, not for long though. Just needed a place to recuperate and gather my next project." He enters the room with a hand behind his neck.
"Of course, you're always welcome here." Frank says.
"Thank you. Hey, you said Reyna was here, do you know where? I'd like to talk to her."
"If she's not outside she may be in New Rome." Hazel replies.
"Okay, I'll start looking. Thanks again and we should catch up." Jason says on the way out the door.
***
As September reached it's close, the air turned from mild to cool with even colder breezes pushing through the trees on Long Island. Leo had thought Calypso had let go of her plan to get him and Nico together. It had been a few days and all was quiet from her. In fact, she had been more or less like she was before their breakfast conversation.
He should have known better.
The two walk through the camp towards the stables. She told him earlier that her chore was to clean the stables. He was a little confused but hey, sometimes Chiron's a little spontaneous. They get to the stables and open the barn door when Calypso gasps.
“Oh, Styx! I forgot the pitchfork Chiron wanted me to use. I’ll be right back, I promise.” She tells Leo then turns to run. “Oh! Can you pull out the shovels?!” She yells then she is gone. Leo stands in his spot watching her figure retreat to the Big House. Sighing, Leo heads to the closet that has the shovels in it. He unlatches the lock, setting it upright, and pulls it open taking in the items in the small room.
Lining one wall are bales of hay and lining the other is a line of shovels and rakes. He steps in and to the side with the shovels but before he can even touch the wooden handle, the door slams shut and the lock falls back into place effectively shutting him in.
“No.” He whispers, mouth falling open. He scurries to the door, trying to avoid slipping on the hay covered ground and pushes against the wooden door. “ No , please.” He pushes again with no give and curses.
“Hello?!” He calls out. His breath starts picking up but he reminds himself that Calypso will be back soon. He lights a small fire in his hand to see but then takes a look around him. The hay, the wooden frame of the closet and the barn were all flammable items.
“Okay, no big deal, Valdez. You’re fine. It’s just a little dark right now, it’ll pass. Calypso will be right back.” Leo tells himself. He wraps his hands over his elbows and leans back against one of the bales of hay. Time passes slowly and he’s starting to wonder if Calypso may have gotten distracted.
“Well, okay, maybe someone will be around? Maybe if I start shouting someone walking by will hear me. At least that. It’s not like the stables are in the middle of the forest.” Leo reasons. He cringes when he realizes he picked up that habit again. Talking to oneself isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but most people tend to do it mentally. He shakes his thoughts out and then starts shouting.
“Hello?!”
“Is anyone out there?!”
“Please, I’m stuck!?”
+++
Nico had been walking back with Lou Ellen when they heard someone yelling from the stables.
"I'll go check it out." He told her and then headed off to the source of the shouting.
"I'm a real person, come help me!" The shouting is coming from behind the door hiding away the hay and shovels.
"Leo?" Nico asks and the shouting settles down.
"Nico?" The voice responds. "Nico, thank the gods! Unlatch the door and let me out!" Leo sounds frantic and Nico jumps into action. He reaches the door and unlatches it. The door slowly swings open and Nico's eyes find Leo leaning against the doorframe, trying too hard to look casual.
"What happened?" Nico asks him and Leo pushes off the frame.
"I was just trying to grab shovels but the door got pushed closed and then it latched." Leo explains. "Hold the door while I grab what I need?"
Without waiting for an answer, Leo turns back to collect the shovels. The back of Nico's neck prickles with warning but before he could act on it, a gust of wind pushes him into the shed along with the door which latches with a click. Leo, seeing the light fade, had turned back to watch the entire thing.
"Are you serious?" He whispers. "Pinche...Cal." He sighs and sits on a haybale, defeated. Nico sees his hand come up and rub his eyes and then glance around, squinting. He starts gnawing on his thumb and Nico makes the connection.
"Scared of the dark?" He asks, not unkindly but perhaps not as tactful as he could have been. Leo bristles and puts his thumb down.
"No, that'd be dumb." Leo replies but his eyes dart side to side.
"It wouldn't be, really. I am too, but in a different sense. See, being a chthonic demigod has its perks." Nico moves closer to Leo. "For example, I can see better in the dark than you can and I can do this."
Nico feels the pull in his stomach as he pushes the darkness surrounding them into the floor as if it were fog. It doesn't necessarily make it any brighter but the shadows aren't oppressive.
"That's kinda cool." Leo comments. Nico hums.
"So, darkness." Leo says, prompting Nico's story.
"The jar. There was no higher ground for me to push the shadows below me so I was surrounded all the time." Nico explains. Leo nods in understanding. It's quiet for a moment then Leo speaks.
"When you die, it gets really dark. It's like walking through sludge until you get to the banks of the styx." Leo tapers off into a whisper. It's a solemn silence between them.
"I think that's why I fell for Will so hard. He's just pure light." Nico says softly. Leo glances at him out of the corner of his eye.
"You are too." Nico says. "And warm." Nico notices Leo's heart picking up and gives a soft smile. Hope blooms in his chest for a moment before guilt chases it. He's not over Will and it wouldn't be fair to any of them...or would it matter?
"Nico, I-" Leo cuts off and takes a breath. "Nevermind, I'm sorry."
"Please say it?" Nico whispers. He's hoping beyond reason now that Leo is about to say what he wants to hear.
"You and Will are...really done?" He asks. Nico half deflates.
"Yeah, I mean, yeah? Well, this is difficult because there's this...person I have found myself falling for. But a part of me still wants Will and I'd be lying if I said I didn't regret breaking it off with him that day." Nico dumps. He's trying to backpedal but the words just won't stop coming out.
"But this new person is someone I think I'd want to try and ask out." Nico finishes. Leo looks like he's been kicked and Nico sighs, realizing he'd have to take the leap.
"It's you." He whispers. "I want to ask you out. But I don't know if you even like boys or if you'd be interested."
Everything seems to freeze and Leo just watches him with his brown eyes for a moment until giving Nico a grin that could part storm clouds.
"Yeah, yes, I- That would be amazing." Leo responds. Nico smiles in return and the door unlatches outside, startling both of them.
"What happened? Are you okay?" Calypso pulls the door open, concern on her face.
"Yeah, Cal, we're all good." Leo says, a grin still painting his face. The two exit the shed with shovels in hand and Calypso takes the shovels to where she dropped the pitchfork. The boys stand awkwardly for a moment before Nico speaks.
"I better go tell Lou Ellen everything's okay. We heard you yelling, that's why I came." He explains. Leo nods.
"Yeah, of course. Um, busy Friday?" He asks.
"No, all yours if you've got an idea in mind." Nico replies. Leo grins.
"I'll see you at 7." He says and then bids Nico goodbye before going to help Calypso move hay around. As Nico leaves the stables, he catches Will playing basketball with his brother and sister and a pang of melancholy flits through his heart. He shakes his head, telling himself it'll be okay. Time will fix it.
***
Students file out of the dome shaped classroom and filter past Percy as they go, either ignoring him or giving him a small nod. Finally, Annabeth exits the classroom and sees Percy against the wall. She approaches him and raises her eyebrow.
“Hey.” He says and it is quiet for a moment where a breath of awkward flits between them. “Lunch?”
Annabeth lowers her guard and holds out her hand. He takes it and leads her through the campus, past the cafeteria and out into New Rome. The walk was silent between the two but it wasn’t awkward, not like that brief moment earlier. Their hands fit together perfectly still and the wind blew lightly between them.
They reach the cobbled streets of New Rome and walk a familiar path to their favorite restaurant. It was authentic Greek food with recipes passed down through generations of the family that ran the restaurant. As soon as they walk in, they’re greeted by the worker at the counter and waved away with promises that their food will be out soon. Percy picks a table towards the back of the outside patio, away from people walking along the cobbled streets.
“I think it’s time we talk.” He says cautiously. “I’ve had the chance to think about everything and I’m ready, if you’re willing.”
“I’m more than willing, Percy.” Annabeth gives him a sad smile. “I’m sorry for my words the last time we spoke. I unintentionally ignored my own issues and put you on the spot.”
“I’m sorry for jumping at you when you were trying to give a solution.” Percy replies. His hands are sweating as they often did with emotional conflict but he wipes them on his jeans and continues. “At least, that’s why I assumed you were there.”
“I didn’t have a solution, per se, but I figured out what was going on.” She explains. “What do you know about love languages?”
“There’s five main languages: Physical touch, acts of service, gift giving and receiving, words of affirmation, which is mine, and quality time, which is yours.” Percy says, smiling at Annabeth’s momentary shock that fades quickly.
“You know my language?” She asks quietly.
“Of course I do, Wise Girl. I love you and prefer to show you in ways that you see it.” Percy whispers. The owner of the shop arrives with their food and sets it all down in front of them. He makes light conversation before leaving the two to their own world again.
“I think that was part of the fear of just asking you for some space. I mean, you weren’t wrong. I am struggling with everything that’s happened and if I’m honest, it’s kind of making my head a mess lately. I know that when it gets really bad up here, though,” Percy points to his temple. “Then everywhere else starts to kind of, crumble away. I just wanted some time to reflect and figure out what I should do before it got too bad. But I think that ship sailed before I even noticed that I had to board it.”
Annabeth giggles at his analogy and sighs.
“I get it, Seaweed Brain. I don’t internalize things. Everything that comes up for me comes out of my mouth, whether just to say it or to try and process it, it comes out. I think that sometimes, it was borderline triggering you, and that’s not something to be ashamed of, but I don’t think it’s been helpful to be this physically close. I think that part of this new step is learning how we heal and process and then learning how that plays into our relationship. I mean, gods, Perce, we have never had the chance to just be kids in love. And yeah, we’re not kids anymore sure, but we missed that boat. That in and of itself is foundational for relationships but we spent that time saving the world and essentially torturing ourselves.” She gives him a grin that’s almost self-deprecating. “I’d have let the world burn twice over if we could have a redo.”
Percy doesn’t realize he’s grinning in response until she starts giggling again.
“How terrible is that?” She asks. “It’s selfish and ugly, but I mean it.”
“It’s not selfish and ugly, it’s true.” Percy says. “I’d also let it burn if we could have had time to be kids.”
Their conversation settles and they eat in silence. Their words hang in the air around them, not heavily but as if just waiting to be picked back up and examined. After they stack their dishes and push them aside, Annabeth sets her hands crossed on the table.
“So, here’s where I think we stand. We’re both suffering, and we’re both afraid to talk about our suffering in case we hurt each other. We can break up and try to heal and maybe come back to it, or we can try to stay together and figure it out... together.” She says.
Percy is already shaking his head. “There’s no way I’m breaking up with you. While yes, it's a reminder of the hurt, you’re the most stable, constant thing in my life and if I lost you in this new world that I’ve moved to, I don’t think I’d survive. I give myself three months tops before flinging myself off the top of the tallest tower.”
“So then we try to work it out and stay together.” Annabeth concedes. “Any ideas what that looks like?”
“Actually, yes. I’ve been thinking about it and well, we do have more resources here in New Rome. Perhaps we should try to find psychiatric professionals who understand?” Percy suggests. “I mean, it won’t be perfect, I’m sure, because Nico’s the only other person to understand Tartarus, but, you know, it couldn’t hurt?”
Annabeth goes quiet and absorbs this information for a few minutes, muttering to herself here and there. Percy waits it out and looks out to the field across the Little Tiber where demigods practice.
“I think,” Annabeth’s voice calls him back, “That should be a good start.”
Percy grins at her and takes one of her hands over the table.
“I love you, Annabeth Chase. I’m not leaving you if I can help it because it’s been you from the beginning. It’s always been you and I can’t risk losing you.”
“I love you, too, Percy Jackson.” Annabeth says, and everything isn't perfect. Nothing is ever going to be perfect, but at this time and in this place, everything was going to be okay.
***
Morning came to find Jason slipping out of his sleeping bag and rolling it back up so he had space to work throughout the day. He packs everything back up and throws it in the same crevice he’s been using the last couple days for storage and then makes the trek up the small hill nearby to the new altar for Chloris.
The hill overlooks a river running from the North. Jason had worked to set it up so that the altar faces West, an ode to Zephyrus, Chloris’ husband. It's his last day at this site and all he has to do is finish inscriptions on the stone of the altar. He settles down with his tools and starts tracing out the letters. Time passes and the sounds of rushing water fill his ears. It’s about midday when he hears the underbrush move around him. He drops his tool and stands immediately, pulling his coin from his pocket as he turns his head one way to another.
Out from under a nearby tree, Thalia emerges with her hands up in a non-threatening way and offers him an awkward smile.
“Thals!” Jason cries and makes his way over to his older sister. “I wasn’t expecting you to actually be able to come! Are you with the Hunt?”
Thalia wraps a hand around Jason’s head and lightly taps their heads together in greeting.
“No, Artemis returned to the Hunt, I’m alone on this one.” She says. “That’s more than okay though, I’ve been really wanting to see you.”
Jason pulls back, readjusting his glasses, then picking up the inscription tool. He gestures for Thalia to sit on a nearby rock and turns to the altar. Thalia accepts the seat and sits cross legged atop it.
“You wanted to see me?” He asks after a moment of comfortable silence. He frowns at the rock he hammers away at.
“Well, yeah, I mean, you’re my brother so…” Thalia trails off, unsure how to communicate.
“Yeah, yeah.” Jason says. “I just don’t think I’ve ever heard you say that.”
“Really?” Thalia asks and something in her voice tells Jason he’d need to finish soon or he’d be stuck there another day.
“Hey, I’m almost done with this, give me a few minutes and then we can head back to my camp area?” He asks.
“Yeah, of course. Is there anything I can do to help?” Thalia asks. Jason glances around at the area looking for something to give to Thalia to occupy her time, even if it wasn’t really necessary.
“Um, actually, yeah. Could you refill my water bottles? My stuff is in a crevice four paces back and three paces right.” He says. Thalia hums in affirmation then heads off. Jason worries at his lip as he finishes the stone writings.
Would this be a good time to ask about sexuality? Obviously Thalia’s thought about it before but is it the same way?
The sun is just starting to hit the peaks of the eastern hills as Jason walks back into his small, makeshift campsite. Thalia sits by a fire and is pulling out food to prepare. Jason pulls out his sleeping bag and his travel backpack. He puts the inscription tools away and then lays out his bag before taking a seat across from Thalia.
“Rabbit?” Thalia asks and Jason shrugs.
“Sure, I haven’t had meat since I left New Rome.” He says. It's quiet for a minute as Jason searches for something to talk to Thalia about. “Have you heard from Annabeth lately?”
“Ah, yeah.” Thalia says cautiously. “I heard she and Percy were having issues.”
“That’s true, but Hazel IM-ed me the other day and told me she saw them cuddling in the theatre during a performance. I’d say they worked it out.” Jason tells her.
“Good. As much as Percy can get on my nerves, I know Annabeth loves him.” Thalia says, then playfully adds: “And I’m glad I don’t have to hunt him down.”
It goes quiet again and Jason fiddles with his fingers.
“Hey, Jason?” Thalia asks. When Jason looks at her, she’s looking right at him, her blue eyes sparking. She was determined to talk about this. “I don’t know if I ever apologized.”
“For what?”
“For leaving you?” She says, eyes starting to water.
“Thals, you were only 9-”
“Let me speak, please? If I don’t say it now, I never will and I will regret it.” Thalia says and Jason exhales and nods to let her continue.
“When you disappeared, I left. I ran, because that was all I could think to do. It never occurred to me that you could have been alive. I don’t know why, but it didn’t. So I buried it. Then I died, came back, joined the Hunt and then I found you. Amnesiac, but alive.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “Jason, when I found you I could have died again and be happy. Then, the war continued. And you had grown into someone I didn’t know. So, I ran. Again.”
“Thalia-” With a sharp look from her, Jason shut his mouth.
“I’m sorry.” She says, looking at him with wet eyes. “I’m sorry for running, both times. I’m sorry for not looking harder and just giving up on you. I’m sorry for assuming you became someone I never knew. And mostly, I’m sorry I wasn’t the sister you deserve.”
With those final words, Thalia wipes her nose with her sleeve and wraps her arms around her legs. Jason sets his hands in his own lap and watches his fingers as he thinks.
“I was angry, at first.” He says eventually. “When you found me, and the memories came back, I was angry that I had to be the leader when it could have been you. I was angry that I was alone. I was angry that I existed, to be honest. But as we got into Europe and as the quest went on, I came to realize that being angry with you wouldn’t do anything, in fact, it would hurt like hell if something happened to either of us and I was keeping this anger.”
“I understand though. We were close, Thal, really, fucking close. And losing someone like that makes you do stupid things.” Jason swallows the lump in his throat. “But honestly? It’s all in the past. There’s nothing either of us can do to change it, and from my perspective, you’ve been an amazing sister. But, if you don’t like how it’s been, then change it?”
Thalia tilts her head at him.
“I mean, you can’t leave the Hunt, obviously, that’s where you’re meant to be, you know. I’ve seen you there. But maybe try to keep in contact more? Accept IMs? I mean, one day I’ll be gone for real and you’ll still be you, so you have many millennia to be Lieutenant of Artemis’ Hunt, but only like, hopefully, 50 years to be my sister.”
“Yeah, okay, I can do that. Answer more, correspond more.” She agrees.
“And Thals? You’ve always been the sister I deserve because I said so, and I get to decide those things for myself.” Jason says with a smile. Thalia gives a watery laugh. Jason gets up and sits down beside her, pulling her into a side hug.
“I love you, okay? So stop with this guilty thing.” He teases her.
“I’ll try.” She replies. Its comfortable again between them and she decides to take a crack at the newly leased sister thing.
“Sooo...how’s Piper?” She asks and feels Jason’s cringe. “What happened?”
“Ugh, okay, I didn’t really wanna bring it up right after you cried because I might end up crying and we’ll both be snotty messes.” He whines.
“Out with it.” She chides.
“We broke up.” Jason sighs. “But, not in a bad way. It was a mutual decision and that’s good! I’m really okay about our breakup, I’m just less okay with why I decided to break up.”
“Why did you decide to break up?” Thalia asks, genuinely curious.
“I don’t...When we would… I’m not ready for sex.” He spits out. Thalia bites back a laugh that fizzles into a chuckle.
“Thaliaaa, don’t laugh at me.” He whines and leans his head on her shoulder.
“I’m not, I promise. That was just endearing.” She placates. “So you’re not ready, big deal.”
“No, like, I don’t know if I’ll ever be ready?” He tries.
“Ooooh, I got this!” She cries. She pulls away from him and faces him. “Do you know what asexuality is?”
“I’ve heard of it in passing, sure. But isn’t that like, usually for people with trauma?” Jason asks. Thalia levels him with a raised eyebrow and disappointed look.
“No. It’s just another sexuality. Like, being gay or bi.” She says. “You don’t have to be anything to be ace. It’s just a term to identify that you’re not sexually attracted to anyone.”
“But I liked holding Piper’s hand and being with her.” Jason counters. Thalia rolls her eyes.
“Gods, you have some research to do. Okay, when you get back to either camp, look up asexuality and its spectrum. Then look up aromantic and alloromantic. And please know that you’re not broken, okay? You’re actually really valid. I spent months thinking something was wrong with me but, it’s just not my cup of tea and that’s okay.” She stresses. “It doesn’t make you any less of a person, or a man, because I know someone will try to tell you that.”
Jason was right, he does end up crying and Thalia wipes away one of the stray tears.
“Thanks, Thalia. I just needed to hear someone say that.” He whispers.
“Of course.” She replies. They spend the rest of their time together talking about different monsters Thalia’s been hunting or whatever updates Jason’s gotten from their friends. They’re both starting to fall asleep when Jason remembers his favorite piece of new information.
“Oh, hey, Thals, guess what?” He slurs in fatigue.
“Hm?” She hums.
“Leo and Nico are going on a date on Saturday.” Jason replies. There’s a shuffling movement and Jason opens his eyes to see Thalia’s blue eyes wide and her mouth open.
“WHAT?” She cries. “When did he and Will break up?”
“Oh, um, did I forget to tell you that?” Jason says. “End of August, I think.”
“THAT WAS TWO MONTHS AGO! HOW DID I NOT KNOW UNTIL NOW?!” She whisper-yells at him. He just shrugs and settles further into his sleeping bag.
“I don’t know but they’re moving on it seems.”
Chapter 6: don't say you love me "fala amo"
Summary:
A realization is had, important conversations are shared, and mostly, things are being tied up.
Notes:
OwO I promised I wouldn't let it die. I know it's been years since updating this one, but I'm finishing it if it kills me UvU
Warning for like, heavy talks. Will asks about the morality of polyamory, Nico and Hazel talk about meaning of life. No actual content warnings, per se, just note it gets kinda heavy for like, one or two lines and then lightens again.
Chapter Text
Ever since the conversation in the infirmary, Will’s been replaying almost every interaction he had with Lou Ellen in his head, trying to figure out where Calypso got the idea that he was interested in her. It got so bad, he had to start writing down the instances he remembers her being. It doesn’t hit him until during one of the rare moments he allows himself to watch Leo Valdez. It is when Lou Ellen steps in front of Leo, breaking his view, that he realizes that in almost every rare moment that he would watch Leo, Lou was almost always there too. With this new knowledge, Will finds himself calming down. He was beginning to worry that perhaps he was unconsciously crushing on her.
After setting that side of the conversation to rest, he then remembered Calypso’s words.
“Besides, from what I’ve heard, I think you’d have a good shot at it.
Now, Will is not unfamiliar with declining romantic advances. He is, after all, his father’s son. However, he does not have particular skill in letting friends down. Lou Ellen was one of his closer friends now and knowing that he had to break her heart was not something he was interested in doing. He didn’t know how to initiate the conversation, nor what he was going to say. After spending a few days turning the situation around in his mind, it turned out he didn’t have to.
“Hey Will, do you have a second?” Lou asks. She's holding her hands in front of her and playing with her fingers, a sure sign she's nervous about something.
"Yeah, of course." Will replies, feeling like he should cut her off before she confesses. "Before, um, before you talk, I just wanted to say that I really appreciate you as a friend ."
"Yeah, you're a good friend too." She says, light confusion coloring her tone. Will realizes he needs to be very clear and steels himself. He meets her eyes and tries again.
"What I mean is, I'm flattered that you're interested but I don't have the same feelings. I really like having you as a friend and don't want anything to change."
Lou Ellen stands there in front of him for a moment and then laughs.
"What?!" She cries, gasping for air. "You really thought I had a crush on you?"
By now, Will's ears had turned red and he was thoroughly confused.
"Calypso said…but I thought," He starts, "She said you stare at me all the time."
"Oh, you dummy. Firstly, how would Calypso have any authority on my feelings? Secondly, I do stare, but it's not at you." She blushes and starts playing with her fingers again. "That's actually what I wanted to ask you about."
"Oh,” Will says, then “What?”
“It’s Cecil. I imagine that Calypso only catches me staring when you’re with him, too. I’ve been thinking about him a lot and I don’t wanna do anything to change our friendship but I also don’t want to lose the chance to be more.” She explains. Comprehension drops on Will like a lead block and, of course, it's Cecil. That makes so much more sense.
“So, wait, what exactly did you need from me?” Will asks, “It sounds like you’ve made up your mind.”
“I have, but I don’t know how to talk to him about it.”
“You know he’s pretty easy going, have you considered maybe just saying it? He wouldn’t run away or anything. At the worst he just says he doesn’t reciprocate and that’s that.”
“Would you maybe help me see if he does? I don’t want to bring it up and then for him to not reciprocate and then it will be all awkward between us for weeks.”
Will considers it for a minute, not overly fond of the idea of playing matchmaker. Although, he does know who loves to meddle in relationships.
“You should ask Calypso.” He says finally. “She’d love that, actually, and it’d be hilarious to see her reaction after everything.”
Lou Ellen cracks a smile and considers it. “Yeah, okay. I’ll track her down.”
“And Lou?” Will calls as his friend walks away, “Thanks for not having a crush on me.”
Lou Ellen walks away laughing to herself and Will is left lighter than he felt in a few days. Something she said in their conversation lingered in his mind though.
“I don’t want to lose the chance to be more.” Gods, he missed Nico, but mostly, he needed to sort his mind out before choosing him again.
***
Calypso was cornered by a woman on a mission at the worst moment possible. She was on her way to tell Leo all was clear with Will when Lou Ellen caught her.
“Hey, Calypso?” The dyed haired girl calls out to Calypso’s back. “I have a proposition for you.”
That causes Calypso to halt in her tracks, because while she loved Leo and was invested in his love life, she was also a huge gossip and she knew it.
“Sure, what can I do?” She asks, turning around. There’s a mischievous look in Lou Ellen’s eyes and now Calypso isn’t so sure she should have turned around.
“I’ve heard that you’re really good with relationships, especially with getting people together.” Lou Ellen starts, “So I was wondering if you’d help me?”
Calypso exhales with relief, she’d already worked this one out.
“Oh, yeah! Honestly, just go talk to Will.” She says, “I have already kind of mentioned it to him, sorry, but he did not seem overly affected by it.”
Lou’s smile doesn’t fade nor does the look in her eyes.
“Oh, I already talked to Will. He sent me back to you. See, I don’t have a crush on Will. I like Cecil Markowitz. But Will told me the whole story.”
Calypso’s mouth parts in surprise. No way, she’d spent so long watching the girl to make sure that Will’s attraction would work with her. Wait, then if she’s talked to Will, did he get turned down? Oh no, what about Nico and Will? What does that mean for Leo? She needs to get to Leo before Will can.
“Hey, I’m not mad or anything, it's honestly kinda funny. Plus, I can see from your point of view how it looked like I was into Will. I mean, I stare at Cecil a lot and I know he’s often around Will.”
“Yeah,” Calypso says, lost in thought. “Would it be alright if I got back to you?” She needs to get to Leo and regroup.
“Oh, um, yeah, that’s fine.” Lou Ellen’s tone turns downcast and Calypso mentally kicks herself.
“No, I mean, I would love to help you. I just have a prior concern to handle. I will be back, I promise.”
“No worries, I see you around.” Lou Ellen lets her go and Calypso turns around the back of the building when she hears another voice join the girl she left.
“How’d it go?” Will asks.
“She…ran away?”
“What?”
“I told her I’d already talked to you and that she was wrong about who liked who, but then she just bolted.”
“That’s not what I was expecting.”
“Me neither. It was like, she bet on us getting together or something and needed to go collect.”
“That’s strange.” Will was quiet for a moment. “Hey, since I just helped you with something, can I ask for a favor in return?”
“Yeah, of course.”
Calypso figured as long as Will was here, Leo and Nico were fine. She decided she wanted to hear Will’s problem as in the end it could help her.
“Is it possible to like more than one person at a time?” He asks. “Like, is it moral?”
“Oh, Will.” Lou Ellen breathes. “Was it true? Did you like me?”
“Oh, no, sorry, that was misleading.” Will apologizes. “It’s Nico. But there’s another boy who I never really gave thought to until recently.”
Silence sits between them.
“Can I know who?” Lou Ellen finally asks.
“I’m afraid.” Will whispers. “I’m afraid that if I say it, then it’ll be true and I’ll be…bad.”
“Has he been around Nico a lot lately?”
Silence again.
“Ah, it’s Leo, isn’t it?”
Another beat of silence.
“Polyamory isn’t new, nor is it immoral. As long as all parties involved know and are okay with it, that is.”
“I’m just so afraid of it. I don’t know, one minute it was Nico. He was all I thought about for months and then we got together and it was the best thing in my life. And then we broke up, and my world was tossed on its side.” Will’s voice cracks, “I mean, you know how bad I got, but then, Leo started being everywhere. And suddenly it was like, there were two suns I was orbiting around. Then, they were together and it was blinding. What if I lost my chance with either of them, much less both? And what if Nico doesn’t agree because, well, he is from a different time. Or, if Leo doesn’t even give me another thought. I don’t think I can handle that. But it hurts so badly to see them together. I also can’t stand the thought of just one of them. I feel so stuck, Lou, and I don’t know how to fix it.”
Calypso, still hidden behind the wall, felt like Zeus had sent a lightning bolt especially for her. Everything fell into place. Will never watched Lou, it was Leo that he was staring at. He didn’t ignore Nico, he was letting him go because he loved him. She also didn’t know what to do with this information. There were only two options she could think of:
First, she tells Leo and Nico everything Will just said, breaking Will’s confidence in Lou because he doesn’t know she’s there.
Second, she lets it go and does nothing. She leaves it to the Fates. Will doesn’t lose a friend, but there’s a chance he could lose both boys he loves.
A third voice chimes in saying she should reveal that she was listening and offer to help, but she stands scared. Will just unloaded a heartfelt and heavy story that was meant for Lou Ellen and if Calypso admits she was eavesdropping, it might scare Will away.
Before she can make a decision, Lou Ellen speaks.
“I’m not Calypso, so I can’t say with certainty, but I’ve seen the way Nico looks at you. I’ve watched Nico since the break up and I can say he’s not the same. Something’s not right and he knows it. I don’t know anything about Leo, but I know Nico misses you. Maybe, and I know she’s a meddler, but maybe talking to Calypso about Leo will help you decide what to do. I definitely don’t think you should give up on them, but let’s go calm down and come up with a plan.”
After those words, there is a beat of silence and then the sound of footsteps retreating. Calypso stands there just a little longer, reviewing everything in her mind. It has to be option B. She has faith in the Fates and, well, maybe she meddled too hard with this one. It’s up to the boys themselves now.
***
Hazel sits in the hard chair in Persephone’s garden looking at the paper in front of her. She passed the exam about the history of the 1970's, finally. Nico sits next to her, holding his modern literature notes and sighs.
“Who would have thought we missed so much.” He cracks a small smile and looks over to her. His smile falters.
“Are you okay?” He asks.
“Yeah, why do you ask?” She says. Her mind is moving quickly, not allowing her to really process her victory of passing.
“I thought you’d be more excited passing the 70’s.”
“Oh, yeah, I am excited. I’m just thinking about a lot of things right now.”
“Oh, do you want to talk about it? Signor Elias has left for the day.”
“I don’t know if I would know where to begin.” Hazel sighs.
“Let’s write it out. Not in a particular order, just, the first ones that come to mind.” Nico sits across from her now, flipping a sheet of paper over and taking out a pen. When Hazel stays silent, he looks up and tilts his head.
“What?”
“Where’d you learn that?”
He blushes. “Leo. He says when his brain gets too noisy, he writes every thought down and then starts with the list.”
“Interesting.” Hazel says. “Okay, well, then to start, I don’t know what to do with Reyna. Frank is still hiding something from me and I can’t get him to talk it out. I don’t feel like I know what I should be doing as Praetor now that the water system is in effect and functional. I don’t feel like I belong in this world, even after learning so much and doing so much to save it. I think, overall, I’m in a spiral of not knowing what to do with my life.”
Nico stopped writing partway through Hazel’s explanation and is now watching her carefully.
“Disregard Reyna and Frank right now. What do you want to do with your life?” He asks, leaning back.
“I don’t know. When I was younger, I wanted to be an artist, but in modern times that’s a joke. I also can’t just abandon the Twelfth Legion. I like what I’m doing when I have things to do. I enjoy the power and decision making, I love engaging with everyone and being looked to for guidance. That’s something that makes me feel safe and wanted. In reality, this is where I want to be, but I don’t know how to be a Praetor outside of war, I guess.”
“Kinda sounds like you know what to do with Reyna then.” Nico offers. “Ask her what her duties were before the war. Give yourself credit too, for advancing technology in New Rome. The water system is huge.”
“Sure, but now that it’s over, now what? Am I going to spend the rest of my life looking for the next project?”
“Yes and no. I don’t know if this will help, but instead of looking at it as a project or something you have to do, try taking it as just the next part of living. I know we both really struggle with the concept of living in general. In reality, we should be dead. Not just because we’re demigods, but because we’re just that old. But we’ve been given a chance to live again. To try life again, or well, try it fully this time. It's complicated and twisted, but ultimately, it’s still our first time being this age and living in this world, even if we don’t feel like it is.” Nico huffs in agitation. “I guess what I’m trying to say, sometimes just living is enough. Just spending time with friends or a lover is enough. Sitting on the grass, enjoying the sun, that’s what we were made for, not for taking on projects that would supposedly put our names in history. Sure, we already have a legacy, that’s undeniable. We played a major part in stopping the Giant War, but, maybe that’s all we need.”
Hazel doesn’t respond and starts chewing on the inside of her bottom lip, turning Nico’s words over in her mind. Maybe she really does just want to live and not necessarily look for problems to fix.
“And if you want to be an artist, then you can still do art. It’s not like you’d have to choose between being a Praetor and drawing.” Nico scoffs. Hazel cracks a smile at that. Maybe that was a dramatic ultimatum, but it led to what she needed to hear.
“Thank you, Nico.” She says, hoping he understood that she meant for everything.
“I’d do it all again for the rest of time if I need to.” He replies. “Now come on, you should confront Frank about what’s going on with him. That’ll be a weight off your shoulders.”
“What if it leads to the end of us?” She says quietly, looking down to her hands in her lap.
“It won’t.” Nico says simply. As if there’s never a chance that Hazel’s relationship with Frank would end.
“How do you know?”
“I’m your big brother, I know everything.” He says, a teasing smile on his face. She rolls her eyes.
“I’m serious, Nico.”
“I am, too.” He says, suddenly serious. “Frank loves you. So much that he genuinely looks for my approval, whether he realizes it or not. He wants you to be happy and I know whatever he’s going through, it's killing him that it's hurting you. You’ve always taken charge in your relationship, I know that. So, do it again. Push him just a little bit to be uncomfortable, and see what grows from it.”
“If my relationship goes south because of this, I’m gonna end up crying on your bed and crashing all your dates with Leo.” Hazel threatens. Nico laughs, though it sounds almost self-deprecating.
“I’ll accept that.” He says, offering a hand. “Let’s get you home.”
+++
Hazel finds Frank on the bank of the Little Tibur. She sits down next to him in silence and the two just sit in each other’s presence for a minute, the sun peaking through the clouds occasionally.
“I passed my exam on 1970’s history.” She says, breaking the peaceful silence. Frank turns to look at her, pride on his face.
“Congratulations,” He says with a soft smile, “What was your favorite moment?”
“None of it, the 70’s sucked.” She says. He chuckles and nods. Silence returns and Hazel rests her head on his shoulder.
“You can tell me anything, you know that right?” She says. “I will still love you?”
Frank tenses up for just a moment before settling back down. He starts to shift so he’s fully facing her.
“I know. I’ve been meaning to talk to you for a long time about it, and it's all excuses, but I’m scared and then the time would come, only to be interrupted.” He offers.
“We’re uninterrupted now.” She tries. “In fact, I think we will be for a while. I don’t want to take on any new projects unless it's handed to us.”
“I’m so glad to hear that.” He murmurs. “I’ve missed being able to just be Hazel and Frank.”
She leans in and gives him a soft kiss.
“Me too.”
“So, I’ll start by saying I can try to answer any questions you have, but some may be more difficult than others.” Frank begins, wiping his hands on his jeans and then reaching for Hazel’s. She sits in silence, waiting to hear him out, as patient as ever. “I’m transgender. Meaning, I was born as a girl but I’ve never really felt like one.”
“I know what it is.” Hazel says gently. “My mother had a friend before we moved. She was born a man but always said it didn’t feel right. I do have some questions, but none that are overly important right now. Right now, I want you to know that it doesn’t change how I feel about you. You’re Frank Zhang, my boyfriend and the person I’ve fallen in love with. So, if we need to work some things out, I’d do it until the end of time.”
Frank squeezes her hands and his vision goes blurry.
“I love you, Hazel Levesque, you really are an amazing girl.”
Hazel leans in again and kisses him, gently but with assuredness. Whatever else needs to happen will happen, but right now, her boyfriend is still her boyfriend and she loves him more than anything in the world.
Chapter 7: so just let your heart speak up and i'll know
Notes:
TW for a brief panic attack from "Finding a librarian, asking in a hushed voice for the help he needs and then following them to the same section he was already in." to "“I’m sorry.” He whispers. “You caught me at a really bad moment.”" Also a warning for Jason's scene, again he's dealing with some internalized aphobia. I'll do the same thing, end of chapter run down of his scene if you want to just skip it.
TW for slight schizphrenia in Nico's scene at the end of the chapter. Brief mentions of seeing things that aren't there, light discussion of his panic and trying to deal with it. I don't think it's enough to warrant a post chapter explanation/be skippable, but if you need me to, let me know via comments or my tumblr inbox and I'll change it.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
Jason has spent a week at New Rome now, and he was itching to get back to his projects. He’s packing his backpack when again, Thalia’s voice rattles around his head.
“Okay, when you get back to either camp, look up asexuality and know it's a spectrum.”
He didn’t do it. He actually avoided New Rome’s college library like a plague. He didn’t know why, but something in him was afraid to find out what Thalia knew. Sitting in his bunk, he contemplates his options. He could leave right now and put the whole thing out of his mind. Or he could go and find out what Thalia knows, maybe helping him understand more about why he’s so different. Gods, this is just so frustrating. If he was just normal, he wouldn’t be feeling like this. He grabs his packed bag and heads for the door. He heads towards the library and passes students and soldiers alike on the way. He’s so lost in his own thoughts that he doesn’t hear someone running up to him.
“Earth to lightning boy?” Percy says when he’s within earshot of Jason. Jason starts and looks to his right to find the brunette’s head tilted in question. “You okay?”
“Er, yeah. Sorry, I guess I was just lost in my head.” Jason replies. He shakes his head and focuses on Percy. “What about you? You and Annabeth worked it out yet?”
Percy waved his hand, a grin growing on his face.
“Yeah, we figured it out. We always will.” Percy says with certainty. He eyes Jason again with a uncertain look in his eye. “Are you sure you’re alright? You seem a little more off than normal.”
“Thanks.” Jason says, sarcastically. “I’m fine, I swear. I was actually just heading to the library. I needed to, um…” He realizes he hasn’t spoken to anybody except Thalia about this yet and he’s suddenly nervous. “A new god’s altar.”
“Oh, yeah, no worries. I’ll let you go, but hey, you're still coming to the new years party, right?” Percy asks. Shit, Jason definitely forgot about that. Percy invited everyone to his mom’s for New Years and Jason had agreed to go.
“Yeah! Yeah, definitely, wouldn’t miss it.” Jason replies. It’s not that big of a deal, not like Jason really has any other plans…
“Okay, cool. Take care of yourself lightning boy.” Percy says and then heads off towards New Rome University dorms. Jason turns back to his route towards the library and climbs the steps. He enters the building and immediately goes towards the sexuality and gender section. He peruses the aisles, scanning books until realizing he doesn’t even know where to start. He bites his lip and tries not to tear up. Killing giants? Easy. Finding information about asexuality? Nearly impossible.
He takes a deep breath and leans against the shelf of books behind him. He needs to ask someone. His cheeks grow warm at the thought of it. Finding a librarian, asking in a hushed voice for the help he needs and then following them to the same section he was already in.
“Jason?” A familiar voice calls out. Nope, this is it. This is how he breaks. Reyna rounds the corner and comes up to him as his breathing quickens.
“Whoa, hey. What’s wrong?” She asks, growing concerned. He can’t speak. His vision is blurry and the books in front of him are blurring together. He can’t catch his breath.
“Okay, come on, let’s sit down.” Reyna reaches out a hand to set it on his shoulder and guides him to the floor. He sits down, face in his hands and knees pulled up as she kneels in front of him.
“Inhale, two, three, four. Hold, two, three, four. Exhale, two, three, four. Hold, two, three, four.” She says and repeats until Jason is able to keep focused on her words, following the instructions. Eventually, Jason catches his breath and exhales shakily.
“I’m sorry.” He whispers. “You caught me at a really bad moment.”
“I can tell.” Reyna whispers back, scratching the back of his head. It’s comfortable, something calming that he’s always loved. She’s always known how to comfort him.
“Do you want to talk about it?” She asks, gently. He raises his face from his hands and finally sees her, the concerned pinch in her eyebrows, her brown eyes watching him with nothing but support and love.
“Thalia told me to look up asexuality.” He whispers, almost afraid. Which is a joke, if anyone other than his sister would be the one to stand by him as his world ended, it would be Reyna. “I think, whatever it is, I might be that.”
“Oh, Jason, that’s nothing to be afraid of.” Reyna says. “I’m asexual.”
The words linger in the air between them. Reyna had said it as easy as breathing, as something not to be ashamed of, and while Jason was sure he knew it wasn’t a bad thing, something in him was afraid. Afraid that he wasn’t the image of perfection that everyone expected from him.
His next breath was easier.
“What is it? Can you help me find definitions?” He asks, weary but wanting to finally know.
“Of course.” Reyna replies. She rises and holds her hand out to help him to his feet. She continues to hold his hand, firm and steady, as they walk through the aisle, looking for books she remembers reading from when she was questioning. They find a couple and tuck away into a corner, opening them one at a time and finding the explanations that help soothe Jason’s soul.
“I can’t believe I let myself get so worked up over this.” He exhales, closing the final book. He discovered that he was what was called sex averse.
“Don’t beat yourself up about it. It’s difficult, especially in an allo world.” Reyna replies, then starts to laugh. “Although, it’s kind of funny thinking that might be why you and I made such a good team.”
Jason joins her. Of course that makes sense. Neither of them were attracted to the other, even with all the time they had spent together. Silence surrounds them as Jason continues processing what he learned that day.
“Thank you, Reyna. I don’t think I would have been able to do this without your help.” Jason says, quietly. “And it really helped, a lot. I feel like a weight has been lifted.”
“I’m glad. I’m always here for you, you know.” She replies. He can see something in her posture that isn’t normal. He wants to comfort her as she had helped him, but he’s unsure of himself. No, she needs a friend now too.
“Are you doing okay? I mean, I haven’t really seen you since you got back to New Rome, are you settling back in?” He asks. He watches her chew on the inside of her lip, an old habit she picked up when they became praetors.
“I think I’m annoying Hazel.” She says, chuckling a little anxiously. “I feel like I’m hovering too much and it’s intimidating them. But I also don’t know what I should be doing. I’m not Praetor anymore, and it’s kind of messing with me. In a way, I wished I’d stayed with the Hunt.”
“Were you happy with them?” Jason asks. He thinks most importantly, happiness should be the reason someone does something.
“Not really, but I’m also not happy here. I feel like I don’t have a purpose, you know?” She says. “It seems like everyone else has one, and I’m just here. I mean, Percy and Annabeth are going to school, Hazel and Frank are Praetors, even Nico’s made the decision to seek help for his issues from Tartarus, and I’m just here . With no plan, no future and no idea of what to do.”
Jason takes in the information and tries to figure out what to say.
“Do you need one?” He asks, blunt as he normally is. “I mean, isn’t it enough to just live? Maybe a plan or direction would help, sure, but do you need one to live day to day?”
“That might be easier for you to say, since you have a direction.” She snaps, then she immediately recoils. “I’m-”
“No, you’re right. I think if I didn’t have the altars, I’d be a little listless too. But, I also know that one day, I’m not going to need to do the altars, they will all be done. And then I’ll be in your exact spot. So, I think what I’m trying to say is, maybe you don’t have an exact path, but you know that tomorrow you will wake up, you’ll brush your teeth and continue to do what you like to do, even if it's just something in that moment you want to do.” He explains.
It is now Reyna’s turn to digest the information provided to her. Jason gives her all the time she needs to process it as he knows sometimes what he says can be a little abstract, especially for someone like Reyna who’s better with concrete thinking. That’s kind of why they were so well, he was the thinker, the dreamer, and she was the actionable, the sword.
“I don’t know if I can keep doing that for the rest of my life.” She finally admits.
“That’s understandable, I don’t think the goal is to do that for the rest of your life, though. I think it’s just to do it until you find something you’re really passionate about, even if it's for a little while.” Jason replies. “If you want a change of scenery, you’re more than welcome to join me in the wilderness.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to be a bother, and I wouldn’t know how to do what you do.” She says.
“Yeah, I’m sure. You’re my best friend, Reyna. Probably the one person who knows me better than myself. Plus, it gets kinda lonely sometimes out there. I mean, Thalia drops by sometimes, but for the most part I’m alone.”
“Sure, then. At the least, I can feel like I can help. Like, hunt or something.” She says, still a little upset.
“Hey, I mean it,” Jason says, “It’s not the end of the world. We’re still really young, and it’s been really hard the last few years. There’s so much we can do, and we don’t need to know exactly what to do yet. Let’s spend a year messing around and finding out.”
Reyna starts to smile a little bit at that.
“Okay, that sounds easier. Having the time frame is easier.” She says. “Thank you, Jason.”
“Love ya, Rey.” He replies. He picks up the books around them and goes to drop them on the to-be-shelved cart and waits for Reyna before they exit the library together.
***
Calypso wasn’t intending to stalk Will. It just happened that she found him almost everywhere she turned. Was it the guilt of eavesdropping on his conversation? Was he just always there? She didn’t know. She did know that the guilt of knowing his biggest concern right now without him knowing was starting to weigh on her. She needed to confess to him, especially since from what she could tell, Leo and Nico were still moving steadily in a direction without him. Thus she finds herself standing outside of the Apollo cabin, nudging pebbles around with her feet. She hears the door open and her head snaps up to find Kalya exiting the cabin.
“Did you need something?” Kayla asks, leaning against the porch railing. “You’ve been standing out here for too long to be normal.”
Calypso frowns at that. She didn’t mean to be weird, nor did she want to impart any knowledge onto Will’s siblings about his situation.
“I am looking for Will. I would like to talk to him, alone if possible.” She finally says. Kayla nods and then walks back inside. For a minute, Calypso thinks she just wanted to know and left her alone to find Will. Then the door opens again, this time Will accompanying the red and green haired girl.
“Kayla says you’re looking for me?” He asks, almost amused that Calypso is here. Kayla passes Calypso in front of the cabin and it's just Calypso and Will. “Come on in.”
Calypso enters the cabin and is greeted with different bundles of herbs hanging to dry out, bunks and shelves all along the walls, and a pot of hyacinths growing on the windowsills.
“So, what can I do for ya?” He asks and flashes her one of his wider smiles. She starts to pick at her fingernails and thinks for a minute on how to approach the subject. She eventually decides to just blurt it out.
“I overheard you and Lou Ellen the other day.” Calypso exhales. “I deeply apologize, I should not have stayed and listened, I know, but for some reason I was possessed and I did. I have not told a soul, though, and I will not.”
“Whoa, hang on, which time? I talk to Lou Ellen a lot.” He cuts her off. She pulls at a loose cuticle.
“When you were talking about Nico…and Leo.” She whispers the last two words and watches it sink in on his face. His smile drops slightly and his eyes change, as if he were mentally putting up armor to soften any verbal blows coming his way.
“Again, I really am sorry. I should have said something sooner and I definitely should have walked away.” She rambles, trying to reassure him. “I do not think of you any less.”
“You don’t?” He asks, eyes softening just a fraction. “You don’t think I’m greedy for wanting two boys?”
“Of course not. Love cannot be greedy.”
Will takes a step backwards from Calypso and leans against the bed behind him.
“What?” He croaks, almost as if his throat were full of something.
“I do not understand many things still, and in all honesty, a lot of what I have learned about society has almost gone backwards, but I still think this is true: Love cannot be greedy. If you love Nico, and you love Leo, then there is no way you are greedy or lower than anyone else for asking for both.”
“Back home, if I were to say any of this aloud with my mortal friends, I’d be dead meat.” Will says abruptly. “Sorry, wait, you don’t deserve that, that’s mean.”
“No, no, go ahead. You must have a reason for saying it, and if it is too much, I will tell you and come back later.” Calypso reassures him. Will looks into her eyes, almost as if he’s looking for a hidden motive.
“You’re right, in that society has gone almost backwards. I mean, even just being with one boy as another boy is dangerous in some places. But we, the culture, is coming around to accepting it. When I was younger, so many times I was told inadvertently that I was immoral and bad because of who I love. I knew young that I liked girls and boys, so of course, that did damage. But then, I don’t know, my mom stood behind me so it was easier. She doesn’t know that I’m maybe polyamorous. I mean, coming out as bi is one thing, and she was really good with it, but I almost feel like I’m pushing my luck by telling her I have two partners. I mean, ultimately she’s mortal too, and grew up in the same society that we’re talking about now and I just, I don’t want to disappoint her, or be a problem.”
“You do know that we are Greek right? As in, it is in our blood?” Calypso almost teases him. A puff of air leaves his nose in an almost-laugh. “We Grecians have always had a weird concept of love and intimacy. It’s not foreign to us to have many partners, I mean, look at our deities. There’s a reason so many of our mortal myths focus on the many partners of our gods. It’s to remind us that there are always different ways to love and that us humans, who were made to reflect our gods, are so full of that love that sometimes we need to share it with more than one person. Your mother sounds like she’s a good person, even more so knowing she caught one of our gods’ attention. I have a feeling that she won’t look at you differently for loving more than one person.”
After hearing her words, Will takes a minute to digest them and turn them over in his head. At the same time, Calypso considers what he’d said earlier.
“While you are considering my words, can I ask what you meant earlier about it ‘being dangerous’ to love another boy?”
“What do you mean?” He asks in return.
“Why would it be dangerous?”
“Oh, well,” Will takes a deep breath as if he’s about to share hurtful information, “Some places in the U.S. still have what is called Gay Panic Defense, meaning that if somebody is gay and is attacked, or sometimes killed, the attacker can claim it was in defense of the gay person making advances on them. This sort of court ruling is just one example. Others are hate crimes, which are usually crimes acted towards minorities, in this sense the queer community.”
Calypso’s mouth falls open in horror.
“And that’s just, allowed?!” She cries, bringing a hand to her mouth. Oh gods, now it makes sense why Leo was so nervous to tell her that he was gay.
“I mean, it’s still a crime, but more often than not, they tend to be swept under the rug and ignored.” Will tries to explain. “There’s a lot of systemic issues that lead to why it’s dangerous to be queer and open about it. Most of the time, unless you are in a neighborhood in a city that’s designated as the ‘gay-borhood’, you’d probably keep to yourself out of safety. Unless of course you were with your friend group as there’s safety in numbers.”
“That is terrible. I mean, that is just horrible to learn.”
“Yeah, well, I mean, it’s getting better!” Will tries, “We’re kinda getting there. We can get married, there’s more societal acceptance for homosexuality in all its facets. Now we kinda have to do the same thing for gender identity, but that’s fine, our community has done it before.”
Silence falls between them.
“You really think it’ll be okay?” Will asks, circling back to the whole reason Calypso is here.
“Yes, I do. In fact, I have a feeling that the other two would like to hear from you.” She says. “I do not know what exactly their thoughts will be, but I think both of them would like to know what you are thinking.”
“I don’t know if I’m ready but I will keep it in mind.” He says.
“Okay, I will let you be for now, but if you need anything in the future, please do let me know. And like I said, I will keep everything a secret, I swear it.” Calypso says, holding Will’s eyes. “I’ll swear it on a certain river if you would like me to.”
“No!” Will yelps, “No, that’s not worth swearing your life on. I trust you.”
Calypso nods at him in thanks. “I will see you around, Will.” She then leaves through the door she came in and wanders off, leaving Will to think over everything again until his head hurts. Gods, he just wants to take that step into the unknown.
***
The campfire is roaring in the center of the campers all huddled around it. It’s grown a lot colder in the last couple weeks as December started and even though the shield helps a little bit, the temperature still drops dramatically. Leo is warm though and Nico doesn’t hesitate to lean into his boyfriend, trying to soak up the warmth the other provides. Seriously, he’s like a walking space heater. Nico isn’t all that interested in singing around the campfire, but he enjoys the heat and energy that the event gives. He’s been trying a lot more to get involved with things happening around the camp. Mr. D says it’ll help keep him grounded when Tartarus whispers from the corners of his mind. He also attends because Leo likes going to the sessions, and Nico loves Leo’s grin as he sings with the rest of camp.
Nico also likes going because it's one of the few activities when he sees Will again, but he wouldn’t admit that to anyone yet. Although, by how he’s been watching Leo the last couple days, he may be more ready than he thought. Even now, Nico is aware that Leo hasn’t been able to keep his eyes off of Will, and while that kind of stings, it also helps nurture the faint ember of hope that lit in his chest the first time he caught Leo watching the blond. He holds that ember close though and hasn’t told a soul out of fear that it would be burnt out.
The fire starts dying down and the older campers start herding the younger ones back to their cabins. Nico is starting to feel a little sleepy as well, but he really wanted to talk to Leo before he went to sleep.
“Walk me to my cabin?” Nico mumbles. Leo’s grin returns and the sparkle of adoration in his eyes makes Nico feel warmer than the fire ever could.
“Of course!” He chirps. The two get up off the log they were sitting on and Nico’s aware of eyes that watch the two of them leave the circle. He’s been hyper aware of those eyes since that day in the fields. The two make their way to Nico’s dark cabin and in through the door.
“Thank you.” Nico says, now that it’s just the two of them. “I wanted to, erm, can I ask a question?”
“Of course.” Leo says, sitting at the edge of one of two beds in the cabin. Nico had added a bed after the Giant War, intending for Hazel to have a place to stay if she needed to leave New Rome.
“How long have you had a crush on Will?” Nico asks. Leo’s mouth parts in surprise.
“I-” He starts, “I don’t know what…I mean, I-”
“It’s okay. Really, I mean, out of everyone, I get it.” Nico reassures. “I just want to know, was I a plan to try and get his atten-”
“No. Absolutely not.” Leo says with a conviction that makes Nico swallow his words. “I like you, Nico. I really, really do. When I heard you were single, gods, I was so excited. I’ve liked you since the Argo II.”
“But you like Will, too?”
“Yes.” Leo breathes out. “I’m sorry, I didn’t want to. I especially didn’t want you to know. I never want to hurt you or make you feel badly and I’m really sorry if this ruins us, I don’t want that either. I just can’t stop for some reason.”
“I can’t say I fully understand, but I do kind of get it. I like you, a lot. I was very pleased when we got together but I haven’t been able to stop loving Will. I thought that’s what I needed, but I don’t know. My mind has been a mess since Tartarus and I was afraid of a lot of things, I think.”
“Is that why you’ve been pulling away lately?” Leo asks, quietly.
“Yes.” Nico replies. “I haven’t shared it with anyone other than Will or Mr. D, but Tartarus really skewed my perception of reality. It’s getting really hard to figure out what is and what isn’t real, my nightmares are too real, the things I’m seeing aren’t right and it’s difficult. I’ve been trying to not let it affect our relationship, but apparently it hasn’t been working.”
Nico tries really hard not to start chewing his lip, or staring at the monstrosity he sees in the corner of his eye. Giving it power makes it worse . That was one of the first things Mr. D had told him.
“Thank you for telling me. I’m sorry you’re going through that but I’m sure Mr. D is helping a lot.” Leo says, unsure how to comfort Nico.
“Thank you.” He replies. His head is swimming again. He’s hearing whispers and thinking about Leo and Will and it’s starting to give him a headache. He reaches up to rub his left temple.
“I’m sorry,” Nico says, “My head is starting to hurt.”
“That’s okay. We were talking about both of us liking Will. We can pick it back up in the morning if you want?” Leo replies, worried about the boy in front of him.
“No, no. I want to figure this out.” Nico says, adamantly. Leo rubs his fingers over the cuticles of his thumb and hesitates, briefly.
“Okay,” He allows, “Have you heard of polyamory? It's having more than one partner in a relationship. It can look like all three people in the same relationship, or three sets of relationships between three different people. It’s unconventional, and I can’t guarantee that Will would even be interested because, trust me, coming from Texas, it’s complicated to even be queer, and then adding more partners is almost unheard of. But we could try it, if you’re interested?”
Nico had closed his eyes as Leo spoke. He focuses on the other boy’s voice and processes the words slowly, but still processes them.
“Give me a moment to think it through?” Nico asks.
“Of course.” Leo replies. He knows that Nico needs to think about every possible outcome of a situation before he can make a decision, that’s something he learned about the boy in their short relationship.
Nico continues to keep his eyes closed and thinks it through. It sounds almost sinful, but again, how much has he done that was deemed ‘sinful’ already. Worst case is he ends up in Tartarus where half his mind feels like it is already, that’s not much worse. No, worst case scenario is Will isn’t interested in polyamory and Nico loses him forever. Or he loses both of them forever. Or, Will is interested and they try it out and they can’t keep it together.
On the other hand, it could work out. Nico tries to picture it, the three of them together, freely sharing soft kisses and words, holding hands, sharing their accomplishments together and it makes Nico so, so warm. Warmer than anything he’s felt since before Bianca went on that quest. He wants that.
“Okay.” Nico finally says into the quiet of the cabin. He opens his eyes and the monstrosity in the corner is gone. Leo is the only thing in his sight.
“Okay?” Leo asks.
“I want to try it. I can’t think of being happy without both of you and I don’t want to try.” Nico says. “I want you both, selfish as it may be.”
Leo begins to grin again.
“It’s not selfish, in fact, I’d say it's the opposite. You have more love than for just one person.”
Nico smiles softly. He truly does like Leo, in a deep way that’s nearly bordering love. Someday soon, he’ll be ready to say it.
“We’ll talk to Will tomorrow, then. Try to sleep tonight.” Leo speaks again.
“Would you…” Nico hesitates. What if it's too early?
“I will.” Leo says, softly. He stands from the bed he’s sitting on, takes off his shoes and lays down on Nico’s bed, leaving an opening for Nico to lay into him. Nico breathes easy for the first time since August. He has a plan now.
Notes:
Jason's Scene: He goes to the New Rome library, get caught by Percy on the way, they have an exchange and Jason is reminded of the New Year's party at Percy's mother's apartment. He continues to the library to learn about asexuality, gets overwhelmed by not even knowing where to start looking, gets anxious to ask a librarian, Reyna finds him and triggers a panic attack in him. His panic stems from not feeling like he's living up to what he's supposed to be. Reyna helps him calm down, confides in him that she's also asexual and helps him learn and understand it better. They then have a long talk about the things Reyna is struggling with that end in a decision for her to go with him to work on the altars while she takes life a day at a time until she discovers what she wants to do for the rest of her life.
Chapter 8: i wanna hear your mother tongue
Notes:
There are no warnings, this is it! I'm so very thankful to everyone who subscribed, waited for me to finish this and to my friends who literally spent like 2.5 hours doing sprints with me so that I could finish this fic without burning out over it. Having that level of support means so much. I really hope this feels like a good ending because I really enjoyed writing it.
That being said, perhaps in the future, I will do a sequel that is focused on just Soldezangelo and where they go from here. It's a college AU of sorts and I've got the bare bones already written, but I'm just jumping back into writing so we'll see where it pops up.
Chapter Text
The next morning, Leo wakes up to Nico still snoring softly into his shirt. Memories from the night before come back to him and his heart skips a beat. They were going to talk to Will. He could stop pining from afar and he could keep Nico. Maybe. That’s not worth worrying over right now, though, because right now he’s got one of them in his arms and they’re both still safe.
Nico begins to stir and Leo just watches him wake up and begin to process the world around them. Panic in Nico’s eyes flash before settling down again and Leo lets it go, unsure if he really should or not.
“Morning.” Leo says softly, trying to calm him down. Nico hums in response and sits up, legs dangling off the side of the bed. Leo rolls onto his back and stretches.
“Are you okay?” He asks Nico.
“Yeah, sorry, I had a moment when I first woke. I’m okay now.” Nico reassures him. They’re silent for a moment and Leo realizes he’s still wearing yesterday’s clothes.
“I have to change before breakfast.” He sits up, wanting nothing more than to press a kiss to Nico’s forehead. His shoes sit undisturbed next to the other bed and he reaches off the side for them.
“Yeah.” Nico says, stilted. Leo frowns and puts his shoes on. He stands and walks over to the other side where Nico is staring at a wall, seemingly a thousand miles away. Leo squats down in front of him.
“Look at me?” He asks, taking Nico’s hands in his own. “It’s a little nerve wracking, but I’m sure that Will will be receptive to it. I have to change, but I won’t be more than 15 minutes, okay?”
Nico nods, coming back to Earth. “I’m sorry.” He whispers.
Leo shakes his head.
“I understand now. It’ll be okay. We’ll be okay.” Leo says. Nico’s eyes flick to his and nods. Leo can see a fire light behind his look and a smile grows on his face. “Good, I’ll be right back.”
Leo stands and leaves Nico’s cabin. He walks across the grass to his own cabin and sneaks in as his siblings start stirring. The sun is just under the horizon but internal clocks are nice and reliable. Leo goes to his bunk and finishes changing as the sun peeks the horizon. He passes his siblings on the way back out and exits his cabin to find the Apollo kids exiting their cabin, heading off for different things. Will and Kayla head to the firepit with a couple buckets to clear out the ash again. Leo’s breath hitches as the break of dawn light encircles Will. He looks much more gorgeous in real life than through a window.
Leo’s attention flits to the Hades cabin where Nico is now on the porch, also watching Will. Leo smiles. This could be everyday. He could see it, Will and him waking up early and working on their things while Nico slowly wakes to the world and greets them. It makes his heart so full he has to pause to catch his breath.
He finally gets back to Nico and waits for a minute, both of them admiring Will in the rising sunlight.
“Now or after breakfast?” Leo asks.
“Now. If we do it after breakfast, I might puke.” Nico says. Leo wraps around him and squeezes.
“Alright then. Let’s go.”
The two leave the porch and approach the firepit, where Kayla is holding the metal bucket that Will is scooping ash into. Kayla sees the two boys walking up and says something to Will, who looks up at the two.
“Morning.” Leo says to them. “Will, do you have a moment?”
Kayla looks at Nico, then Leo and finally to Will with a sly smile playing on her lips as if she knows something.
“I’m gonna go help Austin.” She says, setting the bucket down and walks away before Will even responds. The blond turns away from the pit and takes a seat in the dirt around it. Leo and Nico also take a seat. The three of them are facing each other as equally as possible. Will talks first.
“I’m kinda glad you guys came up to me. I’ve been wanting to talk to you about something.” He says, starting to get nervous and Leo’s heart drops to his feet. Oh, no. What if he’s about to tell them he’s upset with Leo and pronounce his love for Nico?
“Actually, we have something we wanted to talk to you about, too.” Nico says, dark eyes piercing Will to the spot. He doesn’t continue though, as if he’s afraid to really say it out loud, even after his and Leo’s conversation last night. Perhaps it was the public location.
“Nico and I were talking last night and we decided that we both like you. Like, really like you. And I know it’s not conventional and it’s kinda weird, especially coming from Texas, and you may not even be into me, which would hurt a little bit, I won’t lie, but maybe, I mean, would you be interested in joining our relationship?” Leo babbles out. Gods, he’s never been more nervous about anything in his life. The closest was the flight back with Calypso while he was trying to figure out how to tell her about Lityerses. Will sits, silent, and that scared Leo more than ever.
“Will?” Nico asks, gently.
“Gods, yes.” Will breathes out. His eyes start to shine. “I’ve been so afraid to talk about it. Nico, gods, when we broke up…I couldn’t stop. I tried so hard, but I couldn’t stop loving you and then when you got with Leo, it broke me even more because Leo was the only other person I’d considered outside of you and then things got so messy, and Calypso brought up Lou Ellen and it was a disaster.”
Leo fights hard to keep his smile down after Will mentions Calypso. Gods, he felt bad though.
“That might have been my doing, indirectly.” Leo admits. “Cal was trying to help, really, but she didn’t consider polyamory and then I think she got too attached to matchmaking two couples.”
“Well, she did it. Kind of. I mean, us and Lou Ellen and Cecil.” Will replies. He smiles and everything is okay again.
“So does this mean you’re interested? In us, I mean.” Nico asks, unsure. Will laughs, openly and freely.
“Yes. I mean, we need to figure some things out, but yes.” Will says. “And by things, I mean, I’ve never been in a polyamorous relationship so I’m nervous about how it’d work and things like that, but if I were to try it with anyone, it’d be you two. Obviously.”
“I think that’s it!” Leo says. “I think its just about communication, like a normal relationship, but being very clear. Like, I’m a little afraid of self-sabotaging good things, I know that’ll affect us eventually but since I know, I want to make it clear now that I don’t actually want us to break. Does that make sense?”
Nico and Will both nod. It makes Leo feel like he’s done something right.
“Honesty and communication.” Nico muses. “In that case, you both know that I’m still struggling with the effects of Tartarus. That’s likely to make me pull away. I’m still seeing Mr. D and trying to figure out a permanent solution, but there may not ever be one. If anything changes of course, I’ll tell you. But I might go through periods of being distant.”
“If there’s anything you can think of that would help you, let us know.” Will says, laying a hand on Nico’s knee and Leo’s heart grows at the sight. Gods, they were all together! He could do that to Will too! He could hold Will’s hand too. He can’t help the grin growing on his face.
“What?” Nico asks him.
“I can hold Will’s hand too, now.” He replies. “I’m just so happy.”
The other two match his grin and it felt so warm between the three of them. It wasn’t perfect, and there was a lot to talk about. But for now, they get to sit on the dirt by the firepit and just be with each other for the first time, all together.
***
New Year’s Eve arrived faster than anyone could anticipate and Percy for one was ecstatic to be back with his mother in New York. His finals were over, all of his friends, his family, were currently milling about the apartment, catching up and spending time together. This, in Percy’s opinion, was what the holiday season was about.
“Perce, where’s the suitcase?” Annabeth calls from the hallway. They had packed their clothes together in one duffel bag and all their presents in another suitcase. At the time, Percy was overjoyed! It felt domestic, in a way, traveling together and sharing a suitcase. He still loves hearing her call to him to ask about it.
“In the closet!” He calls back. He’s glad he picked out the one thing he didn’t want her to see before she even remembered presents. The ring box felt hot against his leg and he was nervous still, even though everyone knew it was coming. He wanted to propose after the countdown to start their year off engaged. He fiddles with the imprint of it and surveys the room. Jason and Reyna had arrived first with their backpacks and a bag full of random trinkets they’d found while traveling for the last couple weeks. Then Nico, Will, Leo and Calypso arrived, bringing food along with them. Hazel and Frank were next and now, they were just waiting for Piper, who shared with Percy that she was bringing a plus one.
Percy looks at Nico who sits on the couch between his boyfriends . Gods, he’d love to corner Nico and tease the younger boy about it, but Percy wasn’t sure he was going to be able to tonight. Mostly, he was just happy to see Nico so relaxed and happy to be here. He had heard from others around Camp Half-Blood that he’s been a lot more involved in the camp activities lately. Percy thinks that Nico just looks so at peace and it makes him so happy for the boy.
+++
Annabeth is searching for Will’s present when she hears the front door open and the noise of the apartment rises. She leaves the room to find Piper and another girl in the entryway, shaking off their outside shoes. She runs up to Piper and pulls her into a big hug.
“Pipes!” She cries out. “I haven’t seen you in months, are you good? How was the move?”
Piper laughs as Annabeth extracts herself from Piper.
“I’m doing really good, actually. I’ve actually been helping my dad a lot and spent some time with him. I got enrolled in a normal school for the spring. But, more fun, I’d like to introduce you to my girlfriend, Shel.” She gestures to the girl next to her. Annabeth thinks she’s gorgeous. Tanned skin, short black hair and deep brown eyes. Her arms are toned and she looks at Piper like she hung the stars herself.
“Hello, I’m Annabeth.” Annabeth introduces herself and then ushers the girls into the living room.
“Were we the last ones?” Piper asks, cringing.
“Yeah, but that’s not a bad thing!” Annabeth replies. “I was actually grabbing Percy’s and my presents when you came in, we were about to start that.”
“Oh, awesome, just in time then!” Piper holds up the plastic bag in her right hand and takes Shel to go sit on the floor next to the couch. Annabeth runs back to the room she and Percy were staying in and brings out the suitcase of presents.
The next ten minutes are a flurry of presents being thrown, passed and slid over the floor to different people around the room. Even a few set aside for Percy’s mom, step dad and sister when they returned. Annabeth takes her position sitting on the armrest of Percy’s chair and watches the chaos unfold.
“Happy Christmas, everyone!” Leo calls out and is met with a chorus of responses wishing Merry Christmas.
+++
The group finishes presents at least 20 minutes before the final countdown and nobody wanted to go to the roof that early, so they continued to spend the time swapping stories. Nico couldn’t care one way or another, but he was glad to be among friends. He was equally glad that his sister was able to make it. She sits down next to him on the couch and leans into him.
“We survived another year.” She says. He nods next to her.
“I think we’re good for at least another 5 now.” He replies. She laughs and he gives her a smile.
“It looks like you and Frank worked it out?” He nudges. She blushes deeply and he raises and eyebrow. “What does that mean?”
“Yeah, we did. We, uh, talked after I got back that day you gave me the advice in the Underworld. It went really well, actually.” She explains. Nico can tell she’s leaving something out, but since it's Hazel, he figured if it was important enough, she would tell him.
“You look at peace. Like, you finally found what you’re looking for.” He says. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear.
“I have.” She says, earnestly. “I like where I’m at in life. I’m taking it one day at a time, and it’s been really good.”
“Good, that’s all I want for you.” Nico replies. The television in front of the group flickers to the NYC Ball Drop, where the five minute clock pops up.
“It’s time!!” Percy announces and they all move at once, putting on their heavy coats and thick shoes to climb the fire escape to the roof. Nico finds Will and Leo once he gets up there and hooks an arm in each of theirs then puts his hands back in his coat. Fireworks are going off in different neighborhoods around them and the sky is alive with color.
Another year. Nico thinks. Even just one more would be more than I could ask for .
It feels like all of New York steps outside as shouting voices can be heard, counting down the seconds until the new year and Nico’s friends all join in. Nico also joins in, shouting the numbers.
“5…4…3…2…1!!” He shouts, overjoyed to be with people he’s come to feel like family with. He looks around and sees Hazel cradled in Frank's arms, Piper and Shel leaned in together, and Percy and Annabeth kissing. He’s pulled from his watching as Leo puts his hands on his face and gives him a peck on the lips, swiftly followed by Will.
“Happy New Year, sunshine.” Will says, fondly. Nico is so happy he could fall through the floor. Nearby, he hears a near shriek and whips his head to see Percy kneeled on one knee in front of Annabeth, every one of their friends beaming around them.
“Annabeth Chase, you are the only woman I could ever see myself with for the rest of my life. We have survived literal hell together and I can’t think of anyone else who I’d rather have at my side than you. You are my one and only person, would you be my one and only for the rest of our lives?” Percy says, green eyes full of adoration and hope. Nico can’t help but grin himself, he’s been expecting this for years and where before it might’ve hurt a little bit, actually living it has no negative response from him.
“Of course, Percy.” Annabeth says, eyes watery and full of laughter. Percy stands up and slides the ring onto her finger. Everyone moves in to congratulate them with hugs and claps on the back.
One more year, we can go one more.
Pages Navigation
Total_Eclipse on Chapter 1 Tue 17 Nov 2020 06:33PM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 1 Tue 17 Nov 2020 07:04PM UTC
Comment Actions
aprilshxwers on Chapter 1 Tue 17 Nov 2020 08:50PM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 1 Tue 17 Nov 2020 09:40PM UTC
Comment Actions
AquaEclipse on Chapter 1 Tue 17 Nov 2020 11:40PM UTC
Last Edited Tue 17 Nov 2020 11:41PM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 1 Wed 18 Nov 2020 02:07AM UTC
Comment Actions
depressed_alien3 on Chapter 1 Mon 07 Dec 2020 02:08PM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 1 Mon 07 Dec 2020 11:27PM UTC
Comment Actions
akaashidaydreams on Chapter 1 Mon 31 May 2021 05:59AM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 1 Mon 31 May 2021 06:30AM UTC
Comment Actions
Magnus Fierro Chase (Guest) on Chapter 2 Fri 25 Dec 2020 06:32PM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 2 Sat 26 Dec 2020 07:45AM UTC
Comment Actions
depressed_alien3 on Chapter 2 Sat 26 Dec 2020 10:44PM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 2 Sat 26 Dec 2020 11:24PM UTC
Comment Actions
akaashidaydreams on Chapter 2 Mon 31 May 2021 07:21AM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 2 Mon 31 May 2021 10:34AM UTC
Comment Actions
AquaEclipse on Chapter 3 Tue 29 Dec 2020 11:27AM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 3 Tue 29 Dec 2020 09:34PM UTC
Comment Actions
Adelina (Guest) on Chapter 3 Sun 03 Jan 2021 07:17PM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 3 Mon 04 Jan 2021 06:05AM UTC
Comment Actions
akaashidaydreams on Chapter 3 Mon 31 May 2021 08:01AM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 3 Mon 31 May 2021 10:36AM UTC
Comment Actions
ClumsilyRead on Chapter 3 Thu 11 Nov 2021 01:04AM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 3 Thu 23 Dec 2021 01:00AM UTC
Comment Actions
k1t3clisp3 on Chapter 3 Sun 04 May 2025 03:41PM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 3 Mon 05 May 2025 07:42AM UTC
Comment Actions
k1t3clisp3 on Chapter 3 Wed 07 May 2025 01:05PM UTC
Comment Actions
depressed_alien3 on Chapter 4 Mon 18 Jan 2021 08:20PM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 4 Mon 18 Jan 2021 08:49PM UTC
Comment Actions
depressed_alien3 on Chapter 4 Wed 17 Mar 2021 09:57PM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 4 Thu 18 Mar 2021 12:48AM UTC
Comment Actions
akaashidaydreams on Chapter 4 Fri 18 Jun 2021 08:18AM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 4 Fri 30 Jul 2021 06:39AM UTC
Comment Actions
SomeoneWarms on Chapter 5 Wed 10 Jul 2024 10:09PM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 5 Thu 11 Jul 2024 06:17AM UTC
Comment Actions
i_am_a_squiggle on Chapter 5 Mon 12 May 2025 04:33AM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 5 Wed 14 May 2025 06:31AM UTC
Comment Actions
Reign_of_Nightmares_and_Daydreams on Chapter 6 Sat 22 Jul 2023 12:40AM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 6 Tue 31 Oct 2023 03:17AM UTC
Comment Actions
95liners on Chapter 8 Tue 09 Jan 2024 04:02AM UTC
Comment Actions
KawaiiKozume on Chapter 8 Wed 10 Jan 2024 01:59AM UTC
Comment Actions
Pages Navigation