Roster

Disclaimer: Heroes of Olympus and its characters, plot, and anything related to the series do not belong to me. No profit is being made by this fan fiction.

"Hey, Calypso," Percy greeted.

Calypso turned her gaze away from the strawberry fields and looked at Percy Jackson. He had a serene smile on his face, and had Calypso not noticed the mischief dancing in his eyes she'd have thought he was merely there to make small talk.

"Good morning," she replied. She had no idea what the son of Poseidon was up to, but nonetheless, she was grateful to see the playful shine in the latter's eyes. She saw the darkness that lurked there, one that spoke volumes of the hurt and anger and fear he'd experienced. Miniscule that not many may have noticed it, but as she saw the same thing in her own eyes every time she looked at herself in a mirror, she could easily recognize it.

That look in his eyes – it was a kind of darkness that disappears, almost instantly, whenever Annabeth Chase was around. And the inverse was true as well. Annabeth herself seems to be more at ease whenever Percy is in her line of sight. Calypso had seen it happen with her own eyes moments after she and Leo had made their way to Camp Half-Blood. It was a beautiful thing, and she had broken down crying saying she's sorry, she's so, so sorry because how could she have cursed Annabeth and tried to deprive her and Percy something which she herself had wished for? How could she when she could see for herself how right the two were for each other?

"Oh sure," Leo called from beside Calypso. "Greet her and totally ignore me. Thanks, man."

"Did you need something, Percy?" Calypso asked instead when Percy had simply rolled his eyes at Leo.

"Actually, yeah," Percy replied. "I was going to ask if I could borrow Leo for a while."

"And now he talks as if I'm not here! Not cool, dude."

"What for?" Calypso asked, joining Percy in his ignoring of Leo. Because really, the latter's overly dramatic fake pouts are starting to become somewhat hilarious.

"Ah well, you know. Me and the others kind of got the roster all worked out. But we need your boyfriend or else it would be moot."

Calypso blushed. While it was true, it's very rare for someone to so casually acknowledge Leo as her boyfriend. And of course, if someone were to casually acknowledge our relationship, it would be Percy Jackson. "I'm sorry. A roster for what, exactly?"

She half expected Leo to chime in with his own remarks about how of course he's important in whatever it is. Um…what is it, exactly? But he's too busy blushing twice as much as Calypso was.

"Eh, you know," Percy shrugged, eyes sparkling with amusement. "The roster for who strangles Leo when. We said we'd take turns, but Reyna wanted to join in too, and wanted the entire thing systematized."

Leo promptly stopped blushing and rapidly went pale. "Wait, what?"

"'Cause we were all worried, you know?" Percy continued, as if Leo hadn't spoken at all. "And really sad. About him being dead and all. But now he's not, so it works out and we can strangle him in peace."

"But I really died! Gimme a break!"

"Hmm," Calypso mused. She glanced at Leo, gaping at Percy with a look of absolute disbelief. Then she looked at Percy who was desperately trying to keep his glee hidden. She leaned toward Percy and said conspiratorially, "You know… I made him clothes. He got them burnt."

"Yeah?" Percy asked, unable to hide the grin on his face.

"Oh, yes. I'm am quite upset about the entire thing" – No, you're not! Leo protested - "and if possible… I should like to be part of that roster."

Percy laughed, ignoring Leo's cries of WAIT, WHAT?! "I'll be sure to put you on top of the list then!"