(Hi)

Once Percy and Annabeth fell into Tartarus, things on the Argo II got messy. Everyone blamed themselves, and it was horrible. No-one knew where the couple was, no-one, not even Hades' children, knew whether they were alive or... not.

But most of all, Leo was distraught. If only he was smarter, maybe he could've figured out the code.

Leo was sick of it. Sick of what, you might ask. He was sick of being virtually useless. His friends had told him that it wasn't anyone's fault, but he knew they thought differently.

They didn't blame him, but they blamed themselves and each other.

Not on purpose, of course, but he saw the calculated responses to questions, the hidden glares, and the fake smiles.

That was a few hours ago.

Now, Frank and Piper were having a full on screaming match, Hazel was planning with Nico, and Jason was banging his head against the table.

Ouch.

So, to escape the ruckus of fighting friends, Leo had shut himself in his room. He was scouring the maps, looking for a way to get to Epirus, when he heard a knock on his door.

"Hello?" A voice cried out timidly, posing the phrase as a question. Leo was silent until he realized that it was directed at him, asking whether he needed/wanted company.

"Yeah?" He staggered over to the door opened it, straightening up when he saw who had knocked.

Hazel Levesque.

She was cuter than he remembered, her caramel curls tucked behind her small ears. She coughed, and he was jolted back into reality. "Um, can I come in?" She asked, fidgeting, looking around his room.

Leo opened the door, and proceeded to smack himself in the face with it. Thanks a lot, door, he thought, blushing profusely. Hazel stifled a giggle and entered the room, staring in awe at the many gadgets and machines he had made.

"So, why'd you stop here?" Leo asked, rubbing his throbbing nose.

Hazel sighed. "Everyone is arguing, it's crazy. Nico fell asleep, and Frank was arguing with Piper. There was no one else except Jason, and I think I should leave him with his multiplying head wounds." Leo faked a grin, and Hazel recognized his reaction. "N-not that you're my last choice or anything!" She stuttered, fanning herself with her hand.

Leo grinned, amused at her flustered expression.

A noise rang out in the hallway, and the slamming of doors echoed throughout the Argo II.

Leo heard a swear that could only be said by Frank, and realized the awkwardness of the situation. Hazel was in a boy's room, and Frank had especially told Leo not to make a move on his girlfriend.

"So," Hazel said, breaking the silence. "I came here because I wanted to talk to you about... Sammy." Leo's expression grew sober as Hazel mentioned his 1940's counterpart, aka his great-grandfather.

"You're so much like him, but you're also really different. You're sweet, honorable, funny, courteous... just like him. But you're definitely love-able in a different way. And... and I think I might feel for you like I felt for..." she trailed off, her face flushing red.

Leo leaned in, and he felt like he'd been possessed by another eliodon. His mind was screaming no, it was reminding him that she was Frank's girlfriend, but he leaned in and his lips connected with hers.

Her lips tasted like cinnamon.

She hesitated before kissing him back, but after a few seconds she returned his kiss with one of equal voracity.

They were so immersed in the kiss that they didn't see Frank approaching watching them through the open door, his face turning redder and redder with anger.

As they drew breath, they heard an angry scream.

"Argh! Valdez!" Leo turned to see Frank with a stormy expression on his face.

"Holy schnitzel!" Leo swore, wincing.