Leo Valdez was willing to face thousands of immortal and Tartarus-worthy monsters than to experience that.
He tried his best. As a half-blood, he perfectly understood the importance of having a happy ending. After all, demigods only see a happy and peaceful ending just like the way mortals know about Olympus – simply as a myth. Yet, as a half mortal, he too knew about the struggles of living above the surface of dirtface – his girlfriend's grandmother – that's why, he gave his everything to get the best of everything from both worlds; all for her, Calypso.
He juggled 3 jobs in different engineering firms and corporations, to earn the cost of living suited for his beloved. He was after all engaged - although not officially - to a titan. Despite of his goal, he still prioritized Calypso above the others. But the hours of the day were simply not enough. That's why every free time that he can pinch off of his tight and fully loaded schedule, every minute of it will be spent with Calypso. Not a second was wasted, he was hers alone.
His eyes almost closing, his shoulders drooping because of fatigue, and with the lamest walk he mustered in his whole life; Leo went home a sincere and excited smile adorning his face.
He got a big break in one of the 3 companies he was working for, he finally received his well-deserved and most awaited recognition, which means a bigger salary with the addition of extra time with Calypso. This of course, must be delivered to Calypso in a form of a celebration. With that in mind, he picked up the most expensive wine, a bouquet of sunflowers, and some take-out delicacies worthy of a French romantic candle-lit dinner for two lovers.
The moment he stepped into their humble apartment, his demigod senses went off and signaled that something was off. It was too quiet and eerily tidy. Calypso was not untidy in any form, but at this time, she was supposedly preparing dinner while peeking at the television watching the 'weird yet fascinating mortal' drama series that she loved so much.
But none of those familiar things welcomed him. The television at the living room just across the joint kitchen and dining area was turned off. And he saw no titan softly humming to herself while peeling vegetables and marinating meat for dinner.
His nerves tingling, he stealthy put down the bags he was carrying and went to check their room. All demigods had this strong and somewhat reliable gut feeling - and now his supposed-to-be-filled stomach was telling him that what he will see beyond those closed doors was something that he will never forget.
It was something that will haunt his dreams forever; something that will slowly kill and torture him in this life time.
It was maddeningly frightening – his imaginations. His buried fears were unusually brought up; what if the monster that the 7 heroes killed managed to reform this fast and decided to attack him?
"Of course, attack the lamest person in the group first." Leo thought and unavailingly glared at the ground, where he imagined Tartarus was located. "So original Tarty…"
What if those vermin oozing out of Tartarus' body decided to attack Calypso? His heart stopped at the thought; suddenly, a life without Calypso flashed in his eyes – a life not worth living.
Out of the thousands gruesome scenarios that his mind conjured, what he saw behind the Pandora-like doors was something that he never anticipated. It was something that never crossed his mind. It was a monster indeed; the only monster that he can never hurt, it was his walking Achilles Heel.
He loved this monster – for the monster was Calypso herself, committing infidelity; in their own home, on the bed that they shared.
His body stood rigid, unmoving and frozen in place. His eyes wide with shock, hurt, and desperation – desperation to find an explanation in what he was seeing, he felt like his heart was barehanded-ly wrenched out of his chest.
Surreal memories flashed before his eyes: How the met, how they bickered, how they helped each other, their first kiss, when they met again, when they first rented their humble apartment, their first love making, the future he imagined, the little Leo's and Calypso's – all stood before him like a wall of grass, and with the blow of the wind, all shattered before him wounding not his physical body but his soul.
It appeared that his efforts weren't enough.
In the end, a mere demigod can never please a titan.
Out of the heroes that found his way on her island, she was willing to bet her immortal life upon the statement that she loved Leo Valdez the most. He was not really heroic at first glance. He was scrawny and less regal compared to the others, heck she did hate him the moment he utter a single word — but that what made him special. He was not smothered with affections. Her affections weren't offered in a golden platter – ready to eat, and ready to spit.
Out of the heroes, he earned her love like with sheer effort. Calypso loved Leo Valdez alone - not Leo Valdez the maker of The Argo II, not the Leo Valdez the fire-conjuring son of the Fire God.
She was head over heels for him.
So what made her do this?
How can she even think of something as disgusting as having another when she already had the best?
Calypso met Odie at a flower shop where she worked. It seemed that Odie too was a flower enthusiast. Calypso cannot pinpoint her reasons for having a fascination at him — was it because he smiled like Drake the pirate? Or was it because his name sounded like a modern version of Odysseus? Or was it because he had the same eyes like the famous impertinent son of Poseidon? But whatever reason that she can conjure, Calypso cannot ever justify herself for cheating.
She wasn't serious about Odie. He was just a fling — something to pass her time. Something to satiate her curiosity. And she was wrong. She didn't expect things to go this way, that they will get a bit serious and will reach the point and actually do it. If she could just turn back time, the first time Odie will enter the flower shop, she'll turn the signage from open to close and refuse to make any contact with.
She was willing to exchange everything that she has just to stop this from happening — seeing Leo's broken expression as he stare at her lying in bed with a different man.
Words weren't needed, one look from him and she knew that she messed things up.
"Leo..." she called out, like her life depended on it — well it did, she cannot imagine her life without Leo.
"How foolish" A voice inside hear head said, "You say such empty words Titan… You say that you can't imagine a life without him yet she already started one." It added.
Leo slowly shook his head, and walked backwards, he can't believe what he was seeing. Even Calypso herself can't believe what she had done. She pulled the white sheet of their tainted bed and covered herself. She chased Leo yet the distraught demigod didn't even bother to look back and left. Calypso controlled the Mist and removed herself from Odie's memories, and hopefully — in his life too.
The day passed and no sign of Leo Valdez was found. She used every communication device that Leo tinkered since cell phones were deadly instead of useful to demigods, but none of it did its job — Leo was completely unreachable.
He was cutting her off of his life. And she was sure that that was something she cannot handle — immortal or not.