Summary: Ariana and Leo step forward just before a quest knocks them back a couple miles.

Pairings: Leo/OC

Notes: This chapter kinda sucked. But I love my prophecy! :D

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Heroes of Olympus or "E.T." by Katy Perry, ergo, I do not profit! So you can't sue! And do not steal meh character/prophecy.


Oh, gods, what was she thinking?

Ariana's fingers became entangled with her auburn hair. She had never been that bold with a guy. Ever. But with Leo she'd just waltzed right up to him and went, "I'm single, sweetie." She was so glad the other Hephaestus girl had called for the next class. Embarrassment continued to override her systems and she couldn't concentrate. Even the horse stables offered no relaxation. What she needed to do was talk to Leo. Yes, she decided. That was the only rational decision.

The conch blew for dinner. Ariana's stomach lurched and rolled under her tank top. A soft whimper clawed out of her throat as she spotted the son of Hephaestus coming closer. His slightly pointed ears reminded her of a Vulcan. She held back a snicker; Vulcan was Roman for Hephaestus. Wiping the grin off her face, she forced herself not to look miserable and/or terrified.

At that moment a large, quite fluffy cloud passed over the sun. Soft tendrils of light reached through tiny breaks and expanded. One such spotlight appeared to land directly on Leo. The blacksmith's tan skin glittered with beads of sweat. He grinned at her, showing all of his near perfect teeth. Those dark curls that refused to obey him hung low, weighted down with sweat; the longest locks almost touched his eyebrows. And his eyes! Those chocolate brown pools absorbed her and took her in. She fought to stay above the tide of his charm and was failing most epically.

Mom, if you're there, help me out!

"Hey," he said in that slightly accented voice of his. "How were the rest of your classes?"

"Not bad." Really? Trivial questions? Her stomach was in knots. "Leo…" She loved the way his name formed on her tongue. (Typical ADHD.) "Leo, about earlier…"

"The forges, earlier?"

"Yeah, I, uh…I'm usually not so bold. I don't know why I did that." His smile started to fade. "N-no! Don't take it that way! I like you. A lot. More than my mom will approve, I just…Am not good at these things." She rubbed the back of her neck and dropped her gaze to her oily moccasins.

A finger hooked under her chin and pulled her gaze up about three inches. Her troubled green eyes met just as uncertain caramel.

"Neither am I." He smiled again. This smile was warm and so freaking hot. (Get over the puns!) Moving quickly he pushed aside her coppery hair and nuzzled her temple. Ariana could feel his lips and they were tantalizingly close to her skin.

"Oh, Le-o!" sang Hephaestus' table sweetly.

They both sighed irritably.

"See you at the campfire."

"Will do."

The pair parted with obvious reluctance.

Dinner lasted entirely too long. Ariana ate slowly, snowy skin flushed the entire time as she thought of Leo's lips running over her pulsing temple. As the moon rose, so did her confidence; the moonlight worked wonders on her body, mind and mood. Her eyes turned their gray-yellow color. She wished she had a jacket. It was getting cooler.

As she shuffled toward the campfire, heat came not as a jacket, but as the fire and as Leo. His arm fell around her waist and he pulled her against him. Warmth encircled her frame inside and out.

"You need to get short," she muttered as they sat down on the hillside.

"You need to get tall," countered Leo. She nailed him in his shoulder blade. Rubbing away the blow, Leo gazed at Ariana gently while Chiron led the rest of the campers in a new song that had grown on him. Of all songs:

"Kiss me

K-k-kiss me

Inefect me with ya love

And

Fill me with ya poison."

Both their faces turned red and Leo's hair started to spark.

"A?"

"Hmm?"

"You look-"

The moment went sour went someone screamed, "Rachel's swaying!"

Two kids caught a red-headed girl while another sat her down on a stool. They stood back as Annabeth rose to oversee her. Chiron leaned closer, tensing. Green smoke billowed from her mouth. It took the form of a serpent and spoke in Ariana's head. She felt a nagging pain behind her eyes as it rasped:

Child born from the arrow,

Across lands both dark and narrow

You will take fire, and kin who may seem meek

To find the answers that you seek.

Uncle of sun will take thy hand

And guide across still-wild land.

A mother's home awaits you there

To stay would mean to end the affair.

Ariana slumped onto the cold floor. Before she was sucked into dark nothingness, a thought crossed her mind: That went well.


Yah, this was SO NOT my best chapter. Flame me if you like. :D R&R.