Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson, Rick Riordan does.
Leo's POV
The smell of sweat and oil and the sound of hammering was what Leo lived for. He loved beginning a project and seeing how it ended up as when he finished it. He could hardly wait for his newest creation, the Argo II to finish. He was excited to see how his beloved ship would look and was anxious about getting on with the quest. The anticipation of going to the Roman camp and meeting Jason's friends and also meeting The Great Percy Jackson almost made Leo forget totally about his excitement for his ship.
The Hero of Camp Halfblood and Olympus intrigued Leo though he at first thought that the hero in question would be a stuck up guy who wouldn't give someone like Leo the time of day. After that Leo had thought that if Annabeth was dating him then he must be a good guy, but when he had heard from Piper and Jason about Percy Jackson's accomplishments, Leo was sure that he would be a perfect hero like Jason, who would always follow the rules, but Leo wanted to know more. When Leo had the chance during sword fighting lessons he took it asking one of the toughest kids in Camp, Clarisse La Rue.
Clarisse was the head counselor of the Ares cabin, one of the survivors from the Second Titan War, and the girlfriend of Chris a son of Hermes. Leo suspected that since she had been at Camp for so long that she must have known Percy Jackson. Leo did not plan on asking Clarisse about Percy Jackson especially during sword fighting practice, but luck did not shine on Leo Valdez.
Leo and the other people in the Hephaestus Cabin were being taught the disarming technique and Leo just couldn't seem to get it down. After everyone had left it was only Leo and Clarisse in the arena and Leo, being as nervous and high ADHD as he was, just seemed to blurt out the words.
"Clarisse what is Percy Jackson like, I mean people talk about him, but what is he like really?" Leo could feel the sweat dripping down his back like a water fall and wondered how Clarisse didn't hear his fast beating heart. He almost did not want to see Clarisse's face and her reaction to his question, but gathering up his courage, Leo slowly looked up at the burly daughter of Ares. She had stopped in mid strike and her face was blank and impassive. Then like a thunder clap she started laughing, which was not an enjoyable sound to hear for Leo and probably not for anyone else.
"Oh, you actual believe what everyone says about Prissy being so great and indestructible! Well you listen here Valdez; Prissy isn't all that great he barely got through his first quest alive and when he first arrived at camp he was balling his eyes out like a little baby calling for his mommy. That doesn't even crack the egg when he was 13 he let Annabeth be captured by the Titans and snuck off to save her." Clarisse took a deep breath after her rant and then prepared herself again. "I have to admit though that even though he has terrible luck you can know that Percy Jackson will stand with you till the end and is only dangerous to his enemies. Trust me you don't want to be his enemy and I count myself lucky to be at least counted as one of his friends. Now I think that it is time for me to get back to my cabin and you need to get back to your building." She then started walking off and then turned around.
"Valdez remember that no matter what a hero has done they are not perfect and neither are the gods. Every human being has insecurities and some bad characteristic that they have. Sayonara Leo Valdez." She then sauntered off with her spear in hand. Leo headed off to the Argo II deep in thought about what Clarisse had said and what Leo had previously thought about Jason.