Alright people, here's the last chapter of All Nighter.
Warnings: Slight spoilers for the HoO series.
Word Count: 1533
Pairings: None unless you feel like reading between the lines and making it Leico. Otherwise, this is friendship.
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own the PJO or HoO series' or any of the characters.
Walking through monster infested woods alone at night—no problem.
Sneaking past the Big House and a few cabins—easy peasy.
Breaking into the camp infirmary through a hundred-eyed security guard who pretty much never sleeps—… this could cause some complications.
Leo decided to creep up to the window and peered into it. Sure enough, there was Argus, pacing around the front parlor of the small building. All Leo had to do was get past the back wall of the parlor, separating it from the rest of the sick-house, and he'd be golden. His only obstacle was the humanoid in front of him.
Leo needed a distraction. He remembered the Stoll brothers telling him how they used to play tricks on Argus. They'd make a loud noise or some kind of explosion and the hundred eyed camper would have to patrol all of the grounds until he was sure it was safe. Apparently this had gotten boring to them so they stopped a few months ago, but it couldn't be a more perfect strategy for Leo right then.
The son of Hephaestus considered some possible explosives that he could take from his tool belt.
Stick of dynamite?— too cliché.
Fireworks?—nah, had to be on the ground.
Grenade?— awesome, but too war-like. 'Come on,' Leo thought. 'We just finished a stinking war that I started. I don't need to start another.'
"Okay, Valdez, think!" he murmured.
Then it came to him. He could shoot a firecracker at the ground right outside the woods. There would be a loud noise but he wouldn't hurt any nymphs. "Perfect!" he exclaimed quietly.
So, Leo summoned a small firecracker and lit it. He carefully aimed it a few feet outside the tree line. There was a loud BOOM and a flash of light. Leo had no time to admire his handiwork though. He dove into the bushes just in time to hide from Argus, who burst out of the infirmary and into the night to put out Leo's small fire. He had at least ten minutes to get all of his supplies.
Leo burst into the sick bay and through the doors of the back wall. He must've been extremely lucky because there were no patients at all that night.
The Latino began rummaging through everything. He found the bandages in the bottom drawer of a long desk and stuck them in his tool belt. He decided he'd get some ambrosia too.
The nectar and ambrosia were easy to find, but hard for Leo to reach.
They were on the freaking highest shelf in the room!
Leo carried a chair over to where he needed it and climbed up. He could barely reach what he needed and went onto his tip-toes but, of course, wound up losing his balance. He grabbed the shelf to try and right himself and only managed to pull it down with him with a loud crash.
Vials of nectar broke and ambrosia got everywhere.
"Styx!" Leo cried.
He looked around and found two unbroken bottles of nectar. He took them along with the surviving ambrosia and started toward the door. Just then, he heard Argus' heavy footsteps coming at him.
'Crap!' He thought.
Leo darted to the back of the infirmary and slammed open one of the windows. Putting the nectar and ambrosia into his tool belt, he jumped out the opening, not bothering to close it behind him.
He ran all the way back to Bunker Nine, not even stopping to look back when he heard a yell of fury come from Argus.
After a good three minutes of bounding through the trees, Leo made it back to the bunker. He ambled to a stop and stayed outside for a few minutes, catching his breath. Leo was so scared out of his mind that he didn't even notice the sky beginning to lighten above him.
Once he wasn't so red in the face, Leo opened the 'door' of the bunker and strode inside with a goofy grin.
"You're late," Nico stated.
"What are you talking about?"
Nico paused, obviously trying to keep a straight face. "One: you said you'd be here in fifteen minutes… it's been twenty five. And two: what the heck is all over you?"
"Oh... Heh, heh. I had a little trouble getting the supplies." He said sheepishly, pulling out the ambrosia, bandages, and nectar.
Leo hadn't realized it, but Nico was turned so that his arm was hidden. "Come on, lemme see it."
Nico sighed and turned, revealing that his arm had completely bled through the rags.
"Wonderful." Leo uttered ironically.
"Yep." Nico replied.
"Okay, let's get started."
Leo gently unwrapped Nico's arm to rinse it off again. The son of Hades tried hard not to wince and jerk away from his touch. He attempted not to show how much pain he was in, and did a pretty good job of it for a little bit, but once the water touched his arm he hissed from the ache.
Leo noticed other little tells that Nico's arm was hurting him a heck of a lot more than he wanted Leo to know. Like the small beads of sweat gathering on his forehead, or the fact that his jaw was set so hard. Also, his left hand was clenched against the arm of the chair he was sitting on like his life depended on it, turning his knuckles even whiter than they originally were; not to mention that his whole face was red, his entire body was tense, and his breathing was shallow.
"I'm almost done." Leo assured. He dabbed at Nico's wounds with a dry towel. He then took one of the vials of nectar and poured it over the younger boy's upper arm. Once that bottle was empty, Leo opened the second vial and poured it over Nico's forearm this time. Nico's flesh under his skin laced together until the bone was no longer visible, but the gashes were still pretty deep.
Nico relaxed noticeably and sighed as if the pain had receded considerably. "Thanks."
"Hey, what're friends for?" Leo dried Nico's arm off and wrapped it tightly in the gauze. After he finished that he took the ambrosia from his tool belt and gave him a couple squares.
"I hate this stuff," Nico grunted, taking it from his friend.
Leo shrugged, "I think it's good. It reminds me of the fruit tarts my mom made when I was really little. What's it taste like to you?"
"Exactly like the chocolate chip cookies Bianca used to make me. She always added cinnamon to them… I hate being reminded of it."
"…How come?"
"Because, it reminds me that I'll never see her again… she wanted to be reborn, Leo. Even after I die, I won't see her... I-I can't stand that." Nico looked Leo in the eye.
Leo had never noticed before that Nico's dark orbs looked completely shattered, like two black glass plates had been thrown to the ground. Now Leo wondered if the fall to Tartarus was what really broke Nico. Maybe it was just too many tragedies for the boy to handle. Whatever it was, though, Leo wished it was something he could fix… Just be able to tighten some screws or replace some gears, but he couldn't do that. But maybe, just maybe he could still help him.
"That's why I'm so protective of Hazel." Nico continued. "I can't lose another sister."
Leo had a feeling that Nico was telling him things that no one else had ever known. It felt good to know that Nico trusted him that much. And, admittedly, the two of them had grown rather close since Nico was rescued from the giants. They were best friends now and did a lot together.
Nico didn't participate in many camp activities, mainly because his father insisted that he train for combat in the Underworld, but he would help Leo with any projects that needed to be done. For not being a son of Hephaestus, Nico was really good with his hands.
"Well… if it counts for anything, I'm not going to let anything happen to either of you."
Nico's lips twitched into a small smile. "Thanks."
Leo nodded. "We should get back to our cabins now."
"Yeah," Nico agreed.
When they walked out of the bunker, the sun was already up.
"Hey, I just realized that we left your jacket at the beach." Leo said.
Nico shrugged. "I'll get it later. I have to get rid of it now anyway."
"Isn't that your favorite jacket though?"
Nico sighed. "I guess I'll just have to get a new one."
Leo nodded.
They weren't even halfway through the forest when the conch horn signaled breakfast. They looked at each other in terror.
"Have we really been out for three hours?" Nico asked.
"Apparently. Guess we pulled an all nighter," Leo replied casually.
"Um… aren't you a cabin counselor? Shouldn't you be in a hurry to get back?" The paler boy asked.
Leo's eyes widened. "Styx…" Then he burst off running through the trees. "See ya' later Neeks!" he yelled over his shoulder.
Nico cracked a smile and shook his head as he strolled on to camp.
This story is finished, but if sudden inspiration hits or if I get some good ideas from reviewers, I might continue.
Anyway, I hope you all liked my first multi-chap story! Expect more soon. If you have anything you want me to write, feel free to message me or leave a review with the prompt.
As always, R&R. I love feedback!
Until my next story, I bid you adieu.
-The Shadow Traveler