Lost on Jupiter
Angel's Breath
"So, where is Annabeth taking him?"
Hazel jumped at the sound of Leo's voice in her ear. She spun around to see him standing right behind her, a huge grin on his face that said he'd been trying to scare her. Pluto's daughter tried to glare at the Greek, but soon found it impossible. He just had one of those personalities that made it hard to be angry at him for too long.
And he looks like Sammy, A voice in the back of her head said.
Her face flushed at the thought. The similarity between Leo and Sammy were scary, the two were so much alike. Hazel wished she didn't have to think about it. This was a quest to save her brother and the gods. The fact that the boy, the son of Vulcan—Hephaestus—look so much like her first crush shouldn't matter at all. Her and Frank's relationship had just began, why did Leo have to come in and give the possibility of ruining that?
It didn't take the tinker long to notice the blush on Hazel face. He began wondering if it had something to do with what Frank had asked him earlier. Your name isn't Sammy, right? The question had seemed strange, so Leo gave a sarcastic answer, which didn't seem to please the Roman teddy bear at all. Then, when he'd asked what it was about, Frank had blown it off, saying it was nothing.
Leo wasn't quite sure about that anymore.
"Who's Sammy?" He asked bluntly.
"What?" Hazel's golden eyes widened in surprise and shock. "Where did you hear that name?"
The Latino bunched his eyebrows together in question. "Frank asked me if that was my name earlier," he shrugged, "Just figured it had something to do with you. Suppose my guess was right." He grinned.
Hazel sighed. "Sammy was just someone that I used to know, you look similar to him." Actually exactly like him. But Hazel kept that to herself.
Leo raised his eyebrows. Something about the way she'd said that, it made him not want to believe her. It wasn't that Hazel was lying, just not telling the whole truth. "Really?"
Pluto's daughter looked up at him with large, worried eyes. "Leo," she whispered. The male started down at her, his own eyes widening. That look on her face, it reminded him of the look he saw in the mirror every time he thought of his mom. A look of lose.
"Hey," Frank stepped in between Hazel and Leo, snapping the tinkerer out of his trance. He turned to Hazel. "Clarisse wants to show me around the camp. I wanted to see if you wanted to come with me." His smile was hopeful, almost desperate.
"Uhm," She looked torn between staying with Leo and going to see the camp with Frank. Leo took this as a hint.
He glanced up at the big guy. "I can show her around," the Greek suggested. "That way you can get to know your sister better."
"Really?" Gold eyes widened, hope filling them. "That would be great. Frank, Leo is right. You should get to know your siblings. Leo doesn't mind showing me around."
Grumbling, Mars' son nodded. "I guess," he rubbed the back of his neck. "I'll just get going then. See you later Hazel." He smiled at the girl before walking off, not paying Leo the smallest attention.
"Well, that was a kind goodbye," Leo commented sarcastically. He turned back to the girl, large grin on his face. "Time to go on the awesome Tour du Leo! You ready?" He tossed an arm around Hazel's shoulders, motioning to all of camp.
Giggling, the girl nodded. "Yes, I am ready, Leo."
Lost on Jupiter
Leo nearly chocked on the water. He glared at the naiads as they laughed at him, still attempting to spray him with water. Hazel stood beside him, laughing so hard she needed to hold her stomach. Her already gold eyes sparkled with the joy she felt. Watching Leo get sprayed by water from the naiads was just too amusing.
"What? Me getting soaked is funny to you?" Hephaestus's son asked, holding his arms out in challenge. "Come at me bro!" He yelled toward the lake, hoping to amuse the Roman more. A pine cone hit him in the head, followed by a round of giggling courteously of the nymphs around them.
Hazel bent over as the laughter filled her once again. Nature spirits didn't like her friend. No, they didn't like him at all. It was funny alone that he had been acting all "smooth" around them, saying crazy things about the lake naiads that couldn't have been true. The way he had handled getting attacked by them, though, was what made it truly hilarious. "Leo," she finally managed to get out through staggered breaths, "Maybe we should move on, before more nature spirits attack you."
"Fine," he huffed, making a face as if to say 'I can take on anything' but it didn't come across as that, only making Hazel laugh more. This caused the Latino to smile. "Come on," he held out his hand, "Let me show you my personal favorite part about this camp."
Pluto's daughter took his hand and nodded. She began to wonder what his favorite part of Camp Half-Blood could be. She had suspected it might have been the rock climbing wall, since he had a need to move, but Leo had just walked past that with a "I really hating getting burned by lava." Her next guess was his own cabin—Hephaestus's cabin, number nine—since he had fallen onto his own circular bed with a "This is the best thing you could ever imagine." Now, what could possibly be better than that for Leo?
Hazel felt confusion as they stopped in front of a rocky wall. "Leo?" She looked over at him, wondering if he had gotten lost.
"Don't give me that look," the tinkerer said, smirking. "Just give it a second and you will think this is amazing." Leo glanced around before taking a step away from Hazel and holding his hand away from her. "Just, don't freak out okay?" Then, a flame erupted from his outstretched hand and he held it toward the rock.
Pluto's daughter instantly reached for the pocket of her denim jacket at seeing the fire. She inched away, thinking this would somehow put Frank's life in less danger than it already was. Then, her mouth dropped as the wall of rocks opened into a large entrance. Hazel glanced inside and saw worktables along with unfinished projects. It didn't take her long to realize why this was Leo's favorite part of camp. "What is this place?"
"Bunker 9," Leo said, looking confident for once. Hazel glanced over and saw him smiling, standing as if he owned everything in the world and could care less about everyone else. It brought a smile to her face. "Well, what do you think?"
"It is amazing," the Roman laughed. "Is this where you disappear to when you don't feel like dealing with anyone?"
Leo's face turned red and a tiny flame erupted in his hair. "Kind of," he muttered. "But," the confident smile was back in place, "you haven't even seen some of the best stuff yet Hazel!" He grabbed her hand once more and dragged the girl passed the worktables. For once, Leo didn't feel nervous. For once, the builder felt as if he wasn't about to make a complete fool of himself.
"What—what is this place?" Frank gasped, eyes wide as he had to spin around in order to see everything. One minute they had been walking through the woods the next this?
The blonde son of Apollo laughed. "Yeah, I was surprised when Jake first showed Bunker 9 to me as well," Will grinned. "You'll get used to it though. Now, where is that annoying tinkerer and what has he done with Hazel?"
At hearing her name, Hazel glanced up. She saw Frank standing with a blonde at the entrance of the bunker. The girl felt drops of sweat break out on her forehead as she realized she had completely forgotten she and Frank were supposed to meet up after both of them had seen camp. "Up here!" She called, gripping onto the catwalks railing as she leaned over. Frank looked up. "Hey Frank! Leo and I will be down in a moment." She turned and saw the Latino standing at the ladder already.
"Ladies first," he said, motioning her to the ladder.
This made Hazel giggle and smile wider, thinking more of Sammy. "Thank you, Mister Valdez," she rolled her eyes slightly before making her way down the ladder. The two demigods came to stand beside Frank. "How was your tour with Clarisse?"
"Eventful," Frank muttered with a 'Please don't ask' look on his face. "How was your tour?"
"Hilarious," Hazel laughed, looking back at Leo. "He got attacked by nymphs."
The builder bowed and tipped his fake hat. "All part of the tour, madam."
Frank rolled his eyes at this while Hazel continued laughing. Will interrupted by nudging Hazel. "Don't fall for him," he whispered jokingly, "the tinkerers are always the hardest to date. In love with you and their machines. Be careful Hazel." The blonde paused. "Which reminds me of why I am here. Chiron wants to speak with you at the Big House and sent me to fetch you."
"Really?" She didn't know Chiron well. In fact, the Roman barely knew any Greek Myths. The best she could picture was that Chiron was some kind of hero trainer. "Okay. Bye Leo, bye Frank. I will see the two of you at dinner." And with a final wave, Will had pulled the girl away from Bunker 9, leaving Frank to glare at the Latino.
Finally, Leo sighed. "Alright," he said, holding his hands out, "What is it? Why are you treating me like the guy who took the last slice of pizza?"
"Hazel is my girlfriend," Frank answered, not releasing his glare.
Suddenly everything made sense to the tinkerer. Frank thought he was trying to steal Hazel away. Which Leo wasn't. Sure, Hazel was cool, in fact she was the only girl to actually give him the time of day, but that didn't mean he would steal her from Frank. He liked the guy, the way the Roman could stand with so much confidence even with the way he looked—like a huge teddy bear. The builder especially liked the way Frank could protect his friends. Leo sighed, he would never be strong enough to do that, there was no question in his mind about that.
Finally, after a minute of staring off into space, Leo answered, "Look, I do like you Frank, and I like Hazel. You guys, well, Hazel has become a great friend in less than a day." The Latino smiled up at the Canadian. "Plus I think we could be friends. Truth?" He held out his hand, hoping the other boy would take it.
"I guess," Frank shook Leo's hand hesitantly, wondering if this was a trick. "Just don't try to take Hazel away from me."
Leo crossed his heart and held up one hand. "Scout's honor!" He said, as serious as he could master until Frank's confused expression made him laugh.
"Are you even a boy scout?" The Roman asked, clearly confused by all of this. As the Latino continued laughing harder, bending over and holding his stomach, Frank cracked a smile. No, most of the things Leo said weren't true. He just did whatever he could to get laughs. The son of Mars loved that carefree kind of attitude, the kind he would never have. "Let's go, you can show me the parts of camp my sister didn't."
Leo's laughing quieted down to chuckles. "So, we good man?"
"Yeah," Frank nodded, smile getting larger. "We're good Leo."
The boys didn't see Hazel again until everyone was heading to the campfire, after dinner. Hazel was weaving through the crowds, watching the ground for if any jewels decided to appear. When she spied the boys walking together, the Roman smiled, waving and calling out for them.
"How was your day after I disappeared?" Pluto's daughter asked, a little breathless. She noticed how both of them seemed relaxed around each other and let out a sight of relief. This was good. There hadn't been fighting.
Leo shrugged. "Well, I ended up stuck with this ball of joy for the rest of the day, so..." he let his sentence run, as if for the blank to be filled in.
The Canadian rolled his eyes, shoving the tinkerer's shoulder. "It was fun," he admitted. "Leo showed me the Arts and Crafts cabin, and how to make the kiln explode. Perhaps we should tell Chiron they need a new Arts and Crafts cabin."
This caused the Roman girl to laugh. She grabbed both the boy's hands and pulled them out the crowd. "I'm glad you two didn't kill each other."
"Hazel!" The trio looked up and saw Ella the Harpy sitting on Percy's hellhound, Mrs. O'Leary. Hazel smiled and turned toward Ella. "Hazel is going to sit by Ella."
"Of course," Pluto's daughter laughed and moved to sit beside the harpy on the ground next to the hellhound, who barked as Tyson pet her. "Ella, have you met Leo?"
"Leo. Leo means lion in French. The Lion King movie was released in theaters June 15, 1994," Ella looked over at Hephaestus's son. "Ella likes Leo."
The Latino chuckled. "Yeah, uh, Leo likes Ella too." This made Ella smile and move to pet Mrs. O'Leary with Tyson. "So," he sat on the ground beside Hazel, "Who is Ella?"
"Long story," Frank offered simply as he sat on the other side of Hazel. "So, what did Chiron want?"
This caused the girl to blush, thinking of how she had been surprised when the centaur had come out of his wheelchair. "It's nothing, really," she got unconvinced looks from both boys. "He just wanted to know more about Nico. How he brought me from the Underworld to Camp Jupiter, how he knew of both Camps, how he was captured by Gaea." Her face darkened.
Frank reached out for her hand, not even thinking about it. "We are going to save him," he tried to reassure her.
"Yeah," Leo pat her leg, in hopes of comforting his friend. "Percy wouldn't let us not save him." He cracked a smile, hoping to make Hazel feel any better.
Thankfully, the Roman girl did smile softy. She grasped Leo's hand as well, as a sign of thanks. "You are right, both of you," Hazel smiled at both the boys. "I'm really luck to have you guys."
The Roman and Greek exchanged a look as Hazel moved to stare out at the Greek's campfire. Both seemed to have the same thought going through their minds. Just make sure she'll be okay, nothing else should matter.
Lost on Jupiter
"Guys, we have a problem."
That was the sentence that let all the Camp leaders, both of Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter, to gather in the Big House's war room. Percy was pacing at the front of the room as Annabeth tried to calm everyone. They had arrived no more than ten minutes before on Blackjack, both with looks of worry coating their faces.
Finally, Chiron entered. "Alright. Percy, Annabeth. Please explain what is going on," the trainer said, rolling his chair to one end of the ping pong table.
"Nico's in trouble," Poseidon's son said, finally ceasing his pacing.
Clarisse waved him off. "Yeah, we know princess. Idiot got himself captured," she leaned back in her chair, "what is new?"
"No," Annabeth tried to explained, her forehead showing crinkles of worry. "Listen to Percy. This is something different."
Percy went onto explain a dream he'd had the night before, the reason for their hasty leaving his mother. How the twin giants had planned a reception for them in an underground parking lot with rocket launchers and—what seemed more important to him—how Nico di Angelo was trapped in a bronze jar, dying slowly from asphyxiation and even how the pomegranate seeds had been at his feet. His voice cracked more than once as he explained.
"Well, that is new," Clarisse said, her body tensing up once again.
Hazel covered her mouth in a hope it would stop the gasp from escaping her throat and tears from leaking out her eyes. "Oh gods...Nico." She shook her head, feeling horrible for Percy. "Those seeds."
Annabeth's head snapped up and she moved over to stand by Hazel. "You know what they are, don't you?"
"He showed me them once," she nodded. "They are seeds from our stepmother's garden. Nico said that they are a last-resort food. Only children of Hades can eat them. Nico always kept some in case he got stuck somewhere." Her voice broke. "If he's imprisoned—"
"They are trying to lure us," Jason leaned forward. "The Giants are using your brother as live bait, assuming that we will rescue him."
"Of course we are rescuing him!" Hazel and Percy yelled at the same time.
"He's my brother," the Roman whispered at the same moment the Greek continued with, "I can't risk losing him."
Percy turned to look at Pluto's daughter. "Hazel. Those seeds will keep him alive, but how long does he have?"
"One seed a day," Hazel explained. "That's only if he puts himself in a death trance though."
"That doesn't sound good," Leo muttered, leaning forward. He pat Hazel's leg, letting her know she wasn't alone.
The girl turned to look at the Latino. "It stops him from consuming all the air. Like a coma or hibernation," she turned back to everyone else. "The problem is one seed can barely sustain him one day."
"Five seeds, five day," Percy felt a shiver of fear go down his spine. "That is including today, meaning we need to get to Rome by July first..."
"The first of the July?" Octavian perked up from where Rachel tried to keep him quiet in the corner. "That is a bad omen."
Reyna sighed, "No kidding. If this wasn't a matter of life or death, I would say we avoid fighting on it at all causes."
Clarisse stood up and slammed her fist down on the table, successfully getting everyone's attention. "That means we need to get started right away. Not only do we have to get to Rome, defeat the Giants, and save di Angelo, but," Ares' daughter looked up at Annabeth, "I think Wise Girl has something to say as well."
Annabeth gulped. How had Clarisse known about that? She could feel the coin burning a whole in her pocket, that cursed gift from her mother. Follow the Mark of Athena, the words still echoed through her mind like a ghost haunting an old house. Avenge me.
She shook off head. "Yes," the blonde said. "I want to say that we shouldn't take very many people with us. No more than ten and that is stretching it. Rome and the Mare Nostrum are ancient lands, very dangerous. Going over three demigods is deadly."
"Mary who?" Travis Stoll asked, looking up.
"Mare Nostrum," Reyna rolled her eyes. "It means Our Sea. Basically what ancient Romans called the Mediterranean sea."
"Why is that bad?" Connor Stoll asked.
This time, Jason rolled his eyes. "It is the birthplace of not only the gods but also of monsters, Titans, and Giants. In other words, very bad people were made there."
"Oh," the brothers nodded, simply accepting the answer for hopes of not having to have anything more complicated said.
"Now the question in," Clarisse grunted, "Who is going to Rome?"
"Leo has to go," Annabeth said. "He is the only person who knows the engine. Percy and Hazel also have to go, since they have special ties with Nico." She noticed Percy's face going red. "For everyone else, I suggest that Reyna and I go as well," she glanced over at the Roman, "We both can represent leaders of our Camps."
"Jason and I are going," Piper leaned forward. "I'm not sure how I can be helpful, but I have to go with you guys. There was a reason Hera sent Jason, Leo, and I here. You'll need us on that quest. Plus, I can't just let you go on a dangerous quest by yourself Annabeth." She smiled.
The blonde felt her own face going red. "That makes eight. Two more people can come."
"Well, I am going," Octavian said, stepping forward. "I am the augur of Camp Jupiter and believe that is enough for reason that I should come along."
"What could you do to help," Percy glared, "you'll just try and sabotage us."
The blonde Roman rolled his eyes. "You think I would so something so disgraceful on my own ancestor's lands? Perseus, I thought you knew me better."
Poseidon's son glared at Octavian but said no more. It was true, he knew the augur wouldn't stoop low enough to disgrace his Roman heritage.
The daughter of war said, sad smile on her face. "As much as I would love to go and make sure the sea princess doesn't kill himself, I'm sure Rachel would be a better idea," Clarisse looked to the redhead. "If anyone can keep that annoying augur in line, it's our oracle."
"Hey!"
Rachel smiled. "Thank you Clarisse, I know how much you want to go."
"Yeah, yeah, don't rub it in."
Annabeth nodded, taking note of all the talents that everyone had, how they would be helpful. "Seems we have everything. Let's quickly stock up supplies then take off."
"Yes, let's," with that said, Percy ran out the room to pack a bag. The sooner he could see Nico, the better.
"Brother!" Reluctantly, the demigod stopped and turned to look at Tyson, who was running over with Ella. "Brother, listen to what Ella said."
Percy turned to look at the harpy, only having her shake her head. She was physically shivering. "What?" He tried this best to keep the annoyance out of his voice, but all the sea prince wanted was to find Nico and hit the idiot for getting captured.
"No," Ella said, again shaking her head. "No, no."
"Percy, what are you doing?" Annabeth walked up to her friend. "I thought you would have rushed to your cabin to get clothes."
Ella squeaked and jumped back. "Bad luck!" She yelled, point at Annabeth. "Wisdom's daughter walks alone. The Mark of Athena burns through Rome. Twins snuff out the angel's breath, Who holds the key to endless death. Giants' bane stand gold and pale, Won through pain from a woven jail."
Green and gray eyes met. "This can't be good," Percy whispered.
"The angel's breath," Annabeth repeated. "That's Nico. He must have found the Doors of Death."
Percy's face hardened. "The Argo II leaves in ten minutes. Whoever isn't on, we are leaving behind."
While I had been planning on making all the chapters focused on Nico and Percy, because the story is centered around their relationship, with finishing Mark of Athena decided I wanted to mess with that plot a little(like I did with Son of Neptune). So, yet again, I'm going to be messing with Rick's canon and making it into my version of what should have been canon.
Thank you for reading(and having patience with my horrible schedule).
~Goddess of the Multiverses