To RandomFanAuthor- Haha, I knew it!


They stopped in Paris. It was a bit tricky, balancing a two-tonne automaton dragon on the top of the Eiffel Tower, but Leo could not resist Louisa's dare. The mortals did not notice, although they may have heard Calypso's shouts in the wind.

"Leo, if we die up here, I swear-!"

"Almost got it!" Leo promised. "Little to the left, buddy!"

"Leo!" Calypso screeched, clinging to Festus's plating. Louisa cackled behind her, hanging from Festus's tail. "Will you stop that?" In response, Louisa kicked her legs up, proceeding to swing upside down. She whooped delightedly, throwing her arms out. "I should have left you in England!"

"With the arson?" Leo asked.

"Well, no, preferably not- oh my gods, can we get down please?"

"Almost there! Festus, put your wings out a bit!" The dragon creaked, tilting to the left slightly.

"My arms are tired!" Louisa called up. "Bye!"

"No, don't-!" But Louisa had already let go. Calypso glared after her. She had thrown out her hand, as if to grab her, even though she was much too far out of reach. Now she clenched the air in her fist, fuming. Louisa turned her landing into a roll on the deck, the mortals still saw nothing. She bounced to her feet, grinning up at them. "I'm going to get done for murder." Calypso breathed.

"What?" Leo said over his shoulder, still concentrating on balancing his dragon. "What did you say?"

"I'm going to get done for two murders."


It felt like a lifetime before they were on the ground. Louisa met them there, having jumped off the Eiffel Tower and hurricaned her way down. Leo was rather impressed, once his heart attack at her jumping had calmed. Calypso was not and stormed off in search of food.

Instead, she found snails.

"Oh, yeah." Leo said at her pale, sickly face. "The French are famous for their food, but it's also a little… weird."

"It's snails."

"Mm. There's frog legs too."

"What?"

"Protest!" Louisa blurted. "That man is eatin' live oysters, I'm gonna kick him!"

"No, no!" Calypso lunged, catching her arm. "We've been here five minutes, don't kick anyone!"

"But-"

"I know and I'm sorry, but… let's try and avoid trouble. Please? Just for a little while." She dragged them away, Leo battling with Festus-the-suitcase. Tourists seemed to fill every square inch of space around available cafes and restaurants. Louisa grew considerably green after passing an al fresco table, each diner slurping down oysters.

They settled for sweeter treats instead- macarons, crepes, croissants. The bakery was full of delectable treats and it was far away from the oyster-slurpers, who were running from a restaurant whose plumbing had mysteriously back-fired and flooded customers out. Louisa had no idea what all the fuss was about.

The bakery staff spoke Spanish, much to Leo's delight. They were directed to a hotel, only a half hour's walk away. It was a little pricey, but their favourite goddess topped up their wallet with more than enough euros.

"Dantia," Leo said, "is my absolute favourite. Let's buy her a heck-ton of cakes!"

"Does it count?"

"Does what count?"

"Well, if we're buying her presents with her money, does it count?"

"Um… yes?" Leo hunched his shoulders. Louisa rolled her eyes.

"It counts now. I think she'll have more use for the cakes than the cash."

"Mm, yeah, fair point."


They needed this. After everything that happened in England, they really needed this break. They walked around Paris, travel-worn and sleepy, snacking on sweet treats from multiple bakeries. They saw the Palace of Versailles, Louisa had to stop to sketch it, whining when they pressed her to move on.

Calypso found a mime. Leo had to promise her he wasn't actually trapped in a box.

Louisa lost her éclair to a swarm of ravenous pigeons. Leo and Calypso were going to help- after they finished laughing. She staggered about, swearing, arms flailing. Pigeons seemed magnetised to her clothes, her hair, her hands, pecking at the remnants of the cake, batting their wings wildly. She threw it blindly. And it smacked a mime in the back of the head. He spun round comically, looking for the attacker, only to get a faceful of scavenger birds.

"Sorry!" Louisa panicked, chasing after him.

"Birds do not like her!" Leo laughed. "Lou, stop attacking them!"

"Bastards!"

"No, leave the pigeons alone!"

"I will make ya'll into a pie!"

"No!"

"Pigeon pie!"

"No, no pigeon pie! Put the mime down!"

They distracted her with the Louvre. Calypso held tightly onto her hand- as much as she was fascinated with all the art, Louisa was only ever a split second from causing mayhem.

"Huh." Leo said. "It's smaller than I thought."

"What?"

"The Mona Lisa."

"Who is she? She doesn't look very happy." Calypso tilted her head to the side. "Or does she?"

"I actually know this one." Leo grinned. "Her name is Lisa del Giocondo." Louisa started, squinting at him.

"How'd ya know that?"

"Well, I'm a Leo. And the dude that painted her was a Leo."

"Leonardo da Vinci." Louisa corrected.

"Ooh, like those Ninja Turtles you were telling me about!" Calypso grinned.

"Yes!" Leo beamed proudly, high-fiving her. "They were all named after Renaissance artists; name the other three!" He challenged. Calypso scoffed, rolling her eyes and folding her arms.

"Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo."

"That's my girl!"

"Wait." Louisa made a T with her hands. "You're a Leo. Ya said I know a Mikey." Leo nodded.

"I've got a cousin called Raphael."

"Shit, we're one short. We need a Don. IS ANYONE HERE CALLED DON?"

"Lou, no!"

"I'm Dan!" Someone called back, waving his arm. "Does that count?"

"Thanks, Dan, but we're lookin' for a Don!"

"Ninja Turtles?"

"Yes, Dan! Dudes, I've got a new best friend."

"Lou, what did we say about strangers aaaand she's gone." Calypso sighed. "I'm going to tie her to my wrist."

"Not a bad idea." Leo mused. Calypso narrowed her eyes at him. "I don't need baby reins."

"You were trying to balance a dragon on the Trifle Tower."

"Eiffel Tower."

"That's what I said."

"I kinda want a trifle now."

"Tough. Starve."


Their hotel room was simple, lots of creams and neutral colours, softly lit. Calypso was first through the door, leaping onto the big bed and then sprawling out. "Mine!" She claimed delightedly, burrowing into the linen. Louisa and Leo glanced sidelong at each other.

"Dibs by the window." Louisa said, sticking her tongue out.

"Fine. But you'll be closer to the pigeons over there."

"Dibs by the bathroom." She corrected. Leo grinned triumphantly. She moved to the window anyway, throwing it open and peering down. The sun was beginning to set, gleaming from their suitcase's bronze hide. Leo squeezed in next to her, both of them taking up the available room in the window frame.

"I'd prefer if he came up here please, Lou."

"It's gonna cost ya."

"Oh?"

"Three eclairs."

"But you only lost one."

"One to replace it. One to get Festus up here. 'N' the third 'cos ya laughed when I lost the first one."

"I'm very sorry."

"I still want three."

"Dammit."

"I am never leaving." Calypso sighed contentedly. "You two can, but I'm not."

"Aw, thanks, Cal. We love you too."

"Of course you do." She smirked. "Night night."