"Leo. Get Percy and get out of here," Annabeth ordered. She sounded terrified. Leo wondered for a moment why. Then he realized the Cyclops must really be a threat if even she was scared.
"W-where do we go?" he asked anxiously, his hands trembling as he braced himself to make a break for it.
"Anywhere safe. Just take care of yourself and Percy, okay?"
Annabeth pulled the son of Hephaestus into a hug before shoving him back forcefully. Leo wobbled for a second and regained his footing.
"See ya, Leo," Piper said, smiling weakly as she stood protectively in front of Annabeth.
Leo, for the fourth time that day, felt as if everything was falling apart. How could he just abandon them? It wasn't right. But it was the only option. Somebody had to go back for Percy. And the gods only knew where Jason was.
"Haha the tiny fire demigod is running away like a coward!"
The Cyclops' taunts rang in his ears as he ran.
"You're gonna have to get through us!" Frank shouted, morphing into a grizzly.
Grateful tears sprung from his eyes and Leo ignored the bushes and brambles slicing into his body - not that he could feel much in his right arm anyway.
By the time Leo found his way back to the Argo II's wreckage, he was out of breath and exhausted beyond anything he'd ever felt before.
"Fire Boy?"
Percy strolled over casually, one hand stroking through his black hair, the other carrying…
"Is that a pillow pet?" Leo asked, not expecting that from Percy of all people.
"Yeah, a panda one. I figured I might as well get what I can salvage from my room."
"I thought Octavian killed your pillow pet though!"
Percy sighed, still mourning the loss, "Yeah. I had a spare."
"Then why were you so upset at him for destroying the last one?"
"I was attached to the old pillow pet! It didn't deserve such a gruesome fate! You wouldn't understand!" Percy said indignantly, before chuckling a little bit. He'd picked up on the fact that Leo was definitely stressed out and figured he'd try to help lighten the mood. The poor guy'd been through a lot lately.
"Anyways, where's the gang?"
Leo bit his lip, this time, not hesitating before it drew blood. "It's not good. I-I don't know how to tell you right now-"
Percy's sea-blue eyes dialated with fear. His arms dropped to his side and the pillow pet slipped from his grip. "WHERE IS ANNABETH?"
Leo hugged himself nervously, "She and Pipes and Frank stayed behind to fight the Cyclops."
Percy breathed out a sigh of relief. "Alright. I'm sure they can handle a Cyclops."
"It killed Hazel."
"No." Percy covered his ears with his hands as if he wished he'd never heard it. "No way. No!"
Leo trembled in wait as Percy fought to calm his hurricane of emotions (Poseidon joke. Get it?). Finally he looked up, "And Jason?"
"Missing. We hope."
Percy clenched his fists in thought. "Okay. We have to-"
"Get out of here," Leo finished.
"What? No, I can't do that! We have to go help them!"
"Annabeth said for me to get you and get out of here."
"I am not leaving without Annabeth." Percy argued.
"She would want you to get to safety," Leo responded, flames flickering in his hands as his anger rose, "Just listen to me!"
Percy took a deep breath, "Look, Leo. I know there's a lot going on right now, but I can't just run away from a fight. Especially when Annabeth is in danger," A single tear streamed across his cheek, "Just go somewhere safe, Leo."
The repair boy stood paralyized as Percy ran in the direction he just came from. Percy probably didn't even realize he sounded exactly like Annabeth. Both telling him to go somewhere he'll be safe.
"They're both heroes," he said aloud when his voice returned. He shook himself and forced his way forward, in the opposite direction. Each step grew longer and harder as he broke into a sprint. Beats of sweat dripped off his face.
Percy. Annabeth. Hazel. Frank. Piper. Jason. They run into danger to protect each other. That's what they have in common. And look at me. I'm just giving up on the fight and running away. Maybe that's why I never felt like I fit in. Seventh wheel.
"Screw it. I'm going back to help." Leo stopped in his tracks.
Aloha! Longer chapter, so hopefully that makes up for the last two. (I've gotten a death threat in a review already for killing off Hazel. It's a joke though, thank the gods! ...I hope it's a joke at least). ANYWAYS thanks y'all for reading! And I wanna say the story is getting close to a climax but I have literally no plan and am just writing whatever I feel like sounds good, so I can't really make any promises.
I hope everyone stays safe and healthy! -Apollo
