No action- but some Percy-Leo sibling moments- we all love them very much.
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Undeath9087: Yeah, I needed Percy and Leo for specific reasons- which you will see. And it's definitely gonna be fun.

Percy was glad she'd been chosen as one of the four- though she did wish they could have brought Nico along. But of course that wouldn't work- there needed to be two Greeks and two Romans- and since they couldn't bring Jason along there wasn't a third Roman to balance things out if they had a third Greek.

Still, it felt good to be off the ship with Leo- even if Nico wasn't there.

Percy was willing to admit that she worried about her brothers a lot, even if she hid it well. Things had been so chaotic since they'd gotten back. She'd barely gotten the chance to check in with them on their own. To see how they were coping with everything that had happened.

And she hummed to herself, tilting her head back slightly and enjoying the feeling of the sun on her face as they sat side by side on a bridge that spanned the Kladeos River, with their feet dangling over the water.

"You know, it was super sly of you suggesting that we go through the museum." Percy remarked, shooting him a sidelong grin.

And Leo grinned back. "Hey, nothing wrong with that, we're Greeks, we can actually read most of the displays." He paused, "Mostly."

"And the air conditioning was totally nothing to do with it."

"Eh, I like the heat, you know me." Leo snickered, "But a museum is much easier to search than ruins. 'Sides I figured we'd cover more ground faster if we searched in pairs and I don't think I've had more than like, five seconds with you without one of the others around lately."

"I have had similar thoughts." Percy huffed, "I wish Neeks was here too."

"I know." Leo frowned, "It's so weird. I keep catching myself- it feels kind of like a dream." he admitted quietly. "I kind of regret sending Cal off with the others because I wish she was here but Mellie and Coach need her more than me right now and I can't be selfish."

"It's not selfish to want the girl you love with you." Percy pointed out quietly, "It's not selfish to feel sad that she isn't."

"How do you do that?"

"Do what?"

"You always know what to say." Leo shifted, and Percy automatically lifted her arm, draping it over his shoulder and squeezing gently as he rested his head on her shoulder.

"Well that's part and parcel of being a big sister my dear Leo."

"Do you dream about it?"

"I-" Percy paused, "I have. I've gotten good at being quiet though." she admitted, "So I don't wake the others."

"My room is soundproofed- not that I sleep there. I usually sleep down with Bob and Damasen." Leo admitted, "I- the only thing that helps is working. If I work until I pass out I sometimes don't dream. And being with Bob and Damasen helps." he paused, "Think Nico's having the same issues?"

"We can talk to him when we get to the Argo II." Percy decided, "And- since Bob and Damasen are going to be leaving when we get back I'll tell you what we'll do. The three of us can camp out on the deck."

"Percy-"

"No, no hear me out. Because out on the deck, in the open air, it's about as far from the pit as we can get. And maybe that'll help it feel real."

"Doesn't feel real to you either?"

"Sometimes." Percy gave a weak shrug, "Sometimes I find myself thinking that all this is all a dream and I'll wake up down there with him." she wouldn't have told anyone else that of course- other than Nico.

But if anyone could understand it would be Leo. He'd been down there too, he knew that it was like. "What would you have done if Nyx hadn't shown up?" Leo asked suddenly. And Percy winced slightly.

"I don't know." she said after a minute, "I- I don't think I could have left Bob and Damasen down there to face Tartarus alone. And-"

"And you could use your powers to toss us back into the elevator." Leo finished for her. "I kinda suspected that much. Sucks to hear but-I get it. I didn't want to leave them behind either."

"I'd have done anything to get you two home." Percy said honestly. "Anything Leo."

"It wouldn't have been home without you." Leo pointed out. "It would have just been... I don't know." he shrugged. "It's hard to explain."

"Tell me about it." Percy snorted, shaking her head. She knew better than anyone else how hard it could be to put your thoughts into words. She'd so often struggled with explaining how she was feeling. She still did quite often, though she was very lucky to have Annabeth and Rachel who were being ridiculously patient with her. She still wasn't sure she deserved it though. "Listen Leo. It's okay, I mean, I'm here."

"And you're not going anywhere." Leo exhaled, and Percy felt some of that tension easing out of his shoulders as he did so. "I just wish... I just wish I could let myself switch off."

"Not able to relax huh." it wasn't a question. "I haven't really been able to either. Cuddles with Annabeth and Rachel help but even then a small part of me is just waiting for shit to hit the fan."

"Have you talked to them about... about the stuff that happened down there?"

"Some." Percy sighed, "Not all the dirty details but they know most of it. And believe me those conversations were about as suckish as it's possible to get Leo."

"Do you think-" Leo hesitated, "I- Cal is gone. I don't really have anyone too talk to about it other than Bob and Damasen and it wouldn't feel right talking to them about it. They had it so much worse for so much longer, y'know what I mean?"

"Of course." Percy nodded, "You know Leo you can come find me whenever you need and I'll kick Annabeth and Rachel out so that you and I can talk. They would understand. And Neeks too. I'm gonna have to tell him that when we get back aren't I?"

"Probably." Leo agreed. "Luke's tried to talk to me about stuff but- like, I know if I tell him it won't help and it'll just hurt him because there's nothing he can do to make any of it better and you know how Luke is. He thinks that because he's the oldest it's his job to magically make us feel okay."

"If only it worked like that." Percy snorted, tilting her head back to stare up at the clear sky-and gods but it really was beautiful. "When we- when this is all over I'm going to talk to Mr. D. I- he's an asshole and he puts on a real good act but he does care deep down. I'm pretty sure if I ask nicely he'll be willing to start up my therapy again. Which- which I think I need. He might be willing to talk to you and Nico too. I think we all need some therapy."

"Nico and I- what we went through sucked but it wasn't the same as what you did Percy-"

"Leo someone's always had it worse." Percy pointed out, "That doesn't make your trauma any less valid." she pressed her lips to the top of her baby brothers head, "Honestly you're as bad as I used to be about admitting I needed help Leo Valdez, and I didn't even think that was possible."

"I- I guess talking could help." Leo said after a moment before, "Are you- how are you doing? I know that Alabaster- that what happened between you and him's helped-"

"In some ways." Percy nodded, "Not in others. In other ways I think it's- it might have messed me up even more. Annabeth and Rachel had a nice long talk with me when I woke up after Will dosed me."

"Oooh." Leo whistled between his teeth, "That does not sound fun I don't envy you."

"It wasn't." Percy swallowed hard, "Sometimes I- I don't deserve them I know that- don't argue with me Leo. But uh- lately I sometimes kind of think that- that- I mean- I should feel guilty for the stuff I did. And I don't and I feel like that makes me a bad person- which, which I know logically doesn't make sense but I just- I feel like I deserve the pain more than they do- I deserve to be the one who gets hurt, who defends them from the bad stuff. Because at least if I'm getting hurt they aren't. Like- Annabeth was angry because Antinous was kind of- feeling me up- do not look at me like that. And- that was fine because it was me and- and I can handle it I'm used to getting, to having hands on me when I don't want them, because of Alabaster and- and it's better that it's me than it being them because I deserve it more."

"Wow." Leo blinked. "That- you're right that's stupid and it doesn't make sense." Leo huffed, "But you're fucked in the head, or as Will would put it, you have PTSD so it makes sense to you even if it is super dumb."

"Leo-"

"You don't deserve anything bad." Leo cuddled into her side, "You're my awesome big sister and if I could I'd shrink myself so I could get inside of your head and fight off all the bad thoughts."

"That has to be the single weirdest thing you have ever said to me." Percy snickered, "I love you Leo. You know that right?"

"Of course you love me. Who wouldn't." Leo grinned, "I'm the Great Flameo after all." he hummed softly before- "I know I can't magically make those thoughts go away, but you can come to me too. I know you said I can come to you but you can come to me."

"I know." Percy exhaled, blowing her hair out of her face, "It's- I hate it. I just- I feel like I should be better because he's gone. So it's over right? But my brain just doesn't seem to be cooperating the way it should."

"Ah, brains, machines are so much simpler. I wish I could replace my brain with a machine."

"Eh, machines are cool but I like you as you are." Percy breathed out, "We should probably try and focus on something other than the super depressing thoughts I've been having lately huh?" she crooked an eyebrow.

"Yeah." Leo nodded "That's probably a good idea, before Frank and Hazel get back and get all worried about us." he scooped a small stone from the bridge next to him, skipping it across the water. "How long do you think they'll be."

"I have no clue." Percy snorted, "Hopefully not too much longer." she looked around.

To their left, the Olympic valley shimmered in the afternoon heat. To their right, the visitors' lot was crammed with tour buses. Good thing the Argo II was moored a hundred feet in the air, because they never would've found parking.
As if their words had summoned them a voice from the parking lot called, "Guys!" and Percy turned her head.

Frank stood at the far end of the parking lot, waving at them to come over. Next to him, Hazel sat astride her horse Arion, who had appeared unannounced as soon as they'd landed.

"Speak of the devil." Percy removed her arm from Leo's shoulder as she pulled herself to her feet and held out her hand, which Leo took quickly and used to pull himself up. "Let's go and join Frank and Hazel now shall we?"

"Now that sounds like a plan."

And with that the two siblings turned and jogged towards Frank and Hazel.

Hopefully they'd spotted Nike. If not- they might have to come up with some crazy plan- which admittedly was Percy's specialty but still, it was hardly ideal.

But she'd do whatever they had to do. The longer they took the more time was taken out of their usual travel time. And that was unacceptable.