In which Perch and Nico are not actually blind and stupid and they know Leo well.
Replies:
Undeath9087: Heh. Heh is what I say- and yeah, they would think she's crazy.
MKDemiGodzilla-Warrior: Honestly I'm willing to admit that I'm struggling with this one more than the others.
Jubby1905: Well, there's gonna be angst I can say that.
Guest: Percy is not gonna like the plan.

Percy was not stupid.

She knew her brother was up to something, she just had no way of knowing what. She could see it on Frank and Hazel's faces when they'd gotten back to the Argo II.

They'd been crying. It was impossible for Percy not to notice.

But what could Percy do about it? Whatever he was planning there was no way Leo would tell her. It was undoubtedly something he knew she wouldn't like given his secrecy, and Hazel and Frank were too good people to spill if Leo had sworn them to secrecy.

Thankfully it hadn't taken them long to get arrive in Epidaurus, and Leo had quite quickly worked out that the temple complex was actually a massive stone lock that led to Asclepius' underground lair- though Annabeth had laughed and told her that it probably wasn't a lair.

It didn't even take Leo that long to manage to unlock it, and once he did he, Piper, Jason and Will headed down the spiral staircase that he'd opened up.

And Percy sat on the deck, staring out into the distance, perched on the railings.

Percy didn't turn her head when she felt a shadow falling over her.

"He's not as secretive as he thinks." Nico's voice was quiet. "You know he's planning something. Right?"

"Yeah. He's not been able to meet my eyes for days." Percy bit her lip as she turned her head. "Nico-"

"He's going to do a you."

"Hey." Percy managed a weak shaky smile, "That's uncalled for. It's not like I had much choice."

"I don't think Leo thinks he has much choice either."

"I know." Percy closed her eyes. "Annabeth and Rachel keep asking me what's got me so tense but I-"

"You can't make yourself say it." Nico nodded. "Where are they?"

"Below deck. Discussing things with Frank- given what Apollo said about her.. it's pretty obvious that Rache is a legacy of Apollo. I think Frank's hoping she might be able to take Octavian's place, at least temporarily.

"Makes sense."

"New Rome would be good for them."

"But not you." it wasn't a question. And Percy didn't bother to try to lie. She turned her head to meet Nico's gaze.

"We both know that I- if Leo-"

"He won't want that."

"Yeah, well I didn't want you guys following me into Tartarus. Sometimes we don't get a choice in that sort of thing Neeks."

"Oh I'm not arguing." Nico met Percy's gaze, "And you know better than to be a hypocrite and argue with me right?" he crooked an eyebrow and Percy winced.

"Will-"

"Annabeth and Rachel-"

"Okay, okay you have a point there." Percy let out a tired noise, "Will you tell me off if I say you have a whole life ahead of you?"

"I'll tell you that you do too. And we both know that won't change a damn thing. We both know you'd rather die than lose any of us. That it'd kill you to lose him. And- and I can't bare the thought of losing either of you either. No matter how selfish that is."

"Find me. When the time comes find me and we'll go to him." she smiled sadly, meeting Nico's eyes. "We faced the pit together."

"We need to talk to him about it." Percy said after a moment, "To make sure that whatever he's planning- that it takes us into account or we could screw things up and that's not what we want."

"Tonight." and Percy reached out, grabbing her little brothers hand and squeezing it gently.

And they lapsed into silence, and when they saw Leo, Will, Piper and Jason returning they exchanged worried glances before they moved to meet the trio.

Leo looked tense and worried- and Will, Jason and Piper kept shooting him worried glances as they landed on deck.

And there was no denying the flash of panic in Leo's eyes when he realised that they were waiting for him before he tried to cover up his worry with a cheerful smile.

"Percy! Nico! The mission was a success!"

"Good-" Nico gave a tight smile as Will darted towards him and kissed his cheek, "You okay Will?"

"Fine." Will nodded, "It was weird meeting my brother but he had some great advice for me- and he gave Jason some glasses too."

"Looking good." Percy nodded at Jason, "I like it-" she was hooking her arm through Leo's, and really the panicked look on his face almost made her want to laugh. If she wasn't so worried that was. "Now, Nico and I need to steal our dearest brother-"

"Percy-"

"Don't argue with her Leo." Nico's voice was light, but there was a glint in his eyes. "We need to talk-"

"Listen we should really be calling a team meeting and talking not-"

"Leo." Percy's voice turned sharper, "My room. Now."

And it didn't take long for the daughter of Poseidon to drag her brothers to her bedroom- the others had agreed to gather the others and wait for the three Jacksons- Nico had said something vague about needing to discus Tartarus as an excuse.

Which apparently Leo had brought because when they reached Percy's room and Nico closed the door he was turning to Percy, a very worried look on his face. "Is everything okay? Is this about what happened with Polybotes- Jason told me about-"

"Jason told-" Percy held up her hands, "No, no it is not about what happened with Polybote-"

"What happened with Polybotes-"

"Percy used his poison against-"

"This is not the time!" Percy raised her voice slightly, shaking her head as she shook her head, "Listen to me right now. Nico, no getting side tracked. We agreed we'd have the talk-"

"What talk?" Leo gave his best goofy grin, "'Cause I mean, I've already been given the safe sex talk and Cal and I aren't-"

"Gross!" Percy shoved him hard, and he laughed as he toppled back onto Percy's bed. "You are so freaking gross Leo. No it's not the safe sex talk it's the you being a complete fucking dumbass and planning to sacrifice yourself without us talk." and Leo's face turned ashen in an instant- it lost all of it's color.

"I don't know what you're talking about." his voice was stiff, and that was a dead giveaway if nothing else was. And gods but Percy wanted to hug him.

And fuck it why resist the urge? She surged forward, wrapping her arms around him tightly. "Leo I am the Queen of self sacrifice. You didn't actually think that you could hide what you're planning from me did you? Or from Nico for that matter."

"We survived the pit together." Nico pointed out, crossing his arms over his chest. "You think you can hide anything from us and you are sorely mistaken let me tell you."

"I'm not-" Leo faltered as he glanced between Percy and Nico before, "There's no choice. Nike, Apollo, even our new healing god buddy- they all knew too. It makes sense.

"It does." Percy's voice was quiet, "I'm a potential storm but it's not likely. And Nike said it was one of the four of us who took her down that would die. I'm not stupid Leo."

"That doesn't mean we're letting you go down alone." Nico spoke up. "We know we can't stop you."

"Not any more than you could have stopped me from dying to stop Kronos."

"But if we go down, then we're going down together Flamehead."

"I don't- you guys can't-" Leo shook his head quickly, "No- no way-"

"I cannot survive losing anyone." Percy told him quietly. "It would kill me Leo."

"I know." Leo held up his hands quickly, "Listen I know you guys can't stand the thought of losing me. I don't particularly want to die either. Which is why I have a plan."

"A plan?" Percy's eyes narrowed, "Leo-"

"Listen, it's going to sound crazy but I do have a plan. And you guys cannot be there with me. No one can, or you'd die too and we've only got enough of the Physicans cure for one person."

"Tell us the plan then." Nico decided, "and we'll decide if we're willing to play along with it."

"I-" Leo took a deep breath, "The only way to beat Gaea if she rises will be to get her off ground. I- I've been rebuilding Festus-" Percy's eyes widened but Leo plunged onward, "He's pretty much ready, built into the ship. Once the time comes and everyone's off I'll be destroying the Argo II, kinda like Festus will hatch from it like an egg. A rebirth. I'll get her off the ground- and I'm going to blow her. And I know-before either of you say it I know that an explosion that powerful will probably kill me too. But I have a plan for that too- no one can be close enough that they'd be able to administer the cure in time but I'm going to give Festus the orders- he'll be able to administer it-and boom, I'll be back before you know it."

"And what if something goes wrong?" Percy asked, her voice sharp, "What if the explosion damages Fesus too much and he can't administer it? What if you fall from Festus back and he can't catch you. There are so many things that could go wrong Leo and we'd lose you forever-"

"I was going to stack the cards in my favor. The line about the oath to keep. Well I'm making it now, I swear on the River Styx that I'll come back to you guys- I swear. And I know you want to help- and I know both of you would probably rather die than risk losing me but- we don't have much of a choice."

"What about after the explosion." Percy asked suddenly, her eyes narrowing, "What about- Nico. Would you be able to shadow travel us onto Festus-"

"Percy-"

"If you can get us onto Festus- just as a precaution." she said quickly, meeting Leo's gaze, "That way if it screws up, if something goes wrong we'll be there to give you the cure. If you tell us where it will be-"

"I can do that." Nico said quickly, "As long as I don't use too much power before hand I'll be able to shadow travel us to you."

"You guys-" Leo's voice cracked. "I-"

"We're not taking any risks." Percy declared, "We're getting you back. One way or another."

"We-" Leo swallowed hard, "Still. The only others who can know are Frank and Hazel. You know no one else would agree- the plans still suicidally crazy." and at least Leo could admit that. "And none of the others would agree to let me take the risk- I didn't think you would honestly."

"Leo. Don't forget that I have been there. And I'll be honest I wish it was me in your place but- but I get the horrible feeling that you're right." Percy scowled, "So all I can do is make sure I'm going to be there to stop you from being gone for long."

"I love you guys so much." Leo swallowed hard before he lurched forward and hugged Percy tightly. And gods but her chest felt tight. Because- even if she made a stupid promise she wasn't sure she could keep it.

She wasn't sure she'd be able to force herself to leave Leo at all. Not when she knew what was coming.

The idea of losing her brother was too painful to handle. No matter how selfish she knew it would be to stay with him when the time came.