Through his haziness and pain, Leo heard singing.
Singing that reminded him of friends. Of Jason, white scar on his lip showing as he struggled to remember what was taken away from him; of Piper, of her choked sobs as she searched aimlessly for her father; of Annabeth, her gray eyes stormy, brow knitted in worry as she tried again and again to find her lost boyfriend; of Percy, his green eyes animalistic as he struggled to find the Doors of Death; of Hazel, desperate to shrug off her past life; of Frank, hoping in vain that he could learn to use his family gift.
Leo couldn't quite understand the song. Bittersweet and strange, the clear melody rang in his ears as he struggled to find the source. Slender fingers clasped his own slim ones, and the pain in his stomach seemed to increase, burning its way through him, searing hot pain making his muscles scream.
He blinked, trying to focus on something. A red-clad girl knelt over him, hair simply braided, almond eyes unfocused, pink lips moving to the lyrics of the song he would never know. "Sun…shine?" Leo rasped.
The girl looked down, and for a brief moment, her almond eyes met his. Her golden-brown pupils seared into his, pleading, desperate, and her singing wavered. "Leo?" Her voice was broken, but there was an edge of hope to it.
Leo managed a nod, trying to sit up, only to find his body not obliging—too busy acknowledging the pain. "What's the matter, Sunshine?" He tried for a smirk, hoping it passed as convincing; but as soon as it melted away, he knew it hadn't.
A tear leaked out of the wide almond eyes as Calypso straightened herself and let out a cry of frustration. "What's the matter? Look at you, Leo! Look at you! You were stabbed, and now you're bleeding you guts out, and I could have been able to do something if I'm damn freaking mortal right now! Leo, you're dying, and a Titaness can't save you!" Her left hand, which was pressing a piece of makeshift gauze to his wound, gave a sharp dig out of frustration, and Leo hissed in pain. "Look what good I'm doing you now, Leo Valdez!" Calypso fumed, her voice cracking, "I've a curse and now you're the payback for me leaving my prison!" She turned her face to the heavens, her shoulders shaking, from frustration or sadness, Leo couldn't tell. "Zeus! Have you no shame?"
"Hey, hey, Sunshine." Leo felt strangely calm about the fact that he was going to die. "Listen to me, yeah? When I… die, take Festus. Tell him to go to Camp Half-Blood. He'll know where to go."
"But—" Calypso protested, but Leo raised a scarred hand.
"Leave me here. I'll be nothing but a burden. Tell Jason—tell the crew I'm grateful. And… if you're mortal… I'll see you again in Elysium, all right?" Leo gave a weak smile.
"But—Leo!" Calypso protested, openly sobbing now. "No, no, Leo—I'm so sorry, this is all my fault—"
Leo shook his head, and he felt his curls swish one last time. "It's not your fault, Sunshine. I love you—Titaness or mortal or ghost. Tell you what—you wouldn't want me to spend my last moments in pure agony, will you?" He flinched again as Calypso's knuckles dug into his wound. Upon seeing her tear-stained shake of her head, he nodded. "Then sing me to sleep, will you? I won't wake anymore."
Calypso drew a shaky breath and nodded, her lips opening into a round circle. When her voice was heard, it was not an unfamiliar melody any more, but a heart-achingly familiar one, one that Leo had jokingly taught Calypso on their aimless random flights:
You are my sunshine
My only sunshine
You make me happy
When skies are gray
You never know dear
How much I love you
Please don't take
My sunshine away
…
"Tell them…" Leo whispered through the overwhelming pain, "That my last moments were the best of my life."
With that, he faded into unconsciousness, a final impish smile etched on his elfish face.
Hey guys :) Thanks for actually waiting up for this story! I know it took damn long for me to make another update, but here it is, please enjoy!
This is the first chapter in which I did not write battle. I didn't feel like writing the reason why Leo died, while I could focus on the Caleo I'd rather write. Plus, I really just don't have any idea how he'd die.
This chapter is for Love the Brightest Star, who is an awesome author herself and has quite an amount of awesome stories. She's also one of the four people who truly understand how pessimistic I am. I also recommend her stories if you're a fan of the Divergent Trilogy :) Cheers, gal!
I may or may not have made both of these characters OOC. I may or may not have made up Calypso's eye color. I may or may not have rushed this out in an hour.
But anyways, enjoy! Constructive criticism welcome!
-Ctenophore. D
P.S. Can anyone see the two references in here?