Sup everyone! This chapter is not really Chimera action, sorry! But this is really just a filler chapter. Next chapter is either Leo POV or Frank POV, I haven't decided yet.

Disclaimer-

Me- You better run, Hazel.

Hazel- I know! Shut up or I'll bury you in cursed jewels!

Me- Sheesh fine! Rick owns you by the way.

Hazel- *smirks evily*

I am also open as a beta-reader now, if anyone is interested.

XII

Hazel

Hazel tore off without waiting for the others, her mind desperately trying to come up with a plan.

She rolled to the side as acid landed right next to her, burning the wooden deck. Behind him, Leo grumbled, "I'll get the Chimera for that."

Hazel couldn't keep running forever. The back of the ship was rapidly approaching.

Jason yelled, "Duck and cover!" Hazel instinctively dove onto the ground so hard, she'd be removing splinters from her chin for the next couple of years.

The air sparked, and a lightning bolt hit the Chimera. It flattened, but stood up again quickly and growled, the lion head blowing fire.

Unfortunately, the flames shot right at Hazel. She yelped and tried to protect her face with her arms, but then Leo jumped in front of her. "Leo!" she screamed, temporarily forgetting his fire powers. Leo swatted the flames away and shot a white hot fireball at the Chimera, burning its snake head and causing it to hiss in protest and pain.

Leo quickly helped her up. "Thanks," she said. Leo grinned. "Fire can't kill me, you know." Another lightning bolt hit the Chimera's lion head, and it collapsed again, dazed and hurt. Hazel drew her cavalry sword and moved around, trying to get a clear path to stab the cursed Echidna spawn.

She saw the chance when a giant eagle swooped in, dodged the goat's anti-air acid and raked his claws against the goat's eyes. It bleeted in agony and Hazel jumped in. In one quick stroke, a goat head fell onto the ground and disintegrated.

Hazel rolled aside as the serpent tail bit at her and hacked at it, but missed. The lion head turned its body toward her, and opened its mouth. It got a mouthful of Leo Fire and roared.

Hazel dove to the side as the lion blasted flames, singing her long hair. She hacked the lion's head, screaming bloody murder as another lightning bolt blew up the poor snake tail. With all 3 heads gone, all that was left was a hunky piece of Chimera meat. Hazel slipped a ruby into her pocket and sheathed her sword.

Piper was standing there in shock from watching the entire murder of a Chimera, but she quickly shook out of it and stood embarrassed at not doing anything.

Leo walked over still smoking and elbowed Hazel. "Good job out there," he smiled. Hazel blushed slightly as Frank landed back on the deck and turned back into a human. Hazel thought she saw his eyes twitch a little when he saw Leo talking with her.

Hazel frowned.

She walked over to Frank, who was purposely looking the other way. "Frank…" She started. "Me and Leo are just friends. There's nothing to be jealous about."

Frank turned towards her and scowled, and Hazel winced. She never really liked when anybody had an upset expression. "Sure doesn't seem that way."

"Listen. I liked his GRANDFATHER, OK?" She tried to say, but Frank wasn't taking any of it.

"And because of that, suddenly your all mooney eyed over him!"

Hazel didn't know why Frank was suddenly acting so jealous, but it was pissing Hazel and her Roman pride.

"I'm not 'mooney eyed' over him!" She screamed back.

Then he did something Hazel could never really forgive him for, even if it was because Gaea was influencing him. He slapped her.

In the split second that she registered the pain, Hazel confirmed it. She and Frank were done.

Hazel stumbled back, blinking back tears. Frank blinked too, and then stepped forward, reaching his hand out. "Ha-Hazel, look. I di-I didn't mean to-"

"Get away!" Hazel screamed and drew my spatha, my arm wavering. Without another word, she ran down the stairs blindly and collided with someone. Through my vision, I could see a latino person.

"What happened?" Leo asked gently.

Hazel told Leo what happened through tears.

"Hey, hey, I'm sorry," Leo apologized.

She looked at him through tears. "Why?"

Leo looked down, embarrassed. "I'm sorry for trying to make a move on you, and trying to steal you fro-"

"I'm not going to date Frank anymore," Hazel whispered.

Leo looked shocked. "Why?"

Hazel sighed. "I don't know, he just doesn't seem right for me."

The 2 of them sat in an awkward silence for a few seconds. And then suddenly Hazel jumped and Leo fell backwards.

Oh gods, did she just kiss him? Leo looked at Hazel for a moment and then stepped forward and put his lips on hers again, and this time, Hazel didn't resist.

At some point, Hazel started crying again. "What's wrong?" Leo asked.

She stammered something out about how Frank would feel.

"Look at me, Haze," Leo said and turned Hazel's red eyes into Leo's.

"He chose what he did, and if he wants you back, he'll apologize, ok? Stay strong. Leo the awesome is here to save you, ok?" Leo flashed her a crooked smile.

And Hazel laughed.

xX

When Leo walked up onto the deck later that day, Hazel slumped against the side of the Argo II, tired from another day of Leo's "How to use technology" lesson, absent mindedly twirling a small ruby between her hands. When she saw Leo, Hazel quickly put it away and gestured for Leo to come.

The sun was setting, giving the sky a beautiful purplish-orange glow. The breeze was cool as Leo's ship cut through the air. Leo sat down next to Hazel. "What are you thinking?" he asked.

"Just about the quest, everything." Hazel made one of those epic-stare-of-into-the-horizon sort of things. "You know, how the gods push us around and Gaea and all that."

"It'll be all right." Leo shifted uncomfortably. "We'll make it out of this alive."

Hazel smiled. "Yes he is. Yes he is."

She leaned in for a kiss impulsively (Hazel hated her hormones) and Leo delivered it to her. It was short, but sweet.

Hazel felt that same sweet oblivion from when they first contacted several hours earlier, like she could live this moment happily forever.

If only life were that simple.

"Hazel, listen, ok?" Leo suddenly said as he pulled away. "I want you to go to bed tonight and really consider who you want. I was told once that if you let go of something and it comes back to you, then it's yours. And I just don't feel right stealing after how much I did of it when I was running away."

Hazel was speechless. "Leo…"

"Just do it, ok? For me."

Hazel blurted out before she could stop it, "I will."

Still short, but better than last time. (Edited 3/18/13)

Quotes of the Chapter-Silence is golden, duct tape is silver.

Song of the Chapter- Gangman Style by PSY

Entertainment of the chapter- Rome: Total War. A MUST PLAY, RTW IS FRICKING AMAZING!