Chapter Text
Percy was tired. Tired of the wars, tired of fighting, and most importantly tired of Gabe.
Of coarse, Percy had been in plenty of fights before, although there were two problems. One, celestial bronze doesn't hurt humans, and Percy's not a murderer, either. Two, Percy could easily best Gabe up, but Gabe would either call the police, beat Percy's mom, or do both and tell the cops Percy did it.
No matter what, Percy would not put his mom in harms way, even if that meant taking a beating himself.
"Percy?"
Percy turned around at the sound of his name in a choked sob. He'd been sitting by the lake at Camp Half-Blood, dreading that he'd have to leave tomorrow because of school.
"Annabeth? What's wrong?"
Her arms were wrapped tightly around herself as she shook. It was past curfew, so she should have been asleep. Did she have another night terror? She was staring at the ground, but Percy could see the tears streaming down her face as she refused to look at him. "Percy, I'm so sorry."
Percy furrowed his eyebrows in confusion. "Sorry for what? You didn't do anything, as far as I know." He patted the ground beside him. "Come sit down."
She shook her head and stayed where she stood. Percy hesitated, then softly asked, "Did you have a night terror?"
Annebeth tensed and shook her head, then paused and nodded. Percy was starting to get really confused.
"What did you dream, about?"
She took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. "Akhlys."
Percy froze. They hadn't spoken about that since it happened, but he could always see the fear in her eyes. It scared him, and he had a feeling he knew where this conversation was headed.
"I can't do it anymore, Percy. This," she gestured between them. "Us. It hurts, and I'm scared. I saw a dark part of you, and it terrified me. I love you, and I don't want to lose you as my friend, even if it takes a while before I can except that. Right now, I just can't. It scares me being around all of this. It's not just you, but the entire camp. The Athena Parthenos, the Argo II, you, the rest of the seven... I need time."
Percy's heart clinched painfully. He knew this was coming eventually, but he hoped they would work through it. He understood, of coarse. But, that doesn't mean it hurt any less.
Percy nodded. "I... I understand. When you're ready, I do want us to be friends."
Annabeth nodded, then looked away again. "That's not all." Percy raised an eyebrow. "I'm going to Camp Jupiter for the school year, maybe longer."
Percy opened his mouth, then closed it, not really sure what to say.
"I'm sorry, Percy," Annabeth said, stepping up and kissing Percy's cheek. "Goodbye, Seaweed Brain."
Percy looked up at her, eyes prickling as tears came through. Luckily, he held them back. "Goodbye, Wise Girl. Take care of yourself."
Annabeth smiled softly, tears still streaming down her cheeks. "You too." She started walking away, but stopped, glancing over her shoulder.
"I love you, Percy."
Percy felt the tears finally streaming down his face as she walked away.
"I love you, Annabeth."
Leo sighed. He'd been siting in Bunker 9 for hours, trying to find something new to build that he hasn't made already. Calypso tried to help, but couldn't come up with anything new, either. Leo smiled at her and told her it was fine, then winked and told her to go have fun when he saw her watching the Stoll twins. She flushed read before chasing after them, leaving Leo to his own thoughts. Now, an hour later, Leo was incredibly bored.
After a moment more of thinking, he gave up, deciding on a swim in the lake. Besides, if it was cold, he could always warm it up with his fire.
He paused as he saw a figure on the shore. A few steps closer allowed him to identify the figure as Percy Jackson, and he walked over to say hi. He sat down beside his friend with a smile, but it melted as he noticed the tears staining his cheeks.
"Hey, Leo."
Leo scooted closer, setting a hand on Percy's back for comfort. The two had become friends during the few months after the war. Leo knew quite a bit about him, but not everything. His favorite color was blue, he secretly preferred Camp half-blood over Camp Jupiter, he doesn't like his step dad and calls him Smelly Gabe (he wouldn't tell also why, and always changed the subject, simply stating that he was a jerk) and his mom is the reason he always makes blue foods. He knew a bit more than that, like how many times he's been expelled, his favorite hobby (besides swimming), and that he used to be made fun of. He never spoke about His step dad, and he never spoke about Tartarus. Although, Leo assumed it was fair, as he never spoke of his time in foster care.
He rubbed little circles with his thumb as he asked, "What happened, Perce?"
Percy took a deep breath and let it out. "Annabeth broke up with me. She's afraid I mean, camp is just a little much for her right now. She's going to Camp Jupiter for the school year, maybe longer."
"I'm sorry, man. That sucks." Leo paused before deciding to change the subject, which usually succeeded in improving Percy's mood. He grinned. "Wanna go swimming? You can watch the fire boy flail around in the water!"
Percy shook his head, and Leo gaped. He must be really upset to turn down swimming. Time for a different tactic. "Hey, at least you get to see your mom tomorrow, right?"
Percy tensed, and Leo realized he must have said the wrong thing. He removed his hand from Percy's back and tried to think of a way to help.
Percy suddenly got an idea. A great one, actually. Leo could come with him! Sadly would love him, and Leo could really use a mother figure. Besides, Gabe has always acted like an angel whenever someone was around, unless the visitors were his Poker buddies.
Leo jumped as Percy's smile brightened and he stared the Latino down.
"I think he's lost it," Leo mumbled.
Percy laughed. "No, but I did just get an idea. You should come home with me for the winter!"
Leo gave him a look like, Are you insane?
"Come on, it's a great idea! You'd love my mom, and you wouldn't have to stay here alone all winter."
Leo still looked wary. "Are you sure? Maybe you should talk to your mom about this... She's never met me, so it might seem weird if you just show up on her doorstep with a Latino firebug beside you."
Percy laughed, already feeling better. Leo's always had a way of cheering him up, even if it is by changing the subject. Percy's also found himself glad that the son of Hephaestus doesn't pester him to explain what's wrong, and just tries to make him happier.
"It'll be fine, Leo. My moms an angel, you'll love her."
Leo still looked uncertain, but slowly nodded. "What about that Gabe guy?"
It took a lot out of Percy not to cringe at the sound of his name. "It'll be fine. He's always nice around visitors, so he'll be nice through the whole winter."
Leo thought for a second more before sighing in defeat. "Fine, I'll go home with you for the summer."
Percy smiled.
To say Leo was nervous would be an understatement.
He'd never met Percy's family, or any of his friend's families. He'd been in foster homes, but was never happy there. Piper had helped him enjoy the wilderness school, but he still wasn't happy there. The only place that he'd come to accept as home, was Camp Half-Blood. The people here were the only family he's known since his Mom. So, you can understand why he'd feel nervous.
He sat in Bunker 9 the next morning, sorting though his things to see what he'd need for the summer. He'd need clothes to wear and sleep in. He should probably take bathroom things, just in case. Hey, he didn't know what he could or could not be allergic to, so better to bring what he's familiar with. Would he need a sleeping bag? Pillow?
"Stop over thinking things."
Leo glanced up in surprise to see Percy leaning in the doorway, his arms and ankles crossed as he smirked.
Leo flushed from embarrassment. "I'm not over thinking!"
Percy grinned. "Sure you're not. Anyways, we can share my bed it's a full-sized unless you're uncomfortable with that. If you are, you can sleep on the couch. You could even lay blankets or a sleeping bag on the floor in my room, if you wanted."
Leo paled drastically and shook his head. "I'll probably just sleep on a blanket in the floor. If that's okay."
Percy raised an eyebrow. "I'm not gonna molest you or anything, Leo." He chucked.
Leo paled even more, but took a deep breath and nodded. "I know, sorry. We can share a bed if that's easier."
Percy leaned off the door frame to help Leo pack. "Seriously, if you're uncomfortable, that's fine."
Leo just cook his head, slowly regaining the color in his cheeks. "You just said something that sounded familiar, that's all."
With Percy helping, they'd finished packing pretty quickly. They headed get to the big house to inform Chiron that Leo would be leaving with Percy who said that was fine and then to see Rachel.
"Hey, Rache," Percy said, smiling at his old friend.
Rachel smiled back and pulled Percy into a hug. "How have you been? I know you've been in camp, but I haven't gotten to see you too often."
Percy rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly. "Yeah, sorry about that. You didn't miss much. Just the occasional monster attack." Percy chose not to talk about his break up with Annabeth. He wasn't ready to talk about that yet.
"Are you going home for the school year?"
Percy smiled. "Yeah, and I'm dragging Leo along with me."
Leo grinned and walked up, kneeling down to kiss Rachel's hand. "Leo Valdez, Bad Boy Surpeme, Super-sized McShizzle "
Percy rolled his eyes and smacked Leo on the back of his head.
He immediately stood up and rubbed his head with a grimace. "Come on, man. I was on a roll!"
Percy and Rachel both laughed, causing Leo to pout.
"You now, " Rachel stared. "you strongly resemble a Latino Santa's Elf when you pout."
Leo's pout was replaced with a grin and a wink. "So I've been told."
Percy rolled his eyes again and slung an arm around the Latino's shoulders. Percy was a few inches taller than Leo, so he was the perfect height for Percy's arm. "We should get going. Chiron already called us a cab, since we don't have Nico's shadow traveling ability."
Leo pouted and Rachel grinned. "Go on, before you miss the cab. I know you, Percy. You better hurry."
Percy blushed. He wasn't late for everything.
Rachel was right. Percy was late for everything.
The cab was driving away just as they got there, and Leo being faster than Percy had to chase after it and flag it down. When Percy caught up, he had the nerve to blush from embarrassment.
"Rachel... Was right... You're late... For everything," Leo said in between panting breaths.
"Am not," Percy argued, pouting with his huge, baby-seal eyes. Leo just shook his head in mock amazement as he climbed into the cab, Percy following closely behind.
They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, both having time to catch their breath and slow their heart beats. Percy was the first to break the silence.
"Nervous?"
Leo nodded tensely. Whoever said Percy was oblivious well, they were correct. But, whoever said Percy was stupid, or didn't pay attention, was deathly wrong. Sure, it took Nico saying his feelings to his face ("What did he mean, 'You're not my type'?") before he pieced it together, but to be fair, even Piper hadn't figured it out. Jason had been the only one to actually know, and that was an accident.
Speaking of Jason, Leo needed to Iris Message him later.
"Yeah," Leo breathed, leaning his head against the window.
Percy chuckled. "You'll be fine. Besides, it's not like we have to stay in all day. We could always go somewhere around New York."
"How about a strip club?" Leo joked. Percy just laughed and rolled his eyes. "Oh, come on, Jackson! It would be fun!"
Percy laughed harder. "We're under aged, Leo."
Leo pouted, widening his big, brown eyes and sticking out his bottom lip. "It would have been fun, though."
"This is your stop," the cab driver announced.
Percy smiled, pulling out some cash and handing it to the driver. "Thanks."
The driver nodded. "Welcome."
Leo and Percy climbed out of the car, grabbed their things, and started walking.
"Where are we going, anyways?" Leo asked.
"There's an apartment building close by. I called my mom earlier this morning and told her we were coming, so it should be cleaned up. I apologize in advance if it's not."
Leo grinned. "Have you seen the Hephaestus cabin? Or bunker 9, for that matter?"
Percy laughed. "I see your point. Oh, and we're here."
It was a nice apartment building. The windows looked cleaned, the bricks were still a light red, not yet faded. Leo almost mentioned that Annabeth would probably freak out about it, but decided it best not to. He wanted Percy in a good mood today not an Annabeth-mood.
The door swung open before Percy could even knock, and he was pulled into a bone-crushing hug from a dark haired woman.
"Mom," Percy choked. "can't breathe."
Leo laughed at that, but blushed nervously when Percy's mom looked at him with her sparkling eyes. "You must be Leo."
He nodded, expecting her to give him a hand to shake, or something. Instead, he was also pulled into a bone-crushing hug. Percy laughed beside them, and Leo glared.
"She's a hugger," Percy said with a smile.
Leo did like the hug, and was sad at the lack of warmth when she pulled way. He hadn't had a mother figure hug him since he was little.
"Please. Come in." She held the door for the two, smiling warmly as they entered.
"You've decorated nicely, Mrs. Jackson."
She chuckled a bit. "Please, call me Sally."
Leo blushed again. "Uh, okay."
Sally turned towards the kitchen after telling Percy to show Leo around.
"You really aren't used to this, are you?" Percy asked as they walked up the steps to his room.
Leo shook his head with a glare. "No."
They walked in the bedroom, and Leo wasn't surprised to be enveloped by blue.
Percy grinned. "It's weird watching you stutter. It's like the complete opposite of your normal self."
Leo hung his head a bit. "I'm sorry."
The only way he's managed to make friends was by making jokes and making everyone laugh. He should have known that everyone would think different when he wasn't a constant joker. Not that he didn't like joking, he just didn't like showing his other side. The side that gets scared, the side that secretly wants attention, the side that's lonely.
He looked up when he felt a hand on his shoulder. Percy was smiling softly at him, his sea-green eyes shining in the light from the bedroom window. "I like seeing you stutter. It's you, the real you. Don't hide yourself from me, okay?"
Leo stared for a minute before nodding. He felt a weird twist in his stomach, and he wasn't sure if it was a good or bad feeling.
After unpacking their things, Percy led Leo back downstairs. Thankfully, Gabe wasn't home right now. He was most likely out with his Poker buddies.
"You boys hungry?"
As if on cue, Percy and Leo's stomachs simultaneously growled.
Sally laughed. "I'll take that as a yes. What would you like?"
Percy rubbed the back of his neck nervously, knowing he'd probably get a lecture later about not skipping meals. "We kind of missed breakfast, so we haven't eaten today."
Sally sighed, but smiled nonetheless. "Well, what would you boys like?"
Percy looked over and mouthed, pancakes? to Leo, who shrugged with a smirk. Percy turned back to his mom. "Are pancakes okay?"
Sally nodded. "Sure. I'll yell when it's ready."
Percy grinned. "Thanks Mom."