The Mark Of Athena

~Tacos

{A.N: Please don't hurt me! I updated! These MoA updates will be one more regular now as I finally figured out the plot to the story- It's gonna be epic ;)}

{Here it is!}

Chapter: (I still can't be bothered to count) -Leo

You think you know a guy- I mean you hear the stories of the quests he's been on, the monsters he's faced, the Gods, the Titans. But let me tell you, none of those stories really prepare you for the guy himself. He's a living legend- but in reality- he doesn't want to be.

I couldn't really relate. I was just Flaming Valdez- the immature one. I wasn't exactly the leader.

I sunk into a chair. I was just the repair boy. They didn't really need me, like they needed Percy or Annabeth. They were the real veterans on the team, and we all knew it.

I felt Hazel's hand on my shoulder as she sat down next to me. "You okay?" She asked.

I plastered on a grin. "Me? Yeah I'm good. You should ask Percy."

She frowned. "Don't lie. What's up?"

With a sigh- I told her. How I felt useless- unwanted. Not really part of the team. I could feel her eyes on me the whole time, and I looked down at my hands, fiddling with a piece of wire.

When I had finished, she threw her arms around my neck. "Oh Leo, don't say that! We need you just as much as we need any of the other quest members."

I smiled at her- a real smile. "You think that?"

She nodded. "I know it."

Standing up, I pulled her to her feet. "You know what would cheer everyone up?"

She gave me a quizzical look and I elaborated. "I think it's due time for Flaming Valdez's famous tacos."

***

Jason:

Six of the seven sat around the table and the air was thick with tension. Leo was doing his best to break the ice, but it wasn't really working. Percy was carefully avoiding my gaze.

"Look, Percy..." He looked up. I gestured to go outside. We needed to talk. He stood up, pushing his chair back and Annabeth gave him a worried look. He just shook his head slightly and followed me out onto the top deck.

He moved to the prow of the ship and leaned over, and I followed him. There was a moment of silence as the wind ruffled out clothes before he spoke.

"Sorry about earlier. I shouldn't have done that." He told me, but I shook my head.

"You had every right to. "

It was his turn to shake his head. "No- I didn't. I should've stayed strong for the rest of the team- I mean- I'm Percy Jackson." He spat the words out bitterly, clenching the side of the Argo until his knuckles turned white.

"You're a demigod- just like the rest of us. It's not fair that you have to carry all the responsibility."

He shrugged. "Life isn't fair."

This was getting nowhere. We stood in silence for a few seconds. Below the ship, the Italian countryside whipped past- hills and olive groves and Cyprus trees.

He uncapped Riptide and began to fight an imaginary enemy. Thrust and parry, feint and dodge. He talked as he fought.

"I was twelve. Twelve when the gods started to use me, manipulate me like a pawn. I had to do their dirty work- I had to watch my mom be strangled by the Minotaur, and choose between her and my friends. I had to fight Medusa! And sometimes I wonder what would've happened if I had died then. Or on Calypsos island, or at the hands of the sirens, or Luke. Would Thalia have defeated Kronos? Nico?"

He whirled round, slashing the head of an imaginary foe. "That's my problem. That's the reason I can never let any of the monsters get me, or just refuse quests. I don't want this responsibility- but no-one else deserves to have it either."

He sheathed his sword, offering me a smile. "And I'll be damned if I change that policy now."

Well that was heroic if anything was. He was willing to spend his life fighting the battles of the gods just so others didn't have to. Just so they could live in peace. I didn't quite know what to say.

I shook my head sadly. "Don't you ever wonder what would happen if it wasn't you?"

He shrugged. "Every day." He paused. "Come on, lets go get some tacos, shall we?"

I recognised the olive branch when it was offered and accepted, just as Leo ran outside.

"Guys! Guys.. We're here. We've made it to Rome!"

{Have any of you seen the 'Leo Valdez' page on Wikipedia? Apparently he's 'emotionally scarred' :P}