𝕱𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖑𝖞 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖊 - a Leo Valdez slowburn

Chapter nine

Chapter nine.

[Nothing more annoying than a panic attack]

"When light and darkness split

the world falls apart

but when they finally reunite and make up

humanity finds a way to mess it up"

They landed at Oakland Airport, with a little persuasion come from Piper's side. The little group of mental problems unloada the tarmac, and then everyone looked at Piper. Talk about peer pressure, Leah thought. "What now?" Jason asked, his gaze seemingly boring through Piper. She seemed uncomfortable with the responsibility suddenly being thrown at her, so Leah took up her job as simp for all female people and stepped in for the daughter of Aphrodite.

"So whaddaya know, Piper has to take over the leader role. Did y'all take like, a crash course? Cause I know I wouldn't be able to take this pressure." She let out a chuckle. "But like, seriously, what do we do now?" Piper shrugged. "First thing," she said, "I- I have to get my dad home. I'm sorry guys." 

Leah felt a little disappointed, but she understood. She would've dropped everything too if it was to bring her mom home. She nodded. "I totally get it, I'll just step in as common sense for a hot minute. Gods, we're going to die." 

Leo seemed to catch her gist. "Oh." Maybe not. Leah sent him a sharp jab in the ribs. That seemed to change his mind. "I mean, absolutely," Leo countered himself. "He needs you right now. We can take it from here." Mr. McLean seemed to think differently though. "Pipes, no." He shook his head. "You have a mission. A quest. I can't-"

"I'll take care of him," Hedge spoke up. Piper stared at him, an incredulous look in her eyes. "You?" she asked, her disbelief evident in her question. "I'm a protector." Gleeson grunted. "That's my job, not fighting." He had tended well to Leah's burn, her right arm had been wrapped up tightly.

He kind of looked crestfallen, as if he was finally realizing he wasn't always the best help. Hedge then straightened and set his jaw. "Of course,  I'm good at fighting too." Leah nodded quickly. "Yeah, you are," she said. "You've also been a really good help." She smiled at him. 

"Yes," Jason said. Leo agreed. "Terrifying." Coach Hedge's eyes swept across the demigods. "But I'm a protector, and I can do this. Your dad's right, Piper. You need to carry on with the quest. And besides, you've got an extra person here with you, Leah'll take care of you." Leah groaned internally. "Thanks," she said, "but I repeat, we will die if I take over the role of patron."

"But," Piper's eyes stung. Maybe they had gotten a weird mentor student relationship where the student is smarter than the mentor. Who knows. "Dad..." Oh, never mind. It was about her dad. The duo hugged. Feels, Leah thought. She got a little uncomfortable though, so she retreated and averted her eyes. "Let's give them a minute," Jason said, and they took the pilot a few yards down the tarmac. 

"So, Hedge, are you going to call Mellie? If you don't, I will," Leah said, a teasing smirk on her lips. Hedge grunted. "Yeah, maybe she could swoop in to play secretary, who knows." Leah gave him a firm hand. "Well, good luck, Glee. Hope she agrees." 

The satyr grunted once more, but this time with a more meaningful tone to it. At least that's how it felt to Leah. Maybe he was angry and grunted, who knew. She decided she'd stay with the 'meaningful grunt'. 

She let Hedge, Leo and Jason talk a bit and headed once more to Piper and her father. They were taking quietly to each other, their voices hushed. Piper gave her father a vial.