[3] 𝐋𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐁𝐎𝐘𝐒 ― p.jackson, l.valdez

005.

「005. summoning a psychotic goddess 101 」

CHERRY FOUND herself in the engine room, as she usual was if she wasn't wandering around the ship helping or training or maybe just generally goofing around (which happened less these days- they were getting closer to the end- there was no time for goofing on near the end). currently, her reason for being in the engine room was simply 'helping'. well, if you could call it helping. truthfully, it was more like cherry and leo were simply chatting, sometimes kissing and only occasionally fixing things that needed maintenance.

"something's bothering you," cherry found herself saying as a lull pressed over the couple, "it comes and goes, but i can tell."

"always the observant one," leo teased, grinning and shaking his head.

"you're avoiding my question," she said, voice suddenly sing-song. she huffed, scooting closer until she could braid small plaits into leo's hair. "c'mon elfie," she muttered, swooping to press a kiss to his cheek, "just tell me. you don't have to... but, i know it makes you feel better when we talk about things."

leo sighed, giditing with a small invention. there was a section of silence before he asked, "if you left somebody you were close friends with, but you knew you could find your way back- would you go back for them?"

"of course," cherry said, mind trying to process who leo was talking about. "why're you so troubled 'bout that though?"

"well- hypothetically let's say- this friend is somewhere really difficult to find, but-"

"is this calypso?" cherry interrupted. leo froze, shoulders stiffened and he looked like a spooked cat. "don't be worried, elfie. i just wanna know. is it?"

"..maybe?" leo said, voice pitched upwards to the end. "would you... i mean- we've talked about... er, after the war."

after the war. what leo said was true, they'd talked about (well, 'talk' was a loose term. speaking, then crying, then kissing, then crying then speaking again might fit the description more) after the war- what would happen before the war- the after and perhaps what would be left of them all after the war.

before the war, they would work their way to hopefully save demigods and mortals alike. the pressure was insane, but it was easily forgotten when the group was together. war or not, they were still teenagers- kids, even; they were about fun, even the war couldn't stop jokes shooting out from their mouths. however, as easily as it was forgotten, it was easily remembered. it clawed onto you- surprising you at the worst moments because one slip, one stab to the heart and you would be gone.

the good and bad had been discussed. after the war, they wanted a lot of things to happen. they would have a long talk with the gods and goddesses of olympus, but that wasn't just leo and cherry's idea- it had been agreed by all of them, they'd finally be teenagers- cherry had pondered the idea of going back to school once it was all over and as had leo. after the war, above all else, they'd mourn. war did not come without sacrifices, and so they would mourn, grieve and remember.

as for what would be left of them after the war?

to storm or fire the world must fall. those exact words rang in each of the demigods minds present on the argo ii. whether it was in the forefront or the background, they were not to be forgotten. there'd been talks, all which had halted rather quickly. sobering talks often had bad impacts on the crew, so they didn't do it much.

to storm or fire the world must fall. to jason or leo the world must fall. that's what it really meant, when you pushed past the rest of it. leo and cherry hadn't spoken much about it in private, but there was a silent agreement between them that whatever happened, they'd stick together. whether that meant the world fell to jason or to leo- whether they lived or died, they'd find a way out together and they'd try as best as they could to survive.