Different (Leo Valdez X Male OC)

Chapter 5

Maria managed to fall asleep as I sang the song. Something that often happened. She was known to get night terrors and the only way I could get her back to sleep was to sing to her.

"Come on brillo solar, we got to prepare for this damn quest. I swear I never catch a break," the voice of Leo says from behind me. I blushed at the nick name, getting up holding onto my sister tightly. She snuggled into my neck as I steadied myself.

"Out of all the nicknames did you have to pick sunshine?" I asked and a blush formed on his face. He scratched the back of his neck.

"Well didn't think you knew spanish. Also you turned into a shining bright fire back there and your dad, although kind of a jerk, is the god of the sun. So makes sense to me. It's one of my more tame nicknames," he explained and we began walking towards the cabins.

"Well I took basic Spanish before I dropped out of high school, still remember a few things," I replied adjusting Maria, the last thing I needed was for her to fall. Leo led me to the Apollo cabin where Will was waiting along with the boy I guessed was Nico. He was dressed in all black with a cool sword sheathed at his hip.

"We set up a bed for you and some of the Hephaestus kids made a crib for Maria. It's next to yours but some of our siblings have agreed to watch her while we're gone," Will states looking over at the boy next to him. A worried look in his eyes. "Um this is my boyfriend Nico, son of Hades. Nico this is my new brother Kayden,"

I stuck my hand out for him to shake. For a smaller boy he had a firm grip. Most likely from sword fighting, also his skin was cold to the touch. I flinched at the coolness.

"Dude you're freezing!" I exclaimed hoping that he was alright despite him being a stranger but that was probably the healer in me. Considering my dad is also the god of it.

He was many things I guess but at the moment I had nothing nice to say about him. I mean he abandoned me, what am I suppose to do welcome him back into my life with open arms. I think the hell not. He'd have to work for forgiveness.

"It's most likely because our body temperatures run higher because of our dad and his is lower because of his.  Being the god of the dead and all," Will explained which made sense "Also dads godly essence within you wouldn't help,"

"Right is there anything else that I got from dad?" I questioned walking into the cabin, I placed Maria down. Hopefully she'd be out for a few more hours.

"Well after this quest probably some more trauma," Leo admitted still not taking things seriously. I learned that that's how he copes with everything and I couldn't blame him.

"I wish this was a dream," I voiced looking up at the sky with a glare. The roar of thunder was my reply, a good indication that it was all real.

"Probably not the best wish, demigods dreams are prophetic. They usually come true," Nico explained there was a hint of an Italian accent in his voice. Where as Will and Leo both had traces of Southern in theirs. Texas, maybe? To them mine probably sounded Canadian as I grew up right next to the border. Until mom moved us to Brooklyn a year before Maria was born.

The boys lead me down to the area, hoping to teach me a few basic fighting skills that could save my ass in time of need. I was reluctant to leave my sister alone but Will reassured me that our sister Kayla was watching over her. She'd send someone to get us if something happened. The area looked like the Colosseum and sitting inside was a massive dog eating what looked like a practice dummy.

I hesitated going in, the dogs head perked up as Will passed through the door. It picked up a shield rushing over to drop it at his feet. He smiled picking it up, launching it across the vast space. It chased after it, tail wagging happily as it retrieved it. Bringing it back to Will. Upon seeing Nico, it licked his face  causing tuffs of his black hair to stick up at odd angles.

"Really Mrs O'Leary what have I told you about the licking," he exclaimed rubbing her head that she bent down for him to reach. I shimmied closer to Leo questioning what I'd gotten myself into. Or more accurately what my dad got me into.

"Um they do know that that behemoth of a dog is potentially a monster right? Don't monsters eat demigods?" I whispered into his ear, the softness of my breath causing him to shiver slightly. He shook his head hoping I didn't notice.

"Yeah but she's on our side. She's more or less Percy's hellhound but has a close bond to Nico since his dad rules over hellhounds. She won't hurt anyone unless Percy or Nico says to," he states smiling at the giant hellhound.

"Right," I replied before Will called us over. He set up some dummies to spar with, each dressed like a Greek soldier. They told me that since my dad is Apollo that I'd have better chances at fighting distantly. Since archery is Apollo's specialty. However it was also great fighting close range, so Nico began training me on basic sword fighting.

I wasn't too bad considering I'd never really fought with a sword. Well that and Nico was an excellent swordsmen. However I managed keeping up with him mostly, that is until he disappeared into thin air and next thing I knew his sword poked the small of my back. Not enough to hurt but it got the message out.

Don't move.

Taking a deep breath I tried focusing, which is hard for someone with ADHD. With a quick rotation of my waist, I arched my arms around me carefully knocking the sword out of his hand. It clattered into the dirt, he was shocked at first but then cracked a small smile.

"I wanna be mad but that was incredible. You're a natural, which is rare for children of Apollo. Unless you get it from your mother's huntress side," he replied looking proud, although still shocked.

"If your fighting skilling are that advanced without training, hopefully your archery is impeccable," Will states clapping my gently on the shoulder. We spent the remainder of the afternoon training. Making sure I was ready for whatever was ahead of us. Will showed me the showers, so I got cleaned up, and bathed Maria in the process.

Next it was time for supper, so all the campers made their way to the dinning pavilion. It was beautiful, even with the weird patched up crack in the floor of it. Apparently it's tradition to scrape parts of your food into the fire before eating. An offering to the gods, and as much as I resented my father this moment. I obliged, not really saying a prayer, just his name.

Durning the meal everyone from the cabin had fallen in love with Maria. Saying she makes a cute addition to the family, and they all promised to keep her safe while I was absent. Hopefully they can keep her busy, as she has some attachment issues that I'm working on.

The night ended off with a campfire and roasting marshmallows. What was cool about it was the louder everyone sang and the happier they were, the bigger and brighter the flames. Apollo's cabin led the sing along but I just sat around enjoying everything.

Tomorrow is when everything gets worse.....