𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐋𝐃 𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐅𝐀𝐋𝐋

𝐀𝐍𝐍𝐀𝐁𝐄𝐓𝐇 𝐜𝐡𝟏𝟎|Past and peace

Disclaimers: These are not my characters or original ideas; they belong to Rick Riordan

Annabeth

Flashback

I remember the day Leo came home.

He'd been missing for a month. Nico had said he wasn't dead, so we had no idea where he went. But then he came flying in on his gargantuan bronze dragon. Festus. Quite the entrance.

I remember being at archery when something big flew towards the camp. I could see it in the distance, heading towards the Big House.

"What on earth is that?" I said. But then a Hephaestus kid squealed next to me. "It's Festus! Festus and Leo!"
I squinted hard and realised the girl was right.

"Oh my gods," I gaped and took off running.

When I got there, a crowd had formed. Leo was climbing down. His hair was long and shaggy, his impish grin and scrawny build bouncing with excitement.

He was helping a girl down with him. Calypso. She was just like the legends. A beautiful girl with long bronze hair. I admit, I had been jealous of her, when I had realised where Percy went missing. But for now, that was the least of my concerns.

I shoved through the crowd and ran at the mechanic. I hugged him. I'd not been best friends with Leo, but I wanted to protect him and besides, when you are out in life-threatening situations, you tend to kinda bond with someone.

He looked surprised and patted me awkwardly on the back, I stood back.
"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH WE'VE BEEN WORRYING ABOUT YOU!" I slapped him across the face. Lightly - not hard.
I think.

Then I glanced at Calypso, who was taking in the scenery in awe. "Right. Nevermind. I know where you've been," I said, rolling my eyes.

"I'm going to get the others - they've been so worried," I said, brushing past Calypso. "Are you Annabeth?" she asked innocently.
"Yes, why?" I said, putting on my stern face.
"I've heard a lot about you," she said and smiled. But the smile was cold. Unfriendly. Hesitantly, I went to get Jason and Piper.

I saw Percy on the way and he joined in on our run to the big house.

When we got there, Piper and Jason had beat us to it. Piper was crying and Jason grabbed onto Leo and wouldn't let go.

Calypso must have gone to talk to someone, because I couldn't see her.

"We thought you were gone, man," Jason whispered, looking like he was going to break down. Percy also pulled Leo into a hug and was laughing his head off at something Leo must have said.

________

The Hephaestus cabin threw a party that night. Bonfires burned and loads of music played - courtesy of the Apollo cabin. Hazel and Frank had come and Hazel had cried for ages. It took Frank a couple of minutes to separate them.

Me and Percy went to talk to Leo.

"So how are you?" I asked.
"I'm great," Leo grinned.
"Considering you just came back from the dead?"
"Considering I just came back from Ogygia? Great! Calypso went to talk to Chiron and she's gonna come any minute now. I love her so much, dude."
"Calypso's here?" Percy exclaimed, looking around,"Why'd no one tell me?"
Speaking of Calypso, she walked across to where we were standing. She stood next to Leo, who put an arm around her.

I prepared to yell at her, to shout that Percy had tried to free her, but she surprised me.

"I am so sorry. I swear on the river Sty-" Percy started but he was interrupted.
"I told her, it's fine," Leo said, reassuringly.
Calypso nodded, "I am sure you tried, Perseus. I believe you," she said. Annoyingly understanding?
"It's fine - she got an upgrade," Leo winked. I gasped dramatically and punched him on the shoulder (he was being particularly annoying that day I guess) while Percy raised an eyebrow. Calypso laughed, it was as sweet as honey. She waved at Percy and gave me a discreetly resentful look, before the couple went to speak to Frank.

"Well, she doesn't like me," I said.
Percy snorted, "I get the feeling that the feeling is mutual."
I smirked, but didn't reply as we both knew he was right.

The rest of the evening was a blur of dancing, music - courtesy of the Apollo cabin, of course, and laughing. Leo was back. The seven were whole again. Everything was good.

___________

I shook off the memory as I gazed out my window. The land was far below. Speaking of below, I could hear Leo cursing and shouting in the engine room below. I'm pretty sure he'd learnt one or two of those words from Percy. Oh well.

My room was a mess; my bedsheets strewn haphazardly across the floor with Daedalus' laptop perched on top. Thousands of photos adorned the walls. A few of Grover, Percy and I when we were twelve, ones of Piper and I, a few of my dad and even a couple of me and Clarisse. I sighed and shrugged on Percy's hoodie before leaving my room.

__________

When I went to the top of the deck, Leo had come up just before me and was announcing something. "Ah! There you are!" he grinned. I raised an eyebrow.

"Leo had this cute idea that..." Hazel started-
"We should all sign our names on the wall." Frank finished, smiling. Hazel attempted a side eye at him for interrupting. It wasn't very good.

"Sure - I think that's great," I said, surprised.
"Me first!" Percy leapt to the front, like a little kid. He snatched the penknife out of Leo's hand with a triumphant look and was about to write when he paused.

"Are you about to ask how to spell Seaweed Brain, Seaweed Brain?" I asked. Although we were all dyslexic, I was still much better at writing than him. He nodded and everyone cracked up.

Slowly, I took the knife and used it like a pen to write down everyone's names.
It took a while, but when I was done, we all stood back and admired my handiwork.

I wished we could stay like that forever.

Seaweed Brain
Wise Girl
Bad Boy Supreme
Miss Metal Detector
Canadian Baby Man
Beauty Queen
Sparky

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