The Curse of Oenone (Daughter of Olympus II) - [Leo Valdez xF!Oc]

Help! People Are Treating Me Like They're Supposed to and Now I'm Uncomfortable

"Your brother hates me."

"He doesn't."

Leo stops and looks at her. "That guy's going to throw me under the elephant at the first chance he gets."

Ara tries not to laugh. "Percy has a resting bitch face, that's all. You'll be best buds in no time."

"Sunshine, no offense, but you're too close to the danger to see it."

"He doesn't hate you," she insists. "But if he did, I'd still love you."

Leo smirks. "What if I turn into a worm, would you still love me?"

"We've already had this conversation," Ara resumes her walk.

"Last time it was a three-legged dog with rabies!" He quickly catches up with her. "But that one was way out there, so mad respect for saying yes."

She laughs. "That should make it clear enough, then."

"The dog still has some personality though," he teases her. "Worms don't even come in fun colors."

"Worms are useful. You could be bait in my direst moment of need," she jokes.

Leo holds her hand. "Okay, you win. I'm the best boyfriend ever."

***

"Well, what now?" Nico eyes my Tyrian cape and the laurel crown with little interest.

"I gotta move out of my cabin," I reply. "Preferably before the campers get here, Chiron doesn't want me to distract them."

"You can't stop that from happening," Nico raises a brow.

"Shut up," I reach up to take the crown off.

Lily stops me. "Wear that with pride. We broke out backs training so you could get it." 

I glance at her hand, the scar on my wrist that used to match Lily's is gone, and I'm half glad about it, I won't be reminded of Michael as often now.

"Is there a rule that says she has to wear the whole fit from now?" Nico taunts her. "Please say yes."

"Can I slap him one last time?" I beg Lily.

***

Ara is starting to understand why Jason didn't escape this camp as soon as he got the chance. Everyone's seated where they please, old and young demigods—even older than Beckendorf—surround her and her friends. They all look healthy, happy, and like they've enjoyed a fulfilling life. If this is the one thing Roman demigods can aspire to have... she wants it too.

Everyone has been nice to her to a decent extent, except for the Octavian guy, but he's rude to everyone, so it doesn't matter. What keeps bothering her is that Percy isn't the only one staring at Leo weirdly. Hazel Levesque keeps stealing glances at him and Ara doesn't know how to interpret that. 

Percy told Annabeth that she was someone else's girlfriend... but there's a faint lavender glow coming out of Hazel ever since Leo took the seat next to her. "...My brother, Nico, went looking for the doors," the girl mentions as they start talking about the prophecy.

"Wait," Annabeth frowns. "Nico di Angelo? He's your brother?"

Ara tenses. "About that... Can I talk to him?"

"Ara..." Percy stares at her with a look of warning.

"We're talking about a fourteen-year-old boy, tall and severely malnourished, right?" She ignores him.