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

Would I Stab My Brother for a Million Dollars? I Would Stab Him for Free

Ara wants to rip Percy's head off.

She'd been looking for him and Annabeth for a whole hour thinking they'd been kidnapped, only to find out they'd fallen asleep in the stables like some star-crossed lovers.

It shouldn't be a big deal, but she hadn't eaten yet, therefore she was pissed. Leo, on the other hand, was cracking up. Now he can't hide his sly smirk when he locks eyes with Ara, pleased that they're sneakier than Annabeth and Percy.

Hazel gets scandalized to an extent that feels exaggerated, but Ara remembers she's only been in the modern world for about eight months, so she decides not to tease her.

"Never in my life!" Coach Hedge hits all he can reach with his bat. "Against the rules! Irresponsible!"

"Coach, it was an accident. We were talking, and we fell asleep."

"Besides, you're starting to sound like Terminus," Percy adds jokingly.

"Is that an insult, Jackson? 'Cause I'll—I'll terminus you, buddy!"

Percy glances at Ara and presses his lips together to avoid laughing. "It won't happen again, Coach. I promise. Now, don't we have other things to discuss?" 

"Fine! But I'm watching you, Jackson. And you, Annabeth Chase, I thought you had more sense—" 

"So grab some food, everybody!" Jason intervenes. "Let's get started."

"You guys are losers," Ara teases her friends as she sits down beside them. "You should've set an alarm to wake up at dawn."

"How was I—wait," Percy kicks her foot lightly. "You've done that before?"

Ara eats a mouthful of her waffles and winks at him. Percy looks at Annabeth with a horrified expression, and the girl sighs. "Just let it go, seaweed brain..."

The boy glares at Leo—seated far from his reach—and scoffs. "Fine."

The next hour ends up being worse than the prior one. Percy tells them about the dream he had, the giant twins are indeed guarding Nico in the bronze jar. He tells them he's still alive thanks to some pomegranate seeds. Hazel sinks on her chair, sick with worry, and Percy tries to ease her.

"We'll rescue him. We have to."

Hazel turns to Ara. "So you weren't wrong... any ideas?"

Leo raises his hand. "Uh... One thing. The giants are expecting us to do this, so we're walking into a trap, right?"

"We have no choice!" Hazel exclaims.

"Don't get me wrong, Hazel. It's just that your brother, Nico... he knew about both camps, right?"

"Well, yes."

"He's been going back and forth, and he didn't tell either side..."

"You're wondering if we can trust the guy," Jason says. "So am I."

Hazel jumps to her feet. "I don't believe this. He's my brother. He brought me back from the Underworld, and you don't want to help him?"

"Nobody's saying that." Frank scowls at Leo. "Nobody had better be saying that."

"No one's gonna throw threats at the people on this table either," Ara scowls. Frank looks at her defiantly, but he stays quiet. "Jason and Leo don't know Nico, their concern is as valid as your worry, Hazel."

"I remember Nico from Camp Jupiter," Jason continues. "Then I find out he also visited Camp Half-Blood—and he doesn't have a good relationship with Ara, the leader of that place. That does strike me as... well, a little shady. Do we really know where his loyalties lie? We just have to be careful."