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

Bombastic Sideye

"Are you sure you don't want me to call in a blessing?" Ara inquires while Jason secures the venti at the prow. "I could help you control them if I ask Zeus..."

"Go in," he tells her. "You fixed the ship, I can do this. If I fail, you can check out that last blessing."

"Alright," she pauses. "And uh... are you sure we'll find Leo in Malta?"

"No, but that's what I choose to believe," once seated on Festus's neck, Jason turns and gives her a warm smile.

He seems different, his soul-light is dim but constant on his body like he's just happy all the time, which is a weird thought considering their current situation.

"Fine," Ara smiles, trying to believe it too. "Good luck, Ken."

***

The ship stops and Festus starts the engine. On each side of the ship the oars screech and groan in protest, making her wince.

"Leo's gonna kill me," she places a hand on the hallway wall. If she could use her empath touch she would, but unfortunately, the ship doesn't have human feelings.

"Leo's probably going crazy waiting for you to show up," Nico walks past her. "Piper says it's safe for us to go upstairs."

Ara follows him to the upper level and Jason gestures at her to get closer. The boy points at a little raft, with an engine Ara recognizes as the one Leo was building in Ogygia.

"He's here," she raises her voice. "Leo's here!" Everyone lets out exclamations of relief, Jason gets lots of pats on the back and cheek kisses.

***

They spot Leo outside a cafe. Piper wraps her arms around the boy and fusses over him. Hazel and Frank hug him, squeezing him between them until he can't breathe. Nico pats his back and Jason cracks it with a bearhug.

Ara scans Leo's clothing and feels a wave of nostalgia. He's dressed in an army jacket, a white shirt, and the pants he was wearing when they first met. Those clothes were destroyed during their winter quest, but now they're back.

The girl clears her throat. "You went missing..." her voice dies before she can finish the joke.

"For a whole year?" He guesses and grins. "You moved on and now you're dating a buff Greek guy instead?"

"I missed you so much," Ara speaks hoarsely. To get out of Ogygia, he must've done something Ara doesn't want to think about.

Leo glows like a Christmas light, and his only thought is: Gods, I'll never thank you enough for Arae.

The boy minded his business when he landed on Calypso's island, determined to see Ara again. Calypso was kind enough to take food to him—only to complain about the noise, but still, she made sure he was okay. The look in her eyes was always so defensive, yet caring and concerned... it softened Leo's hasty decision to ignore her.

Before he knew it, he started talking to her, after all Calypso wanted to know what Ara had done to get two of the demigods that'd landed on her island so charmed, and Leo knew all about it. Calypso made him fire-proof clothes, and brought scraps and supplies for his journey.

She would only ask for stories in return. Calypso told him they made her giddy, they reminded her of times when falling in love wasn't all about pain and finality. Something clicked in Leo's head.

He thought of Narcissus and Echo, and how Ara insisted no cursed soul could help themselves unless they had outer help. Calypso was the answer.

***