PJO/HoO Around the Campfire

Ch. 41: The End

I know it's been a year since I said I'd continue the story I'M SO SORRY!!! but here it is, the final chapter. Hope you enjoy.

May 1, 2024

They all sat on the floor of the Poseidon cabin, the nine of them crowded around their feast. After Leo had mentioned the idea to Piper she had talked to Chiron about making an exception from the dinner ritual, even Dionysus didn't have a problem with it. They had plenty of food for all of them, and a nice shelter from all the gossip.

Though there were others at camp who were supportive, the "guest list" was limited to Leo, Connor, Nico, Will, Percy, Annabeth, Travis, Katie, Piper, and Jason. Though Jason was running late.

"I'm really sorry about all the talk, even if it's not all bad I know how annoying it can be to be gossiped about," Percy said, sitting on his bed with Annabeth leaning against his side.

From across the cabin, Leo offered a half-hearted smile and replied, "yeah, thanks. Hopefully it dies down soon." He glanced at Connor, sitting beside him to the right.

"I bet it will, there's always a new thing to talk about," supplied Piper, she was seated to Annabeth's left, leaning against Percy's bed. "Y'know the Aphrodite cabin and gossip, I can see the trends."

"Yeah, we got some comments." Nico started, looking at Will beside him and then back at Leo and Connor to his right. "They all talked for a while too, but they get used to it, the gossip dies down."

"Yeah, we know, but this whole situation sucks," Connor said.

Leo inched closer to Connor but didn't touch him, he still wasn't too comfortable with showing affection in front of other people.

Percy cleared his throat, "not to be too forward or make things awkward, but..."

Annabeth eyed him questioningly. "What is it, Percy?"

"Um, sorry. Just, if you want to touch each other go ahead. Not like, in a weird way but like, minimal PDA, that's ok. Like Annabeth and I do all the time." He was quick to add, "if you don't want to, that's totally fine, but I just thought it was worth mentioning."

Leo looked a little startled, he hadn't thought his little movement would be that obvious. "Oh, yeah, thanks."

There was a beat of awkward silence before Jason burst through the doors. He stopped just inside the cabin, slightly out of breath. "Sorry I'm late, but I wanted to grab this." He held up his hand and in it was a tiny pride flag.

"Wow, nice, that's from the camp store isn't it?" Travis asked, him and Katie sat directly across from the door, between Piper and Connor.

"Yep." Jason beamed, "they only had one but they let me have it, it's for you." He handed the flag to Leo who thanked him and put the flag on the floor next to him. Jason continued, "Though I think we'll need more. I want to put one in every cabin."

"Wow, how ambitious," Percy said. "So eleven more?"

"Yeah I know it's not a big thing but, I don't know, it might help."

"That sounds like a great idea, Jason." Piper supplied, with a little bit of a forced smile.

Jason moved to sit next to Piper then hesitated and moved to Percy instead. He sat on the floor and leaned on the bed in a mirror of Piper's position.

"So," Travis started, "do you want to talk about it, or something to distract from it?"

Connor was quick to respond, "distraction, please. Something fun."

"How about a game of paranoia?" Percy suggested.

"Isn't that basically gossip though?" Katie asked, eyeing Connor and Leo to see how they were feeling about the suggestion.