𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐌 • Heroes of Olympus

A. BUNKER REVEAL PARTY

Andy

ANDY woke up in her bed some time after noon, in her sun patterned pajamas. 

"You idiot."

The daughter of Apollo winced at her brother's voice. Will was perched on his own bunk, glaring at her. 

"Shouldn't you be at practice?" she groaned.

"When my patient's nearly dead? Not really." He hopped off the bed to Andy's side for a checkup; checking her temperature, peering down her throat, inspecting her eyes. "How're you feeling? Any dizziness? Headache?"

Andy swatted him away. "I'm not dying bro, relax. It's just a little magical exhaustion—"

"Little?" Will's expression made Andy freeze. "Just a little? Andy, this isn't like the occasional pass-out from flash-bombing. You nearly drained yourself entirely. If you'd so much as glowed for another minute, you'd've died. That's how severely—"

But Andy had stopped listening as the true horror of her situation dawned on her. Death from magical exhaustion, though uncommon, was not impossible. Usually, the power itself knocks the demigod out, thus saving their life. But she had been actively fighting herself to stay conscious, and it nearly cost her her life.

A knock on the cabin door cut Will off, startling Andy. 

Will groaned. "If it's Valdez again, I'll break his nose."

Andy snorted. "Again?"

"He's been showing up every ten minutes since yesterday." Will scrunched his face in disapproval. "If he thought True Love's Kiss or whatever would have woken you up, he's wrong!"

Andy couldn't help laughing. Leo had been there to see her, and he'd done it so many times that he managed to annoy the fuck out of Will Solace.

Whoever was at the door knocked again.

"Just open the door, Will," Andy said. "Even if it is Leo, I'm awake now, aren't I?"

Will gave her a look before going off. He opened the door, and at the doorway stood none other than Leo Valdez—dragon-tamer, bunker-finder, Cyclops-killer.

Before Will could open his mouth, Andy yelled, "Missed me, Valdez?"

"Valkyrie!" Leo pushed past Will and tackled Andy in a hug, throwing both of them into the sheets. "I thought you'd died!"

"I'm not that easy to kill."

Will cleared his throat. "I'd suggest not blocking off her air supply."

"Of course, of course." Leo let go. Then, lowering his voice, he said, "Um, Valkyrie, I want to discuss something with you."

Andy raised an eyebrow.

"It's 'bout the bunker," he continued. "I was thinking—I was thinking maybe it's time we show it to the Hephaestus cabin."

"You want to show your siblings? Not just tell Chiron about it?"

Leo shook his head. "No, this is important for what's to come." He grinned. "Besides, I thought you loved showing off?"

Andy smirked. "Definitely."

***

"Hi, Andy."

Azeem walked over to her, dripping with sweat.

"What's up, Adam?" Andy grinned at him, but it didn't reach her eyes. She had tried to Iris Message Nico the moment Leo left, but, no matter what she offered the goddess, Iris wouldn't let her through. She'd only just left the cabin for a walk after trying—and failing—for the 12th time.