𝐈𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐔𝐌 • Heroes of Olympus

XV

𝐀𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐍𝐆 the Pillars of Hercules—unscathed except for a few coconuts lodged in the hull’s bronze plating—the Argo II traveled by air for a few hundred miles.

Andy had hoped the ancient lands wouldn’t be as bad as they’d heard. But it was almost like a commercial: You’ll notice the difference immediately!

Several times an hour, something attacked the ship. 

Percy IMed right after they had escaped Hercules to say that he, Annabeth, and Coach Hedge had gotten to camp safely. He had been telling Andy about some psycho goddess and her farm when the ship's alarm went off again, causing Andy to slash through the image and run abovedecks. A flock of flesh-eating Stymphalian birds swooped out of the night sky, and Festus torched them. Storm spirits swirled around the mast, and Jason blasted them with lightning.

While Andy ran around shooting and reloading the ballistae, she barely had time to even glance at Leo. She occasionally caught glimpses of him at the quarterdeck, hands flying across the controls, but all it did was make her ache even more.

As time went by, fighting off wave after wave of aerial monsters, Andy's frustration only grew. It felt like the day was stretching on forever, and yet Andy and Leo had no time for each other. It was almost embarrassing how badly she wanted to be with him right now; talking, touching, being held. 

Sure, a month ago she would've laughed herself senseless at the thought. Sure, it made her feel like a typical teenager from one of those cheesy high school romances. But, gods, it was sickening.

Once night fell, the attacks became less frequent. Andy wondered if the monsters had gone to sleep. The four of them—Frank, Hazel, Jason and Andy—took turns to go grab dinner. 

“Aren’t you gonna have dinner?” Andy called out to Leo when it was her turn.

“I'll grab something later,” Leo said. “Don't worry about it, Valkyrie.”

Naturally, Andy didn't listen. 

She brought two plates of mac and cheese to the quarterdeck and handed one to a surprised Leo.

“Valkyrie, you didn't have to—” he started.

“But I wanted to,” Andy cut him off, swiftly pecking his cheek. “You're having dinner with me, Blowtorch.”

Leo smiled, and Andy's stomach did a somersault. 

“If you insist, my queen.” He gave an elaborate bow and sat down on the floor, stretching his legs out. Andy joined him.

They had dinner like that, their legs entwined. Leo eyed the Cornucopia that Andy had been too lazy to take off her belt. She had told him everything that had happened as soon as Hercules and his Island were out of sight. To no one's surprise, Leo had been beyond concerned. He kept stealing skeptical looks at the horn, as if expecting the rest of the river god to pop out of it and try to steal Andy away. 

If Andy was being honest, she found it adorable. Everytime Leo frowned at the Cornucopia, she had to stop her own smile. Like right now.

It felt good, sharing a meal with him. For a few minutes, nothing else mattered. It felt like they were two normal teenagers. Well, as normal as they can be on a ship flying over the Mediterranean.

That was until the next attack, which sent both of them scrambling back to their positions.

Finally around midnight, after the ninth or tenth aerial attack, Jason turned to Andy. “How about you get some sleep? I’ll keep blasting stuff out of the sky as long as I can.”