Leela - More than a Half-Blood

Leo

      Festus found a decent area next to the Pegasus stables and started the landing sequence. Judging from the lack of clear ground, it was not going to be a quiet landing. Anyone who  had fallen asleep would soon be awake. What the heck, I  might as well announce my arrival.

     " LEO VALDEZ IS BACK EVERYBODY" I bellowed at the top of my lungs.

     Festus crashed into a fence and sent a stack of barrels crashing over the armory. Needless to say, it sounded like little 5 -year old me trying to be a professional drummer. People were spilling out of their cabins left and right.Out of habit, they grabbed their weapons but dropped them as soon as they glanced in my direction.

     I beamed at the approaching crowd and tried not to look heartbroken, the night helped me with that. The expressions on their faces were PRICELESS. Some were in awe, some were crying, and some looked like they had swallowed a bee.

     I was scanning the crowd for familiar faces when a row of port-a-potties exploded; Undoubtedly, Percy was responsible. I caught his drenched, confused gaze and pumped my fist. He stared at me, dumbfounded, but pumped back.

"I thought you were dead!" He hollered above the crowd.

" I don't go out so easily!" I replied, grinning and setting my fist ablaze for effect. 

     Hazel and Piper were grinning and making their way through the crowd. Next thing I knew, they pulled me off Festus and started suffocating me like pythons. Hazel was in tears and Piper was pretty darn close to joining her.

     "How?" Hazel managed to choke out.

     "Festus delivered the Physician's cure to me in the nick of time" I gasped, my lungs aching for air.

     "Thanks big guy!" Piper looked up at Festus who was happily snorting smoke rings.  Next thing I knew a pig waddled up next to me and nudged my hand.

     "Bacon?" I asked

     "No, Frank turned into a pig when he saw you land." Hazel sniffed. The pig ,err, Frank squealed. 

     " Nice to see you too, Frank" I poked his belly.

     "You sure it's not bacon?' I questioned Hazel.

       As if on cue, the pig next to me disappeared and Frank took its place.(How his clothes remained intact... i'll never know :/ )

     "No, im NOT bacon," he held out his fist, "Don't leave me hanging Valdez." I held out my fist and obliged.

        Jason had snaked himself through the crowd and lent me a hand up. I grabbed his hand  and he scooped me in a bro hug. Pretty soon Percy and Frank joined in too. As I stood there with sweaty armpits in my face, spots swam before my eyes.

     "Too much bromance." I wheezed      

     Piper and Hazel joined in, making the hug's effects even more traumatizing. I'm going to die, I though, in a puddle of sweat and heat. Annabeth worked her way through the crowd. She took one look at my face and was doubled over laughing.

     "Guys!" She whooped "His face is PURPLE, he's gonna die...again!"

     For once, I was glad for Annabeth's ability to control crowds. Everyone peeled off me and I was finally able to get a breath of fresh air. As I sat there gulping for air like a fish out of water, Annabeth ruffled my hair and gave me another hug. Not as violent, but still slightly constricting. 

     "You're alive Valdez," Annabeth grinned, "You had us worried!"

     " I'm not done just yet," I smirked, " this fire is hard to put out."

     I looked around and saw Nico, the dude's eyes were the size of saucers. Being the son of Hades, he probably was the most shocked that I was alive. The guy had  probably gotten vibes through the air saying :  YO, LEO'S DEAD!  But Lo and behold, there I was! He walked up to me and cracked a real, genuine smile. (When was the last time I had seen Nico, the son of Hades, smile?)

     " Welcome back to the land of the living, Leo Valdez." He nodded.

     " Umm, thanks" I held up a hand. The guy needed a hi-5, alright? 

     He returned the favor and disappeared into the crowd. I made a mental note: I need to learn how to do that . After everyone had confirmed the fact that I wasn't dead , the crowd lumbered back to their cabins. Piper and Percy helped me bring my stuff to my cabin. Piper grabbed some of my things  and caught up with me.

     " Who was it?" Piper met my eyes.

     "Huh?!" My mouth went dry " What do you mean?"

     " Leo, I know a broken heart when I see one." I shouldn't have been surprised; she was, after all, a daughter of Aphrodite. The look in her eyes told me she wasn't going to leave until I told her everything. You can trust her, Leo I told myself. With that, I spilled the beans. (Remind me to not eat Chiron's black bean stew)

     Every time my voice cracked, every time my eyes welled up, and every time I faltered, she never looked away. It felt really nice to talk to someone. My agony slowly seeped away through manly tears and words. I can't express how good it felt to just have someone listen for a change. We made it to my cabin. She dropped off my stuff and hugged me good night.

   " Leo, you'll find someone. I mean, what's not to like?" She smiled at me. I could tell she was being honest, no charmspeak played in her words. With that, she made her way to the Aphrodite cabin.

     Percy dropped off the rest of my stuff a few moments later. He promised that he would lead Festus back to bunker 9 so that I didn't have to. 

     "Leo!" he called out before I shut the cabin doors.

     "Yeah?" I stepped into the cold night air.

     "Listen, there's plenty of fish in the sea." My jaw hit the floor.

     " You heard?!" I asked a little too loudly, "sorry." I apologized.

     " Hey, no need man. I mean, I was only five feet behind you.." He strayed off topic, " Anyway, if you need anyone to talk to, we got your back man. Just don't forget that." He nodded and started to walk to his cabin.

     " Percy!" I called out. I needed to say thanks. 

     Up until today, I had never really felt like I belonged anywhere. It never struck me that all the family I had ever needed had always been right in front of  me.  As soon as I landed in camp, everyone had smothered me with so much affection that the aura literally said: Welcome home Leo Valdez. I don't mean to sound cheesy, but a dude could use a  few hugs every now and then - even if they might result in suffocation via smelly armpits. 

     " Yeah?" He peered around the corner.

      "Thanks man" I grinned.

     " Anytime," he sent a fist bump my way, "just try not to set things on fire" I met him in the middle and closed the door.

     Leo Valdez is home baby, I thought to myself. And for once, I didn't have any nightmares.