The next evening, while the group prepared to leave the cavern's outskirts, Leo and Calypso found themselves alone again. The others were busy packing, giving them a rare moment of privacy.
"So," Leo began, leaning against a boulder. "You've got this whole mysterious vibe going on. What's your story, Nightshade?"
Calypso raised an eyebrow. "You first."
"Fair enough," he said, his grin fading slightly. "It's not exactly a happy tale, though."
"Those are the ones worth telling," she said softly.
He hesitated, then began. "I grew up... well, let's just say it wasn't easy. I never knew my dad so I can't tell you much about him. My mom was amazing, but she was taken from me when I was just a kid. After that, it was a lot of bouncing around—different places, different people. Never really felt like I had a home."
Calypso listened intently, her usual calm replaced with a quiet intensity. "That's why you make everyone laugh," she said. "To keep yourself from feeling alone."
Leo blinked, caught off guard. "Yeah... something like that."
"What about your powers?" she asked.
"They showed up when I was a kid," he said. "Scared the hell out of me at first. But after a while, they became... part of me. Like an extension of who I am."
Calypso's Turn
"What about you?" Leo asked, his tone lighter now. "What's the story behind the mysterious space girl?"
Calypso sighed, her gaze drifting to the stars. "I grew up in a small village. It was peaceful, quiet... too quiet. I always felt like I didn't belong there, like I was meant for something more."
"And then your powers showed up?"
She nodded. "I was terrified. The first time I used them, I accidentally sent myself into a different dimension. Took me hours to find my way back."
"Whoa," Leo said, his eyes wide. "And I thought my powers were scary."
Calypso smiled faintly. "It changed everything. People in my village started looking at me differently, like I was some kind of freak. I left not long after that."
"Sounds lonely," Leo said, his voice soft.
"It was," she admitted. "But it's better now. With you guys... with you, it doesn't feel so lonely anymore."
Leo felt his chest tighten at her words, a warmth spreading through him that had nothing to do with his powers.
