𝙼𝚎𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚘𝚒𝚊 (𝙇𝙚𝙤 𝙑𝙖𝙡𝙙𝙚𝙯 𝙓 𝙊𝙘)

τριάντα

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"Go to sleep." Elena commanded as she watched Leo man the helm. He hadn't slept in who knows how long and looked as if he was going to drop to the floor anytime soon. The two had spent the night out on deck talking about Hercules and Elena's particular dislike for this god. Leo had wiped the hand Hercules had kissed furiously with a wet wipe after hearing the tale. He didn't like the thought of another man making moves on his girl. He had said so before kissing her arm then her cheeks and forehead until he reached her lips. By the gods they had to be careful, one of these days Hedge would catch on that they were doing more than just "sailing and babysitting". It had been hours since then and she hadn't left his side even if she had nodded off for a few seconds but he'd been up all night pacing the deck and occasionally hammering something.

"I don't want any more Shrimpzilla surprises," he insisted.
They'd all tried to convince Leo that the skolopendra attack hadn't been entirely his fault, but he wouldn't listen. Elena gripped her shawl tighter, she couldn't convince him to return to their bed but at least she could keep him company. Ere slept in his heated cot which she'd brought outside after she realised nothing could convince Leo to bed.

It was about four in the morning. The weather was miserable. The fog was so thick, Elena couldn't see Festus at the end of the prow, and warm drizzle hung in the air like a bead curtain. Just as she was about to insist he sleep again Percy and Annabeth walked up.
"Having a moonlit lover's date?" She teased not mean-spirited. Gods knew everyone on that ship could use a bit of love and alone time.

"Can't you say the same for yourselves?" Percy yawned, "How come Hedge hasn't split you two apart?"

"We're parenting-" Elena said, sticking out her tongue and gesturing to the cot where Ere was snoring away in. She almost felt jealous by how peacefully he slept unaware of the amount of times they'd been attacked by flesh-eating birds since they'd gotten into the mediterranean. "Besides we didn't cause a panic because we fell asleep in the stables."

"Don't lie- lying is bad," He replied, "Anyways- didn't Jason catch you two in bed together?"

"And?" She asked, "We were sleeping when he barged in."

"Right."

"Get lost Jackson."

"Not until you get lost, Jackson." He said sticking out his tongue as he got dragged away by Annabeth to talk.

"You and Percy get along well." Leo noted.

"It's just the way we've been since we were kids. Bicker when we're together and then cry when we're apart." She said, "Apparently he threw a tantrum when he heard I "moved schools". My mom had moved house as well so he didn't even know I'd been abandoned."

"Must be nice to have a family like that." Leo said wistfully.

"You have me and Ere" Elle said softly, "You have us. This whole crew. We've been a crew since before we were even born if you think about it. Drawn together by destiny and a meddling goddess." Leo laughed.

"Maybe so-"

"—Leo, stop!" Percy called out from some corner of the ship.

Too late. Another boat appeared out of the fog and rammed them head-on. Elena groaned as she held on to the cot.

By the time Elena had recovered from her shock, the enemy was everywhere. She couldn't see well through the fog and the dark, but the invaders seemed to be humanlike dolphins, or dolphinlike humans. Some had gray snouts. Others held their swords in stunted flippers. Some waddled on legs partially fused together, while others had flippers for feet, which reminded her of clown shoes.