Between the battles: Heroes of Olympus one shots

Bye Leo

PIPER

Piper was numb.

Her mind was in a whirl as she sat in her seat in the pavilion, waiting for everyone else to come. At the same time, she wanted no one to show up, so she could deny this was happening, she could go back to her cabin and pretend to be happy.

They were burning Leo's shroud.

Piper raised her head, staring around at the empty pavilion. There were about a hundred seats set up, and she was still the only person here. Her gaze wandered right in front of her, and she lifted her head, determined to keep it together.

Leo's shroud was beautiful. It was red, orange, and yellow, just like fire. It seemed to flicker and glow, casting shadows all around it. His name was embroidered on the front in crimson thread, and it stood out through the flames, and Piper ripped her gaze away.

She stared at her hands in her lap. Her cabin mates had insisted on getting her ready for the burning, and for once Piper was glad. If they hadn't helped, she probably would have shown up late in her pajamas. Leo would have laughed at that. Oh, if she could just hear his laugh once more.

Her nails were decorated with flames. It reminded Piper of The Hunger Games. Katniss' nails had been like that. Leo had read that book. That is where he came up with the whole Boy on Fire title. Piper had made fun of him, and they laughed together.

She blew a strand of hair out of her eye and sighed. She could hear people starting to file in to the pavilion, and she knew it would only be a matter of time before they started.

Someone sat down besides her, and Piper didn't even look to see who it was. It didn't matter.

"Hey Pipes." Jason voice came, but Piper didn't reply. She just kept staring at the fiery shroud, and she felt his hand grab hers.

"You ok? How long have you been sitting here?" She heard his voice again, and she managed to tear her gaze away and look at Jason.

He was in suit pants and a white jacket, with a red tie. His glasses were slightly crooked, and this time Piper didn't feel compelled to straighten them.

"Too long." Her voice came out raspy, like she hadn't used it in years. Jason's face clouded with worry, and he said "Piper, are you alright?"

"No." She didn't waste her breath like she normally did, she let her mask fall and Jason saw how much she was hurting. Piper felt his arms wrap around her, and she put her hands around him. She didn't cry, just sat in the comfort of his embrace, wishing Leo would pop up and make some awkward joke and try to get in the middle of their hug. She would do anything to have him interrupt another kiss between her and Jason. Anything.

More voices. Jason dropped his arms and straightened up, and Piper did the same. She resumed her earlier position, her hands in her lap and her eyes never leaving the shroud.

She didn't know who came, and she didn't care. Hellhounds could have run through the whole camp and Piper would still be sitting there, staring at her best friend's shroud.

Chiron walked up the center of the isle, carrying a torch which he set in a holder besides the shround. He began to speak, but Piper didn't hear any of his words. They echoed through her brain, occasionally coming to rest and Piper could hear.

"A remarkable hero"

"First fire user in centuries"

"One of the seven, building the Argo II"

"Sacrificed his life to defeat Gaea"

"And now Piper McLean will come up and say a few words and light his shroud." Chiron said, gesturing to Piper. She stiffly stood up and walked up the steps, coming to a stop besides the torch.