Collapsing As It Sees The Pain (Percy Jackson)

A Man Who Learned To Love

Percy:

An ambulance got Annabeth and announced her dead. Chiron called her family.

Frank and Piper went to deal with Hazel and Jason. Nico was called by Chiron. Leaving me and the kids with Leo. And the kids had their little bags and we're ready to go home. Which was the plan.

But now.... I don't know.

"Did you know about any of it?" Leo asked me, referring to Annabeth being suicidal.

"Not a clue." I promised. "Then again, it's not like anyone knew about me until well... Probably half of camp knows now. But what happened with the whole roof thing?"

"A friend of mine." Leo explained. "Well not a friend. Boyfriend of mine. He knew he had problems, he was open about it. Kids gave him a lot of crap. I was in class, somebody came in and yelled something and we all followed and he was on the roof. I didn't even get to the front entrance, much less the roof when he stepped off and just dropped like a weight. I paid my respects and left. I still visit from time to time. When I'm around. I just don't... Sorry, I really shouldn't say this to you."

"No, it's fine." I promised as Paris walked over to Leo and he picked her up as I had Patrick on my shoulders. "You know, shit happens. I don't get it and I've tried it before. I don't remember what was going on. I was at my parents place. They were all asleep. Nico was there, he tried talking me out of it and I did it anyways. It... People treat it as something it isn't. And I don't know how I'd explain it but... You know, if you wanted to say goodbye. Nico could probably manage that if you bought him McDonald's or something."

"Seriously?"

Leo:

Nico is now my favorite, not Hazel.

But I talked to Nico about it and he said he could manage that. He'd just have to tell me where he's buried. So we had to go to Seattle. His name was Castor. He had a brother who lived with their dad in New York. After almost dying out there from an attack, he moved back with his mom. A couple years ago. The year before I found camp. He was my last. Unless you count Calypso. Which was strained from start to end and didn't work out.

"What's his name?" Nico asked me, looking for the headstone. It was later. Which was good so we wouldn't get caught.

"Castor." I answered. "Castor Martial."

"Hm, weird." The son of Hades remarked. "Pollux has the same last name. I think."

We found the headstone and Nico did whatever he had to before he started to show up and Nico walked away. Saying I had 30 minutes if I'm lucky.

Castor was very confused until he managed to see me. He looked alive. Like he was just right there again.

"What do you want Poll—" castor started until he saw me. "For the love of... Oh my... Leo?"

Just to give you an idea of how long it's been, I've been at camp for two years.

Meaning it's been three.

I flashed him a smile and oh my god I just wanted to hug him and kiss him and love him. Nico was indeed my favorite.

"It's me." I promised me. "I'd hug your or something but I don't think you can do that as a ghost, can you?"

"Who ever made that up?" He asked, grabbing me in a hug that just felt way too real. The only way I knew he was dead was that he didn't have any body heat radiating off of him. "It's been so long since you've visited. You couldn't see or hear me the last time you were here. I tried talking to you, you just kept rambling."