The Unorganized Stories of a Strange Group of Demigods (Finished)

Leo Valdez in: The Secret Quest (yayy last one!)

---Jason---

"He's going to say no," I said.

Piper punched my shoulder. "Have some faith, Jason. We'll get him to come out eventually."

We were walking hand in hand in the forest toward Bunker 9, where Leo and the Hephaestus kids have been working all day- except Leo worked twenty four seven. He always missed meals, and activities and whatnot. Piper and I were getting worried- he was avoiding everyone.

Eventually, we neared the giant steel doors, which were surprisingly opened, with the Hephaestus kids pouring out.

"Hey!" Piper called as we jogged toward them. "How's Leo doing?"

Their eyes meet their shoes. "Well? How is he?" Piper pushed.

Nyssa sighed. "Not to good," she said. "He's been working nonstop. We insist he take a break, get a snack or catch some z's, but he just ignores us and works harder. The way he's working, I say he's gonna break soon."

"Is there anything we can do?" I asked.

"Not really," Nyssa said. "Unless you can charmspeak him into falling asleep for a few days. He needs it."

The Hephaestus kids walked off towards the pavilion, where the conch horn was sounding for dinner.

"What do we do now?" I asked.

Piper rolled her eyes. "We knock."

And she did. Leo opened the door and poked out his head, his mop of black curly hair hanging loosely. His usually mischievous smile was no where to be seen, replaced with a depressed thin line. He looked up, eyes telling the whole story. They were bloodshot, and had dark bags, like he hadn't slept in years. They looked broken, full of pain; unlike the usual twinkle he had in them. He was hurting.

"Hey guys," he greeted glumly. "I know, you're here to get me to go to dinner. It's not happening. I have to finish this ship and-"

"C'mon Leo," Piper pleaded, and I could hear some charmspeak laced in her sentence. "You need to eat. You've been in here forever. We know you're upset about Calypso and you're working to get her back but... You gotta take care of yourself."

Leo's expression softened for a moment, but then turned back into a steely glare. "I'm fine Piper. Promise." He paused, giving his usual goofy grin, but you could tell in his eyes it was fake. "C'mon guys! I'm fine. Really."

He looked at us nervously, seeing if we were buying it. We just stared sadly back, and he slumped over, defeated.

"Leo, you just haven't been yourself... Well, ever since you got back from her isla-"

"Jason, Piper, as much as I love you, I need you to leave," he snapped, turning away. "I'm just not hungry ok?"

Without another word, he slowly shut the door, leaving us standing there.

Piper sighed, and I pulled her in a hug and held her.

"I just want him to be ok," she sighed into my shoulder. "It's been months... And... I just... I'm worried about him. How can we help him?"

"I know," I said, holding her tighter. "I just don't know how."

---Leo---

I hated it.

I knew I was being rude and I knew they were worried about me. And as much as I know they want to help... I can't let them. Aphrodite said I had to complete the designs and such for the plan to work. And I couldn't just blow my chance of bringing Calypso back... I just can't.