Amaurosis

XV: Control Freaks and Curses

Loud arguing filled the halls of the Argo II, and I made my way to meet everyone on the main deck. Outside, Annabeth and Leo stood yelling at each other, pointing and waving their arms in all directions.

"Where are we going?" Annabeth shouted.

Percy hopped down from his usual spot up in the crow's nest. His messy black hair looked like it got in a science experiment. He pulled dark shades out of nowhere and leaned against a crate Annabeth was trying to move. "Wingin' it."

She huffed at Percy's cluelessness and plopped down beside me, out of breath. "Not the time, Seaweed Brain."

Soon, the rest of the crew met us on deck. Everyone was dressed and ready to go, except Leo who still wore his fire-proof Archimedes pajama set. Percy got that for him for Secret Santa last winter. It even came with its own toolbelt. Meanwhile, Nico was beyond annoyed, as usual, and I was growing frustrated simply by being in his presence.

Leo snorted. "I like the new 'do, Percy. Very Saturday Night Fever." He nodded, hands on his hips.

"Very what?" at least half of the group asked in harmony.

"You know..." Leo hummed a tune and disco danced. Part of me wanted so desperately to look away and save my eyes, but I couldn't. It was painful to watch. Still, the group blinked at him synchronously. "Stayin' alive. Stayin' alive."

Breaking free from PercyLand, the son of Poseidon joined the conversation. "Thanks, Leo. That's so sweet of you." He winked, blew a kiss, and batted his lashes, then realization dawned on him. Straightening his posture and furrowing his brows, Percy complained, "Wait, what's wrong with my hair?"

Annabeth waved him off and was quick to change the subject. "Leo, I don't remember giving you any locations yesterday. Where are we going?"

"You didn't," he grinned, his elvish ears more prominent as the wind whipped through his chocolate curls. He pulled out his own set of dark shades and mimicked Percy's stance. "We're wingin' it."

"Oh, gods."

"One Percy is enough," Annabeth groaned, shaking her head. "But seriously. Where are we headed? Who gave the order?

"We're cruising," Leo shrugged. "There are eight other people on this quest, you know."

She nodded hesitantly. "Yes. But I'm the daughter of Athena. The actual goddess of strategy and wisdom," she persisted, her face turning a light shade of red from holding in her breath. We all knew she had control issues, but she remained in the stage of denial.

The two continued to argue. "I do not always need to be the leader, Leo. I'm not bossy." Her hands strangled her hips with how tight her grip was. She turned to the rest of us. "Right, guys?"

"Uh..."

"Um..."

She rolled her eyes. "Right, Percy?" She glared his way.

"Sure?" he squeaked nervously, smiling and scratching the back of his head to avoid her gaze. She growled. "I mean no. Totally not bossy." He turned to Leo. "Ya think that's the right answer?"

Leo shrugged in his shades. "I dunno, man. I think we should run. She has sharp teeth."

I drowned them out, their side conversations morphing into full-blown arguments. They didn't feel it, but an eerily unsettling atmosphere surrounded the Argo II.

The sky switched from sunny and clear to a gloomy gray, dark clouds hovering above us. The waves crashed violently against the hull. Percy took position back in the crow's nest and Jason took flight, each trying to soothe their domains.