Demigod Oneshots

Lazel

MERRY (late *ahem*) CHRISTMAS.

ENJOY THIS VERY NON-FESTIVE AND (KIND OF?) SAD ONESHOT :)

P.S Prepare to see a matured, confident Leo.

But also kind of OOC Leo and Hazel?

-

It still hurt. Even after 4 years, but Leo knew that the majority of surviving demigods still had nightmares about the War as well. The Seven in particular felt the effects of their quest nearly every day; Annabeth had a panic attack everytime Percy was out of her sight, Jason had to restrain his hands at night so he wouldn't tear himself to shreds, Percy barely slept anymore and was the wraith of the Camp and Hazel occasionally went into her own world and could mutter to herself for hours. Leo couldn't - and wouldn't - judge because he spent the first year and a half in almost complete solitude, holed up in Bunker 9.

They longed for a time before the War, where the scars on the hills of Camp Half-Blood weren't apparent and the Camp had twice as many campers. They missed Frank, Piper - who would never have any recollection of them, Butch, Pollux who sacrificed himself to save Connor so Travis would never have to live without his brother and dozens of other demigods that would go unamed or that Leo himself had never met.

On the rare days the scars didn't seem as deep, the world was a littler bit brighter, almost like the Camp had had new life breathed into it. It was louder with the sounds of bustling demigods, the sweet smell of the strawberry fields permeated the air, even the bright colours of the wildflowers surrounding the cabins seemed more focused. Even the sound of sparring, the clang of metal on metal was a welcomed change when compared to the hushed, dulled sounds of a bad day.

Today was one of those good days, especially since they had the oppurtunity to leave Camp. On certain days, Chiron allowed a few of the older campers to leave for the day, as long as they took proper precautions and were on watch for anything that could turn dire. Not that they really had to anymore, after the War, monster attacks had decreased significantly.

"Leo?"

"Sorry Hazel," Leo apologized with a lopsided grin, "I zoned out."

Hazel nodded, she of all people understood that. Even so, he'd make extra special care that he didn't do it again.

Looking at her as she ordered for them both, he was struck by; despite how tough her life had been,  how well she'd grown up. Back when he'd first met her she'd been shy, troubled and scared of her own power. Now she'd managed to turn her shyness into a type of confidence and excuded power with Mist and gemstones. Leo himself was frightened of what she could do. That and how beautiful she was.

At 18, Hazel now stood at a slender and lean 5'5, a whole two inches taller than she had been at 13, with muscles to boot. She'd cut the front part of her cinnamon hair in line with her jaw, the back of it cropped close to her head. She no longer hid her face with her hands, and her gold eyes were far more direct than they used to be, and could pin you in place with a stare. She often wore white clothes, knowing that the colour set off the coffee-bean of her skin and even though she still held many of the same views as she had in the 40's about self image, she'd gotten her nose pierced with a little green stud.

"Leo you finished daydreaming?"

Hazel stood in front of him, smiling, and holding two coffee cups.

"Yup," he replied, grabbing the closest coffee cup.

"That's mine, so unless you want a mouthful of Spice Pumpkin Latte I suggest you take this one," Hazel reprimanded, grabbing it out of his hand and offering him his.

"You heathen," Leo called over his shoulder as he made his way to their usual table, pointing his nose into the air, "only common people get Spice Pumpkin Lattes."

Hazel rolled her eyes as she sat, removing her white woolen beanie - it had a sewing of a horse on it - and throwing it at him. "It's better than what you drink. Chocolate Cherry Mocha? Disgusting!"

"You wound me!"

Seeing her smile fall, Leo stopped miming chest pain and sat up straighter. "Hazelwood?"

"Leo?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you ever think about what happened with Piper?" Hazel asked. Leo understood what she was asking, nobody knew if Piper had drunk the Lethe water herself or someone had put it in her drink. Not knowing was painful, but the outcome was worse, having someone you loved and cared for not recognise you. Nothing would bring her back, they could only ever hope she lived a happy, mortal, life. It had all affected them personally, Jason especially had gone a little mad for a while but recently he'd found comfort in Nico.

As Leo was thinking this over, Hazel absentmindedly touched her left shoulder where he knew her dove and eagle tattoos were. Both of his were around his ankle, the remaining Seven's on different parts of their body. He reached over and grasped her hand, his thumb stroking her third tattoo. As well as the dove for Piper and the eagle for Frank (to remember his first attempt at shapeshifting) the Seven also all had the Roman Numeral VII on the back of their thumb to honour the friendships that had bloomed in the time where all hope seemed lost. They had gone and got them done a few months after Piper had lost her memories, at Percy's request. Lou Ellen and Butch were happy to do it, the head counsellors (with the help of the Athena and Hephaestus cabin) figuring out a way to combine their powers to tattoo, or 'imprint' as they called it.

"All the time Hazelwood, but as horrible as it sounds we need to move on. Remember her how she was, don't torture yourself with thinking how it might've been or what you might've done. Hope she's happy and focus on our own endings."

"When did you get so wise?" She asked slyly, eyes bright with mischief before he could continue.

Leo waved his coffee in a roundabout motion, grinning, but he answered truthfully, "when I grew up. The year I spent in Bunker 9, I had a lot of time to think. How pointless insercurites were, how rude I had been, everything really. Worrying is pointless, try to focus on the future and all that."

"Move on huh?" Hazel repeated, the corner of her mouth turning up as she threaded her small fingers with his, "chase our own happiness?"

He nooded.

She leaned across the table and pecked him on the cheek.

Leo was a bit stunned at this turn of events. His day - and life - had just gotten even better. He took a sip of his Mocha, avoiding gold eyes before he - Gods forbid - blushed.

"This has been a good day," he declared suddenly, "nothing could go -"

There was a sound of glass breaking and several terrified screams.

"-wrong."

Hazel fixed him with a dry look and followed the noise , unfortunately letting go of his hand. Pushing her way through the crowd of franctic people (all of which who were running the opposite way) she ran ahead, only stopping when she saw the flock of Stymphalian birds circling a hysterical child. The young boy screamed and one of the birds was snatched up by, a potted plant?

"Demeter I bet," Leo commented.

"That seems pretty obvious," Hazel replied, pulling out her spatha and jumping on Arion's back - who could appparently appear out of nowhere too - before spurring him towards the birds, who looked about to attack.

Leo grinned, flipped his hammer in the air and ran towards the birds, whooping.

Even if this was a fight, he loved being at Hazel's side.