the gift of life |leico|

leo VII

Aphrodite was annoying on weekdays. Even though she wasn't really there, Leo was ready to leave.

The ship lulled slowly and the sun was at a high above the dock. Wind whipped Leo's shirt and his curls flew wildly around his face. He found his hands pushing them back every so often, mind returning to Nico, nights in the infirmary, cold fingers through his hair.

Aphrodite resided in a barrel of dirty sea water. Apparently she could smell it from Olympus. Leo doubted that, and he assumed his friends did as well from the looks on their faces. 

    "I have no clue what you kids are talking about." She said as she sipped a drink that looked questionably alcoholic.

    "We know that you know what happened. Nico told us everything." Piper said, annoyed already. Aphrodite sat down her drink. She sat up from her reclined position on her couch.

    "Everything?" She said deadly serious. The demigods exchanged looks. So she did know something?

    "Is there a problem then? I mean Nico was absolutely furious." Hazel said suddenly. Aphrodite looked a bit panicked but she quickly masked it.

    "I would like to speak with him. . . alone please." Aphrodite said. Leo shook his head.

    "Not until you tell us everything that happened. According to you."

Leo said and she sighed, pulling a nail file from thin air and working at her nails.

    "Fine, I'll tell you. . . just don't tell the boy." Aphrodite said after a moment's pause.

    "I summoned the boy to my palace, I was bored with the same old 'watch from afar and don't get too involved, magic will lead them to each other over time'. So... I zapped him over for a little chat. I knew him and the fire boy were meant to be, it was just taking so long."

    Everyone looked at Leo but he ignored the stares. "Anyway, I tried to tell him to make a move and he blew up. Apparently I was meddling in his life. So he goes on a rant like a deranged little human. My sweet son came in the room with my amazon shipment of face cream. I mean it works like a charm-"

    "Continue the story!" Piper cut in and rolled her eyes simultaneously with her mother.

"Right, Eros does not like that boy. I remember a run in that had a while back. Son of lightning I recall you being there. I'm not sure what was said though either of the two times." She toyed with the hem of her ever changing dress/blouse. Leo was annoyed because her features looked similar to Nico's, but on a woman.

"No selective hearing Aphrodite, what did Eros and Nico say?" Annabeth was leaning close to the barrel engulfed in the story. Her brows were knitted as she listened.

"Something about Nico blaming his bad luck with love on Eros. I think the boy drew his sword and threatened to slay him. Like I said it was a blur."

"Then what happened, why was Nico bleeding?" Hazel asked before Leo had the chance.

    "Isn't it obvious, the boy tried to kill him. He had to protect himself."

    "I tried to kill him?" Everyone turned to Nico who stood at the door.

    "No, he's not like that." Jason interjected and turned to Nico who ran back into the cabin under deck. Everyone looked to Leo who nodded.

    "Make her tell you everything." Leo said and Frank, Jason, and Percy nodded.

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