PJO/HoO one-shots, short stories, and other random stuff

Just your average day of landing home on a gigantic metal dragon

A/N: sOrRy for being so late! I swear, I thought this had already been published! Sorry!

This is my first story in the present tense (well, mostly)! Plus a Leo POV. Yay! Who doesn't love Leo POVs? I siriusly hope I've done it right. Siriusly. Leo's an icon. Anyways, this one-shot has a few elements of the scene where Leo returns in ToA, but it's mostly different, 'cause I'm in denial in regards to the sad events in ToA (specifically- tBM). 

If any information I have written is wrong, my apollogies, and feel free to correct me in the comments. It's longer than usual, but still (please)- enjoy!

Leo POV:

Man, your day really brightens up when you get to burst into flames and yell, "I'M BACK!" at the top of your lungs (pyro)maniacally while your dragon finally lands back home.

Now you, imaginary-people-who-know-my-thoughts-and-apparently-care-about-my-life, are probably thinking, "Wait, what? Leo, would you care to explain?"

Well, it's really a long story, but a lot of stuff happened since I came back to life (don't ask, that's a different rabbit hole entirely) and rescued (well, that's one way to put it) my girlfriend (that's right, I have a girlfriend now) from the mythical, yet totally existent island of Ogygia. Basically, after about 3 months of fighting random monsters while trying to figure out how to get back to Camp, we're finally there.

I am NOT overexcited, as Calypso says, I am simply delighted that I'm getting to see my friends again. I haven't seen them in ages, and although I may not have appreciated their constant company on the Argo II all the time, they really grew on me and now, I'm desperate to see them again.

Calypso's sorta quiet. She looks beautiful (as usual), and barely bothered by the way-too-bright sunlight and the scorching heat of roughly 3pm, today (I had to check by sundial, so that was annoying). I know she's probably not as enthusiastic about this as I am- having to meet them all. I just hope she doesn't regret any of this...

Nyssa was the first to notice the gigantic dragon and soon enough, more people started showing up. I saw Jason running onto the scene with Piper, and now Percy and Annabeth are coming from the strawberry fields with a satyr, Grover I think. I can't see Frank or Hazel, I'll catch up with them at Camp Jupiter. I've only met him a couple times though. Nico and Will Solace are rushing out of the Hades cabin together. Wait...together. Holy Hephaestus, has my ship finally sailed? YEEEEESSSS!

...anywaaaaays, we are just landing right now. Yep, we've reached the ground.

Should I say something?

"Um, hey, guys...What's up?"

That should work.

Truth be told, how can I capture how much I've missed these people in mere words? I've thought of them so many times every day, they've inspired me to travel all the way here and now I just...words fail. There's nothing I can say, I don't know how to express any of that stuff to them.

So, I just stand there half-grinning, looking like an idiot. Great.

Wait...oh dear gods, Piper is coming at me. She looks downright murderous, she's probably been spending enough time with Annabeth to develop a signature death glare..."OW!" She kicked me in the stomach, gods that hurts. She then hugs me tightly, and I awkwardly try to hug her back. Wow, I'm smooth. I wonder what the people watching must be thinking.

I blink back the tears in my eyes, because I don't even know why they exist and I don't need them right now. Seeing camp again seems to be overwhelming me. That's annoying, feelings are annoying.