Asphodels (Valdangelo)

Shared secret

Teeny-tiny differences produced by the connection Leo has with his "mystery boy". Somebody please remind me how the save/not-save Nico debacle gets solved, it's been ages.

My concept of time is faulty on the best days, imagine now, when I don't have a specific schedule; there's no way I can guarantee any sort of consistency to updating this. 

Being possessed is hard to describe, particularly when he isn't exactly conscious for most of it; but he's present enough to be left with an acid aftertaste similar to vomiting, whole body shaking as he drops to the ground. And he's coughing violently, on his knees as he fights to breathe; only for that moment, he isn't on top of the ship he built with his own two hands, but somewhere else entirely, cramped, dark, cold, and suffocating.

When he comes back there's a girl dressed like those pictures of romans in museums, only her purple t-shirt has a print claiming 'Camp Jupiter'; he only has enough time to crush the flowers with his fists, but he's still covered in blood. Luckily, this helps sell the fact that he was indeed possessed to her, and makes the expression on Percy's face less hostile; they still have to leave in a bit of a hurry though, because the Romans are less easily swayed.

When the eidolons show up again, this time to take over the team's two most powerful fighters, and there's not a drop of blood from either, suspicion rises; but Leo plays the confused card for all it's worth, and it works because they eventually let it go, thank everything holy.

He gets transported back to whatever hellhole he experienced back then that night, and he only just manages to cough into a bucket, an addition due to some people in the ship not taking to the sea kindly.

He's still haunted by that one vision, of being trapped without air, light, or warmth, somewhere small; he learns why during a heated discussion, one where the other six throw the subject around like they aren't arguing about a living breathing human. Leo isn't sure how he keeps his fire down, as he stands stubbornly on Hazel's side throughout the entire thing, un-swayed by the things the others bring to the table.

Thankfully, they do end up deciding to go help the poor boy, and it's only when everyone disperses that Leo is hit with the realization that he would've gone save him regardless. That thought takes root in his brain, as it's only natural that he'd wound up bent over by a coughing fit; only, this time, someone else sees.

To her credit, Hazel does not scream upon seeing him covered in blood and flowers on the floor; though she does look understandably paler. But she does ask in the most ridiculous way.

"What was that?"

And because Leo is tired, and shaken from all the coughing, and lightheaded for the blood loss, he responds ridiculously too.

"Asphodels"

Hazel frowns at him and Leo shrugs, pulling a clean rag from his belt to wipe the blood off his lips.

"That's not what I meant"

Leo sighs, he's been successfully keeping this hidden for who knows how long, specifically because there was no way to brush off flowers coming out of his mouth; so he resigns himself to be honest, however...

"You can't tell anyone, particularly not now"

Hazel bites her lips but nods, clearly realizing how bad spreading this would be to the whole 'rescue her brother' thing; considering why Leo's choking on asphodels, of all flowers. Leo takes a deep steadying breath, and starts explaining what he knows; it's all based on experience, because this is a curse, and thus there are no guides unless Leo finds whoever put it on him in the first place.