My Love, My Heart
The Avengers and Percy stayed the camp for a few days. Every night, Percy had a dream of Leo and Calypso on their way back to camp. In his last two dreams, they took stops on land so Percy thinks they’re closer. This night, Percy could recognize New York’s skyscrapers and the Avengers tower near the location that the two were staying in. But this dream was different. Leo and Calypso were walking in Central Park, Festus in suitcase form. Percy could actually hear what they were talking about.
“We’re almost there Sunshine. We’re almost home.”
“It’s your home, Leo. Not mine.”
“But it will be! I’m sure that everyone would love you, especially the Demeter kids!”
“Leo…”
“Or we could open the workshop early! Live in an apartment, even.”
“Maybe we should part ways after we arrive at camp.”
Silence filled between the two. Percy could sense some sort of pain from Leo, as if his heart was being squeezed.
“What - What do you mean? Do you mean break up?”
She nodded. “After we reach camp. That way we still have a little bit of time before we arrive. And we have a place to go from.”
Percy could feel Leo’s heart break. Leo looked down at the ground and slowed his pace. Calypso stopped a ways from him.
“I’m sorry Leo, but it’s probably the best for us.”
Percy then woke up.
:::::
Percy shot up in his bed and woke up Tony. Tony was staying in the cabin with him while the others slept in either the BIg House or in cabins that they were separated in.
“What is it Percy? Something wrong?”
Before answering, Percy looked at the bedside clock. 6:21 AM. So it wasn’t too early to be that bad.
“Leo’s near. He’s almost home. But he and Calypso…”
“What’s up with them?”
“She broke his heart. She said that it would be best for them to break up after they get here. She shouldn’t do that to him!” He jumped out of the bed, “She knows what it’s like to be heartbroken, heck I even broke her heart, but by accident! Why did she do that to him?”
He rubbed his face, eyes wet from the emotion rising in him. He jumped when he felt a hand on his back. He didn’t realize Tony moving from the bed to his side. Once the older man saw Percy calm down, he placed his hand on his shoulder again and rubbed it in a soothing circle.
“I think I broke my old girlfriend’s heart. I honestly don’t know if I meant to or not but I did. I didn’t think it was safe for her to be with me. Villains will target her to get to me. I talked it over with her and she was the one breaking up with me. It’s… strange what she last said to me. ‘I’ll still love you Tony, but now as a brother or friend. I know there’s someone out there for you and looking for you.’ Like she said, we are still friends. Maybe this Calypso thought it would be best to keep Leo away from trouble.”
“Or herself from trouble that finds Leo.”
“That too.” He sighed, “Let’s get ready. Don’t want to greet your friend in our pajamas do we?”
:::::
The whole camp was gathered near Thalia’s tree or at least wandering around close by. Clint was having a archery contest with some Apollo kids and Natasha was watching on the side. Bruce was talking with Thor about something that Percy couldn’t hear but the son of Poseidon could see the shorter man steadily getting flustered. Tony was talking to Chiron about things he could do with the Avengers weapons now that they have Percy living with them so there’s bound to be monsters popping up. Percy looked to see Steve sitting by himself and drawing in his sketchbook. He walked over and plopped himself onto the ground.
“Whatcha drawing?”
Startled, Steve shut his sketchbook. “N-nothing! Nothing at all!”
Percy raised an eyebrow. “Doesn’t seem like nothing.”
Steve sighed in defeat, knowing Percy will continue pestering him until he got an answer. He handed his sketchbook to him. Percy flipped through the book, seeing drawings of the Avengers, separate images of the team (although Tony kept on popping up a lot), a drawing of some men in the army (Percy figured it was the Howling Commandos, since Steve told the campfire his story last night), a drawing of a woman (Peggy, Percy thought), a man that he knew was Bucky since he saw photographs and other drawings of Steve and him together. Some drawings were colored and some were just pencil sketches. When he got to the recent drawing, the one in progress when he interrupted Steve, he saw it was Tony again but it was different this time.
It was obvious it wasn’t finished, without shadows and some details seemed missing. Tony was smiling, a bigger one than the ones Percy saw. There were flowers surrounding the man, ones that had meaning behind them, thanks to talking with the Demeter kids on what flowers to gift to Annabeth once. He recalled the super soldier talking to Katie Gardner the other day. Roses, which was the obvious one, which could mean anything, especially not being colored. Tulips, which stood for perfect love. And sunflowers, which meant warmth and happiness.
Percy turned to look at Steve in confusion, but noticed the man’s face was almost redder than Rachel’s hair. He smirked at Steve’s embarrassment.
“So… mind telling me what this is about?”
When Steve tried to sputter out an answer which only amused Percy more.
“W-well. You see? Um. I may or may not have feelings for Tony. Uh um. For a little while now.”
“Well you should totally ask him out.”
Steve looked at the teen in bewilderment. “But this kind of thing, two guys loving each other, wasn’t accepted back in my day. I’m still getting used to the 21st century. I don’t know people’s views on this.”
“Well some people aren’t exactly the biggest fans,” Steve deflated at that. “But there’s a lot of people who are fighting for that community’s equality. I’m a proud member of it.”
“You are?”
“Yeah, just haven’t been so open about it. Only my mom and Annabeth knew. Annabeth was okay of it herself. She was, oh what was it, ah demisexual!”
“What.”
Percy continued the conversation about different sexual orientations and identities. Steve pulled out a small notebook and flipped to the back to fill with notes.
“But Annabeth was your girlfriend. Sorry.” He apologized when he saw Percy flinch.
“Uh yeah… but I do admit liking some actors. Even in my relationship with Annabeth, every once in awhile I would think a guy is pretty cute or hot.”
“What do you think I am?”
“Excuse me?”
“I liked Peggy before I went into the ice and now I like Tony. What am I?”
“I’m turning into an Aphrodite kid.” Percy muttered under his breath. “I would think you’re bisexual, like me.”
Steve nodded, satisfied with an answer to who he was.
“Maybe I will ask him to a dance, before it’s too late.”
As he was getting up, Clarisse shouted, “Percy! They’re here!”