"What?!" You sprang to your feet, surprise coursing through you. "But- I- how- but-" you stammered, unable to form a coherent thought.

Calypso's almond eyes were filled with clashing emotions: laughter, bittersweetness, sadness. "Perhaps I should explain."

She pulled your arm, signaling for you to sit down beside her.

"When Leo first landed in Ogygia, despite my misgivings, I tended to him. Sometimes, when I visited him, he was asleep, and he kept having nightmares. He kept crying out in his sleep, for people that I have since met. Hazel, Frank, Percy, Annabeth, Piper, Jason, Reyna, Nico... so many people."

Her gaze locked onto yours, making you listen even more closely. "But there was one name that was mentioned more than others, a name that was said with happiness. You, Y/N."

She squeezed your hand, and you squeezed back. "When we got onto better terms, I asked him who they were. He painted pictures of all of them with his words, although it wasn't needed for Percy. But when he got to you, he painted a picture so - so vivid. He knew - he knows - you so well. He regaled me with tales of the two of you and your adventures, and even as I started to fall for him and I hoped he would for me, I knew, just by hearing him talk about you, that part of his heart would always belong to you - and now, I think even more will. Even though I tried to deny it to myself, now I know. Leo Valdez still loves you. And once I'm - once I'm gone, it will be even easier."

"No, Cali," you said, helpless. "I don't want happiness at someone else's expense."

She looked at you then, and you saw those ages of wisdom beyond her appearance. Eyes that'd experienced heartbreak, over and over again. Only one person had ever loved her back.

And now she was willing to give him up.

"But, Y/N, don't you see? You will make him happy, and that's all I need. Please, Y/N. I need you to do this."

You frantically tried to think of a protest. Yes, you loved Leo, but snatching him from another girl's cold corpse was too far. "But - but then why did he avoid me when you two got back?"

"He avoided you because Leo knew my heartbreak. He understood on a level that none other of the ones who visited my island did. Odysseus, Perseus: they both got who they wanted. 'Forever and always'. But Leo knew what it was like - and he went as extreme as possible to make sure he never caused anyone that kind of heartbreak. If you feel how I think you feel, then know that Leo deluded himself into thinking that you would never love him. So when he came back with me, he didn't - couldn't - ever even think to hurt me like others had hurt the both of us. And so he avoided you, because he had had a crush on you before he left on the Argo ||."

"But- I- he- that idiot!"

Calypso gave a light, tinkling laugh, then grew serious. Leaning forward, she asked, "So will you?"

Swallowing, as your throat had suddenly seemed to grow dry, you bit your lip before answering.

"I promise." (ayyyy! there's the title.)

•∞•∞•∞•

When Leo entered the infirmary, still covered in soot and grease from the forges, he found you and Calypso engaged in a game.

A very fun, if little-known game. It was called: 'Leo is such an idiot. One time he...'

You looked up from your anecdote about the time Leo almost set the entire camp on fire (moral of the story: Leo + coffee + sugar + glitter is a very bad idea) to see the Bad Boy Supreme himself, gaping at the two of you like a fish out of water. His ears had turned pink, barely visible through the layer of dirt and grime covering almost every inch of available skin. "Um- hey."

Laughter draining away, Calypso looked up. "Leo... I need to tell you something."

You awkwardly backed away towards the bright light streaming from the door. "Erm... well I'm just gonna.... go..."

"No." Calypso's voice was ringing with authority. When both you and Leo stared at her in shock, she added, in a softer tone, "Stay. Please."

"O- okay." You retired to a cot further away, where they could talk in peace. 

Calypso started out with words that were indistinguishable from this distance, but you knew what she was saying - or at least the general gist. 

Leo's face - or at least what you could see - drained pale. With a series of animated hand gestures, he started off on one of his manic rants - probably something about if they could help her or not.

With her hand on his arm, Calypso gave one tiny, almost unnoticeable head shake. No.

And Leo Valdez crumpled.

Calypso supported him, but he soon regained his balance and started talking again, eyes filled with genuine misery.

But unnoticed to the both of them, you slipped out, leaving the two to forge through their sorrow together.

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

Two weeks later, Calypso was much weaker, only able to move around in a wheelchair. She remained the same though, with the same quiet mischief and caring eyes. She only let herself break down with you, because she didn't want Leo to see.

Although you and Calypso grew closer and closer, Leo remained aloof, staying awkward whenever he ran into you - and since you spent most of your free time with Calypso, you ran into him a lot. 

But you had hope, and so you stayed. Always greeting him like normal, always acting happy around him, always welcoming. Determined to fulfill your promise.

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

Two months later, a shroud was being burnt in the amphitheater. A shroud that had gentle, peaceful colors, the colors of a sunset. 

A shroud for a girl who had seen so much and had really never experienced true happiness before it got snatched away.

Leo Valdez tried to say a few words, but he choked up. You stepped up and gently grabbed his hand, squeezing it before you spoke.

"Calypso was absolutely amazing. She was always cheerful, always so kind. She gave what she had with open arms, and always, even when she knew her end was near, stay positive and upbeat. I was truly blessed to have her as my friend."

With a shaking hand, Leo's palm filled with flames, and the remnants of a girl whose life was too long and too short drifted away at peace.

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

"Leo?" You gently swung open the door to the Hephaestus cabin. Although it was lunchtime, no one had seen Leo come out. His siblings assumed he was in the underground tunnels from his bed, and so they didn't worry.

The cabin was dark and seemingly deserted. Half-completed projects littered the tables, and an all-pervading smell of grease and smoke filled the air. 

You unrolled the camouflage curtain around Leo's bunk and found a broken boy, a shattered boy. He still hadn't cried, ever since the funeral it'd seemed like parts of him were broken. Photos were clutched in his hand, of him and Calypso together. 

You swallowed down your hurt and clambered in the bunk to sit, cross-legged, next to him. You put your arm around his shoulders and gently told him, "It's okay to cry, Leo. I'm here."

But Leo just shook his head, mute, and returned to staring at Calypso when she was full of life.

You tried another tack. "Calypso wouldn't like you like this, Leo. Please. We all love you and miss you-"

And the boy broke, crying his heart out. You patted his back and murmured comforting words, gently rocking him. 

So the two broken souls reached out for each other through the darkness and held each other, finding comfort in company. 

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

"Do you want to come?" You tentatively held out a hand for Leo.

For a week after you'd gotten Leo to cry, you'd been trying to get him out more, but each time he'd been refusing. 

At this, the newest refusal, something in you snapped. You marched over to him. "Leo, you cannot just sit in here and waste your life away! Calypso wouldn't want this!"

In a barely audible voice, he spoke. "But she's gone. Just like my mother. So why does it matter?"

"They might be gone, but they are watching over you, and they do care! And I'm not gone, and I care, so please, just get outside and enjoy some sunlight.

Leo slowly grasped your hand and let you lead him outside.

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

"Leo?" You slowly walked through the forest, wary of any intruding monsters. 

Leo had told you to meet him at Bunker Nine. Three months after Calypso's passing, Leo had gotten much better and had regained parts of his former self.

Leaves crunched as you heard someone - or something - approaching. You dropped into a ready position. 

The bushes rustled as Leo Valdez emerged from them. "Hey, Y/N."

You sheathed your weapon. "You scared me! Anyway, what's up? And don't" you added as Leo opened his mouth to reply, "take that literally."

He huffed, clearly disappointed. "Fine. Anyway, I brought you out here because I wanted to give you this." 

He handed you a silver necklace with a bronze dragon charm strung on it. "It's beautiful, Leo. Thank you!" You impulsively pecked his cheek, which (surprise surprise) made his nose catch on fire. 

He patted it out, then continued, "When you pull on the charm three times, I'll come, okay? Use it when you're in danger."

"Thanks, Leo."

"And I have another thing to ask you."

"Okay, shoot."

"Will you go out with me?"

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

"Happy one-year anniversary, Leo!"

"You too, N/N."

"I love you."

"Love you too."

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

"And do you, Leo Valdez, take Y/N L/N for your wife?"

"I do."

"And do you, Y/N L/N, take Leo Valdez as your husband?"

"I do."

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

"She's beautiful - and she looks just like you, Y/N!"

"What are we going to call her, then?"

".... I don't know. What do you think?"

"How about... Calypso. Calypso Esperanza Valdez."

"It's beautiful. Calypso Esperanza Valdez, my daughter."

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

"It's been a good  life, hasn't it, Leo?"

"You were a part of it, of course it was."

"And we have Calypso to thank for it."

"Mmm... I loved her, you know."

"I know you did."

"But I love you too."

"And I love you."

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

Aaaaand that's a wrap! I tried a new style of writing here, comment if you liked it or not!

Okay, so I have to finish:

~Matchmaker, Matchmaker

~Master Prankers

~The Luke x Reader thingymabobbedy

~Anything else? Comment if I missed something!

If you have any requests, don't hesitate to PM me!

Cali Out!