~The Cabins~

The eight found themselves in the middle of the cabins, just as the sun began its decent through the sky, bathing the camp in a beautiful golden glow.

Cupid smirked at them, just a little, as they stumbled around, blinded by the sudden light after a day in darkness.

‘Oh man,’ Grover moaned, clutching at his stomach. ‘Never again.’

‘Oh my gods, WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU GUYS BEEN!?’

Nico stormed up to them, looking scarily angry for a thirteen year old kid. His dark eyes flashed murderously.

‘Uh, busy?’ Grover squeaked.

‘The whole camps out searching for you all!’ Nico shouted. ‘Everyone’s worrying out of their minds!’

‘Aw, you were worried about us?’ Percy teased.

Nico’s cheeks flushed deep red, ‘No! I said the camp. I couldn’t care less.’

‘Uh huh,’ Jason muttered. Nico shot him a death look, then his eyes fell on the god of love, hovering behind the eight.

‘You,’ Nico growled, backing up. His hand rested on his stygian sword hilt.

‘Me,’ Cupid agreed.

‘What are you doing here?’ Nico spat, drawing his sword and levelling it before the god.

‘There was a favour I needed from your-’ Cupid’s lips curled unpleasantly, ‘friends.’

Nico barred his teeth dangerously, ready to charge the god of love and run him through.

‘Hey,’ Percy lay a hand on Nico’s shoulder and lowered his sword tip. Nico’s angry look faded just slightly and he sheathed his sword. ‘Cupid was just leaving.’

Cupid gave a mock bow, ‘Adios.’

He vanished in a flurry of red sparks.

Nico snarled, ‘I hate that guy.’

‘That much was obvious,’ Percy said. ‘But just cool it a little. No need to be so angry.’

Nico glowered at his shoes, not making eye contact. Jason watched him sympathetically.

‘Could you try a little harder,’ Percy pleaded. ‘Please.’

Nico sighed, ‘I’ll try.’

‘Good,’ Percy smiled and forced the young son of Hades to look him in the eye. ‘Because maybe you can join us for Valentine’s Day. Picnic down the beach.’

Nico’s face lit up, ‘Yeah! I mean, sure.’

‘Valentine’s Day is just as much about friendship as it is love,’ Annabeth said. ‘We’ve learnt an important lesson, don’t you think?’

‘You’ll still have to tell everyone where you went,’ Nico pointed out.

‘And we will,’ Percy nodded. ‘After we’ve has some to get over where we went.’

‘NICO!’

Leo came racing up the hill. His jeans were torn in several places and his face was smeared with grease. His hair flew out in all directions, his tool belt was crooked and his hair was on fire. Despite all that, he was grinning like crazy.

‘What?’ Nico demanded.

Leo puffed as he reached them, ‘I gotta-I need-oh gods. I need your help.’

‘With what?’ Nico frowned.

‘I gotta get somewhere,’ Leo said. ‘But I’ll need your son of Hades, shadow travel, death powers.’

‘To do what?’ Piper asked.

‘I need to get back somewhere and bring someone with me,’ Leo scratched the back of his neck nervously.

‘Does this person start with a C and end in an O?’ Percy questioned slyly.

Leo blushed right to the roots of his flaming hair, ‘Maybe.’

‘I knew it!’ Percy shouted. ‘You visited Ogygia!’

‘How did you know?’ Leo demanded.

‘That look in your eyes after we got back to the Argo II,’ Percy smiled. ‘It was like you were thinking of different possibilities. I felt the same way after I visited Ogygia.’ Percy suddenly blinked, ‘You’re going back for her?’

‘Yeah,’ Leo looked out over the lake. ‘I promised her I would.’

‘You made a promise in the middle of the war?’ Annabeth asked in disbelief.

‘Yeah, sorry about that,’ Leo bit his lip. ‘But we lived, so no harm done.’

Nico rolled his eyes, ‘Okay, back to why you need me.’

‘Not you, your death powers,’ Leo corrected with a wink. ‘I wired Festus up to his body and he can fly us there. There’s only one thing I need from you.’

‘Which is?’ Nico prompted.

‘Um, hell fire?’

‘You want what?’ Nico asked like his ears had deceived him.

‘Hell fire,’ Leo squeaked. ‘I know you have some in your cabin and it’s just the thing I need to fully activate Festus. I really need it to get back to Ogygia. Please?’

Nico was silent for the space of ten heartbeats. His face remained impassive and clear of all emotions. Leo’s heart sunk. Nico wasn’t going to help him.

‘Okay,’ Nico said. ‘But on one condition.’

‘Yes, yes!’ Leo screamed happily. ‘Anything!’

‘I come with you to Ogygia,’ Nico said. ‘I want to see the island for myself.’

‘You’ll help?’ Leo was astonished. ‘Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you!!’

‘Hey, kiddo,’ Percy ruffled Nico’s hair, much to the son of Hades annoyance. ‘I’m proud of you. That’s a good thing you just did.’

The boy’s face lit up brightly, and his heart even brighter. Even the little things can affect a person, and that little compliment was the world to Nico. He went straight off with Leo, intently talking about the trip and supplies.

Annabeth nudged Percy as they watched them go, ‘You remember the riddle?’

He frowned, ‘Yeah?’

She smiled at Nico, ‘By the angels light the arrows strike.’

Percy laughed, ‘Nico, helping love along? That I did not see coming.’

‘There’s a lot you wouldn’t know about them,’ Jason said quietly from behind them. ‘He’s a troubled boy.’

‘Why do you say that?’ Percy frowned.

Jason shook his head, ‘That’s up to him to tell you. I won’t betray his trust.’

Annabeth bit her lip, deep in thought with ideas and suspicions zooming around her head. Percy-being the seaweed brain he was-just looked confused.

~The Lake (later that evening)~

Nico and Leo were ready to go. Festus was creaking by the shore, enjoying his new freedom of movement.

The two demigods wore packs filled with ambrosia, nectar, food, water, sleeping rolls, drachmas and all the essentials, set for several months. They were dressed in hiking clothes with expressions equal parts excited and determined.

‘Be careful,’ Piper gave Leo another hug. ‘Don’t do anything … Leolike.’

He rolled his eyes, ‘I’ll be fine, Piper.’

‘But you’ll Iris Message us as soon as you stop for the night,’ Hazel asked Leo and her brother.

‘Yes, Hazel,’ Nico sighed. ‘Honestly, you’d think I was a child.’

‘You are a child,’ Piper argued.

‘I was born over seventy years ago,’ Nico reminded her.

‘Guys,’ Percy interrupted.  ‘The bow’s been returned. We’re not supposed to fight anymore.’

‘Just a friendly debate,’ Piper winked. ‘But seriously, both of you, just be really careful.’

They passed around hugs one last time. Leo and Nico mounted Festus who snorted fire and waved goodbye to the waiting demigods.

Annabeth settled herself in Percy’s arms who planted a kiss on the top of her head.

‘They’ll be okay,’ he murmured against her temple.

‘I know they will be,’ she replied. ‘But I’m still allowed to worry.’

Percy chuckled, ‘You sound like an overprotective mother.’

‘Don’t you feel the same way? That’s Nico and Leo going off on their own, to the ancient lands. They could be gone for months.’

‘But they’ll still get home safely,’ Percy assured her. ‘If anything happens, they can shadow travel out of there. They will come home, and we will be okay.’

Annabeth smiled at him as he squeezed her in a tight, loving embrace.

With horizon a turning brilliant tangerine as the day came to an end, and an automation dragon flying straight for the setting sun, Percy and Annabeth spend the last moments of Valentine’s Day where they belonged: in each other’s arms.

So foolish, these demigods. They do not know me, even when they see me. But I would not wish to be known if it means playtime is over.

They found the bow I stole from my dear friend Cupid. I intended nothing with it. Only a game. They figured out the riddle I set. That Angel boy was always meant to be bitter, but loved though he knows it not. Danger is the key to the games I play.

Such fun it is to mess with the minds of young demigods. They forget me. Once this is over, they will all know my name. All the damage I do, all the chaos I cause, all the mischief I get up to. It's in my nature. I could ignore and be nothing, or embrace it and be who I am. They will know my name one day.

But today is not that day.

It's never enough. It is never enough to cause trouble. It has to be a game. It has to be a puzzle. It has to be an adventure.

It has to be fun.