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Leo had thought long and hard (or as long and as hard as anyone with his severity of ADHD could) about what to get as an apology gift for his friends. He knew he should have told them what his plan was, but Leo wasn't willing to risk any of them accidentally messing it up. Sure it would all have been "with good intentions" but the slightest change could ruin his chances at seeing Calypso again.
He wasn't romantically or sexually interested in the gorgeous girl. Leo had his heart set on someone else for that role. Nevertheless, Calypso had been a good friend, a sort of platonic match to Leo's own soul. It felt not only wrong to leave her alone, but cruel. She hadn't done anything worse than the gods after all.
In the end, Calypso had been the one to come up with the actual gift. Leo picked the final designs and colors, but Calypso had made them.
Now that he was back though, Leo was having second thoughts. Not about the quality of his gift, Leo knew they were perfect. No. Leo was trying to decide if his friends actually deserved it.
Who sees their best friend and fearless captain come back from supposed death and arranges a party for everyone at camp to punch them?! Nico, the little traitor, had even called New Rome and invited them ! Leo hoped to be gone before they got there, but the offer still stung.
Leo yelped as the most recent punch landed against his abdomen instead of his arm. He glanced up to see who it was. "Hey no fair! I don't even know that kid!"
Percy chuckled beside him. "Yeah you wouldn't. He only showed up like a week ago. Haven't learned much about him other than he's a son of Ares and likes hitting people."
"Son of Ares? Yeah that checks out." Leo gave a little wince and rubbed his side. "Why can't they all have Frank's temperament?"
"You've never made Frank angry, have you? I'd say to try and keep that habit going but I think it's too late for that. You're screwed when he next sees you." Percy laughed maniacally. "Man am I glad I'm not you!"
Leo pouted. "And to think! I made you both an apology gift."
Percy lit up like a young child on Christmas morning. "You got us presents?" He gave a sheepish grin. "Almost makes me regret helping Nico set this up."
Leo had an idea at that point. An awful idea. Absolutely horrendous. One of those ideas that should be disregarded immediately and never should be followed.
Leo decided to do it.
"I have a present for Nico too. You should go grab him while I greet the last ten people at my 'party'."
Percy beamed. "You know, it was really nice of you to remember him. He gets forgotten or passed over a lot. I'll gather everybody!"
He darted off and Leo quickly turned to Calypso. "I figured out the final design. Do you think you can do it quickly? Like before everyone gets back?"
Calypso gave him a look that asked 'Well, are you stupid, or what?' With a roll of her eyes she stuck out her hand. "What insult am I adding to this one?"
Leo ducked down and whispered his idea to her. She gave a small head shake. "You are an idiot. An absolute idiot. He's going to hate you for this."
"Nah! He'll grow to l– Ouch! That was hard Billie! You don't even like me!"
"Why do you think I hit so hard? I had to sit through a funeral for someone I could care less about!" Billie responded, laughing as she strode away.
The last few hits all hurt just as much. Leo was sure it was just because they had all been in relatively the same place. He couldn't wait till he could grab some ambrosia and fix it. But first, presents!
Percy eagerly led Leo to the ping pong table in the big house. Leo grinned at his gathered friends. Piper smiled back. Annabeth rolled her eyes. Percy bounced on his feet. And Nico stood there, arms crossed, a huff on his lips.
Leo opened his toolbelt. He had stored the gifts inside. "First," he said with a flourish as he pulled out a forest green shirt with neon pink lettering and about five tiny tacos. "For our resident Beauty Queen. A shirt sturdy enough to withstand being near the McShizzle Supreme!"
Leo tossed it to her. Piper caught it and held it up. Her brow furrowed as she read it. "My 'Vladez Tofu Tacos are better than Your Life. Change My Mind.' Are you insane?"
"Knew you'd love it." Leo winked and turned to Percy. He held up the sky blue shirt and pointed to the orange letters. "Says 'Another Quest?! I thought you said Cracker Fest!'"
Percy laughed as he caught the flying shirt. "I love all the goldfish crackers on it. Honestly dream shirt dude."
Nico was looking less and less impressed at Leo's genius present. Leo was kinda miffed at that reaction. He had worked hard on these! "These are all 100% firefroof," He reminded as he pulled out Annabeth's.
Hers was a deep blue, done up with plain white Greek lettering. Leo had struggled on what to put on hers but had finally settled on something. He shuffled over between her and Nico, proudly presenting it to her.
"Είναι αστείο το πώς νομίζεις ότι με νοιάζει πώς αποκαλείς τον εαυτό σου. Θα κολλήσω στον ηλίθιο, ευχαριστώ." Annabeth let out a surprised chuckle then instinctually translated. "It's funny how you think I care what you call yourself. I'll stick to idiot, thanks.' That's actually really funny. Leo!"
Leo preened under the compliment. "I knew you'd like it Wise Girl." However, Leo paused. He was most nervous about Nico's. The one Calypso had barely finished before he came in here.
He busied himself pulling out the shirts for his friends that weren't there. It was a stalling tatic, as he was well aware, but it worked for now. He lay them on the table for the others to admire.
Jason's was a bright yellow. In black letters that stooped slightly stood the words: 'You had me at head trauma.' An innocent brick was pictured under it, but Leo had made Calypso add a little superhero cape to it. Leo thought it was hilarious. He hoped Jason would too.
Hazel's shirt was a gorgeous, form fitting purple. Tye-dyed letters shared the saying on hers. 'No schist. Just lava everyone." It wasn't as funny as, say Percy's, but Leo thought it fit her well.
Frank's shirt was huge, and was a bold color choice of maroon. The lettering was in an ugly lime green and honestly, Leo hated how well the two colors worked together. The letters read 'Archery. For when turning into an iguana isn't socially acceptable.' Seven tiny little lizards decorated the surrounding shirt.
Leo nibbled at his lip. He had run out of stalling methods. He had to present Nico's now. He hoped it at least made him smile. Leo just wanted Nico to be happy.
Slowly, and with shaking hands, Leo pulled out a dark shirt. Unlike the rest of the shirts, this one wasn't styled like a tshirt. It buttoned up the front and loosely resembled a Hawaiian shirt. There were gorgeous flowers of various shades and colors patterned into a rainbow across it. Initially, that had been all it was. The silver letters weren't as well done as on the other shirts, probably due to Calypso having to use sharpie and her actual hands on that part. Still the rough look felt like it fit Nico nicely.
"You've got to be kidding me." Nico stared at the shirt, face blank.
"Oh I'm completely serious."
"'Fighting through life like a Tiny Gay Italian'? On a rainbow? Leo!"
"I know. Isn't it just totally you?" Leo smiled and stuffed it over Nico's shoulders.
"I hate you." Despite his words, a tiny smile quirked the corner of his mouth up. "Absolutely loathe you Valdez."
"Aw. I love you too Angel."
Nico punched his shoulder, but it was gentle and definitely done out of care. At least that's how Leo chose to interpret it. After all, he'd just had a party where that had been the sole point. It was just a demigod thing. And Leo was okay with that.
All his friends were alive and half of them were there. If he couldn't handle a friendly punch he'd have never made it through the war. But he had. His friends had. They all had. They had beat the odds to come back and celebrate with stupid tshirts. And Leo was here with his friends, laughing at their reactions to his shirts. He was finally okay.