Chapter Text
Will solace believed his fourth cup of coffee was cursed.
Everytime his fingers grazed the heated ceramic , or the steam curled around his lips, shit would go down.
Either someone was stabbed or dying or getting mauled by three winged monster.
All the outcomes had one solution, and that was the infirmary. Meaning Will.
He just didnt get how The Fates coordinated all this right when he refilled his cup the fourth time.
So when a overly frantic Annabeth burst into the head healer's office, it was a significant deviation from the usual scenarios.
" Chiron wants a meeting with all the head councilors." She announced.
The Stoll brothers looked up with interest. Conner was splayed on the white cushioned cot, fidgeting with his newly wrapped hand cast.
Travis was slumped on the chair beside him, legs resting on the bed's edge even after Will's multiple remarks of disapproval.
" Is the ship ready?" Travis asked, popping a chocolate M&Ms in his mouth, which Will was pretty sure he had locked it in his office drawer somewhere.
Annabeth nodded, adjusting the blueprints overflowing from her arms.
" Leo informed us this morning that the ship is built" she said, "We might leave for this........other camp, tomorrow."
" The one Percy is in right now?" Conner asked.
" That's what Jason said."
" and you are sure he has regained his memory, if like Jason it was removed, and not brainwashed by these Romans."
Annabeth glared at him.
" What? it's a valid question." He said innocently.
" How about we discuss this in the meeting. " Will suggested, " I am sure Chiron can give us more insight, and Jason, since he said he was a prea-? Praetor?"
Annabeth pressed her lips, probably deciding whether to storm back to the big house or stab Conner with a dagger.
Will glared at the son of Hermes. He had just patched Conner up because of his " innovative" prank. If Anabeth increased his work , Will didnt think he could stop her.
Thankfully, she chose the peaceful one and stormed to the big house.
" Well, I am leaving." Will said, grabbing the M&Ms packet from Travis's hand. " both of you better come on time. And tell Clarisse while your at it."
Travis muttered about being treated like a underpaid messenger. Conner silently took out a sour strip packet from under the pillow.
Will reluctantly ignored him and made his way towards the Big house.
When Will reached the meeting room, the Stoll brothers had managed to reach there before him.
How that was possible, Will decided not to think on it. Fortunately, Clarisse sat opposite to them, so the message had passed on.
She grunted at him in acknowledgement. " Hey there , flashlight."
" Hello" he smiled at Clarisse and pulled up the chair beside her.
It was after he sat down did he realised that Jason was sitting a seat away from him.
He looked a bit tensed, hand clenched tightly under the table.
" Is everyone here?" Will asked Clarisse.
" We are waiting for Valdez."
Just then Leo stumbled in , smoke curling around his shirt. His right hand was definitely bleeding , and desperate attempt of binding it with strip of cloth hadn't work.
Leo didnt seem very concerned about that and plopped on the seat between Will and Jason.
" Sorry for being late guys." He grinned, " just some last minute touch ups"
" I dont know how the last minute touch up involved fire but it did." Piper said, entering the room. She sat opposite to jason , her brown hair braided down her shoulders.
Will tentatively picked Leo's hand , examining the wound.
" This looks pretty deep." He frowned, " what happened."
" oh, Festus bit me."
Everyone stared at him.
Leo cackled. " Guys relax, Festus will never. But the look on your face was priceless "
Will restrained the urge to strangle him but with effort.
Jason smiled beside him. He looked more at ease now, though he kept shooting concerned glanced at Leo's hand.
Will set to work, slowly disinfecting the wound with a soaked cotton ball.
Chiron wheeled into view. Mr D appeared on the chair beside him with a loud pop.
The conversation around the table receded.
The centaur smiled at us, smoothing the blue floral shirt which Will guessed Mr D forced him into.
" Good afternoon everyone." He said. " As you know, Leo has given us a good news this morning that the ship is ready. Meaning our quest will start soon."
He surveyed the room, his old gray eyes sliding over everyone, lingering a bit on Will.
" But before we follow our newest Great prophecy, we need to visit the Romans. That is, Camp Jupiter." He continued, " where we will hopefully meet Percy."
Nervous whispered filled the room. Chiron gestured Jason to speak.
The son of Jupiter leaned forward, his fingers carefully laced themselves together.
" Camp Jupiter will take about three hours to reach from our ship." He said, " the camp is well hidden with mist , but thankfully I know a way which allow our ship to fly over it."
His voice was calm, with a kind of authoritative tone to it. Will realised why he was appointed as Praetor.
" you want to fly a warship to their place, for a peace meeting." Clarisse grumbled.
" I know it sounds weird, but I will be going, so hopefully they wont blow it up if they see me." Jason said, glancing at Leo.
" Beside, Leo already sent a message few days ago, so they are expecting us."
" We can put white bedsheet as a peace flag on the ship." Leo offered, " it will be like a baby bib for festus."
He looked at Will with his mischievous eyes, " can we borrow the white sheets from the infirmary."
He glared at Leo, tempted the stick the needle deeper with which was stitching his wound " No."
Katie Gardener cleared her throat, glancing at Chiron.
" I just want to ask, now that the communication systems are down right now, and reaching out to people outside of camp is difficult" she ventured,
" how can we contact the demigods in a moving, flying ship? Wont they be practically isolated."
Uncomfortable silence filled the room.
" way to brighten the mood." Lou Ellen murmured.
" excellent point Katie" Chiron said, giving her a reassuring smile. " because of which I will be appointing two other extra members in the quest for supervision."
Some leaned in curiously, others looked confused.
"But before that let's decide the main members which will be part of the prophecy-"
" I am going" Annabeth deadpanned, daring anyone to challenge her. No one did.
" And me." Jason joined.
" I'm coming, obviously. I'm supreme commander of that ship." Leo said cheerfully.
" I'm joining to." Piper stated, her multicolored eyes raking over everyone, waiting for someone to challenge her,
" my charmaspeak will be useful, plus my blade shows visions of future, and considering that Delphi is malfunctioning lately, it will be a good source of prophetic advise"
She glanced at Rachel, " no offence."
" non taken." She said, doodling the inside of her wrist with glitter pens.
" very well, looks like the four demigods from the greek side are confirmed." Chiron said, pointedly looking at Mr D.
He was to engrossed in a magazine to look up. Chiron gave up with a sigh.
" Now for the additional member."
That got people's attention. They definitely wanted to be part of the Quest. Some didnt though and took interest on the table's content, avoiding eye contact.
Even Will decide to look extra focused on bandaging Leo's hand.
" For adult supervision," chiron said, making the new quest members frown, " coach Hedge has volunteered."
Everyone groaned, complaining about the choice. Chiron just held his hand.
" he is the only choice I had, others didnt want to come."
Still, people looked disappointed. Probably because a satyr was chosen over a half blood for a quest.
" As for the second one, we will need a healer."
Will froze. He could feel the weight of everyone's gaze on him. His social anxiety spiked and ended up saying something very intelligent like, " oh.. uh....why?"
" this is going to be a dangerous quest, having a healer around will be beneficial." Chiron explained.
He gave him a desperate look, almost pleading Will to join.
" But what about the infirmary at camp?" He countered, but Chiron had an answer ready.
" I will look after the infirmary in you absence.The rest of the apollo cabin will help." He replied, " And I'm sure Kayla wont mind to be a temporary head counselor."
Will was stumped. He biggest concern was resolved but still, going on a quest, even when he wasn't really part of the prophecy felt nerve racking.
Plus, Will could only heal. Sure he had some archery powers, and he can....glow. very useful that one is.
But his pessimistic mind didnt help. It kept reminding him how could fail in this quest, do some thing stupid, and creating unlikely embarrassing scenarios in his head.
He will probably drag everyone down and regret joining in the first place.
It took a moment for Will to realise that everyone was still waiting for an answer.
He nervously picked at his nails. Chiron expression had gone from pleading to begging.
He sighed in defeat. " Fine, I will join."
The centaur visibly relaxed. Annabeth gave him a supporting smile.
Leo grinned at him, and Piper waved her fingers at him like, welcome new quest buddy.
Even Jason passed a smile his way.
The meeting ended and everyone moved out, leaving only Will and the other quest members in the room.
" Welcome to the party , Will." Leo said, thumping his back.
Gods, what had the Fates dragged him into.