😟

If you’ve been a part of the Percy Jackson fandom for long, or even observed it from the outside, you’re probably aware that the shipping side of the fandom gets pretty intense and opinionated. Some ships are reasonable, but many are not, especially considering the context of the books. Whether it is a fan favorite like Percy and Annabeth, or an obscure ship with no basis like Thalia and Grover, each of these ships generally appears to have the fan base due to it when looking at canon content and existing–or even hypothesized–chemistry. All except one. One of the least popular ships I am aware of in the Percy Jackson and the Olympians fandom is that of Leo and Piper, commonly known as “Liper”. Despite their frequent and close interactions throughout both the Heroes of Olympus and Trials of Apollo series, they are overwhelmingly seen only as friends, or siblings. When thinking about their relationship and bringing it to a real-world line of thought, questions are raised about whether Leo and Piper’s relationship is truly as platonic as the fandom, and even the author himself, chooses to see it. 

Shall we get into it? Well, let’s start from the source. As described within Riordan’s multiple series, Leo and Piper have one of the closest friendships explored. Certainly, the author builds them as the closest platonic male-female relationship. Their unique origins as the only known unrelated half-bloods to become friends before knowing the truth about themselves adds even more meaning to this. Throughout the quest, it becomes clear that Leo is closest to Piper out of all of the others, and he looks at her differently than any other girl he’s shown interacting with. Piper notices and thinks about Leo in times that others do not and shows him affection that makes the author’s efforts to show a platonic relationship feel contrived. When you look at the culmination of their friendship in Trials of Apollo, all these little things start to add up to look like something deeper.

From the beginning, it is clear that Leo and Piper were friends before Jason ever came into the picture. In Jason’s first hour after waking up on the Wilderness School bus, and even later, it is Leo who is filling him in on who Piper really is: The fact she stole a car and how she did it (TLH pg. 5), she likes to fight her own battles (TLH pg. 11), and that her dad is Tristan Mclean (TLH pg. 193). When Leo meets almost any other female character, his interest in them is sparked only by their beauty or some surface aspect of their personality. Oftentimes, this personality that he is attracted to is harsh and entirely uninterested in him, which is indicative of a deeper insecurity in Leo rather than a true affection. For example, Leo states he is in love with Khione, the ice princess, after she looks at him without any friendliness (TLH pg. 208). When he meets Calypso, Leo becomes more interested in her because of her willingness to get her hands dirty, showing she wasn’t as shallow as other girls he’d met (HoH pg. 375). But such a surface trait is not a basis for true feelings, and her behavior towards him as time goes on remains primarily harsh, remaining consistent with Leo’s type: women who are–in his mind–out of his league, and unkind, or even abusive to him. This is a realistic and consistent portrayal of Leo by Riordan, which he continues to show in the Trials of Apollo. In Hazel’s case, Leo refers to her appearance as “first-rate craftsmanship” (BoO pg. 103). 

These descriptions contrast to when Leo thinks of Piper. He’s not so concerned with how she looks, and is close to her and feels comfortable around her because they’re friends beyond the surface level that Leo experiences towards most other female characters. He observes in one scene how Piper has grown, not just in a physical sense, but in her presence (TLH pg. 485). In an even more impactful line in a later book, Leo mentions that he wishes Piper were there because her presence made him feel calm, which he needed after a night of bad dreams (HoH pg. 67). On their first adventure, Leo thinks after comforting Piper about her father that he felt like he was “relaxing comfortably with a friend” (TLH pg. 487). Later on in the books, Leo has particular concern over never seeing Piper again, and later misleads her into believing she had the cure because he knows its the only way he’ll be able to follow through with his plan to sacrifice himself (BoO pg. 330, pg. 349-350). Though all this could be interpreted merely as close, platonic feelings Leo has for a friend, him flirting with Piper on two occasions does make this seem unlikely (TLH pg. 372, HoH pg. 322). Considering this all together, it is clear that even in the context of friendship, Leo cares deeply for Piper in a way that is unique from any other character. If that was the end of the story, then I wouldn’t have much to say. Yet from the beginning, Piper’s friendship with Leo is as deep as his with her, even if she seems less aware of the fact herself. 

On the surface, Piper’s interactions with Leo seem very platonic and friendly–until you start to add it all up and compare her behavior towards him to other characters. Piper is often the first to notice or react to Leo when others don’t. When he appears on his metal dragon for the first time, Piper is the first to call out to him, and while the campers around her are calling Festus dangerous, Piper calls him beautiful (TLH pg. 186-187). Considering the importance of Festus to Leo, that is significant. Later, when nearly every member of the seven is doubtful of Leo, Piper never is, even in spite of Jason’s injury (MoA pg. 60). There are many other instances where Piper notices Leo: his appearance, his physical state, or his emotions. In the Lost Hero, Piper notices that Leo had been up all night and convinces him to go to sleep (TLH pg. 197). Later on, Piper notices Leo’s sour mood and its effect on Festus, when Jason is oblivious (TLH pg. 230). In the last book, Leo observes that “Piper was a little too good at knowing when he was lying” (BoO pg. 86). In other words, Piper pays attention to him. She knows him. These are only a few examples out of many that can be found in the books. 

But not only is she mentally close to Leo, giving him careful attention, Piper is physically close to Leo on many occasions. Although the gesture is mentioned on numerous occasions to be “sisterly”, the number of times that Piper kisses Leo on the cheek or embraces him, and the feelings portrayed in each instance, does not feel comparable to the singular time that Hazel does the same to Leo. When Leo returns with Hazel and Frank from their visit with the ichthyocentaurs, in addition to her insane reaction jumping into the water, Piper kisses Leo on the cheek. In this sequence, she does not pay much attention to Frank and Hazel, both of whom are her friends who have returned from the same danger. This makes the interaction feel quite romantic in nature (MoA pg. 306). When Leo returns from Calypso’s island, Piper nearly knocks him out of his chair in an embrace, and later patted his arm in a reassuring gesture that he was really with them (HoH pg. 443, 445). Later, when Leo activates the Archimedes sphere that is connected to the Argo II to control the grabber arm connected to the ship, Piper is standing beside him at the monitor, and kisses him on the cheek while congratulating him (BoO pg. 330). When she does this, Jason, her boyfriend, is flying around to yell guidance for Leo’s movement of the grabber arm. Though it is one thing to kiss a friend in a dangerous and adrenaline inducing situation, it’s curious to call it platonic in such a comparatively safe and calm environment. In Mark of Athena, there’s a moment where Piper observes Percy give Annabeth a kiss on the cheek, and Piper states that “they were so easy together, it made her heart ache” (pg. 117). But earlier on in the same book, Piper had a similar moment with Leo, which she does not acknowledge (pg. 306). Keeping in mind that Riordan is from a different generation, some of this behavior could be more expected than in current times, but the consistency of it is too much for this to explain. 

Even when kissing isn’t involved, Piper reacts with incredible emotion whenever Leo is in a dangerous situation. In The Lost Hero, Piper screams when she sees Leo enveloped in fire for the first time (TLH pg. 267). Later on, she is devastated when Leo is banished to Calypso’s island by Khione, and unable to bear the thought of not seeing him again (HoH pg. 326, 332). In the midst of these emotions, Piper is able to awaken Festus with her voice (HoH pg. 333). When he dies, Piper reacts very strongly and refuses to believe he’s truly dead (BoO pg. 473, 493, 495). While these are all understandable reactions to a friend being in danger, Piper’s reactions are often emphasized in the absence of Leo’s other friends' reactions. Taken together, the amount of attention Piper pays Leo and the emotion she has for him throughout the series makes it clear that she cares for him an incredible amount, perhaps more than should be expected from platonic friends. 

Piper and Leo’s relationship grows and strengthens throughout the Heroes of Olympus series, but because of the tight timeline towards the end of the story, the true culmination of their friendship can only be seen in their reunion and thoughts of each other throughout the Trials of Apollo. In The Dark Prophecy, the first time Leo mentions Piper is in a particular conversation with Apollo. In this exchange, Leo comments that he would like the recipe of their tofu enchiladas to give to Piper. Then, just after this, Apollo questions how Leo can be so calm when Apollo and Calypso, Leo’s girlfriend, are about to go on a dangerous quest. Leo continues to look at his tofu, which he has just associated with Piper (TDP pg. 93-94). When Piper first encounters Meg and Apollo, Apollo tells her of their adventures and mentions their encounter with Leo, Piper is aggressively ecstatic to hear that he’s alive and demands to hear everything about him (TBM pg. 118). This is an understandable reaction to hearing a friend is really alive, but in comparison only a very few, brief lines are given to Jason’s reaction (TBM pg. 205). Then, in the events of the novel, Jason tragically dies at the hand of Caligula. Piper and Leo reunite, what should have been a joyous moment overshadowed by the reality of Jason’s death (TBM pg. 414). When Leo questions the group about Jason, Piper is said to have “[broken] down. She fell against Leo and sobbed the story until he, thunderstruck, red-eyed, hugged her back and buried his face in her neck” (TBM pg. 415). This interaction, though driven by grief, is nothing short of intimate. The closeness they show as they seek consolation from each other makes it clear the time apart and distance from each other has not impacted the depth of their feelings for each other–be those platonic, or otherwise. 

This same scene leads into the last canonical interactions between Leo and Piper. Despite promising Calypso that he would be able to travel swiftly and would be back before long–when she was clearly displeased at the prospect of him leaving at all–(TDP pg. 391), Leo commits fully to escorting Piper, Tristan Mclean, Coach Hedge, and Mellie back to Oklahoma with his dragon (TBM pg. 416). This is an excursion that would add at least a week to his journey, up to as many as three weeks. It would not be amiss to add that, while the adults will be in the yellow Pinto car with the baby, the chances are not low that in this journey, Piper will be flying on the back of Festus with Leo. That is a significant amount of time to spend in close proximity to a teenager of the opposite gender, and expect feelings to still be platonic, assuming they were before they left. When Piper realizes how far away Leo will be settled from her, her “smile was as faint as fog” (TBM pg. 417). Although she is trying to show happiness for her friend, it is clear that the reality of being separated is not one she is ready to accept. Nor should she be; Leo is a close friend who has just returned from the dead at the same time as their mutual friend has fallen, the only friend she has left who’s been with her since the beginning. Finally, Apollo and Meg leave, and Apollo reflects as he looks back that “Piper and Leo, Coach and Mellie” (TBM pg. 417) were preparing for their journey. The imagery, pairing the young couple with the old, along with the emotions and attachment depicted throughout this whole sequence, make it feel unreal how we see Leo and Piper in the end of the series. Leo awaits the return of Calypso–who he’s increasingly unsure of–from band camp, and Piper is seen dating a mortal girl she cannot have known for longer than a few months. 

These narrative decisions for the end of Leo and Piper’s friendship arc, and their own respective romance arcs, are so concerning, and–in Piper’s case–unrealistic, that it is important to take a look at the bigger picture and to truly consider what it means for each character and what the author intends behind these choices. Looking at the bigger context of the narrative in the books and considering what is shown versus what is told throughout the stories brings into question what is actually being portrayed through Leo and Piper. To understand the contrast between Leo and Piper’s relationship, and the romantic relationships depicted by Riordan, it is important to explore what a healthy relationship looks like in real life. On a more concerning note, looking at these things brings into better light a stark disparity between the amount of interactions Leo and Piper have and the amount of support their ship receives, in contrast to almost every other Percy Jackson ship and similar relationships in other fandoms.

When writing a story, what matters more than what is said is what is shown, especially concerning relationships and dynamics.  Within Riordan’s series, he makes significant narrative decisions that show quite plainly Leo and Piper’s connection–without ever acknowledging it. When Hera, goddess of marriage, is imprisoned, it is Leo and Piper who must open it together. Later, when Piper is reflecting on the history of the snake song she is singing, it is said that the man who sung it in the legend had to sacrifice his wife for the power. It is Leo who is sacrificed. Additionally, the comparison between Leo and Piper and Beckendorf and Silena is too impactful not to mention. When Leo and Piper first arrive at camp, they both immediately feel the loss of the former cabin counselors when they join their cabins, and have to go through the journey of overcoming that history, be that one of heroism or notoriety. Considering the background, but sweet relationship between Silena and Beckendorf, Leo and Piper stepping up to fill those shoes together feels like the natural symbolic conclusion to the love story that couldn’t be finished. If the author had not included several lines to enforce the nature of their dynamic such as, “Are you kidding? You’re like the annoying little brother I never had. Of course I’ll stick up for you,” (It should be noted that Leo and Piper are only one month apart in age), and “Well, sisterly pecks on the cheek from Piper, but that didn’t count,” then their relationship and dynamic would absolutely come off as romantic. Even with those author signals, the lack of clear acknowledgment of the potential by Leo or Piper feels unnatural and out of character because the author has so clearly outlined what should naturally lead into a romantic relationship.  In fact, it could be said that if Leo and Piper were eventually meant to end up together, then Riordan is far more of a literary genius than I’ve ever given him credit for. But as it stands, the canon seems set in the relationships Riordan has chosen to establish within Trials of Apollo. 

The romantic relationships chosen by the author to depict and spend time within his series are often problematic, and those problems are often not addressed, or addressed incorrectly. Leo’s relationship with Calypso is toxic and even abusive. Piper’s relationship with Shel is spontaneous, out of character, and has no basis. Even her relationship with Jason felt stiff and uncertain for the majority of the time. Though this brought conflict and realism to the story, it brings questions about what direction should have been taken when contrasted with Leo and Piper’s easy dynamic and trust in each other. To answer this more clearly, we must understand what a true foundation for a healthy, loving relationship looks like. It can be agreed that those who are in love will be more patient with each other, kind, humble, want the best for the other, slow to get mad, quick to forgive, protective, trusting, and persevering. Such a state doesn’t just appear. Love doesn’t come with the butterflies in the stomach when you meet someone, but when you turn around and realize that they’ve been with you through everything and never left your side. That’s love. In this context, two scenes come to mind. When Piper’s father has just been recovered and she is worried and fearful about him, Leo is there to comfort and support her (TLH pg. 487). As was previously described, when Leo succeeds at making his long labored project work, Piper is there beside him, congratulating him and encouraging him, in addition to the kiss (BoO pg. 330). Then, finally, they comfort each other over Jason’s death in a way that no one else could have (TBM pg. 415). This is not to say Leo and Piper always show love to each other, but have the emotion and background that easily could become that. 

Throughout the book and the fandom, the consensus on Leo and Piper’s relationship is that they have a purely platonic, sibling dynamic. But if the facts are truly faced, that is simply an inaccurate description. Consider a friend you have of the opposite gender; can you imagine interacting with them the same way Piper and Leo interact? If so, how would your significant other feel about it, or vice versa if you were the one watching? Unless you are accepting of the idea of your partner being with someone else, then it is probable that the idea is uncomfortable at best. To give a better idea of true platonic friendships in Percy Jackson, consider Thalia and Percy or Reyna and Nico. These dynamics are what an actual platonic, “sibling” dynamic looks like. In fact, I applaud the author for encompassing this so well in these cases. But since it can be done, it calls into question what went awry when writing Leo and Piper. What if they were actually siblings? Or what if Leo was much younger than Piper and Jason? Or Piper older? These are just a few concepts that could have aided in creating the dynamic the author seemed to intend without this confusing and misleading portrayal of a simple, friendly relationship. This is not to say that Leo and Piper’s interactions are equivalent to teens in an active relationship, but as clearly having feelings for each other, albeit unacknowledged, and having a strong basis for their friendship to evolve into a romantic relationship as strong and likely to last as Percy and Annabeth themselves. 

Keeping all this in mind, it would be expected that fictional characters with such a strong foundation for a canonical relationship to evolve would have a strong base of fans who ship them. This is, insanely, not the case. Out of the 51,552 works of fanfiction on AO3 as of this writing, only 175 are tagged with Piper Mclean/Leo Valdez, which makes up 0.34% of the total number of fics. This does not account for the times that they are tagged in larger fics where they are not truly the relationship being depicted. To contrast, there are 1,021 fics tagged with Jason Grace/Leo Valdez, which makes up 2% of the total number of fics. This, somehow, people ship significantly more even though the canon basis for Jason and Leo’s relationship is mainly feeling secondary to and jealous of each other, with very few instances showing this supposed friendship. As far as content, there are only a handful of pieces by artists who’ve been able to get their work out for the very few existing shippers of Leo and Piper. To understand how unusual this is, we’re going to go for a moment to the Harry Potter fandom. Out of 492,200 total number of fics, Hermione and Harry, a similar close, platonic friendship, are tagged as a ship in 8,159 fics, which is 1.7%. This is a much larger percentage, though their relationship is not shown to be as close or intimate as Leo and Piper’s*. Going to yet another fandom, Rex and Ahsoka–another platonic friendship closer to a “coworker” dynamic–from Star Wars: The Clone Wars are tagged as a ship in 1,518 out of 53,309 fics for this media type, which is 2.8%. Out of ALL Star Wars media types, Rex and Ahsoka are shipped 0.7% of the time, which is still higher than Leo and Piper, despite having many more challenges and moral quandaries about their relationship than them. With these comparisons, the numbers become nothing short of concerning. 

*I have not read Harry Potter, so it is merely an assumption based on what I’ve seen of Harry and Hermione. Maybe they have a similarly close friendship.

There are many possibilities why a fandom would have such low numbers for a ship in comparison to other fandoms, but a lot of it boils down to the author and his intentions. Although there is clearly a strong, healthy foundation for a romantic relationship through the dynamic Riordan shows and the larger narrative images, he does not name it as such. With a younger audience of fans, they do not or cannot look deeper than what is written, and overwhelmingly take the surface dynamic signaled as the ultimate truth. On a more concerning note, this perception follows to accept multiple toxic, dangerous relationships Riordan writes into his novels without clearly painting them as such, or warning young readers from believing in these poor examples. While this could be passed off as a simple error and misunderstanding of how to write platonic male/female friendships, the fact that he succeeds in other places makes this unlikely.

To conclude, when looking at the canon basis for Leo and Piper and the conclusion of their relationship into the Trials of Apollo series, it is clear that their dynamic was into the narrative in a way that can be seen as near-romantic despite being stated to be that of merely friends, and the effect of these signaled dynamics has skewed the impressions of the fandom to be overwhelmingly against the ship. It must be noted that the shipping sides of fandom can get crazy and out of the blue. Not liking a ship, even if it does have a strong basis or is canon, is entirely fair and understandable. However, it is expected that the number of shippers will reflect the basis for a ship. Characters who have close, intimate moments with each other, even if they don’t have a canon relationship, often have this chemistry and potential played up in the fandom. This is far from the case for Leo and Piper.