Chapter Text
Cinematic
Chapter 05 (Extra Chapter; Frank/Leo): Dreams Do Come True
Leo raised his hand, fingers clenched in a tight fist, about to knock on the door. But with a sigh, he let his hand fall. He shook his head, tears forming at his eyes. He couldn't do it. With a shaky hand, he ran his fingers through his hair, taking in a trembling breath. No, he couldn't do it.
His heart sank, as he turned around to leave. He grasped at his shirt, feeling like a fucking coward. He was so close, but yet he couldn't dare to knock on Frank's door, fearing rejection. 'Shit,' he thought, closing his eyes when he felt tears threatening to fall. 'I'm a fucking pansy. Can't even knock on the door for a little talk. Fuck me.'
"Leo?" He jumped upon hearing his name. 'Frank...' "You've been standing out here for a while. Is everything alright?"
He turned around, a broad (and, noticeably fake) smile plastered on his face. "Yeah, I'm fine. I was just lost in thought."
"Uh huh." Frank didn't look convinced. He frowned, concerned for the little tinkerer. Something felt wrong. Leo's smile didn't reach his eyes and he looked like he was about to cry.
Leo bit his lip. "Nico said you wanted to talk to me."
"Yeah, come in." Frank winced at the rough tone of voice and added, "Don't worry, Leo. It's nothing bad. I just want to talk." He stepped aside to let Leon in and took a deep breath. 'Here goes nothing.'
Frank led him to a table and gestured for him to sit. Leo complied without a word and gulped when Frank sat in front of him. He was so close, but yet so far. He wanted to reach over and touch the Asian boy, but as soon as the though crossed his mind, he pushed it away. It could never happen anyways.
"So, you wanted to talk?" he tried his hardest to keep his voice steady, but failed miserably.
Frank heard Leo's trebling voice and wished that he could hug him tight, comforting him with his touch. He desperately wished that he could brush his little imp's tears away when he cried and kiss away his pains. Frank wished that he could be Leo's everything, but when did dreams ever come true anyways?
"Yeah," he replied with a nod, pushing away the impulse to walk over to Leo and pull him into a hug. "I heard about Annabeth breaking up with Percy and just wanted to know if he was alright." He cursed under his breath. 'Fuck, I'm a coward.'
Leo visibly relaxed. "Percy's fine. He took it very hard, but he's recovering."
"That's good."
They settled into an uncomfortable silence. Frank found himself staring at the tablecloth, while Leo fiddled with the fabric, trying to distract himself.
"Is that all you wanted to talk about?" Leo finally asked. He stood up, turning around to leave. "If it is, then I"m leaving."
"NO!" Frank grabbed Leo's wrist. "No. Don't go. Stay with ,e." He hated how desperate he sounded, but he couldn't stand the fact that Leo was leaving. That Leo was leaving him.
Leo felt his heart melt at what Frank had said. Don't go. Stay with me. He turned around and sat beside the Asian boy. "Frank?"
Startled, Frank released Leo's wrist. "Shit, Leo. I'm sorry."
Leo wanted to whine at the loss of contact, but refrained from doing so. "What's wrong, Frank? Are you okay?"
"Fuck," he hissed, holding his head in his hands. "I;m sorry that you have to this, Leo. I think you need to leave."
"Frank..." Leo held his hands shakily over Frank, wanting to desperately place them onto the Asian's shoulders. He quickly retracted them, but he didn't leave.
"I'm not leaving you, Frank. Something's wrong and I want to know what that is.
I'm not leaving you. Those words echoed in his head, hope blossoming that in chest. But, he quickly squashed the hope. Leo could never love him. He was just being a good friend.
"Nothing's wrong, Leo," he lied, looking up from his hands with an impassive face. "I just lost my composure for a moment there. I'm okay, honestly."
Leo shook his head, grabbing Frank's hands. He couldn't ignore his desire to hold Frank any longer. "Stop lying to yourself. You're not okay. I know you're not fine. Can you please tell me what's the matter?"
He tried to pulled his away, but Leo wouldn't let him go. Leo just held him tightly and pulled him into a hug. "It's okay, Frank. You can tell me."
"No. I can't." Frank wanted to pull away from Leo's hug, as well, but it felt so right being with the boy that he didn't want him to ever let go. "I can't tell you."
"And, why not? Why can't you tell me?"
Frank choked back a sob, tears brimming his eyes. "It would destroy everything we have. I don't want this to end."
"It can't be that bad," Leo whispered. "And, nothing can destroy what we have." He hugged Frank tighter, frowning when he felt the boy shaking in his arms.
"It is that bad," Frank said, regretfully pushing Leo away. "It would jeopardize what little we have. I don't want to lose you."
"But, why would you lose me?" Leo asked. "Please, I want to know."
Frank shook his head, looking away. "You would hate me."
"I would never hate you, Frank." He wanted to hold Frank again, but he was afraid that he would be pushed away again. He knew that Frank didn't like him. "You're the one that hates me."
"No. No, I could never hate you," Frank whispered, his voice shaking. "I could never hate you. I love you too much for that." He felt tears prick his eyes, as he finally said it. Closing his eyes, he braced himself for rejection and hoped that Leo wouldn't hate him, but the words of disgust didn't come.
Leo felt his heart being squeezed tightly, as a few tears escaped. He hugged frank close, smiling brightly. He couldn't believe it. 'Is this a dream?' Frank loved him. Frank returned his feelings. Frank loved him.
"Leo?" Frank asked uncertainly when Leo hugged him. Did Leo love him back?
I love you, too, Frank. Gods, I love you so much." Frank hugged him back, tucking the boy's head under his chin, stroking his hair gently. He couldn't believe it. Leo loved him back.
"Please tell me this isn't a dream. Oh gods, please tell me I'm not dreaming."
"Don't worry," Leo replied, grinning. "You're not dreaming." He gave Frank a chaste kiss on the lips and sighed happily.
Frank was in heaven. He kissed Leo back with all the passion he could muster and felt his heart soar. Frank broke the kiss and licked his lips. His little love tasted divine.
Leo blushed, still tasting Frank on his tongue, and smiled. Frank returned the smile, wrapping an arm around his love's waist. 'I guess dreams do come true, after all.'