Chapter Text
The moment Annabeth and Percy fell into Tartarus was on repeat in Leo’s head.
If only he had done something, anything. Instead, he watched dumbfounded as the two leading teens plummeted to their certain doom.
No.
He couldn’t think like that. Positive thoughts, positive.
They would be ok, they would find the doors of death, they would defeat Gaea, and everyone would live happily ever after, just like a fairy tale.
Except it would be real, hopefully. Look at it, just a year or two ago, he would’ve thought Gaea was just some fairy tale.
Oh gods, how he wished she was just some fictitious story that parents read to their children as they fell to sleep.
Lost in his thoughts, Leo felt himself bump into something hard. Looking up slowly, he saw a brown aviator jacket, a black skull t-shirt, pale skin-
Wait. No. Did he just bump into-
“Aren't you going to say ‘sorry?’”
Nico di Angelo. Son of Hades, yeah that Hades. Leo’s face flushed in embarrassment, not for any other reason, no sirree.
“Oh yeah, ummm, sorry I guess?” He stuttered, why was he stuttering, he never stuttered! He was Leo the Non-Stutterer! (Nobody called him that, himself included, but that was beyond the point)
The raven haired boy rolled his eyes, those dark brown eyes that Leo could just get lost in.
Aghhhh, why was he thinking this? And why did he feel hot?
He turned his head and looked at his body, his flames weren’t on, so there was no reason.
“Looks like your face is sunburned. You need to practice proper skincare.” Nico’s solemn voice exuded mystery and coolness.
Was coolness even a word? Leo didn’t know.
Wait, sunburn, that’s why he felt hot.
“Y-yeah. I got sunburned. Thanks for, umm, asking.” He looked away and twiddled with his fingers.
The pale demigod shrugged, and Leo could swear he almost saw a hint of a smirk, “K, see you around.”
He mumbled something back as Nico seemed to melt into the shadows.
Leo’s heart skipped a beat, but not because the other was cute, and handsome, and oh so cool cool, and, well you get the point.
He knew this for a fact, because he did not like boys that way.
Right?