Work Text:
he hears their anguished cries and maybe that is what makes it all the more harder. he can feel himself slowly slipping away. his vision blurs and something dribbles down his chin. he brings his hand to it and it comes back red.
leo knew it was stupid, sacrificing himself like that. but they had all looked so sad at the prospect of losing one another. they wouldn't be able to function and so in reality, he had made the decision easier for them.
another cry. he thinks its piper. she kneels over his body and shakes him and he looks at her with sad brown eyes and she cries harder. maybe she sees the fire that once burned finally extinguished.
come on, hold on, she says, but he can already see his mother. her arms are stretched wide and then she's crying.
come, my boy, she says and leo walks to her, and the smell of a mechanic shop mixed with perfume engulfs him and he finally feels at home because this is where he belongs.
and then she lets go and looks at him. says that he knows what he must do.
and then suddenly he's in the shop. the flames eating everything up. he cries and tries to run into the fire because his mother is in there but there is nothing left to run to. he cries and sobs and heaves because he never got to say goodbye.
goodbye, he says. he bursts into a coughing fit and blood spurts from his mouth. they clutch onto him harder, as if they could snatch him away from the icy jaws of death. he welcomes it though and so leo valdez breathes for the last time and collapses into the arms of his mother.