𝕱𝖗𝖎𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖑𝖞 𝖋𝖎𝖗𝖊 - a Leo Valdez slowburn

Chapter four

Chapter four. 

[Elsa came back for a second] 

"When everyone is special, 

special becomes the new norm."

And so Leah's days went. 

In and out, the only thing she truly focused on was teaching Ismeju English, and to say he was a quick learner would be a grave understatement. 

Hello Smith, how are you today? He asked when she arrived at his stable. Stable was a strong word, actually; it was more like a small apartment than anything. Weapons and books littered the floor, and a bed was pushed into one corner. 

Leah smiled at him. "I'm good, Meju, how are you today?" Good enough, he replied. "Now today we're going to be doing something different today: you can fight, right?" He blinked, then nodded. Why is that necessary information?

Leah clapped. "Because we are going to be sparring today," she explained. Seeing the confusion in the dragon's eyes, she said, "sparring is play-fighting. Take it seriously, but don't seriously harm me, alright?" I shall try, Ismeju said. Leah nodded contently. "That's enough for me." 

« »

"Well you're beaten up," Lin said as they eyed Leah tend to her wounds. 

"Won't seriously harm me my ass," she muttered angrily. She turned to Lin. "He almost tore my arm off!" Lin shrugged. "Not fatal," they commented off-handedly. Leah rolled her eyes. "Of course you wouldn't think that's seriously harming someone." Lin raised an eyebrow. "I said it's not fatal, not that it's not serious," they countered, getting up from the chair they were in. "You need a doctor? I could help." 

Leah shook her head. "Nah, I have ambrosia - he only pulled on it a bit, to be honest. Just a little annoyed right now." Lin tilted their head, turning from Leah. "Well, if you need any help, just call me." They pointed at the door. "I'm gonna go to the botanic gardens with Sadie." Leah smiled knowingly. "Sadie's cool, you two have fun," she said. "I'll be -" she hissed when she put disinfectant on a claw slash on her neck - "right here if you need me." Lin laughed. "Between the two of us, I don't think I'll be the one needing help." Leah narrowed her eyes. "Ha ha. Very funny, lint maker, just you wait and see until you need my help." Lin raised an eyebrow as Sadie came down the stairs, grinning at them. 

"I think I'll be just fine, Leah, don't worry about me." They waved at her, going out of the door. "I'll see you." Leah waved weakly back, her stomach tightening at the pain it caused. "Yeah," she reciprocated, "I'll see you."

« »

When Lin looked up at the sky, they were met by a snowflake in their eye. 

If Sadie hadn't been so baffled by snow in May, she would've laughed at Lin as they cursed like a sailor. 

"It's snowing," Sadie stated, incredibly confused. Lin rubbed their eyes, still muttering. "Yeah, it is," they replied angrily. "Why is it snowing?" "It doesn't snow in Brooklyn this time of year," Sadie muttered worriedly. "You think it's a god or something?" 

"Oh it most certainly is one," a voice said from behind them. 

A young woman stood where they had just walked from, a few inches taller than Lin. Their black hair fell in cascades down their back, and their eyes shone an icy cold. Lin tilted their head in confusion. "And you are?" they asked. 

The woman scoffed. "The disrespect that I get these days," she muttered, then twirled around. "I'm Khione, of course! And you are Leah's friends, correct?" Sadie raised an eyebrow. "You're Greek," she stated. The goddess laughed. "You're not?" she joked. She blinked, seeing the serious expressions on both Lin's and Sadie's face.