Things We Lost In The Fire (Sequel)

Return Of Leo Valdez

A screeching cry woke Lizzy from the gruesome nightmares.

"Leo's back! Leo's back!" Annabeth yelled excitedly, her blonde hair a mess while her grey eyes sparkled with delight.

She took Lizzy's hand and together they raced down to the pavilion--wearing nothing but their pajamas.

****

Annabeth hugged Leo as hard as she could, ignoring Percy's sounds of jealousy and burying her head into his chest. Piper and Hazel joined in, each of them crying with relief. Their tears soaked into his ratty shirt, old and worn and caked with dirt and grime.

"We thought you were never coming back," Piper whispered, overcome with joy of seeing him again. Hazel nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck, just like Jane had done before. 

The son of Hephaestus blinked back the wetness and ignored the lump in his throat, catching Lizzy's eye and giving her a quick, sad grin. She waved, tapped the left side of her head, and then placed her hand over her heart. 

Hi; I've been thinking about you; I still care what you feel. They'd basically made up their own personal sign language to communicate with, and they both still remembered it fluidly. 

Lizzy stomped her foot and pointed at Leo, then gestured to her Camp Half-Blood T-shirt. Are you staying at camp? He shrugged. 

"I thought you were gone forever! Dead!" Annabeth exclaimed, breathing in his scent of oil and smoke; he still had it after all this time. 

Leo chuckled, but the sound was different somehow. Slower, sadder, as if he had seen the most evil thing the world had to give. Which, in a way, he had.

"I'm back, now."

"For good, I hope." Chiron said from his spot at the edge of the pavilion. Leo nodded wearily. He looked as if he didn't even trust his mentor anymore. 

"Yes, I plan to stay for a good, long while."

****

Numb, that's all she felt at first. Nothing, like she was floating in a pond of cool water.

Then, a small spark spread its way through her body, warming her very insides.

A blurry, tanned face smiled above her. She could practically taste salsa and strawberry hard candy. Feel warm, strong hands trail over her face and neck.

"Wake, my sweet." A papery voice whispered. "You left the boy battered and broken. Now, that's not what we want, is it?"

A small whimper escaped her lips. 'I hurt him? If I hurt him, I must be a monster.' She thought.

Slowly, she opened her dark, forest green eyes to see the man above her.

****

I really liked writing this chapter, even though nothing really happens and Leo's all depressed....

I just liked writing about Lizzy and Leo's friendship. And their sign language; just the way they understand each other was an awesome stroke of inspiration. :)

And, just to clarify, Lizzy's one of the girls who sat with him and look care of him. Um, none of my pictures would work, but she looks like Rowan Blanchard. 

Comment, vote, and/or follow. 

SonOfDopey