Learning to Trust (A Leo Valdez Love Story)

Chapter 35

LEO

    Leo couldn't stop thinking of Kyra; which was really a problem when he was in charge of building a massive warship and overseeing the supplies being moved into the bunker. 

    "Hey, Leo! Where do you want the cannons to go while we build the ship's skeleton?" Nyssa shouted. 

    "Umm," Leo shook his head. "Focus," he reprimanded himself quietly.

    "What?" Nyssa shouted back. 

    "Nothing. Just put them with the rest of the weapons for now. I'll deal with it later." 

    Nyssa gave him a look as she walked over to where he was standing. "I think your mind is somewhere else," she spoke in a sing-songy voice, causing Leo to cringe. 

    "Nyssa we've been over this. You can't sing: save that for the Apollo kids. And I don't know what you're talking about, I've never been more present than I am now."

    Nyssa crossed her arms, looking more serious than before. "Really?" she questioned with a raised brow. "You're telling me that you're not thinking about -"

    "Kyra!" Nyssa was cut off as Harley ran past the duo toward the entrance to Bunker 9. 

    Leo looked over quickly, causing Nyssa to smirk at him. Dam it.

    "Hey Harley," Kyra spoke, her voice soft and light as she gave Harley and his other siblings who had gone to greet her a smile, she was holding a basket of some sort. The Hephaestus cabin loved Kyra. Leo could see why. She was sweet and didn't treat them like lowly mechanics as some of the other cabins tended to do sometimes. Plus bringing them food helped. 

    Leo watched as Harley bounced on his toes in front of Kyra. That kid was a hugger and Leo could tell that he really wanted to give Kyra a hug right now but was doing everything he could to restrain himself. Harley had been really careful around Kyra after their discussion at dinner the other night. Harley told Leo that he never wanted to scare Kyra again. 

    "What'd you bring?" he questioned quickly causing Leo to chuckle at the kid's forwardness. Kyra looked up to Leo, giving him a warm smile that had Leo double-checking that he hadn't lit himself on fire. 

    "Whipped," Nyssa whispered to him as she walked over to Harley and Kyra. 

    "Shut up," Leo mumbled, blushing before following. 

    "You guys have been in here all day, I thought you could use a snack," she spoke, holding out the basket which Leo noticed was filled with sandwiches, all individually wrapped. 

    "Sandwiches!" Harley shouted excitedly. 

    "Thanks, Kyra," Nyssa spoke affectionately. "You didn't have to do that." 

    Leo watched as Kyra's smile dropped just slightly. It was subtle, something you wouldn't notice unless you were really looking. Leo was only slightly embarrassed to admit he was really looking at her. 

    "But we're glad you did," he added quickly, walking over to the trio. "We're starving," he finished, Harley nodded quickly as Kyra handed him the basket. 

    Harley was about to run off before Leo stopped him, grabbing a sandwich from the basket. "Ah, what do you say?" Leo questioned. 

    "Thank you, Kyra," he spoke before quickly running off with the rest of the sandwiches. Leo watched as he ran around to his siblings and offered them sandwiches which they gladly took. 

    "You couldn't have grabbed me one?" Nyssa grumbled. "Harley, wait up!" she yelled, giving Leo a wink as she left him and Kyra alone. 

    Leo looked at Kyra, taking in how much healthier she looked. Even after being at Camp Halfblood for a few weeks, she had already gained some more color in her pale skin, her cheeks weren't so hollow anymore and she looked happier: a lot happier. Her long auburn hair shone even in the dim lighting of Bunker 9 and her silver eyes sparkled as she looked at him.