DEJA VU || Leo Valdez

fifteen

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She got on the dragon.

For Piper, flying on the dragon was the most amazing experience ever.

Brooke though, had her eyes closed too tightly to thoroughly rate the experience if she had to though it would definitely be AHHHH/10, especially during the unnecessary barrel roll Festus decided to do to spite her.

Leo totally had to scold him a few times. "This is not how you get her to warm up to you."

Speaking of warming up.

Up high, the air was freezing cold; but the dragon's metal hide generated so much heat, it was like they were flying in a protective bubble. Talk about seat warmers! And the grooves in the dragon's back were designed like high-tech saddles, so they weren't uncomfortable at all. Leo showed them how to hook their feet in the chinks of the armor, like in stirrups, and use the leather safety harnesses cleverly concealed under the exterior plating. They sat single file: Leo in front, then Brooke, then Piper, then Jason, and Piper was very aware of Jason right behind her. She wished he would hold on to her, maybe wrap his arms around her waist; but sadly, he didn't.

Leo, however, was hoping Brooke would let up a little. She was holding so tight he wasn't sure if his lack of breath was from the altitude or her grip.

"Brooke." He addresses. "I kinda need to breathe."

"And I kinda need to live, so tell your craz—" She's cut off by Festus tilting scaring her half to death and making her hold on tighter. "Okay. Wait, I'm sorry."

She just apologized to a dragon, a metal one at that. If she wasn't so scared for her life, she would've felt stupid.

Festus calmed down and let Leo take over.

Leo used the reins to steer the dragon into the sky like he'd been doing it all his life. The metal wings worked perfectly, and soon the coast of Long Island was just a hazy line behind them. They shot over Connecticut and climbed into the gray winter clouds.

Once Brooke got the courage to loosen her grip and open her eyes, she was met with a breathtaking view.

The clouds looked so soft and fluffy that she couldn't help but reach out to touch one.

Leo grinned back at them, mostly Brooke. "Cool, right?"

As reluctant as she was to get on the dragon, Brooke had to admit the view was totally worth it.

"It's beautiful." She says still taking in the sight, not noticing Leo gazing at her.

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"What if we get spotted?" Piper asked.

"The Mist," Jason said. "It keeps mortals from seeing magic things. If they spot us, they'll probably mistake us for a small plane or something."

Piper glanced over her shoulder. "You sure about that?"

"No," he admitted. Then Piper saw he was clutching a photo in his hand—a picture of a girl with dark hair.

She gave Jason a quizzical look, but he blushed and put the photo in his pocket. "We're making good time. Probably get there by tonight."

Piper wondered who the girl in the picture was, but she didn't want to ask; and if Jason didn't volunteer the information, that wasn't a good sign. Had he remembered something about his life before? Was that a photo of his real girlfriend?