Alone

6- Leo

The first thing Jason did when he took Leo out of the infirmary was to take Leo to Zeus' cabin.

That leads to both of them sitting on his bed, with a tense and uncomfortable air in the air.

It is obvious that Jason feels and has the need to ask why Leo did what he did, but the son of Hephaestus wouldn't want to answer. What is he supposed to tell him? That he had some kind of infatuation because his friends weren't paying attention to him and ignoring him? That he felt so lonely as a black sheep in the herd? That everyone around him perished or suffered because of him?

No. That's not possible. Leo knows he has to carry the problem alone.

Jason, in an attempt to overcome the discomfort of recent events, asks a question. "So...how are you? I mean, other than the obvious."

Leo swallows. He has to give an answer that will work, neither a 'good' nor a 'bad', keeping his facade almost destroyed at the same time.

"I'm... alive. You know, death can't take me. " He smiles impishly, intoning his 'normal Leo' tone that people think he's kind of annoying with, but keeps things nice.

Judging by the blond's expression, he's not buying it at all. His look is worried, as if he senses Leo will break into a thousand pieces if he says the wrong thing.

Then he pulls out a deck of Uno cards from under the bed.

The two boys begin to play in silence. It's not as awkward as before, but Leo doesn't have to talk about his problems like he thought he would be forced to.

Or well, that is before Jason repeats the damn question.

"Why, Leo?"

The question echoes in the Latino's head for a few seconds. He throws a red plus two into the deck, as if initiating a strong conversation (A/N: Man, me using Uno's cards as allegory? I get that from listening to 'I'm So Sorry' by Imagine Dragons at 12:30 at night, heh).

"I... I was just lonely, okay? I couldn't help but feel left out and-"

Jason interrupts him, and pulls a green plus two. "You felt left out? Why didn't you tell anyone, Leo?"

Leo looks away, but not before grabbing the four cards he ate. Someone must be chopping onions nearby, because his eyes fill with tears without him wanting them to.

"Look, I... I thought that would only drive them further away from me. I mean, I'm the seventh wheel. The ghost and all that crap."

The son of Jupiter's eyes grow even sadder, and he rests a hand on Leo's shoulder.

"You know that if you want to find love, there are a lot more people than just the six of us, right?"Leo doesn't answer for a few seconds, wiping away his tears.

"But it's not just that, Jase. I feel like I don't belong to anyone, anywhere. I-"

The blond shushes Leo, hugging him tight against his chest. The thinner boy just cries into his friend's chest.

Jason can't help but be filled with melancholy. He's sure that, where those tears come from, there's so much more. But he can't press him to talk. That wouldn't help.

So he merely comforts the boy in his arms, allowing him the moment of weakness.

When he calms down, they decide to end Uno's game. Leo ends up winning by a vast difference of zero cards to six (to this day it is not known if Jason let him win or Leo was able to do anything to turn the situation around).

Afterwards, they spend the rest of the day at Zeus' cabin, playing other board games. Both boys are smiling, forgetting all the problems past and to come.

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A/N: Maybe it's lazy, but there's not much inspiration. Well, maybe all my Spotify likes with a mix of trippy and melancholic songs with super epic themes. For example: I'm listening 'Happier' by Marshmello and Bastille, but a few moments ago I was listening to 'Unstoppable' by The Score.