Leo Valdez X Reader

Chapter 24 Leo

We all gathered around the entrance to the cavern, weapons drawn. 

(Y/n)s' breath bounced off the walls, and we were too alert to breathe. Harley was half hidden behind my leg. 

The look in his eyes told me he wanted to fight, but his shaking hand holding onto my trouser leg told me otherwise.

I hadn't heard the sound at first, but when I did, I knew I would never forget it. 

(Y/n) whipped out her sword as scraping calcium echoed off the floor. 

Then, it stopped. 

The air felt thick, like any sudden movement, and we'd all be gone. My heart was so loud in my ears that I almost didn't hear Liam.

"(Y/n)-"

Something white and quick as lightning shot in and out of the darkness, sending the statue man flying into the stonewall behind us. He crumpled to the ground, out cold, his head hanging from a piece of duct tape.

There was a rattling sound in the darkness as if someone was vigorously shaking a bottle of tic-tacs.

(Y/n) slowly turned her head, giving everyone a look.

I might have only been trapped with her for a few hours, but I knew that look.

I'd used it myself. 

It was the 'I'm about to do something stupid look.'

'No,' I mouthed.

She turned to each of us, silently mouthing instructions.

'Melog, go right,'

'Nico, left,'

'Leo, go with Nico. Fire.'

'Harley,' I clenched my eyes at the sight of his name. I felt (Y/n) looking at me, changing the plan. She made eye contact with him, 'On the mark, run to a wall.'

'And Will. When I say so, Liam is yours.'

She finished. Then she took one substantial deep breath and did something I didn't expect. She brought a step forward.

Nothing happened.

She took another and another until she was a few steps away from the darkness. This time, her foot hit a stray stone, which skittered across the floor. Everyone froze. A blur of white shot into the light.

"Now!"

We all scattered. The sound of pattering footsteps and voices finally made the beast show its form.

It had substantial white scales the size of shields running the length of its body. Its eyes were the colour of the liquid sky, and a red diamond-shaped scar sat between them. 

Razors lined a strong jaw and a split tongue, flitting in and out of its mouth. The basilisk-looking creature lunged. 

(Y/n) rolled to the right side, and as if by some silent connection, Melog was there, her sickles slashing the white armour. Her swings bounced off, and her blades didn't seem to do damage to the beast. Its tail flicked away her weapons, like brushing crumbs off a shirt. 

It advanced on her, its head high in the air, anticipating a strike.

"Ay!"

My head snapped toward Harley, the snake following my gaze, "Over here!"

My voice welled in my throat as the lightning-quick reptile shot across the cavern towards him, its tail flicking murderously. 

Its eyes were like milky blue crystals.