𝐖𝐈𝐍𝐍𝐄𝐑 | ʟᴇᴏ ᴠᴀʟᴅᴇᴢ ¹

𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐑𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍

LAVINIA'S EYELIDS FLUTTERED OPEN, her vision blurry and unfocused. A dull pain radiated from her back, and she groaned softly, trying to remember what had happened. As her senses slowly returned, she realized she was lying on the ground, with Leo's anxious face hovering above her.

"Lavinia! You're awake!" Leo exclaimed, his voice a mix of relief and excitement. He gently helped her sit up, his hands trembling slightly. "I was so worried! You fell and your wings—oh god, I thought I'd lost you."

Lavinia blinked, trying to make sense of his words. "Leo, what—"

"You fell off Festus," Leo interrupted, his words coming out in a rush. "I tried to catch you, I really did, but you were falling too fast and your wings—they weren't working. I thought I could reach you, but I couldn't, and you hit the ground and then you were unconscious and—"

"Leo," Lavinia whispered, placing a hand on his arm to steady him. "I'm okay. I'm here."

Leo took a deep breath, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and relief. "I just... I don't know what I would have done if anything happened to you. You're so important to me, Vinnie. More than I ever realized."

Lavinia's heart skipped a beat at the use of the playful nickname. Him calling her that should have made her angry—it was a name only her family could call her. But, oddly enough, she didn't mind hearing it come out of Leo's mouth. She could see the raw emotion in his eyes, the sincerity in his voice.

"I mean, you're amazing," Leo continued, his words tumbling over each other. "You're strong, and brave, and you always know what to do. And you're so determined and fierce. But you're also kind, and you care about everyone. I know I joke around a lot, but I really, really like you, Lavinia. And seeing you hurt, it scared me more than anything."

Lavinia felt a warmth spread through her chest, despite the lingering pain. She reached out, cupping his cheek with her hand. "Leo, I... I had no idea."

"And I can't find Jason and Piper!" Leo blurted out, his voice cracking. "I've been looking everywhere for them, but they're just... gone. And then seeing you like that, it made me realize how much I care about you. I can't lose you too, Vinnie."

Lavinia's mind spun with the weight of his words and the absence of their friends. "Jason and Piper are missing?"

"Yeah," Leo said, his voice filled with frustration and worry. "I've been trying to fix Festus, but everything's a mess. And all I could think about was you falling, and how I couldn't reach you, and how much I need you in my life. You're not just another demigod to me, Lavinia. You're... you're everything."

A tear slipped down Lavinia's cheek, and she smiled through the pain. "Thank you, Leo. For everything."

Leo wrapped his arms around her, holding her gently. "I'm just glad you're okay. I don't ever want to lose you."

As they held each other, Lavinia realized that even in the midst of chaos and danger, there were moments of clarity and connection that made everything worth it. And in that moment, she knew she had found something truly special with Leo.

"Leo, I appreciate the sentiment, but now might not be the best time for romantic confessions," she teased lightly, trying to ease the tension of their situation.

Leo blushed, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. "Right, sorry. I just... I'm really glad you're okay," he admitted, his gaze flickering with relief as he checked her injuries again.

Lavinia smiled, grateful for his concern. "Thanks, Leo. I'm glad we made it out of that fall in one piece," she replied, a note of sincerity in her voice.

Just then, they heard Jason's voice calling out for them in the distance.

Lavinia's eyes widened with concern, and she started to push herself up despite her injuries. "We need to help them," she insisted, determination shining in her eyes.

Leo caught her arm gently, stopping her. "Hold on, Lavinia. You're hurt, and it might not be safe to rush into things," he cautioned, his protective instincts taking over.

"I've faced worse than this," Lavinia argued, her eyes flickering with defiance.

"I know, and you're one of the bravest people I know," Leo acknowledged, admiration coloring his words. "But right now, you need to take care of yourself. I'll go check it out and come back for you, okay?"

Lavinia hesitated, torn between her loyalty to their friends and Leo's concern for her well-being. Finally, she nodded reluctantly. "Fine, but be careful, Leo," she urged, her voice laced with worry.

"I will," Leo promised, squeezing her hand reassuringly before heading off to find Jason and Piper, leaving Lavinia to rest and tend to her injuries in the relative safety of the abandoned warehouse.

Lavinia remained still, her breaths coming in shallow gasps as she waited for Leo's footsteps to fade into the distance. Every muscle in her body tensed with the effort of keeping perfectly still, her gaze fixed on the ground as she listened intently.

When she was finally sure that Leo was far enough away, she carefully shifted her weight, wincing at the pain that shot through her injured leg. With gritted teeth, she pushed herself up, using the nearby wall for support as she rose to her feet. Despite the throbbing ache in her leg, Lavinia was determined to press forward. She couldn't let her injuries slow her down, not when her friends' safety was at stake.

As Lavinia limped towards the abandoned warehouse, her senses heightened with adrenaline and anticipation. She could hear the faint sounds of commotion coming from inside, fueling her determination to reach her friends and ensure their safety.

With each step, the pain in her leg intensified, but Lavinia pushed through, driven by the urgency of the situation. As she reached the entrance of the warehouse, she paused, steeling herself for whatever lay ahead.

Peering inside, she saw the shadowy forms of Cyclopes moving about, their gruff voices echoing in the cavernous space. Lavinia's heart raced as she assessed the situation, her mind racing with strategies and plans.

She spotted Leo nearby, his eyes wide with concern as he scanned the area for any sign of danger. Lavinia knew she had to be cautious, especially with her injuries, but she also couldn't stand idly by while her friends were in danger.

Taking a deep breath, she steeled herself and stepped into the warehouse, her eyes darting from one Cyclopes to another. She could feel the tension in the air, the hairs on the back of her neck standing on end as she prepared for whatever came next.

Leo glanced her way, his expression a mixture of relief and worry. "Lavinia, you shouldn't be here," he whispered urgently, moving to stand beside her.

"I couldn't just stay behind," Lavinia replied, her voice determined despite the pain. "We're in this together."

Leo nodded, his eyes flicking back to the Cyclopes. "Just be careful," he cautioned, his tone filled with concern.

"Always."