❝𝘞𝘦𝘭𝘭, 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵'𝘴 𝘢 𝘳𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘦𝘧. 𝘐 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘯'𝘵 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘦𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘥.❞
𝗟𝗘𝗢 𝗩𝗔𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗭 falls in love easier than he would like himself to. To the many people he had liked before, dr...
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XVII. THE AGE WHERE YOU CAN RUN AWAY FOR SO FAR BEFORE GETTING CAUGHT
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"I know I can't fight the sad days and bad nights
But I never asked for your help"
KASTURI WASN'T GOING TO LIE when she said that she was somewhat half-expecting that those stupid dragons would tale on them, all the while that bitch Medea ride on her stupid flying chariot, throwing stupid nasty potions at them. The good thing: was that it was just her paranoia.
And another thing: Kasturi was really hoping that the lady would stay dead this time. But knowing their — well, her luck, that wouldn't be quite the case.
But for now, they could take a small breather as Leo guided Festus southwest, the only dragon Kasturi didn't mind seeing up close these days. They flew in a silence that felt heavy but oddly peaceful. The smoking ruins of the department store vanished into the distance, and gradually, the sprawling suburbs of Chicago gave way to snow-covered fields. The sunset bathed the landscape in a warm, fading glow, but it didn't feel like they could relax yet—not completely.
"Good job, Festus." Leo's voice cut through her thoughts, and Kasturi blinked, momentarily startled.
Leo patted Festus's bronze side. The dragon's metal hide clicked and popped in response, its gears grinding. Kasturi watched the exchange with mild amusement. The dragon was exhausted but still doing its best. Typical Festus.
Leo, however, didn't share that same lighthearted ease. His smile didn't quite reach his eyes as he patted the dragon's side again, his brow furrowing. Medea's words from earlier clearly echoed in his mind, the revelation that she'd had a hand in his mom's death — a sickening truth to learn while you're hurtling headfirst into another life-or-death mission. Kasturi didn't know how he was holding it together.
She wondered what was running through his mind now.
"I'll give you a tune-up next time we land," Leo promised, his voice forced with a kind of casual energy. "You've earned some motor oil and Tabasco sauce, buddy."
Festus grunted, his tail giving a weak flick, but even the dragon seemed to know Leo was putting on a brave face. Kasturi had seen it before, how Leo used humor to dodge things, to deflect. He always had that same grin, that same quick joke ready, but his eyes were never quite in sync with the rest of him.
"Leo," Kasturi said, her voice soft but firm as she nudged his shoulder, the cold wind whipping past them. "Are you... are you okay?"
Leo froze. His fingers stilled on Festus's gears, knuckles whitening just for a beat, like the question had snagged on something deep inside him. He didn't turn around at first, staring out ahead as if he hadn't heard her. But then, slowly, like he was shifting gears himself, he glanced back with one of his trademark grins—a little too wide, a little too quick. It had that familiar sharpness to it, the kind of grin Leo Valdez wore when he didn't want anyone looking too close.
