Forever || Leo Valdez x Reader || Book 1

Nyx oughta rot- BUT ALL HAIL ME

(A/N: Just a heads up, y'all- I go by Carmen and she/they pronouns now. And this chapter's dedicated to @Eddie_vdA, @CorgiRB, and @thatloonymushroom cause they were the ones who gave me back the motivation to keep going despite the fact that a lot of people who used to be on every single chapter of mine don't even read or comment anymore)

I'm doomed.

"Dad... what do I do?" I whispered, sinking down onto the nearest rock and burying my face in my hands. My fingers curled into my palms, trying to stop the mess of emotions inside, but they just kept spilling out. "I can't tell him- if he doesn't feel the same way, our friendship will be ruined, and..."

Dad was standing there, looking at me with this blank look on his face. He wasn't saying anything, but it was clear that he was thinking something.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" I asked, my voice shaking with frustration.

Dad blinked a few times, like he was snapping out of his thoughts. Then, he rubbed the bridge of his nose like he was already tired of this conversation. "I- never mind. I think you should tell him."

I shot up from the rock, my heart pounding. "DAD!"

His smile was almost teasing, but there was a hint of seriousness behind it. "Kid-"

"NO WAY!" I cut him off, holding up my hands in disbelief. "What if he doesn't feel the same way? What if it ruins everything? I can't risk that!"

"Ugh," Dad groaned, rolling his eyes. "Look, kiddo, I'm telling you... he definitely likes you back."

I snorted, shaking my head like he was crazy. "No way. You don't know that."

"YOU TWO KISSED!" Dad retorted, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

"THAT WAS SITUATIONAL!" I yelled, my voice cracking, feeling the tears start to sting in my eyes. Why the hell am I crying right now? I wasn't sure- was it because of all the new feelings towards Leo? Or just the panic of not knowing what to do next? I quickly turned my face away, wiping my eyes and biting my trembling lip.

"Hey, hey..." Dad's voice softened. He gently turned my face back toward him, his eyes warm and understanding, like he knew exactly what I was going through. And knowing him, he probably does, and that knowledge brought me a little comfort. "You know what? Forget all that for now. How about we go back to the cabin and have a spa day? You look like you need to relax, kiddo."

A shaky laugh escaped me, and I let out a tired sigh, nodding. A small smile finally tugged at my lips. "Yeah... I think I might need that..."

Without warning, Dad swooped in and scooped me up into his arms like I was a little kid. My heart dropped for a second from the sudden startle, feeling a mix of surprise and embarrassment.

"ACK- Dad!" I yelped, grabbing onto him. "A little warning next time?! Put me down!"

"Nope. I'm carrying you back to Cabin 7."

"Ugh." I groaned, wrapping my arms around his neck, trying not to look too embarrassed. "Don't drop me, okay?"

(A/N: We just love us some father-daughter fluff cause we like to delude ourselves with loving fictional dads cause irl dads are usually shit)

Dad just chuckled softly, shaking his head as he carried me back to the cabin. I let myself relax a little, burying my face in his shoulder, feeling safe even though my mind was still a little all over the place. But then, he just had to go ruin it.

"Oh look, there's your future husband, talking to your brother and- wait, what are those?"

I lifted my head just in time to see Will and Nico laughing with Leo. But it wasn't them that caught my attention. It was the little fluffy black creatures with glowing eyes and assorted animal parts- wobbly little things that were clearly out of a fantasy novel.