150 Degrees (Leo Valdez X Reader)

From the Dead

(Leo's POV)

There is no sun or moon here, no day and night, just an endless time loop with guesses. We sleep when we're tired and wake up when we feel well rested. It's been exhausting, to say the least. 

"Jordan is improving. His fire is coming to him with ease. The flame is different from mine - not as bright or bold or big. I'm sure it's a sign of his hesitance, the fear and doubt that he carries from the incident at camp. A part of me carries it too. I can only hope I'm teaching him right. I want to do it right." 

Y/N's eyes are focused as she listens to me, her brows scrunched with worry, shoulders sagged with exhaustion. Her face is in clear view and, despite being burdened with anxiety, I can't help but feel my heart skip a beat at the sight of her. 

I clear my throat and rub my hands together, my cheeks heated just slighted. "What's going on with you guys?" 

"Annabeth is missing, according to Rachel," Y/N says, her voice shaky with distress. She rubs her temples to ease a headache I'm sure is brewing beneath her skull. "I don't know what to do. This whole trip I feel like I haven't really done anything but... hold everyone back."

"C'mon, you know that's not true," I reply, trying my best to reassure her. "Listen, Percy is really glad you're with him. He's happy to have a sister. I know I'm grateful for Jordan. I feel bad, of course, I would never want this for anyone else, but at least I'm not alone." 

"You were never alone, Leo," Y/N whispers. I can see the glint in her eyes, the same one I give when I look at her. There is a pink tint dusting her cheeks just slightly, enough to bring goosebumps to my arms. "You'll always have me." 

I give her a smile but shy away, unable to hold eye contact. "I have you. And you have me."

"Hey, we need to move." Percy sounds stern, flat and dull, like there's barely life in him. I love Annabeth, but I know his love for her is unlike anything else. I know the way I feel is ten times worse on his end. The worry, the anxiety, the stress - everything. "You let Leo know what's going on?" 

"Yeah," Y/N responds. 

I can't see him but I don't need to - I know he looks unwell. 

"Hey, Clown Fish," I call.

"Yeah, Bolts?" 

"You have me." 

"You have me." 

---

"Have they been trying to get a hold of Chiron?" Jordan asks, his voice laced with the same anxiety Y/N and Percy had. "Maybe we should go help. I have it under control, we need to help."

"No one's been able to talk to Chiron," I tell him. "The Iris Message's aren't going through. They've been sending Iris a ton of offerings but it's like she's been blocked off - that's what Y/N said." 

"We need to leave," Jordan repeats. He starts towards our luggages and the dressers, unpacking and throwing things out. I can see sparks form at his fingertips, halting him. In frustration, he slams the drawer shut. "God damn it."

"Two days," I tell him. I go to him and put a hand on his shoulder. "Two days and we'll go. You need just at bit more training." 

I feel it too - the itch to leave, to run to Y/N, to find Annabeth - but helping Jordan is a priority. I don't want him to hurt himself, to carry yet another burden.