One Too Many Heartbreaks

XXIX. Coming Out Of Hiding, Pun Intended (Leo's POV)

NOTE: TRANSLATIONS AT END OF CHAPTER
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Leo bolted upright, accidentally waking Nico, who immediately reached for Efialtis.

"Leo, what is it?" The pale boy asked.

Leo was shaking so hard, it must have been visible. "Nico, we... We have to go back."

Nico seemed surprised. "Back?"

"To camp, Nico. We have to go back!" A tear fell down Leo's face and he swiped at it, but Nico had seen.

"Did you have a dream?" He asked quietly.

"I... I couldn't hear them. But I could feel them, in a way. Percy and Annabeth. Nico, I saw them crying. They're worried. They blame themselves." Leo let out another tear, not bothering to wipe it away this time.

"Tesoro, don't cry." Nico said, but Leo couldn't help it. His whole life he had run away. Again, and again. He'd pretended like this cave was home. He'd pretended like he was happy. But he wasn't.

"Do you really want to stay here, Nico? You don't really think these floors are comfortable?"

"I never said they were comfortable," Nico said somberly. "I may not have run away as often as you, but I have done it and let's just say, I'm used to the lifestyle."

Leo gently folded Nico into a hug. "We should go back, quierido," Leo whispered. We've gotta think of the others." Leo felt Nico nod into his shoulder, and released a long breath. Leo silently promised himself that he wouldn't run away anymore. He was going to camp, and he was going to stay. He was going home, and he was going to stay.

---

The next morning, Leo and Nico woke early and packed their things. They ate in silence until they were on their last bites.

"Are you sure about this, tesoro(1)?" Nico asked.

Leo nodded, licking his fingers. "I always ran away because I had no home. I can't run anymore. Not when I have a home more than willing to love me."

Leo reached for Nico's hand, but he pulled away. "Hey," The younger boy said. "You just licked those."

Leo smirked and Nico's eyes widened. "Don't you dare. Valdez, don't you-"

Leo laughed as he chased his boyfriend out of the cave, hands extended. Festus and Hope ran after the boys.

They made it outside and into the sunshine before Leo gave up. "Okay, okay, I'll stop. But, you gotta kiss me first."

Nico shook his head. "You're ridiculous." Leo teasingly stretched his hands out again and Nico caved.

"Okay, okay," he said, and gave Leo a kiss on the lips. "Tan dulce," Leo said with a smirk.

Nico shook his head. "Okay, serious now." The three climbed up on Festus and flew to the nearest city. They roamed the streets, looking for a gas station.

Leo wondered what mortals saw when they looked at Festus. He focused on the dragon, and caught a glimpse of a huge golden-fur Great Dane. Leo chuckled. "My dragon is a dog," he muttered.

They found a gas station, and Leo put some quarters into the wash machine. Water sprayed out of the nozzle. "Hurry," he told his boyfriend.

Nico threw a drachma into the water. "Oh Iris, goddess of the rainbow, please accept my offering. Show me Chiron."

The rainbow shimmered and focused until thy could see a middle aged man in a wheelchair feeding a severed tiger head.

"Chiron," Nico said.

The centaur looked up, startled, his eyes widening in surprise. "Mr. di Angelo and Valdez!"

"Listen, Chiron, this has to be quick. We're sorry we've been gone but we're coming back to camp now... If we're still welcome."

Leo felt chills run down his spine. He hadn't even considered that they might not be wanted anymore.

"My dear boy, of course you're still welcome. We'd even welcome Luke back if we had the chance."

Leo was drawing a blank, but noticed Nico's face go dark. "Thank you, sir."

"Have the Hunters stopped by, by any chance? Or left a message or something?" Leo glanced at Nico, whose face was skeptical. Leo bit his lip and looked back at Chiron.

"No, Mr. Valdez. We're you expecting them to?" Leo shook his head. He wasn't heartbroken anymore, but he was a little bitter. A goodbye would have been nice.

"Please tell the others to stop looking for us- we're on our way. We don't want anyone getting lost or hurt." Nico finished.

"Will do, Mr. di Angelo. Mr. Valdez. See you soon." The Iris message flickered and vanished, the water turning off right after.

Leo looked at Nico. "Who's Luke?"

"Not important now." Nico said quickly. "You ready?"

Leo nodded and smirked. "Shotgun!"

Nico picked at the dirt under the nail of his left ring finger. "You wish," he said.

They smiled at each other then climbed atop the golden dragon, and shot off into the air, on their way home.

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(1) treasure