I Think I Love You || (festive) Leo Valdez X reader

Chapter Twenty Five || The Sweet Release Of Death

AYYYYYYY!!!!! 550! Thanks guys, I'll give you like maybe two or three chapters and I'm sorry for taking ages to update. I'll try and be a better person. Love all of y'all!🔥😘❤️🥐

December 15th

Third person POV

Ah, welcome back. Recap time:
(Y/n) and Ash Iris messaged the Seven, Ash is acting up, Leo is spiralling and (Y/n) is just hoping to get out of this alive. Good? No? Deal with it. Continuing with our story...

(Y/n)'s POV

I don't know how long I sat in the darkness, crying my eyes out, screaming. It seemed like hours, maybe even more, but I couldn't go to sleep. I kept on remembering the look on Leo's face when he saw me. Something broke inside of me when I saw my bad boy supreme look like that. Look so broken I guess. The Leo I knew, and the Leo I love was a happy little Latino elf who seemed to get happy every time I baked cookies with Percy and steal some for him. This wasn't the Leo that was looking at me right now though. He seemed distant, detached and aggressive. He seemed like the Leo I saw after Calypso broke up with him. He blocked everyone and thing out, not caring who he hurt. He spiralled. And that had only happened twice before in his life. Once when his mom died and the other when Calypso broke up with him. And now, when I disappeared. I almost feel guilty, but then remember, how could this possibly be my fault? I didn't want to get kidnapped! Nor did I ask for it! The anger that I had been burying away seemed to be surfacing. "Come out here you coward!" I scream into the darkness. "Come out here and face instead of sending someone else to do the dirty work." I hear footsteps, and see a torch coming from the distance. I realise who it is and grimace. Ash. "Piss off you dipshit!" I snap, not caring about controlling my anger. For years I have been the calm person to always be the logical thinker in situations. It feels good to finally let go.
"Listen, you don't need to act like I'm your number enemy, I'm just tryna earn so quick solid money." He says trying to explain.
"'Making good solid money'?" I say, mocking his tone. "Fuck you! Kidnapping people for someone else is not a way to make 'solid money'! Why can't you get a decent job? That, I don't know, involves not being a dick!?" I breathe deep and hard as I look straight in his eyes. I could almost see something close to hurt in them but I could feel the walls build up again around him.
"I'm doing my job, and if you gotta problem with it, deal with it." He said coldly.
"Why are you doing this?" I whisper, the anger suddenly draining out of me. "Why Ash?"
"I need money (Y/n)," he said flatly. "Aren't I like the rest of the world? We're all greedy for money, whether we deny it or not, and then wait for the sweet release of death."
"Please Ash, don't you have a family? Don't you have a heart? I don't give a shit about money or greed! I want to see my family, and... Leo..." I whisper his name, hoping Ash didn't hear me. I look up at him and see his grip on the torch tighten.
"Who, Valdez?" He says in a strained voice. I could see him trying to compose himself. It clearly wasn't working. Suddenly he kneels in front of me, his hand cupping my cheek, his thumb brushing against my skin.
"Ash..." I whisper, trying to keep my heart beat normal. "What are you doing?"
"What I've wanted to do for a long time..."

Leo's POV

I yell in anger and frustration as the guy and (Y/n) disappear into nowhere. (Y/n) had dirt smudges on her face, her hair in a high pony tail, eyes full of pain and hurt. When she looked at me, I could feel the fear rolling off her in waves. Something snapped inside of me when I saw her tied up and crying. I knew I had to do something, and not sit around like an idiot waiting for someone else to make the move. "(Y/n)," I whisper, standing where the Iris message was moments ago. My knees buckle and my head in my head. I feel so detached to the world, and only (Y/n) kept me grounded. And now she was there, her death hanging over her head. No, no I couldn't think like that. I just wish she was here by my side right now.

(Y/n)'s POV

I don't know how long I've been sitting here now. I don't know how I'm still alive, I mean I haven't seen myself eat or drink any food. Maybe when they knock me out? At least I'm still alive. I'm grateful and everything but one can only be so grateful to ones kidnapper. Every time I shit my eyes I see the hurt look on Leo's face, and when I manage to doze off, I dream of the iris message. Dream of Percy and his eerie calmness. I hear distant footsteps but don't open my eyes. At least I see the man I lo–. Wait. Do I? Do I L-word Leo Valdez? My best friend, my go to guy friend? I hope he doesn't think I friend zoned him! I hope he didn't friend zone me! Wait. Why am I thinking about this now? You've been frickin kidnapped (Y/n)! Kidnapped for gods sake! And you're really thinking about your relationship with Leo? Since when did I become that kind of girl that had boy problems? Or had boys in the first place? Wow, I really am pathetic. The footsteps I heard were getting louder but I honestly didn't give a fuck. Fuck Ash! Fuck the 'boss'! Fuck everyone (not literally though)! "Steady on sweetheart!" I hear a familiar voice with that familiar air of cockiness. I cockiness that I'd gotten so used to.
"Ash..." I hear another voice, making my eyes open. I see another guy standing next to Ash. They looked around the same age. 17-ish I guess. He had unruly black hair, jet black to be precise, iron grey eyes and a steady build. He was quite like Ash but there was something about those eyes that seemed so lifeless and eternal. Like they had seen so much, lived through centuries but the part that intrigued me was how inexperienced they looked. Like they... like they never had seen love.
"Just having fun!" Ash said, putting his hands up in surrender. "Oh (Y/n), this is–"
"My name will be revealed soon." He said cutting off Ash short. I raised an eyebrow at him but he shrugged it off.
"So, are you my captor?" I say calmly. Over these past days, I'd let go of anger. But not all of it. Yet.
"You could say that. Captor, host. They're the same thing to me." His word sent chills down my spine. It was that cold smooth type of voice, a voice of sheer evil. "Well, I guess if you'll be staying with Ash and I, you could know my name. Well (Y/n) my name is..."