Leo Valdez x Reader

Slow Progress

After about fifteen minutes, we started walking again.

Leo and I were kinda silent, other than when he would tell me a joke and I'd start giggling, then he'd tickle me and I'd keep giggling until everyone would turn to look at us.

Will bursted out laughing the second time, and we were all laughing. It made the hardness of the recent events melt away.

After a series of breaks and walking, it was nearing nightime. We had been walking for about 10 hours now, and no sight of a city. We'd been walking northeast, in hopes of finding Port Angeles.

We took shifts sleeping again, and started up the next morning. By the  fifth hour of walking, our muscles ached. Nobody complained, but we could all silently feel it.

"Once we get to Port Angeles, and we get rest, I'm shadow-traveling with you guys. If we try to get to camp with mortal transportation, it might take days. The snow is starting to fall, and it's going to be thick.The faster we get to camp, the safer," said Nico.

"Fine, bu you better be careful and keep yourself rested. Last time you did lots of shadow-traveling it nearly killed you," said Will.

"I know. I'll be careful."

We walked another three hours, taking small breaks in between. When a highway appeared, and soon a sign saying Welcome to Port Angeles came into view, we all cheered.

we found a small motel off to the side of the highway. We decided that tonight we would all sleep, since we didn't need watch. I was a bit uneasy about it, but we were inside a building. Less likely to be killed.

We ordered one room with two queen beds. To make things not awkward, Nico and Leo slept in one bed, while Sherman and Will slept on the other. I slept on the floor, not minding it. For one, it was the easiest solution to our problem, and it wasn't uncomfortable. A little cold, but not bothersome.

I was the first to wake up, so I looked around to make sure everyone was still here. To my relief, no one had gone missing during the night. Phobos and Deimos must be thinking of some other awful way to torture me instead.

It was still early so I took a quick shower. I put on a change of clothes I had stashed in my bag.

When I came back out, Nico and Leo were awake. They took turns taking quick showers too. Leo's head wound was now a mere scratch. Will was a true healer.

I took the remaining two arrows out of my quiver and put them in my backup. I didn't know why I had waited so long to do it, but what mattered was that I was doing it now. Will woke up before Sherman, who was still sleeping. He had taken most of the watches, so I didn't blame him. None of us cared to wake him.

When he finally woke up, he, too, took a shower. We exited the motel with our packs and held onto Nico.

I knew that shadow-traveling with this many people couldn't be good for Nico, but he wouldn't let us use any other transportation.

When I could see light again, we were in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Sherman had been here before, so that's how we knew. We didn't have much money, and we were starving, so we grabbed fast food. Normally I'd chastise myself about how bad it was for my body, but with an unconscious Nico and no other options, I decided that one time wouldn't kill me.

Leo and Sherman went inside while I stayed behind with Will and Nico.

"Will?" I asked, taking a deep breath. "Can we talk?"

"Yea. What's up?"

"It's just that--well, as much as I hate to say it, I'm scared. I know Chiron told me not to try to interpret the prophecy, but...I'm scared that I might die. And I'm scared that the people I care about are going to get caught up in my mess once again, and I don't want that. I'm sick of Phobos using other people as bait."

"I know, y/n. We're all scared. But you know what the best thing about camp is? Each other. And yea, you have to fight Phobos alone. But we're going to stand tall behind you, doing whatever we can to keep you alive because we'd do that for someone. Nobody wants a camper to die. We've got your back, y/n."

"Chiron said the same thing. I guess I just didn't think it was really true."

Nico stirred, and Will excused himself to deal with him.

Leo and Sherman walked out with the food minutes later, and we all sat outside to eat. Nico, for some ungodly reason, was awake. He was slowly eating his food, which was good. The poor boy needed some sustenance.

"We found a really cheap hotel only about a mile ahead," said Sherman.

"You sure it's a good idea?" I asked.

"Best one we've got."

"I guess you're right. "

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