things you said | leo valdez

06 | things you said under the stars and in the grass

six
things you said under the stars and in the grass

Leo had been acting weird. Well, weirder than usual.

You got the impression he was ignoring you. He hadn't shown up to breakfast nor did he walk to the training grounds afterward to wish you a good day, which he did every day.

By now, you knew Leo wasn't the best at communicating how he felt. So, you decided to let him have his space and when he was ready to talk, he'd find you.

And find you he did, late that evening after the bonfire had already burnt out and everyone was heading into their cabins for the night. He stood on your back deck, a spot you two would often sit after a particularly long day. Your siblings spotted him first and let you know he was waiting for you. But before you could release a sigh of relief and wrap your arms around him, he told you he needed to talk to you about something. Uh-oh.

And that was when your heart started to pound in your chest and your palms began to sweat. Nonetheless, you followed wordlessly after Leo as he led you away from the cabins into the trees until you came across a meadow. It was a decent sized meadow that allowed you to see the vast sky above that twinkled with stars.

You had only been nervous in front of Leo a handful of times, your first official date, the first time he kissed you, the first time you were intimate together...

Usually he was the one to calm your nerves. And the times when he was the reason for your nerves were all good memories. But judging from the afflicted look on his face, you doubt this would be one of those times.

When Leo took a deep breath and his voice came out shaky, you knew he was nervous too.

Oh gods, what has he done?

Leo hadn't even gotten four words into his explanation when you interrupted.

"Leo, we're not having this conversation. Not now - not ever."

"You're not understanding me," Leo huffed, crossing his arms over his chest, but he couldn't raise his eyes to meet your own.

"Do you expect me to?" You rebutted.

"No!" Leo shouted, sounding exasperated.

Your brows shot up as you raised your arms simultaneously as if to say my point exactly!

"But I expect you to at least hear me out." He continued.

Your mind raced. You didn't want to hear him out. You wanted to yell at him and curse him out and call him an idiot for even thinking of such a stupid idea. But, you also wanted this argument to end and for Leo to realize his plan was a bad idea so you guys could make up with a hug and kiss and then you could fall asleep in his arms underneath the stars. So, with an almost silent sigh, you nodded your head and agreed to hear him out once more.

He began at the very beginning, back when you two were aboard the Argo II with your friends, sailing to prevent a war and save the world. You stayed silent as he told his story, even when he got to the main part and your heart felt like it had physically shattered in your body. A guilty expression was smeared all across his face as he struggled to get his final words out.

"I have to go,"

back to Calypso.

His voice was barely above a whisper, sounding frail and weak, much much different than his usual sarcastic tone. He waited for your response.

You...didn't have one.

Your mind had gone completely blank.

"Y/N, I'm - I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, but I can't leave her there."

He had never told you where he'd been exiled to when your group was attacked by Khione and her sidekicks. He hadn't told anyone. You and the rest of the team just assumed he'd open up about it when he was ready. You could have never guessed that while you were risking your life trying to find him, he was busy falling in love with somebody else.