Leo Valdez- Learning to Live

Chapter 15

Okay, so it turns out that I'm not actually very busy rn, which is GREAT, so... hi! (Enjoy quick updates while it lasts. Bc neither of us know how long it will hahaha I'm so sorry) Also I freaked out about not having plans so I've been thinking about it more or less nonstop, and well. I have plans. I have so many plans. So look forward to that I guess. :)

I don't own PJO/HOO. Not really any particular warnings for this chapter other than the general depressive themes.

Piper walked slowly on her way back to her cabin.

She had just finished teaching a lesson on dagger-fighting, and she was a little tired. She figured she deserved a bit of a break. 

The universe, however, decided otherwise.

As she neared the infirmary, the door suddenly burst open, and none other than Leo Valdez stormed out. Piper stopped, shocked. He looked so... angry.

Piper tried to remember the last time she had seen Leo legitimately angry. Nothing came to mind. Sure, she had seen him annoyed, or determined to the point of ferocity, but never angry to this degree. It was concerning, to say the least.

She picked up her pace, calling out to her friend. Leo froze, his eyes turning to her, and Piper flinched at the scowl on his face. She had never once thought of Leo as scary, but he was scaring her now.

But once Leo saw who was addressing him, he immediately changed his demeanor. Piper watched as he forced his tensed-up shoulders to relax. He closed his eyes for just a moment and took a deep breath before meeting her eyes again.

And then he smiled.

Piper thought she might cry.

Just then, Will burst through the door, panic evident in his eyes. "Leo, wait!" he cried out, then froze. The three of them stood in some sort of silent, strained standoff. Leo's eyes flicked warily back and forth between the two of them, though his smile never faltered. Piper felt frozen. What had she just stumbled into?

After several long, tense moments, Leo broke the silence with laughter. Piper narrowed her eyes. It was fake. It had to be. But then why did it sound so real? Even now, after everything?

"C'mon, Will, stop being such a worrywort. I'm not going to run off or anything. I just wanted to spend time with my dear friend Piper. Nothing wrong with that, right?"

Piper wondered how Leo kept his voice light and seemed to issue a challenge to Will at the same time.

Will blinked a few times and glanced at Piper nervously. He opened his mouth to say something, paused, and closed it. He sighed.

"Yes, that's fine, Leo. Of course that's fine."

Leo positively beamed. He approached Piper, looping an arm through hers. "Is this all right?" he muttered softly.

Piper started. Right. She couldn't just keep passively watch the scene unfold. 

"Of course it is, Leo," she smiled in response. "You don't need to ask that."

Leo half-shrugged. 

"Don't worry, Will," Piper called. "I've got him." She did her best to sound reassuring. Will looked like he had had a long day. 

Will nodded half-heartedly, and turned around and walked back into the infirmary without another word.

"Excellent! Let's go!" Leo started forward on the path, only to jerk to a stop. He looked questioningly at Piper, who had yet to move.

"Before we go," she said softly, "do you promise that you won't run away? Or do I need to get the handcuffs from Will?"

Leo looked away. "I promise I won't run away," he said after a moment.