RELÁMPAGO, leo valdez

XVII. which was harsher? reality or sleep?

0012. | WHICH WAS HARSHER?
REALITY OR SLEEP?

Leo had tried to act nonchalant because he was sure if he acted as he wanted to, he would've frightened his girlfriend beyond belief, but Leo was freaking out! Nadia vomited up smoke - black smoke! Not that the colour of the smoke was a particularly big deal, but Leo was still worried. He knew that sure as hell wasn't natural.

He was fighting with himself to not follow her down to the sick bay, but he knew he'd just be a nuisance to Annabeth and Piper. He'd be too concerned with looking after Nadia that he'd probably be more harm than use. Still, he was practically bouncing off of the deck thanks to his stress. It had been a pretty stressful day and Leo just wanted to hold the girl he loved as he fell asleep.

         Unfortunately Fate had other plans for him, and instead of looking after that particular girl he was in love with, Leo was reserved to looking after a girl who looked slightly like her.

         When Leo had first met Hazel a few days ago at Camp Jupiter he had thought she and Nadia were twins, but now that he'd spent a few days near her he could tell them apart like he was comparing Nadia and Jason, rather than Nadia and Hazel.

         Hazel has golden hair and hair like cinnamon, but Nadia had segmented brown eyes with just a crack of blue in them that made his heart do dizzy flips because they were so beautiful, and her hair? Gods, don't get him started on Nadia's hair! It smelled like raspberries and he could've spent all day playing with her dark curls that grew in all directions were nearly growing down to her hips. He thought she looked like a princesa.

          To Leo, Hazel was nothing in comparison. He was sure Frank would probably disagree and say that Hazel was more attractive than Nadia but Leo knew he would be wrong. He didn't think there was anyone more beautiful than Nadia.

          Especially when Hazel was looking as nauseous as she did then. Even vomiting smoke, Nadia had looked good. Seeing Hazel seasick didn't give him that same sensation of butterflies in his stomach that, even after six months, Nadia was still able to give him.

          Hazel groaned sickly as she leaned over the side of the boat. Leo shuffled awkwardly. He'd much rather be looking after Nadia's sickness than Hazel's, but he figured beggars couldn't be choosers. "Don't lean over." He advised, keeping his distance. "Don't close your eyes. It makes the queasiness worse."

        "It does?" Hazel opened her eyes that had been tightly shut. Leo watched them for a second. He was right, Nadia's were prettier. "Do you get seasick too?"

"Not seasick." Leo answered. "But cars make me nauseous, and—," Leo was also going to say that being around girls made him nauseous too, but that would have been a lie. Leo had no problem being around Piper, sure, sometimes Annabeth's glare made him sickly but he could usually find himself to be 'normal' around most girls. The only girl he struggled around was Di, and he had long since learned that he didn't have to be so nervous around her.