Asphodels (Valdangelo)

Reciprocated

I've become very fond of this particular AU, despite and because of how simple it is, part of me wants to expand on it, to get down and dirty with all the details; but then I've never been good at that sort of thing.

You are allowed, and even encouraged, to scream at me in the comments for this.

There's a moment of rest, right as they ready themselves for the last jump, in and out of the labyrinth, finally getting the Athena Parthenos into camp half-blood; Reyna had insisted they rest, listing every reason until Nico had no option but to agree. It's then, when they're taking the time to breathe, that the message reaches them; and then there's Leo, translucent and looking like he hasn't slept in weeks.

"Hey, do you have a minute?"

He makes a face, and backtracks.

"Actually, first, I'm supposed to warn you that Percy fucked up and Gaea is now definitely rising, and we're speeding towards camp as fast as the Argo II will take us"

He turns to Reyna then, though the tone suggests that he means this for Nico too.

"I don't know why you like him so much"

Reyna lets out a huff, though she's clearly amused by this; Leo turns back to him.

"Anyway, I wanted to talk because I made an oath and part has to do with you, and I need things to be ok between us so you won't think I'm like out for revenge or whatever"

Nico wants to be there with him, wants to hug Leo; they're both touch starved, and Nico is privy to how warm Leo runs, so the intensity of that thought doesn't particularly surprise him. Leo runs a hand through his messy hair, sighing loudly.

"I was just frustrated, and never told you about me being unable to use swords, and-"

He'll go forever if allowed, but Nico's missed his voice more than he's willing to admit; luckily for both of them, Reyna decides to put a stop on this.

"Of course you can't use a sword, you're a child of Vulcan"

Leo splutters, eyes wide, Reyna rolls her own.

"Your weapons are hammers"

Leo laughs, actually, honestly, laughs; it's a ridiculous little sound, shaky, and breathy, and Nico wants to hear it over and over, wants to cause it. First though, he needs to talk with Leo.

"I let my worry drive me, but I still should've backed down the first time you told me to"

Leo smiles at him, and it's still laugh laced.

"So we're good then?"

Nico smiles back, unable to stop himself.

"Yeah, we're good"

It's chaotic, for lack of better word, everything that happens during those few hours in which it's Greeks versus Romans, and then Greeks and Romans versus Gaea; he doesn't exactly have the time to look for Nico in the crowd, or to do anything other than fight Gaea's forces in order to get close enough to put his plan in motion. He sees Jason approaching from the other side, clearly on the same track as Leo, the words 'to storm or fire' probably ringing through his ears; or maybe Leo's the only one this obsessed over the prophecy.

There's something wrong about it, Leo can sense it, and as he sees Jason thrown aside like a ragdoll, fear makes an appearance in his mind; still, he has a plan, one designed exactly because he expected something like this to happen. So he calls his fire to him, as much as he can gather without hurting Festus, which is a lot since the dragon is also built to resist high temperatures, what with it breathing fire.