Leo Valdez x reader (oneshots and the Fire Elementalist series)

Happy birthday, LEO VALDEZ ❤️

TYPE: fluff
T/W: none
FE SPIN-OFF: yes
CONTEXT:
- you were in Tartarus during Leo's birthday, so you had a late bday celebration on your way to Athens

Hope y'all enjoy, darlings 💜

• • •

Your POV

It's been two days since we got back from Tartarus. I still felt like I've been to hell and back again. I mean, that is what happened. Anyway...

Leo's birthday was about a week ago, but I was stuck in Tartarus. I had a present for him because I knew we'd be on this quest for weeks—probably even months. It was just a music box in the shape of a seashell. I know what you're thinking... Wow, original. Cut me some slack, alright? I asked Harley to help me with the contraptions and stuff.

When you opened it, it would play the instrumental to the song Fall by Ben&Ben (watch the video above). Yeah, I know, another Filipino thing. But I sang it on the first open mic night we had during our campfire. Lately, the Apollo cabin has been thinking of new ways to spice up campfire nights. Open mic night was definitely a hit (since spoken poetry was also accepted), along with karaoke night, and soon, theater night!

But I'm getting ahead of myself, sorry. Anyway, yeah. I sang that song at open mic and the crowd loved it, but Leo loved it the most. Sometimes he'd ask me to sing that song at random times. He'd ask me to sing other songs, but I can tell he really loved that song. Honestly, who wouldn't love Ben&Ben?

That song brings up a lot of memories for us, so I thought it would be fitting to have the Apollo kids help me record the whole song on the kalimba. When you opened the box, small blue holographic flames danced around, just so he's reminded of me (as if the seashell shape and the song doesn't give that away).

One of our favorite verses was engraved on the back of the lid:

Feels like we can stay forever
In each other's arms
So lay down on my shoulder
I'll keep you safe from harm

I wanted to give him something that would remind him of me. And when I'm not around, he'll have something to make him feel safe. I know, I know. You're thinking, "(y/n), just give him a teddy bear!" Well first of all, no. Second, I'm proud of this because I helped Harley with the design and I helped record the instrumental.

I looked at my bottom drawer and saw that it was still safely wrapped in bubble wrap. Yeah, I know, thoughtful gift, cheap packaging. Well I'm sorry I didn't have time to wrap it because of this whole end-of-the-world shenanigans.

I took the wrapped package and headed up to Leo's room just across mine. Annabeth was taking charge tonight, and Percy stood guard.

I knocked on Leo's door. After three counts, I realized he must have been asleep. He must have been exhausted. But then he opened the door. He was in his jammies, but he didn't look like he just woke up.

"What's wrong, mi princesa?" He asked

"Since when have you started giving me Spanish nicknames?"

"I do call you by Spanish nicknames sometimes," he chuckled as he motioned for me to enter, "when I feel really sappy and cuddly."

"You," I mocked, "sappy and cuddly? Ha."

He rolled his eyes and closed the door. "Seriously, is there anything wrong?"

I sat down on his bed and sat in front of me. His gift was still behind my back.