spinningsidetable - Tumblr blog

spinningsidetable · 6 years ago

Text

The Odd Couple: 1/?

Pairing: Octavian/Leo (leotavian)

Genre/Warnings: Canon Compliant to a Point, Canon Parallel AU, Octavian Lives, Soulbond, Soulmates, Some Depictions of Violence and Injury

Rating: Teen and Up

Leo could open his eyes before he could breathe.

His lungs were still stitching themselves back together, air couldn't push its way inside yet. Leo could see the sky around him, he could see his flesh rebuilding itself; scars vanished as new skin replaced the burnt remains of the old. Finally, air rushed in and he could breathe again. Panic had nearly set in, feeling like it was divine punishment for all of his misdeeds to die so soon after living again. Part of him thought he likely deserved it. As soon as Leo was well and able he turned to look at his surroundings better. Leo had no idea where he was, the sky gave no hints, all he managed to figure out was he was on the back of Festus. Then another gasp of air took him by surprise, and Leo all but spun in place to look behind him. There, a slumped over frame of someone else. Leo was pretty sure his vocal chords had rebuilt themselves at that point, but he couldn’t speak. Who the hell? The frame lurched up, head tipping backwards; Leo watched in morbid fascination as skin and hair recovered muscle and bone. The person blinked, blinked pale eyes at Leo. And then promptly punched Leo in the nose. Leo jerked backwards with a loud yelp, bringing his hands up to hold at his face. Admittedly, Leo’d been punched in the face much harder, but even a toddler hitting you in the nose still hurt. “You scum!” The other figure yelped out, looking at Leo like he was the source of all problems. Actually, he might have been. Leo recognized this guy, the pissy weird Roman. He was still toting purple robes and armor, but they were tattered and burnt. “...You!” Leo said, pointing a finger. “You’re…that guy! Uh…” “Octavian!” The blond yelled. “My name is Octavian, and you attacked my city! You attack us, and then you kidnap me?!” “Okay, calm down Draco Malfoy,” Leo glared. It was a bit of an insult to the fictional character. “I didn’t kidnap anybody, okay? I’m as shocked to see you here as you are me. Actually, correction, I’m more surprised, I literally just died and came back to life. I was kind of hoping the first people I’d see were my friends or a pretty girl. Not…this.” Leo waved a hand at Octavian’s stupid face which was twisted in anger and confusion. “Then what happened? Huh? Answer me, Graecus!” Octavian was ordering Leo around like he was…well, a rich white boy with a sense of entitlement, so, yeah no, that made sense. “I,” Leo started slowly with extra exaggeration. “I, was in the process of committing non-suicide to blow the earth lady back to the dirt she came from. Everything I did was part of the plan. You here, are not.” Octavian’s expression dripped condescension. “The dirt isn’t where she came from, she is the earth, you plebeian.” “Oh my God,” Leo said flatly. “That is so not the issue right now, like... what the fuck, why are you on my dragon?” It seemed Octavian hadn’t taken the time to notice that yet, and looked down, and immediately went white…whiter in the face. Leo wasn’t certain if he just realized he had been recently blown to smithereens or the fact they were thousands of feet in the air. “I-…I was about to fire an onager at the Earth Mother and you…and,” his face twisted in confusion. “I think I got caught up in it somehow…” Leo had very little sympathy at this point. Well, less so. Which seemed hard to do. “So, let me get this straight, you tried to legitimately murder me, and... accidentally fucked yourself over?” “You declared war on Rome,” Octavian said like it explained everything, excused everything. “I was protecting my people, from you, from the Earth Mother. I feel no guilt in my actions.” “Bullshit, you were protecting your reputation - oh gods, it feels good to cuss, I’ve been holding this in since Hazel’s whole 1940s thing.” Leo paused in the middle speaking as realization kicked in. Admittedly, not the best time for his ADHD to rear back up. Octavian didn’t look amused. But, then again, Leo was pretty sure Octavian was unable to be amused. Except by suffering. “Swearing is the first resort of the last to succeed.” “Okay, I’m done with you, I have no idea why you’re here, I’m guessing the Physicians Cure did double duty somehow, so I’m just going to drop you on the first piece of land I see-“ Leo was cut off but two arms wrapping around his neck and pulling him backwards in his seat until he was arching off in pain. “You will do nothing of the sort, or I will personally hold you here until the air leaves your…your...” The grip began to slip, and Leo decided it was time for payback and lit himself on fire. Or, tried to. Nothing happened. The arms went limp regardless. “What the fuck?” Leo coughed and rubbed at his throat, but Octavian wasn’t looking at him, but down at his hands. “I couldn’t do it…” Octavian stared down at his palms like they betrayed him. “What is wrong with me? I couldn’t hold you…” Leo stared at him for a minute, absentmindedly rubbing at his neck, before snapping out of his surprise and reaching over to smack the man in the side of the head. Octavian seemed to snap out of it, and grabbed Leo’s hand before he could do it again. And then The Thing happened. An electric current, or that’s what it sort of felt like, ran down Leo’s spine; Octavian seemed to be much the same way, because they pulled back from one another at the same time. That was weird, Leo thought with a frown, but chose to ignore it. He was just dead 5 minutes ago, he’d dealt with weirder. The astrolabe on Festus began to whir, due to Leo’s modifications of course (they’re not known for moving on their own) and Leo turned away from the towhead to check. They were over Ogygia, Leo realized with some glee. Then it hit him that he’d have to introduce Calypso to Octavian and it just got really strange in his brain. “We’re going down,” Leo said, adjusting himself in his seat. “If you strangle me again, I’ll burn your ass.” Even if he couldn’t, Leo was all about finding ways in the impossible. “Going down?” Octavian looked around nervously, but like he was pretending not to be. “This piece of junk can’t hold us-“ Leo held up a hand on fire. “Do not. Ever. Call him a piece of junk.” Octavian looked at him like he was sizing him up, “or what, scum?” “Or I remove yours,” Leo said smoothly, and that got the reaction he wanted. “Good boy.” Octavian turned red, and opened his mouth to likely yell or probably throw racial slurs, Leo had no idea, but Octavian seemed the type to vote red. “Festus, not you, you’re an asshole. Festus is a good boy. Come on, buddy, let’s go get her.” “Get who?” Octavian hissed, looking around like a woman was just randomly floating around. “What monsters have you been cohabiting with?” “Calypso,” Leo said, “my girlfriend. I think. Probably?” “Not the…actual Calypso, surely?” Octavian looked horrified by the very concept. “Who else?” Leo rolled his eyes. “She’s great, you’ll hate her. Which makes her great.”

“Who el- I’m not the actual Octavian! It isn’t a strange question!” “…There was an actual Octavian? Two people chose a name that stupid for a baby?” “Gaius Octavianus, later known as Augustus, ushered in the Pax Romana, expanded his empire-“ Leo realized his mistake, as Octavian continued talking until they reached the soils of Ogygia, no matter how many times Leo told him to shut up in every language he knew. Calypso was waiting on the shore as they touched down, and opened her mouth to say something to Leo, before noticing Octavian sliding off of Festus. “Who is this?” “Sea Witch, I am Octavian of New Rome, Augur, Centurion.” Octavian introduced himself, but did not endear himself, as her eyes narrowed slowly. “If you attempt to sing your bewitching tunes, seductress, I will be forced to send you back to the pits of Tartarus.” Calypso looked accusingly at Leo who shrugged helplessly at her. “Not part of my plan. I hate him too, trust me. He’s tried to kill me like, what?” Leo looked back at Octavian who looked like he sincerely considered the question. “At least 5 times,” Octavian nodded to himself. “Yes, roughly 5, though the majority were one long sustained effort that you avoided. Leo gestured at Octavian, looking at Calypso, while making a few rude hand gestures towards the Roman. “So, I say we ditch him and go?” But Calypso was looking at Leo oddly, and then back to Octavian. There was a frown on her face, and a deeply sad one in her eyes. “Uh...Caly? Babe? Sunshine?” Leo stepped closer, and reached his hand out to touch her shoulder, but she pulled away.

“…Calypso?” “I see, well, it figures…The same thing always happens…” Calypso crossed her arms and took a few steps backwards. She was closing herself off, Leo didn’t need to be a mind reader to know that. Leo looked at her packed gear behind her, and took a step towards it. “Don’t,” Calypso warned, her eyes closed like she was in pain. “I’m not coming with you.” Leo stared helplessly, blinking hard. “W-what are you talking about? I…Come on, look we…don’t need to date, we never have to do anything like that, but-“ “Leo, I appreciate that, I really do. I care about you, truly. But…,” The girl turned away, tear streaks began to run down her face. “I’m sorry. Please leave.”

Leo felt nearly hysterical, looking between her, and Octavian who seemed more disgusted than confused. “I don’t understand, I just want to help, did I do something wrong-“ “Your fate is not mine, Leo. It’s tied to another.” Calypso’s voice was barely above a whisper. “I understand I can leave with you, right this moment. I do, but…after so long… I want someone to come for me whose fate is my own. I know you don’t understand, but maybe someday you will. Please.” Leo’s shoulders sagged, but as he looked at her he realized he couldn’t change her mind. It was like Echo all over again, but worse. He didn’t want her to be trapped here any longer. He didn’t care if she never loved him, Leo just didn’t want her to have to be alone. “I’ll make sure the Gods free you,” Leo said finally, voice thick with emotion. “If you won’t come with me, I’ll make sure you can leave when you want to. I won’t forget you. I will never forget you, Calypso, I swear on that.” Calypso smiled, tears in her eyes, taking a few steps closer to him to wrap her arms around his frame, kissing him on the cheek. “Go live your life, Leo. We’ll meet again, I’m sure. Goodbye, for now.”

“Goodbye, sunshine.” Leo whispered against her hair, and kissed the side of her head. “For now.” It was a promise.

When they left, he flew away without looking back. Octavian was quiet, for all of about 10 minutes. “You dated a monster?” Octavian’s voice was full of judgement, and Leo wasn’t having it right now. Leo could keep a lot of things bottled up, but just hearing Octavian speak was like nails on a chalkboard. So, he turned around and grabbed the blond by the shirt, pulling him forward to headbutt the Centurion in his stupid face. But, stopped short, as Leo’s body stopped moving against his will and he was left with his face just inches from Octavian’s who looked similarly shocked and disturbed. Leo realized Octavian had raised his own hands to push Leo away, but were just resting on Leo’s shoulders. Leo snapped back, the extent of the problem beginning to dawn in horror. “What the…why couldn’t I hit you?”

“Same reason I couldn’t hurt you, I’m guessing.” Octavian muttered. “Something strange is happening. “ “So we….can’t hurt each other?” Leo changed his mind drastically, because at the moment, he was actually thrilled for a new problem for his brain to focus on. It saved him from having to think about Calypso.

“I hit you in the nose, and you hit me back” Octavian said curiously. “So it appears some is fine.” Leo frowned, tapping against the bronze back of Festus in thought. “Was it though? Or was it surprise and shock more than an actual wish to injure? Try hitting me again.” Octavian looked baffled but pleased with the request. “You’re asking me to punch you?” It was like Christmas for creepy faced Romans, from the tone in his voice. Leo rolled his eyes. “Just do it already, dillweed.”

Octavian pulled his fist back for the wind up, and threw it forward in what would have likely broken his nose if it had actually made contact. But, it didn’t. Octavian’s fist stopped a few inches from Leo’s face. Octavian glared at his own hand, and tried again, and again, until it just looked sad and silly. “Okay, stop hitting the sky, big Z might take offense.” Leo sighed. Octavian tried again, and then muttered something about it being J not Z, but Leo ignored him. “It's the Physicians Cure. That’s the only reasonable explanation. “ Leo said his thought process out loud, pulling a small journal out of his belt and began to write down what they were noticing. “The what? You mentioned it before, what is it?” Octavian asked with clear annoyance in his voice as he leaned over Leo’s shoulder to see what he was writing. “Don’t call me that.” “Then don’t act like one,” Leo shot back and kept writing. “The Physicians Cure was what brought me, and I’m assuming you, back to life. It should have only been enough for one singular life, and yet here we are. My guess is something relating to that is the reason we can’t purposely injure one another.” Octavian scoffed at the thought. “How did someone like you get your hands on something like that? The Gods would never truly smile on a Graecus-“ “I made a bargain with a few, including Apollo, so, you know. Shut up.” Leo mumbled, still making notes, and not even glancing at the blond behind him. Octavian leaned back, and crossed his arms. He was used to people in New Rome expressing dislike and disrespect towards him, but at the very least they feared him in some manner. Leo Valdez did not fear, respect, or seemingly care about his existence in general; never even bothering to learn his name before he fired on his city. Octavian had been on the Argo when Leo attacked, appraising the vehicle and assessing the likelihood for warfare. Leo Valdez paid him little regard, acting like Octavian was more a piece of gum on his shoe than well known Centurion who had served Camp Jupiter for 7 years. All Octavian ever wanted was to raise New Rome to true glory, but few saw his vision. He had almost been thankful to the Greeks, a war was a good way to inspire people, but then that seemingly backfired. “We have to cross the ocean,” Leo said after a moment of calculating. It wasn’t just their physical situation he was thinking about, it was their location. They had left the space around Ogygia, but their place in the world was still a mystery until now. They were about where Leo had shown up before in Greece, maybe Festus went there on purpose. “What?” Octavian frowned, his own train of thought being cut off. “What ocean?” “The ocean is a big body of sea water, the blue one with all the fish, ever heard of it?” Leo sighed, grabbing up the astrolabe and turning his back to Octavian. Octavian wished more than ever he could spear him through. “Mediterranean, then we cross the Atlantic.” Leo announced, before beginning to chew on the tip of a pen Octavian had no idea where came from. “But, I think we might want to avoid the Atlantic as much as possible. It was not super chill last time we went over it, and there were more people and better provisions. I need to reroute our course.” “So we go north, or go south?” Octavian asked after a moment to think about the situation, and Leo looked at him with a bit of surprise. “Well, there are only two reasonable paths if we’re currently in the Mediterranean. We go north, and cross the UK and Greenland, and cross into the Northwestern Passage from there before heading south towards New York.” Octavian held up two fingers. “Or, alternatively, we cross into Africa and head south towards the West Coast, before crossing the closest point towards Brazil, before heading north through the Caribbean.” Leo continued to stare at blankly. “What?” Octavian seemed offended, but then again he always did. “I’ve already graduated from University with honors. You think me stupid?” “You said it, not me.” Leo said, reappraising Octavian. Sure, he hated him, but Leo could use brains right now. “You’re right though. I would figure Africa is the safest bet. You’d probably not survive the northern temperatures this time of year. I might be able to make my own warmth, but you can't. Of course, heading east and crossing the Pacific is a possibility, but not a good one. We have no idea what kind of monsters are over there, not to mention a much much longer flight across open ocean.” Octavian wasn’t entirely sure how to take that. He wasn’t really expecting the other boy to think of his general well being. He certainly didn’t return the favor. If Octavian could shove him from the dragon and commandeer it, he would in a heartbeat. “Plus,” Leo mumbled. “I am…sort of not on good terms with a very mean snow lady and her brothers in Canada. Probably not the best place to cross.” Octavian nearly felt a bit disappointed, though not surprised. It was good information however, any enemy of Valdez was a friend of Octavian. “Fine, a journey West then. How long will this take, anyway? Not too dreadfully long, I’d hope.” Leo burst out laughing, and just shook his head without answering. “Oh my gods…” “I’ll take that as 'significantly longer',” Octavian sighed. “I was eager to get away from you, can you blame me?” Leo snorted, but didn’t seem to disagree. “You’re not the first, no, so the sensation has worn off by now.” Leo readjusted himself, cracking his knuckles. ”Better buckle up. You should have been able to tell our speed by now, honor student, we’ll probably take at least a week, and that is a conservative guess. Festus is fast, but not airliner fast, which means if we don’t just go across the Sahara, it’ll take most of the day to reach Morocco. Plus, I’d recommend taking a pitstop for a day before actually crossing the Atlantic, to see if we can find anything usable. We’ll need to strap ourselves in, because crossing is going to take close to 24 hours, and sleep is going to not be an option. And, that’s just the general shit, I’m not including everything else that will without a doubt happen.”

“Everything else?” Octavian was honestly confused by the statement, and Leo looked over his shoulder and grinned evilly. “Not been out of the country, huh? You’re not in San Fran anymore, bub, there be monsters here like you’ve never seen.”

And there were. They’d spent a number of relatively quiet hours flying to reach land, happily uninterrupted hours, but as soon as they reached the port of Alexandria in Egypt, everything went to hell in a hand-basket. They found themselves clinging onto the dragon while making some rather intricate moves to dodge some weird sphinx like monstrosity that attacked them. It had multiple wings, multiple faces, and a good portion of it was lion. “Curses!” Octavian hissed. “I don’t have a weapon, give me a weapon!” “I thought you didn’t curse?” Leo laughed, and tossed a fireball at the thing, but it didn’t do much. “I don’t think I trust you that much. You have tried to kill me, what was it, you said 5 times?” “Yes, but I can’t now!” Octavian yelled in frustration. “Just give me something! Why does it look more Babylonian than Egyptian, it makes no sense!” Leo handed him a letter opener. If Octavian was the one with fire powers, Leo’s head would have likely gone up in flames with the strength of his glare. He threw it anyway, and it pierced the head of the monster, which fell to pieces of sand. Leo’s jaw dropped, and Octavian preened. “Shit, that was pretty cool. You throw knives?” Octavian nodded proudly, but felt a weird sensation as he watched Leo’s face turn into a smile. Embarrassment? No, surely not. “Okay, still hate you, but cool. I’m pretty sure Will can’t do that.” “Will?” Octavian frowned. “Who is that? Another jilted lover?” Leo’s face immediately turned to displeasure. “I’m 15 dude, I don’t have any lovers...jilted or otherwise. Will is one of the sons of Apollo, so, like…your half brother. But, Greek. So, like you, but infinitely better and less of a douche.” “Except he can’t throw knives?” Octavian called back with a smirk, and Leo quirked a brow in amusement or something else. “He’s a healer. I’ll take someone who helps people over one who destroys any day of the week, man.” “Your powers are the very epitome of destructive,” Octavian reminded him, and Leo looked away without responding. “I’m going to land, I need to repair Festus.” Leo sighed, patting on Festus and they began to descend into the outskirts of the busy African city. “No pithy comment?” Octavian said after they landed, and Leo shot him a look. “No snark? No general idiocy your people are so fond of?” “Wow,” Leo shook his head with a laugh, “if you say, ‘your people’ again…” “You’ll what?” Octavian challenged, stepping forward to cross the distance between them. They were both slim, but Octavian was older and taller by quite a bit. He stared down at Leo. “What will you do? You’re nothing.” A small breathy noise startled Octavian, who jerked back as Leo looked down at the ground and wiped at his face. “Oh, by the gods, are you crying?” Octavian stuttered out, horrified. He was not good with crying. “I…I didn’t, I mean...I-“ Leo looked up with a grin and completely tearless eyes, “gotcha.” Octavian opened and closed his mouth, and Leo patted him on the shoulder. “Word of advice? Anything you say to me? I’ve heard it already five times over, probably from my own family. That crying schtick? A trick I learned… at roughly age 9 to trick the nice foster families into giving me shit I wanted. And, my best friend is a daughter of Aphrodite, Venus, whatever. I’ve learned from the best.” Leo shoved a finger into Octavian’s chest, ignoring their size difference completely. “I may be nothing, but guess what? We’re both nothing.” Leo looked him straight in the eyes. “And, my guess? That bothers you a hell of a lot more than it bothers me.” Octavian said nothing as Leo stepped around him and moved to start fixing Festus. Didn’t say a word until night had fallen. But, then it was dark out, and Octavian realized he was hungry. Leo was still working on the bronze dragon, and hadn’t stopped. The dragon, with the stupidest name he’d ever heard, watched Octavian with some suspicion. Probably well warranted by now, having threatened his owner repeatedly.

“Do you have money?” Octavian fumbled about before just hitting himself and asking. Leo paused and looked up. “Why?”

“I want to go into town and get food and provisions, if you were intelligent, you would have realized that by now, but I suppose your people aren’t-“ Leo stood up and glared him down. “See, the thing that bugs me when you say that is I have no idea if you mean Greek demigods or if you mean Mexicans. But, knowing you, it’s probably both.”

Octavian tipped his chin up to sneer down at the shorter boy. “You think me so petty? You realize I served under Reyna, do you not?” “Yes,” Leo said without a moment of thinking about it. “You tried to overthrow her too, remember?” “I’m not racist,” Octavian ignored everything Leo said. It was true, after all. “I just think-“ “Nope,” Leo shook his head. “Nope, nuh uh, not happening, shut up and don’t finish that thought process. I’ll make you food, just stop talking.” Octavian paused, and glared silently, his feathers well ruffled by now. Leo sighed in relief, before sitting down on the sands, and pulling random items out of his belt. They surely couldn’t have all fit, so it was most likely enchanted. “I’m not racist,” Octavian said after a moment, and Leo looked at him like he was above to shove a fork through his eye, or would if he was able. “The man my mother married was a legacy of Mars, from Senegal. My half siblings are mixed race. You may think you know me, but you don’t.” “That doesn’t mean you’re not racist,” Leo said, chin in his hand, appraising Octavian. “But, I’m tired of arguing. What do you want to eat? Any food allergies? I’m curious if I can poison you.” “No,” Octavian rolled his eyes, and Leo snickered. “That,” Leo pointed. “Is the first time I’ve ever seen you act like an actual teenager.” “…I’m 18, I am an adult.” He’d waited long for the day, after all. To finally be respected as an adult, instead of a child. “No, you’re one cat away from being a movie villain.” Leo crossed his legs. “Maybe, if you were an actual teenager, you’d be less obsessed with glory and honor and all that and learn to have fun for once. 18 going on 68, more like.” “I have fun, and I want…,” Octavian nodded to himself in thought. “Yes, I’d like tacos. They’re a fun food, yes?” “Tacos? Man, you’re practically Latino now. l was so very wrong about you, Herr Octavian!” Octavian narrowed his eyes, “you realize that just means Mister or sir, right?” “I actually had no idea, I just wanted to imply you’re a Nazi.” Leo said happily. “Calm your tuts, I’ll make something good.” “It’s no surprise,” Octavian sniffed derisively, dusting away some sand from his tattered robes. “I’d imagine your education doesn’t go above elementary school.” “You’d be correct,” Leo smiled, he was visibly less amused and more visibly perturbed. “That’s what happens when you’re orphaned.” He started to mix ingredients in a bowl that Octavian was also not sure where came from. It didn’t seem like it could have been pulled from anywhere. The Greek held the bowl, with his hand lit in flames to cook it. When it was done, Leo handed over a steaming plate. It smelled good.

“I made paella. You good?” Octavian nodded, assuming he was asking if Octavian found the meal choice acceptable, and took a bite. It was very good. “It’s sad,” Octavian said after he was finished eating, and Leo looked at him tiredly as he was eating. “You Greeks, you have no support for one another.” “Remind me to spit in your food next time,” Leo looked exhausted, and put down the food he was eating. “It seems to me that the Romans are the ones who don’t give a shit the second someone starts thinking for themselves.” “You have no long term support systems for demigods,” Octavian ignored Leo, waving a finger as though he was scolding a child. “You have no businesses, no real communities that I could see. You’re a summer camp, no more, no less. What do you do for the children that have been orphaned?” “I don’t know, wasn’t at camp very long, ask Percy.” Leo looked away, thinking. “Why do you care?” “You’re, as much as I hate to admit this, a better chef than I was expecting, especially with no real cooking instruments. In New Rome, we would support these talents. Maybe, you could open a restaurant, or shop of some nature. But, what will you there, once you’re older? I noticed there were no demigods over the age of 25 that I could see. Do you all die? Pretend to be human, and live a constantly thre-“ “I don’t know!” Leo cut him off, looking quite angry. “I have no idea, okay? I wasn’t expecting to live this long.” “That’s the problem,” Octavian didn’t stop his lecture, standing up to pace. “None of you have any foresight. You’re hotheaded, idiotic, disrespectful, chaotic-” “I’m going to bed,” Leo stood up abruptly and walked around to the other side of Festus. Octavian rolled his eyes before he could catch himself. “Think about my suggestions,” Octavian called over before laying back on the warm sands himself, like he was doing Leo a favor.

“Get bit by an asp and go Cleopatra yourself, asshat.” Leo grumbled from his side, annoyance clear in his voice.

Octavian waited a moment, before speaking. “…It was actually an Egyptian Cobra, not the European Aspis. In fact, it was likely neither, but rather a respectable concoction of poisons. You should read more. It is a common, but still unacceptable mistake that uneducated individuals make. Building a library would be the first step-” Leo tossed a wrench at him, but it missed. Octavian was awoken in the early morning light by a foot prodding him in the stomach, it didn’t hurt, but it wasn’t a great way to wake up either. “You rude-“ “Save it, we need to get going. A storm is coming, and I really don’t want to get stuck with you any longer than possible.” Octavian stood up gingerly, and eyed Leo, who noticed and exhaled sharply. “What?” “I need to brush my teeth.” Leo threw him a small bottle of mouth wash and a tooth brush, and while Octavian was mildly disgusted, it was better than nothing. He’d never had a cavity before, his teeth were in his opinion, flawless. He didn’t want to ruin that now.

They set off once again, but could see clouds in the distance. They were dark reds and beige and gray, with bright flashes of gold. “Beautiful,” Octavian breathed out, as the wind began whipping. “I’ve never seen anything like it.” “Yeah, well, it shouldn’t be there,” Leo eyed the same clouds with some trepidation. He hadn’t seen any weather forecasts in town that mentioned anything like it. “Another monster?” Octavian asked, and Leo tilted his head and bit a worrying lip. “I honestly don’t know…but, something tells me it isn’t that simple.” They flew until night fall, but managed to reach Morocco. The storm they saw had vanished once they left Egypt, which made Leo all the more paranoid. He hadn’t stopped fidgeting and tapping the entire way, and it was driving Octavian up the metaphorical wall. “Do you think there are others?” Leo asked in a rare moment of openness, looking like an actual uncertain 15 year old, in a way that bothered Octavian for some reason. “Other what?” “Gods,” Leo answered. “We have…Greeks, Romans…but, are there more than us?” “Egyptians, you mean?” Octavian was easily able to piece together the source of the boys discontent and pondered the question for a moment. “It’s plausible. There are Roman gods that are not versions of Greek. Greek, that have no dual Roman forms. If there are entirely separate deities in those situations, then it is likely that there are others.” Leo looked at him seriously for once, eyes searching his face, his posture. “Doesn’t that scare you?” “No,” Octavian answered honestly. “It doesn’t. Gods are not my concern; Rome is, my people are.” Leo shook his head and looked away, “aren’t we all?” “What?” Octavian asked, confused. This Graecus was more confounding than Jackson had been, who was simply like a fly that he wished to swat. “Demigods,” Leo said, looking back at him. “Don’t we have more in common than we have different? Aren’t we all your people then? Shouldn’t we support one another? Support systems, like you said. Communities.” “I-“ Octavian wasn’t sure how to reply. In fact, he was mostly taken back by the fact Leo had evidently given his suggestions some consideration the night before. Leo seemed to realize what Octavian was thinking, “you were right, maybe not how you meant, but ...it's true. As much as I really hate you.”

Octavian was very conflicted now. “We have no way to help each other, not really, not at Camp Half Blood. A satyr either gets us to camp when we’re young, or they don’t.” Leo swallowed hard, looking off into the distance. “Before that, we’re just…with our human families, or alone. There are probably more of us alone, than not.” “Or in foster care,” Octavian added, remembering what Leo had said the previous day. The curly haired boy looked back at him and nodded. “In foster care, or worse,” Leo said. “It isn’t fair to us, or our parents, to be so vulnerable. How many mothers, fathers, siblings, have been killed…because we’re demigods? How many kids around the world?” “I don’t know,” Octavian answered after a moment. “I don’t know. If the numbers are similar world wide, then…thousands? Hundreds of thousands, even.”

“I don’t like that,” Leo said firmly. “You can go back to New Rome, deal with your people, but like I said. You’re right. I think we should have support. Or, in another generation, once me and all my friends are long dead, we’ll get another Luke.” “Luke?” Octavian echoed, he thought he had heard the name before but wasn’t sure where. “Luke Castellan, I wasn’t around then either, but he was the one who started the Titan war.” Leo explained, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “One guy thinks the Gods don’t care, that’s fine, but when 50, 100, hundreds do…” Octavian hadn’t really experienced this before, being told he was right while being told he was wrong, feeling vindicated and chastised. “R-Rome can,” Octavian started shakily, jutting out his chin once again in a shadow of his more prideful boasts. “We can…support others. But, under our ways.” Leo sighed, shaking his head and mumbling something under his breath. “That isn’t support, it’s oppression. Have you ever considered that you only think your ways are the right ways because you were born to it?”

“That sounded very Disney-esque of you,” Octavian deflected, and turned away. “I’m going to get firewood.” Leo looked at him wearily as he left. “You…don’t need to,” Leo said to himself, rolling his eyes and moving back to Festus. “I’m literally made of fire. Fucking asshole.” The next morning, they spent their time flying closer towards the Horn, until touching down outside a Senegalese market. Octavian actually seemed rather happy for once with this particular pitstop. Like, actually happy and not sneery smirky “happy”. It was odd for Leo to witness. “You actually like your stepfather, don’t you?” Leo asked curiously, after Octavian got done speaking to a shop owner. “He’s preferable to my mother,” Octavian answered. “They’re both doctors, but his work actually matters.” “Is there a doctor who does meaningless work?” Leo asked, laughing in astonishment. “Like, what does that even mean?”

“It means she’s a psychologist,” Octavian said with a huff and crossed arms. “My stepfather is a neurosurgeon. He saves lives, she talks.” Leo stared at him like he saw something particularly disgusting on the floor of a mens bathroom, brows together and lips drawn back into a frown. “Doesn’t she, I don’t know, help people with mental health problems?” Octavian scoffed at the very concept, and Leo threw his arms up and walked away. Later, Octavian showed back up with bags full of herbs and spices and what looked like a headband. “Ladies appreciated my skill in speaking their language, and gave me gifts.” Leo rolled his eyes, and muttered something about them probably trying to get him to leave. “What are you doing?” “Trying to contact my friends,” Leo said, looking disappointingly into the fountain they had met back up at. The water gave nothing back to him. “I’ve been trying, but I haven’t been able to get through by any means. I even used a phone booth. Just static. Nothing in Alexandria, nothing in Morocco, nothing here either. “ Octavian walked over and sat next to him and looked into waters. “Let me try, I’m an augur. I have a more natural line to the Gods, than someone like yourself who spits in the face of our customs and rules.”

It didn’t work for him either. “I need a live chicken,” Octavian glared into the fountain. “And a ceremonial dagger.” “Nnnope,” Leo stood up, drying his hands off on his shirt. “No blood sacrifices, I put my foot down at blood sacrifices.” “You’re being unreasonable,” Octavian followed suit in standing, attempting to use his height as an advantage once again. “I guess that shouldn’t be surprising given your people-“Leo grabbed him by the shirt and shoved him hard into the fountain. It didn’t hurt, there was no injury or pain involves in the matter, but he was now soaking wet. So Octavian rushed up and grabbed the other boy and hauled him in with him. It was childish, but they ended up shoving and splashing and just generally making idiots of themselves until Octavian noticed Leo was laughing. That was not what Octavian had intended, he was planning on more of a near-drowning. Then, he noticed they were very close, and Leo’s palm was on his chest and his own hand was on Leo’s waist and everything froze. Octavian swallowed hard, and Leo met his eyes curiously. Big, dark brown eyes. “Hey, you boys,” someone called to them and Octavian thanked every deity he could name that he was saved before losing composure. “You need to stop,” a young woman said in English with an accent. “I’m apologize,” Octavian said back, in Wolof. She looked surprised, but smiled. “I don’t mind,” she said in her own language, “but some others here might not approve of two boys doing that together. I think young love is precious.” Octavian felt bile in his throat. He glanced over at Leo, who was brushing a curl of wet hair out of his eyes. The warm mid day light hit the water just right and reflected sunlight back onto Leo’s stomach and cheeks. His normally loose dirty off white tank top was wet and clinging and very nearly see through. The reflections of water looked like soft gold on his skin. “Oh no,” Octavian whispered, and got a weary look from his forced travel companion. He was 15, Octavian told himself. 15 and Greek. It was extremely unsightly, inappropriate, not to mention possibly illegal to harbor unfortunate emotional attachments to- “What? That stick almost fall out of your ass after having fun for 5 minutes?” Leo grinned toothily, and Octavian realized that he did in fact hate Leo Valdez. "No? What a shame."

#fanfiction #mypjofanfiction #pjo fanfic #hoo octavian #pjo Octavian #octavian #Leo Valdez #leotavian

19 notes · View notes

spinningsidetable · 6 years ago

Text

Gentleman 2/3

Pairing: Octavian/Leo Valdez (leotavian)

Warning/Genre: Genre/Warning: AU, No Godly Parents, Spy Shit, Action Movie Parody, Non-Linear Story Telling, Admittedly Unhealthy Relationship, Descriptions of Violence, Dubious Consent Smooching, Sexual Situations,“Humor”

Rating: Mature

Summary: Leo has worked for the Agency for awhile now, the guy in the chair helping Agents save the world and all that, but now it seems like an actual supervillain is enamored with him.

(Notes: Sexual situations in this chapter, which will probably get the story flagged by tumblr. or maybe it won’t care, and just continue to mark pictures of my geckos as porn.)

Leo blearily opened his eyes and found himself in a familiar room. White plaster walls, deep red accents, and ancient looking columns on the veranda overlooking a lush garden. It would put the hanging gardens of Babylon to shame, or so Octavian had told Leo once. Leo didn’t know anything about plants, or the outdoors, or what it had to do with that show Babylon 5. But, it was really pretty. The whole base had a classic feel to it, like you’d been removed out of time, or if you had been transported into a bad series on the unfortunately named History Channel. Octavian had a weird thing for age-old Roman things, like conquest and domination. It was partly why no one was entirely sure if his name was Octavian from birth or not. It could have just been a complicated reference to Caesar Augustus, founder of Rome. The current theories about Octavian’s motives were world domination, or at least the creation of a new military state, a New Rome, but it hadn’t ever been confirmed. No one had much on him to go off, no known history, no paper trails, nothing. Just a love of gladiator movies, very presumably BDSM, and apparently Babylon 5. “Ugh,” Leo groaned, turning to grab the aspirin and glass of water he knew would be on the side table. “I should just move some shit in, spare clothes, maybe a toothbrush. I seem to be here often enough…” “I agree, mi amor.” Octavian said, reading from a book at the foot of the bed. Leo also knew he’d be there. “In fact, I believe we should get married. We’ve been dating for quite some time, now. What kind of ring do you want? I have access to an asteroid.” “I’m sorry to break this to you, but we’re actually not dating at all. Not even a little bit. Also, I can’t physically give you any heirs.” Leo sighed, running a hand through his hair. It wasn’t as messy as it usually was, but Octavian usually brushed it while Leo was out for the count. Leo’d never admit Octavian speaking specifically Spanish did things to him. “That’s something crazy dictators want, right? Bunch of heirs?” “Mm, ignoring adoption or surrogates, all we’d just need a host uterus, artificial or otherwise. My people have developed a way to combine the DNA of two men or two women within an artificial egg.” Octavian turned the page, like he wasn’t a supervillain bent on world domination (presumably) “Granted, I don’t particularly care about any heirs. It is possible though.” “Wait,” Leo held up a hand, realization dawning on him. “…Did Larry and Mark finally have kids?” “Mhmm,” Octavian closed the book, looking up at Leo with a pleasant (non-manic) smile on his face. “They’re trying.” “Oh my god, I’m so happy for them!” Leo’d really gotten to know a few of his guards by now. “I’m still not marrying you though, you just blew a hole in an aircraft carrier. That being said, I do also want access to an asteroid, would I get half of it if we got married?” Octavian shrugged a shoulder, never concerned. “I have a sneaking suspicion the military industrial complex will recover, for now. However, I am glad to hear you’ve changed your mind about my so-called manipulation via…how did you put it, sweet talk? I’m glad to hear you think it’s sweet.” Leo faltered, pushing the blankets off and getting out of bed. Silk pajamas, always the best. “That’s…” Leo had forgotten about that. That was right. He remembered the looks on Reyna’s face, on Piper’s and Jason’s. “…If I agreed to marry you, but I promised to never tell you a single secret about the Agency, about Jason, or about anything that could in anyway help you with any of your plans…you’re telling me you’d…be okay with that?” “Oh, mo ghaol, I’ve never assumed you’d tell me anything. Have I ever asked? Threatened you? Hurt you in any way?” Octavian stood, and came to Leo’s side. He raised a hand to Leo’s face, fingers resting causally at Leo’s neck and thumb rubbing small circles into his cheek. “I adore you.” “Why, though?” Leo looked at the floor, away from Octavian’s face. “I’m just…” “Brilliant, smart, handsome, clever, funny, beautiful, talented…” Octavian finished for him, tone slightly chastising, but in a fond way. “Yes, I have no idea.” “I’m 5’2, I’m a tooth pick, I’ve got like a mole on my forehead I keep covered with hair because I’m a little scared it might be an absorbed twin, because it’s got like this massive whisker in it I pluck secretly. And then I say things like that when I’m nervous…” Octavian laughed, shaking his head. “Your size is convenient, cute even; you still have a good deal of upper body strength, your muscles are toned even if you’re slim. And, you have a beauty mark. You’re interesting, and funny. It’s not like I’m particularly muscular either. I think you called me a murderous scarecrow for half a year.” Leo groaned and flopped back down onto the bed, “I still have braces, Octavian!” “It’s respectable that you care about oral hygiene,” Octavian responded with a shrug, kneeling down to the ground between Leo’s legs. He looked like a knight, bowing before his king. “I understand why the Agency may think I have ulterior motives; admittedly, you would be a great target. But, like I said, I truly adore you solnyshka. In time, you’ll accept that, because I believe you already know deep down that I’m telling the truth.” The Brazilian government had apparently covered up the fact that they had recently discovered a massive underground temple. It was a lost holy place for numerous native Brazilian tribes, but the current regime didn’t want to award any more protection of land over to the native peoples. Why? Because of course they didn’t. That would mean they couldn’t strip it for resources, who cared about history, preservation, or other cultures in the face of cold hard cash? The Agency was tasked with keeping peace, and with further private exploration of the temple before the government got to work. The entire place was still majorly unknown, the exact size and scale was a mystery. No one was entirely sure who built it even. Leo and another tech Rachel, were the grunts that were sent down into the terrifying and dark abyss with just flashlights and backpacks. They’d spent a week developing an advanced mapping system, that could create a 3D rendering of any hidden passages and tunnels. But, they had to place a few probes in the temple first at strategic points for it to work, which meant having to be there in person first. Two Agents accompanied them, Agent di Angelo and Agent Levesque. They were apparently the only ones willing to go spelunking with the tech-y desk jockeys. Leo would have preferred Jason, but he knew the guy was terrified of enclosed spaces underground. These two didn’t seem to be bothered by it in the slightest. The two Agents hadn’t talked much at first, but eventually Levesque and Rachel got on like wildfire. Di Angelo wasn’t so friendly, and when it came time to split up, Leo was disappointed he got stuck with the angry emo Agent baby, instead of the stupidly hot spy lady. Agent di Angelo only got angrier for some reason when Leo said as much. They had been walking throughout the tunnels in the cavernous temple for about an hour, when Leo and his babysitter came across an old rope bridge to the other side of the cave system they were in. It was too big to jump across, but Leo needed to get to the other side to place a probe. “Hey, too spooky?” Leo grinned, turning to the Agent who grimaced at said nickname. “Have you ever heard why the lion crossed the bridge?” “What are you talking about- Hey!” Leo was already darting across the bridge, backwards, big hefty backpack and all. He could feel it creaking and cracking under his feet, but Leo made it safely. “To get to the other side! Get it?” Leo called over, cupping his hands around his mouth. Agent di Angelo flipped him off. “That’s not very professional! Come on! It’s totally safe!” The rope bridge promptly snapped and collapsed into the nothingness below. “I rescind that! Don’t do it!” Agent Angel whipped out a comm and seemed to be having a very tense conversation with someone on the other line as he paced back and forth, his light moving around the room. “Hey, it’s fine, buddy!” Leo yelled. “I’ll just go plant the other probe, while you get like a ladder or something! Not like anything else is down here! You know, besides snakes, and spiders, and scorpions and other totally natural things that could kill me!” An hour or two later and Leo was increasingly worried there really was nothing down here. The temple seemed to be built into an existing cave system, which could theoretically be hundreds of miles long. It was just endless amounts of rock and water dripping and bats and bugs. Leo was getting tired, and hungry, so when he heard voices and the reflections of light in the distance, he couldn’t help himself. He bolted towards the commotion, waving his flashlight. “HEY! I’m so glad you-“ Leo found himself in a large cave opening, surrounded by men and women in black attire, now all pointing guns at his face. Octavian stood in the middle, eyebrow raised, and a manic smile beginning to overtake his expression. “Oh boy. I am lost. I am but a poor lost…Brazilian person. I got a bit turned around back there, I’ll just…turn around and go the other way.” “Don’t shoot,” Octavian waved a hand. “I know this little vagalume.” As Octavian walked forward towards sweaty, filthy, gross covered Leo, and the crowds parted around Octavian like he was some kind of God. Supervillains sure knew how to make an impact. “My, my, why are you here, meu querido?” Octavian’s smile was dangerous, and the flashlight casting shadows just accentuated the madness. “The Agency must know something, if they’re willing to send you in.” “I, uh,” Leo was flustered, his sweat sticking his hair to his forehead. “…Searched my soul? And found you!” Octavian laughed, coming close enough to rest his hand on Leo’s cheek. “Well, you weren’t what we were looking for, but I can’t say I’m displeased.” He turned to the men closest to him, “leve-o de volta ao acampamento.” Leo yelped as he was grabbed and thrown over a shoulder. “What the fuck did you just say?! Octavian! Hey! Why are we in the one South American country I can’t speak the language of! Oi, hablar español por favor-” “I hate you, I hate you so much, oh my god.” Leo gasped, moving up and down, his hands clenched into the headboard behind Octavian’s stupid face. Leo was sweating so much, it was disgusting. Had he sweat this much the first time he had had sex? No, Leo was pretty sure he had gotten in the girl, whimpered, and collapsed to the side pretty much immediately. “Do you want to stop?” Octavian grinned up at him knowingly, his own hands on Leo’s lower hips stopped encouraging him. Leo’s thighs were burning, his abdominal muscles were tensed almost the entire time. He needed Octavian’s help to keep going, to keep moving. Leo was already shaky after extended foreplay, he had already spent holding himself up on his arms and knees as the villain decided to take his time and use his tongue. “I will actually kill you if you stop,” one of Leo’s hands left the headboard to dig into Octavian’s scalp and pull him forward for a messy kiss. The angle shifted Leo away from riding the cock inside him, to just rocking back and forth in a needy manner. He needed more momentum, the pressure was good, it was so good, but he needed more. It didn’t help that Octavian had a hand around his cock, with just enough pressure at the base of the shaft that Leo couldn’t find the release he was looking for. He wasn't stroking it, he wasn't doing anything that Leo needed. He was being an actual cocktease. “I will remove your windpipe I swear to god, I refuse to be a pump and dump,” Leo pulled away, nipping just slightly at Octavian’s lower lip. “Octavian, come on, estoy loco por ti, te necesito. Please?” Octavian’s eyes were normally very light blue, but right now Octavian’s pupils were blown wide and black. He flipped Leo over onto his back. “Anything for you, the entire world for you.” Maybe he was easy, Leo thought, sprawled out in bed that night. 16 kidnappings were all it took for him to go full Stockholm Syndrome. Octavian was asleep next to him, completely defenseless, if you didn’t count the armed guards outside and the whole island fortress thing. “Poor thing, wore himself out”, Leo whispered as he reached over and pushed a few pieces of hair away from the man’s forehead. Granted, Leo had fully passed the fuck out after their romp as well, he just woke up sooner. The benefits of horrific insomnia, not even 3 orgasms could keep him asleep for long. “Oh my god, I slept with a supervillain,” Leo flopped back down onto his pillow. The thread count on these sheets was ridiculous. “Repeatedly.” “Mm, was I at least a gentlemen?” Octavian’s voice was somewhat rough from sleep, and probably from the blowjob, but he was awake enough to throw and arm around Leo’s side and pull him close. “Very much so,” Leo whispered back, shoving his face into Octavian’s neck. “Maybe…I can be the…uh, gentleman next time?” Octavian had a great dick, just perfect. Hit all the spots. Looked good, felt fucking fantastic. But, he also was pretty in his own way, and had a nice ass. Leo wanted in it. “Whatever you wish, mi amor. I look forward to it.” Octavian pulled Leo in closely, kissing his forehead. He really was a gentleman. Octavian then swung a leg over Leo, and straddled his waist. “Wait, right now?” “We are going to fucking die!” Leo screamed at the scarecrow on stilts. “I refuse to die because a piece of anthropomorphized spaghetti with a God complex kidnapped me!” Octavian looked mildly annoyed at the insult, or maybe just the fact Leo had been yelling nonstop for about five minutes. Octavian rarely looked particularly bothered by anything Leo did or said, so he must have been fairly stressed out. “We’re not going to die from this,” Octavian glanced at his passenger, who hadn’t put down a small metal lighter. “We might die if you burn up all our oxygen, however.” Leo’s eyes narrowed, and he flicked the lighter shut. “Don’t talk to me like I’m stupid, Julius Caesar. Your navigation system is shot, your craft is taking on water, and the control panel is fucking glitching halfway to Siberia. You did this, this is your fault. I’m smaller than you, when we inevitably die horrifically here, I want to at least survive long enough to see you die first. You’ll need oxygen before I do.” “No,” Octavian corrected, clenching his jaw. “Your Agency did this by sabotaging my submersible, knowing fully well you were aboard. So much for loyalty.” Leo rolled his eyes, and threw his legs up on the console, as they were starting to get soggy. “No, they didn’t. I’m too valuable. They’d still be stuck with tech from the 50’s if it wasn’t for my ass. Say, how painful would it be to get eaten by sharks?” “Probably very,” Octavian grabbed one of Leo’s feet and tossed it off the machinery. “You know very little about the organization you work for, apparently. They track all assets.” “Uh, yeah, no shit. I removed that crap forever ago.” Leo gestured at a small scar on his arm. “So, again, back to being your fault. You, alone, used a submersible to kidnap me. In my fucking pajamas!” They were classic teenage mutant ninja turtles, Leo had told Octavian. “I thought it would be…” The madman, for once, appeared to be struggling to find the words. “Romantic. Moonlit dinner, with nothing but the ocean around us.” Leo looked in the back of the compartment, at the nearly cliché picnic box and bottle of wine. There were even fucking roses. “Goddammit. Move, you asshat.” Leo got out of his seat, and pushed Octavian to the edge of his own, sitting beside him. Octavian looked at him curiously, but Leo was already starting to fiddle with the console controls. It didn’t look like much was happening. “If we are to die here, then I can’t say I mind the company,” Octavian admitted, only to get flipped off. “…Leonardo was always my favorite ninja turtle.” Leo sat up sharply, looking directly at the man. “Where the fuck are you from?! I swear to Christ, how do you speak 500 languages, yet know TMNT? Ain’t no one in American public school systems do word good.” “Maybe I was raised by a giant rat in the New York city sewers?” Octavian offered, with a smirk. “Who knows. You know, I know some about your past. You were doing extremely advanced mathematics in elementary school. You make fun of my education, but you’re obviously brilliant yourself, in fields and ways much more advanced than I.” “I hate you, leave me alone, I’m working.” Leo’s face was slightly red as he grumbled but turned back to the display. “…I expect more than a picnic when I save your pasty white butt.” “Of course, mój drogi.” The water had gotten uncomfortably close to the electrical equipment, but it had only taken Leo a few minutes before the submersible was back in some amount of working order. It would still sink, it was taking on far too much water with no way of repairing physical damage like that, but at least now they could deploy the emergency raft. Within five minutes, they were sitting in a black and red raft. It wasn’t small or flimsy, thankfully. Leo had enough room to fully stretch out on the blanket that had been in the picnic basket. Octavian had made a call to his men, it was likely they’d be there within the hour, but for the time… Octavian laid down beside the shorter man, staring up at the stars. “I guess it is kind of romantic. Maybe not the impending threat of death so much, but it is pretty out here. There’s not as much pollution out here…the stars are really bright.” Leo pointed at a few, “do you know any constellations?” Octavian did, so instead of answering, sat up on his elbow and leaned over to kiss the mechanic. Leo jerked backwards, eyes wide. “What the hell, did you just kiss me?” Octavian kissed him again, before pulling back and looking mighty pleased with himself. “I hate you, that’s such a breach of my personal space, it is completely uncalled for.” Leo ranted before he was grabbing the back of Octavian’s head and pulling him in for another.

#fanfiction #mypjofanfiction #pjo fanfic #pjo Octavian #hoo octavian #octavian #Leo Valdez #leotavian

4 notes · View notes

spinningsidetable · 6 years ago

Note

Hi. I've read a lot of your stories on archive of our own (and I have to say I LOVE them!). I was wondering if you still plan on continuing them?

Oh no oh yikes when was this sent? I'm sorry or, alternatively, hello

The answer is it depends on the story?? If there's one in particular you like, let me know. As it stands I'm trying to work on a bunch at a time like a moron.

0 notes

spinningsidetable · 6 years ago

Text

Gentleman: 1/3

Pairing: Octavian/Leo Valdez (leotavian)

Rating: Mature

Summary: Leo has worked for the Agency for awhile now, the guy in the chair helping Agents save the world and all that, but now it seems like an actual supervillain is enamored with him.

(Notes: I'm condensing this, so long story short and all that, this isn't meant to be a healthy ideal relationship, it was born entirely out of American action movie tropes. I'm going to trust those reading this are adults and able to tell reality from fiction.)

“It’s the perfect plan!” Leo exclaimed, slamming his hand down on the blueprints in front of the group. “I know it’ll work. Because, I mean, I came up with it. When have my plans ever gone bad?”

Jason and Piper exchanged a look, as did virtually everyone else in the room, including grunts in the background working on machinery.

“I…well, let’s spitball some other thoughts, maybe?” Jason spoke slowly, as though he didn’t want to spook a small animal. Or, small Leo that was.

“Right! Let’s maybe revisit that miniature drone idea?” Piper offered, looking to some other people behind her who seemed to catch on and began nodding animatedly.

“Oh- oh, yeah! The drones!”

“That’s a good idea!”

“Great job, Leo!”

Leo’s eyes narrowed in suspicion. “I thought we already established that he had EMP devices set up around the perimeter of the base, so we can’t get in any drones, micro or otherwise.”

“Oh,” Piper’s face fell. “Well. Maybe underwater drones? I’m sure Percy could-“

Percy was sitting up on a desk behind Leo and shook his head very animatedly, throwing up a big NO with hand signs.

“Right, so, my plan is the best.” Leo said slowly, looking around the room. “Right?”

Piper bit her lip and looked pleadingly up at Jason. Hero Jason. Crime fighting, evil syndicate breaking up Hero. Leo’s best friend since freshman year of high school, Jason.

“It’s just…we’re worried about you, Leo.” Horrible liar, Jason.

“It could go wrong, really quickly.”

Leo rolled his eyes, tapping the laser pointer in his left hand against the desk. The whole presentation with slides had taken 25 minutes.

“He’s never hurt me before, Jason, come on. You know this is our best chance to get in the compound and plant the virus. This is the only way we can save those congressmen!...Or was it senators this time?”

Leo hadn't really cared one way or the other, only skimming through the documents. All he knew was he hadn’t, and wouldn't, vote for the guys.

“Is it though? Is seducing a supervillain really the best way?” Grover asked, slightly nervous. Then again, a lot of secret agents tended to have a nervous or paranoid disposition.

Leo threw his hands up, exasperated. “In this specific situation?! YES! Look, like I said, he’s never hurt me. Come on guys, I’ve always just been…the repair guy, the guy in the chair. But, this one crazy asshole seems to be in love with me, so let me do the super-secret spy shit for once! Instead of Jason, or Reyna, or Percy!”

“…But he’s not in love with you.” Annabeth said, frowning, before being shushed and chided by about five people. “What? He’s not.”

“Uhhh,” Leo paused, before he laughed incredulously. Were they all crazy? Had they met the guy?

“Yes, he is? He’s tried to capture me like…fifteen times now? He calls me all sorts of pet names in like…so many different languages? He poured me a glass of wine from the 1700’s for fucks sake!”

There was complete silence, besides a nervous cough by a soldier in the back.

“…What?”

“Don’t…you think, maybe…that’s a little suspicious?” Piper asked, her voice going down to calm soothing mode. “That the bad guy would target…you?”

Leo frowned, glancing down at himself and back up. Rude. “Why?”

“Because you’re a weak link,” Reyna huffed finally having had enough. Jason hissed something at the female captain, looking more like an upset bird more than a 6’2 blond superman.

“Shush, Grace. Look, you’re Jason’s friend. Which means you have more information on him than anyone else besides Piper. You’re also in charge of our engineering and online resources, which means taking you out of the equation is important. Plus, you probably have connections to virtually every world leader, through your contacts at the Agency. He’s not going to chance taking Piper again, not after the first time he tried to kidnap her, Jason nearly brought down half a mountain.”

The first time Jason had met Piper, the girl had discovered for herself a secretive plot to kidnap and use major film and media stars. She had broken into a closed off building she suspected was involved, high up in the alps and ended up captured. Jason (and a whole team, but mostly Jason) had been sent in to extract her. The lovestruck blond idiot fell head over heels, nearly cost them the mission, if it hadn’t been for Piper’s quick thinking. She had been part of the group ever since.

Reyna looked Leo up and down, unimpressed. She’d led a black Ops group for over half a decade now, and Leo never seemed to give proper distance and caution to herself and her team. The engineer had gotten himself high clearance just from being associated with Jason Grace. It wasn’t like he underestimated her, or treated her poorly, but the kid lived in a bubble of his own creation. Everything was at least partly a game to him. Leo was either often dangerously flippant or damn near suicidal. Or, that’s what it seemed like. If he wanted to be an Agent, he’d have to learn now. He couldn't continue to assume he and Jason could buddy cop their way through things like a bad B movie.

“You, Valdez? You’re the easy target. You have no romantic affiliation. You’re not physically strong enough to stop him; and you’re apparently extremely gullible for a smart person.”

Jason was pinching his nasal bridge by the time Reyna had finished speaking, while Piper was looking resolutely anywhere besides Leo.

Leo blinked, and opened his mouth, before closing it. “That…That’s not. No, he’s…he tells me he’s-”

“Attracted to you? No offense, but you’re far from the most attractive man on this vessel. You’re not even the most attractive gay short man in this room.”

Nico, behind Reyna seemed to connect the dots, and frowned. “Was that a compliment or-“

“Look, Leo, we appreciate the offer, really.” Piper pushed Reyna to the side slightly, shooting her a look. “But, we…should probably look for …other options, okay.?

“I’m bi,” Leo said hollowly. “I’m not gay.”

“Leo, don’t make this into something it isn’t.” Jason exhaled sharply out of his nose. “You really don’t want to have a supervillain attracted to you. I get it, the guys weird, it's confusing…look, come on, let's brainstorm something else. I'm sure you still have half a dozen other ideas.”

“You…all agree with her?” Leo shook his head, as something in his chest clenched. Did they think so little of him? “You think he’s just…trying to get information out of me? Because I’m some…naïve, weak, loveless idiot?”

No one said anything more, so Leo laughed to himself. This was like all highschool and college all over again. “Okay, wow. Fine. Whatever.”

“Leo-“ Jason started, but Leo turned to leave the ready room.

“No, it’s fine. I’ll just go back to engineering. You’re right, obviously, you’re always right, aren’t you?” The door slammed behind him.

“Fuck that,” Leo hissed, stomping down the small metal corridors on the aircraft carrier. He muttered to himself the entire way, ignoring the looks he got from seamen.

“So what if I’m not…Nico, or Jason, or Percy. Maybe I’m his type?” Leo had, as far as Leo knew, never been anyone’s type, but that didn’t matter. One girl in 9th grade described him as an over eager gerbil.

"Okay, so maybe Reyna has a point, I’d be useful to his evil schemes – but that just means I’m smart! Smart is sexy, right? That’s probably a kink right, like bibliosexual or something? He probably just appreciates my abilities on multiple levels! It’s not like he only became interested in me when he found out who I was in relation to Jason!” Wait, that’s exactly what had happened, wasn’t it? Leo stopped dead in the middle of a hallway.

“Oh god, she’s right, isn’t she?” Leo stewed in his own angst for a minute, before deciding to say fuck it and just return to his room. He continued to grumble, passing by some of the same soldiers who sent him increasingly odd looks until he reached his room.

“Of course, who would be attracted to Leo Valdez? I can’t even have a singular supervillain?” He slammed that door for emphasis too.

“Well, I may know of one. Hello, passerotto mio.”

Leo froze, he unfortunately knew that voice quite well, before turning cautiously. Sure enough, a young man sat on his bed, legs crossed in a very nice black suit. He was taller than Jason, but slimmer in figure, with a head of immaculate pale blonde hair. His tone was soft and casual, but his pale blue eyes were always intense.

“Octavian,” Leo said slowly. “How the fuck did you get in here?”

Octavian stood up, nearly having to crouch in the small rooms within the aircraft carrier. He held a hand over his heart, and sighed. “I searched for you in my soul, amore, and found you here.”

“Haha. Don't make fun of me. Okay, that’s bullshit.” Leo held up a finger and pointed at the ground. “I mean, here, in my room? In the exceptionally well defended aircraft military carrier in the middle of the fucking nowhere Pacific Ocean, without anyone noticing?”

Octavian smiled, which was always a bit disturbing, because he looked slightly (understatement) manic at times.

“Maybe I’m from an underwater civilization, like Atlantis; or, maybe I have private submarine, radar shielding… and I’m sorry to tell you this, but not everyone on this ship is so…sympathetic to your friends causes.”

Bad, that was very bad, really very bad news. They had turncoats, spies. Everyone on board was in danger. Leo needed to stall the man, as best as possible. Jason or Piper would likely come to check on him after a bit.

“That’s…got to be some really good radar shielding, to hide from this ship.” Leo said slowly, leaning up against the door.

Octavian walked closer. This man had toppled small governments, created rebellions, killed politicians and businessmen. “…Want to tell me how it works?”

“Oh, I’d love to, but I’m afraid my tech knowledge isn’t anywhere near as advanced as yours, lux vitae meae.” Octavian was close enough to smell his cologne. He smelled good, he always smelled good; Leo smelled like engine grease usually. Leo didn't know anything about cologne, but Octavian’s was never overpowering, it was the kind you wanted to lean in closer to sniff, next to their body.

“I can always ask my people for the tech details. If you’d stay with me until morning, I’d love to tell you over breakfast.”

“Latin this time?” Leo’s ears were heating up, and he fanned himself. “Boy, just jumping right to it, huh?”

A small smirk tipped up the corner of Octavian’s lips, “I’d be a perfect gentleman.”

Nervous laughter bubbled up in Leo’s throat. A gentleman supervillain. Ridiculous.

“That’s…great and all,” Leo stuttered over a few words. “But…the jig is up, you know. I’m…wise to you. If you think I’m some…weak link, you’re wrong.”

Octavian’s brows furrowed just ever so slightly.

“Yeah,” Leo nodded to himself, feeling mildly emboldened in the face of death. “I’m never going to tell you anything about Jason, or any codes, or anything about my machines! You can sweet talk all you want, but I’m not that naïve!” Yes, he was. Apparently. “You can drop the act, you’re not tricking anyone.”

“Tricking you?” Octavian repeated slowly. “With….sweet talk?”

“Yup,” Leo popped the p, taking a step forward away from the door. He shoved a finger into Octavian’s chest, who looked down at it, amusement clearly growing on his face. It was a familiar look, like the first time they met.

“We both know you don’t have the hots for me. Look at me. I’m…not even the hottest short gay guy on the boat.” Leo faltered slightly, trying to repeat Reyna’s words. Would Octavian go after Nico next? Mitchell? Mitchell was kind of an asshole, so Leo hoped not. Octavian could do better- wait, he was a mass murderer.

“I see.” Octavian grabbed up Leo’s hand and kissed his knuckles. “Says who?”

Leo’s brain stopped functioning. “Buh, what wait? I-…everyone apparently?”

Octavian peppered kisses down his hand, to his fingers. “Ah, and who is everyone? When did this happen? You used to be so fiery, telling me you could never be with a man like me…Now, you believe I’m lying?”

“I-..I…” Leo’s eyes were focused on the pale hand around his own tan one. He still had dirt and grime on his hands, but that didn’t seem to matter. It never seemed to matter. In fact the more filthy Leo was, the more interested Octavian acted.

“They…told me my plan was bad…”

Octavian paused, looking Leo in the eyes. “Plan?”

“I…was going to offer myself up to you, seduce you, and then plant a virus?” Leo laughed, awkwardly trying to pull his hand back. “I’m guessing you would have just tortured and killed me, huh?”

Octavian’s eyes had dilated, and his head tilted just slightly to the side. “Seduced me? How so?”

Leo flushed. “Man, I don’t know. You know, I only have spy movies to go off of? I guess… wear something skimpy, get all up close and personal, but put off sex until I can drug you asleep? Something like that? Do they make poison lipstick, or is that just a TV comic book thing?”

Teeth nipped at Leo’s finger tip, just slightly, before Octavian answered in a rough voice. “If you think I would kill you for that, you’re very mistaken. And, while I can’t possibly object to you in less clothing, I find you quite seductive as you are.”

Leo looked down at his grungy white tank top and brown oil stained jogger type shorts. “Okay, now I’m really starting to realize how full of shit you are. Drop the act-”

He was cut off, by getting pushed against the door. Lips met his in a demanding kiss, while hips pressed against Leo’s stomach gave away the fact maybe he wasn’t so full of bullshit. Octavian was hard, not fully, but enough that butterflies in Leo’s stomach began to flutter. Leo’d never been with a man before, he’d barely been with a woman. He’d spent ages 16-23 essentially as Jason’s weird sidekick. They’d been trying to save the world for the last 3 years, and before that it was just crunch week, except if crunch week was 4 solid years. Any guy or girl around was attracted to Jason, or Piper, or Nico, or Percy, the list grew and grew as they met more and more agents.

Leo whined slightly, clenching his hands into the suit in front of him. Octavian was always such a good kisser. Leo found that out kidnapping 6#. Leo was properly distracted, playing tonsil hockey until something blasted him out of the moment.

An actual blast, that rocked the ship. The metal groaned, and creaked in a way that told Leo the ship was likely taking on water, a lot of it.

Octavian pulled back, lips flushed a lovely red, smiling like the cat that got the Canary. “Ah, well, that’s my que. You know what you said about drugging someone asleep?”

Leo paused, and frowned, and then realized. “Oh.” Ya valió madre.

In one of Octavian’s hands was a very small patch, that he had affixed to the back of Leo’s neck as he kissed him. Leo’s vision began to blur, and he felt the familiar sensation of blacking out. This was not the first time Octavian had used such a thing on him. Afterall, this was kidnapping number 16. Knock out patch was roughly kidnapping #9 which Leo didn't remember very well, besides laying in bed with a headache and Octavian massaging his temples. Leo had built up more of a tolerance since then.

“Sleep, petit souris.” Octavian’s voice became a garbled mush of noises. Leo mumbled something that sounded like 'you're French now?' before he stumbled and collapsed into open arms.

“Computers, computers,” Leo sang to himself, as he pulled out hard drives and wires. “Only an idiot doesn’t protect their computers!”

It wasn’t like it was Leo’s first time out or anything, him and Jason had already taken on some serious nasty pieces of work, but this was their first real mission together. Jason had been roped into the Agency a year and a half ago, but Leo was left sitting in an office. Of course, the Agency had excellent offices. Nice chairs, some nice pieces of tech, coffee stations. But, it was getting boring, just surveying cameras, talking to Jason and other Agents over comms. Leo had wanted action, so when some freak that called himself Octavian (real name unknown) captured a good sized law firm in the heart of New York city, he jumped at the chance.

Most of the bad guys and Agents fighting were in another part of the building; Leo wasn’t trained for any of that really, but he was trained to take down any computers, networks, and surveillance the dastardly bastard had set up. A couple Agents were at the look out, keeping Leo covered as he went to work. They were the strong silent type, probably, didn’t want to talk to Leo much. Because of duty, and honor. Definitely not because they thought he was annoying.

“You know,” Leo pulled out a screwdriver from his toolbelt, “you should really let me make some customizations to your weapons. Sure, they’re good, but they could be so much better.”

“I’m sure they’d appreciate the thought,” a voice said behind Leo. That was not Hank or Sam, Leo realized, and scrambled to his feet.

A blond man stood at the doorway, his body posture was relaxed, but his expression was anything but. Hank, one of the Agents, slid down the wall, throat bloody and flowing down his chest at an alarming rate.

Leo’s hands went cold, as he watched the man of the hour, Octavian, casually wipe arterial blood splatter off his cheek like it was jam.

Sam wasn’t as far gone as Hank had been, and he struggled to stand up to fight back. Octavian let out a gleeful laugh, before grabbing Hank’s gun and blasting Sam through the bottom of his chin and out the top of his skull.

“Oh, my god.” Leo whispered, stomach turning over. It wasn’t the first death he had seen, not the first dead body, but this was a small closet; Leo was right up close and personal. A piece of Sam landed on Leo’s boots.

“You…came! Octavian, sir, I was captured!” Leo gasped out, coming to his senses. “I’m so glad to see you! I thought those…Agency bastards would kill me!”

Octavian had taken a moment to grab up personnel information from the fallen Agents, but at Leo’s voice, he zeroed in on the shorter man. The same expression that had been on Octavian’s face when he killed Sam came back full force.

“Try again.”

Leo gulped, holding up his hands. “I’m the computers guy! I swear! They trapped me in here when I came to check on the servers they had already started to destroy!”

Octavian held up Hank’s gun and cocked it. “Last chance, pieni rotta.”

Leo momentarily forgot his fear as he full grimaced. “Yo, man, did you just call me a rotten penis? What even language was that?”

Octavian looked more amused, shrugging a shoulder, but tilted the gun back and forth in a lazy manner. “Tic toc, tic toc.”

Leo’s shoulders dropped, “what answer would keep you from blasting my brains out?”

Octavian actually seemed to think about it. “Well, you’re obviously tech savy, otherwise you wouldn’t be here - that could always be useful, however if you’re too high ranking you become a target – too low, I have no use for you.”

Leo grinned, clapping his hands together. “That’s like, so convenient, you have no idea! Because, I am, in reality, a moderately high level engineer! Like, perfect level of useful enough not to kill immediately! I’m so glad we sorted this out. In fact, you don’t even have to torture me!”

Octavian holstered the gun with a nod. Holy shit, had that actually worked?

“Good try. Now, who are you actually? We can have this conversation civilly.”

No, of course not. Leo snorted. “Well, aren’t you the gentleman.”

A crackle from Leo’s comms kicked in, as Jason’s voice came through. “Leo! You need to evacuate immediately! I repeat. Evacuate immediately!”

“Leo,” Octavian pronounced slowly, deeply, to the point it felt nearly invasive. “You’re Leo Valdez? I’d heard of you, of course, but I had no idea…”

Leo, tight lipped and clench jawed, lifted the comm to his mouth. “NOT A GREAT TIME, JASON. OVER.”

Then he turned back to Octavian. “Yeah, well, I’ve made a point to remove myself from anything trackable. Plus, the Agency didn’t want to let me off leash until today. Obviously, I'm just too dangerous. Five foot two inches of Rambo.”

“How is your first experience in the field?” Octavian asked casually, seemingly playing along.

“Oh,” Leo shrugged a shoulder. “You know. Started off okay, tons of bacon at the buffet, then we broke into this building to save a bunch of rich white guys in suits. Now, an even whiter guy slash possible supervillain is holding me hostage. Also, I’ve got brains from a guy on my shoes. It is what it is.”

Octavian’s expression, inexplicably, softened slightly from a 13 on the Murdery scale, to…maybe a 4?

“You amuse me, schattig mechanic. If we were under better circumstances, I’d love to take you out. Do you like Italian?”

“Why? Are you Italian?”

“Very possibly, or maybe not.”

“Well, you know, you’re kind of hot in a scary way, so I’d probably take you up on that. I get out like…never.” Leo questioned if he should be flattered or not, or what the fuck a schattig was. Didn't sound Italian. Something Nordic maybe?

“But, again, guys brains on my shoe.”

“You really seem stuck on the shoe thing.”

“Much like the grey matter on my shoe.”

“I’ll get you a new pair,” Octavian, stepped aside from the doorway as more men showed up. Not Leo’s men.

“But, first, I’m afraid little kiniun…you’ll be coming with me.”

#fanfiction #mypjofanfiction #pjo fanfic #Leo Valdez #pjo Octavian #octavian #hoo octavian #leotavian #repost from ao3 #excessive use of translate apps

0 notes

spinningsidetable · 6 years ago

Text

I need to catch up eventually on posting chapters from my AO3 onto Tumblr...

I think I'll start posting Gentleman and Odd Couple, because fuck it Tumblr needs more leotavian.

Then of course circle back to the frazeleo it whatever else I've written over the years.

Catch my main @historicallyinnacurate

1 note · View note

spinningsidetable · 10 years ago

Text

camp half-blood probably has an official vine. a lot of it is probably filmed by the stolls and by annabeth. and like 90% of it is percy and jason challenging each other to ridiculous competitions, from footraces to belly-flop contests to who can stuff more grapes in their mouth

#leo'd have gopros everywhere just for this

4K notes · View notes

spinningsidetable · 10 years ago

Text

Just Golden- 2/? (frazeleo)

This is the second chapter, you probably know the shtick by now, but just in case-- Warning : Cursing, self esteem issues, unrealistic look at homelessness, mentions of violence, canon compliant losses (parental death, in other words.) Suicide mentions (in regard to those canon compliant losses), Leo waxing on poetic, bit of a slow burn with too many words.

Leo's sleep schedule was a bit off-- because he never had anywhere to be. His only gauge of time was his own watch, plus some of the electronic billboards around town like at banks. Leo usually lolled around on his pile of blankets, tinkering with something with second or third hand tools, for a few hours in the morning. He snacked on his cinnamon rolls, chugged some water from bottles he filled earlier at the park. Life wasn't too bad really, and compared to some of his past... it was pretty ...well, could be worse, anyway. San Francisco had the benefit of having pretty stable temperatures year round, and since his bunker was below ground level, Leo rarely got super cold. Though, he didn't in general. Heat, nor cold, really seemed to bother him. Houston, Phoenix, Reno, Los Angeles, and now San Francisco...regardless of where he was, the temperature never really fazed him. Except when it hit freezing, then he was bundled ball of unhappiness. Most notably while passing through Flagstaff on the way to Las Vegas, Leo hadn't really expected snow in Arizona and was sorely surprised. When he finally decided to leave his little bunker, Leo'd usually restock on drinks, stuffing the bottles into his oversized coat pockets. Maybe check the benches in public areas to make sure no one left unopened packs or bottles of shit laying around. It wasn't terribly uncommon, more so than one might think.

When he first started running away-- then eventually staying away, he would pickpocket in the early morning rush; but these days it didn't really matter. Later in the afternoon he liked to go to the public library, though he always got bad looks for it. He could play some games, check on some things around town, make sure there weren't any MISSING CHILD posters out there with his name and face on it. (As though there would be. Hilarious.) At around 5, when the library closed, Leo decided to maybe check out the gym. He trusted Hazel well enough that it didn't seem like the worst idea in the world. A shower would actually be pretty welcome, even if he couldn't wash his clothes. His hair was naturally pretty dark brown and curly, but it looked black and spiky with the amount of grunge that had built up. The gym in question was a bit further into the wealthy side of a neighborhood Leo was familiar with, not that he ever lingered there. He looked pretty damn out of place, and strolling in the front door of Herculaneum Sports and Fitness Centre, Leo was trying to play off like the stares didn't bother him..but he really didn't like to be noticed, honestly. In foster homes, they always thought he was the voice of the crowd, the center of attention, but the reality was..being 'funny' and cracking jokes was just a way to go unnoticed where it actually mattered. No one looked too close, so no one expected that he'd bolt.

No, Leo didn't like getting noticed. But, on the other hand, fuck the rich stuck up bastards. (Also, Centre, really? Leo snorted. Like this was Quebec or London, instead of California. Here, more people would be familiar with polideportivo orcentro de gimnasio than centre. Well, maybe not this particular neighborhood.) Walking up to a oval shaped marble looking main desk in the lobby, Leo flashed the woman sitting behind the partition a winning Valdez smile, and handed over the card Hazel had given him. The lady, one Mellie Hedge, eyed him wearily before scanning it. “Oh, you're Hazel's...friend.” She said softly, before writing down something in a little booklet. “Yes, Ma'am.” Leo's smile grew bigger, and eventually she cracked and returned a small smile of her own. “Can I have your last name, ..sir? Hazel only mentioned your first name was..Leo, correct?” “Gomez,” Leo responded, not missing a beat. “Leo Gomez.” Thanks, Selena, Leo hummed to an imaginary beat in his head.

“Alright, thank you, Mr. Gomez.” Mellie moved to the computer and hit a few buttons, before grabbing a pamphlet under the desk and handing it to Leo. “You'll see that the Men's locker rooms are right through that door.” Mellie stood, and pointed to the left. “You'll find that we here at Herculaneum Sports and Fitness provide our guests with anything you could dream of regarding fitness. Also, we boast private showers, a public sauna, and a public bath. Organic hemp based shampoos and soap are provided at no additional cost.” Mellie added that last part as a seemingly afterthought, probably having to recite the same schtick before a thousand times before realizing she was talking to Leo. Not a fitness guru, in other words. “Awesome. Thanks.” Leo waved, before turning towards the lockers. “Oh, sir! You get a locker, with code and lock too!” Mellie handed Leo a slip of paper and a heavyweight lock, with a smile. Leo could pick this kind of lock in his sleep, but free anything was cool.

There weren't too many people around, though the few guys who were in the lockers gave Leo a pretty nasty look. Leo flashed them a toothy grin, before grabbing a nice white fluffy towel from a stack at the end row and found his own locker, a number 301. It wasn't like anyone would steal his clothes, but after Leo stripped off a few layers, he still figured to stuff them in the locker. He wrapped the towel around his waist before reaching below and tugging off his sad ..sad boxers.

Trotting over to the shower section, Leo caught a glimpse of himself in a floor length mirror and stopped dead in his tracks. It wasn't pretty. Nausea hit him like a wave, as memories of childhood photos and home movies raced to the forefront of his mind.

“Hey, you okay?” A voice called, and Leo snapped out of it and looked over. And then had to look up, and then up some more.

A stupidly tall Asian guy was standing next to a slightly shorter but still annoyingly tall blond superman type dude. “I've never seen you around here before...” Asian Frankenstein said softly, like Leo would spook. “Oh, ha, yeah. Yeah, man. I'm fine. First day, just checkin' myself out in the floor length.” Leo faked a laugh, and both guys looked like they didn't buy it. “I'm Frank.” the guy said, and Leo had to stifle the laughter bubbling up inside of him. Frankenstein was actually named Frank? Pure gold. “Jason,” the other guy offered his name as well, with an easy smile that seemed more honest than suspicious which Leo appreciated. “Leo Gomez, nice to meetcha.”

As soon as Leo said his name, Jason chuckled and whistled, and the Frank guy looked mildly pissed in an instant.

“I'm guessing you're Hazel's Leo then?” Jason asked, blue eyes sparkling in a way that made Leo feel a little bit gayer than previously anticipated. He definitely wasn't straight, but had always thought it was more of a 70/30 thing, which was beginning to creep down to 60/40. “I'm going to say there is a strong statistical probability I am one in the same.” “I'm her friend,” Jason smiled. “Went to high school together. Her brother is one of my best friends.” “Nico?” Leo asked, unsure. Jason nodded, “Yeah. He looks kind of scary, but he's a big nerd. So am I, sporty nerd anyway. I hide it better.” “Uh huh...,” Leo mumbled, not quite believing it. Just...all of it. “Frank is Hazel's boyfriend, by the way.” Jason added, and Leo's eyes snapped up to the Frank-enstein. It wasn't hugely shocking. Of course Hazel would be dating someone, and of course that person had to be just as hot as she was. Not that Leo found Frank hot.

..If he did, it'd be because the guy was like 6'8, and seemed kind of like the human version of a brown bear. He was thick with muscles, in a practical use way, rather than someone who worked out just so they could snap pics of their abs. Frank looked like he could carry a tree one handed, but didn't strike Leo as stupid. This wasn't some big doofus. Which, honestly kind of worried Leo. Dumbasses, Leo could bullshit his way around. This guy though? If he took issue with Leo, Leo was pretty sure he'd be completely fucked. And not in the good way. ….....Not that he'd want to get fucked in a good way, by another guy whose biceps were nearly the same width as Leo's torso. Jesus. Time to stop while he was ahead. ( down to 55/45) “Uh, so, your girlfriend is like..the nicest person? In all honesty? I wasn't entirely sure she wasn't like an undercover saint working at Golden Buns for some reason. Though that would explain why their food still tastes pretty good stale.” Leo laughed, but it was nervous and probably way more high pitched that Leo would have liked. “Yeah,” Frank said. “She's amazing. She was really worried about you, you know. Talks my ear off all night and morning.”

And there it was. A subtle warning. Leo deflated. Memories of golden eyes, happy smiles and pumpkin bread feeling like a ghost all of a sudden.

“Look man, I'm just going to shower and get, okay? I won't go back to Golden Buns again. I'm not trying to skeeve on your girl or anything. Not tryin’ to be creepy. I won't come back here-- I won't go there. No worries right?” Leo held up his hands in a sort of, 'I surrender, please don't kill me' motion. Frank frowned in a cute sort of way- woah, come on gay thoughts put on the breaks for at least 10 minutes. Growing up in one of the most conservative states in the country, you'd think he'd be a better better at the whole denial thing. Jason laughed. “Yeah, like that'd help. Hazel'd kill all of us. You're fine, we just wanted to make sure you weren't someone who would put her in any danger. Nico made you sound like some little boxtroll who was slobbering all over the windows of the shop, and Hazel made you sound like a lost abandoned puppy in a box.”

Leo liked Jason, Jason seemed like a good guy. He was still a bit suspect with his choice of friends, but overall a nice guy. Leo realized he could pull out the big guns, now he knew who he was dealing with. Apologies, Captain America Lite. “I don't go near a place until all the employees are good and gone. I'm not trying to be a stalker, I'm just hungry and their cinnamon rolls are amazing.” Jason's smile fell a little bit, and even Frank flinched slightly. Leo'd be smirking if he wasn't busy playing the kicked dog routine.

“It's fine. Just, you know. Don't..you know.” Frank grunted, and then looked physically pained with himself. “That made no sense. Sorry. You don't have to run away, I was just looking out for my best friend and my girlfriend. I trust Hazel to fight her own fights, but I still worry.” Frank admitted, and Leo nodded. Super cute, fuck it, fuck him. “I get that. So, we cool?” Hesitation. Nods. “Cool, cool. Uh, anyway. I'm...going to shower. Since I haven't in..” Leo trailed off and looked down at his feet, which were absolutely coated in dirt. “Awhile.”

They nodded, and left, and Leo finally got to the showers. They were in fact completely private, which was great because after all of that, Leo was in dire need of....a good cry. Not something which he really wanted to admit to. Leo had known people, over the years, who preferred a nomadic existence. Leo was not one of those people. He was where he was because he had no where to go, no family or friends to turn to. Leo wanted friends-- family. He hadn't had them in years. Most the time he could ignore it, be content where he was with food and water and somewhere warm to sleep. But, sometimes Leo wanted to wear different clothes more often than twice a year. He wanted nice warm showers and baths whenever he wished. He wanted someone like Hazel in his life, someone who barely knew him outside of his name, but cared like she did. Even the people she knew were nicer than most he'd met. But at the same time, he couldn't bring himself to ask her for help. Accept help? Different Story than asking for it. It was a stupid self fulfilling prophecy that left him alone and one the streets. There were foster homes he could have stayed with, and been okay. There were shelters, and some had reached out to him when he was younger, but he didn't go there either. He couldn't ask them for help. It sucked even more being aware of the problem and not knowing how to fix it.

He had no idea how long he stood there, watching dirty water spiral down the drain, but it was probably longer than most people would take to shower..even if they were as dirty as he was. Leo didn't think he'd try out the sauna, or look around the gym. Leo just wanted to leave. Go back to his bunker, and then...who knows.

When Leo passed by the same floor length mirror on the way out, he stopped again. He definitely looked more himself, or at least how he thought of himself. His curls were big and bouncy, his color seemed a bit healthier, his eyes a bit brighter. He was, of course, still wearing nasty ass old clothes that smelled like sweat and the earth tones of his bunker basement. But, it was an improvement. Mellie even looked a bit surprised when he waved her goodbye, exiting the building. -- Leo decided on going back the next day too, though he was paranoid over the idea of running into anyone he knew. Hell, it was just weird thinking that he actually knew somebody. But, he had it in mind to try and wash out his clothes in the shower some, before hauling them into the aforementioned sauna to hopefully dry them out some. It worked well enough, though he got some looks dragging dripping laundry into the sauna. The humidity was as high as he expected, but it was still hot enough to dry out his stuff most the way through. He scoped out the gym, clothes on, waiting for them to dry completely before heading out into the fall air. Leo still didn't really understand gyms, but he was highly intrigued by all the moving parts...and he didn't mean the hoards of attractive people. Though there were plenty of them as well, Leo was focused more on the machines that he had never see before. He was familiar with the stationary bike for people who can't be bothered to use an actual bike, the treadmill for when walking outside was a pain, and the weights and boxing equipment...but the rest was alien. Pulley weights and smashy things that he wanted to stick his mitts into.... But, he was pretty sure the folks upstairs wouldn't appreciate their expensive equipment being taken apart. Leo stuffed his itchy fingers into pockets and walked towards the pools, past rooms full of things he couldn't name.

Leo glanced into the pool room, before immediately jerking backwards and hiding behind the safety of the wall. There were a bunch of faces and backs of heads he didn't recognize, but he did spot Captain America, Jason. Leo was pretty sure Jason was talking to someone else and hadn't noticed him, but deciding to play it safe, Leo decided it was time to go home.

At least his clothes were a bit cleaner and smelled like french lavender, if the label on the bottle was anything to go by.

“Uh, are you going to go for a swim?” A voice asked behind Leo, who jerked in surprise before turning around to meet Frank's eyes. Well, again, he had to crane his neck a bit, but..eventually he met his eyes.

“Yeah, no...Not the best swimmer. Just checking out the whole,” Leo waved his arms, “gym thing.”

“Ah, right. Well, I think Jason and his girlfriend and a few of our friends are in there, if you decide on taking a dip.” Frank said, looking like he was trying to sound nice. Not that he seemed mean, just uncomfortable. At least they were in the same situation together.

“Yeah, thanks, but I've got to get home..so,” Leo trailed off, not really sure how to converse with the guy. “Do you live nearby?” Frank asked, and Leo wondered if it was really him asking, or Hazel. “Close enough, but I've still got to walk. Figured I'd cut my losses since I don't have a clue what any of the stuff out in the main area is. Nobody wants me walking around, messing with the settings, right?” Leo joked stiffly, not knowing what to do with the awkward conversation. “Well, I could show you that.” Frank nearly looked surprised with himself, but readjusted quick enough. Leo almost said no, but his curiosity won. It wasn't even much of a competition. Frank, as it turned out, was a pretty good teacher. And, at the very least-- when it came to mechanics, Leo was a pretty good student. It was unlikely he'd really be the type to use any of the contraptions, but it was fun to get up close to the bits a pieces. The smell of clean metal-- beautiful. By nightfall, Leo found himself straddling a stool, watching Frank explain why an Olympic Bench existed. Leo realized quickly that asking cheeky questions earned him a look from Frank, and that made Leo happy as a clam. Frank seemed like a good guy, maybe a bit fussy at times, but overall got the Leo stamp of human approval. But there was something nagging in the back of his mind. “Why is it Nico who picks up Hazel from work?” Leo asked, before his brain really caught up to him to tell him it wasn't a great idea to ask.

Frank paused in the middle of whatever he was about to say about muscles or something, and looked carefully at Leo. “You really know her schedule, don't you..” Frank questioned slowly, but he didn't really have to ask.

“Got to wait for everyone to leave, hard not to. I also know the redhead who works there is probably a lot wealthier than she'd like to let on, working at a bakery. It's not personal.” “Mm,” Frank said, still looking like he was trying to figure something out. “Well, I have evening classes. She has her own car, but since Nico drives by there anyway on his way there and back from after school stuff, they just decided it was easier to carpool.” “College?” “For me, yeah. I'm 20, she's 18, but graduated. Nico is 18 too, but a senior..and also just barely older than her- just don't ask.” “Riiight, gotcha,” Leo winked, understanding not wanting to delve into family politics.

“Did you?” Frank started, and Leo scrunched up his nose.

“Did I what?” “Go to high school?” Leo clicked his tongue, trying not to also roll his eyes.

“For like a week, got moved around too much to do well in school.” Frank smiled softly, barely noticeably. “Yeah, I understand that. Got some of that myself, but I got the opportunity to finish once I moved here.” That had Leo's interest quick. “Yeah? Not a foster kid, right? Where you from? I'm from Houston, originally.” Leo said, leaning forward and tapping his feet. “No, not really. I lived with my mom and grandmother, until I was 15. I was an exchange student, technically, for a few years, went back in the summer. Stayed with some family acquaintances, but I'm originally from Vancouver.” “Washington?” Leo blinked, and Frank scowled. “Canada. British Columbia- How do you know geography well enough to know there even is a Vancouver Washington?...Is there even a Vancouver in Washington? I've been to Seattle but..., ” Frank began to mutter. Leo grinned, lopsided. Canadian? So cute. “Seems pretty young to send their kid off, even if you didn't have to cross an ocean.”

“My mom died in Iraq, and my grandmother was actually the one who sent me here..but uh, then there was a fire and I lost my grandmother too. So, I got a student visa in the end.” Leo froze, unblinking, but lost inside his own head. “Uh, Leo?” Frank asked after a moment, looking concerned, and leaning down to get a better look at the shorter mans face. “Are you alright?’ “Sorry, just. Yeah. Sorry.” Leo shook his head, swinging his leg over the side of the bench and moving to stand. “I should go. See you around.” He said stiffly, and began to walk away, leaving Frank looking befuddled. But, it didn't last long. Frank grasped one of Leo's shoulders, to turn him around, not that it took much force.

“I'm sorry if I said anything, I..don't know what I could have said that upset you? But I really didn't mean to offend..if I did.” Frank looked so worried, for a man who was a glorified Canadian brown bear, it was kind of sweet. “You didn't, I just..,” Leo cussed in every language he knew inside his head, debating the benefits of baring soul to the man. The information would probably end up in the hands of everyone Frank knew..or at the very least, Hazel. It wasn't a conversation he really wanted to have with anyone, let alone either of them.

“When I was 8, my mom- she..you know..there was a fire...and I didn't have any family, not really, then the foster homes...It just isn't-” “Something you want to talk about?” Frank asked, cutting him off. “I get it, don't worry about it. I'm the last person to tell anyone any secrets, if you don't want me to.” Leo eyed him, “even Hazel?” “Of course,” Frank nodded. “I'm not going to lie to her, but if I tell her I was told something in confidence and can't tell her, she's not going to push the issue.”

Leo was quiet for a moment, before groaning. “How are you both so nice, is it a Canadian thing?” “Uh, she's from New Orleans, actually.”

The next day, Monday, Leo went back to the Gym again. He wasn't really expecting to see Frank again, but lo and behold, the big guy was on one of the weight training machines on the main floor.

“Can I get you a water or something?” Leo asked, sliding up along side Frank. The other man's eyes had been closed in concentration, beads of sweat on his forehead dripping down his nose, so when Leo spoke, Frank jerked slightly. If he hadn't been a human tank, Frank may have let go of the weights he was supporting, but instead just bobbled them for a brief second. “Hey, didn't expect to see you again so soon.” Frank said, pushing the weights up and off.

“Well, you know, I'm big on fitness.” Leo said with a shrug, to which Frank raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything more. “So, is this something you do, like, every day?” Leo asked. “If I can, sometimes I just jog.” Leo stuck out his tongue, and scrunched up his nose at the J word.

“Why?” “I just like to,” Frank shrugged with an easy smile. “It helps me focus, calm my mind a bit. Helps I thought about joining the military for awhile.”

“Canada has a military?” Leo asked with fake surprise, and got that look he liked to see so much. “Is Hazel a fitness nut too?” “She doesn't come to the gym all that often, but she plays some sports. In all honesty working in a bakery isn't easy work. She's pretty strong, though maybe people wouldn't guess it. I didn't, until one time we arm wrestled and she kicked my ass..repeatedly.” “Well, everyone is stronger than me, part of the whole being a scrawny-walking-toothpick thing.” Leo grinned, but Frank didn't seem as amused. “Different circumstances, no one would blame you.” Frank said easily, and though he hadn't outwardly said it, Leo appreciated that Frank acknowledged his homelessness instead of ignoring it or giving him pitying looks. “Man, I've been tiny my entire life. I'm actually tall for my family, 5'7? Giant, but always built like bird bones.” “I've always been,” Frank gestured to himself.

“A jock?” Leo asked curiously, which got him another look.

“No, definitely not. Big. Bulky. No one in school was sure if I was threatening or just awkward.”

“Awkward, huh?” “Definitely more awkward than threatening. Hard to scare people when you can't even eat normal ice cream or cheese products.” “You got that uh, what's it called, lactose intolerant thing?”

“Unfortunately so, since I love ice cream.” “Food things are weird, right? I can't eat blackberries. What's weirder right, are like people who just decide not to eat good food. Food they know is good, just out of sheer will power! It's like a type of superpower, resisto-man. I had a friend, ways back, she only ate all sorts of healthy non-meaty things. I could never give up the beef, but I have wicked respect for someone who can see bacon and just resist. She did get me to like tofu though. Took awhile.” Frank chuckled at Leo's rambling, before nodding.

“Yeah, I've got a friend like that too. BBQ's are always interesting.” They talked for awhile after that, though Frank had to leave within the hour. Leo found himself growing increasingly fond of the other man, even though most of their conversations were Leo telling dumb jokes trying to impress Frank, with Frank only finding about 50% of them amusing. That didn't stop Leo from trying, of course. So he sat there, sometimes on a bench, sometimes on the floor nearby while Frank worked out, poking dumb fun. Leo's people skills weren't the best, that is to say he had a difficult time picking up on the little things..those real interpersonal moments. He didn't make friends easil-- no, that wasn't it: he didn't make them well. Leo could charm, he could put up a mask, because he was ultimately horribly self centered. He could read emotions, certain little ticks, but usually only when his life depended on it. He knew the signs of when he should run, but he couldn't tell how to comfort someone who was upset. People were just..confusing. Leo didn't have many friends growing up, even before his mom died, the ones he did have were more the type of people you were friends with because you saw them daily. He had precious few people to depend on, besides his mom, so when she went, he was left not knowing exactly what to do. So Leo ran away, time and time again from Foster homes, because even the good ones...Leo just didn't know how to be a part of that, even less so when he was younger and still grieving. Getting sent to the 'Wilderness' camp, was in some ways a blessing, not just because it gave him a chance to run away for good, but because he met Piper. They hit it off instantly it seemed like, and not because she was like him, god no. Piper knew when to call him out, and sure maybe she didn't know all of the skeletons in his closet, but they were good friends. She was like this go between, where she knew how to deal with people expertly, yet for some reason was still friends with him. It was the first time Leo really made a real friend since his mom died, and ultimately Leo had thought, had been the last time he made a friend. Piper had only been at the camp for a summer. He hadn't seen her since, and that was when he was 15. Obviously, it had been awhile, but he still remembered her fondly. Hazel, and now Frank and..maybe even Jason, were the first people since Piper who Leo felt and immediate attachment to. Frank and Hazel especially were the type of people that made Leo want to just prop his chin on his arms and just simply watch them. Try to figure out how they function. He knew his circumstances meant the likelihood of any long term friendships were unlikely, but it'd be nice while it lasted.

“-Alright?” Leo glanced at Frank who had stopped, and was staring at Leo curiously.

“Yeah, just thinking. Nice to talk to people who aren't myself,” Leo added the last part after a second. Frank laughed, “is that what's been happening? Because I thought most of the conversation was you saying I looked constipated when I lift weights, and then asking if I could carry you around on my shoulder like Gaston. Not a lot of back and forth happening-- to be called a conversation.”

Leo flushed slightly, “okay, so maybe I'm a bit rusty on the conversation part of conversing.” “Hmm,” Frank hummed, standing up, “somehow, I'm guessing that's just you. But, I think that's alright.”

Leo followed Frank into the locker room after that, even after a bit of complaining on Frank's part. Something about, 'boundaries' and 'respect' and 'don't you dare follow me into the shower little man or I will crush you' which just seemed awfully over reactive to Leo. I mean, Leo listened mostly, didn't he? Cursing in 3 languages seemed a bit rude, and Frank didn't seem to appreciate it when Leo tried to start a competition by speaking rapid fire Spanish in return. He also didn't seem to appreciate Leo's suggestions of names for his muscles. All guys named their pecs and biceps, right? That was a thing people with muscles did, right? The Empire was a perfectly reasonable name for abs. When Frank finally left, Leo didn't walk out with him because he really didn't want Frank to see him standing there awkwardly in the parking lot. That'd just be too pathetic, even for him. He made his way back to the bunker, and just sat there until it came time to go to Golden Buns. It was the first time since Friday that Leo had seen Hazel, so he wasn't quite sure what to say when the back door to Golden Buns opened, but he didn't really have to worry about it. Upon the door creaking open, Hazel was already beginning to speak. “So, you met Frank?” Her voice was a bit high, like she stressed but wanting to still sound happy and casual.

“Uh, yeah. And Jason,” Leo tacked on at the end, and Hazel nodded one to many times to seem normal.

“What'd you think? About Frank?”

“He's, like...big. Like, he's physically a large human being. Surprisingly so. Just very big, Goliath even. Like a deity of some sort, supersized.” Goddamnit, Leo thought. Why was it that was the only thing coming to mind. Hazel's blank stare seemed to agree with the line of thought in his head. “I mean, he's great. Very uh, patient. Is that a Canadian thing? I know most of the best comedians are- er, so no, yeah. I like him! You chose wisely,” Leo smiled nervously, which knowing him probably looked a bit more on the manic side.

“Yeah,” she smiled back after a moment, expression softening, “I did.”

“You went to the gym, though? How'd you like it?” Hazel gasped, remembering, eyes lighting up. The gold that glittered in her eyes would have made any 1840's prospector- no, that's a weird comparison, shut it down Leo. “It's...very gym like, I'd imagine, if I had ever been to one before. Good showers though, I like the showers. Got to treat my luscious locks like they deserved,” Leo said over dramatically, running a hand through and flipping his hair as well he could. “Oh,” Hazel said excitedly, “it does look more.. sproingy.” “Sproingy?” Leo barked out laughing. “It's a word!” She insisted.

“Is it?!” His laughs had devolved into giggles, and the dreaded laugh wheeze was soon approacheth. “Oh, shush. Can I feel?” Hazel huffed, putting down a bag of food treats.

“My hair?” Leo asked, instantly righting himself. She nodded.

“Sure, knock yourself out. I mean, spoiler warning: it feels like hair.” “I like hair,” She shrugged, before reaching over.

Hazel first touched a bit of corkscrew curl that was sticking out a bit awkwardly, and twanged it. He didn't understand why she looked so amused, she definitely had the better hair between them. When she ran a hand through, slowly, Leo was sure if a human could purr, he'd be doing so then. “Your hair is brown,” Hazel said with a smile. “Yup, just like my-..my uh...,” Leo trailed off, realizing what he was beginning to say.

“Your?..” Hazel asked, all big eyes right up in front of him. “My mom. We..look..looked a lot alike. I mean, except she had badass muscles.” Hazel smiled softly, and a bit sadly.

“I didn't look much like my mom when she was alive, and I don't look at all like my dad, or my brother.” “You, uh.. lost your mom too?” Leo asked, his fingers beginning to fiddle with coat buttons. “Mhmm, she committed suicide when I was 13. It had just been me and her up until then, I didn't know who my father was for a long time and even then...well, it took a few years before I wanted him in my life. I was with her, my mother, at the time of her death too, it was pretty rough for awhile..Nico, helped a lot..he lost his full blood sister and his mom too around the same time..he kind of brought me back to life, I guess you could say. Then I met Frank, and new friends.” Leo's eyes were wide in shock, and he didn't know what all he could even do, but he didn't protest when Hazel moved her hands down to clasp Leo's which were still fidgeting. “That's uh....I think I misjudged Nico,” Leo muttered, looking at the ground. Hazel smiled at that.

“I'm from..Texas, originally...It was always just me and my mom, she had a shop, and I always hung out with her there. Way more than with other kids, or anything like that...just kind of us in a tiny little world. One night though, a fire started in the shop, she was locked in and couldn't get out...I was just outside the door, the whole building went down..and man, I don't know how I survived. I don't remember a lot, because I passed out from the smoke, but...yeah. My mom's family was really superstitious I guess you'd say. My aunt, she never liked me, so ..off to foster homes I went.” Hazel's hands tightened around Leo's. “I'm..not trying to be like, oh poor Leo time. I just...like, I know it's not the same situation. But, I understand that...it's not ..not fun times. The personal blame, the guilt, the dreams. That kind where..where you think everything is fine, and then you wake up? I understand. So, you know..if you need to sproing my hair, just..go ahead whenever you like.” And she did just that, for a good 5 minutes. It was a weird heart to heart. They had worked themselves a pattern now, a habit. During the days, Leo would go see (and bother) Frank for around a half hour. During the nights, Leo would..probably similarly bother Hazel. A few days that week Leo saw Jason as well, sometimes talking long after Frank had left for school. They never talked personal, but regardless-- Jason and Leo got along thick as thieves. It was different from how he viewed his time with Hazel and Frank, but Leo couldn't quite put his finger on the why. Jason, Leo thought, reminded him of his relationship with Piper, the girl from his teenage summer camp. He admired them both, but it wasn't...exactly..Hazel and Frank. Leo thought he had a crush on Hazel, but that couldn't be right, he only ever got crushes on girls who would never in a million years be interested in him or generally notice his existence. ...Granted, that might have been a attachment issue/self esteem thing. Hazel was, after all, brilliant. Almost too brilliant, like, suspiciously brilliant. TV brilliant. She was bright, in all meanings of the word. Frank too, was like... the human embodiment of a photograph of a cozy winter cabin in the mountains. Like, you just wanted to curl up in radiant warmth, but at the same time knowing the sturdiness of the structure was protecting you from ice and cold. Of course, Leo didn't have a crush on Frank. He couldn't, because how could he if he also liked Hazel? Logic. Then Leo remembered what his life was, and it seemed to fit that he'd fall for not only two people, but two people who were already dating. So it made perfect sense really, that he'd crush on them both at the same time-- life hated him like that. -- Saturday brought no Golden Buns, but thankfully did bring a Frank. ......Or not, since Leo had no idea when to show up that day, and was pretty sure he missed the other man at the gym. Dejectedly, Leo made his way out of the Gym, waving sadly to Mellie at the front desk who wished him better luck next time.

Leo tried not to flinch when he saw Frank, and Jason, and Hazel with company; all talking outside of two cars. The company part was bad-- Leo didn't really want to..get into all of that, just yet. He was just beginning to wonder if he could sneak away without being noticed, when Hazel, of course, turned to look at him.

Since they had only seen each other the previous nights in mostly the dark, she might not have recognized him immediately, but how many people coming out of Herculaneum dressed like Leo did? She pushed off the side of the car and ran over to him, smiling and smelling amazing. “Gomez?” Was her first question, which stumped Leo for a moment before he remembered his old lie. “Oh, yeah. Leo..Gomez.” Hazel smiled, and Leo noticed she had little dimples. Stupid adorable couple. “Okay, no. I'm sorry.” Leo waved a hand, sighing, Hazel looking a bit taken back. The group behind seemed to take notice, and made their way over.

“Valdez. My last name is Valdez. I ...usually lie when I give out my name. Just, habit. But, I don't..want to lie to you.” Leo mumbled, and scratched at a hole in his coat. “Leo...Valdez, then?” She asked, and Leo nodded. Jason came up behind them, with another girl. “Hey, you want to go get a burger or something? We were all about to head over to Smacky's. This is Piper, my girlfriend.”

Leo paused, and looked up at the girl in shock. Her eyes were big as well. Her weird, weird multicolor eyes that seemed far too familiar. “Leo?” Piper gasped. Leo literally jumped up and down, grinning widely. “Beauty queen!” He cheered, not believing his luck. Everyone else looked thoroughly confused. “You, uh, you two..know each other?” Jason asked.

Piper didn't even pause before she grabbed Leo for a hug. Leo would have thought twice before hugging himself. “Yeah, you know that wilderness camp I went to when I was 16?” Jason nodded slowly, though Frank and Hazel looked a bit lost still, but Piper continued. “I met Leo there. It would have been unbearable otherwise.” Piper was amazing as always, Leo thought. She was the daughter of some huge actor, and some huge-er model/actress, but Piper had a history of stealing shit and ended up at the same camp that Leo spent some time at. Child boot camp, was more like it. They had vastly different backgrounds, but they really did have a lot of fun. “Actually,” Piper smiled sneakily, turning back to Leo. “The lady at the counter in there? Mellie? Coach's wife.”

“You're shitting me.” Leo said blankly. “No way.” “No lie, they even have children.” Piper laughed, waving her hands. Then something seemed to dawn on her, as she looked Leo over again. “You look terrible, Valdez.” Hazel's eyebrows dropped in such a way that made her look..angry? That..was not an emotion he had seen on her really. Leo just shrugged off the comment, “yeah. Don't think that's changed all that much, really.” Piper looked vaguely concerned over that, but before she could say anything Hazel cut in. “So, uh. Do you just know each other from camp...or did you go to school together?” Piper shook her head. “No, Leo you're from like..Texas right? Houston or Austin?” Leo mock glared. “Houston. Don't insult me.” Piper laughed. (Houston was definitely not superior to Austin, except maybe when it came to traffic, but you wouldn’t catch him admitting that.) “But, from what I remember you were living in like...Arizona?” “Man, I don't really remember. That was house number 6, all I know about them was they were dicks enough to send me into the middle of the desert. Like that would help,” Leo snorted. He had a vague memory of that family, but really the only thing that stood out in his mind was the long car trip of which there was no escape, and then watching the tail lights vanish as they left.

“Oh, okay...,” Hazel was beginning to wring the hem of her shirt, which seemed like a nervous tick much like Leo's own tapping, and Frank finally had to walk up and wrap an arm around her shoulders to get her to stop. “Foster care, right?” Piper asked. “How many did you make it to before you turned 18?”

“That was it, actually. I ran after that, hitchhiked to Cali. Been in San Francisco for a few years.” “You never went back to high school?” Piper asked, and the thing Leo loved about Piper was there was no judgment in her voice. She was just asking because it was something to ask, not because she looked down on him. He knew she had also missed out on a few years of school, so it seemed more like just part of the trade, nothing abnormal about it. “Nope.”

“Uh, I'm hungry, can we go to Smacky's now, and reminisce there?” Jason asked, tapping Piper on the shoulder. There were two girls Leo didn't know, behind them, that seemed to be observing the situation silently. They kind of scared him, to be honest. They were all sharp eyes and calculating stares and just perfectly on point attire.

“Yeah, sure. Annabeth, Reyna, sound good?” She agreed, turning to the other women. They didn't really nod so much as..tip their heads slightly. "Of course," the dark haired girl with a braid said. Her appearance was more intimidating than the blonde girl, but the blonde still seemed like she was weighing the pros and cons of Leo existing.

Leo shook his head though, ignoring all of that. “Nah, I don't have the money for it. I was just going to head home before it got too dark.”

Piper smacked him in the back of his curly head, “shut up, Valdez.” She pulled out a wallet, waving a fancy gold card Leo wondered if was even hers. “Let the rich girl waste her fathers money on you for a night. My treat. We can drop you off later.”

Leo looked at the pavement and smiled softly, “Piper, man, they won't let me in. Come on,” Leo shook his head at the idea. “What do you mean?” “Seriously? Look at me. No shoes, no shirts, no Homeless. Unwritten rule, but those places..they enforce it; and it's not like I can do shit about it. I appreciate the offer, but they'd just ask me to leave. It'd just be a big thing, no one wants it to be a big thing.” Was it true? Who knows. But Leo didn’t want to be seen with them, the way he was, in public like that.

“Then we'll go to our house and eat, then.” Hazel said firmly. Leo turned to look at her in surprise, she had been a bit quiet up until then. “What? No, I ... I'm pretty sure I've imposed enough.” Piper whistled, and Jason took a step back, covering his face with his palm in what was either amusement or horror. Even the two mystery ladies looked mildly amused, not funny amused but like, ‘oh you foolish mortal’ kind of amused.

“Shut up.” Hazel said, and Leo shut up. “You're a friend of Pipers. You're my friend. You're coming with.” She paused for a second, expression softening for a split second into something close to worry. “If you want to, I mean.”

Leo blinked stupidly, and looked at her, then to Piper who was just trying not to laugh, to Frank behind Hazel who was jokingly mouthing 'save yourself.'

“If...you insist?” Was she even insisting? What was that even? Is that what was happening?

“I do. I mean, uh. In a polite way.” Hazel nodded to herself, like she was convincing herself not him. “Poli-...I, huh, um. O-okay then?” Hazel looked happier than a little girl about to blow out birthday candles.

Piper motioned Leo towards her, “you can come with me and Jason in my car. We all live at the same place.”

“Yeah? That's so weird. How on earth do you all know each other” Leo asked, and Piper pushed him towards a giant, monstrous, candy apple red Jeep in the parking lot. Then Leo got distracted by said car. “That's your car? I thought you were all vegetarian eco friendly save the pandas?” “It's completely electric.” Jason said, but Leo could see there was a story behind it. A story that was moving across like war flash backs in Jason's eyes.

“You don't mind right, Haze?” Piper called back. Hazel looked like she did mind, but Frank was whispering something in her ear that made her think twice. Then, she smiled widely and shook her head. “No, go on. It's fine.” That was worrisome.

When Leo got into the back of the car (man, he hadn't been in a car in awhile. Bus, once or twice.) and the doors were all shut, Piper's shoulders began to shake before she was straight out snort-laughing.

“Oh, Leo. You have no idea what sort of Pandora's box you just opened. I'd pity you, but you deserve it-- and I mean that in the nicest way possible.” “Uh, what now? What's happening? Did I miss something? Did I die in my sleep or something, because that'd be really annoying.” “Hazel just adopted you, is what she means.” Jason said, turning around slightly in the passengers seat while Piper revved the engine. “Officially anyway, lord knows she..,” Jason trailed off, muttering something under his breath that Leo didn't quite catch. “You're so not leaving that house, sorry man.” Piper added, not looking sorry. That was extremely worrisome. It was all just... increasingly full of worry.

Had he misread the Golden Buns girl?

#frazeleo #i finally make an effort to move my ao3 stories here #this is definitely a more polished version than the on on ao3 #but they both need more editing #fic #fanfiction #oh well #mypjofanfiction #leo valdez #Hazel Levesque #frank zhang

31 notes · View notes