Leo had been avoiding you.
Ever since the 'incident', he's been keeping his distance and not talking to you. Not even so much as a glance.
And as for the 'incident', well, let's go back a little bit.
{Flashback}
You and Leo were in Bunker 9 while he worked on a new chariot for the Hephaestus cabin.
The said boy was busily twisting a wrench with his tongue hanging out squatting next to the chariot, you laughed at the scene.
You were currently sitting on a workbench, swinging your legs like a child watching as the son of Hephaestus worked.
Leo would get the cutest facial expressions as he built something.
His brow would scrunch up, his nose would crinkle and cutest of all he would just have on that thinking face that you loved so much.
"So, what are you fixing right now Leo?" You asked hopping down from the bench.
Leo straightened then turned to you running a hand through his mass of wild curls.
"Well, I'm trying to make the axle stronger because Clarrisse keeps on trying to knock the wheels off. But I just can't find a thick enough piece of Celestial Bronze to get the job done."
The boy groaned in frustration and pouted crossing his arms making you laugh.
"It's okay Leo, you'll get it," you smiled.
You put a hand on his wrist and kissed his cheek trying to make him feel better.
Leo blushed a deep red and his ears caught fire, his skin heat up considerably and you yanked your hand back in pain.
"Ow!" You cried looking at the forming blisters on your palm.
Leo freaked.
"Oh my gods (y/n) I'm so sorry! Here let me see-No, I-I can't. It's like with mom all over again...all I do is hurt people! Gods I'm such an idiot!" He clutched his hair and backed away from you, tears streaming down his face.
You took a step forward concerned for your friend but he only backed away faster.
"Leo it's okay it doesn't even hurt that much-," you tried.
"No, no, no it's not okay
(y/n). I swear all I do is hurt the people I care about most. First my mom, then I burned Jason by accident and after that Nyssa. I-I just can't, I'm so sorry
(y/n), I'm so so so so sorry!"
And with that he ran out of Bunker 9 in tears.
You tried calling him back and chasing after him but once you made it outside he had disappeared, leaving you sad, alone, confused, and most of all...concerned.
{Flashback Over}
Now all you wanted to do was see him and try to make him feel better.
As you neared the beach and toward the patch of large rocks you heard soft crying.
You, being the kind person you are, ran towards the sound and stopped abruptly as a person you knew all too well sat on a rock.
Leo.
He had his knees curled up to his chest and he was rocking back and forth clutching the side of his head, soft whimpers escaping his lips.
You snuck closer hiding behind a large rock watching intently.
"Idiot, idiot you burned her. You hurt her. She hates me now, she thinks I'm a monster...and I am. I'm a murderer, a cold blooded murderer. Why? Why did I have to be cursed with this? Why?!" He sobbed.
Your heart broke in two.
Not standing another minute listening to Leo cry you stepped out from behind the rock and walked over to him quietly so as not to scare him.
Leo was oblivious to your actions until you tapped his shoulder lightly.
"Leo-," you whispered.
The boy jumped and quickly scrambled away on his hands and feet, looking at you terrified.
"(y/n) get away from me! All I'm going to do is hurt you!" He cried.
You moved closer getting down to his eye level.
"No Leo, you won't hurt me. Listen, what happened in the bunker was an accident and you know that. I know you didn't mean to hurt me and I don't blame you for it. Leo you're not a monster, you're far from one." You soothed wiping away his tears.
The son of Hephaestus sniffled and gently pushed your hand away from his face.
"You don't understand. I've been hurting people for as long as I can remember...it happened with my mom and-,"
"-Leo what happened with your mom was not your fault-,"
"-HOW WOULD YOU KNOW!" He screamed quickly getting to his feet.
You were taken aback by his sudden anger. Leo never got angry around you, he was always the happy go-lucky boy that would smile and joke around. This was a side you had never seen before, the sad, fragile, broken Leo.
He wiped at his eyes furiously trying to rid his face of the tears but to no avail.
"You don't know what happened that night. I killed her. It was me. I'm the one with the fire powers, I'm the one who ignited that room, I'm the one who fucking murdered my mother!"
Leo broke down again. He dropped to his knees, heart wrenching sobs escaping his lips.
You moved forward and wrapped your arms around the broken, sobbing boy. He didn't pull away to your surprise but leaned closer burying his face in the crook of your neck.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he repeated over and over again.
"Ssh, ssh it's okay, don't apologize, let it out," you soothed stroking his hair.
Leo did exactly that for over and hour. Letting every bottled up emotion for under eight years pour out of every crack and crevice of his fragile heart.
You whispered soothing things into his ear and held him close, sometimes singing to calm his gasping shaking breath.
After that he finally looked up at you with red puffy eyes sniffling. He wiped his face and bowed his head maneuvering out of your grip.
You sighed and only pulled him back against you. Too weak to struggle Leo slumped into your body taking in shaky breaths.
"I'm sorry," he whispered.
"Don't be," you whispered back carding your fingers through his hair.
"How-Hows your hand?" He asked.
You showed it to him, the skin back to its usual soft glow.
"All better," you smiled.
Leo smiled softly and kissed your palm with his warm lips.
"I really am sorry," he said kissing up your arm.
"I know," you breathed as his lips trailed up your neck and to your cheek.
Leo gently kissed the side of your mouth and pulled back, staring at you with large lust filled eyes.
Not taking it anymore you crashed your lips into his wrapping an arm around his neck.
Leo groaned and pulled you closer to his body, kissing your lips roughly. You shuddered as his tongue glided across your bottom lip. You didn't open up, testing to see what he would do.
The boy frowned in dissatisfaction and pushed you down onto the ground, forcing his tongue inside to explore your wet cavern.
You loved every second of his tongue inside of your mouth as he explored, his touching yours every so often.
You tangled your fingers in his soft curls and moaned in pleasure as his fingers tickled your ribs, tracing circles above the waistband of your jeans.
Leo sighed into the kiss and you tasted his breath, like sweet spices and breath mints which you thought was heavenly.
"I'm sorry," Leo whispered between each kiss.
"Don't be," you breathed back, each time going in for more.
The son of Hephaestus pulled away one last time and looked into your (e/c) eyes with so much love and sorrow you couldn't help but breathe out.
"I love you,"
His brown eyes widened then he leaned down placing his lips on yours in a soft, tender kiss.
"I love you too,"
Leo never in his life felt so much love for one person except for the one that he had lost when he was eight, leaving a gaping hole in his heart.
But now you would fill that hole, fill it with so much love and happiness that he would forget that it was ever there.