"You don't."
"Reyna, please…"
"Don't 'Reyna, please' me! I HATE you!" I watched as she legged it off into the distance, her hair and her cape billowing out behind her like a parachute. I groaned in frustration before kicking a shield on the floor, then hopping around like some deranged chicken, clutching my toe and muttering 'Ow. Ow. Ow.'
"Jason?" came a little reproachful voice and I spun to face Piper, her frown evident and her eyes full of… what was that? Pity? Concern? I didn't really care.
"Hey, Pipes." Her face fell slightly at my tone of voice and I winced.
"I just came to see if you were okay, Sparky. I – I'll just be going then. Bye."
"No, Piper, wait, please…" She was already stalking away across the sand and I kicked the same shield again, which resulted in another round of hopping and now slightly shouted"Ow. Ow. Ow."
"Slick, dude." I heard a third voice snort at me and I turned yet again, only to find myself nose to nose with Leo.
"Thanks buddy." I snarled through gritted teeth. He laughed. My eyebrows rose in my forehead and Leo laughed harder, leaning on me slightly for support. His left hand brushed over the small of my back dismissively and I shivered automatically. He stopped laughing and stood up, raising a pointed eyebrow.
"Sparky?" he asked seriously (Yes, I almost fainted too) and I shivered again as his breath caught the base of my neck.
"Uhm… err… yeah?" I stuttered, trying to keep my breath steady. I'd always liked Leo, he was my best mate but this was… different. Even to what I'd felt with Piper and Reyna. Leo's hands grazed my jaw line and I took a deep breath, trying desperately to keep control.
Well, that all went to Pluto when he smashed his lips into mine.
"L – Leo…" I half shrieked, half moaned as he changed his position, his arms round my neck and his body flat against mine. My arms snaked around his back self consciously and he smirked before running his tongue along my lower lip, alive and tingling with nerves.
"Mnyeh." We both groaned at the same time when our tongues flicked against each other, slowly at first, then faster and faster like a dance. We wandered aimlessly as we kissed; ending up with Leo's back pressed against the wall, my arms around him like a cage. His leg snaked around mine and I moaned, biting his lower lip gently. He pulled back, chest heaving, forehead glinting in the sun.
"I – I'm s – s- sorry." He gasped, his eyes wide. "Jason, I don't know w – what came over us…" I leaned in again, lacing my fingers through his hair shortly, earning a sharp gasp from Leo. He made eye contact at last and smiled at me; a genuine smile, different to his usual smirk. (Yes, I almost fainted too.) We inched forward instinctively and, getting bored, I kissed him softly again. The kiss was sweet and gentle and, in a funny sense, beautiful. As cliché as it sounds, I felt at peace with nature and everything around me. All that mattered was that Leo was here, in front of me, with his scent filling my nose and his lips warming mine. Leo's mouth was warm against my cold lips and I could taste his salty breath on my tongue. Everything about him was warm, so warm. He annoyed me like Pluto's underpants, but he had done so much for us. I saw us questing, him supplying for us, cracking jokes at the worst time, building the Argo II, the glint in his eye when it was finished. I loved that look. Hell, I loved Leo. He was here, now, and so was I. That's all that mattered.
"I – I really like you, Jason Grace." Leo admitted, keeping his eyes locked on the floor. I rested my forefinger under his chin and lifted it to face me.
"That sucks." I whispered, smiling lightly. "Because I love you, Leo Valdez."