nastasia held out her hands, petals of light pink and white raining down from the cherry blossom tree that stood only a few feet to her left, a smile graced her mouth- a euphoric feeling spreading throughout her chest.
Rome was nothing like she had ever imagined, the statutes of the Roman gods glaring upon her in accusation of the events the past week had held.
She'd left camp half blood in search of the seven, and the last she had heard from Leo was that they were in Rome.Not that she didn't trust they were carrying out their mission, but she worried that they might become unable to keep going. Being a child of Apollo, she was a natural healer. Meaning that she could heal a wound faster than Nectar and Ambrosia could.
Making her way towards the nearest ruins, she stopped a familiar horse- Arion- Hazel's Pegasus. The brown haired girl bolted towards him, her chest swelling with hope.
"Arion," She sighed in relief, patting his mane "Where's Hazel? Do you know where she went?"
Arion bucked his head behind her and she quickly turned to find the mixed girl standing behind her.
"Ana!" Hazel exclaimed, throwing her arms around her. "What are you doing here? Is everything okay? Leo hasn't been able to shut up about you! He's been trying so hard to get an iris message out, I think he's going to have a stroke! Wait, but you're here now, wait, whyre you here again?" She rushed, finally coming to her concluding question.
Anastasia laughed, putting her hand on hazels shoulder, "Chiron thought I was worrying too much and sent me after you guys. He told me you all might need a healer after all."
after a few seconds Hazel nodded, about to say something when she got cut off.
"Hey Hazel-" the voice stopped, Anastasia knew than voice from anywhere- It was Leo. Before she knew what was happening she was engulfed in a warm embrace. she hugged him back, inhaling his scent of musk and charcoal.
Leo held her closer to him, he didn't know why she was here but more or less he didn't care.
He hesitantly pulled away from her, his hands resting on her hips.
"Ana, what on earth are you doing here?" He asked, looking down at the girl for an answer.
She laughed, "what are you not happy to see me? Jeez, I feel the love" her words came out in a teasing tone, leaving the boy lightly smirking.
"Of course i'm happy you're here! But, it's not safe-" he began, only to be cut off by Anastasia.
"Chiron sent me. He thought you might need a healer, just in case, you know?" She chided, wringing her hands nervously. "He wouldn't send me if he didn't think I was strong enough, have a little faith in me, Leo."
He nodded "of course, I just don't want something to happen to you out here. That's why I didn't want you to come originally." Leo explained, hands moving to clasp hers.
Anastasia pulled him into another hug, "even when you're the one going out into danger- you worry about me." She gave a tiny laugh, relishing this moment with him. "My hero"
Leo couldn't bring himself to say anything, he missed this. He missed her. He missed the nights before he left when she snuck out to meet him at bunker nine, the heartfelt moments they shared while working on Festus. The mornings that he'd wake up on the couch with Anastasia in his arms. He remembered all the time they spent together- all of the late nights, early mornings, and coping they did together.
If Leo had circuits and wires, they would have all short circuited in that moment.