Leo hadn't always been a mucho supreme good looking guy.

….

….

Who the hell was he kidding, even now…, even now he could only hold up his damn mask for so long. He hated himself.

He joked, he laughed, he let everyone think he was fine. Even if they don't believe me, Leo thought, if I act like I'm okay, then I'm okay.

Right?

He grinned, it was fine. Fucking awesome.

His eyes trailed from his project to his boyfriend. Boyfriend. That earned a genuine smile. Nico was looking through the things laying around the bunker and Leo watched him for a second. Leo had gotten lucky, somehow. Nico had grown a lot since they defeated Gaia and, much to Leo's chagrin, was now taller than the Latino boy. His hair had grown out too, leading to him tying it up whenever he trained, which Leo always thought was fucking cute. Sometimes when they cuddled, though Nico would never let him admit it, Leo would braid Nico's hair. He had learned how during his time in the Wilderness Survival Camp with Piper.

"What's this?"

Leo blinked and stood to see what he was talking about, but the moment his eyes registered what it was the blood drained from his face. "Uh," Leo tried to crack a smile, "Nothing?" That wasn't supposed to sound like a question. Shit. Worries and negative thoughts ran through Leo's mind, blocking out the fact the Nico's mouth had a little smile.

Leo coughed again and moved his hands around like he was trying to catch an explanation in the air.

"Cute kid," Nico noted.

Leo tried to glare, "I just-, I didn't-…" Leo didn't know what to say. He was embarrassed that he had looked like that. A chubby, pimply, gross ten-year-old.

While he was worrying Nico's expression had changed to concern, "Leo? Are you okay?"

"Yeah," Leo's voice cracked and he shook his head, changing his answer, "Sorry, I just, uh, I wasn't really, ah, expecting you to find that." Leo took a breath, not long enough for Nico to say anything and continued quickly, "Gods, I looked disgusting and I know that, and I totally get it if you-"

Apparently Nico wasn't in the mood for that shit. He pressed his lips against Leo's hard, putting a hand behind the Latinos neck and playing with stray curls. When he pulled back he glared lightly at Leo, "You weren't disgusting. You aren't disgusting. And even if you looked like a decaying monster I wouldn't break up with you, get that? I love you, no matter what you looked like, you're the same person."

Leo hide his face in Nico's neck muttering loud enough for the Italian to hear, "When did the Ghost King get a sweet side?"

"What can I say," Nico muttered back, "You bring out the worst in me."

"I'm sorry I'm ugly," Leo murmured.

Nico groaned and swore, "You will be sorry if you keep saying that." Nico pulled Leo away from his shoulder to look him in the eye. He didn't say anything but he pulled Leo closer again and kissed his cheek, then his nose, his forehead, down the side of his face, across his chin. Nico looked Leo in the eye, "You're beautiful Leo."

"Boys aren't supposed to be beautiful."

"You're fucking beautiful."

"Much better."

…

"I love you to, Nico."

A/N: look another piece of shit, but it's a drabble thing, I'm trying to get writing again. It's sorta cute, yeah?