Leo walked Reyna to her front door at the Praetor's quarters. Because that's what people did after a date, right? It was supposed to be romantic, or something. Besides, after how disastrous the entire affair had been, he had to make it up to her somehow. Even if she hadn't really wanted to be walked back …

Reyna's place was huge. Sometimes Leo wondered if the entire house wasn't too cold and empty for just one person. But then again, this was Reyna.

Why did he always fall for those ice-cold personality types?

Reyna turned her and fixed her obsidian eyes on him. Seriously, it was like this girl had no irises at all. Was that even human?

"You can go home now, Valdez," she said.

Leo shivered. He wasn't sure if it was because of the cold, or because of the look she was giving him. He swore the air around them just got frostier.

Reyna sighed, her breath puffing out in a cloud of vapour. "Thanks for the walk back, I guess."

Leo finally picked up the courage to speak. "So … fun day, huh?"

Reyna shot that icy glare at him again. "You set the tablecloth on fire."

Leo slumped. And so it had begun.

"And there was wax all over the table, from that candle. A son of Vulcan should know better."

"Hepheastus," Leo muttered.

"Whatever." Reyna's breath pooled out onto Leo's face. He might've even seen an icicle forming on the tip of his nose. "And that's not even the worst part. If you were even a little bit sorry, it might have been okay. But you spent the entire evening teasing me about this stupid bet."

Yeah, bad move, Valdez. Leo had known the minute those words came out of his mouth that they would come back to haunt him eventually.

"Also," Reyna continued, "You ate so messily that bits of food kept flying at my face."

Leo was hoping she didn't notice that.

"And you ordered us lobster when you know that I'm severely allergic."

What was worrying him more was that she was reciting this whole thing while keeping a total poker face.

"And then, in order to 'help' me, you threw a whole jar of Kool-Aid on me."

"Yeah …" Leo scratched the back of his neck. He was in a whole mess of trouble now. "Look, I'm sorry it didn't turn out so great."

Reyna looked away from him and opened her purse. He stood and watched as she fished around in it and pulled out a pair of keys. It was only when she had turned the lock that he had the courage to grab her arm.

"Hey," he said. She raised her eyebrow at him. He had her full attention now. He sighed. There was definitely a very large icicle on his nose now. "You're right. I messed up our date. But," he held up his palms in surrender, "In my defence, I wasn't aware that you considered it an actual date …"

Reyna rolled her eyes. "It didn't have to be an actual date, Leo." She crossed her arms. "I just wanted to have fun. With you."

With you. The way she said it made his insides feel funny. And not in the stand-up comedian kind of way.

He shifted, looking down at his feet. "Maybe we should've gone for the romantic walk by the beach thing."

Even if it was only for a fleeting moment, a smile tugged at Reyna's lips, and there was a slight twinkle in her eyes. She stepped down from the doorway and walked towards Leo, hugging herself tighter.

"There's no beach around here, Valdez," she pointed out.

"Then maybe a romantic walk through the Fields of Mars?"

"In the middle of all those bloodthirsty fighting Romans?"

She was teasing him. This was slightly more comfortable. Maybe it was time for Leo to draw out the big guns.

"Oh baby, once they see Mister Hot Stuff walk through they'll drop their weapons and swoon all over me."

Reyna raised an eyebrow. There was no sign of a smile or any acknowledgement of the joke in her eyes or on her lips. Leo's ears were ringing, and all he could think was 'Bad move, bad move, bad move!'.

But instead, Reyna inched closer and took his hand in hers. Her fingers were so cold they bit into his skin, but Leo didn't mind.

He also didn't mind hearing the next thing Reyna said. Over and over again.

"Just shut up and kiss me, hot stuff."

Author's note: So I just decided to check up on this story and I saw the last three words of this chapter were missing.

WHICH IS A SHAME BECAUSE THE LAST TWO WORDS ARE LIKE THE BEST IN THE WHOLE THING.

Gah. Sorry folks.