Knock knock.
No answer.
Knock knock knock.
Still no answer.
So light em up up up, light em up up up,
light em up up up, I'm on fire
"Yo, Queen!"
"Mind opening the goddamn door, Valdez? I'm knocking like a maniac out here!"
"Alright, alright, I'm coming." and he hung up.
Said boy crawled out of bed where he was working and opened the door to his dorm room. In front of him stood a young woman with brown hair and kaleidoscope eyes, rocking one of her boyfriend's shirts and leggings.
"Piper. What brings you to my humble room?" he let her in and closed the door behind her.
"Two things actually. Maybe three, if it doesn't end." she declared.
"What's up?"
"Number one, just making sure you're still coming to the party tonight."
"Pipes, I told you. I got a lot of college work to do..."
"Come on, Valdez!" she pouted "You promised me you'd come when I first told you about it!"
"Things change, Pipes!"
"Leo... please." she gulped.
"Fiiine, I'll go." he rolled his eyes "What's next?"
"Oh, Jason asked me to ask you if you have his bag."
"I do, actually. Hold up, I'll go get it." he went to his room and came back with a blue sports bag.
"And the third?"
"It stopped, so there's no need for that anymore." she grinned and kissed his cheek "9pm at the entrance. If you're not there, I will drag you."
"I said I'll be there." he smiled, and she left.
He went back to his studies, but not much time later, Piper was ringing him up again.
"What? I said I'd go!"
"Not that, it's the third thing! Can you tell the girl to pipe down?!"
"What girl?"
"The girl you have in your room, asshole! The one that keeps moaning or whatever?!"
"I have no girl in my room! What are you talking about?"
"Listen, you shit!"
Leo pulled the phone away from his ear and listened. And yes, there it was. But it wasn't moaning. She was actually singing, but since Piper's room was a bit far down the hall, maybe she couldn't understand what was going on.
These hands could hold the world
But it'll never be enough
"Holy shit." he whispered to the phone.
"Can you tell her to shut the fuck up? I'm tryna study." Piper asked.
"Pipes, let me hear it."
"What?"
"I said, let her sing." he gulped "Please."
"Are you okay, Leo?" her voice was concerned.
"I'll talk to you later, okay? Bye..." and he hung up.
That voice. That voice with an edge of sin but a heart of gold. Oh gods, he would know that voice anywhere. But the reason why he wasn't leaving his room was because he was sure she didn't want to see him again. Not after the way he left her.
FLASHBACK
"Are you serious? Just like that?" her voice rang in his ears.
"I have to." he gulped "I'm so sorry."
"Did you stop loving me?" she sniffed.
"Of course not! I never will. But you have to take this."
"Why are you doing this?"
"I told you. It's for your own good." he bit his lip "Please just leave."
"I can't. I love you." her tears were like bullets to his heart, but he had to protect her. Being a demigod wasn't easy, and he wasn't about to let her fall in the dangers of his life.
"Don't say that." he took her arms "Just leave."
"No. You'll get your distance... but I will never stop loving you." and she left.
END FLASHBACK
And he swore that would be the last he would see of her. But now, hearing her voice from across his bedroom wall, he couldn't help but to listen.
He couldn't have her in his life with the target on his back! He wasn't stupid, there was more than the gods in that equation. Monsters would stop at nothing to stop them, and she was more than a perfect bait. No, he had to break up with her, even if that killed him.
The others knew nothing of her. They didn't know that his week-old hook-ups were to try to forget about her, to try and move on. They knew him as the cheerful ball of energy. Not as the mess he made of himself when he ended things between them. It had been hard to get over her; until he came to the realization that he did not want to get over her. And he settled with loving her, knowing he probably would never see her again.
Oh, but how wrong he was... and just one door down.
Fuck this, he's gonna get wasted tonight.
"Hey guys!" Leo exclaimed, waving at the group.
Percy, Annabeth, Jason and Piper were waiting for him at the lobby, and he was soon to join them. He put on his brown leather jacket just in case.
"Hey Leo!" Percy grinned "Well, you look smoking. Gonna land a lady tonight?"
"Not really, just wanna get really wasted really fast." He shrugged "Where are we going first?"
"I was thinking we could start with the bar." Annabeth suggested "And then we'll see where the night takes us."
"Sounds good with me." Piper smiled.
The night went on. Leo and Percy got hammered, Jason was tipsy and so was Piper. Annabeth was only cheerful, and she was leading them to the karaoke bar Percy had wanted to go to. They pushed the dark door and Piper found a table big enough for them. They sat down, and Percy went to grab the song list. He chose Part of Your World (obviously) and Jason refused to sing. Leo took his turn and chose The Greatest Show – Panic!s version.
It was Percy's turn and he went up the stage. He sang – not that bad, but still – and was received with loud screams from his friend's end. When he was done, he took Leo and made him sing his song. He grabbed the mic and grinned at the crowd before beginning.
Now, say all you want, but there's three certainties about Leo Valdez. Number one, he gives the most cuddly and warm hugs. Number two, he smells like ashes, metal and leather. And number three, he's got the voice of a rock star. And when he pulled at the low and rough notes, all the girls in the club were swooning over him.
He finished and was received with applauses. He went back to his seat and Percy patted him on the back. He was joking around with Piper when a song started playing. But the second he heard that voice, he froze and looked up to the stage.
Shit.
She stood there. Tanned skin and auburn hair that fell down her back in curly waves. Deep green eyes with heavy lashes and full pink lips. She rocked a black tank top, high skinny jeans, brown heeled boots and a big red zip-up hoodie that he knew who it belonged to. She sang with one hand in her pocket and another on the mic.
You'd probably think I was psychotic (if you knew)
What I still got in my closet (sad but true)
Slip it on over my shoulders
Something I'll never get over
It makes me feel a little bit closer to you
I can't keep your love
I can't keep your kiss
Gave you everything and all I got was this
"Please, no…" he whispered to himself.
I'm still rocking your hoodie
And chewing on the strings
It makes me think about you
So I wear it when I sleep
I kept the broken zipper
And cigarette burns
Still rocking your hoodie
Baby, even though it hurts
Still rocking your
Oh gods. It was her song. The song she sang to him every time he went away, and that was his hoodie that she was wearing. He mouthed the words of the chorus with her; he knew the song by heart.
I used to put my hand in your pockets (holding on)
The smell of your cologne is still on it (but you're still gone)
Slip it on over my shoulders
Someone I'll never get over
Makes me feel a little bit closer to you
I can't keep your love
I can't keep your kiss
Gave you everything and all I got was this
I'm still rocking your hoodie
And chewing on the strings
It makes me think about you
So I wear it when I sleep
I kept the broken zipper
And cigarette burns
Still rocking your hoodie
Baby, even though it hurts
Still rocking your hoodie
He saw the way her eyes were glistening, searching the crowd for him. To sing directly to him, so that he could know that it was for him. That maybe, just maybe, she still felt the same. And he continued to sing, and Annabeth noticed that.
And chewing on the strings
It makes me think about you
So I wear it when I sleep
I kept the broken zipper
And cigarette burns
Still rocking your hoodie
Baby, even though it hurts
Still rocking your
If you want it back
If you want it back,
I'm here waiting
Come take it back
Come take it back
'I do want it back. Both the hoodie and you.' He thought 'But I don't know if I can have you again.'
If you want it back
If you want it back,
I'm here waiting
Come take it back
Come take it back
I'm still rocking your hoodie
And chewing on the strings
It makes me think about you
So I wear it when I sleep
I kept the broken zipper
And cigarette burns
Still rocking your hoodie
Baby, even though it hurts
Her eyes found his. She saw the recognition and the regret. He saw the love and the pain. Why, why did you have to leave me? they asked. He had no answer for that. Except to keep singing with her.
I'm still rocking your hoodie
And chewing on the strings
It makes me think about you
So I wear it when I sleep
I kept the broken zipper
And cigarette burns
Still rocking your hoodie
Baby, even though it hurts
I'm still rocking your hoodie
And chewing on the strings
It makes me think about you
So I wear it when I sleep
I kept the broken zipper
And cigarette burns
Still rocking your hoodie
Baby, even though it hurts
I'm still rocking your hoodie
"I need to get some fresh air." He declared when she finished the song.
He stood up and practically ran to the door. He gulped when the fresh air hit him in the face. Fuck, fuck frickity fuck! Why? Why did he have to come, why did he have to agree with Piper, why did he have to hear her?! Why did they have to see each other, why did he have to sing with her, why did she choose that damned song?! Why did they have to break up in the first place…?
"Leo?" Annabeth called.
"Hey, Annabeth." He took a deep breath, wiped his eyes and turned to her.
"You okay?" she placed a hand over his shoulder.
"I'm fine…" he gulped.
"Are you sure?" she tried "You can talk to me, you know that. I don't want that precious brain to be damaged. I mean, it's the only one that can level with mine, I'd hate to lose my brain's friend."
"I'm good." He chuckled "Watch out for the competition, Stormer."
"I am." She winked "Wanna go inside or do you wanna tell me who is she to you?"
"I…" he gulped "Someone special."
"I could tell. How special?"
"Rip my heart and hope to die kind of special." Leo declared.
"Damn. What happened?"
"I broke up with her because of… our origins. She would be a constant target." He explained "I mean, she's not like Rachel. Sure, Rachel is human, but she's a Prophet, the Oracle of Delphi! And I just… I couldn't handle her getting hurt."
"You were in love with her."
"I am in love with her." Leo chuckled dryly.
"Wow." Annabeth gasped, but gathered herself "Come on."
"Where?"
"Inside. Jason found an old friend of his from Camp Jupiter." She took his hand and dragged him inside.
They walked to their table and Annabeth sat Leo down. He saw Jason talk happily with someone and wondered who it was. "Leo!" Jason exclaimed "Meet-"
"Emma." He gasped, seeing the girl that was singing on the stage just a few minutes ago.
"Hey, Leo." She smiled.
"You guys know each other?" Jason frowned, ever so clueless.
"Camp Jupiter?" the Hephaestus' son gulped.
"Three weeks after you left." She smiled softly "Ceres."
"Demeter's Roman self." Annabeth explained.
"I…"
"Emma here was one of the most kickass fighters we had in the Legion." Jason bragged "She is an extension of the Earth itself, so she can control every plant. She's awesome."
"Thanks, Jason…" she blushed.
"Emma, what are you in college for?" Piper asked.
"Environmental Issues… I think you guys know one guy from my class. Grover Underwood?"
"You know Grover?" Percy's eyes light up.
"Hell yeah! We make an awesome duo." She grinned.
"Hey, you guys wanna get out of here? Go to the park or whatever?" Annabeth suggested.
"Sure, just let me warn my girls I'm going!"
It wasn't soon before she was returning to their side, and they left.
They arrived the park. Piper and Emma went to buy drinks and the others settled on the benches, grass, wherever. The two returned laughing and with drinks on their hands. They sat in circle, Emma ended up between Jason and Leo.
They drank the night away, joking and having fun. They played games, talked and shared. It was close to 4am when Emma looked around. Annabeth and Percy were cuddling, a bottle of rum between them, and Piper sat on a bench with Jason's head on her lap. She turned to Leo, who sat by her side with a bottle of tequila on his hands.
"Leo…?"
"All this time."
"Huh?"
"All this time I was fighting with myself. Keeping myself in check so I wouldn't lose it and go to you… and you were safe."
"You should have stuck around." She gulped "Three weeks."
"All my self-reasoning, trying to keep you safe from the monsters from my world…"
"… all for nothing." she raised an eyebrow "Your world is my world, Leo."
He chuckled dryly.
"What is it…? Do you not want me in your world…?" Emma gulped. Tears prickled in her eyes.
"All this time… and I could have you." He whispered too softly for her to hear.
"What did you say?" she tried.
"This."
He rotated his body to her, grabbed the back of her neck and pressed his lips to hers. She gasped and held on to his shoulders for leverage. And so it began.
His hands were holding on to her, and it wasn't long before Leo was picking Emma up and placing her on his lap. Her fingers were buried in his hair, his hands bruising her thigh and waist.
They moved with passion, lips bruising. They couldn't get enough of each other.
He was so hot, pun intended. His hold was fierce and his body scorching. So hot that she took off the red hoodie so that she could cool down. She bit down on his lip by accident, but Leo didn't seem to mind. He gasped however, when her hand tugged on his hair to press their lips harder together.
Emma tasted her own blood when the skin of her lip broke due to the force. She pulled away to lick the blood away, but Leo didn't seem to have had enough. His lips moved to her neck and she gasped. Nibbling, sucking and kissing, he was making her neck his treat. Emma pulled him back up to her lips and he used her initial gasp to push his tongue inside.
They battled, fierce and strong. His hands were pulling her hips to him, wanting her closer and closer. "Leo…" she moaned. He kissed her harder, and it was clear that he couldn't get enough of her.
But she pulled away – she had to make Leo and herself move – and rested her forehead against his.
"Leo…" she whispered.
"I love you." He declared, gasping for breath "I don't care, I'm not letting you go ever again. I lost you once because of my own stupidity, I can't lose you again."
"Leo…" Emma planted a small kiss over his forehead "I love you too. So much. And I am only sorry that we took so long to figure out that we do belong together."
"I knew we belonged together from the second I first saw you, Emma." He looked into her moss green eyes "I was too stupid to follow through, though."
"I'm here now." She smiled.
"And I am never letting you go." He kissed her once more.
.
"Cute." Percy declared, earning a slap on the back of the head by Annabeth.
"Stupid! Let them have their moment!"
"You guys!" Emma gasped.
"I'm gonna be real honest. I forgot you were there." Leo blushed.
"Yeah, with your tongue down her throat, it's only natural, man." Percy winked, and that earned him another slap.