LEO'S POV

I felt a familiar tingling sensation inside my body as all of my blood rushed to my. . . nether regions. The flame in my hand grew hotter, burning brighter as I tried my hardest to suppress the swelling feelings within me. My palms began to sweat nervously.

In the dim light I saw Peri cross her arms over her chest, the blush on her face deepening. My eyes widened as realization swept over me.

Shit, that wasn't her face I touched! It was her. . . Oh gods!

Another electric charge shot down my spine.

Leo, do not pop a boner! I told myself sternly. Do not pop a boner, DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES-

Shit.

PERI'S POV

My brain had gone AWOL. My mouth refused to form words, making me sputter and stammer like an idiot. I crossed my arms over my chest, but the feeling of his palms remained. My cheeks felt like they were on fire. I looked up at Leo, but he wouldn't meet my gaze, his face blooming bright red.

I gulped before speaking. "S-sorry for. . . falling on you," I mentally cursed my shaky voice.

"Sorry for groping you," he murmured softly. He looked so abashed that I couldn't help laughing a little.

He glanced up at me, his eyes widened in shock at my laughter. "You think this is funny?!"

"You look so embarrassed!" I cried.

"I am! I freaking felt you up!" he cried. "And don't act like your face isn't red, too!"

I blushed again. "That was so embarrassing!"

He chuckled a little and nodded. "So awkward."

In the semi-illumination I saw him glance down into his lap and sigh in relief. I raised my eyebrow in confusion, but before I could ask any questions Leo stood up.

"Come on, let's find a light switch." He held out his hand to help me up, and I took it gladly.

I forced myself to push the memory of what had just transpired out of my mind for the time being. I didn't really know what had happened to be honest, and the feelings that had arisen were foreign to me. I was glad that Leo and I could just laugh things off so easily, and I figured it had something to do with our great chemistry together. I mean, not chemistry chemistry! Not like that! I mean that would be - why would you even suggest - how could you even - shh!

I definitely need to vent about this to someone later.

Leo held out his flaming hand, and I noticed the fire had dimmed back down to a controlled ball. With the soft orange light, I spotted a light switch on the wall adjacent to us and immediately flipped it.

A bright light flickered on overhead, and Leo snuffed out his flame. I surveyed my surroundings eagerly.

The pit had a low ceiling and narrow walls which were lined with bronze rectangles that looked sort of like fuse boxes. The bronze fuse boxes ran on both walls as far as the eye could see. They had knobs, dials, and flashing multicolored buttons. Between the two walls were long worktables littered with tools, papers, blueprints - all kinds of builder-y construction-y shit.

The scent of oil hung in the air. Most of the fuse boxes had gaping holes in them where exposed wires hung out like robo guts. There were a few pipes down here too, and a few them spewed steam at irregular intervals. The fuse boxes screeched as their buttons beeped impatiently.

Leo pulled a wrench from the tool bag around his waist and carefully removed a fuse box from the wall. He held it out to me and proceeded to tell me all about the gadget, explaining to me how to repair it.

Somewhere along the lines I had tuned him out though, instead staring up at his face as he spoke. I noticed the way whenever he spoke about machines, his eyes lit up. He got so excited, and sometimes he talked so fast that he tripped over his words.

I swear, people get about 50 times cuter when they talk about something they're passionate about.

"You got all that?"

My eyes snapped back into focus. "Hmm?"

"I said did you get all that?" Leo narrowed his eyes at me. "Were you even listening?"

Shit.

"Pshhh!" I scoffed. "Of course I was listening!" I grabbed the busted fuse box out of his hands. "I got dis! Now watch the master work!"

He rolled his eyes as I set the fuse box on the nearest work table. I ran my fingers on the smooth bronze surface. Its cold face stared back at me sadly, and I placed my hands gingerly on the spewing bronze wires. I narrowed my eyes at the torn, defiled cords, concentrating. I touched the two dismembered pieces of wire together, the negative side to the positive. They attracted, and using my powers I magically reformed the cord.

"Whoa," Leo breathed.

I repeated the action with all the wires, recombining them with their long lost twins. When the last cord was reconnected, the fuse box hummed happily. I wiped the sweat off my brow. I figured such a task was the equivalent of conjuring about ten swords.

"You fixed it!" Leo exclaimed, picking up the fuse box and looking it over in wonder.

"I told you I would!" I beamed. I looked up at the countless other busted fuse boxes down the long hallway and sighed. Leo followed my gaze and picked up my repaired box, attaching it back on its place on the wall.

"We'd better get started," he muttered.