*le sigh* once again a warning for some naughty words because Leo and Peri are pottymouths goodbye

LEO'S POV

Peri looked up, and her deep russet orbs met my own. With just that single glance, guilt filled my conscience. Her lips parted slightly, but she said nothing, only shrugging her shoulders lightly at my question.

"Mind if I join you?" I asked, and her only response was another begrudging shrug of her shoulders as the wind swept her hair about her face.

She was so silent, and it hurt.

I climbed over the railing and carefully crawled up Festus's neck to where she sat. Hesitantly, I wrapped my arms around her waist, interlocking my fingers to keep myself in place.

I wondered if she felt uncomfortable with me touching her like this. But then she leaned back into my chest, snuggling deeper into me - into my warmth. She adjusted the blanket so that it was covering the both of us, and my heart swelled.

Her eyes remained fixed on the black sky ahead, the stars twinkling almost as much as her eyes.

I looked down and took a shaky breath, ready to butter her up for all I was worth to get back in her good books.

"Leo, I'm sorry," Peri blurted before I could say anything. "I-I shouldn't have gotten mad like that. I don't know what came over me. I just got so pissed when you were talking about those other girls, and I lost it."

My eyes widened in shock. She was apologizing?! It was my fault!

I squeezed her waist gently. "Hey, why are you apologizing? I was the one being a total dildo. I dunno. . . I was trying to impress you, and I thought if I made you think I had bitches coming out of the wood works, then you'd think I was cool."

She looked up at me, her eyes sparkling. "You were trying to impress me?"

I nodded sheepishly before looking away quickly.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw her smile broadly to herself. She closed her eyes and nestled back into my chest contentedly. I liked the way she felt there. The way her body molded to mine. It felt. . . right.

Her humming picked up again, and I listened intently, trying to identify the tune.

"Is that Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites?" I asked, recognizing the dubstep song.

Peri tilted her chin up to look at me, flashing her signature smile once again. "Yeah. I couldn't go to sleep, so I decided to come up to the deck and listen to some music. I heard this song and couldn't get it out of my head."

I nodded knowingly. "The sick-nasty beats capture us all."

She smirked. "And I saw a suspiciously high amount of One Direction songs in your playlist, too." Her cocky smirk widened. "Is there something you want to tell me, Leo?"

I only grinned. "Hey! One Direction is the shit! They're my boys! Gotta Be You is my jam. 'Nuff said."

Peri laughed. "Oh my gods, Leo! You're so gay!"

I smirked. "Am I?"

Before I knew it I had leaned down closer to her until our foreheads touched gently. Her cool breath dusted over my face lightly. My heart rate quickened. I felt her body tense up, and I realized with a start just how close we were. And every part of me wanted to get closer.

I blinked and lurched backwards, forcing myself to calm down. Peri looked away quickly, muttering something about bros into the blanket. Flustered, I swiped a hand over my face. I cleared my throat, trying to simultaneously clear the air. Things always went from good to great to awkward with this girl.

What the hell just happened?

Calm down, Valdez. I told myself sternly. You just got caught up in the moment is all.

Coach was right - hormones are evil.

Peri yawned suddenly, her eyelids drooping.

"You tired?" I asked and immediately felt stupid for saying something so blatantly obvious.

She nodded sleepily. "Yeah. I guess we should head to bed now."

We carefully made our way down Festus's warm bronze neck. The wind whistled lightly, daring us to make a false move. I climbed over the railing first before turning around and helping Peri onto the deck.

She balled up the thin blanket in her hands, and it was then that I realized what she was wearing. I bit my lip and crossed my arms over my chest, shaking my head a little as I stared up at the ceiling.

This is ridiculous.

How can someone look so good in flannel pajama pants?

She rotated her torso back and forth, and I heard her back crack. Intertwining her fingers and raising her arms over her head, she stretched some more. Her cropped blue shirt raised to her belly button with the slight movement. She shook out her hair and rubbed her eyes tiredly.

Peri snapped her head up suddenly and smiled. "Leo, I've got an idea!"

She came closer to me and pulled out the blanket, ruffling it in the wind to straighten it. She draped it over my shoulders like a cape and tied it around my neck.

"There!" she beamed proudly. "You are now Super Leo!"

I laughed. "Alright then!" I reached into my tool bag and produced a long rope, handing it to her. "And you shall be known as Wonder Peri."

She curtsied and accepted the rope. "I'm honored."

I grinned and threw my fist in the air. "Together we are the Dynamic Duo!"

"Oh hell yes!" she cried into the night, throwing her arm around my neck. "This shit is so legit! Badass! That's right, Gaea, suck my-"

I clamped my hand over her mouth, laughing. "Shut up, psycho! It's past midnight - do you want the whole ship to wake up?!"

She giggled. "Right. Sorry, Leo."

My cape billowed in the slight wind, greatly amusing her. "Strike a pose, Super Leo."

Grinning, I puffed out my chest and put my fists on my hips. I pulled the most heroic face I could muster, and stared up at the sky.

"Good," she smiled a little, and spoke with utmost seriousness. "Now that's how I want you to look when you slice Gaea's head off."

Before I could even hope to react, Peri just beamed and acted like she didn't just spit some inspirational prophetic ass shit to me like it was nothing.

"Come on," she murmured, turning towards the stairs. "Let's go to bed, cuz I'm ready to hit the sack like it owes me money."

"I-I. . . okay,"

I followed her down the steps until we came to her doorway. Peri hesitated before entering her bedroom, and I quirked an eyebrow in confusion. What was there left to do?

"Uh, so. . . goodnight I guess," I muttered, scratching the back of my head.

"Y-yeah, 'night." She turned and opened the door, but halfway in she backtracked.

Before I realized what was happening, Peri thrust herself into my arms. She embraced me tightly, and her face nuzzled into my chest. For a split second, all I could think about was this moment in time, the scent of fruits and flowers swirling around us.

And then as quickly as it had come, Peri's hug was gone. She swiftly disappeared into the darkness of her bedroom, leaving me with a flutter in my stomach and the tiniest feeling of emptiness.

What the hell just happened?