PERI'S POV

"So what now?"

I looked back at Leo as he pulled a wrench from his tool belt. "We've still gotta do some repairs here on the ship. The engine room still isn't up to par."

I nodded. "Oh, alright. After you, Captain."

He opened his mouth like he was about to speak, but then quickly shut it. Leo cocked his head to the side. "Hey, Peri, your cut is gone."

I furrowed my brow, and my fingers flew up to the spot underneath my eye. Sure enough, the skin there was smooth and there was no trace of any cuts or gashes on my person.

"Weird," I muttered. "Must be an Omega power."

Leo nodded. "Yeah, I guess so." And then he grinned and spun on his heel, heading down the stairs to the lowest floor. "Come on, we got shit to do!"

I trailed him eagerly, awaiting another opportunity for me to use my powers. The engine room door appeared at the end of the narrow hallway, and Leo yanked the door open.

Another wave of heat washed over our faces, but I was prepared for the ridiculous temperature this time - of course, that didn't stop me from fanning my face for relief.

Leo wiped at his brow and groaned. "Ugh. Let's hurry up and get this over with."

I nodded in agreement and followed him through the door.

Just like before, steam hung like a blanket in the air. Sweltering heat swirled around me, filling the space around us. The tendrils of steam reminded me of Leo's hair, curling wild and free. The thought brought a smile to my face.

Leo gestured to the air. "Kay, well as you can see, it's steamy as fuck in here."

He pointed to a thick bronze pipe, columns of steam shooting up from the loose bolts. "We've gotta tighten up these valves. Yup, this shit needs to be so fucking airtight you could make space food with it. So fucking-"

"Okay, okay! I get it!" I laughed. "Jeez, Leo! You're extra high strung today! What's going on with you?"

Leo stared at me deeply for a second almost as if he was looking into my very soul. His eyes seemed to glaze over as if he was thinking about something seriously.

"Uh, Leo?" I said, concerned. "Is there something wrong? Is it that Hazel thing, because-"

"N-no," he said quickly, averting his eyes. "It's nothing. Come on, let's start on these pipes."

He led me to the nearest bronze pipe, steam spewing from the cracks like erupting lava. Leo pulled two pairs of work gloves from his tool belt and handed a pair to me, slipping on the other for himself. He grabbed the valve on the pipe and turned it, his very nice biceps flexing with the movement. As he turned the valve, the pressure of the steam flowing out began to lessen until nothing was released from the bronze fixture.

"Wow, Leo!" I exclaimed as he looked up, wiping his brow from exertion.

"It's really nothing," he stated, "but we've got, like, a bajillion to fix."

I moved to the next pipe. "Then we had better get to it, eh?"

I twirled my middle finger over the valve, and it squeaked as it followed the motion of my hand. The steam depressed at a much faster rate than the pipe Leo had repaired, but I felt the fatigue of using my powers - and the humidity was not helping in the least bit.

Repeating the action countless times over the hours, and I had managed to take care of a great number of formerly busted up Celestial bronze pipes before feeling too tired. I looked over at Leo who was panting heavily. His chest was heaving, and drops of sweat beaded on his face in the most attractive way possible.

And then my eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.

I watched, mouth agape, as Leo peeled his shirt from his lean frame. I mentally flailed as he stretched, and his glorious muscles rippled with every movement he made. He ran his finger through his thick, curly locks with exhaustion. He grabbed a water bottle from one of the worktables and drank it down, cool water running down his lips then his chin then his ohhh~

And then the icing on the delicious Leo cake.

Leo poured the remainder of the water bottle's contents on his face and neck area, and I flailed in my head. The clear liquid trailed down his body, running down his smooth and defined chest and abdomen. It was like a sexy waterfall. I'm done. DONE. At this point, I realized I was staring. But the amount of fucks I did not give at this point was skyrocketing. And I just couldn't look away.

Leo glanced over at me and quirked an eyebrow, obviously not realizing how unbearably sexy he was at every waking moment. "Hey, Peri, aren't you hot? I mean, gods, you've got all those layers on!"

He smirked. "I know you're trying to look cute for the giants, but it really isn't that crucial-"

"Shut up!" I said quickly. "I'll have you know it isn't lady-like to strip in front of a boy-"

"Lady-like?" Leo repeated before snorting loudly. "Peri, lady-like is the last word I'd use to describe you." He threw his head back and laughed at the very idea.

My chest heaved as I silently fumed - until a brilliant idea came to mind. I gave him a sweet smile. "You're right, Leo. I mean, you're more feminine than me. Could you teach me your girlie ways?"

"Hey!" he cried. "I am one hundred percent man! Just ask my lone chest hair!" He touched his chest lovingly. "I named him Larry."

I drew nearer to him before deftly plucking the curly thing.

Leo jumped six feet in the air. "Yowch!" He rubbed the reddened flesh, drawing out a sob. "Larry! Larry, no!"

I turned around, laughing. "While you're nursing your damaged manhood, I'm gonna see if I can make this outfit any cooler."

I shot him a look as I moved behind a tall shelf. "Decently! So no peeking, Valdez."

"Ain't nobody thinkin' bout you!"