Leo: *tries not to get involved in down-world business*

Also Leo: Yeah, I'll help train the vampires

Tell me if I'm doing ok, please, I must know. Leo faints because he takes too much oxygen when he doesn't need it.

14. Temperature Rush

There exists a fine line between getting emotional over reconnecting with someone from your past, and dragging an old meaningless crush into full blown pinning after they nickname you once; and Leo has all but jump skipped that line like the absolute fool he's turned out to be.

His only saving grace is that he knows just how stubborn Nico di Angelo is, and if he's decided to choose Leo's side then nothing's gonna change his mind; or well, there are a few things that would, but all of them fall deeply into territory Leo never plans to get even close to. So Even if Leo fucks up and lets his feelings show, inevitably ruining the fragile connection he now has with Nico, he believes it won't be enough for Nico to rat him out; at most he'd just leave him alone, and Leo would continue on surviving until he couldn't anymore.

That was still the plan even if Nico decided to stick around, and Leo would probably have to explain that he had no intention of returning to either camp; even if Calypso's lie finally collapsed and he was forgiven, he didn't think he'd be able to return. Not after realizing just how easily demigod children could die, not when he could actually do something worthwhile with his situation.

For now, though, he found himself in the training room of Hotel Du Mort, the home to the vampire clan. Simon looks sheepish, Nico is leaning over in a corner, watching; and there are two vampires he doesn't know grinning at him.

"You want to fight against me?"

The taller of the two smiles.

"We want to know how our baby got so good"

Leo catches a glimpse of Simon making a face at that nickname, and promptly decides not to ask, instead he takes a deep breath and detaches his tool belt, walking to Nico. Nico takes the belt with an arched eyebrow, Leo doesn't blame him; actually he's kind of hoping to impress him a little.

"Make sure I don't light up, would you?"

Nico gives him a very decided nod, and then Leo goes back to the vampires.

"Ok, you get the first move"

He has to admit they're faster than the eye can follow, but Leo's sight is the least trained of his senses; that doesn't mean he closes his eyes, he still needs to see where he's moving to. If he lets them get a clean hit he'll be done for, so he has to play defensive while thinking of a way of hitting them.

Cold rushes through him, spreading through every inch as though following his blood, and it's just as wonderful as it's been since that first time, only Leo knows exactly why it's happening. He's wondered a few times if maybe he takes in more oxygen than the average human, considering he's a constant flame even when not using his fire; but as he breathes right now he thinks he was really onto something, because the difference is almost staggering.

One moment he's moving away from a bi-directional attack, the next both vampires are on the floor; Leo's very first instinct is to look to where Nico is, and the pull he feels is so strong it's a wonder he isn't already at his side.

Leo watches as Nico moves the clock back inside his jacket, and while the pull dulls, he can still feel it acutely; so he walks towards him, heat returning to him slowly, until they're within grabbing distance of each other. Nico offers him his tool belt, and Leo puts it back on feeling a little light headed, and like there's something curled tightly around them; the moment gets broken by groaning, and they both turn to watch as Simon helps the two other vampires back to their feet.

- ... .- - / .- .- ... / ...- . .-. -.- / - . -. ... . / ... - .-. .-. -.-

Nico watches transfixed as Leo Valdez becomes something unrecognizable, and wonders momentarily if maybe he's lost his mind, because he's the single most beautiful thing he's ever seen. The moment passes but that thought persists, and when Leo turns around and their eyes meet, the world feels warmer, like a sunny day on a rough winter; warm but not enough, he needs to get closer.

Leo solves that for him, and Nico needs to keep himself in check, least he do something stupid, like kiss Leo until he out of breath like he's supposed to after fighting; so he gives Leo his tool belt, but the air is charged with something, and they're so close, and when Leo's done with the belt he looks at Nico and for a breath stopping moment, Nico thinks they're on the same page; that moment passes too.

The vampires introduce themselves while asking a lot of rapid-fire questions, Nico honestly cannot keep up, and it's a good thing too, because his distraction means he's looking right at Leo when he shivers; and thus he can catch him when he collapses right after. He's actually hot against Nico, so when Simon attempts to help him hold Leo, he stops him.

"I'd suggest you don't touch him unless you want to get burnt"

Simon smiles, nodding knowingly.

"I'll see if we can contact Magnus for a portal"

Nico nods and moves so he can slowly lay Leo down on the ground, making a quick check on his lifeline, just to quell his worry some; he's sure Magnus will know more on what happened, and once he knows what caused it Nico will just have to keep an eye on Leo, so it doesn't repeat. It's just that Nico can't lose Leo again; it's why the clock almost dropping felt like being chocked, even if he had stubbornly ignored it when he felt Leo die however briefly.

He would have to tell him eventually, because if Nico really planned to stick around, it would come into light whether he wanted it to or not; it'd be better if it happened in his own terms.