A/N: This took a while, because real life and writer's block hit me at the same time. Sorry 'bout that. Also a HUGE thank you for everyone reviewing/following/favouriting this story! I love you all, and hope you like this chapter (tho it's a bit angsty).

Warnings for chapter: Vague mention of a mentally abusive relationship (in the past).

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"Communication is the key, Leo," Piper said on the other end of the line. She sounded exasperated, and Leo could picture her frowning. Then again, Leo had called her at 4 in the morning from the hallway, whispering frantically because 'holy shit Pipes, I fucked up bad this time'. At least she'd picked up the phone.

"Yeah, well, how do you communicate with someone who doesn't want to communicate?" He asked in return and then regretted it right after. "And before you even say it, I know your example of poor communication skills is me."

"It took me a year to get you to even talk about your mom, so yeah. You could say that." She sighed. "Look, I know you're not exactly about to share and care with someone you've known for, how long?"

"Three months or so. "

"Right. So why not just let it go and leave Nico to deal with his nightmares on his own?"

Leo opened his mouth to answer, before closing it again. Piper was right. Why should he care about a guy he'd met not so long ago? They didn't even know each other well enough. Although, if Leo thought about it, he probably knew more about Nico after three months than he'd even known about Calypso. Which wasn't just a terrifying thought, but also an absurd one. Leo had loved Calypso – or, to be honest, he'd just claimed to love her. His feelings had never ran deeper than 'some sort of fondness'. But Nico he knew. Granted, he didn't know everything. But he was accustomed to Nico's quirks, moods and changes. He knew a lot trivial information about him, and a lot of not so trivial. He could read the other boy's expressions and safely say whether he was in a good mood or not.

He had woken up in the middle of the night to sit with Nico after he had a nightmare. Leo hadn't had to deal with someone regularly having nightmares besides himself in a while.

"I can't just let it go," he finally said to Piper. "He's suffering, even if he doesn't admit it."

The long silence from Piper's end meant either that she'd fallen asleep or that she was about to hit Leo with some hard truth no one else was brave enough to tell him. It turned out to be the latter.

"You're suffering too, Leo. Even if you don't admit it."

Leo took a deep breath, shoulders hunching. "Luckily I have you to talk to, huh?" He joked weakly. She sighed again.

"All I'm saying is, if you want him to talk to you, maybe you should try talking to him first?"

"Yeah, I suppose. I'll talk to him when he wakes up, or whatever."

"Good." She was quiet for a moment, and Leo fiddled with the hem of his shirt. Piper knew him better than anyone, and because of that she also knew Leo wasn't one to call at an odd hour just because his roommate had a nightmare. He was right; she continued talking in a few seconds. "Now, this wasn't what you really called me about, was it?"

Leo hesitated a moment, biting his lower lip. I'll bite the bullet. "Well, uh. I might've, um, you know. Kissed him. When he fell asleep again," he stuttered out. The empty hallway seemed even emptier when a heavy silence landed on the phone line. Then: "What do you mean you kissed him?" Piper demanded, voice stranded. "You don't just go kissing people around, Leo, what the hell?"

He slid down against the floor, drawing his feet up and resting his head against his knees. He'd fucked up, he knew he'd fucked up. He'd had a great friendship with Nico – as great as one can have when you've known each other for three months – and he'd ruined it all by getting a crush on the other boy. Or whatever he was feelings right now. Why did this happen to him every single time? Well, no. Not every time. There'd been Calypso, who'd been a nice friend and an okay girlfriend. There'd been Janine, who'd been an annoying roommate and nothing more. There'd been Carl, who'd been a great friend and then an absent one when things got weird between them.

Then there'd been Ashton. Ashton, who'd at first made him feel like he was the world and then turned it all upside down and around. Ashton, who'd left him feeling like a wet leaf on a street, driven over by a car every second.

Leo didn't want that to happen again. Or did he? Maybe he deserved it. What with being such a fuck up and all, what else could he have? Maybe what he needed was for someone to brake him again. Not that he was fixed now, not even close. Maybe, if he fell for Nico, he could shatter him like Ashton had. Maybe...

"Leo? You there?" Piper's concerned voice broke through his thoughts, and Leo lifted his head up again. The dorm room was staring back at him, and it seemed like the cracks on the door were mocking him. Look at you. Pathetic.

"Leo, are you–"

"Yeah, I'm here. Sorry."

"Are you alright? Look, I'm sorry, what I said was a bit harsh and–"

"No, don't worry 'bout it. And besides, it's not like I kissed him on the lips or anything. So, you know. No worries."

"I always worry about you. Just... be careful, okay? I don't want you to get hurt again."

I want to, Leo thought bitterly. But he couldn't tell that to Piper. She worried enough as it was, and besides, it wasn't any of her business. It was Leo's messed up life, and his messed up head, and his messed up feelings. No need to get his friend involved.

"Yeah, I'll be fine."

The lie slipped through his mouth easily. Just a small white lie, a voice in the back of his head whispered. You need lies to get hurt.

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