100 Moments for a Couple Never Meant to Be

by Percyjacksonfan3

Written for the 100 Drabbles/100 Prompts challenge. I was given 100 prompts, a couple, and was told to write 100 drabbles for each, each one less than 600 words. Leo/Reyna goodness, everybody, who doesn't want to read that? Rated M for later chapters. All rights go to Rick Riordan!

27. Old

27. Old

Even though growing old is something of a major achievement for demigods (at least the Greek ones, who don't have a New Rome to be safe in) Reyna knows Leo hates it.

He hates the way he can't just flop down on a skateboard and slide under a car, fixing and tinkering as he goes. He hates the wrinkles that appear one by one on his face. He complains to Reyna and she tells him he's being silly because he's still just as handsome as every to her, but it doesn't seem to be enough. His bones ache, his joints hurt and for someone so hyper-active it is hard when your body decides it wants to go the speed of a turtle.

Reyna knows this, she knows he's frustrated and upset and she knows he tries to hide it from her. He doesn't want to bother her or whatever it is he thinks he's doing by not telling her anything.

So when she catches him studying himself in their bathroom mirror one day she decides she's had enough.

"What are you doing?" She asks and she slides her arms around his waist from behind him, resting her head on his (slightly stooped) shoulder.

"Nothing."

"Leo Valdez, you really are a horrible liar."

He sighs and his breath rattles slightly. "I hate being old."

Reyna sighed too, but out of exasperation. "Leo."

"Yeah?"

"Do you wish you were young again? You want to be 24 and smooth skinned and dark haired?"

"Being young was nice, Reyna, don't you miss it?" Leo asks her with a frown.

She frowns right back at him. "It was nice." She said. "But it wasn't perfect. When we were 24 we did not have our three beautiful children. When we were 42, our youngest grandchild wasn't born yet. At 50 we never got to see little Marty enter grade six. At 65 our youngest grandchild was just graduating high-school." Reyna put her hands on her hips. "Are you telling me you would rather go back and not experience those things?"

"Of course not, Rey, it's just-"

"Just what?"

Leo looks back at the mirror forlornly. "I hate being old."

"Leo Valdez," Reyna takes his hand and leads him out of the bathroom and away from the accursed mirror. "We are not old, we are experienced."