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Leo was a hot mess, literally and figuratively. He was constantly running around and fixing gadgets and projects to avoid the overwhelming sensation of jealousy and not belonging. He was used to 3rd wheeling, and eventually 7th wheeling but it didn’t stop the anger that resided in his stomach when he saw everyone so happy together.
He hadn’t known happiness since being in his mothers shop, and he had caused it to burn to the ground in front of him. So whenever he found comfort in Jason and then Piper came along, he felt as if Jason was burning away in front of him as well.
Maybe if he had Piper’s charm speak, or Hazel’s gift with riches, or even Percy’s control over the water, Jason would notice him. All Leo had was the ability to erupt the world into flames. He couldn’t even control the fire, he could just create it. It didn’t bend to his will the same way water did for Percy, or riches did for Hazel, or people did for Piper.
So yes, maybe Leo was jealous when he looked in the mirror and was met with his impish complexion and not the beauty of the other women or men who graced him with their presence.
Then there was Jason. Beauty didn’t begin to describe him. He had hair so blonde that Leo had wondered if it was genuine gold. He had the most electric blue eyes, as though lighting were swimming along a clear blue lake. He was taller than Leo by a little more than half a foot and Leo loved it. Whenever they were alone, walking somewhere or just talking, Jason would put his arm on Leo’s head and smile at him like it was the best inside joke anyone could ever have. Jason was far beyond the beauty of any mortal Leo had ever encountered -maybe even more beautiful than Aphrodite herself, but Leo wouldn’t dare to say that out loud- and Leo doubted anyone else would ever compare.
Leo sighed as he finished putting the last few touches on a small robot he had been working on. He had taken inspiration from a video game called Clatchet and Rank (something like that). The little thing rolled on two wheels and held its arms up and offered Leo a gear it had picked up from the ground with its clamp hands. Leo couldn’t help the smile that came to his face as he looked at the little guy.
“I think I’m going to name you, Robie.” Leo said as he took the gear from Robie’s clamp. The Robot whirred and spun in a circle before going and looking for any more gears or things Leo may have dropped or simply not cared to get off of the floor. He looked for the clock sitting on the wall of bunker 9 and almost shouted when he realized he was supposed to see Jason in less than 2 minutes. He quickly rushed out of the bunker hearing the whirring and clicking sounds of Robie. He raced to the Lake and saw Jason already on the pier. He was laying down with his face seemingly glowing in the sunlight. Leo’s breath caught in his lungs and he almost choked when Jason turned to face him.
Jason’s lips were upturned into a gracious smile. The scar on his lip seemed so inviting that Leo almost stepped forward until he was face to face with Jason.
‘I could simply offer to kiss it better’ Leo thought as he stared into the blue eyes in front of him.
“You’re a little late,” Jason said as he pushed himself up. Leo wondered how it would feel to sit in Jason’s lap right then. Feeling the way warmth radiated from both of them, combining into a flurry and frenzy and lighting and fire. Would Leo set them both ablaze?
Leo reached into the toolbelt along his waist and pulled out a copper wire to fidget with. He needed something to keep his hands busy so he didn’t grab Jason and kiss him. “I was making a little robot guy to pick up some of the trash and gears on the floor in bunker 9.” Leo explained as he neatly folded the copper down around his fingers until it formed the shape of a heart. “What did you wanna talk about?”
“Oh, nothing in particular. We just never get a lot of time together and I figured we could hang out,” Jason exclaimed excitedly as though it had taken him weeks to form the plan. Leo couldn’t help the small chuckle that left his lips and the blush that was beginning to creep up his neck.
Leo forced himself to move forward until he was able to take a seat right next to Jason on the pier. “We don’t get a lot of time together,” Leo agreed. He hadn’t meant to let the sadness seep into his tone so deeply, but Jason seemed to feel the weight the words held on Leo’s mind.
“I’m sorry. I’ve been really busy with things and, well I don’t have an excuse, you don’t deserve to be pushed to the side. I promise I’ll make more time for you,” Jason said as he looked at the wire in Leo’s hands. The copper was beginning to look a little more like molten lava as Leo heated it. It twisted easily in Leo’s fingers, the heart that had seemed to perfect suddenly becoming even more beautiful as it glowed.
Jason had often wondered if holding Leo’s hands would be too hot. Jason could control lighting, and lighting could get up to over 4000 degrees, so truly, was it even possible for Leo to burn him? His hands reached out and almost grabbed Leo’s. He almost did, but stopped once he saw Leo’s eyes dart down to his hands.
“What, uh, what are you doing?” Leo asked, his eyes still fixated on the hand Jason had outstretched.
Jason almost lied, said something about how maybe there was a bug and he had been swatting it away, then he saw fire erupt in Leo’s hand. The impish boy quickly stuffed his hand into his toolbelt, trying to diminish the bright orange. “I was going to hold your hand.”
At those words, Leo dove his hand into Jasons and for just a moment felt a static electricity course through his body “You shocked me!” Leo shouted. Jason almost apologized, but stopped himself when he saw the grin on Leo’s face.
“Your hands are super warm,” Jason responded with a small smile finding its way to his face as well. They stopped for a moment. Both of them suddenly realized they had crossed into uncharted territory that they had never even thought to discuss before.
Leo started to pull his hand away, but Jason simply tightened his grip in a silent plea. “Piper,” Leo murmured.
“Me and Piper are just friends, Leo. We broke up, you know that.” Jason replied as he scooted closer to Leo on the dock.
“I just always assumed there were lingering feelings.”
“I’m almost positive she’s a lesbian.”
Those words were enough to cause Leo to double over laughing. He pulled his hand away from Jason’s to grip his stomach as the erupted laughter shook his sides until he was in tears.
“You turned her gay?” Leo asked. Jason could tell it was a joke, but the question had actually crossed his mind before. It wasn’t like he was mad about it, he and Piper had broken up on mutual terms and had stayed friends. She often came to him for relationship advice (or crush advice since she had yet to form an actual relationship) and it always ended up with them hugging and saying goodbye, purely platonic.
“Maybe she turned me gay,” Jason said exasperatedly. Leo was the only person he really joked around with, though in that minute in time, those few seconds of looking into Leo’s eyes, he thought he really was in love, just not with Piper. “I think I love you, Leo.”
Jason’s confession was short, the words rolled off of his tongue before he could bite them back. Leo didn’t seem to mind though. “I know I love you.” Leo offered as a reply as he grabbed Jason’s hand again.
Leo smiled as he realized something. His hands weren’t too hot for Jason to hold. They were scorching hot, threatening to erupt into flames, and yet Jason held them and smiled like it was the most perfect thing he had ever felt. Then Jason’s head dipped and Leo wondered if Jason was leaning in to kiss him. Leo closed his eyes instinctively, his heart beating faster as he tried to decipher what was honestly going on. Then Jason’s lips were pressed against his cheek. Leo yanked his hands from Jason’s grasp as flames poured over them. Orange, red and yellow glowing in his palm like the light of a campfire.
“You missed,” Leo said quickly as he pressed his lips to Jason’s. The blonde haired boy couldn’t help but laugh into the kiss. Leo started to chuckle as well and they both pulled apart to laugh until they were crying.
“I don’t want this to end.” Jason whispered softly.
Leo wondered for a moment if that was part of the reason they clicked, Jason was quiet, calm, collected. Leo was eccentric, loud, and often hyperactive. Yet somehow, they found this small mixture when they were together.
“Your cabin doesn’t have any bunk mates,” Leo reminded with a small wiggle of his eyebrows.
“Do you wanna go over there and just talk?” Jason asked softly.
Leo nodded his head ecstatically, getting to his feet quickly, grabbing Jason’s hand, and pulling him to his feet behind Leo. They both started tumbling through the grass, running next to one another in a silent race.
The day would end soon, but Leo was content with the knowledge that he and Jason had just reached their beginning.