Leo's POV

Both the blonde, Piper (I think that's her name), and the obsidian-eyed boy looked at me like they were dear caught in headlights. I smirked the tiniest bit, taping my foot against the wood lightly.

The blonde and Piper exchanged looks and promptly bolted past me. I raised an eyebrow in their direction, but returned my focus to obsidian eyes. He looked tempted to do the same, but I could tell he didn't want to leave me alone. He sighed, defeated, and slowly turned to me.

By now, the previous play-like sparkle disappeared from my eyes, instead, a wall of protectiveness replaced its absence. The obsidian-eyed boy walked toward me, and I then walked back.

"Hey Leo... How are you feeling?" He asked. I narrowed my eyes at him.

"How do you know my name?" I asked suspiciously, I don't remember telling him it...

"Travis." He responded with a one-word answer. I scowled, but perked up once more.

"Speaking of Travis... Where is he right now?" The obsidian eyes shifted, and I saw something peculiar in them. Was it secretive? Mischief? Jealousy?

"He's training a few demigods." I immediately stiffened. That word, demigod. I've been called that so many times by people outside of this weird camp, mostly people who wanted to kill me.

"Speaking of which, what are demigods? What is this place? Why am I here?" I shot questions out like a gun, and obsidian-eyed boy sighed once more, seeming ready to explain the whole story.

***

"Sooooo... I'm half god half mortal and this camp is the only place that is safe for people like me?" I can't believe it. This dude - Nico - expects me to believe that I am half Greek god, and that it was so surprising how I survived in the mortal world because of the fact that I attract monsters.

Nico nodded, is sleek black hair flopping up and down a bit, covering one of his eyes.

"Except for one place, Camp Jupiter, is also a safe sanctuary, except mostly Roman demigods live there." My brain was exploding with so many questions and ideas, how was this all even possible?

Nico placed a hand on my shoulder, looking me in the eyes. I could feel a tiny blush creeping onto my cheeks.

STOP IT LEO! YOU CAN'T FALL IN LOVE AGAIN! YOU'LL KNOW WHAT WILL HAPPEN, HE'LL REALIZE YOU ARE AN USELESS MONSTER AND DUMP YOU IN THE DITCHES! 

I straightened, brushing his hand off. Any remaining blush disappeared off my cheeks, returning to the normal tan color. Nico looked at me, a bit confused and a bit hurt. My heart broke a bit, but I glued it back together.

Remember Leo, caring is futile, helping is stupid, growing attached is naïve, and loving is death.

I stood back up from beside Nico. Wait, when did I sit down in the first place?

"Can you take me on a tour?" I said bluntly. No emotion showed in my voice, just a monotone boy that's been through too much pain and suffering to care. Nico looked hesitant, and even a bit scared of me.

"Well... You are still healing, and I'm not sure if Will will let you..." I was confused. Healing? Healing from what?

"Healing from what?" I voiced my confusion. Nico's eyes almost bugged out of their sockets in shock.

"You mean, you didn't know?" I growled frustratingly, why can't people just give me straight answers for once?

"I didn't know what?" Nico looked scared for a moment, then he turned serious.

"Leo..... There was a bullet.... Inside your closed body..." Nico winced, turning away as if I would judo flip him for saying that. Honestly, I wasn't shocked too much at that. I knew that Officer Jameson shot me in the abdomen, and when it healed on its own (I don't even know how), I had suspected that the bullet was still in my body, but I wasn't 100% sure.

"Ok." I responded. Nico looked so shocked, that I was tempted to snicker. However, I kept my expressionless demeanor on my face, and continued to ask.

"What about the tour?" Nico opened and closed his mouth, resembling a fish without water. My face held an unimpressed mask.

"I mean... sure? I guess?

♥

a/n: is leo already gaining some feelings? hmm?

fiona.