Leo's POV

Nico led me around camp, but was obviously very confused due to my slip of emotions.

Can't let that happen again.

Lunch bell rang, signaling all campers to go to the Pavilion. I could feel myself building up even more walls than before, remaking the emotionless mask, and protecting my heart to never trust. Nico could sense the sudden change in me, that I could tell.

When I walked in with Nico at my side, the whole of camp fell silent.

I could already tell people were judging hardcore.

"What the heck is this faggot doing here?"

"Oh. My. Gods. What a loser."

"Ugh, can we just leave him to die out in the mortal world?"

"Wow, why is he so short and ugly?"

I braced myself for the impact of all those phrases, phrases I've heard all too much in my life. However, my face showed no emotion, no pain, no signs of being too broken.

What happened, however, was not what I imagined.

"Leo! Camp Half-Blood, this is Leo Valdez, our new camper! Leo, please wave 'hi'" Chiron asked me kindly. I tentatively raised my hand for a second, then lowered it once again. I wasn't used to of people actually treating me kindly, and like an actual human being, my life has been just a series of hate and pain.

Multiple people cheered and whistled, welcoming me warmly. My shock must have been too obvious, because Nico rested his hand on my back, sending me an inviting smile.

Caring is futile, helping is stupid, growing attached is naïve, and loving is death.

My expression changed from shocked to guarded in a split second. Nico's hand was roughly shoved off me, and I radiated hate from every direction. The camp's mood instantly downed once hit with the impact of my sudden transition and broken emotions.

"Good," I thought, "now they know not to mess with me."

Nico's POV

Befriending Leo was going to be harder than I thought.

One second he's playful, the next he's shy, then he's shocked, and now he's grumpier and moodier than Hades himself. And that's really saying something, I should know, I'm his son.

Leo's guarded mood really brought the camp down a few notches, no one expected the boy to change emotions so quickly, not even me. From the Hades table, I could hear Leo not talking to anyone except for a few whispers with Travis.

Travis.

I never had anything against the boy since he knew never to mess with me, being son of Hades and all, but once Leo comes, it's like Travis is the bad guy, not monsters.

I scolded myself for feeling this way. 

"Nico? Are you okay?" Piper's voice snapped me out of my trance.

"Hmm? Oh yeah, why would you ask?" I smiled nervously, please don't tell me that she could tell what I was feeling.

"Oh, uhh... You kind of looked like you were pooping... Like, you looked constipated..." Piper awkwardly trailed off. I stared at her with a "wtf" face.

She giggled a bit, sitting down next to me and putting an arm around my neck. I loosened up, laughing.

Oh well, Leo problems can wait, for now, I'm content with chilling like a villain.

♥

a/n: i update so. slowly. im sorry.

fiona.