PJO boys X Reader

---FLames & Feelings~

The dining pavilion was loud as always—campers laughing, food being offered to the gods, plates magically refilling with the good stuff. You sat with your cabinmates, half-listening to the conversation and half-focused on the golden sky as the sun dipped low over Half-Blood Hill.

And then you felt it.

That feeling.
Someone watching you.

You turned your head casually—and there he was.

Leo Valdez, sitting at the Hephaestus table, fork halfway to his mouth, absolutely staring at you.

His eyes widened when you caught him. He choked on his food. Then—like the smooth genius he was—he gave you an awkward little thumbs-up.

You blinked. Then smiled.

And sent him a wink before turning back to your dinner.

---

That night, as the pavilion emptied out and campers wandered back to cabins or the campfire, you took your time walking. The air was warm, fireflies glowing in the trees, the sound of the lake lapping nearby.

You almost didn’t hear the footsteps behind you.

“Hey! Hey, wait up!”

You turned—and Leo skidded to a stop next to you, hair slightly windblown, grease stain on his cheek, and nerves radiating off him like heat.

“…You, uh, saw me looking at dinner, huh?”

You crossed your arms, pretending to think. “Hmm. You mean when you stared at me like I was made of celestial bronze?”

He groaned. “Okay, in my defense—you looked really nice. And also? I didn’t mean to look that long, but you smiled and it was, like, brain short-circuit. Sparks. Actual sparks.”

You raised an eyebrow. “You’re saying I caused a malfunction?”

“Worse,” he said, mock-serious. “You caused a full emotional system failure. I nearly dropped my mac and cheese.”

You laughed. “That sounds tragic.”

“Very. But if you let me make it up to you with a date—maybe a walk by the forges? Late-night snack raid? I can build you a tiny dragon or something—I mean, not right away, I’m still fixing the last one but—”

“Leo.”

He blinked. “Yeah?”

“I’d love to go on a date.”

He froze. Then: “Wait. Really?”

You leaned in, smirking. “I mean, you already risked your life with mac and cheese. How could I say no?”

His grin bloomed so fast, it made your heart skip a beat.

“Cool cool cool,” he said, trying—and failing—to act chill. “So, um, tomorrow night? Forges? Or we could hang out on Bunker Nine’s roof? The view’s amazing. And I promise not to drop anything that explodes.”

You reached out and wiped the grease smudge from his cheek with your thumb. “It’s a date, Valdez.”

He looked like he was about to combust—but in the good way.

And as you walked back toward the cabins—Leo practically floating beside you—you could’ve sworn the fireflies started dancing just a little brighter.