In The Meantime... (Various x Reader)

happy kinda-birthday! ? leo valdez

He heard her mutter a disbelieving "yeah, right," just before he opened up to let her in.

She stood in her camp t-shirt and a pair of shorts, a different outfit since the last time he'd seen her. Her sun-kissed cheeks told Leo he'd missed at least a day of outdoor activities, and the excited smile slipped right off of her face as soon as he met her eyes.

"My gods, you look terrible,"

Leo gave her a pointed look. "Good to see you, too, Sunshine," He said sarcastically.

(Y/N) gave him a hug and Leo heard her sigh in what he thought was relief. He hugged her back, feeling himself get hot at their proximity. He could only hope he didn't burn her. "Jeez, you're acting like I died." He teased.

"Well you did, once, remember? I've gotta make up for that lost time, and you disappearing for days on end isn't the best way to do that." She walked inside the bunker, examining the air-craft hanger sized room. (Y/N) was looking for something, but Leo couldn't figure out what. "Are those empty chip bags?"

Leo followed her gaze to the family sized bags of chips laying on the ground. "Hey, I had to eat," He said with a smile, although (Y/N) didn't seem to find it amusing.

"When was the last time you slept?"

"Well," He said slowly. "Is it really your Kinda-Birthday?"

She nodded, already knowing the answer couldn't possibly be good.

"Then it's been..." He pretended to do the math to buy time. He knew he would be in a world of trouble once he told her the truth, but he was not brave enough to try to get a lie past her. "Three days?" He answered weakly.

(Y/N) sighed, and Leo knew the lecture was coming. "Leo, you have to take care of yourself. What's so important that you don't let yourself sleep?"

Of course the answer was (Y/N). Staying up for three days was nothing compared to everything he would do for her. He'd stay up forever if it meant she would be happy. "Well, I was... working on--stuff." Leo said. "For your birthday--today. I guess I lost track of time."

"That's no excuse." (Y/N) said. "Though, I do appreciate the sentiment. Let's see it then."

"What? No. It isn't finished."

(Y/N) smiled, something Leo knew meant she was up to no good.

"Listen, hermosa, you can go looking for it, but you'll never find it." Leo said confidently. "I've used my prowess--"

"These blueprints over here don't have anything to do with it?" (Y/N) teasingly flipped it over to see the plan.

"Hey!" Leo hurried over to her, but she turned around too fast. Her back was to him as he reached for the papers over her shoulder, but her arm was outstretched too far for him to reach it. "Ah, that's not it! I need that!"

Being so close to her made him feel hot, and if she weren't about to ruin a surprise for herself, he might've made a flirtatious remark, or at the very least, caught fire.

"A little dragon?" Leo could hear the excitement in her voice, which made him crack a smile, despite the circumstance. He was at least glad to know she liked the idea.

"That's for something else," He tried again, reaching for the paper.

"Leo, it says 'Best Kinda-Birthday gift of all time' right here at the top." She laughed. "Who else has one of those?"

"Those are Nyssa's prints."

(Y/N) turned around, pointing to Leo's messy hand writing. Compliments of Bad Boy Supreme  was scrawled underneath the title.

He sighed. There was no way explaining that one. "Okay, fine. I won't deny that it's the best idea I've ever had."

"You're so humble," (Y/N) teased with a smile. "So where is the little guy?"

"He isn't finished, yet." Leo opened up the drawer, regardless. There was no stopping (Y/N) from figuring something out once she set her mind to it. "Come on, amiguito..."

He pulled out the dragon, earning a gasp from (Y/N). She scooped him out of his arms with a delighted grin. "What do you think?" Leo asked.

"He's so cute!"

"The dragon, not me." He smiled, earning a look from the girl. He put his hands up in mock surrender. "Fine, fine. I still have to make a few finishing touches, like the fire, but--"

"Wait, he breathes fire?"

"Well, yeah." Leo said. "That's good right? You can use him to get in here whenever you want."

She put his thoughts together and smiled. "That's amazing." (Y/N) placed him on the workbench. "Go ahead Kleis."

"Kleis?" Leo laughed. "You named him 'key?'"

"You named a dragon 'Happy,' I don't want to hear it."

"Touché."

Kleis reared once more, and much to Leo's surprise, he breathed out a plume of fire, straight at him. If he didn't have fire immunity, he might have been mad, but in that moment he was overjoyed. He laughed splendidly. "You did it, amiguito! You work! One more!"

Another cloud of fire was sent his way, and he heard (Y/N) scold the dragon. Leo didn't mind in the slightest. "Good job, buddy!"

"What more do you have to do with him?" (Y/N) asked, handing Leo a dirty camp shirt. It was littered with holes and grease, but it was better than nothing. He hardly realized the dragon managed to burn his shirt off.

Leo slipped into the shirt, placing the goggles on his head onto the table. "Nothing. He's working perfectly. Maybe he had a few bugs before."

(Y/N) smiled. "Or maybe he just doesn't like the so called, 'Bad Boy Supreme.'" She teased.

Leo did think Kleis was laughing at him after spraying him with soot. And both times he breathed fire, he aimed it right at him. "Maybe, but that's impossible. Who doesn't like me?" He said, a joking air about his words.

"People who aren't in their right minds."

"Clearly,"

(Y/N) scooped up Kleis. "Well, I hope you know you've made a terrible mistake."

"What do you mean?"

"You've given me a way into your secret hideout. I'm never leaving you alone, now."

"You underestimate me, hermosa. You say that like that wasn't what I was planning the whole time." He clapped his hands together. "Now, what're we doing to celebrate?"

"Oh, no you don't." (Y/N) said. "You are getting some well deserved rest. We'll celebrate tomorrow. Kinda-Birthdays aren't set in stone like real ones." She pressed a kiss to Leo's cheek, resting her hand on his shoulder. Leo felt himself heat up at her touch. "Thanks for the gift, but now, take care of yourself. I'll come get you at dinner time."

He watched her walk towards the exit, but she turned towards him just before she left. "And Leo,"

"Yes?" He responded all too quickly.

She pointed to the top of her head. "You ignited again."

He could suddenly smell the slight scent of smoke in the room and hurried to extinguish the tiny flame in his hair. As (Y/N) left, he could hear her laughing from outside, and wow, what a beautiful sound it was, even if she was laughing at him.

Leo doubted she knew just how much she meant to him. He hoped one day, he'd be brave enough to tell her, but until then, he was content with what they had.

Little did he know, (Y/N)'d already figured it out. And she felt the exact same.