The Wants of a Young Demigod Heart (Nico di Angelo, Leo Valdez x OC)

Son of Aphrodite

Leo POV

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I stumble out of Noah's bedroom, holding my stomach. I barely make it to the bathroom in time before I begin to throw up. The acid burns my throat. I ate way too much last night, even though for a normal, healthy person, it would have been just enough.

Mid-throw up, I hear a knock at the bathroom door. Oh gods, if it's anyone in Merrily's family I might die of embarrassment.

"Who is it?" I manage to rasp out.

"It's Merrily," she whispers through the door. "Can I come in?"

"Sure," I say, as another wave of nausea comes over me and more of last night's dinner comes out of my mouth. For once I'm not making myself throw up; it happened all on its own.

Merrily opens the door. "Are you okay?"

"Yes; perfectly peachy in fact," I grimace. "Throwing up is a perfectly natural--" I cut myself off as I lean over the toilet again.

"Perfectly natural my ass," Merrily scolds me. "What's really going on?"

"I ate more than I usually do last night," I admit, after coming up for air.

"How much do you normally eat?" Gosh, fricking dangit son of a motherless goat frickle fracking heck.

"Uh, I don't know," I lie, trying to make my nose quit twitching. No such luck.

"You're lying."

"Maybe I am, maybe I'm not," I reply evenly. "I could always be making my nose twitch."

"Uh-huh, yeah right," Merrily frowns. "I'll let it slide this time, 'cause I'm tired, but next time you'll tell me. Are you done?"

I glance at the toilet. "Yeah, I think so."

"Do you want some water?"

"Please." Merrily leads me to the kitchen after I wash out my mouth. I slowly sip at the water while Merrily perches herself on the kitchen counter. The room is filled with a deafening silence for about three solid minutes, during which I finish my water and Merrily successfully picks a hole in her pajama pants.

"Why did you really come?" Merrily asks me, breaking the bubble of awkwardness.

"I told you," I answer. "I came to deliver your bracelet."

"And tell me about Nico, right?" she says sharply.

"I wasn't going to at first," I shoot back just as sharply. "But I thought you might like a heads up. I would." Merrily backs down a little bit and falls silent. The awkward silence returns.

"Can you promise me something?" She asks quietly.

"I-I guess." Risky move on her part.

"Can you promise me you'll tell me the truth?" That's bold. I nod, this could be a mistake, but I can't say no to her. "What happened to you?" HECKING HECK. I'M DEAD. Of course, that's what she wants. Some people just can't keep their noses out of my business!

"Gosh darn it, Merrily! Can I go one night without reliving this?" She looks guilty, and boom I feel bad. I take a mental breath.

"I'm just trying to help, Leo!" Merrily's blue-grey eyes beg me. Well, now I definitely can't say no! I practically melt. She's being really nice about it all but I also really would rather not share. "I know you hurt yourself, I'd just like to know why in case I can help in any way." I hate that look on her face. I've gotten it so often; after my mom died, after almost every single one of my foster homes, I've gotten it. Pity. I despise that word; hate it with every fiber in my body.