1. Pride

Her pride had caused many of their fights. More than his (unintentional!) sometimes hurtful jokes, more than her unwillingness to open up. Reyna's pride was one of her defining traits and Leo knew this, better than anybody else.

Leo knew Reyna better than anybody else.

"I can't go!" Reyna yelled at him, looking more unkempt than Leo had ever seen her. "I told you, I can't come back with you to Camp Half-Blood-"

After the war the demigods had… merged- a little. Romans who wanted to live in Camp Half-Blood, or even just stay there to see what it was like, did. Greeks who preferred the safety of the town of New Rome, who wanted to grow up and have families and be near friends, went to Camp Jupiter.

"You can step down," Leo replied, uncharacteristically calm. He was standing in her praetor room, arms folded across his chest, staring at her. "They can live without you here. You've done your job as praetor."

Her eyes flashed and Leo knew that it was the wrong thing to say. Of course now her damned pride would make an appearance.

Beneath that pride was hurt though. Leo knew it, he could see it, shining there in her eyes.

Reyna replied with the only thing she knew to cover up her hurt feelings- anger and viciousness. "You go back there. It's a camp full of unorganized, sloppy Greeks." She sneered the word and Leo felt his stomach tighten.

"I can't live here." He said to her.

Now her façade cracked and he saw the true vulnerability beneath it, the fear that this- choosing where to be together- would split them apart.

He knew because he felt the same. He was scared of it too.

"I'm needed here," she replied, calmer now. Her beautiful eyes were filled with such depth as they looked at him and for once Leo was serious.

"They can live without you here," Leo said, stepping towards her.

Her eyes shattered a bit more and she opened her mouth but Leo continued before she could, stepping right up to her, grabbing her wrists to gently stop her hands from fidgeting and bringing her hands to rest on his chest, pulling her close.

"But I can't."

Her eyes widened slightly and she just stared at him, unable to speak.

"Please," he pleaded, pride be damned. He wouldn't let a fight as stupid as this break up what they had. "Come with me."