Leo burns.

He hardly stifles a snicker when he thinks that, because, well, duh. He's the first child of Hephaestus after a long line of children to be able to create fire on whim; the trait vanished a long time ago, but Leo's always been special. He was put into a fire at the ripe age of who-knows-what, months? But here he is, lying in bed, to tell the tale. Without a scar to show, he might add. He's the only demigod capable of producing fire, the only demigod capable of spontaneous human combustion (well, maybe they all are capable, technically, but that's not a thought he's getting into), the only demigod capable of lighting of fire because you simply surprised him and you sure as hell don't want to catch him when he's mad, although that's a rare sight, which is why it's even more dangerous because when someone gives him cause to be mad it's a logical cause that starts a lava pool in the pits of his stomach that churns and sends acid up his spine and heat throughout his whole body like he's a supernova in the flesh and he'll roar like a dragon with all the fire included and could quite possibly rain hell down as well that is hell of a good reason you don't want him mad. But that's only happened once. For a good reason.

So of course he burns.

The funny thing about him and Nico, though, is that they're exact opposites. Maybe not exact, per say, but while Leo is say, tanned like an almond, Nico is white as a ghost (which is a fitting analogy, he might add.) Leo is all talk, god you can't get the kid to shut up, while Nico is usually quiet and god, you can hardly get the kid to talk. Leo tells the corny jokes and sits with the lopsided smile that is equal parts that-was-the-funniest-thing-I've-ever-heard and I-know-I'm-annoying-the-shit-out-of-you-and-enjoy-it. And Nico is the one who's usually giving the deadpan face with a hint of a laugh in the eyes and a tug of the lips because, wow his jokes are so fucking stupid the do a full 360 back to funny, and just the thought of Leo hearing the joke, laughing his ass off, and finding you as the person to bless by passing it on is somehow endearing. And while Leo burns, Nico is ice.

As Leo lays there he thinks, yes, that pretty much covers it all. Nico is ice. Nico is cold to the touch, as his skin feels like someone left something cold on themselves for so long their skin feels ten degrees cooler except that's natural for Nico, and it's all over his body. His skin is white like a fresh sheet of snow on a January day in New York. The dark rings under his eyes, that seem permanently etched into his skin, resemble the snow that builds up on streets in the city, snow mixed with exhaust or covered in ash. Leo doesn't think he'll ever get over the hitch that sometimes stops his breath, or the pool of pure want that floods his stomach when he looks at Nico. Long, dark eyelashes that ghost over sunken cheekbones. Thick, black hair of an Italian that winds across his forehead, wavy and layered. Pale lips that could easily be kissed, but Leo doesn't want to disturb him, since this is the first time they've slept together.

Not sex, though. Just sleeping.

Leo can vaguely recall hearing somewhere about how sleeping with your partner boosts trust and intimacy, or something like that. He can see why, too. Laying here and watching Nico in his most vulnerable state, how could someone not fall more in love? Just laying there and watching him sleep, cataloging the way he inhales through his nose and exhales through his mouth, a small little puff of air that sometimes makes the hair on his forehead waver. He watches the way Nico sleeps with his face tilted into the pillow, like he's pushing on it. And Leo can't help himself anymore, he just has to reach an arm out and rest it over Nico's thin torso, ghosting his fingers in little circles around that patch of skin showing where his shirt rode up. Just that small touch, the little area of flesh on flesh contact starts his fingers tingling and his stomach to drop with arousal. Not in a sexual way, but in a loving way. He doesn't want to sleep with Nico, he just wants to sleep with Nico.

Really sleep.

And as Leo is trailing unknown patterns, maybe words of love or meaningless sentences, Nico stirs. Leo stills, hoping not to wake him up, because really, he's enjoying himself too much. Nico's eyes flutter momentarily and he can see the groggy recognition in his eyes. Even though he isn't very conscious, a look of contentment crosses Nico's face and he scoots closer to Leo, and closer, until they're pressed up against one another, faces to close their breath pools together. And Nico plants a somewhat-sloppy, somewhat-lazy kiss right on Leo's lips.

At first Leo is surprised because he was sleeping just a second ago, but then he relaxes and returns the kiss. It's simple, just the touch of lips. And then Nico pulls back and scoots down a little, settling his head right under Leo's jaw, while at the same time grabbing Leo's hand and running it up his body, and Leo sticks his hand under Nico's shirt to ghost across his ribs, which prompts Nico to unconsciously curl closer. He can already tell Nico is asleep, but then again, he never really was awake.

And it's that thought, that even unconscious and probably unaware of what he was even doing, Nico would kiss him and grab him and wants to be as close as possible, that makes the pool of affection in Leo's stomach stir again, feelings as strong as before. It churns under his skin, in his veins, a heat that feels like a fire, burning in the cage of his chest and along his arms and just as intensely at the tip of his finger. Leo burns, burns, burns.

But he can't quite find it in him to complain.

I. am. so. sorry.

Its been a year. Wowza high school really can distract a girl

I know how much it sucks to wait for a fic to post again, especially when you like it

and HOLY CATS so many people! reviewing and stuff! :D

I really really appreciate every single one and read every single one. God I only have to read about five and my heart swells with joy and i cannot keep from grinning.

You guys are awesome. I realize i kind of stayed from the idea of "firsts" when i got all plotty, but please suggest stuff! Plently of chapters to come

Love lovelove,

-chilledcreme (you know how much i wish i could change this)

(a lot)