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Before Libra, before Michella had moved away, she had hugged Leo and said, “You deserve to be happy.”
Back then Leo had felt too many things. Guilt over Michella. Self-hatred over not finding their voice when it was most important.
Now, though? Now they just felt tired all the time.
“I’ll try,” Leo had assured her. Because if nothing else Michella deserved some sort of break for always worrying over them.
Michella had still looked worried, though.
On a calm day, where the sun shone through the office window and Zed was reading, Leo said, “Do you wanna go out?”
Zed went still, caught off guard. He always did that when he was included in anything, Leo had noticed. He recovered quickly.
“Where would you like to go?” Zed asked.
Leo had already thought about of it. “The park. We could always grab something to eat there, if you want.”
Zed tilted his head in contemplation. “This ‘something’ meaning burgers?” he asked, and if Leo didn’t know any better, they would say that Zed was teasing them.
“Yeah,” Leo said, a little sheepishly. “Like burgers. It’s nice and quiet there. We could relax and just…” They faltered. “Do stuff. Leo ducked their head at Zed’s unblinking stare. “Yeah.”
Zed was still staring. Leo was really beginning to regret this whole thing.
“No,” Zed said finally, quietly. Leo could see the weariness in his eyes be replaced with something softer. ”I don’t mind at all.”
Leo nearly said It’s a date then, but choked on the words at the last minute. “That's- That’s great!” Leo said, hoping Zed wouldn't see their blunder. They cleared their throat “Shall we go?”
Zed inclined his head towards the door. “After you.”
The thing was, Leo liked being around Zed.
Some people (and Leo wasn’t mentioning any names here) would ask them Him? You serious? Wow, shit nugget, you sure got your work cut out for you, to which Leo might have replied with: says the dude who got so drunk last night that he didn't notice all the doodles over his face until lunch, to which that someone might have said That was you, you fucking—! Then another certain person would have teleported right over his head, making him trip and curse.
Zed, Leo thought, was mostly quiet, serious and didn’t socialize. People might think he just disliked people. And maybe it was like that.
But Leo figured that Zed, who had spent the entirety of his time with only his teacher, wasn’t very used to having so many people around him. People that were trying to get to know him, trying to reach out to him. Maybe it simply was overwhelming for him, Leo guessed.
So Leo tried to take it slow, to make him feel welcome. Like casually inviting him when they, Zap and Chain were going to eat out, or talking to him about trivial, everyday things. Leo would always ramble on and on and Zed would always listen, staring at him with those alien, unblinking eyes, somehow making them feel like he was interested, or simply just sitting in companionable silence together. It was nice.
Leo had wondered sometimes if they were just being annoying or nosy, and when Leo hesitantly asked if they should stop asking, Zed had looked very startled but bluntly said, “I do like your company,” and then looked weirdly embarrassed.
Leo’s grin threatened to split their face in two right then and there.
So, yeah. Leo liked being with Zed. And Zed apparently liked hanging out with him too. But Leo also wanted to hang around while holding hands or cuddle or -
Or.
It was silly to remember, but Leo would always think of when Libra took down another Blood Breed, which was all fine and dandy except Leo got caught up in it all again. Which was also a regular thing, only this time there was injuries and blood and it was all theirs but when the Blood Breed swatted them aside like a fly, all Leo could think was that the only time they’ve ever seen Zed this close to panicking was when his mentor had left him.
It all worked out in the end, as things did. Mr. Klaus and the rest of Libra arrived and took care of it, as they always, and if Zed had stabbed the blood breed more viciously than necessary, then... Well, no one was going to mention it.
(And Leo would always think of how very careful Zed had cupped their face in his hands. How he very slowly brought him to his chest, large body over theirs, as if to protect them. How his chin fell on their head and how he had slumped in relief, as if he could only now be certain that Leo was safe. How he, after a moment, he caught himself and stuttered an apology (Stuttered. Zed, stuttering!) and helped him towards his feet.
And as the others came, Leo thought about how Zed’s hand still lingered on his own, unnoticed by himself.
Leo thought about that moment a lot and came to a decision.)
They were both sitting under a tree now. Zed folding origami butterflies. Leo was watching people going around, eating together, and having fun.
It was when Zed folded the last part that Leo said, “I like being around you.”
Leo could feel Zed go very still. Without looking at him, they continued on:
“I like talking with you. I like being with you, and I—“they took a deep breath. You deserve to be happy, Michella had said. You deserve to be happy - “and I hope you like being with me, too.”
Zed was silent for a long moment and Leo tried very hard not to let their panic show on their face. But then he moved his large hand near Leo’s letting it be there. Leo startled, finally looking at him now.
He looked both uncertain and self-conscious but he was still letting his hand near them, and Leo understood that they were entrusted with something precious.
They slowly reached out, letting Zed see what they were doing, and curled their hand around Zed’s hand. They flipped it, and then rubbed their thumb over his palm. Scaly, Leo thought, and rouge and green-blue. Leo looked up and nearly flinched at the intensity of Zed’s gaze.
Leo blurted out, “you have nice hands” at the same time Zed told them, “I like being with you, too.”
They both stared at each other. Then Leo made a snrk noise and burst out laughing. Zed’s mouth twitched like he wanted to smile.
Feeling both giddy and bold, Leo edged closer to Zed and rested their head on his shoulder. It was kind of awkward, considering Zed was way taller than them.
Zed’s mouth twitched again, and then he lifted his arm, making a nice spot for Leo to settle down. Also, Leo noted with faint embarrassment, Zed’s arm over their shoulder.
Zed was staring down with them, eyes still very warm. Leo leaned down against him, and took the hand beside their shoulder, rubbing their thumb over it.
They had to ask, though. Just to be certain. “You okay with this?” They asked. With me? they didn't ask
A pause. Then Zed’s broad hand took Leo's, linking their hands together and he squeezed. And Leo, burying their head against the crook of Zed’s arm, supposed that was good enough.