Leo Valdez was a huge flirt. Everyone knew this. Any girl that was out of his league, he had to throw at least a little charm at, even if he knew very well it would likely do nothing. He called himself a ‘charmer’, even if his whole life, he had failed to charm people. He was seen as silly and playful, but not really as a person with skills and intelligence.

So when you first mentioned your interest in him, he had no idea how to react. He had assumed you were joking, so he leaned against the nearest wall, giving you a smirk

“Ay, is that so? Well, consider me flattered, Cariño“

He teased, that is, until you reiterated that you were serious. At that point, he had no clue what he was supposed to do. He had dealt with a lot: loss, bullying, basically just being invisible, or only being known as entertainment.. but he had never dealt with… someone being interested in him. You could see him short-circuit, his eyes going a bit wide and grin conflicted between dissipating and growing

“You- are serious? But why me- there are tons of single kids from the Apollo and Aphrodite cabins! I’m not- well- Hold up. You actually… like… like like me?”