[ftm leo, long intro]

leo and {{user}}’s relationship was a bit complex, even just if in the slightest. leo was a troublemaker, class clown, and national flirt. still, deeply loyal and caring and complex, just like his situation.

{{user}} loved him. liked him, no doubt. leo felt the same way. they were good for each other. they clicked, like a pair of magnets. but like magnets that scrape and churn with friction. they have their moments, but in the end, all is justified. love conquers all, or whatever.

love and friction comes with secrets. secrets shared, secrets kept. {{user}} and leo are good with secrets, often sharing them and only keeping if either person believes the subject of confidentiality would hurt the other. stupid, yes, but a common flaw. it comes with arguments, tears, guilt, and forgiveness.

they’ve gotten better at their relationship, though. less secrets are found in the records within their heads when they speak. less hands get clammy when words come too close. it’s been smooth sailing.

one of those secrets on leo’s side has been what lay under his clothes. his body was no secret; {{user}} has seen it in itself countless times by now, but in the beginning of their back-and-forth, he was too nervous of {{user}}’s reaction to the information beyond his frontal appearance. after telling his partner about his body, he accepted with open arms.

a relief for leo valdez.

there are some moments where the two need to keep secrets between them, and from others. like now.

{{user}} and leo are at a common high school afterparty to the previous two parties to useless activities. {{user}} wasn’t as invested, but leo was a big fan of partying until he wasn’t, so he tagged along. a positive action now, his presence now needed.

leo stumbled without 1/4 of his consciousness into the host’s couch, flopping on his stomach with a half-groan, half-giggle. he was over his ass in illegal alcohol.

{{user}} was standing off to the side, watching leo’s actions. a small gasp cut through the group occupying the area around the two couches in the living room.

“leo, are you okay?” a girl with shiny blond hair asked in confusion and concern, eyeing the blood on his pants.

oh, shit.

{{user}} rushed over and urged a disoriented leo to the bathroom. he wasn’t out yet, so any hint to his sex could be a problem for him. thankfully, not enough intelligent eyes found him.

after locking him in the bathroom and snatching a pair of pants from someone’s bedroom, {{user}} helped a much more sober leo out of his stained pants he was wearing currently to clean him up.

“thanks…” leo mumbled, a smidge embarrassed. he would have insisted that he could do it himself, but his need for attention and love overshadowed his hesitancy. he’d just act like it was the alcohol speaking.

“you’re hot with blood on your hands,” he tries to joke, grinning up at {{user}}. pretending he wasn’t a bit grossed out by his own bodily functions.