#lee has a very unhealthy and forced relationship with kronos that no one knows about

[iamrizaka]

Lee loves his little siblings and he's happy to keep them innocent, even if in their blissful ignorance they hurt him. He's bringing ice cream for them on this hot day. As usual, he stops at any vertical solid surface to rest. The pain does not stop even after painkillers and a warm bath.

Kayla and Will are playing in the pool, throwing little blue balls at each other and laughing merrily. They didn't look so happy even in the camp, the heart of Lee is filled with warmth. Kayla raises her head, wearing big pink swimming glasses, and cheerfully shouts greeting him. Will greets him with an equally admiring wave of his hands. Lee comes to the pool and goes down to them, Kayla and Will grab ice cream in plates and eat it so fast that it doesn't even have time to arrange it. Their faces are relaxed from the sweet taste.

"By the way, Lee," Will says, peeling sweet melted vanilla from his lip, "Why are you limping lately?". Lee turns to stone, everything inside is straining like the string of his bow. He doesn't want to answer him, he doesn't want to be asked any questions at all.

"Did Thalia push you off, too?" Kayla exclaims cheerfully and plunges back into the water with a graceful somersault. Thetis believed that his sister was most likely a close legacy of Nereide.

Will felt, but did not understand, his tension. The boy slowly swam closer to Lee and put his palm on his, it was soft and warm, comforting. He needs it like air.

"Our Kayla is such a witty prankster, isn't she?" Lee crushes out a nervous laugh that sounds like developing glass. Will nods in agreement, but there are doubts in his eyes. It doesn't really count as a lie, does it?

Just a sunny day and a little pool party. Anyone else will see it and think that it's just a small family having fun at their house.

And Lee tries to do just that. He loves his siblings, his family. He spent so long raising them and he's ready to give them the world. Even if it costs him his own well-being and life.

And his siblings are adorable, playing with water, looking funny with their bright goggles. They attack the ice cream, and Lee just laughs.

But Will is concerned, sweet boy, and Lee's insides turn to ice. They can't know, he can't tell them.

And so he plays around, dodging the question. Kayla jokes off, because it's ridiculous. He's their older brother! He's so cool! Why would he lie?

Will doesn't believe it, but there's nothing else he can do. And so he quietly supports his brother.

Lee will burn the world for them, even if his body turns to ashes with it.