Leo was seeing his apartment from Louisa's point of view and it was only then did he notice how much of a messy person he was.
He had inventions, work, plans, plates and mugs strewn everywhere.
Louisa looked at him curiously, a teasing smile on her lips. Leo grinned sheepishly.
"If I knew you were moving in, I would have attempted to tidy up." She nodded and looked round her new home again. Leo moved off to start tidying up, collecting plates and mugs and found she was helping him a few seconds later. "You don't have to help." She looked at him as if he were stupid and continued picking up dirty dishes.
Unlike Annabeth, Louisa only had a medium sized suitcase and three boxes. Leo had carried the boxes while she pulled the suitcase along on the wheels. Leo talked to her on the journey over and while they tidied up, but she never talked back.
Half an hour later, his apartment was relatively cleaner and actually looked like a home instead of a workshop.
Leo spread his hands. "What'd you think?" She nodded, giving a small smile. "Um… I think I've got a camp bed somewhere, so I'll have that and you take my bed." She shook her head. Leo pointed at her, grinning. "Don't argue with me, woman." She raised her eyebrows slightly and folded her arms, in complete defiance. Leo's grin brightened. "This is my apartment, so my rules." She didn't move, a smirk playing on her lips. "Honestly, women." Leo shook his head, rolling his eyes. "Want a coffee?" He asked, half turning. She nodded and he set off for the small kitchenette. She followed him, glancing around the apartment. Leo noticed a glimmer of nervousness in her eyes. "You're safe here, Lou." He told her kindly, putting his arm around her shoulders in a friendly gesture. "Just let them try and get past me and my baseball bat." She smiled and gave him a quick, grateful hug before pulling away and leaving the kitchenette to sort her stuff out.
She was sat on the floor when Leo walked in with the coffees. She had a photo album open in her lap and was carefully and slowly looking through it. "Lou?" Leo said quietly. She glanced up, pausing mid-turn of a page. "Are you OK?" She nodded and looked back at the photo album. Leo went and sat in front of her, handing over her coffee. "Can I look?" He asked, nodding at the album. She hesitated and he was about to say that he wouldn't if she didn't want him to, but she nodded and handed the album over.
Nearly all of the photos had Louisa in. Mainly, she was with a blonde haired, blue eyed woman in her late twenties, early thirties. Others were some of Louisa's friends on the girl side, such as Annabeth, Piper and several others, but younger than Leo had seen them. The pictures were all happy and Louisa was actually smiling a genuine, happy smile- not the polite, slightly amused smiles she gave Leo sometimes.
Leo tapped a photo with his finger. "Who's that, Lou?" She winced and turned away. Leo figured it was better to stay quiet. "You look like you're having fun in these, Lou. That looks like a good day." He smiled at a picture of Louisa, her friends and the mystery blonde woman at a beach, playing in the waves and having a water fight. Louisa nodded, sipping at her coffee. Leo flicked through the rest of the photo album, noticing that Louisa and her friends got older. But the photo album wasn't finished- the last dozen or so pages were blank. Leo flicked back to the last page with photos on and noticed it was a birthday photo. Judging by the cake and the party crown on her head, it was Louisa's thirteenth birthday.
What had Annabeth said about Louisa? Something had happened when she was thirteen…
Leo glanced at a few other pictures, finding one of Louisa and the mystery woman laughing at the camera, the blonde woman holding Louisa tightly in a hug. It all made sense now. That was Jessica, Louisa's foster mother.
Leo wanted to ask questions, but knew he wouldn't get any answers. Instead he handed the photo album back, which gained him a small, grateful smile from Louisa. "You should smile more. It makes your eyes sparkle." She shot him a confused look, but her smile broadened slightly in amusement. Leo watched her for a few seconds before remembering something. "I saw you packing CDs earlier. What ones have you got?" Louisa glanced round and pointed at a box. Leo scrambled up and searched in the box. He found Hollywood Undead; Fall Out Boy, Skillet, Nickelback, 30 Seconds To Mars, The Rasmus and Linkin Park.
Leo wasn't sure on most of them, but he quite happily sat down and read through the song titles. He was aware of Louisa next to him, reading over his shoulder, but he pretended not to notice.
She reached over his shoulder and pointed out a song on a Fall Out Boy track. Leo read it out under his breath, "Young Volcanoes." He glanced at her over his shoulder and she nodded. "Is that your favourite?" She gave something between a shake and a nod of the head. "One of your favourites?" She nodded. "I'm getting the hang of this- understanding you." She smiled slightly and ruffled his hair. Leo laughed and playfully pushed her hand away. "Leave the hair, chica." He grinned. She looked at him quizzically, but her smile remained.
Were they getting someone?