So the others now know that Leo has always been a little hero, whether he sees it that way or not. Also, the opinions shown by one of the characters later on about dyslexia are definitely not my own and I think that anyone who thinks like he does should reconsider as I know many people who are dyslexic and are incredibly hard working. The song I use may not have came out when Leo was the age that I have him singing it but I think the song fits so please just let it slide. Thanks again to anyone who has faved or followed.
Our Mismatched Socks : Well you all take the time to tell me what you think, so I think that it's only fair that I take the time to reply. And yes, Leo is incredibly sweet.
Hscrooney : Thank you, and though I do sometimes check with Google translate, it's not always accurate.
Catsrawesome : Thanks, I am glad that you found them sweet.
Guest : I don't really know what's so funny about the word telly but thank you for reviewing.
Elia the Huntress : Thanks for saying that it's awesome and I'll try to keep that in mind for future memories. Also, thanks for the offer of translation help, I would be very grateful if you could double check my Spanish :) I was planning on adding some references to Gabe's treatment of Percy so watch out for them.
TeamLeo'sVeryOwnFlinxShipper : I'm happy that you enjoyed the chapter (sorry for getting you scared though.) I have never played it myself but I have watched loads of videos on it and I just thought that Leo would like it as it has animatronics.
QueenofLothlorien : I'm so relieved that you think I got Frank's P.O.V right, and yes I will be doing different P.O.V.s (and how can anyone not think that Leo's adorable, no one is immune not even Chinese-Canadian baby men).
Awesometacos : I love heroic Leo too, and I think that as he lost someone to fire, he would do everything in his power to prevent anyone else suffering like he has.
Guest : You'll just have to wait and see ;)
Killua minamoto : I don't like leaving the updates too long, so I'm glad that you appreciate it :) I think that Hermanito would mean little brother though. I'm also glad that you like the way I portray Leo.
Disclaimer : If I was the proud owner of Percy Jackson than I wouldn't have to write fanfiction (though I probably would anyway). I don't own the Lion King nor Avatar either. Oh, I don't own the songs either.
Hazel's P.O.V
As Hazel watched the heroic actions of Leo, she couldn't help thinking of the way Sammy had always saved her from bullies. Percy and Leo were bickering about why the little girl had believed that Leo was an angel, with Annabeth interjecting every now and again about how it was probably a bad idea to tell the girl that he was an angel.
Piper and Jason were staring at Leo, and their expressions made them look like parents who didn't know whether to praise Leo's bravery or scold his recklessness. Hazel was amused by the fact that they probably didn't know what they looked like. Frank was appraising Leo as if he everything he knew about him was a lie. And perhaps it was, Frank had never really tried to get along with Leo, and Hazel wasn't stupid enough to think that it wasn't partially due to her. She was glad that Frank seemed to be warming up to Leo.
" I was just doing what anyone in my position would do." Hazel snapped out of her reverie as Leo started protesting that he hadn't been that brave, after all, he had known that he was immune to fire.
"Yeah, but you weren't immune to houses falling on your head!" Hazel stared at Leo disbelievingly as he gave her an odd look.
" I still had an advantage over the fire crew," Leo seemed determined to downplay his actions, which confused Hazel. Over the past few weeks that they had travelled together, Leo had always seemed to enjoy letting other people know that he had defeated a monster or came up with a solution, but now he was trying to pretend that this act of bravery was nothing.
"But the're paid to risk their lives, you weren't" Piper was also giving Leo an odd look, and Hazel wondered if they were thinking the same thing. Leo simply shrugged, and all conversation was cut of by another video.
The video was off a dark school hall that had rows of adults staring up at a stage,and if you looked closely enough you could see Esperanza Valdez sitting proudly in the front row. The stage was decorated to look like some form of Savannah. And standing on the stage were three boys. One of these boys was a seven year old Leo who was dressed in an adorable looking lion costume. He was wearing beige pants and a beige t-shirt. His feet were bare and a tail had been attached to the back of his pants. A pair of lion ears perched on his head.
The boys were all snickering except for Leo who was blushing. Little flames sprouted from his nose which meant that Percy laughed even louder.
"Aww Leo that's adorable" Percy smirked teasingly and Annabeth rolled her eyes.
"Says the one who just got given a toy and looked more excited than a kid on Christmas."
Hazel smiled as Percy looked properly chastised.
The other boys were dressed in two different animal costumes (Hazel recognised them as Pumba and Timon as they had watched the Lion King on one of their ship movie nights that Leo had insisted on.) The boy that was dressed as Timon stepped forward and began singing:
"Hakuna Matata, what a wonderful phrase."
Pumba kid jumped in with "Hakuna Matata, ain't no passing craze."
The two boys continued singing, until Leo broke in with the spoken part of the song.
Off screen, Percy was mouthing along to the song and Leo joined in, alternating so that Percy mouthed Timon's parts and Leo mouthed both Simba's and Pumba's. Hazel grinned but turned back to the screen.
All three boys were dancing around as Timon boy and Pumba boy carried on singing. Finally, it got to the part where Leo joined in, with a surprisingly good voice :
"It means no worries, for the rest of your days," Timone interjected with "yeah, sing it kid" before they all sang "It's a problem free, philosophy. Hakuna Matata."
The video cut off here, but Hazel could just imagine little lion Leo singing and dancing to the rest of the song. She couldn't help squealing, Leo had been beyond adorable. Leo was groaning as Percy, Frank and Jason ribbed him, though they all acknowledged that Leo was a good singer. As there wasn't much to discuss after that video, Hazel was sure that another would soon follow.
Percy's P.O.V
Percy couldn't help but smiling as he watched Leo dance around as Simba. He wouldn't usually say this, but Leo had been pretty cute as a kid. He was also happy to witness Leo laughing as they all teased him. Everyone knew that the kid needed a break. However, Percy noticed with concern that Leo was rubbing his ribs in the same place that the harpy foster mom had kicked him. He knew that after smelly Gabe had hit him (even though it had only been once or twice) the pain had lingered for a while. He wondered if watching the memory had kicked up some phantom pain. His fists clenched at the thought that even though Leo had escaped, the demon may still be hurting him. It wasn't a pleasant thought. Percy was thinking so deeply that he almost didn't notice the next memory starting.
The deck of the Argo 2 was on screen. It was early morning and Leo was standing, shirtless in a pair of loose white cotton pants. None of the others were up top. Leo took a deep breath before sliding into a fighting stance. He weaved through a few moves that incorporated his fire. Leo looked graceful and at ease, until Jason appeared from below deck.
Leo turned to see Jason staring at him with raised eyebrows.
"It's my turn to take watch." Jason stated simply, obviously tired enough to dismiss any Valdez craziness. Leo practically sprinted away, leaving Jason on deck looking confused and tired. He turned to Festus.
"I hope you know what he was doing because I have no clue." Festus creaked in reply.
Percy turned to high five Leo.
"You were pretending to be a fire bender, weren't you?" Leo nodded, and then his trademark grin that suggested that he shouldn't be allowed near sharp objects popped up.
"Hey, I can control fire, you've got water, Jason's got air and Hazel can basically control earth. We've got all of the elements!" Leo's excitement was tangible, and Percy felt his own grin widen.
"Please tell me that you aren't planning on having a battle based on Avatar." Annabeth's voice was muffled as she had buried her head in her hands in a futile attempt to ignore them. Percy laughed at his girlfriend who looked so done with them.
"Of course not, I was simply going to use the Argo in a three year journey to regain my honour." Leo flashed an impish grin at Annabeth who groaned. Percy smirked.
"Leo, I cannot let you capture Jason and take him to the fire lord!" Percy exclaimed, keeping the charade up. Hazel and Jason both looked baffled, and Frank looked just as done as Annabeth.
"You think that a water tribe peasant can stop me from regaining my honour?" Leo retorted. The boys mock glared at each other. They probably would have continued if it wasn't for the next video starting up.
A sullen nine year old Leo sat in the back of a third grade classroom. A few dates and events were written on the board so it was evidently a history teacher, a mean looking man who resembled a predatory vulture with a beak-like nose and beady eyes, was reading out a list of marks and handing marked tests back. He was going in alphabetical order, and reading each mark out clearly, as if he intended to humiliate anyone with a low grade. Eventually, he was hovering over Leo with a somewhat cruel tilt to his mouth.
"Leo Valdez, I thought it would be impossible for anyone to do so poorly, but you managed to astound me. Five out of thirty." Leo looked shocked and scanned over his paper.
"Sir, I got some of these right and you've marked them wrong." Leo spoke up and the teacher turned around slowly, menacingly.
"If you made a mistake in spelling then they are wrong."
"But that's not fair! I'm dyslexic and ..." Leo was cut off by the angry teacher who advanced like and enraged bear.
"Dyslexia is just an excuse for laziness, you cannot be bothered learning to spell and therefore you should be grateful that you even got five. I will not tolerate people answering back, especially not smart mouthed little boys who like to think that they are a lot smarter than they really are." Leo flushed red at the end of the teachers rant and the boy behind him laughed, then leaned in and whispered in his ear.
"I'd ask if you were going to go cry to mommy, but we all know that isn't going to happen.
Leo was giving the screen daggers as he muttered in a mixture of Spanish and English about how much he hated that boy. Percy couldn't believe that a boy who was that young could be so cruel.
Leo froze, then turned his head jerkily. He observed the smirk on the other boy's face then turned to see it reflected on the face of the teacher. He stood up calmly, then whirled around and launched his fist into the grinning boy's face. His nose crunched and a spurt of blood covered both children. Everyone in the classroom were clearly too surprised to move.
The boy with the broken nose stood up, one hand covering his bleeding face and the other aimed at Leo in a clumsy punch. Leo jumped over the desk and tackled him to the floor, screaming that the boy had no right to talk about his mother.
At this point, the teacher finally snapped out of his stupor and raced to the boys and attempting to drag Leo off of the now crying boy. He snapped at another child to go get another teacher, and the girl dutifully ran of.
Leo was now struggling against his teacher's grip in an attempt to reach the other boy who had scurried away in fear. Another teacher ran into the room, and together the two adults managed to drag the incoherent nine year old out of the room. Little Leo began cursing viciously in both English and Spanish, words that no nine year old should know.
"LET GO OF ME!" He shrieked, still fighting against his escorts. Children poured out of classrooms to watch the commotion as other teachers rushed to aid the first two. Vulture man directed one to his classroom to deal with the bully. The video ended on Leo being dragged, kicking and screaming down a school corridor.
"How the hell did you know words like that at nine years old?" Piper asked immediately after the memory had ended. Leo gave her a look that said are you stupid?
"I was living in a home waiting for someone to foster me, the older children didn't really care who heard them swearing. "His answer was weary and a little embarrassed. Percy realised that Leo was probably ashamed of how he had acted.
"I'm glad you broke his nose!" Percy said with a savage grin at the screen. He hated anyone who hurt his friends, his fatal flaw was loyalty for Hades sake. Annabeth gave him a look, but he refused to be repentant. In that memory it was probably only a few months after the loss of Leo's mother and that bully decided to bring it up like it was nothing. And that teacher had tried to humiliate Leo for being dyslexic. Leo was a genius and that man thought he had the right to call him lazy.
Percy was dragged out of his rage by Leo's warm hand on his shoulder.
"Cool it, Aqua man, it happened a long time ago, and what I did to his face was probably worse than what he said to me." Percy was about to argue that the emotional pain that Leo must have suffered was way worse than a broken nose when Hazel cut in.
"What happened to you after that?" Leo began tinkering with another invention, and though he looked absorbed in his creation, Percy knew that he was thinking of a way to answer without making the soft hearted girl worry.
"Well, they excluded me for a few days, but the adults who worked in the home that I was staying in were furious and transferred me instantly." He shifted slightly and Percy squeezed his shoulder, returning the gesture from before. Leo gave him a small grin before turning to Hazel.
"I didn't really mind, the home wasn't the best so they actually did me a favour by getting rid of me." The tone was light, but Percy and the others were beginning to learn that Leo was better at faking being okay than anyone had realised.
Jason also put a hand on Leo's shoulder.
"Their loss." He muttered, and Leo shifted to lean against him ever so slightly. The next video flashed on as the demigods tried to push away the negativity that lingered after the previous video.
Balloons and streamers covered the room that thirteen year old Leo was standing in. He was wearing black dress pants and an un-tucked crisp, white shirt with the top two buttons undone. Shiny black shoes were on his feet which contrasted the fact that his unruly black hair was messier than ever.
Smartly dressed people were leaving the house, and Leo was leaning against a wall, smirking. After all the guests left, a beautiful girl walked in. Her chestnut hair reached just beyond her shoulders and her eyes were green-brown. It was obvious from the badge on her sparkly green party dress that Leo was attending her thirteenth birthday party.
"So when is your foster dad coming to pick you up again?" The girl asked.
"About an hour, he said that an emergency had come up and that he has to stay late." Leo walked forward and grabbed her hand excitedly.
"Do you want to open your present now, Layla?" He was practically beaming as the girl nodded. Leo dragged her over to a table that was covered in unwrapped boxes, and plucked out the only present left. It was relatively small, but Layla held it reverently. Leo's face grew more nervous as she slowly removed the wrapping paper.
Layla opened the box and removed a stunning locket. It was in the shape of a star and different messages had been carved into it.
"I made it with some of the funny things that we've said to each other carved into it so if you ever feel down, you can have some great Valdez humour to cheer you up."
"It's gorgeous." Layla breathed as she ran her fingers over the lovingly crafted locket. Her fingers found a latch and she swiftly unclasped it. The video zoomed in on the inside of the locket to reveal a video of Leo singing Mirrors by Justin Timberlake. The camera panned out to reveal tears welling in Layla's eyes. Leo looked panicked.
"If you don't like it, I can change the video or ..." Leo's words were cut of by Layla tugging him in for a kiss. Leo's eyes widened comically before he hesitantly returned the kiss.
Off screen, Piper screamed.
"OH MY GODS, THAT WAS ADORABLE! Were you dating? Was that your first kiss? Did you love her? Did you choose that song as a confession?" Piper was barraging the poor flame boy with questions as he sank deeper and deeper into the couch. Percy was surprised that he hadn't spontaneously combusted yet, especially as his powers made that a legitimate option.
"To answer your questions, no, yes, maybe and sort of" Leo looked so embarrassed and Percy and Jason gave each other a look over the top of his head. It was their job as honorary big brothers to tease Leo for this. And maybe they would have if it wasn't for Piper having a moment. As Aphrodite's daughter, she probably couldn't resist freaking out over her little brother's romance.
Aww, Leo's first kiss. And I got the idea for the mean third grader teacher from the book, thought the bully and Leo's reaction to the bully was based around a video I watched in sociology as it just made me think of Leo. Feel free to leave a review and I'll see you next time.