Okay guys, I wanted to ask if you would mind if I write another singing memory as I have found a song which I think is perfect for the darker side of Leo. And the idea for what happened to Layla is from AmaebLEO. Thanks for all the faves and follows. Oh, and before I forget, I din't know canonically at what age Leo joined the Wilderness school but I am going to say that it was fifteen for this fic.
Pacenya347 : I'm sorry but I can't seem to get the link to work.
QueenofLothlorien : Oops! And I feel a lot better thank you.
Catsrawesome : I'm happy that I made you smile and of course you can have adorable Leo pictures to.
ObsessedwReading : Thank you, I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Guest : Don't worry, I will definitely be continuing this story for a while and I'm glad that you like it.
Our Mismatched Socks : You'll find out this chapter.
AnnabethJackson09754 : Thank you for the compliments and for enjoying the great taco snatcher. And you will find out about Layla this chapter.
Selena : I haven't done a bad memory between the two yet so I may put that in soon.
Kittehx1 : There will be a lot more bad memories in the future.
RoseAmy13LunaGinny : I think I'm a sadist as well because there is more angst to come.
TeamLeo'sVeryOwnFlinxShipper : Thank you for my virtual doughnut and thanks for checking out my other story :)
Septimus : You will find out a little more about Sparkle this chapter as well.
Disclaimer : For some reason, Percy Jackson still isn't mine. Go figure.
Piper's P.O.V
Piper was actually looking forwards to the next memory a little bit. The last few had just been so sweet, surely they had gotten through the worst. The next memory was flickering onto the screen and a part of Piper shivered with Aphrodite induced happiness to see Layla, Leo's childhood girlfriend on screen. Then Piper frowned in confusion. Was the girl ... kissing someone else?
Layla was kissing a tall boy who had neat brown hair and a muscular build in the park where Leo and Layla had shared a picnic. His eyes were dark blue. They broke away and the boy ran a hand through Layla's hair.
"Valdez wouldn't be happy if he found us." Layla snorted angrily at this.
"Leo probably wouldn't even care. He doesn't care about me enough to tell me anything about himself, it's like his past never even existed. I know he lives with foster parents but he won't tell me why." The boy shrugged and kissed her again.
"His loss." He muttered. Layla pulled away again, obviously not done with her rant and clearly not noticing the hurt eyes of one Leo Valdez standing a short distance away.
" I mean, it isn't worth dating him despite his good traits as he is just so ... un-trusting. He acts like he can't form proper attachments, I don't even know where he was born for God's sake!" They kissed again, and when they released each other this time, Layla noticed Leo who was currently tearing up slightly.
"Leo ..." Shame and horror were painted on Layla's cheeks, but Leo shook his head.
"If we weren't properly bonded then it won't hurt you to know that we're over." Leo darted out of the park, leaving Layla in the arms of the other teen. As he ran, the tears spilled over and he stopped in an alley. He slid to the floor, his whole body slumped over.
"I knew it was too easy, too good, to be true." Leo's voice was pained and wiped his face viciously.
"I'll never fall for someone like that again. I won't date anyone who laughs at my jokes, or has cheesy pick up line offs with me. I'll go for girls out of my league. At least then I won't get strung along with false hope." His voice was resolute as he promised himself to never trust a girl who falls for him easily. A final tear slipped down his face.
"HOW DARE SHE CHEAT ON YOU? HOW DARE SHE MOCK YOU BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T TELL HER EVERYTHING INSTANTLY!" Piper was fuming. How could that girl play with Leo's feelings as if they didn't truly matter. She had always wondered why Leo seemed to always go for girls who would instantly turn him down, and now she knew, she felt anger sing through her veins.
As Piper was idly wondering if her mother would team up with her to make that harpy's love life hell, Leo was blushing mildly.
"I kind of over reacted to that, didn't I?" His question was embarrassed and Piper felt even more enraged. In fact, everyone looked affronted on Leo's behalf.
"Dude, you had every right to be annoyed, in fact, you handled it a lot better than I would have." Percy placed a sympathetic hand on Leo's shoulder.
"I'm sure that you will find your special someone on this quest Leo." And Piper was certain (call it Aphrodite intuition) that Leo was destined to meet someone special soon. Leo didn't exactly look convinced, but Piper's faith was unshakeable. Leo would find someone to love on this quest whether Piper had to personally scour the female population. With that idea cemented in her mind, Piper turned to watch the next memory.
Fifteen year old Leo was racing through the streets desperately. His black jeans were torn, and blood was staining the area around the hole. His crimson shirt was a little dirty, as were the bandages around his wrist and his eyes were wild, hunted. He darted around people, diving over obstacles but his leg was obviously causing him problems. An older boy decked and out in stereotypical thug clothing was chasing him (Piper was quick to link this with the gang leader of the other video, he was obviously a member trying to help recruit Leo. Clearly Leo had had a birthday while still in that area).
Leo was running at an incredible speed, but as he dashed along a street that didn't branch off into any side streets, the inevitability became clear as another gang member pulled up at the end of the street on a gleaming, black motorbike.
Instead of slowing his pace, however, Leo increased his speed and a devil-may-care grin crept onto his face. Collision was imminent.
"Why would you run towards the motorbike?" Frank sounded hopelessly baffled but instead of providing an answer, he simply smirked.
"Watch the clip orc boy." Frank spluttered indignantly at the accursed nickname, but his curiosity apparently won out as he turned back to the screen. Piper rolled her eyes at Leo who waggled his tongue unrepentantly.
Just as it looked like Leo was about to crash into the bike, he leapt into the air, kicking the gang member of the motorbike and slinging his own scrawny legs over the seat with almost exaggerated care. As the first gang member came into view, Leo waved cheekily before swiping the second member's helmet. He tugged it on swiftly and then expertly manoeuvred the bike around the prone form and onto the nearest road.
He cruised along confidently, effortlessly controlling the bike. However, his casual zooming came to an end when a police car appeared behind him. For a tense moment, it looked as if Leo was going to go for a full on police chase, his hands tightening on the handlebars and a grim look of determination behind the visor. Yet he reluctantly pulled over.
Leo tugged the helmet off, exposing a lazy grin.
"Mornin' officers." Leo's tone was cheerful, as if he hadn't just been riding a motorbike under-age. The officers looked less than impressed.
"So we've finally caught the elusive Valdez, under-age driving no less." The cop who spoke up was a tall, imposing man with red-brown hair and mocking green eyes.
"Ah, it's good to see you again Officer Cormac." Though Leo's voice was filled with jest and bravado, his eyes held a tinge of fear. The officer, now known as Officer Cormac, stepped forward menacingly, a pair of handcuffs swinging from his fingertips. His partner watched idly as the officer dragged Leo behind the police car before pinning him harshly to the bonnet. The car was angled in such a way that this rough mistreatment would go unnoticed by the general public. Leo's face was forced into the metal as the cuffs were fastened around his wrists.
As soon as Leo was able to stand, he jumped over hi cuffed hands so that they were now in front of him. The witty remark that was about to fall from his lips was stifled by a rough back hand to the face that sent Leo sprawling. Blood ran down Leo's chin from a split lip. Leo's eyes were wide in shock as he ran his tongue over his cheek to check if he was bleeding anywhere else.
"If you try anything else you disgusting little brat, then I will break your leg and you won't be running from anymore homes for a long time." To accentuate his words, the disgrace of an officer ground his heel into Leo's leg, with enough pressure to bruise but not break. Leo's eyes were defiant, but he didn't try anything else as he was forced into the police car with a little more force than strictly necessary.
"That pig!" Numerous expletives were heard as the demigods expressed their displeasure at how that pathetic excuse of an officer had hurt their friend.
"Yeah, old korma boy didn't really have a sense of humour."
"Why did his partner just let it happen?" Jason sounded furious, just like everyone else in the room.
"They were good friends who had been after me for a while. Whenever child services failed to catch up to me, they would be dispatched to bring me in."
"Did they always treat you so badly?" Piper was just about ready to track those police men down and find a way to make hem pay.
"Only when they could get away with it, like that time they could blame it on the gang." Leo stated this as if it wasn't a horrible revelation. And Piper was sad to think that in Leo's messed up life, corrupt policemen probably weren't that big of an issue. While the demigods were planning ways to punish the officers, a new video started up, this one with a more welcome face on it.
Sparkle and Leo were standing in a kitchen, with Leo leaning against a cabinet and Sparkle clinging to his legs.
"Do you really think they want me?" Leo smiled tenderly and ruffled the petite child's hair.
" How could they not want you Alice, my little Sparkle girl?" Sparkle aka Alice, giggled and snuggled into his knees. While her face was buried in his knees, Leo allowed a look of sadness to descend upon his elven face, but all traces of sadness were wiped from his visage when Alice looked up.
"Will I still be your Sparkle even if I move away?"
"Of course you will." A kindly looking woman entered the kitchen. A smile broke onto her face when she spotted the two.
"Oh Alice sweetie, Mr and Mrs Shields want to adopt you." Alice squealed and ran up to hug the lady.
The screen skipped a head to the day of Alice's departure.
Alice was holding Leo's hand as a lovely looking couple packed a small suitcase of Alice's belongings into their car. Leo squeezed her hand gently.
"Hey Sparkle, I've got something for you before you go." A small parcel was pressed into Alice's hand. The girl tore into it enthusiastically and revealed to dolls that looked exactly like Leo and Sparkle. She gasped.
"How did you get them?" Her eyes were filled with childish wonder and Leo reflected her happiness.
"I made them especially for you, Sparkle." The little girl teared up and flung herself into Leo's arms.
"I wish you could come with me." She muttered. Leo held her close for a moment, before releasing her. Her new mother gently took her hand and led her away. The children waved to each other until Sparkle was no longer in sight. The kindly woman from before who had been quietly over seeing the proceedings stepped forward and placed a supportive hand on Leo's shoulder.
"You and Alice were close, you are taking this better than I expected." Her voice held a note of concern but Leo gave her a smile that was both dazzling and melancholy.
"I know those people will protect and give her the family that she deserves." The woman looked at Leo with respect.
"You really cared about that little girl, didn't you?"
Leo gave her a dazzling smile.
"She was like a little sister."
I hope that you enjoyed this chapter and I apologise if any of the adoption stuff was wrong. As a side note, the name Cormac can mean son of corruption and the name Shields means protector :) Feel free to leave me a review on whether or not you would mind another song memory.