Yeah, that was a really angsty chapter, sorry. But in this chapter they actually have to resolve the issues brought up last chapter. So, this chapter will also have references to suicidal thoughts and peer pressure into drinking so if that is a sensitive subject for you then please be wary. And I was wondering if you wanted me to bring any other characters in though I can't bring anyone in who is dead or not part of the plot at the time of this story. Thanks everyone who faved and followed.
Pacenya347 : I'm honoured that you consider this your favourite story :)
Haylee : Thank you for the review and It's not obsessive, I do that all the time.
Enhisbeautiful : Thanks, and don't worry I am going to keep writing this.
Fantasiedreamar : It is a great song, and yes, poor Leo indeed.
Kittehx1 : I hope that you didn't hurt yourself and I'm glad that you enjoyed the memories.
QueenofLothlorien : Thank you for my penguins (I'll take the chocolate version, I prefer Dick Grayson to the Penguin). And I wish you a good evening as well :)
AmaebLEO : I hope that you enjoy the song and thanks for reviewing.
Catsrawesome : Unfortunately, the only way for him to be saved is through the help of his friends (*puts on Robin costume* though if you want to ... liberate him from Rick Riordan then I'm up for it).
Awesometacos : I hope that you also enjoy the song and I am the sadistic one for writing it!
DamnYouPeopleWithCoolUserNames : If only I was a Goddess, then maybe I could meet Leo. And I'll be using one of your ideas in this chapter so thank you.
Kodamnation : Yes, I think the song goes well with the darker side of Leo's personality.
DauntlessareinCampHalfBlood : Oh no! *Tries sticking your heart back together with tape.*
Septimus : I'm dreading writing it! And the jail memory will be in this chapter.
Our Mismatched Socks : I'm glad that you enjoyed it :)
Killua minamoto : I'm sorry that I didn't do it the way you wanted :( And now I have the image of opera singer Leo stuck in my head.
Ybbilicious : Our little Leo makes a great lion.
Guest : Is this soon enough?
ObsessedwReading : Thank you so much! I'm trying my best to properly convey the emotions.
TeamLeo'sVeryOwnFlinxShipper : I'm sorry if the chapter upset you due to your personal loss :( Though I hope that you have a good evening.
Septimus : I'm not American either (I'm English) but Leo grew up in Houston so I assume he would be able to at least copy the Texan accent.
Disclaimer : As I said, I'm fully willing to liberate Leo from Rick, but until that happens, I cannot claim the PJO world as my own. Nor can I claim Simba or the Avengers.
Leo's P.O.V
Leo was screwed and he knew it. His friend's eyes were no longer filled with compassion, no; they were now filled with the deadly emotion of pity. And Leo couldn't take it.
"Will you stop looking at me like that?" Leo's voice was loud and rude, even to his own ears but he couldn't take the pity. He didn't need to be pitied, he didn't want to be pitied and he wouldn't accept being pitied. Once again, he rose from the couch, fully intending to storm out of the room, Hera be damned, but a hand around his wrist prevented him from moving.
"Let me go!" He snarled, but the hand tightened. His power flared, and it took every piece of restraint that Leo possessed not to burn Jason (who was the one holding on to him).
"No, Leo. No more running. I won't let you leave us over this." Jason's voice was shaking, as was the hand that was wrapped around his wrist. If Leo was fast enough, and Leo was pretty sure he was, he could still follow through with his plan to leave.
"Please, we want to help. Please don't leave us." Leo was shocked out of his dark musings by the sound of Percy Jackson begging for him to stay. Percy wasn't really the begging type, unless his fatal flaw kicked in and he became really worried for a friend. And while a part of Leo was touched at the protection being offered, he recoiled from the fact that his friends seemed to think that the minute he left them he would off himself.
"I'm not going to kill myself over this, so just let me go!" Leo demanded. Then he was pulled back into a tight hug. He squirmed but to no avail, Jason wasn't letting him go.
"I said no more running, Leo." Jason's voice was determined, and Leo knew that he had no chance of actually getting away without hurting at least one of his friends. He knew that he was completely screwed when Jason dragged him over to the couch and sat down with Leo still in his clutches.
Percy's green eyes were locked onto his brown ones and Leo flinched at the intensity in their depths. He had never wanted to run from his friends more than he did then. Piper sat next to his human prison and her hand found his. Leo pulled his hand away, he didn't like being forced into talking like this and at the same time, he knew that his body temperature was rocketing. How Jason was still holding him he'd never know. Never the less, Piper once again took his hand and squeezed it gently.
"Please talk to us." She implored. Leo broke away from Percy's gaze to stare at the floor. His hands instinctively sought his tool belt, and he began tinkering, trying to ignore his friends questioning gazes.
"Leo!" Annabeth's voice held a command, yet Leo didn't yield. His legs were aching to run, to leave, to go find an alley to cry in, yet he couldn't do it. His body wanted to run yet his heart and his head wanted to stay. He loved these people. He slowly raised his head.
"How many times?" Frank's voice trembled, and Leo was confused at how upset the changeling sounded. He still played dumb though.
"How many times what?" Leo's voice remained steady and innocent, a true testament to just how good of a liar he is.
"How many times have you considered ending it all ?" Hazel took over from her boyfriend with the questioning.
"Can't we just watch another memory?" Leo was really starting to feel desperate now.
"No, we can discuss what we just watched." Percy was showing no mercy. Leo took a deep breath, he wasn't getting out of this without confessing something.
"A couple of times." Percy's fists clenched and Piper's hand tightened.
"Have you ever ... tried anything?" Hazel's voice was tentative. Leo remained silent, a pit colder than Khione twisting in his stomach. Tension pervaded the air, rippling through each of his friends.
"How?" Percy's voice was wavering and Leo looked up in a sort of numb confusion, noticing the tears streaming down all of his friends faces.
"Knife. Overdose. I considered jumping off the Arg ... from a great height once." Leo knew that they had all caught his little mistake and a sick wave of dread swept over him.
"You were going to jump off the Argo? When?" The other's were openly weeping as Jason choked out this question.
"The night after seeing Nemesis, I had a nightmare, and I wasn't going to do it. I just sort of contemplated ." Leo fumbled over his words, struggling to find a way to justify what he had just said.
"I'm going to kill that stupid witch!" The vehemence in Hazel's voice as startling when compared to her usual gentle way of speaking.
"How many times?, " Annabeth was still caught up on that question "and I want a more specific answer for how many times you've thought of doing ... that, and how many actual attempts you've made. Leo shifted uncomfortably but he knew that the others would get their answers one way or another.
"I've had over 100 thoughts but only three actual attempts and I stopped myself every time." Leo felt a shudder pass through Jason.
"You've really tried it?" Jason's voice was broken, as if something in his world had been knocked out of alignment by Leo's confessions. And maybe it had. Leo knew that the others had thought before this experience that Leo was only capable of being the clown of the group. And now his façade had shattered, and they knew the truth, that Leo held darkness behind his smile. Yet they weren't leaving him. They were still concerned about him, still wanted to help him.
Something shifted inside of Leo, something that had been broken for a very long time. Trust was rekindled in Leo's heart, and although the flame burnt low, at least it was there. The dam broke. Leo turned to hide his face in Jason's shoulder to try and disguise his tears from the others. Which was a failed endeavour as they could probably see him shaking. Piper had also been dragged into the hug because when Leo turned, her hand had been trapped between the boys. Her other arm wrapped around Leo's shoulders. He felt other arms entwining around him and soon they were all sitting there in a big group hug.
"Please don't ever think of leaving us - of leaving me - again." Jason muttered in his ear.
"I won't." Leo's reply was loud enough for the entire group to hear despite the fact that he now had a sore throat and blurred vision from crying.
Eventually, the group broke apart, though Jason and Piper kept their arms around Leo, as if needing tangible evidence of his continued existence. The demigods had visibly calmed, and the screen seemed to recognise this as a new video began playing.
Fifteen year old Leo was slumped in a jail cell. His hands were free, but there was absolutely nothing in the cell for him to fiddle with, and his hands were anxiously tapping away at his knee in an effort to stave of the apparent boredom. Officer Cormac suddenly appeared in front of the bars, eating what seemed to be a chicken leg and a spiteful smirk resting on his face.
"It's nice to see an animal like you caged up where you belong." The voice was taunting, and Leo glared up at the corrupt officer.
"You should be behind the bars for that act of cannibalism right there. After all, chicken korma eating chicken must be against the law, hmm." The cocky tilt to Leo's lips enraged the officer, who flew at the bars, gripping the steel with vice like hands. To Leo's credit, the boy didn't flinch.
"I'd keep your mouth shut if I were you, the only reason that I ain't beating the stuffing out of you at this moment are these bars."
"And all the people in hearing distance." Leo helpfully supplied. Cormac gritted his teeth.
"Well, you won't be running ever again. I've seen to that." On the outside, Leo didn't appear ruffled by this statement, but his inner turmoil was betrayed by the increasing tempo of the beat he was tapping out on his knee. The screen translated his tapping as morse code for "eat my shorts, butt face."
Some snickering was heard from Percy.
"You see, orphan brat, the government are a little fed up of having a young tearaway such as yourself constantly eluding social services and have decided to cough up the money to send you to a special place called the Wilderness school, a corrective behaviour facility in the middle of nowhere. So you see, Valdez, there won't be any place for you to run." The officer walked out laughing.
"You're still a cannibal." Leo mumbled bitterly after Cormac had flounced out of the room.
"So that's how you ended up in the Wilderness school." Jason said contemplatively.
"Yeah, well at least I didn't have to deal with Cormac's shining personality while I was there." Leo's smile was finally back in place, and this time Leo wasn't using humour to hide his problems. The sarcastic comment had been a natural remark that stemmed from leo's personality. He didn't miss the looks of relief he got. He decided to return to drawing his picture.
Jason's P.O.V
The Argo's hallway flashed into view. It was the boy's bedroom corridor, and Leo was walking along it slowly. He stopped outside of Percy's room, where you could hear Percy and Annabeth discussing their old adventures. Leo smiled gently, and continued on his way.
He stopped outside of the TV room, and poked his head through the doorway subtly. Coach Hedge was screaming at the television enthusiastically, watching a wrestling match. Leo nodded before withdrawing, and turning to the dining room.
When Leo glanced into the dining area, you could see Piper and Jason sitting at the table, sharing a quick snack and discussing the camp. Leo once again smiled in a satisfied way. He observed Hazel and Frank on the deck keeping watch, before he finally returned to his room. He sat on his bed and let out a sigh of contentment. he drifted of to sleep only a few minutes after taking of his toolbelt and kicking of his boots.
"Leo ... Leo ... Leo." A familiar voice was calling Leo's name, and when his eyes flickered open he was standing in a field filled with poppies. The figure of Gaia stood in their midst, the ever present dirt lazily floating around her.
"My sweet Leo, I have brought you here to give you a proposition." The Leo in the dream cocked an eyebrow.
"I want you by my side Leo, a demigod of your power would be much more valuable by my side then on that wretched ship. And it's not as if your friends would miss you." Leo flinched almost imperceptibly, but a cruel glint in Gaia's eyes suggested that she had seen it. She went in for the kill.
"With me you would never be the seventh wheel." The words seemed to strike a chord within Leo, as his dream clothes started smoking.
"I'm sorry potty sludge lady, but if you think that I'll ever betray my friends to join you then you've got more screw loose than I thought. I would never, ever join you and very soon I'll be in front of you, face planting you Valdez style." Leo's words were spoken with complete sincerity, he was ready and willing to do anything against Gaia.
"Foolish child, do you wish to be the Gods' puppet forever?" Gaia was still talking in her regular, sleepy voice though it showed hints of annoyance.
"I'd rather be a puppet of the light than a slave to the darkness." Leo remarked with finality.
"I will end you boy."
"Not if I end you first." Leo awoke with a gasp. And then he smiled with a touch of sadism .
"Trust me dirt face, my friends are going to prevail no matter what."
Jason couldn't help but question Gaia's intelligence. Had she really thought that Leo would ever join her? The others were giving Leo amused looks.
"Just how much sass did you use then?" Percy was almost snorting with laughter.
"I used enough, Persassy." Was Leo's swift retort which sent them all into fits of giggles.
Teen Leo was back on screen, though this time his clothing was radically different. He was still wearing black jeans, but these were splattered with neon multi-coloured paint. He was wearing a tight black tank top with a neon green mesh top over it. His feet were stuffed into heavy, studded doc Martens which matched the studded belt that hung on his skinny hips and had a chain that connected to his jeans pocket. A necklace skull was draped around his neck.
Leo was lounging underneath a bridge with a few dozen other teens, most of whom appeared older than Leo himself. However, Leo didn't seem at all intimidated, in fact he was cracking more jokes than ever.
A shady looking bottle emerged from the overcoat of one of the older teens and it was passes around furtively, each member taking a sip until it reached Leo.
"No thanks guys, I've got a big test tomorrow and I'd rather not be hungover. You all no what pain it is to try and do complicated arithmetic with a drill pounding in your head." No one laughed, and Leo gulped nervously at the change in atmosphere.
"This is some of my dad's finest." The boy who had first brought out the bottle leaned in, apparently he was the leader of this little gang.
"You ain't turning down some of my dad's finest, are you?" The question was accompanied by a menacing sneer. Leo swallowed again.
"Come on guys, I really can't fail this test." Leo wheedled ever so slightly, clearly terrified of whatever punishment he might receive for not accepting the alcohol.
"Everyone in this gang drinks, if you don't drink the you're not a member. If you aren't a member then you're an enemy. Understood?" The dark, maniacal tint to the leader's eyes encouraged Leo take the bottle and down a long sip. Everyone laughed and the tension began to diffuse. But the leader's eyes remained fixed on Leo and every time the bottle reached the small Latino he would smile eerily. Needless to say, Leo didn't remain sober for very long.
Jason was brimming with righteous fury. Those petty criminals had no right to force Leo into drinking with them. Annabeth was giving a lecture extolling the benefits of saying no to peer pressure, and Leo was starting to look a little irritated.
"It was drink the damn alcohol or have my throat slit and I chose a hangover to death." He blurted out and Annabeth instantly started apologising for misunderstanding the situation. Leo rolled his eyes.
"It's fine, I aced the test anyway." Leo gave her a cheeky wink.
"You aced a test hungover." Percy's voice radiated disbelief.
"Well, it was math." Percy shook his head.
"You sir, are impossible." Leo gave a mock bow.
"It's a gift." They all laughed again, and Piper and Jason came to the unspoken consensus that it was okay to release Leo. They didn't move any further away, though, even when they dropped their arms. Text suddenly flashed across the screen.
We will be taking a short break after this memory so that you may relax for a few minutes.
Everyone shrugged and got ready to watch the memory.
Pathetic coughing and sniffling was heard on the screen.
"Lo siento, mijo (I'm sorry my son) but you are going to have to sit up to take your medicine." The image revealed a tiny Leo of about five lying in bed with a tissue box on one side and a stuff Simba clutched in his hands.
"But mami, it hurted me." The voice was distorted by sickness and the adorable mangling of the English was even cuter when combined with the big, watery brown eyes. Esperanza Valdez was perched on the end of his bed, holding a spoonful of medicine.
"It's hurts not hurted, mijo, and I know it does but you'll just have to be my brave little lion and take the medicine." With her free hand, Esperanza tapped out the morse code for "I love you".
Leo sat up slowly, revealing footsie Avengers pyjamas.
"AWW!" The girls squealed. Leo went bright red and a faint wisp of smoke danced over his hair.
"If I take it you'll be happy, yes?" Leo's voice was still stuffy.
"I will be the happiest mommy alive." Esperanza planted a swift kiss on Leo's nose before he accepted the medicine, pulling the cutest disgruntled face at the taste. Esperanza ran her hand through Leo's hair and he leaned into the touch.
"When you are all better than I'll take you to the park and buy you some ice cream." She promised, and the sick child's face lit up,
"With sprinkles?" Esperanza nodded, and Leo launched himself into her arms.
"Te amo mami (I love you mommy)." He whispered.
"Te amo mi leoncito (I love you my little lion)." She whispered into the curly hair of her baby boy.
When Jason turned towards his friend, he expected him to look a little upset. But even though his eyes held nostalgia, Leo seemed fine otherwise. But he now knew how good of an actor Leo was and was about to question him when the aforementioned boy turned to hime and winked.
"Don't worry Captain America, I may still miss her but I still want to focus on the happier memories than on the sadder ones." Jason nodded, comfortable in the knowledge that Leo was not lying to him.
So they have gotten Leo to promise to never leave them (a little awkward if you know the ending). But yeah, I'm sorry if I mangled any Spanish and feel free to leave a review tekling me if I should bring any other characters in (remember, I can't bring anyone in who is either dead or hasn't came into the books yet properly e.g Nico).