Shadows Fall to Flames. {{valdangelo}}

Chapter 13

TW
Vague description of sexual assault

'Hey Neeks'

'Why Neeks?' Said boy sighed in annoyance,

Leo smiled, glancing over at the teen sitting next to him,

'It's cute, like you'

Nico's face flushed, which Leo deemed a satisfying reaction,

'R..right, what did you want to say?'

'Just thought' Leo paused 'I just thought maybe I should explain why what happened last week happened in the first place'

'What! Leo don't feel like you need to explain, you don't have to...'

The older of the two held his hand to Nico's mouth

'I want to, I'd rather get it off my chest then have another breakdown'

'Fair enough' Nico shifted where he sat removing the callused palm from his face

The two demigods sat atop the Hades cabin, far enough away from the roofs edge to avoid being spotted by the Harpies.
The night air was surprisingly bitter for that time of year and the stars alarmingly bright.

Leo sighed heavily and for once in his life, stopped fidgeting.

'My mama and I practically lived in the workshop, now that I think about it it's probably because we couldn't afford anything else. But that didn't matter, we were really close, mama and I, we did everything together' Leo tugged at his ear nervously, 'It was just a regular night, we were locking up the shop, but mum forgot her keys so she went to get them and told me to wait for her'

He paused again, a far away expression gracing his features 'I'd never seen a monster before, so when one found me I kinda freaked out. I used my fire. I used too much fire. I ended up burning down the warehouse and everything...everyone inside. I was the only survivor and I was also unharmed, physically, which kinda made me the prime suspect. I didn't get charged with anything because I was only 8 at the time, but the accusation didn't do me any favours. You know about the whole foster home thing I guess, how I would always just up and go. They never felt like home, and running was the easy option' Leo looked over at Nico, who stared back with his big dark eyes 'no one cared about me the way mama did'

The son of Hades scooted closer to Leo.

'Then I was put into a home I new straight away wasn't going to be easy to escape. My new mother as Teresa called herself was a real life version of the evil step mother from Cinderella, maybe worse...no, definitely worse.
Her house was like a spiffy jail, hight fence, locked gate, I was not going to get out if she could help it. The first month was fine I guess. Usually I wouldn't have lasted a month but she made sure I did. She very very strict.
I once spilled juice on the carpet and was locked in my room without food till the next day. As an 12 year old, that was pretty tough.
Anyway things kinda got worse the longer I stayed, id get more severely punished for far lesser slip ups. Like this one time I dropped my fork on the plate, y'know how it makes a really loud noise? Yeah well I woke up the next morning with a black eye'

Leo became dead still his voice faltering, 'Teresa had a boyfriend, not a nice guy for not a nice woman I liked to think. He'd get mad and they'd fight. Not just yell, theyd do whatever they could to hurt each other. Sometimes he'd come find me to take the rest of his anger out on. A lesser creature. I tried not to get in their way, especially his.

'Then one day he came home drunk. I don't mean tipsy I mean full on smashed, he could barely stand.
Somehow he managed to drag himself to my room where, like any reasonable 12 year old at one in the morning, I was asleep.
He..he umm...h.he d..did, I..'

The Latino couldn't manage to get the last sentence out.
Nico squeezed his hand

'If it's too much you don't have to...'

'No' he said firmly 'Im not going to be intimidated by someone who's not even around anymore'

Nico nodded slowly,

'S..so he came to my room, and being really drunk paired with being a dick he took me being asleep to be some sort of twisted invitation' Leo closed his eyes, leaning his head back slightly 'and he did stuff to me, stuff no human being should do to anyone, let alone a kid. Teresa told me if I ever reported her or her boyfriend I'd regret it, no one would trust a kid who killed his own mum. I believed her.
I wasn't going to report anything and he new it.
After he'd done it once it was easier to do it again, so that's what he did. His abuse and assault became a regular. I new I had to get out of that place before he took it so far I wouldn't wake up the next morning.

'I know I could have used my fire, but my mama's death was..is still fresh in my memory, but it was worse back then. Teresa made sure I felt like it was my fault, it gave her some sort of control over me. I don't really remember exactly how I got out, it was all a blur, but when the social services found me again they were, how do I put it, done with my shit.
Besides what could possibly be better than shipping a young delusional delinquent to Wilderness School? So that's where I went.
I didn't have any friends, I was just the weird funny kid everyone could count on for a laugh.

Piper came into the picture a year later, and we've been friends since. She was the first person I trusted since...the accident.
Without her, I don't know if I'd be...'

All surrounding noises seemed to be on mute, as though everything was taking a moment of silence.

Nico pulled Leo closer.

'I'm here for you too' Nico whispered, it didn't sound like much but he meant it and that was all Leo needed,

'I know'

———
Take that sappy police!

Leo opened up, I hope your happy >:)

Votes and comments are my fuel and are greatly appreciated!