Leo Valdez X Reader

Chapter 30 (Y/n)

(TW WARNING: (Y/n) is going to confront her abusive uncle; if you are unable to read this chapter, please skip to the next one. )

We made our way down the sidewalk until we reached the blueish-gray condo. 

I stood on the other side of the street for a while, just staring at it. 

The last time I was here, it didn't go well.

"Are you okay?" 

Will was standing beside me. Everyone had agreed to wait for me, but Leo had convinced them to camp out on the top of the building across the street so someone could monitor us through the window. 

Then they sent me to get it. 

That was ten minutes ago, and I still hadn't left yet. 

I took a deep breath.

"Y-yeah. I'm good." 

I blanked out on the way to the door. My head swirling. 

I made my way to the lobby and stared at the stairs. 

How many times had I climbed these under the impression I was safe? 

The creak on the second step was still the same. 

Surprisingly, thinking I used to use this as a warning made me laugh, like a Gus alert for when he was coming home. 

I took a couple more steps, leaning against the wall and banister for support. I didn't think coming back here would have affected me so physically.

The carpet at the top of the stairs and hallway remained the same red diamond pattern. There had been times when I considered it a bed.

I suddenly felt like being sick. 

My stomach felt like it wasn't connected to my mouth. 

If that made any sense.

All I knew was that it felt terrible; I managed to make it to a plastic potted plant before throwing up.

What a waste of pancakes.

I really hoped my friends hadn't seen that.

I stood up and took a deep breath, turning down the hauntingly familiar hallway. And then, there it was.

2B

The B still hung crooked, and the door was covered in dents. I knocked on the door before I could toss up Elisa's pancakes again.

"Come in!" 

His voice stopped me from grabbing the doorknob, and I froze. 

I could picture him, and it hurt me to do so.

But I had to do this for the sake of the world.

A little therapy was worth it, right?

I opened the door and stood in the doorway. I couldn't seem to get past that point. 

My uncle was sitting in his recliner, watching TV, his back to me. 

Of course there was a beer bottle in his hand. 

The smell made me curl my toes in my shoes. I couldn't let him get to me.

"Petunia-" He turned and spotted me. 

He stood so suddenly, almost losing his balance. 

He still looked the same. 

He was tall and fat, with a gut that spilled beneath his t-shirt. A brown mustache covered his top lip. His shirt was stained, and the place was shambled. His bottle slipped from his hand and shattered against the floor, breaking me from my thoughts.