Leo Valdez- Learning to Live

Chapter 6

Hi.

Tysm for the encouraging comments! They always spur me on. I'd like to apologize, bc I fully intended to update sooner. I even looked in one of the books to check something. Unfortunately, then I got distracted by reading the entire HoO series again. Sorry! 

There's another suicide attempt in this chapter. It's kind of a theme.

Still don't own anything you recognize.

Leo didn't want to open his eyes.

He was confused. Where was he? What was going on?

And then, like a lightning strike, he remembered. 

No. No. Nooooooo, this couldn't be happening. He had been so careful, so sure.

Of course. He should've known he would fail. He always failed. He was so worthless, he couldn't even kill himself properly. Tears leaked from under his closed eyes.

He had to do something. He had to fix this. And quickly.

He blinked his eyes open and pushed himself up into a sitting position. He winced as a spike of pain shot up his arms, but it didn't really bother him. He was used to pain.

Curiously, he examined his arms. They were firmly wrapped with white bandages. He pulled back the edge of one, revealing several angry red lines. Surprisingly, they had already started to fade. Either he'd already been here a while, or they'd been force-feeding him ambrosia. Probably both.

"Leo?"

Leo quickly pulled the bandage back down and turned to face a bleary-eyed Percy. Oh great. How was he supposed to kill himself in peace with Percy in the room?

"Oh. Hi, Percy," Leo said quietly.

"You're awake!" And with that, Percy threw his arms around Leo, crushing him tightly. The small Latino made no motion to return the hug, but merely sat unresponsively. 

"We were so worried about you," Percy whispered, tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

After a long moment, a quiet voice broke the silence.

"Why?"

Percy pulled back and held Leo's shoulders at arms length. He searched Leo's face, but the boy avoided his gaze.

"What do you mean?"

Leo's voice cracked in response.

"Why did you save me? I... I don't understand..."

And he didn't. The more he thought about it, the less it made sense. The heroes of Olympus, the mighty Six, stooping down to save... him? What a waste. He curled away from Percy's comforting touch. He didn't deserve comfort. 

He missed the pain that flashed through Percy's eyes.

"Oh Leo..."

Percy grabbed him in another tight hug, but Leo pushed him away.

"Get away from me! Please," Leo pleaded, his voice breaking. "I don't want to hurt you anymore."

"Leo, what are you talking about? I trust you with my life, you know that."

"No, no, you don't understand I'm too dangerous I'll hurt you just like everyone else get away getawaygetaway--"

Leo was panicking. This was bad. He was losing control. He had to stop. Stop messing up. Stop hurting people. Stop breathing. Stop existing.

"Hey Leo, it's okay," Percy worriedly said, keeping a respectful distance from the distressed boy. "Do you want me to get someone else? Piper, maybe?"