Leo Valdez- Learning to Live

Chapter 11

Hi. Sorry for the delay. Some depressing stuff up ahead, as usual. But I don't feel like it's as bad as normal. Idk. There's some fluff, too, so that's fun.

Rights belong to Rick Riordan.

Hazel stared at the Hephaestus cabin.

Through the hard work of the campers (mostly Percy), the fire had almost entirely been put out, but tendrils of smoke still rose from the building. She could see Percy and Annabeth now, working to put out any remaining flames.

The cabin would certainly have to be rebuilt. It had burned quickly, giving the campers hardly any time to react, especially since it had started in the middle of the night. It was a shame, really. But that wasn't what was worrying Hazel.

She glanced over at Leo. They, along with Frank, Piper, and Jason, were surveying the wreckage from a little ways away. Well, most of them were. Leo was staring at the ground. He had wrapped one arm across his stomach, grabbing his other arm tightly. He was fidgeting nervously, and Hazel was pretty sure he was shaking. 

"Leo?" Hazel reached out to him, trying to grab his hand, but he flinched away. Hazel quickly pulled her hand back. "Oh! I'm sorry."

Leo's eyes widened. "Oh no, don't be sorry Hazel. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to--"

"It's okay." She smiled gently at him, but he just shrugged and looked away. 

The others turned their attention to the conversation. "Leo, what happened?" Piper asked, concerned. 

Leo shrugged again. "It was just a nightmare," he muttered. "I'm sorry, they're not usually that bad."

"You're saying a nightmare caused all that?" Frank asked incredulously, gesturing wildly at the cabin. "Leo, that's crazy!"

Leo seemed to shrink smaller with every word. "I'm sorry," he whispered.

Hazel put a hand on Frank's arm. She gave him a look, trying to convey to him that he was being insensitive.

"Leo," she said kindly, "Frank just means that we're all very worried about you. That was clearly a very distressing dream. Do you want to talk about it?"

Leo's eyes widened and he took a step back. "Uh, no. It's okay. It wasn't that bad, really."

"Wasn't that bad? Leo, you burned down a building! You have to tell us what's going on!" Jason stepped forward and reached out, trying to confront the small boy, but Leo flinched and jumped back. Jason immediately froze, hand still outstretched. 

"Leo?"

"Please don't hurt me," Leo whimpered.

Jason's hand slowly fell back to his side. "I... I won't. You know I won't. You know that... Right?" he asked uncertainly.

Leo avoided his gaze.

Hazel's heart plummeted. No... the dream... it couldn't be. But she knew instinctively that it was.

"Leo," she said softly. "Nobody here wants to hurt you. I promise."

Leo halfheartedly nodded. "Okay."

Hazel sighed. He clearly didn't believe her, but she didn't know what to do about it. And apparently no one else did either, because the group remained tensely silent. 

After a moment, Leo asked a question in a small voice.

"Did I hurt anyone?"

Hazel froze. If he knew the answer to that question... 

"No," Piper hastily answered. "Everyone's fine."

"Yeah," Jason quickly agreed. "Nothing a little ambrosia can't fix."