Leo Valdez- Learning to Live

Chapter 20

Sorry, this came out relatively late, I kinda burned myself out/was on vacation/don't like this chapter very much, but here it is! I hope you enjoy!

I don't own PJO/HOO, warnings for brief discussion of abuse and panic attacks.

When Frank dropped Leo off after the campfire sing-along, Percy could tell right away that something was up. He wasn't sure what, exactly, but something was definitely... different. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

He made eye contact with Frank, raising his eyebrows in question, but Frank just shrugged back. Clearly, he was just as confused as Percy was.

"Hey dude," he said as Frank left, sending Leo an easy smile. "What's up?"

Leo shrugged, his face unusually blank. "It's... been a day."

He walked over to his bed, sitting down on the edge and staring down at his handcuffed hands. That... probably wasn't a good sign.

"What's going on?" Percy asked cautiously, settling himself down next to Leo.

After a few moments, Leo answered. "I talked with Will again today."

Percy's eyebrows shot up. "Oh. And, was it... okay?"

Leo sighed. "I'd rather not talk about it."

"It wasn't like, bad, though, was it?" Percy asked nervously.

Leo shrugged noncommittally. "No. Well, maybe. Well, we'll find out."

Percy frowned. That didn't seem all that great, but he wasn't sure what to do about it.

"Leo--"

"What about you?"

Percy blinked. "What?"

Leo glanced at him, briefly making eye contact before looking away. "I've already talked to someone twice. I'm going to be pretty upset if you haven't held up your end of the deal." He tried to laugh lightly, perhaps in a joking manner, but his attempt fizzled out practically as soon as it began.

"Oh! Right. I... uh, yeah, I talked to my mom."

"And?" Leo asked, sounding genuinely curious.

"It was..." Percy smiled, but it was bittersweet. "It was good."

Percy thought back to the conversation he had had with his mom. It had certainly been... enlightening. 

He remembered how her face had crumpled when he had finally forced the words out. How she had grabbed him and held on tight as they both sunk to the floor, crying. How she had choked out loud apologies and quiet assurances that she understood.

He felt a flash of anger at that. He never should've assumed that he was the only one being hurt. He should've known. They could've fixed it, together. But instead they had both suffered in silence for years, too afraid to save themselves.

But then he remembered the determination on his mom's face when they had cried themselves out. He knew then that they would be okay. Now that things were out in the open, they could get through it. His mom admitted that she had already been attending therapy to deal with her abuse, and promised to sign Percy up for sessions of his own as soon as possible.

Percy smiled fondly at the memory. His mom was so strong. He already knew that she would be able to overcome her past.

He was a little less sure about himself, but he knew his mom would be there to support him, as well as Annabeth. And hey, probably Leo too. Maybe the others if he ever worked up the courage to talk about it.