Leo Valdez, the world's tool broken beyond repair

The Truth about Leo

Umm. Hi, I'm Alive. yay. Nothing new to say. Storytime!

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Third Person

When they'd finished breakfast, Leo took the plates back to the kitchen. He came back and sat down next to Piper. She'd seemed to be his favorite out of the group. As he listened to the other's conversations, he absentmindedly started braiding Piper's hair. He didn't realize that this reminded her of Leo Valdez. Annabeth then turned to Leo.

"Leo," she said. She got a hum in response. "What about you? You've learned about our past, don't we deserve to learn about yours?" Leo looked up from Piper's hair, a layer of panic visible in his eyes. Piper turned to Leo, "Please Leo." She said it so softly so that only he could hear. Everyone knew who he was from their adventure last night, but they want to confirm their suspicions.

Leo took a deep breath. He kept his eyes on the ground. "Hi, guys." Everyone heard his voice change from the perfect American accent to a Latino one. Piper threw her arms around Leo. "I missed you so, so much." Leo hugged her back. When they separated Leo was tackled by Jason and Percy. Leo was crushed by the demigods. Once they got off him, Jason hugged him. Leo was with him on his first quest after he lost his memory. He was his little brother. Hazel then walked up to Leo looked him straight in the eye, and slapped him. "Sorry," she said as she hugged him. When he left, she felt as though she had lost Sammy again. When she let go, Annabeth was looking at Leo quizzically, as if trying to read his mind. She finally asked the question weighing on everyone's chest. "Why did you leave?" Leo pulled wires and bolts from his pocket, fiddling with them. As they watched, his hands got shakier and shakier. He slipped his hands back into his pockets. "I left because I was just as Nemesis said 'the seventh wheel', I've had depression, anxiety, and social anxiety since I was 9. It hurt me to leave, too. That was the only place the felt like home. But when I left I built this place. Things have gotten better." He said all this looking at the ground.

Piper, who was sitting closest to him, touched his arm. "Leo, why?". "Because, Beauty Queen, seeing your friends with their boyfriend or girlfriend, you understand you are the odd man out. The one just there for laughs. Things are harder when you don't have someone there for you. You realize you have to suck it up and be the jokester. Because humor is a good way to hide the pain."

Everyone sat in shock at what Leo had said. They had never seen this side of the mechanic, they had always seen the joker, the one who doesn't take things seriously, the one who tries to lighten the mood with terrible puns and stupid nicknames. This side was something Leo always kept hidden. He didn't want to burden them with his problems. He told them he was fine when he was screaming for help. He held his tongue when they asked him if he was tired. He never complained about hunger or lack of sleep. His friends needed him. He couldn't tell them when he was on the verge of collapse from overworking and skipping meals. He was always there for the others even when they were nowhere to be seen for him. He was more concerned with others' health than his own. 

"Leo, will you come home with us?" Jason asked, breaking the silence.

The godlings held their breath, waiting for the son of Hephaestus's answer.

"No."

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Ok, guys how was that? nothing new. Stay Weird!

~Lily