Chapter 4

3rd P.O.V

"Percy?"

Percy jumped, flinching and crying out, "I'm sorry! Please don't hit me! Please don't, I'll be good! I promise!"

Leo's eyes widened as he watched the son of Poseidon have a panic attack. Not entirely sure what to do he did his best to calm him down and comfort him. 'I should have brought Will...' he thought to himself.

Slowly Percy stopped hyperventilating and screaming. His eyes unclouded and began to take in his surroundings soon realizing that he was not alone. Leo was with him.

'No. Why is Leo here? Wait he saw my panic attack?! Two in one day! Geez, aren't I pathetic? Maybe I can play it off...' Percy thought to himself desperately.

"H-hey Fire-boy. What's up?" Percy said nervously.

Leo raised an unimpressed eyebrow.

"Yeah... no. I'm not falling for that Aquaman. Mind telling me what's been going on?"

"Nothing is going on!" Percy replied too quickly, tense and refusing to look at Leo.

"You're lying," Leo stated. "Something else is going on Water Boy. What's wrong?" he asked urgently.

"I told you it's nothing!" Percy snapped angrily.

"Stop lying! If it were nothing you wouldn't have freaked out TWICE today. I may not be the smartest of the group Jackson but even I can see that this is most definitely NOT nothing!" Leo drawled out exasperatedly, knowing that he may be being a little sassy and harsh but he was worried.

Percy says nothing, he simply glares. Surprisingly Leo, who was usually cowering from said glare, glares right back determinedly, out of sheer concern for the leader of the Greek camp. What was even more surprising was that Percy was the first to back down.

"Well?" Leo asks sounding way too much like a mom to be healthy.

"..." Percy mumbled unintelligibly.

"Could you repeat that louder so I can hear you please?"

"I..." Percy muttered under his breath.

"Percy! I can't hear you, much less understand what you're saying!" Leo admonished.

"I-I WAS ABUSED OK?! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW? Y-you know my biggest secret. Go ahead. Tease me, tell me I'm pathetic, that I'm worthless. J-just please don't hate me... please. I'm sor-"

Percy's broken rant was cut off by a hug.

"Don't. Don't apologize. It's not your fault so don't think it was for a second. And please NEVER think that we- that I would ever tease, insult or gods forbid use this against you. I know the others would and will say the same." Leo whispered horrified.

Percy just wept into Leo's shoulder, whether it was because of relief, remembrance or disbelief he was uncertain but it was nice to let it all out.

...

Later, much later, Percy finally calmed down and muttered both an apology and his thanks to Leo who smiled softly and said, "don't worry about it hermano. Let's start heading back..."

"You don't want details or an explanation?"

"Oh I do and I expect one once we get back to camp, go to cabin 1 and meet up with the others so you can talk to them. They must be worried sick and I don't think you're gonna want to repeat your story..." Leo explained.

"T-t-the others?"

"Aquaman, imagine what they must be feeling. I, honestly, have no clue what happened after you ran off since I chased after you but imagine what Annabeth must be feeling. Her boyfriend just ran off after she touched his shoulder and he freaked. Imagine Nico, Thalia, Jason and Hazel. Their cousin left in a hurry,not to mention right after shouting not to touch him, leaving them confused and most definitely worried. Percy, all of them care about you and must be out of their minds with worry. So let's go back k?" Leo rambled.

Percy sighed nervously but conceded.

Leo swung his arm over Percy's shoulder.

"Race you!" the son of Hephaestus. challenged.

Percy said nothing, he simply smirked and bolted towards his uncle's cabin.

"Hey! Captain Saltwater! You have to wait for me to say go!" an annoyed Valdez yelled after him.

Percy simply yelled, "You never said that," over his shoulder, before ignoring the Latino as he sprinted away towards the cabin where his not-so-patient friends were waiting.