This oneshot is for NerdsWearOddSocks and her competition for Leo x Reader one-shots I hope you enjoy anyways, so yeah! ONWARDS! Oh, I don't own the image above, although it made me cry a bit (read: a lot)

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

Just.

One.

More.

Day.

You trudged onwards to the prison some knew as high school. One more day left, and then you would be free- a bird free of it's cage, not
knowing which direction to fly in, just savoring your freedom.

Entering the school with more spring in your step than usual (which wasn't hard, since you usually trudged into your school with your head down and moved slower than a sloth) you immediately quieted down and tried to blend in. Key word being tried.

Drew Tanaka. 'Popular' girl, face caked in makeup, and a huge ego with a small brain to contrast. Joy. "Hey, hon. You're looking... beautiful today." she layered the sarcasm extra thick.

"Look who's talking! If you ever went to the circus, you'd be mistaken for one of the clowns working there because of all that idiotic makeup you've caked on your face!"

Drew tries to retort. "Yeah, sure, hon, you're probably just jealous that you're such a loser and a misfit and I'm the best one."

You pretend to look thoughtful. "Drew, I guess you are the best at something. Your ego is so big- and you're such an idiot- that if I wanted to kill myself, I'd climb on your ego and jump to your IQ. Now then, would you please leave? I would love to stay and chat, but your face is giving me a headache."

•∞•∞•∞•∞•

Lunch. Yay. Sitting down with your tray of undercooked mac and cheese and limp Brussel sprouts, you wolf glared anyone who came near your table, giving you complete privacy to read your books.

You were a definite oddball at this school. You sat alone. You didn't have any friends. You didn't want to talk to anyone- not that anyone tried.

Who would care about you? You were the loner, the misfit, the oddball, the outlier... (Don't mean to offend by this, just a part of the story, not actually saying you are) You pulled off a good facade of sarcasm and I-don't-care attitude, but it was all just an act to hide one small, simple fact:

You were alone.

•∞•∞•∞•∞•∞•

School passed uneventfully - which really just means you slept in every class- until your study hall.

You asked to get a drink, relishing the chance to escape the stuffy and stifling study hall room.

Unfortunately, the nearest water fountain is actually quite far away. Seriously, why couldn't the people who designed this torture place be a little smarter?

Walking through the halls, you made a game with yourself with the tiles on the floor. Preoccupied with the tiles, you didn't notice the jeering until you'd run into the source.

Of course. Last day of school and you have to put up with this sneering, makeup caked crocodile and her clique. Including her boyfriend Octavian. With a self-absorbed, I'm-better-than-you air, he looked like someone who would decapitate teddy bears for fun.

But the odd thing was who they were jeering at. Leo Valdez, class clown. He'd always seemed so carefree, with a manner that suggested he didn't care about life in the slightest. But here he was, with -were those tear tracks?- staining his face. You quickly snapped two quick pictures, for future use.

No matter what other people thought of you, you couldn't stand to see innocents hurt. Except for maybe Drew and her friends. They could go die in a hole.

You shook yourself. Pay attention!

"Hey, what's going on?!"

Drew turned to you, her expression startled for one second before turning back to her trademark sneer. "Get lost, loser. This is none of your business."

You kept your tone light and airy. "I'd suggest you not keep that tone of voice when you're talking to me, Drew. Not unless you want to get expelled."

Drew's laugh was short and harsh. "How would you do that, idiot?"

"With this." You show her the picture.

Her face turns tomato red, even visible through the makeup. Her eyes bulge out. "Wha- no- I didn't-"

You continue. "After all, it'd be a shame if my finger were to... accidentally slip and post this online. The only way to make sure my finger stays put is to BACK OFF and leave him alone."

"I... you..." she grumbles.

Octavian narrows his eyes, looking like a snake looking for an escape. "Well then... we wouldn't want to disturb the gathering of the two biggest losers in school, would we now?"

He attempts to saunter off, instead looking like a scarecrow wobbling off. The rest of their toadies follow them, muttering to each other under their breath.

You immediately drop to the ground, looking at Leo. "Are... are you okay?"

He looks up, and you hold in a gasp. His eyes... They look broken and shattered beyond repair, beaten down by so many things that he can't get up, or keep moving. How does he hide all the pain?

"Why..." he mutters. "Why would you help me?"

You make sure your tone isn't accusatory or anything non-friendly, sensing that one more feather would break the camel's back. "Why not? Drew and her lackeys are the most petty, shallow, stuck-up demons to ever walk this earth. They have no right to make fun of you- or anyone- for that matter." You hesitate, knowing this might be a sensitive topic, but you need to know. "What were they teasing you for?"

He flinches, obviously uncomfortable with this topic. "It's okay, you don't have to tell me."

Leo starts up in a hoarse, unwavering voice. "M-my mom... she always warned me not to play with matches. One day, I did... a-and she didn't get out. It was just my mom and me... none of my other relatives wanted me."

"Oh Leo," you sigh, putting your arm around his shoulder in a companionable sort of way. "I kinda know how that feels too."

"How do you know?" he questions.

You stiffen up, then sigh. It was probably time to tell someone anyway.

"I had a twin once... her name was Bianca. She and I were inseparable- we never needed anyone else, because we had each other. She... we got into an argument one day and she wasn't looking where she was going... she stepped into the street without looking and... a driver hit her."

He leans his head on your shoulder, giving you strength to go on.

"After that, my parents didn't really want me anymore... I could see it in their eyes. One Christmas, they just left, and they left me all alone. After that, I've been shuffled to different foster families... Never found the right one for me, I guess."

He nods, clearly understanding. "I always thought you just didn't care what others thought, that you were perfect and happy with yourself."

You smile weakly. "I always thought that you were the joker, with a happy, smiling face always."

"I guess we're more alike then I thought." he offers.

"Yeah," you nudge him jokingly. "Being an oddball an a misfit isn't so bad as long as I'm with you."

A/N: Hope you liked my first AU! Like, comment and share!