A/N: I'm bacccckkk! And on the same day (I am GRINDING!!! lol idk anymore)...

If you feel like the quality of the writing is not there, tell me. PLEASE.

Anyway, without further ado, here!

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Nico's POV:

He was unsure what to say. Nico had lost his mom too, but he was too young to remember a lot. And, back then, he had her. Bianca. Even her name felt like a lost memory, it felt so foreign; yet familiar on his tongue. He thought back to the better days, the days when he didn't feel so out of place, when he didn't feel like a freak. Deep down, he knew that he never really blamed Percy for her death. Deep down, he knew it was himself. But seeing someone else blame themselves for the death of another seemed so real, so personal, that it scared him slightly. It was unnerving, to say the least. What worried him even more was that a guy like Leo was able to relate to him. Leo, the happy-go-lucky guy that everyone seemingly enjoyed to have around. Leo, who always had a bright smile plastered to his face. How much had he not seen?

On the way to the foster care center, he wore the newly stitched up army jacket and had the toolbox and a small suitcase with him. He held the tip of the jacket to his face so he could breathe in the cinnamon scent of his mom's hair. He tried his best not to tear up, thinking about how he would never get to see her again. He would never get to hug her, or hold her tainted hands, or braid her silky hair. He would never have anyone to love, and nobody would tell him that he was loved.

Reluctantly, he stepped out of Miss Adelman's car and slowly walked to the building. It was covered in colors, from red to green, and purple to yellow. He could barely see the door, but then a lady with white-blonde hair stepped out of the doors. She beckoned Leo inside and spoke with a thick southern accent, "Welcome to Ruth's Foster Care, honey bun. Come on in."

Leo could barely understand her, but tried to do as he was told so that he could dodge any questions or scolding. The lady led him through the room.

"This here's ya bed. And this is where your stuff goes. You share this room with all the other kids in this room. Riley! Hayes! Get your butts over here and show this boy around. What's your name hon?"

"Uh - Leo."

"Well Liam, put your stuff away and get goin'. I'll let you know if anyone comes for ya."

With that, the lady walked out of the room, pausing only to scream some kids' names and tell them to do this and do that. Leo didn't mind it. Two kids started to walk up to him.

"Hi. My name's Rosa, not Riley, but that lady doesn't know any of our names. This is my twin brother, Harry."

Leo stared at them.

'This is the part where you tell us your name." Harry said.

"Oh, it's Leo."

"Ok Leo, come on, we'll show you around."

Together, the three of them walked around the center and went outside.

"This is the yard for recess or playtime, and these are the playrooms. Girls beds on that side, and boys beds on the other."

Leo nodded.

"So...Why are you here?"

"Our mom died when we were born and dad died of cancer when we were eight. We're ten now, and this is our second time back at this circus. There are about six kids our age here, the rest are either under three years old, or older than fourteen." Rosa said.

"What about you?" They asked in sync.

He froze. "Well- um- I-"

"It's fine. We won't judge you for it.'

He took a breath. "My mama was the best. She loved me. But then, a fire started and I-i couldn't..."Leo said, looking down.

"Look, Leo. It's really not your fault. Even if you started the fire it's not your fault. How's an eight year old kid who's barely four feet tall supposed to stop a fire that huge?" Harry said.

"But I should have!" Leo protested.

Rosa and Harry shared a look, but didn't push it.

"Lunch is in five, so you better unpack quickly." Rose said, and left.

Harry stayed behind. "Watch out for Ryan. He's a bully. Takes anything he finds, but never gets in trouble by sweet, old Ruth." He rolled his eyes. "Hide your stuff - under the mattress, the drawers, anything works as long as it's not in plain sight. Rose and I will save you a seat. See ya." Harry left as well, leaving Leo alone.

Alone. Alone with his thoughts, swirling around his mind like a rampaging fire. Fire.

His mom. Dead. The fire consumed her, leaving nothing but a lifeless body. He could imagine the burn marks curling up the side of her rough skin, her golden-red eyes puffy with tears and red with shock. The blood curdling cries that sent shivers down his spine. Her hands, in a futile attempt, smashing against the door, trying to get it open. Trying to see her boy. One. Last. Time.

And that was when the voices spoke. They whispered in his ears, the harsh words cutting him like the touch of a cold, bare knife on skin. They got louder each time he was alone, speaking to him the only truth he knew: His mistakes, his fault, his mess. Whenever there was a problem, there was only himself to blame.

From then on, his thoughts consumed him, eating away his happiness, leaving only a cold body. The voices clawed at his insides, told him he was worthless, and that he shouldn't exist in the first place. They fought like starved beasts for control. The one thing Leo was fighting for too. 

Murderer.

Leo winced.

Worthless.

Pathetic.

Make it stop, he thought. Please. His eyes were closed, and he had dropped his belongings on the floor next to him. His hands were clamped over his ears, as if that would help him. The voices whispered to him, getting louder and harsher, reminding him of the mistake that he was. He knew it, Aunt Rosa knew it, Rose and Harry knew it too. Heck, the whole world probably knew it, the way he was sitting here, crying.

Idiot. He scolded himself.

Then he heard another voice.

"Awwww look at the poor baby."

Leo mentally slapped himself. This would be Ryan.

He looked up, wiping his eyes in an attempt to clear the redness.

"Is the little baby crying?" He mocked.

Other kids behind him snickered.

"Aww look at him. Talk, baby." The older boy said, kicking Leo in the guts.

Leo was silent. His heartbeat accelerated, pounding in his ears.

"C'mon baby! Talk! Or do I have to take away your little toy?"

Ryan lunged for the toolbox sitting on his bed.

"No!" Leo yelled, grabbing it first but then getting it pried out from his hands.

"Oh, so the baby can talk, huh?" Ryan said, pouring the contents of the toolbox out on the floor.

Wrenches, hammers, scrap metal and wires clattered on the floor. The polaroid camera was smashed on impact. The picture of his mom floated down, landing on top of all of the metal. Leo was staring the photo down, as if trying to will the half-burnt picture back to him. Unfortunately, Ryan saw it too.

"Aww who's this? Does the baby want his Mamaaa?" He asked in a sing-song voice.

"Give it back." The pained expression on his face was gone, replaced by an expression that seemingly only Nico would wear.

"Ummm, How about no." He said, ripping the paper in pieces.

Leo screamed. He lunged for the older boy, managing to push him to the ground. By this time, everyone was watching him. He didn't care. He pushed the boy away, and knelt to the ground,  to pick up the pieces while Ryan and a few others laughed at him. He shoved the remains into his pocket just before Miss Ruth came in.

Ryan glared at the tiny latino boy. "Freak." he muttered.

"Lunchtime kiddos. Get going." She said, giving the teary-eyed boy the stink-eye.

Leo was on the verge of tears. The only photo left was ripped. The only thing he had left of her. Her beautiful smile, warm reddish-brown eyes with flecks of gold dancing in them. He would never be able to see her again.

Rose and Harry came bursting through the door, completely ignoring the death glares they were getting from 

"Are you okay -"

"What happened-"

"You didn't show up-"

"Oh...I'm sorry Leo." Harry said, looking at the ripped picture that was now in his hands.

"We can fix it," Rose suggested. "I have some tape."

Harry helped Leo put the pieces back while Rose brought the tape and gingerly fixed the photo.

"See? All better." Rose said, but it didn't seem like Leo was going to cheer up.

"Hey, you know, someone told me it's not what you have left of a person that counts. It's the memories that you made with them. Even though they might not be living, they're still with you. Right here.' Harry said, pointing to his heart.

"Hey, I was supposed to be the deep one!" Rose yelled, playfully nudging Harry.

"C'mon Leo. Let's go - before the good stuff runs out - otherwise we'll be stuck eating mystery meat."

Leo smiled, revealing a dimple on the left side of his cheek.

"Okay."

"Awwwwww, that was so cute!" Piper squealed.

"Why'd that kid have to do that to you, though?" Frank asked.

Leo shrugged. "It's just how things work." He said. "Bullies bully you, even without a reason. They never get in trouble, and we always end up getting picked on."

Nico could relate to that. Even in Camp Half-Blood, nobody approached him. They pointed and whispered whenever we walked by. People tended to avoid him like the plague. When he was younger, people laughed at him, and pointed out everything that was wrong with him. He hated it. So he stopped talking to people. They wouldn't have anything to say about him if nobody knew him well enough. Although, look where that got Leo.

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A/N: Yepppp... 

How was that? 

BTW I keep forgetting to mention, I don't own pjo/hoo, cuz as u know this is just a fanfic.

And, go check out Jackman2357's other works too! Great author (and friend)

THANKS FOR READING PEEPS!