Chapter Text
---- A few months later ----
Percy sat at the other side of Leo's principal, arms crossed, leg on one knee.
"Mr. Jackson, I'm sorry, but we can't keep him here. His obsession with fire is very apparent. He burned another student, his parents are planning on pressing charges. He nearly burned down a classroom, that you're still paying for. The only reason we let him stay is because of your situation with not finding a school close enough." Percy hummed.
"Are we gonna address how that student attacked him first? What if I wanted to press charges for the bruises he has? In that instance he was protecting himself."
"I understand that but I'm afraid a few bruises don't rival second degree burns." He said and Percy rolled his eyes. "Now, I know you're trying but this pattern is very concerning. His social worker suggested that you let him back into the system." He said and Percy's mouth hung open. He was appalled. It was one thing to throw him out of a school but to suggest kicking him out of his house? As if that's their decision.
"No. Absolutely not."
"We understand your concerns, Mr. Jackson, but other homes have been efficient at keeping his... tendencies in check."
"Yeah, cause they abused him like crazy. His records show that. The fact that you would even think about that means you don't understand." Percy sighed out a breath. "I'm not even supposed to be talking to you about this. Tell Mr. Tarron to call me if he wants that discussion. You, on the other hand, told me what you needed to. Can't do anything about you kicking him out." He should know.
He stormed out and took another breath when he closed the door behind him. He looked at the chair Leo was sitting in and smiled at him reassuringly, holding out a hand. Leo reluctantly took it and they started walking to the car.
"Sorry." He said quietly and Percy shook his head. "Don't be. This is how schools usually are." Leo hummed.
"Not just schools." He said and Percy was reminded of when he asked if he would call his Social Worker to pick him up when he was found eating something in the middle of the night.
"Why?" He had asked.
"You're not gonna get rid of me?"
"What? No. Of course not. You're hungry, you're hungry. Nothing you can do about it besides eat." He had said and Leo nodded. "Just make sure you don't eat the whole pantry, yeah? We still need breakfast."
Leo agreed to that, saying that it was easy to do. He's been talking a lot more since the first time they met. He still goes mute sometimes, but Percy doesn't mind. He found out some more about him with their question game, like he knows Morse Code, and wants to be a mechanic when he gets older, and his favorite food was tofu tacos; that he can make really well. Their running out of space for the things he's building with the LEGO's but Percy's trying his best to find more room.
"Yeah, well, you don't have to worry about that anymore." Leo smiled at him but Percy knew he didn't believe him. He knew the kid didn't trust him completely and he understood. He just wished there was a way to make him believe that he's safe. He knows that takes time, but he still worried a lot. He shook the thought out of his head for now.
"So, what do you want for dinner?"
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Percy woke up in the middle of the night to the sound of glass breaking. When he got to the kitchen he saw Leo on his knees, frantically picking up glass pieces with his bare hands, leaving scratches here and there.
"hey, hey, hey..." He said rushing to kneel in front of him.
"I-I didn't mean to." He begged. Percy put his hands under Leo's. "I know. It's okay. Accidents happen."
Leo sobbed and squeezed his hands close, blood dripping on Percy's hand as a result. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"Leo, it's alright. Just let go. You're safe. I wanna help." Percy assured hiding the panic in his voice. Oh Gods, he was hurting himself. Slowly, cautiously, - Percy moving his hands away - Leo dropped the glass shards on the floor.
"Okay. Good. You're doing good. Now we need to clean you up, okay?" Leo looked like he was a little out of it. His eyes a little glossy, as if he was somewhere else. "You're not... not mad at me?" He asked trying to keep his breathing even. Percy shook his head.
"No. I'm not mad. I promise." He noticed Percy's hands out, offering to help and his shoulders relaxed slightly and he nodded. He struggled to stand up so Percy helped him sit on a chair. He took tweezers and started plucking out the tiny glass pieces in his hands, paper towels under them, replacing the glass with band-aids. Leo looked at him the whole time. He was gentle and focused. He wondered how he was so good at it but didn't ask.
"And there. All done." He said as he finished putting on the last band-aid. Leo looked at his hands, carefully tended to. He asked something else.
"Why are you so nice to me?" He asked still looking at his hands. "Because you deserve it. I've broken plenty of dishes and more than dishes. Sometimes things break and there's nothing we can do about it."
"So you meant it?" He asked and percy gave him a quizzical look.
"When you said 'no' to getting rid of me?" He asked quietly, almost scared of the question, and Percy took a breath. He carefully grabbed his hands.
"Leo, I wouldn't give you up for anything. You're a wonderful kid. You've made mistakes, but of course you have, everyone has." Leo stared at him in fascination.
"Like what?" He wondered. Percy smiled softly at him and put a hand on his cheek. "Like giving up on a wonderful kid."
When it registered that Percy was talking about him, he sobbed, the sound barely coming out. He gladly fell into the mans arms and realized these tears weren't because he was sad or scared. He was... happy, in a way. He felt warm. Loved. For the first time since he was eight he let himself feel that way.