A/N: Now working with Nora, I wish I had added Malcolm in a similar fashion... Well, yes, I updated a week later than I had planned, BUT it's 7k words, so enjoy (also because I have no idea when Piper's next chapter will be ready because I'm now working again, FINALLY). Btw, I really don't remember if I mentioned it in the previous chapters or not (and I don't feel like checking), but after so many readers (like, a dozen? which for me is a lot) came to me in the PMs to ask for advice in writing (some already had a couple of chapters ready, others wanted to start) I wrote a book based on my experience on Watt.
It's short, five chapters, I think, but it has the basics, both for originals and fanfics. If you want a little bit more help, you need to brainstorm something or want to escape the classics cliche (like twelve demigods in the same school and living in a super mansion which is soooo far from canon it's ridiculous - but yes, I did read my share back in the days, before I realized how OOC they are), you can still PM me and ask for help. I'll GLADLY give you ideas to either escape the same recipe and make your fic unique or I'll give you fresh ideas. I have several in the PJO universe, I just don't have the time or the will to tackle another fanfic (I have no idea how some authors make five at the same time, I can barely keep track of what is happening in my only one).
Warning, I want to see original fanfics, not constantly rip-offs. I'll be a critic, not a fan. So if you're not ready for criticism (like pointing out how non-canon your idea or characterization is, or how cliche and copypaste is your idea, while encouraging you to change and go beyond) don't come for me. I'm an adult, I have a different taste of stories, so if you're 13yo and want to write for 13yo, don't ask me for help; just do your thing and be happy, I don't want to crush your spirit and your will to write (which I suspect I've already done to a couple of my readers, I'm SO SORRY about that). However, if you want to know how an older teenager or an adult would act in situation X, or how to work more complex cases, or random ideas that might make your fic more realistic, hit me up. That's it, enjoy!
Leo's Flashback
SUNDAY, 12th February
Hey, I've been thinking. And yes, I know it's incredibly dangerous to do so.
Ok, shoot.
Remember when I told you about my family?
Yes...?
I think we should also tell Nora about it.
You mean, if she asks? Because I don't think she will.
That's the point. She isn't gonna ask because she doesn't want me to ask.
And... you want to tell her beforehand to pressure her into telling us about her family?
Yes.
Why? Not that I'm convinced this would work on her, but if she doesn't want to talk about it, shouldn't we respect that?
I think she doesn't like talking about it because she doesn't want pity. The thing is, we won't pity her because we know what it's like.
I can see where you're coming from, but I'm not sure it's a good idea.
I'm not saying to torture her into speaking. Just talk about my family and open the possibility for her to talk about hers.
Why do you want to do that?
I think she's still hurting and doesn't feel comfortable talking about it with anyone. Because she's in pain and doesn't have help to put things in perspective, it's almost like she resents Mrs. Purr and her family for adopting her. I don't think she blames them for her parents' deaths, but she's so stuck in feeling grief that she doesn't see how lucky she is in having them.
And you want to change that.
I don't feel the connection you feel to her because of Nyssa, but even I can see she's hurting more than she needs to, pushing her new family away, hurting them as well. I really like Harshad and Mrs. Purr. Even Claude was cool when we went there. And Nora is trying to build a prosthetic arm for a girl who can't afford it, clearly, her personality is nicer than snapping at her adoptive family. And maybe...
And maybe talking to us could help her notice more things apart from the pain of being orphaned.
Exactly.
I can try it. But we need to make it seems natural.
I agree. I'm sure your demigod experience will help you improvise convincingly.
Convincingly? Please, my performance will be outstanding!
***
Once again verifying he had gotten all the notebooks he thought might be useful to Nora, he rang the Meunier's doorbell. He figured out either they had a camera to see who was ringing or Nora was just too impatient to start working together because the gate opened a second later.
Well, this is going to be fun!
You mean, as long as you don't piss her off and she throws her out of the window.
Hey, it was your idea to pry.
I know, I know. I'm just not sure it's a good idea.
No! No second-guessing! We have already come too far.
We didn't even talk to her yet.
But we're already committed.
***
When he exited the elevator, Nora was already waiting for him with the apartment door open. Dressed comfortably in grey sweats and with her hair in a tight braid, she took a step back, wordlessly inviting him in.
"You got here earlier than I thought."
"We had agreed on morning."
"I know, but I thought you would get here later to still be here around lunch and have Purnima invite you to stay and eat."
"That's a good idea, actually. Ok, see you in a couple of hours!"
He turned to leave, but she closed the door and grabbed his arm, dragging him to her room.
"Not going to happen, you're already here and we won't be disturbed; they left with Harshad to get groceries, Claude decided he's going to cook tonight."
"Is that a good thing or a bad thing?"
"Ever ate French cuisine?"
Leo snickered.
"Three times a week, how did you guess? I try to dress discreetly to not overwhelm the peasants, but I know the filth richness I grew up in just can't be concealed, it oozes out of me."
She glared at him from over her shoulder, before finishing dragging him to her room and closing the door.
"You know what? I won't answer you."
"Aw, you don't need to feel bad! I promise I won't unleash my army of lawyers on you if you offend me on accident."
Nora's hands inched forward, shaped like claws. He could see how tempted she was of attacking him and just smirked, challenging her. His smirk only grew when she threw her hands up in frustration.
"Ugh!"
Without waiting for her invitation, he dropped his bag next to her desk and threw himself in her chair, already powering up her computer and clapping his hands once.
"So, you wanted to work on that arm, let's do it!"
Before he touched her keyboard, he felt the chair being dragged back.
"Hold your horses. You got here earlier than I thought you would, I haven't finished my homework."
He stood up, raising his hands in surrender.
"Nope! I'm noping out of here, homework was never part of my contract!"
"Stop being so dramatic, I wasn't asking for your help. I don't need help."
He raised his eyebrows, skeptical.
"Really? So, you just want... what, for me to sit down and wait for you to finish it?"
"Pretty much."
Waiting around doing nothing like a pretty doll? Yeah, she definitely doesn't know us.
I see this as an opportunity.
Leo crossed his arms, looking smug.
"I get your password and authorization to play around your design program. And I get to send a piece to be printed while I have to wait for you. Otherwise, I'm out of here."
"Seriously!? You can't even sit around quietly for 10 minutes?"
"Mi hermana, would you expect a child under a sugar rush to sit around quietly?"
Nora rolled her eyes, and he could see the bags under them.
Ok, so maybe she's not on the best mood to be pushed.
I've seen Nyssa working with lack of sleep. Your future babies are safe.
Nora isn't Nyssa.
"You're not on sugar rush."
"I have ADHD; think of it like I'm ALWAYS on sugar rush."
"I'm thinking of it like you're trying to blackmail me."
He dramatically put a hand over his chest, faking shock.
"Me!? I would never!"
She glared at him, looking more tired than he had thought at first. Relenting, he held out his hand, looking at her seriously.
"I promise to not go around your folders; you can even take a minute to hide the things on desktop. I really just want to play with your 3D printer, pinky promise."
"Really? Pinky promised? How old are you?"
"I'll have you know; I never break my pinky promises. Do we have a deal?"
She sighed, looping her pinky around his.
"Fine!"
***
Well, for someone who proudly declared she didn't need help, she sure is demonstrating a concerning amount of stress over homework.
I know.
Leo kept surreptitiously watching Nora, who was redoing her ponytail for the third time in under five minutes after it came undone again from her continuous pulling of her hair. Sitting on her bed, surrounded by a frightening number of books and notebooks, vacant eyes and twitching mouth, she looked the picture of overwhelmed.
She needs a distraction.
Well, as really giving guys, I feel we should volunteer.
I absolutely agree.
Leo turned on her chair to face her.
"You know, if you wanted to go bald, why didn't you ask for help?"
She removed her eyes from the book in front of her with effort, frowning in confusion once his words registered.
"Why would I want to go bald?"
"Weren't you ripping your hair out because you wanted to go bald? Why not go to a hairdresser? At least, you could donate your hair."
"Idiot, I'm not trying to go bald."
Leo shrugged dismissively, already turning back to her computer.
"Well, could have fooled me."
"Why did I agree to this again?"
He couldn't see her, but could picture her annoyed expression.
"Because you were desperate to the point of begging. Now go back to your homework before I get bored and go raid your kitchen."
"You wouldn't disrespect Purnima like that."
"Oh, please, she would absolutely pity me if she knew you didn't offer not even a glass of water to poor me who came all this way and is volunteering his time and knowledge to help you with your pet project."
The stretched pause before her answer told him that his words hit home. Even if they had been close friends, he was under no obligation to help her. The fact that they weren't really close, mostly out of her distancing actions, and he still offered to help should be recognized. Her resigned tone when she answered was tired, but not sarcastic as it would've been earlier.
"Fine, do you want anything?"
"For you to finish this self-torture so we can get to work!"
"Maybe if you wouldn't have distracted me in the first place-"
"I only did that because the smoke smell from your burning brain was suffocating poor me."
"You're so dramatic..."
***
The rumor of books closing took his attention from the computer. Turning around, he tried to rein in his laugh at Nora's disheveled stated.
I'm pretty sure that books don't need all that force to be closed.
The point is, books don't have necks that she can squeeze.
For someone we know who didn't leave her bed, she still looks like she wrestled someone to death.
Several times.
"Wait, you're done? But I haven't done my piece to print yet!"
"Yet? What kind of thing are you trying to print? I thought it was something simple."
"Well, it was supposed to be simple, but... this is my first time with this 3D program."
Wait, now that I think, wouldn't something like that be useful for the Hephaestus' cabin?
My friend, we have demigod brains. And I have the Archimedes' sphere. Anything else is a child's toy compared to it.
Then why can't you use this program if it's that easy?
Why don't you try to create a firewall using a Barbie's laptop before you decide to criticize me?
Nora shover some of her material in her backpack and walked to stand beside him.
"All CAD programs are pretty much the same. Move aside."
When he did exactly that, he smirked at her frown.
"I need my chair."
"You can get another chair; this one is mine."
"Leoni. Get. Off. My. Chair."
He pouted.
"You always get to use this comfy chair, why can't I use it while I'm helping you? Are you that cruel?"
She huffed, moving to her door.
"Fine! I'll get another chair."
I don't like to play the victim, but...
She's too fun to annoy.
When Nora came back with another chair, she sat beside him and started to show him how the program worked. Since he didn't ask any questions, she would once in a while stop and quiz him. After the third time he answered flawlessly, she gave up and just accepted he could absorb any new information after being shown once. Once he finished projecting a simple piece she had sketched, Nora's eyes kept moving between him, her draft and his piece.
"What, did I do something wrong?"
She huffed.
"No, you didn't; and that's the point! You spent fifteen minutes tripping over your own feet but if I show you once, you do it perfectly. Are you some kind of genius child?"
"Child!? Please! How dare you call this handsome and rugged male specimen a child!? My manly heart is aching with such blatant disrespect!"
He could've sworn he could hear her teeth grinding.
"Fine! Forget I asked. But if you can learn anything so fast, I don't see why you would make all that fake drama about homework."
"It's not a fake drama, I really hate homework! Learning? Yes. School and homework? Just kill me now. Thank the gods I don't go through that. So, let me get my notes."
While he was busy picking up his notebooks, he couldn't see her expression, but once he righted himself, he could see her looking at him like he was an anomaly.
"You... don't go through that? You mean, you don't go to school?"
Oh... I was thinking about my life. Do you want me to lie?
We both know we do deflection better than lies.
Do you want me to?
Nah. I don't have a reason to hide it from her. I think.
"Obviously, what else would it be?"
"Do you say that because you already finished it? Or because you intend to get a GED later?"
"Neither."
"And... your guardian is okay with that?"
What now?
What is she talking about?
"My guardian?"
"The guy you work with?"
"Who- oh, Ryan? Oh! No, he's not my guardian, just my boss."
"Then... who is your guardian?"
"I don't have one!"
The cheerful tone and carefree smile he used to answer only served to shock her.
"You- but- aren't you too young to be without a guardian?"
He shrugged, avoiding her eyes. Leoni told him to be honest, but deep down, neither one was comfortable with opening up. Almost every time, people would either reduce them to a pity case or an easy target. Leo didn't know which one was worse, but he could tell how many people didn't see it that way in one hand; not counting the demigods – a lot of them had similar stories anyway. Apparently, it comes with the 'Tragic Hero' special.
"I mean, I guess. Technically, I suppose I have a guardian. Legally speaking, I mean."
"You don't know who your guardian is?"
"Well, last time I saw them, my relatives were fighting about who would get it. But more like 'you take him, I don't to' kinda thing."
"So-"
The pity in her eyes pushed him to cut her off.
"I didn't stick around to find out. In the end, it's not like they really care. So, I wanted to show this design; it might be a little too simple for what you need, but I want to start with the basics."
His voice came out a little harder than he intended, but since Nora dropped it and go ready to work with him, he decided to not say anything else.
***
Nora rubbed her face in frustration.
"I get what you're saying, but I don't think it helps!"
"Of course it does!"
"No, it doesn't. Even if your model works, it's completely different from the arm I made so far. I can't see how your notes are going to help me figure out what was wrong with it."
"But we're not trying to fix your model. I'm teaching you the principles so you can build a new one."
"What!? Are you saying all my work so far is useless!?"
Without waiting for his answer, she marched to her punching bag and just started hitting it.
Please tell me you're not going to interrupt her.
You know we have to.
My beautiful nose...
Knowing he was risking getting punched, he stepped next to her and did a quick work of holding the wrists that had come to hit him. Being annoying and overall undesired forced him to develop quick reflexes; although he usually avoided doing more than deflecting to not anger even more his attackers.
"Nora, look at me."
She tried to pull her wrists free, but he held on. The surprise in having him actually being her equal gave her pause, which was all he needed.
"You're a builder. You know there are times when a project can't be salvaged. You have to throw it all away and start from scratch."
"But-"
"Yes, I know. You poured your heart into it, lost hours of sleep, got so many headaches you stopped noticing it. I know all that. But it doesn't work. You've been trying over and over again to fix it, but it can't be fixed. But you learned from it. Now you're learning from me. Which means the next model has better chances of working. And if it doesn't, we restart. Again. And how many times we need to."
Honestly, she's more stubborn than I thought.
All Hephaestus' kids are. Otherwise, we would never get to build anything, as our first... seven tries or so, usually blow up in our face.
Do you have one of those 'X days since the last accident'?
On camp, you mean? Between Cabin 9, Hermes' kids, the lava wall, sharp weapons in the hands of children, Hecate's cabin trying new spells, Hebe kids who are walking bad luck antennas, Nike kids who consider anything a competition, chariot races, Capture the Flag, Hypnos' kids falling asleep at the worst times and demigods who tried to sneak off being caught by harpies, we would be luck to have an 'X hours since the last accident'.
***
"I don't know if you can use this hydraulic model for a prosthesis because it's supposed to be dry, right? But I think the idea of different pressure activating different articulations might be close to what you're planning, so maybe studying the 'tendons' can give you some useful material."
"How did you get here?"
Leo raised one eyebrow at her odd question.
God saw how awesome I am and sent me here.
"With my chauffeur driving one of my many limousines."
"What are you talking about?"
"What are YOU talking about?"
Nora huffed and crossed her arms.
"I just asked how you got here."
"Flying with my magical wings, obviously."
She uncrossed her arms to slap a hand on her desk, startling him and making him drop the pen he had been playing with.
"Why can't you answer me seriously!?"
"Because you're not making serious questions!"
"Asking how you came to work for your boss IS a serious question!"
Wait, is that what she was asking?
"Oh! I thought you were asking me how I got here. To your house."
"Why would I ask that? It's obvious that you walked!"
Leo gesticulated to demonstrate his frustration with the argument.
"Exactly my point! How was I supposed to know you were asking me about my boss?"
"Fine, my mistake! So, how did you get there?"
What should I say? Short version?
Short version.
"Oh, one of the social workers who got my case knew someone who knew someone and somehow they convinced Ryan to give me a chance. He gave me a month's trial and then got me a full contract. Actually, first as an apprentice and then as a worker. It helped that I already knew my way around a workshop."
Before he could drag her attention back to the safe subject that was mechanics, she forcefully closed his notebook, daring him to fight her.
Please, just don't ask the long version.
As far as she's concerned, the long version doesn't exist. That is just between you, Ryan and the social worker.
"How did you learn about it?"
"Learn about that?"
"Your way around a workshop."
Oh, thank God that's her question.
Is that okay to answer?
Sure, it's no secret. Not this part, anyway.
Hey, your story is yours to tell. I'm honored that you trusted me, but I'm not about to babble it to anyone.
"My mom. She was amazing."
"Do you like it?"
"What, working? I guess. I mean the guys are cool, and Ryan is really great. I think we could use at least one woman; too much testosterone, you know what I mean? And sweat. Carl doesn't understand that covering himself in perfume doesn't hide the smell. Actually, it makes it worse."
He could see the twitch of her lips while trying to hide the smile from his theatric gag that followed the last statement. Giving Nora a soft smile, he shrugged, avoiding her eyes.
"Anyway, sometimes it feels like I'm still connected to my mom."
"I get it, I really do."
Surprised by the admission lacking any aggression, he decided this should be the right time to do what Leoni had asked him before, and slowly open up to her, while encouraging her to do the same. He gave her a side look knowing that, like him, she likely wouldn't keep eye contact while talking about her life. One vulnerability at the time.
"Is any of your things about your parents?"
Like he predicted, she turned her head to stare at her computer, powered off at the moment.
"I... yes. My dad was a former pugilist. Very big, brawly guy. He wasn't naturally violent, but he could pack a punch if he wanted to, you know?"
He nodded, even though he wasn't sure she could see him by her peripheral vision.
"Unsurprisingly, punches to the head didn't make him look prettier or smarter. He also worked as a wielder part-time. And inhaling fumes also wasn't the best, so he was a bit... off sometimes. He lasted more than I thought he would."
"What do you mean?"
She didn't answer immediately, but he waited patiently until she had decided how much she was willing to share.
"We had a couple of scares during my childhood, but he was too stubborn to die."
He knew Piper would be the kind to reach out to the other person, hold their hand in support. But he also knew some people, like Nora or himself, would feel too uncomfortable with an obvious sign of kindness during this vulnerable state.
"What kind of scares?"
"Well, there was one time he was installing grate to a window and fell down seven stories."
The admiration is his voice wasn't fake.
"And he didn't die? Impressive."
Well, my father was theoretically thrown off Olympus as a baby.
Why theoretically?
Well, yes, Hera doesn't sell the loving mother image convincingly, but the gods are, deep down, drama queens, so everything is a bit exaggerated.
Meaning?
They don't have the whole baby-child-teen-adult development as mortals, so it's possible he was thrown as a baby but willed himself to be an adult when he touched the ground, so...
Nora had picked up a pencil and was idly drawing on a blank page, expression a little empty, her mind probably stuck in the past.
"I was two, so he was still quite young. Survived with several broken bones. It did put an end to his pugilist career."
What about the whole Chronos swallowed his children as babies?
And they were able to be fully grown inside his stomach for years. They don't obey the normal laws of physics.
"So that's why you have the punching bag?"
She turned her head and tentatively sent him a smirk, her expression still a little off, but without any hostility.
"I mean, I could use you, but the presence of only bones might break my hand."
He sent her a wink, gesticulating to his body.
"Hey, you know what they say. If you got it, flaunt it."
Amen!
Nora rolled her eyes, fighting off a smile.
"That's so not the point of that sentence."
"It's not a mere sentence, it's a motto!"
He gave her an expectant look, but she frowned.
"... No, I won't ask you what's a motto."
Really, she just makes it too easy.
"See, this just proves that there's a motto with you!"
She groaned and leaned her head against her desk, landing with a small noise that suggested she used a bit more force than intended.
"Oh, God, for the nth time today, I'm second guessing this."
"This what?"
She wildly gesticulated between them.
"This... partnership?"
Leo scoffed, pretending to flip his non-existent long hair.
"Partner? You wish you were at my level. You may call me sensei, from now on."
"Don't hold your breath; that's never gonna happen."
Do you think I should bring the conversation back to our parents?
You can try, but I think we're already pushing our luck.
Maybe, but I don't think we will be able to make her open up a second time. I didn't even think we would succeed the first one!
He leaned towards her and elbowed her gently.
"What about your mom?"
He could only see her profile, with her forehead still touching the desk, but the tension around her eyes was clear as day.
"She was... a good mom."
"Uh-oh."
"What?"
"You hesitated."
Nora raised her head to glare at him.
"No, I didn't."
Uh-oh. Touchy subject. Please, protect my face. And my groin.
"You did. How was your mom? For real?"
When she still didn't answer, just chewed her lips, he tried to gently push her.
"Hey, you tell yours, I'll tell you mine."
She looked at him with a challenge.
"In that case, shouldn't you tell me about your father? I told you about mine."
He kept his expression blank, facing her glaring eyes head-on.
"I would if I had met him."
Her expression contorted into a brief expression of pain before turning apologetic.
"... Oh, sorry."
He shrugged like it wasn't a big deal, even though he knew this left a big scar on Leoni. He had offered to try and guess where he could find a mortal version of Hephaestus, but Leoni had refused. In all honesty, Leo understood all too well the fear of facing another rejection and didn't push.
"Hey, it's okay. It's not like you knew. So, your mom?"
Leo knew Nora wasn't very willing to share about her mom, and likely only did it out of guilt of asking about his father. Her avoiding eyes and twisting hands made it obvious how nervous she was about this.
"She was... strict. My grades had to be perfect, my room had to be in order."
He was trying to take it slow, but something about her expression made the next words escape his mouth before he realized.
"Did you ever doubt she loved you?"
WHAT!? Are you insane!?
She raised her hands in alarm, almost like she was preparing herself to physically push him away from her and his instincts kicked in. He pushed with his feet until his chair had rolled to a safe spot, four feet away from Nora, who was still looking at him with a mix of shock and offense.
"Whoa, that's a heavy question!"
"You're absolutely right! Don't answer if you don't want to."
'Don't answer if you don't want to'? You should say 'forget I ever asked'!
Call me crazy, but I think she needs to answer this out loud.
Still, it wasn't our place to ask!
She casted her eyes down, her expression in deep thought and, after a moment, her shoulders slumped forward and she answered with a voice vibrating with grief.
"... I don't doubt now. But at the time, there were times when I wasn't so sure."
He made sure to keep his voice gentle, slowly rolling his chair next to her.
"Why?"
She threw her head back and laughed, loud and bitterly.
"Because I was a moody teenager."
He knew he was pushing his luck, but he decided the coddling needed to end.
"Was? Don't you mean 'I am'?"
"I'm not a moody teenager anymore."
He raised an eyebrow at her conviction.
"Are you sure? Because when I came for lunch the first time, you threw a fit at the dinner table because Mrs. Purr asked you to remove your hand wrap. And I was a guest."
Oh, boy, and wasn't that a stellar introduction?
She scrunched her nose in disgust.
"That was not... my proudest moment."
"And you would sulk every time you had to come pick Harshad up."
"I just-"
He didn't let her try to excuse herself.
"AND you didn't want us to know about your birthday, even if we were the only ones around to celebrate. In fact, you were angry at Harshad for telling us."
She crossed her arms, in a clear sign of defensiveness.
"What point are you trying to make?"
"That you're still a moody teenager and if you want to change that, you first should admit you're still a moody teenager."
Nora didn't answer, just sat there fuming. Leo decided it wasn't wise to push her again, at least not yet.
"Anyway, the movies make it seem that the 'good grades and room in order' speech is like, the pre-requirements to be a mom, so you make her sound pretty normal."
She nodded absently.
"Still, it doesn't sound like enough to make you doubt her love for you. You said your mom was strict. From what I saw, Mrs. Purr is also strict. Were they alike?"
Nora scowled, not meeting his eyes.
"No. Purnima is more... loving, I think. She might frown, but not really glare, you know?"
Mrs. Purr is amazing; and she's the only one who can see it.
She can see it; she's just not recognizing it.
"I think I do. So, she's more... loving. Why are you still giving her a hard time?"
She huffed in annoyance and leaned her body back, glaring.
"Did you come here to help me with the arm or to shrink me?"
He raised his hands in surrender.
"I'm just trying to understand how can someone be so generous towards a poor girl they don't know and so ungrateful to a family that welcomed them."
He could've sworn she growled.
"You don't know ANYTHING about my life."
"You're right, I don't."
He left the silence stretch, confirming with Leoni how far was he willing in terms of showing her vulnerability. Once he got the permission, Leo grabbed Nora's wrist by surprise, indirectly forcing her to look him in the eyes. When she did, he let Leoni's fears and anger at his treatment by his relatives, and Leo's own indignation at having his life shaped so he would fit the pawn role both Hera and Gaia had chosen for him fill his voice.
"But I do know about mine, and you cannot even IMAGINE the price I would be willing to pay to be in your shoes. You had memories with BOTH your parents until quite recently and went straight to an adoptive family, with a loving little brother as a bonus. All the work you do, it's to fuel your own HOBBIES, not to buy food. Even I know I'm incredibly lucky to have a job and a small room above my work place which is practically free, because Ryan is one hell of a good guy who doesn't take advantage of me. Now knowing his sister and nephew, I see it's a family trait. Believe me, I'm grateful to it every SECOND I breath. And you, who never knew how the system can be CRUEL, who never had to hear relative yelling how much they DON'T want you, never had to hear they ACCUSING you..."
He took a deep breath, not wanting to risk getting caried away and revealing more than they had agreed.
"You can't barely force yourself to have dinner with your family. You're as UNGRATEFUL as you can be. You can't thank your adoptive parents for feeding you, to giving you a room and all the privacy you want. Do they ever denied any request you made? Do you even think that, legally, they could've REFUSED to adopt you? Do you have any living relative who would accept you? In case you didn't know, you're too old to be adopted, so you would be stuck in the system, maybe with a horrible foster family, until you became eighteen. And after that, you would be all on your own. Trust me, foster families for teenagers? More likely to suck. And NONE of them would put up with your little tantrums, you would be sent right back. But of course, you didn't go through that, so you don't know how lucky you're with the Meunier. And you find yourself in the right to treat them poorly because they are trying to include you in their family. They're not trying to ERASE your parents, they just want to give you a SECOND family, because that is what decent adoptive families do!"
Leo, stop it. Let it go.
Sorry.
It's okay.
He closed his eyes and took a couple of deep breaths to calm himself, before giving a shell-shocked Nora a hard glare.
"I'll be honest. I feel like you could be my sister, but I don't like you as a person, at least for now. I offered to help mostly because I know how much the Meunier care about you and because Dolinde deserves to get at least one arm. I promised I'd help and I will. But either you change your tune or this help will be the most basic possible. Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to get some water. My throat is dry."
***
He leaned against the counter, holding the glass of water but not drinking it after the first sip.
You know, Nora is not at fault.
Of course she is! She's choosing to treat them like-
I know about that. I meant, she's not at fault for what happened to us.
I wasn't blaming her.
You kinda were. Trust me, I would know.
I wasn't!
You were. But I was as well. I'm still am, a little bit.
We have no reason to blame her, she's our age!
I know she can't be logically blamed, but we're still resenting her like she had a hand on our past.
I'm...
Yes?
... You're right. Here I am, telling her to not treat the Meunier poorly for what happened to her parents and I'm treating her bad because of what happened to us.
To be honest, the Meunier treat her kindly. She doesn't treat us with kindness, so it's not like our anger is completely baseless. Sure, the reasons are different, but it's not like she's sowing for kindness.
Still, deep down, she's a victim. She lost her parents and then her home. She's just a confused teenager, not a murderer.
If you think about it, we're ALSO confused teenagers.
The things we went through forced us to mature beyond our years, you know that.
Yes, but we still have the right to make mistakes. Like unconsciously blaming and lashing out on a girl that had nothing to do with our past.
Are you saying I should apologize?
Maybe. But not now. It's not the best method but... maybe she needs this.
Being blamed?
Being treated fairly for her actions. The Meunier treat her with kids gloves because they pity her. You've accepted her treatment of us so far because she reminds you of Nyssa.
She IS your Nyssa.
And yet, she had done nothing to deserve, repay or even thank all that kindness. Maybe she should experience how others treat her when she does that.
Maybe that's why she had no one from her school to invite to her birthday.
That's possible, I just don't know if she's going to link both facts.
She's smart, she will.
I'm not sure if being smart gives her emotional intelligence in the same packet, but we can hope.
So, what do we do now? Go back there? Leave?
I have no idea.
I wonder what she thinks we'll do.
She's probably afraid you'll withdraw your offer to help.
But I literally said I'll help her anyway I can in the end!
No, you said that either she got over herself or you'd give her the most basic help, which could be just giving her your notes and let her figure it out by herself. And considering our... special way of taking notes, it might take her forever to decipher.
I can see why that prospective might scare her.
The sound of keys in the front door startled him. He barely had time to leave the kitchen to check when Harshad spotted him and ran to crush him in a hug.
"Leoni! You're here! Are you going to eat with us? Maan let me buy the ghost broccoli!"
The what?
Purnima walked in after her son, holding groceries and giving the child a reproaching look.
"Harshad, the name is not ghost broccoli, you know that."
Letting go of Leo, Harshad's expression was half a pout and half a frown.
"But it looks like ghost broccoli!"
Claude, who was behind his wife with even more groceries, sent a look over her shoulder to Leo, with a small smile
"He's talking about cauliflower. Hi, Leoni. Are you staying for lunch?"
"Uh..."
What do I say?
I mean, it might make things even more awkward with Nora.
But it might also give us the excuse to avoid her.
Before he could decide, Harshad went back to hugging his waist, giving him his best puppy look.
"You're not leaving already, right? We haven't even played yet! Pleeeeease?"
"Well, since my company is that appreciated..."
"And then can we watch TV?"
"I supposed I can do an effort."
"Where is Nora?"
Purnima's question sobered him up. He gave her a constricted look, not sure how much to say.
"Last I saw her, she's in her room studying the blueprints I brought her."
She shot a worried look to the closed door before giving him a nod.
Thank God she's not going to ask.
At least not in front of the others.
He clapped his hands once and gave the family a bright smile to try and disperse the awkward mood.
"So, since I'm staying, how can I help with preparing lunch?"
***
Harshad was beside him, dressed in the apron Leo had gifted him the last time, washing the cauliflower. The young boy was positively beaming since Leo had agreed with him it looked like a ghost broccoli. The earlier argument had almost left his mind when they heard Nora's door open. He unconsciously tensed up, but forced himself to relax as to not alarm Harshad. She approached the kitchen silently and only then he noticed she used to stomp everywhere.
When he looked at her, she looked completely different from before. The grey sweatshirt had been replaced by a bright pink one, a color he didn't even believed she owned. The hair had left the tight braid and was in a low ponytail. The biggest difference was her posture. Her shoulders were slumped forward, her head hung a little low. When she saw him staring, she only gave him a small nod before avoiding his eyes, but he saw the lack of fire in there.
What have I done?
She looks...
Broken.
I would say meek.
Purnima was the first to break the silence that had installed when Nora entered the kitchen.
"Hi, sweetheart. Are you looking for something?"
Nora gave the kitchen a once over before facing her adoptive mother. And for the first time since Leo met them, there was no belligerence in her eyes or stance.
"Are you preparing for lunch? Can I help?"
Leo saw Claude's jaw drop in shock. And while Purnima had also jolted in surprise at Nora's words, she recovered fast and nodded with a smile.
"Why don't you cut in smaller pieces the cauliflower-"
"Ghost broccoli!"
"... Cauliflower that Harshad and Leoni are washing? I'm gonna get you a board and show you what size to cut."
Nora nodded and moved to stand beside Leo, who was still staring at her with a mix of shock and guilt. She didn't meet his eyes, but murmured a low 'thank you'.
Don't thank me, it'll only make me feel worse!
Maybe we don't need to feel bad.
But you're seeing her! I broke her!
I don't think so. She looks broken because we've only seen her ready to fight, challenging anyone. Maybe what you said made her realize she should be thankful, a little more humble.
But still-
She wouldn't have stepped out of that room, joined us preparing lunch or thanked you if she's feeling broken.
Maybe she just didn't realize I broke her. We talked with her before, several times, and nothing like this happened. I went too far this time.
Maybe not. Maybe she needed someone to yell at her.
Really? You're going there? You're saying a teenager needs to be yelled at to learn her place?
You only said she's lucky and that she should be more grateful. You didn't say she was worthless, a murderer and better off dead. There is a difference between telling someone to get down of their high horse and make them wish and beg for oblivion to numb off the pain.
Once Purnima showed Nora how to cut the cauliflower and she focused on it, the woman sent him a questioning look that, if he wasn't mistaken, bordered on impressed. He only shrugged, not sure what to say, still wondering if he did a good thing.
She still has problems. Clearly, there are some unresolved feelings between her and her mother.
An understatement.
And I don't think she really processed her lost or her pain. Someone at peace doesn't lash out.
And what does that say about us?
Maybe... maybe talk to Purnima later. Or Nora in another occasion, drop the idea of Nora seeking professional help. This could give her some closure to move forward.
Then she finishes the arm, graduates and go to an excellent university that will ensure her bright future. Wouldn't it be nice if our life was that easy to adjust?
You know...
What?
Never mind.
No, tell me.
I just... I've been thinking.
Yes...?
I've been alone all this time, but maybe... maybe I'm not that lonely anymore.
What do you mean?
Well, Ryan was a good guy, we already knew that, but... call me crazy, but I think he's caring for me a bit more. There is also his sister and Niel, who is pestering us to get a GED and even offered to help. The Meunier welcome me every time I'm around. Maybe I have people liking me. At least the me when you're in control.
I think they like us. And they will still like you when I leave, whenever that may be. And there is also Claire, who even knows about this craziness.
And Erica.
In her own way, Callie.
Huh. Where did all these people come from?
A/N: Did I hint on a darker past to Leoni? Yes. Do I know the details? Some. Will I talk about it in another chapter? Who knows, it all depends of the characters. First, She-Will apologizes to Claire, now Leo gives Nora the wake-up call she needed... and in the meantime, Leoni realizes he's not that alone anymore. It almost seems like I'm tying my loose ends to end this book in a couple of (fictional) weeks...