Heyo, what up? I'm no stranger to the FFN game I suppose. This is my alter ego tho, I guess a sort of fresh start. Ah, but you guys don't really care about that, so all you need to know is that:
I don't own Percy Jackson OR the concept/idea of this story. Seriously, the concept of this story (as far as I know) was thought up by a certain Taejoon Park and his awesome webtoon LOOKISM. All props go to him, and I seriously recommend you go read that webtoon, it's so worth it.
Now that we've gotten all of that out of the way, I hope you enjoy the ride :)
I hate my life.
I hate everything about it.
I hate my haircut. I hate the fact that I'm overweight. I hate that I'm poor. I hate that I'm not that smart. I hate that I have no friends. I hate my stepfather. I hate the bullies. I hate my name. I hate school. I hate my very existence.
I hate everyone and everything.
That was all I could think about to keep me sane, while my head bully Kronos was making me kneel on the piss covered floor of the boys toilet, my head bowed.
The cigarette smoke was suffocating.
But I couldn't leave.
Because Kronos was in a bad mood.
And I...
I was this bastard's pet.
"Yo Monkey, if the teacher comes, use your fat body and stop him." Kronos ordered, while blowing smoke in my face.
I stayed quiet, because in the past I got the shit beaten out of me for making any kind of noise that wasn't asked for. Then again, he just beat me up whenever he wanted to. He always had an excuse. I just clenched my jaw.
"..."
"Hey. You're not gonna answer?" Kronos said, a mad glint in his eyes.
Damn. This wasn't good.
"Oo oo ah ah!" I tried to rectify the situation by making monkey sounds. It was degrading to say the least, but also a hell of a lot better than a beating. I've had to give up my pride a long time ago. "Oo ah ah! Oo ah ah!"
"Are you shitting me? Do the Pikachu. Now." Kronos growled, his foot dangerously close to my face. I shuddered, a reflex born out of conditioning.
"Pika Pika!" I shouted, doing my best to match Pikachus voice.
"Be good, okay?" Kronos said, a smug grin adorning his face.
He placed his right foot on my head, I just continued to say 'Pika Pika' in a high-pitched voice. Ugh, his shoes were wet. Was that piss? Bastard.
And all of a sudden, he smashed his foot against my head, my face making contact with the disgusting floor. He placed more of his weight on the foot and leaned closer to my face, blowing smoke at me.
"Don't let the teacher bust us again. Understood?" He growled, pushing his foot down on my head. It hurt. But I've had worse. He could do worse. He's already done worse.
"Do the pig." He ordered, placing even more weight on his right foot. And like his damned pet, I did. I oinked, and oinked, hating myself for not being strong enough.
Somewhere in the background I could hear someone telling Kronos to stop, but I knew he wouldn't stop.
He never stops.
I stood up, wishing more than anything that I could wipe my face. But Kronos ordered me to stand still.
I looked him in the eyes. Those cold, lifeless gold eyes, the scar on the left side of his face just making him all the more menacing. I saw them in my nightmares. They always held negative emotions. I knew he'd be mad at me for making eye contact, but after all these years I still held my head up high. I may not have pride, but I still had hope. I don't know why or how. But there was still hope. It kept lessening each day, but there was still a little left.
I clung on to that, with everything I had.
-Line Break-
We were at the back of the class and I was surrounded by Kronos' gang, the Titans. I suppose you could say I was part of them. As their bitch. I wondered what Kronos was gonna do this time.
It looked as if he was about to throw a baseball, the way he stood reminded me of a baseball pitcher. What? What was he planning on doing? I didn't have to wait long to find out.
Suddenly his fist connected with my gut, the air was pushed out of me. I couldn't breathe. I made my best not to make any sound, I was on my knees clutching my stomach. I groaned quietly, knowing worse would come my way if I made too much noise. I also didn't want to give him the satisfaction.
"That's how you throw your first punch." Kronos explained. "One shot, one kill."
"Wow, he's really down!" Hyperion exclaimed with glee, he was Kronos' right-hand man. Lackey was more like it if you asked me. But geez, what was with their weird names? I've always wondered. There's no way in Hades I'm asking them that though. I don't know if their parents hated them or something, and frankly I didn't care.
"Get up, Piggy." Kronos barked, and like a good pet I stood up immediately. I loathed myself sometimes so much. Especially in moments like these.
"Pi... Pika!" I said, the words hard to form without air in my lungs.
Kronos laughed with glee at my 'enthusiasm'.
"Loser." Hyperion coughed out not so subtly. "Hey Kronos, make him do the thing."
Kronos gave me a wicked look. "Pikachu thunderbolt."
Oh no. Not the bolt strike! How I hated that.
Still I bent over, placed my hands on the floor, and looked up. I tensed my whole body and shouted "PIKAAA!" in the highest pitch I could. I never wanted to kill myself more than I did in that moment.
No one helped me. They were all just glad they weren't in my place, content with laughing at me. If only I was stronger...
"Hey Kronos, do me a favor."
"What is it?"
"Lend me your Pikachu for once." What?! No! I'm not some object.
"Why?"
"Today's my 100th day anniversary with my girl and I have this idea..."
-Line Break-
Why can't I disobey him, just once? What happened to me?
I was currently crawling in the halls, a bouquet of roses perched on my back.
"Hah, loser why are you even alive?" Someone asked. Easy for you to say when you're not the target of Titans, asshole.
Everyone else was either laughing at me or taking videos. Gods, I hate them. I just kept on crawling. I was looking for the unlucky girl that got to be Hyperion's girlfriend for 100 days.
After what felt like eternity, I finally reached class four.
When I entered, two girls could be seen, sitting on a couple of desks. I saw Hyperion's girlfriend, because she was, and I quote 'The hot piece of ass wearing a skanky skirt'. I had to hold in an eye-roll when Hyperion said that. Nice to see he's respectful of women I suppose. I don't know why he didn't just tell me her name, but I found her all the same.
"Hah, hey fatso! What's with you? Why are you crawling?" Her friend asked with a sneer.
"Why are you here?" She asked, not unkindly.
"Um, Hyperion told me to come show you something..." I stammered, not used to talking to girls.
"What is it?" She asked, while looking at me as if I was dirt. I suppose to these people, I was just dirt.
Ah, what the hell, it couldn't get much worse than this..
"Congrats on 100 days!" I shouted, while I held out the bouquet of roses. "Thunderbolt!"
Nope, I was wrong, it could get worse. Right when I was about to get in the thunderbolt position, well... I cut one. A really loud one at that. Ugh...Fuck. My. Life.
"Hey, next time don't bother. I won't say anything." She said, the pity just oozing out of her. "You're really pathetic.."
I hated my life.
-Line Break-
I was currently at home. Now, for most bullied people, it would be sanctuary, a moment of reprieve from the torture of school. Not for me. The biggest bully of them all, lived in my house.
"Listen here you little shit, I'm sick and tired of you eating away my paycheck, you hear?" Gabe growled. I don't know what he was talking about. I barely ate anything at home, he never left anything after he was done.
The only reason I was this fat was because I ate as much as I could when my dad came to visit. Pair that with little to no exercise, and well... I was the result.
I rolled my eyes at that. "I don't eat anything Gabe, you probably pissed away your paycheck on gambling and beer."
He slammed his hand on the table. "That's it! I'm sick and tired of your tone! This is MY house, so you better show me some respect!"
I just stomped to my room and slammed the door shut. I leaned against it and let out a deep shuddering breath. It would be so easy, to just end it all. The only goddamn reason I haven't yet, just entered the house.
My mom. How to describe her? She was an absolute angel. She had blue eyes that sparkled and changed color in the light, a smile as warm as a quilt, and long brown hair with a few streaks of grey in it, I never thought of her as old. She also had a scent of chocolate, licorice, and everything else one would find in a candy shop. She was just the best person ever, so of course she had to have the worst luck in the world. Between me and Gabe, we weren't making her life easy. Gods, if it weren't for her, I probably would have ended it all by now. Or ran away.
"Percy, I'm home!" She announced, her voice alone giving me the strength to stand up. Kinda sad that she was the only one to call me by my name...
She came in my room and I hugged her. Gods, I wished she never married Gabe. I have no idea why she would subject herself to marriage with that monster, but it didn't matter. Not when she was hugging me and calling me by my name.
I wanted to tell her. Gods, I wanted to tell her everything. About the bullies. About Gabe. But I couldn't, I just couldn't. It would break her heart, and that was the one thing I could never do. And then she'd send me away to live with me dad for my safety. And she'd be all alone with smelly Gabe. I couldn't do that either. At least now, he was directing all of his anger at me. I can live with that.
"Okay Percy, I'm gonna get started on dinner. Study well okay?" She said. Gods, how can a woman this beautiful conceive a creature like me? "I have a surprise announcement!"
I nodded my head, plastering on a smile. "Okay..."
-Line Break-
I was doing some research on my computer, when I saw my dad sent me an email. That was weird. He never sends me anything. I squinted, the subject was: 'Something for you?' It was a link.
I clicked on it and gasped. It was an online application form for this art school in New York. My dad remembered I liked art? How'd he know I've always wanted to live in New York? I always assumed he forgot about me the moment he left Washington. It was tempting, really tempting to just fill it in and live in New York in the dorms.
I'd be far away from this place! Far away from the Titans. From Gabe. From mom... Oh man, I can't go. I can't leave my mom alone with that monster! I sighed, ready to delete it and just call my dad to thank him for the offer when my mom shouted saying it was time to eat.
We were all eating quietly, well... My mom and I were anyway, Gabe was scarfing down everything he could get his greedy little hands on.
My mom frowned at him before clearing her throat. "So, I have an announcement to make."
Gabe looked at for a second, burped and went back down to scarf his food. Disgusting. "What is it mom?" I asked excitedly, interested in what she has to say.
"My book got published! They want me to travel the world and promote it!" She announced excitedly.
"Oh my gods, that's awesome!" I exclaimed. "If anyone deserves this mom, it's you!"
"Wait. What?" Gabe frowned, finally filling the seemingly bottomless pit that was his stomach. "No."
My mom frowned. "Excuse me?"
"No. You can't." He said, with narrowed eyes. "You can't do this. I forbid it."
"You forbid it?" My mom repeated incredulously.
"Yes. As your husband I forbid it! I don't want you whoring all over the world!" He shouted. "Who's gonna make me food huh?" What a fucking asshole. I was ready to defend my mom, because no one and I mean no one gets away with calling my mom a fucking whore.
But then a miracle happened. My mom didn't back down, oh no no no, she got mad and stood up for herself.
"You can't tell me what I can and can't do, Gabriel!" My mom shouted back. "And I am not going to 'whore' around the world! How dare you?"
"Fucking selfish is what you are! What about the boy huh? You expect ME to take care of him?!" He fumed.
I glared at him. I stood up, ready to do something, anything when my mom spoke up.
"Actually, Gabriel, it's all already taken care of. He won't be your problem because he'll be attending a new school in New York. And while we're on the subject of living situations, I'm done. I'm sick and tired of you and your attitude." She barked with a scathing tone.
Gabe narrowed his eyes and stood up. He walked towards her and said, "You bitch." before slapping her.
I only saw red. I tackled him and started punching him as hard as I could, but none of my punches landed correctly.
"You asshole! You said you wouldn't do anything to my mom if I kept quiet and took it!" I roared.
He just pushed me off of him and started kicking me. "Yeah so what? What's a weak shit like you gonna do about it, huh?"
My mom pushed him away, her gaze murderous. She was livid. "Have you been hitting my son?" She asked, in quiet indignant tone.
He didn't need the answer though, you could see it in his eyes. "Percy, go to your room." She ordered. I hesitated, I didn't want to leave her alone with him.
She looked at me and her gaze softened. "Trust me."
"Okay." I said, ready to come racing out at the slightest sound of trouble.
-Line Break-
I was currently sitting against the door, listening to their argument. My mom was shouting curses at him, and damn... I didn't know she knew those words if I'm honest with you. She was really going at it, tearing Gabe a new one. Gabe shouted back, of course, but so far, I didn't hear anything too alarming.
After a while, I grabbed my laptop and went back to sit against the door. I filled in the application and sent it in, happy that I didn't have to worry about my mom, and for what feels like forever, happy for the future ahead of me. I heard the door slam loudly.
Something didn't sound right. I realized it was peaceful, and quiet. Too quiet. I gasped, and stood up quickly, alarmed and scared that that bastard did something to my mom. Before I could run out and check, someone opened my door.
It was my mom. Her cheek was rapidly becoming red from earlier, but for the rest it didn't seem like he struck her. Then again, he usually targets places you can't see... She smiled at me reassuringly and sat on my bed.
I frowned at her. "Mom... What happened? Did he hurt you?"
She just shook her head and patted the space beside her. "Sit Percy, we have to discuss some things."
"Where's Gabe?"
She pursed her lips. "He went out. Probably to the bar."
I crinkled my nose. Yeah, that sounds about right. I sat down beside her.
"Gabriel and I are... getting a divorce." Oh, Glory Hallelujah, this day just keeps getting better and better." We have couple of disagreements so we both think it's for the best."
I nodded my head, doing my best to hold in my happy dance. I cleared my throat. "Oh, well, I think it's for the best mom. I completely support you, 100%!"
She stroked my head and said in a soothing voice "I'm so sorry Percy. For everything."
I just shook my head. "Don't worry about it mom, seriously."
"Did he hurt you often?" She asked with a worried tone.
I hesitated. I wanted to tell. Gods, I really did. But she'd blame herself for my weaknesses. I hated the thought of her beating herself up over...this. So, I shook my head. "Don't worry mom, it was just once or twice. I'm fine. I promise."
"How's everything at school? You sure you want to leave behind all your friends?" I stiffened. Friends? What friends? I thought about the Titans, about Hyperion, Kronos. I thought about the teachers that turned a blind eye whenever they beat me up. No. I won't miss them. Not even a little bit.
I cleared my throat. "No mom, don't worry... They'll uhh, they'll understand."
My tone must've been off because she frowned at me but decided not to push it. Thank gods. "Okay... But Percy, you can tell me anything, you know, that right?"
"Yeah mom, don't worry. I know." I said reassuringly. "Thank you for everything you've done for me."
-Line break-
I woke up, feeling like a king. Granted I still had to go to school, and get bullied, but. Things are looking up. I just have to survive this torture for a little while, and then I'll be getting a fresh start.
Just a little while longer. I clung on to that thought when I entered the gates of hell, also known as high school. I sighed. This was gonna be a long day.
"Piggyyy." A voice whispered, giving me the chills. A very long day indeed. "Piggyy."
It was coming from a dark corner, at the side of the school under this small roof. Usually people go there when it was raining, for protection. For me though? That place was where I got beaten up the most. It offered me little to no protection at all... Frankly, I'd take my chances with the rain.
I suppose that's just me though. Ah well, best not to let my 'master' waiting. I rolled my eyes at that thought. Just a little longer.
"Piggy." Kronos called out.
"Do the running pig mode. Now!" Hyperion commanded. Geez, who died and made you boss? Sigh. Nothing to it. Just a little longer
Kronos started counting down from five. I ran as quick as I could while making 'oink' noises, desperate to reach them before Kronos was done counting.
Made it. Barely. I was panting, not used to any kind of physical exercise.
"Lose some weight. You look to sluggish." Kronos taunted. Look in the mirror. He was even bigger than me, in every kind of way. The problem was, he was also stronger than me. And boy did he let me know it.
He put his arm around me shoulders. "First class is P.E. Right?"
"Yeah."
"Get it ready for me." He ordered. Kronos always wore my P.E. Uniform. I don't know why either in case you were wondering. I told my mom that I lost it and she bought me another one. I felt awful about that.
"I'll put it on your desk."
-Line Break-
"Head!" Kronos shouted after kicking the soccer ball my way.
Ah shit.
I ducked, because well... Reflexes. It slammed the wall. Hard. Fucking hell, if that had hit me...
"Oh. He avoided it." Kronos said with narrowed eyes. I gulped, crap.
"Ha, you bet ten dollars on it." Hyperion cackled. Oh, I am so dead meat.
"Hey!" Kronos shouted with narrowed eyes. "I told you to let it hit you, didn't I? Now I have to pay ten dollars!" Dude, how could I just stand there? I'm not insane! Gods, how I wanted to shout that at them. But I didn't. I stayed quiet. Just a little longer.
"Hoo hoo, it's my turn." Oh shit. Iapetus. Captain of the goddamn soccer team. Of course, he'd join in. He was one of them after all.
He got ready to shoot, and I swear I saw my life flash by. Damn... What a shitty life I've lived so far. Why am I so pathetic?
The ball flew by quickly and in that moment, I thought I could die. So instinctively, I dropped down, but I guess he saw that coming. The ball curved down, towards my face. I don't know how he did that either...
It hit me. Straight on my nose. Want to hear something really pathetic? The second the ball hit my face, I wasn't worried about the pain, oh no, what I was worried about was Kronos losing money. I'm so screwed.
"Piggy." Kronos growled. He grabbed me in a head lock. "So, it's that easy to avoid my shot huh?
"So... Sorry." I stuttered. "I'll... I'll pay it for you!" I said in pain, while he was squeezing my head so hard, I thought it would pop.
"What?"
"Erm, well... since you lost the money because of me..." Guess I'll just skip lunch today... Maybe I could find a quiet place and draw.
He slapped me first, then he grabbed my shirt and dragged me towards his face. "You dare pity me?" He growled before throwing me away from him. He kept on slapping my face, I was forced to look left and right.
"You goddamn jerks!" A familiar voice roared.
Oh.
Oh no.
There was my mom. And she looked mad. Really mad.
She kneeled beside me and checked my face. "Percy, are you okay?" What is she doing here?
"M… Mom..."
She turned towards Kronos, her gaze murderous. "You punk! Why were you hitting my Percy?!" She reprimanded them. I've gotta admit, it's the first time I saw the Titans look this uncomfortable. They were looking down, mumbling and shuffling their feet and everything.
She turned back towards me and grabbed my face, inspecting it. "Oh gods! You've got a mark!"
"M... Mom..." I wanted her to go. I don't know what the Titans might do to her, and I can't protect her. I wasn't strong enough.
Everyone around me was whispering, making fun of the fact that my mom showed up, but I didn't care. All I wanted was my mom to be safe.
"Ma'am, we were just playing a game." Kronos mumbled.
Boy, that set her off big time. She looked livid. "A game?! You call slapping someone a game?! You little punk!" She roared while swatting at him.
Oh shit. I stood up quickly. I have to protect her! "Mom."
"Let's go see the homeroom teacher! How dare you do that to Percy?! What's your name!"
"Mom, I said stop."
She stopped and looked at me. "Percy?"
I grabbed her in a bear hug and whispered "I'll be fine. Get out of here. Please, they might hurt you too."
She shook her head. "Percy!"
I pleaded with my eyes, desperate to get her to safety.
"We're going home."
I blinked. "What?"
"We're going home, right now." Well I'm not saying no to that.
I looked back at the Titans. Their eyes promised death. Yep, definitely time to go home now.
I nodded my head. "Okay. Okay, let me go grab my stuff and we can go."
-Line Break-
"How long?"
I hesitated.
"Percy, how long?"
"Not that long, I promise." I lied. I must be losing my touch, because she just narrowed her eyes.
"Percy, the truth."
I sighed. "Ever since high school started." I mumbled quietly.
"Percy! Two years? Why didn't you say anything?!"
"I... I didn't to be a burden to you! I know you had to marry Gabe to make ends meet, and me constantly switching elementary schools didn't help! I didn't want to keep burdening you! I know you'd have made me switch high schools and I didn't want you to have extra worries, because of me! "
"Oh, Percy... You were never a burden to me." she said, hugging me. "I love you. I would do anything for you."
"I didn't want to make things harder for you." I mumbled.
"That's sweet of you Percy, but that's not your job, okay? That's my job. Not even a job, I want to do that." She said in a soothing tone. "I'm happiest when you are happy. So please, please, for my sake, stop trying to carry the world on your shoulders."
I nodded. "Okay mom, I'll do my best."
"Good. Now pack up your stuff." she said.
"What?"
"You're going to New York. Right now."
I furrowed my eyebrows. "I thought I would transfer next semester." There was still a week of school left for this semester.
She pursed her lips. "There was a change of plans. Your father and I thought it was best for you to start as soon as possible."
"What about my school here?"
She looked at me skeptically. "You want to stay here any longer?"
Oh hades no. But I didn't want to leave my mom. "No, but... I thought we'd have more time together!"
Her face softened. "Don't worry so much about me Percy. I'll be fine. I promise. I'm stronger than I look. And I'll come visit you whenever I can."
"Okay mom. All right. I'll go pack up my stuff." I said, running towards my room.
"Hurry." my mom shouted after me. "The plain leaves in a couple of hours."
This is it. This is it.
Oh, my gods.
Goodbye Washington, hello New York!
Yo, I didn't add much in case you were wondering, don't worry! I just did a couple of touch ups, fixed a couple of errors here and there ;)
X(::)X(::)
Pencilvester
