~* Chapter 4 *~
Percy's back hurt. That was the first thing he noticed when he woke up. He groaned and rolled over, not ready to face the world yet. Only, he wasn't on his bed. Instead of burrowing into his worn pillow and inhaling a year's worth of cigar smoke, the pillow under his head was plump and new and the air around him was fresh. He frowned, confused.
"Good morning," a voice greeted, and Percy heard the sound of footsteps. Poseidon. His mind whirled to catch up. He had gone to Poseidon's to meet Hestia…and he hadn't gone home. He spent the night at Poseidon's.
"Good morning," Percy echoed.
"You fell asleep. I didn't want to wake up and go all the way back to the city so you stayed here." Poseidon explained. "It's rather early, you can go back to sleep."
Percy shook his head. There was no way he could fall back asleep now, in a strange house while Poseidon was awake and walking around.
"I'm awake now."
"Okay, I was just about to make breakfast, do you want some?"
"Sure," Percy said, standing up and stretching.
He wondered if he should feel awkward. After all, this was the first time he had ever been to Poseidon's house, and the first time he had really spent any long length of time with the man. But, it didn't feel awkward. It felt…he didn't know how it felt. But it wasn't awkward.
"What do you want?" Poseidon called from another room, probably the kitchen. "I don't have any cereal, I'm afraid I'm all out – I'll have to go to the store. Is oatmeal alright?"
"That's fine," Percy said, turning towards the sound of his father's voice.
If he remembered correctly the kitchen was straight ahead? Maybe? He gingerly made his way around the couch. Now, what? Was the couch in the middle of the room, to the side? Where was the wall? He took baby steps forward, his arms spread out like a windmill. He hoped Poseidon was too busy making oatmeal to pay attention to him; he was sure he looked ridiculous. It had been a long time since he had been to a new place, not counting the aquarium. At least there he had counted the steps coming in and out, and Poseidon had given him a tour. Now he was completely blind…literary and figuratively.
He finally found the wall and followed that towards the sound of Poseidon rustling in the kitchen. Suddenly, the wall beneath his fingertips changed. It was suddenly cool and extra smooth. He frowned, what in the world was that? He backed his hand up until he felt the regular wall. He moved his hand forward again, feeling a little break in the wall before the cold surface. If he traced the break, it made a rectangle, and at the very top there seemed to be a little flap. His fingers slipped into the flap and he drew his hand back, startled, when they dipped into water.
"Is this a tank?" He asked, surprised.
"Yes, I was running out of places to put fish so I had a few tanks built into the wall. There are sea horses in that one." Poseidon explained.
A tank built right into the wall – sweet.
"Cool," Percy said. He wondered what the seahorse looked like… He hesitated before asking, "What kind of seahorses?"
He heard Poseidon's footsteps come closer until he could feel the biologist behind him. Instead of shooing Percy away, he started to describe the fish to him. He told Percy about their colors and markings, describing them in vivid detail. He traced the edge of the tank as Poseidon talked, his useless eyes probably facing the creatures he couldn't see. It didn't upset him as much as he thought it would. Poseidon described them so diligently he could almost picture them - it didn't seem so bad.
"Our oatmeal's getting cold," Poseidon said after a moment of silence, leading Percy away from the wall.
"Your table's huge," Percy realized as he pulled out a chair and carefully sat down.
"Is it?" Poseidon asked, as if he never noticed. Please, even without the benefit of sight, Percy knew it was huge.
"How many chairs are there? I already counted six."
"Twelve, I believe." There was a pause, and Percy almost snickered when he realized Poseidon was counting chairs. Did he seriously not know how many chairs he had? "Yes, twelve."
"You eat alone at a table with twelve chairs?" Percy blurted out, frowning. That sounded…awfully lonely.
"When I'm home, which I'm usually not. Normally I just eat out or at the aquarium." Poseidon confessed, "And when I do eat at home I normally read the paper or watch the news so I don't really notice." But his voice sounded slightly odd. Percy cleared his throat and concentrated on his breakfast.
Poseidon took Percy back to the apartment after breakfast. He insisted on taking Percy all the way to the apartment again. He thought it was almost cute how Poseidon thought Percy shouldn't travel alone. Heh.
"So, I can pick you up on my way to work Monday?" Poseidon asked when he dropped Percy off.
"Yeah, that'd be fine," Percy said.
"Good," Poseidon said, sounding pleased, "I'll be around eight."
"See ya then," Percy said, nodding. He listened to the sound of Poseidon's footsteps fade away before retreating into the apartment.
"Look who's fin'ly back," Gabe slurred and Percy froze. "What, Daddy get sick of you already?"
"Wow, it's not even lunch yet and you're already drunk," Percy said crossly, "What did you lose your poker game last night?"
"Listen here you – " Gabe started to say but a loud clunk cut him off.
Percy figured he had stumbled and fell on one of the many bottles on the floor. Percy just snorted. Gabe grumbled a slur of obscenities as he presumably tried to get up. Percy bet it was a sight to see. It had been a while since Gabe had been this drunk early in the day, and Percy wasn't quite sure how to handle him. If he knew where the drunk man was he could just slip past him.
Percy tried his luck. Sticking close to the wall, he hurried across the apartment towards his room.
"Where d'ya thin' you're goin'? I ain' finished with ya yet," Gabe growled.
Gabe never scared Percy. Sure, he was disgusting and rude, but he never scared Percy. Percy was always too small and quick for Gabe to pick on. Besides, Sally wouldn't have stood for any funny business concerning her baby. But now, back against the wall in a world without light… Percy was almost afraid. He couldn't see Gabe, he couldn't dodge under the man's arm or loudly ask when Sally would be home. And somewhere in front of him Gabe stood (or sat, Percy didn't know if he had ever gotten up from his fall), drunk and angry – and Percy didn't know what to do.
"Go to bed Gabe, you're drunk," Percy said firmly, trying not to let his sudden apprehension show.
"Go to bed Gabe," Gabe mocked, "Damn, you're more annoying than that woman was."
"That woman?" Percy repeated, fury replacing his fear, his hands curling into fists. "That woman's name was Sally Jackson and she was the best person who ever lived. How dare you? You never deserved her you disgusting overgrown pig – "
Crack.
Percy stumbled back in surprise, tripping over something and landing flat on his back. Gabe hit him. Gabe hit him. Percy laid there, too shock to move.
"Ungrateful brat," Gabe spat, his voice wavering.
Percy wasn't sure if it was from the alcohol or if he was just as surprised by the punch as Percy was. Percy stayed where he was as Gabe stumbled away, grumbling and cursing. Once he was sure Gabe left the room, he sat up and made a dash for his room, slamming the door behind him. He locked the door.
He leaned against the door and slowly sunk to the floor. Gabe hit him. Gabe had never actually hit him before. He threatened to; waved his fat beefy hands around and swore up and down… but he never actually laid a hand on Percy.
The left side of his face started to ache. Percy raised his hand up to his eye. Ouch, ok yeah touching was bad no touching, Percy thought, wincing. He let his hand fall back down onto his lap. Downstairs, the front door opened and shut with a resounding bang. Percy pulled his knees up to his chest, suddenly feeling very vulnerable… and afraid.
Percy stayed in his room all weekend long. Gabe came and went like always. He actually brought food home Saturday. He left a pizza in the kitchen and knocked on Percy's door (which Percy now kept locked).
"Eh kid…I ah…there's pizza in the kitchen… So ah… eat." He could hear the odious man shift around. Just leave, Percy silently wished.
"Ah…your dad comin' today?"
Percy remained silent.
"'Cause ah…I was drunk…and ah….you don't need to tell him that right?"
"I like Hawaiian," Percy finally called out.
"What?"
"I like Hawaiian pizza."
"Oh…it's pepperoni," Gabe replied dumbly. Then after a minute, "I can get Hawaiian tomorrow."
Percy raised his hand to his face, gently prodding at his swollen eye. Gabe stayed outside his door for a little while longer before grunting and shuffling off, probably just to get drunk again.
Monday couldn't come fast enough.
Percy was waiting by the door Monday morning when Poseidon knocked. Percy opened the door, keeping his head bowed. He wasn't sure why, Poseidon was going to see his face sooner or later.
"Good morning," Poseidon said cheerfully.
"Morning."
"What happened to your eye?" Poseidon demanded, sounding startled.
"Um…it's nothing I'm fine," Percy said, feeling his cheeks start to burn.
"It doesn't look like nothing," Poseidon said forcefully. Percy winced, bowing his head again as if hiding his face would make the bruise go away. Percy briefly considered telling him the truth… but he hesitated. It was the first time Gabe ever hit him. He didn't want to be a burden; he could take care of himself. Did your Daddy get sick of you already? Percy shook his head.
"I fell," he blurted out.
"What?" Poseidon said, skeptical.
"I fell," Percy repeated with more confidence, "there was a bottle on the floor, I tripped and banged my head against the table."
"Ouch," Poseidon said. A hand was suddenly under his chin and Percy jerked back, startled, heart pounding.
"Sorry," Poseidon said automatically, "I just wanted to get a better look at it."
"Just warn me before you go manhandling me," Percy grumbled. He hated not being able to see people reaching out towards him. He couldn't see Gabe about pull back to hit him and he couldn't see Poseidon reaching out.
"Okay, can I just lift up your chin?" Poseidon asked. Percy nodded. Poseidon gently tilted his head up.
"It's really nasty," Poseidon said sympathetically, "did you ice it?"
"No."
Poseidon sighed and let go of Percy. "Make sure to ice it next time okay? It'll help with the swelling."
"Okay," Percy said, clenching his fist. He didn't want to think of a 'next time'.
"Come on, Nereid will be wondering where we are."
The next week passed nicely. Poseidon arrived every morning at eight o'clock and they would head off to the aquarium and work until dinner. Percy hated being unable to see the creatures he helped to feed, clean, and patch up. But, if he couldn't see the animals, then at least he could understand them - so he started asking questions. What were their scientific names, habitats, behavior, mating, migration patterns; he wanted to know everything. Poseidon happily obliged him. He answered every question with glee, explaining everything in great detail for his blind son. He was very good at describing them. He would spend forever carefully detailing ever fish, their colors and intricate designs.
"Hestia's coming over tonight," Poseidon told him, "would you like to come over again?"
"Yeah, I'd like that," Percy said.
"Do you know what she's making this time?" Percy asked as they climbed into his car.
"I have no idea," Poseidon chuckled before pausing, "You don't have any allergies do you?"
"No," Percy assured him, "none that I know of at least."
"Alright, that's a relief," Poseidon said, and he really sounded relieved. They casually talked for the rest of the ride. It was comfortable and easy.
"Smells great," Poseidon called as they walked into the house an hour later.
"Chicken casserole, one of my favorites," Hestia called back. "Hello Percy, oh dear what happened to your eye?"
Percy almost winced. He had forgotten about the eye. He wondered if it really looked that bad, even a week later.
"He lost a fight with the floor," Poseidon said, coming to Percy's rescue. Percy tried to scowl, but actually that was pretty funny.
"I tripped and fell against a table," Percy said, reiterating his little white lie.
"Did you ice it?" Hestia asked, unknowing repeating her brother's words. She reached out and tilted his head just like Poseidon had.
"No," Percy said, confused. Why was everyone more concerned about his face then he was?
Hestia tsked lightly, "Well, at least it's healing nicely. Come, let's go eat."
They sat around the table, and Percy let Hestia fix his plate for him. It wasn't as humiliating as he thought it would be. Hestia and Poseidon did most of the talking, but Percy was perfectly okay with that; it was hilarious to listen to them banter.
"Of all our siblings, Poseidon was the one you had to look out for," Hestia told Percy. Percy tried not to snicker into his water.
"Whatever do you mean dear sister?" Poseidon asked, sounding mischievous.
"He's devious and tricky. He used to pull pranks on us all the time and we'd never see it coming. And there'd be Poseidon, standing mildly off to the side and watching in amusement."
"My dear Hestia, I'd stand off to the side and watch in amusement as our relatives made fools of themselves on their own accord, no assistance required. They love to make fools of themselves, with all their unnecessary drama."
"What about when you tied Zeus to his bed and let the others pick on him?"
"He thought Mother would stop me because she loved him best, I was simply testing his hypothesis," Poseidon said vaguely and Percy couldn't help it. He started to laugh. That was kind of awesome.
"Who was right?" Percy asked, grinning.
"Nobody. Mother wasn't home so poor little Zeus had to suffer at his brothers' mercy all day." Hestia teased, laughing along with Percy.
"I untied him once he promised to be less annoying," Poseidon said, chuckling. Percy just laughed.
Hestia and Poseidon bickered over who was going to do the dishes. Poseidon won. Percy heard the biologist stand up and start to put away dishes. Hestia giggled and Percy head her chair scrape against the floor. For a second he thought she was getting up too but then she started to speak, her voice closer to his ear than before.
"He's a big push over." Hestia told him secretly, "Don't let him fool you."
"What are you two whispering about?" Poseidon called, suspicious. Percy could practically hear Hestia smile.
"Sensitive bugger isn't he?" Hestia whispered and Percy couldn't help but grin.
"What did you tell him, Hestia?" Poseidon demanded.
"Where's the bathroom?" Percy said before Poseidon could grill his sister too much.
"There's one right over here," Poseidon said, his voice still suspicious, turning Percy around to point him in the right direction. "Across from the couch in the living room."
Percy appreciated how Poseidon gave him directions instead of holding his hand and coddling him. It was refreshing. Percy moved forward, more at ease in the house now. He felt along the wall to find the bathroom door and stepped inside, calling out behind him, "thanks!"
As he shut the door he could hear the siblings whispering amongst themselves. He knew it was wrong, but he couldn't help listening in.
"He seemed surprised when you told him to ice his eye. He did that to me too," Poseidon was saying.
"He seemed surprised at my concern, not the advice," Hestia replied, sounding sad.
"He's not used to being cared for. He thinks it's unnecessary that I see him all the way to his apartment every night." Because it is, Percy thought, frowning. He could take care of himself.
"He needs someone," Hestia said. "Can you be there for him?"
Percy froze, a terrible feeling rising in his throat. He flushed the toilet and opened the bathroom door, unwilling to hear Poseidon's response. He didn't need anybody….but he didn't want to hear Poseidon say it.
"Well, I think I'll be going now boys," Hestia said.
"Alright," Poseidon sighed, no longer sounding as carefree and cheerful as he had during dinner. "Thank you for dinner Hestia it was wonderful."
"Good," Hestia said. "And it was lovely to see you again Percy."
Percy smiled as she ruffled his hair. It filled him with a warm feeling he refused to name…but it felt nice.
"You too," Percy told her sincerely.
Poseidon and Percy stood in the front room, listening as the front door closed and, a few minutes later, a car started and drove away.
"It's pretty late," Poseidon said slowly. "I have a spare room if you'd like to just stay here tonight. I promise it's more comfortable than the couch."
Well, the couch was pretty comfortable, Percy thought. Much more comfortable than his decade old bed at the apartment.
"Alright," Percy agreed easily.
He didn't want to head back to the apartment anyway. It was cold and quiet, and Percy really didn't want to run into Gabe. Besides, the apartment didn't have fish tanks built into the wall or the sound of the ocean outside the window.
"It's up the stairs here," Poseidon said. "And no, I don't know how many stairs sorry."
"That's okay," Percy said. He carefully counted the steps himself as he climbed up them, committing the number to memory as well as the feel of the smooth railing.
"The room is – one, two, three – three doors down on the right from the stairs," Poseidon said and Percy grinned as he ticked off the doors. "My room is the first room right across the stairwell. There's a bathroom right across from you." Poseidon continued to explain as they walked – one, two, three – doors down to the guest room.
"It's, well, a good size room I suppose. The bed's in the right corner, there's a nightstand to the let," Poseidon said somewhat awkwardly, clearly unsure what to highlight for Percy.
"Thanks," Percy said, stepping into the room. "I'll figure the rest out."
Poseidon seemed relieved. "I'm just two doors down in case you need anything," he told Percy before leaving him be.
Percy stood in the middle of the room, replaying those words over in his head. He didn't know what he might need that would warrant waking Poseidon up for…but it was a nice sentiment he realized. Poseidon didn't seem to mind if Percy bothered him, and he didn't know what to make of that. He felt his way forward until his knees knocked against the bed. He carefully climbed into bed, kicking off his jeans and getting comfortable.
The bed was heaven. It was soft and warm and perfect. Percy sighed contently. He could get used to this. He snuggled in and was asleep in seconds.
A/n I know it's been a while, kind of don't have a lot of inspiration for this right now. I'll probably write a few more chapters, but I won't re-write all of From Amidst the Darkness. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.
