"Percy? Percy!" Athena's voice snapped me back into the present.
Her worried face peered down at me. "Are you okay?" She asked, "What's wrong?"
Today's tutoring session was the same as any other; we mark my homework together, Ms Athena identifies my weak points, we work on that for the rest of the session.
But this morning Smelly Gabe was being extra mean. He threw a beer bottle at me. I ducked, letting the glass smash against the wall, yet I wasn't quick enough to avoid his fist. My stomach hurt, but I sucked it up and went to school and now tutoring anyways.
It's not that bad.
"I'm fine," I tried to reassure her. "Just a bit distracted today."
Her brow furrowed, "You and I know that's a lie Percy. What's wrong?"
I bit my lip. I don't like lying to Ms Athena, but she said that she'll interfere if Gabe got worse and I don't wanna leave mom.
"I'm just stressed," I told her. "I don't really wanna talk about it."
She looked concerned, running a hand through my hair and letting the back of her hand rest on my forehead like she's searching for a fever.
"How about we put all of that away then?" She said, beginning to pack up the worksheets.
"But," I protested. "Don't I have to study?"
She put all the work back into my backpack, "Yes, but I think you've been doing quite well these past few sessions, we can have a break today."
"Are you leaving?" A pang of fear hit me.
It must have shown on my face, because she softened. "I'm not going anywhere little one, I'm going to teach you something new."
Oh? Now I'm curious.
She pulled a set of knitting needles and some yarn from nowhere.
Ms Athena smiled down at me, "I quite enjoy crafts, how about you learn how to knit?"
I looked at the knitting supplies skeptically. I thought only grandmas knit?
oOo
I love knitting!
Ms Athena is helping me and now I'm a good way through making a scarf!
It's blue and green and very fuzzy and soft! I want to wear it right now but she laughed and told me I have to have patience.
Why does every adult tell me I have to have patience? I still don't understand why it's a 'virtue.'
"Careful there, don't make the loops too big." Athena carefully instructed from over my shoulder, "that'll make it wonky and we want a nice, straight scarf."
I nodded, poking my tongue out in concentration.
Hopefully I can get this done before my next tutoring session, then I can show it off to her!
"What are you two doing?" A familiar voice asked.
Ms Athena turned to him, her stern face back on, but I answered before her.
"Hi Mr Hermes! Ms Athena is teaching me how to knit! Look, I'm making a scarf!" I gave him a bright smile, ignoring the way my stomach hurt from the position I'm in to look at him.
"That's real cool kiddo," he ruffled my hair.
I wrinkled my nose, quickly trying to tame it again.
"Brother, why are you here?" Athena asked seriously.
He waved her off, sitting down in the chair on the other side of me.
"Nothing much, I've dealt with any deliveries that needed my attention and I'm bored."
"Cool," I said since I don't know what else to reply with.
"No, not cool." Ms Athena corrected, "Hermes, I can only see him twice a week, let me have my time with him."
"I'll be quiet," he tried to argue. "Just today, I won't bother you two again."
She raised an eyebrow.
"I may also be wanting to hide from father and you've got a pretty good hiding spot here," he admitted. "Come on, I won't be annoying or anything."
Ms Athena looked like she was about to kick him out, but I tugged on her sleeve and gave her the biggest puppy dog eyes I could.
She sighed, "Fine. I'm not letting you do this again though."
I grinned brightly.
"Thanks sis!" Hermes smirked and not-so-discreetly passed me a lollipop.
I stuck it into my mouth knowing full well that if I tried to save it for later Gabe wouldn't let me have it.
"What days do you meet up?" Hermes asked, curious.
"Mondays and Thursdays," I answered. "I've got…" Triton's teaching "Swimming practise on Tuesdays and Fridays, sometimes on Sundays too, and I do my homework on Wednesdays and Saturdays."
"Well, aren't you busy," Hermes remarked. "When do you have time to play? Pull some pranks? Go to the park?"
I shrugged. Stupid Gabe doesn't like me playing with stuff, says I'm too loud and annoying, and I have to learn so Ms Athena and Triton don't think I'm a waste of time.
"Sometimes I don't have swimming on Sundays," I said, uncaring. "I read then."
I knitted another line of my scarf, looping them tightly. Ms Athena shared a look over my head.
"Kids are supposed to be out having fun in the sunshine, don't you do anything outdoorsy?" Mr Hermes tried again.
"Swimming," I responded shortly.
"And where are your parents? Do they not play baseball or something in the park with you?" He pressed.
I frowned, "Mom's always working- sometimes we're lucky and she has a morning off and we can eat lunch together, Dad's dead, and there's my step-father but he leaves me alone to go play poker so I don't think he cares."
He scowled, "They leave you alone?"
Athena puts her hand on my shoulder as I answer, "Mom has to work and Gabe doesn't care. Mom doesn't know and I don't want her to."
He looks angry with my answer, "And you don't care that you're always alone?"
"I'm busy for a reason," I say vaguely. "Can we stop talking about this? It won't change anything."
I could tell that neither of them wanted to drop the subject but they conceded after a few more shared looks.
oOo
Mr Hermes bought us lunch today, claiming it was on him for letting him tag along.
I was delighted with my seafood chowder, finishing it within ten minutes. I embarrassedly turned down his offer of a second one, knowing full well I shouldn't impose on him.
Ms Athena ordered me some extra fried fish anyways and Mr Hermes bought us all ice-cream.
They both walked me home, each holding one of my hands and taking extra care with the traffic.
Athena gave me a hug and a kiss on my cheek as a goodbye while Hermes ruffled my hair and said, "Bye Perce!"
I looked down at my partly-done scarf on my bed.
I wonder if Triton would like a scarf too?
A/N
So! You get to see a bit more on the whole 'gabe is a monster' and also cool uncle hermes!
On the reviews about ships: Guys... he's 10 right now. The whole 'ship undecided' thing is because of that and because it will be in the far future. I have ship ideas, yes, and those range from Percabeth to Perzoe to Percy/Carter Kane. I won't be writing any romance until I get to HoO or TOA era, which is another few years of writing so you'll have to stick around for a long time for that. I want to give him a romance though, but I might change my mind idk. Please don't request ships though, It makes me uncomfortable. If you want to DISCUSS future ships, on the other hand, you're welcome to do so. There's a difference between reviewing 'I want Percico' and reviewing 'Do you think Percico could work in this fic?'