Kara couldn't quite stifle the laugh that escaped her at the way Percy quite literally choked on his sandwich.

"What?!" He spluttered.

"I said that I wanted you to come with me back to Kansas for Thanksgiving," Kara repeated.

"I already cleared it with Ma and Pa," she took a bite of her own lunch. "-and with my aunt. They can't wait to meet you!" She pressed. It was a dirty trick, but she was willing to fight dirty when it was in Percy's best interest to join them.

Percy had mentioned, completely out of hand and in a rare moment of introspection, how this would be the first Thanksgiving he spent without his mother. Naturally, Kara had endeavored to make sure that he wouldn't have to spend the earth holiday on his own. Kara might have only been on the planet for a few short years, but she was well aware that many in her new country and on her new planet celebrated the holiday as a familial holiday. A day for giving thanks to one another, for having a family.

Kara would never let Percy have another one without a family if she could help it.

"Linda-" Percy started uncomfortably, but Kara cut him off.

"No!" She stated staunchly. "I will fight you on this. Ma has been so excited to have you, she and Pa can't wait to meet you, you are coming and that is final. I won't hear another word."

"I just…I don't want-"

"You won't be intruding on anything!" She snapped, reaching across the table and gripping his hand in hers. "You're alone enough Percy." She rubbed a soft and soothing circle on the hardened flesh on the back of his hand. "Please, let me do this for you."

Percy flinched, and looked away, biting at his lips. He seemed to contemplate it for a minute,

"You said they live on a farm?" He asked abruptly, and Kara nodded her head. "Then I'll come," Kara moved to speak again before Percy cut her off. "But only if I get to help around on the farm. I'm not going to be a burden on your family."

"You won't be a-" Kara started to say before sighing and thinking better of it. Percy was even more stubborn than her cousin at times. Though she still couldn't help but smile at him, it was just so very Percy for him to insist that he help around the farm in exchange for simply being a guest.

"Fine, Pa certainly won't complain about having an extra hand around to help with things." She said, and Percy beamed at her.

She really did love that smile.

BREAK

"Would you stop fidgeting?" She giggled, batting at his hand which was uncomfortably trying to tap down on his unruly hair.

"I'm trying to drive here!" Percy complained petulantly.

"Well if you weren't squirming so much I would." Kara laughed. "Why are you so nervous anyways? They're so excited to meet you."

"That's why it's so stressful!" Percy replied, taking one hand off the wheel of his car to gesticulate wildly through the air. "They've been hearing all about me and now I'm meeting them," He shrunk into his seat slightly, "This is your family, I want…need. I need them to like me."

A strange warmth spread through her chest at the words, and she reached out and ran a few fingers through his darkened locks on the back of his head, reveling in the way his body seemed to relax at her touch.

"They're not going to like you Percy, they're going to love you." She said gently. Her eyes darted ahead and out of the window, "Here, this is it!" She pointed at the familiar dusty drive that belonged to the Kent farm.

Percy gulped unconsciously, his Adams Apple bobbing slightly, but turned into the drive nevertheless. Kara found herself feeling somewhat nostalgic as they drove up to the dusty farmhouse. She'd spent a year on the small farm, learning and studying up on the new world she suddenly found herself on. At the time, she'd wanted nothing more than to escape the mundane life of farm-living, but now that she was a bit more removed from the situation, she found that a small part of her missed it. Missed the simplicity of simply living and studying here. Of not having the worries of the world thrust upon her shoulders, of being able to just be herself, and not have to worry about living up to the large shadow cast by her cousin.

Percy pulled the car into park beside a small and nondescript sedan, and the familiar large red-truck that Kara knew as Pa's work truck. Kara hastily unbuckled herself and was gathering her supplies when she saw Percy hesitating.

"No backing out now Jackson." She said teasingly, and he nodded stoically.

"It'll be okay," She said gently, rubbing his hand again soothingly. "They'll love you." Not giving him a chance, Kara clambered out of the car, just as the doors to the farmhouse opened and Martha and John Kent came walking out of the house.

"Linda!" Martha called out happily, taking to using Kara's Earth name as easily as though she'd been using it all her life. Kara ran over and embraced the older woman in a tight hug,

"It's so good to see you," Kara whispered, meaning it. She had missed the matronly woman, who gave her another squeeze before passing her on to her husband, who embraced her as easily and happily as his wife.

"Good to see you again hon!" He said.

"You too pa!" Kara said.

She really was grateful for her cousin's human family. They had welcomed her in as one of their own, had put her up and had loved her as unconditionally as though she really were their niece or even their own daughter.

It wasn't until Kara had moved to Metropolis and she was completely alone that she truly understood and appreciated what they had given her.

"That's him then?" Pa said, releasing Kara from his embrace and gesturing with his head behind Kara. Looking over her shoulder, Kara didn't bother suppressing a grin at Percy, who was standing a few yards away looking immensely uncomfortable, with both of their bags slung over his broad shoulders.

Running over to Percy, she looped an arm around him and dragged him forward and over towards her adoptive family.

"Ma, Pa, this is my best friend Percy Jackson." She introduced, "Percy, this is Martha and John Kent."

Percy stepped forward, a nervous smile on his face and his hand outstretched,

"Pleasure to meet you," He said, dropping the bags and offering a hand. "Linda has told me all about you."

"None of that now," Martha said, striding forward and enveloping Percy in a sudden tight hug, "This is a hugging family dear, hope that doesn't bother you."

Percy froze momentarily, unable to move as Martha embraced him. But his hesitation only lasted for a moment as he wrapped his own arms around the considerably smaller woman.

"Linda has told us all about you," Martha said, pulling back and beaming up at him. "Told us that she had to all but threaten you to come."

Percy laughed uncomfortably, and scratched at the back of his ear.

"That she did, I only agreed if I could help out around the farm." He shot John a quick and nervous glance. "I hope that isn't a problem?"

"You won't find me complaining about an extra pair of hands." John laughed, marching forward and grasping Percy's hand in a firm grip. "Good to meet you son, and thanks for volunteering, I'm not as spry as I used to be." He grinned, a gesture which Percy returned.

"Of course sir," Percy replied genially. "I uh, I saw some horse stalls on our way in, you breed?"

"You ride?" John asked, surprised. "Linda told us you were from New York, didn't know you city folk knew your way around a barn." It was a tease, one which Percy took in stride.

"I went to a summer camp as a boy, I loved working in the stables." He explained, and John's grin only grew as he wrapped an arm around Percy's shoulder and led him in the direction of the barn.

"Well then, I could use an experienced hand, one of my mares had a foal and he's a rambunctious brat."

Percy let out a laugh, and Kara felt a swell of happiness in her heart at seeing his shoulders relax slightly as John led him away.

Martha sidled up to her, watching as the pair of men meandered into the barn, talking merrily amongst themselves.

"He's very sweet," Martha observed casually. "Not many his age would offer to help out around a farm."

"He's one of the kindest people I've ever met." Kara said, still staring at the spot her friend and adoptive uncle disappeared.

"Poor dear." Martha sighed, and Kara looked over to her, eyebrow raised curiously. "He's a mess, isn't he?" She asked, and Kara's shoulders slouched.

"He refuses to talk to me about it." She sighed. "He's as stubborn as Kal."

"Let's not hope he's that stubborn," Martha laughed, as she looped an arm through Kara's and led her into the house.

"Have he and Lois arrived?" Kara asked, "I noticed Lois' car in the drive."

"They're in town." Martha nodded, "Picking up a few supplies for dinner tomorrow." Martha sighed, "He's been a mess since we told him about Percy. Expect the full inquisition when he comes back."

"He has no right!" Kara snapped, white-hot anger flooding through him. "If he tries anything…" She said warningly, and Martha tapped her gently on the arm.

"Lois will have the reins on him, and Lana will be here tomorrow too. Lord knows that he can't pull much with those two here."

"He'd better not," Kara said sourly,

"He just worries about you dear," Martha said, "His heart's in the right place, he just wants to make sure that one of his or your enemies isn't trying to get to you."

"Percy wouldn't hurt a fly!" Kara said indignantly.

"I know dear," Martha said, opening the door to the house and ushering Kara inside. "But you know how he gets. Too much time around the man in Gotham if you ask me. He has Clark seeing enemies around every hay bale." She led Kara into the kitchen and they set about getting things ready for dinner.

A few hours passed in quiet enjoyment, as Kara and Martha set about getting dinner prepared. Kara couldn't stop herself from listening in on Percy and John as they worked out in the barn together, and she didn't bother quieting the smile on her face as he heard the two bonding and laughing together. Percy was regaling John with a story about when he was a boy, and John was laughing heartily.

Martha, noticing the smile on Kara's face, sighed knowingly to herself, though the gesture was missed entirely by Kara.

Around five o'clock, Kara's ears perked up as she heard the telltale rumble of the engine of the other farm truck pulling into the driveway.

The door to the small house opened, and her cousin called out.

"Kara?" He asked, the large frame of her cousin, Kal-El, known to the world as Superman, stepped into the kitchen. He was dressed as his mild-mannered alter ego, his baggy and overly large clothing hiding the strong and powerful frame of the strongest man on the planet, and a pair of ill-fitting glasses sitting on his face.

Despite her tense relationship with the man, Kara was pleased to see her cousin. She hadn't seen him in several weeks, and her own duties with the League and her own studies kept them from seeing each other too frequently. Putting down the knife she was using to chop the onions for the stew, she strode over to her cousin and enveloped him in a hug.

"It's good to see you Kal," She said in Kyrptonese

"You too, cousin," He said back, also in the language of their dead planet.

She released her embrace and turned towards the petite, raven-haired woman standing just behind her cousin.

"It's good to see you again Lois," Kara said in English, wrapping the other woman up in a hug as well,

"You too kiddo," Lois laughed, returning the embrace, before pulling back and leveling a mischievous look her way, "Heard you brought a friend along." She dug a teasing elbow into Clark's side, "Ol' Smallville here has had his spandex in a twist about it all weekend."

"Not this again," Clark groaned, rolling his eyes. "We talked about this Lois! I'm just being careful!" Seeing an opportunity to nip this in the bud here and now, Kara rounded on her cousin and jabbed a well-manicured finger into her cousin's chest.

"You'll leave him alone!" She snarled. "He's a good man, and more importantly he's my best friend. He doesn't have anyone right now and I won't have you ruin this for him by grilling him all weekend."

"Kara-" He tried to say, puffing his chest up indignantly.

"Clark Joseph Kent, you will leave the boy alone!" Martha warned, brandishing a wooden spoon in her hand. "He's our guest here, and he's spent the entire afternoon working with your father in the barns. You'll be the good-mannered boy I raised you to be or so help me our Lord above."

"Ma-" Clark started to say only to be cut off.

"No." Marth replied coldly. "Kara is quite right, the boy is our guest and will be treated as such. He only accepted Kara's offer at his insistence that he help out around the farm in exchange. Does that really sound villainous to you."

Clark looked like he wanted to argue more, but wisely held his tongue.

"Kara," Martha said, drawing her attention away from her cousin, "Why don't you go and gather the men. They'll want to wash up before supper."

"On it Ma." Kara said, and with one final meaningful glare directed at her cousin, she departed from the house and made her way towards the barn.

Opening the door to the large barn, she stopped in her tracks. Percy, his back turned to her, was bent half over, sweat dribbling down his well-structured back, as he hefted a large bale of hay over his shoulder.

"Ah, Linda," John called from where he was lounging comfortably in a chair, as Percy glanced over his shoulder and flashed her a genuine smile, before adjusting the load on his shoulders and climbing up a ladder towards the second floor of the barn.

"Supper on then?" John asked,

Kara wrenched her eyes away from Percy and over to her adoptive uncle.

"Yeah, Ma said to tell you two to head in and clean up."

John nodded and stood, stretching languidly.

"We'll be up in a minute."

Her mouth strangely dry, Kara just nodded and all but fled from the barn. The image of Percy's sweat stained back etched into her memory. She tried her best to wash the images from her mind as she swept up back to the house, conflicting and strange emotions raging in her heart.

Lois and Martha seemed to notice her discomfort, and Kara felt she would have flushed if she could have, but she ignored their stares and set about continuing her work finishing up dinner.

A few minutes later the door to the house opened, and Kara's nostrils were filled with the sudden musky scent of sweat and work, as Percy came walking into the now very cramped kitchen. His eyes darted towards Kara for a minute, before his eyes landed on her cousin and Lois. His eyes widened in surprise and Kara put her knife down, sweeping away from the utensils and over to Percy, which had been a mistake, because the musky scent was only that much more powerful this close to her friend. It was making her somewhat dizzy, and warmth spread across her in a way she didn't quite understand.

Ignoring the feelings, she tried to focus her attention back on her cousin. "Percy, this is my cousin Clark, and his partner-"

"Lois Lane," Percy said quickly, before flushing red around the ears, and scratched awkwardly behind his ear. "Sorry," He apologized quickly. "I'm in a couple of journalism classes and we've read a couple of your articles." He said to a thoroughly amused Lois.

"Always nice to meet a fan," She teased, as she rose gracefully from her place at the small table in the kitchen and strode over to Percy, arm outstretched. "Pleasure to meet you, we'll have to talk over dinner."

"Please and thank you," Percy said enthusiastically, shaking her hand before turning to Clark.

"Kara's told me a lot about you," Clark said, crossing his arms protectively over his chest, not offering Percy a greeting. Kara had seen many a man quiver under that glare, the glare not of the mild-mannered and somewhat aloof Clark Kent, but of the Kryptonian Clark really was. But Percy, as he often did, surprised her.

He was not the least bit intimidated by the man, and crossed his own arms over his chest.

"And I you," Percy said back. "A lot, about you," He stressed, clearly not happy with the man. Kara's stomach seized somewhat at the interaction. As estranged as her relationship could be with her cousin, it was important to her, for reasons she couldn't explain, that they have a good relationship.

"Percy," She said, drawing his attention away from the standoff, "Why don't you go wash up, you smell like a barn."

"Nothing wrong with that," John laughed, clapping Percy on the back. "Smells like a day's good work." He added with a smile and a wink at Percy, who grinned back.

"Come on," Kara said, gripping Percy by the hand and dragging him away, and towards the shower on the second floor. Blessedly, Percy allowed himself to be dragged away.

"Please don't go picking fights Percy," She sighed, still holding his hand as she snagged his bag from the bottom of the staircase. "I want this weekend to be fun."

"Sorry." Percy said grouchily. "He just rubs me the wrong way."

"I can take care of myself, Percy." Kara said with a roll of her eyes. "So keep the toxic masculinity bullshit to a minimum please."

"I know you can, Kara," Percy said, stopping at the top of the steps and pulling Kara to a stop as well. "But he's going to make this weekend difficult, I can tell already,"

"I've already talked to him about it." Kara said. "He won't do anything if he's smart."

"Not really comforting." Percy teased, and Kara giggled.

"Maybe not." She teased back, then grew somber. "But please, try and be civil with him, for me?"

His features softened, and he nodded, albeit reluctantly, "I won't start anything, I promise." But then added as an afterthought, "But I'll damn well finish it if he takes a run at me."

"I expect nothing less." Kara said with a roll of her eyes, before tugging Percy and pushing him into the bathroom. "Now hurry up and shower! And put on that shirt we bought,"

"Yes dear," He said sarcastically, sticking his tongue out, a gesture that Kara matched before dissolving in a fit of giggles as the door closed behind Percy. A moment later and the sound of running water filled her ears, followed shortly by the sound of clothing being taken off and hitting the floor.

She was warm again, spreading from her toes and rising with a volcanic speed up to her chest.

Just on the other side of those doors, blocked only by some plywood, Percy was naked. He was wet. And the heat only grew stronger. All she needed was to take a little look, one little look, but she stopped herself dead, covering her eyes with her hands and propping against the wall, sighing heavily.

What on earth was wrong with her, ever since they'd departed from Metropolis it had been like this. She'd been all consumed with thoughts of him, thoughts of him and her in…scandalous positions. Of Percy…It was becoming entirely too much to bear. She was aware of her physical attraction to him, but that's where it ended right? Sure she reveled in his company, how he was a constant pillar of support in her life, but there was nothing between them but a similar sense of friendship right?

She shook her head, and descended the stairs. She would figure out these weird feelings later, right now, she was hungry, and turned her focus towards the delicious dinner that Martha had prepared.

BREAK

Dinner that night was a jovial affair, and not even Clark seemed immune to Percy's magical ability to charm anyone he spoke to. He regaled them all with stories about him and Kara at school, about adventures he'd had as a boy. And was an even more attentive and active listener, as her friends and family told him stories, some fictitious, about Kara's own youth.

It brought a joy indescribable to her, watching Percy interact with her family as he did. Not just because it had been so important to her that he get along with these newfound members of her family, but for Percy's own sake as well. Since their arrival, Percy's entire demeanor had changed.

The dark and haunted look in his eyes, that he seemed so desperate to hide from her, had not surfaced once all evening. His posture, normally so stiff and tense, was calm and relaxed. He no longer looked like a caged animal, prepared to run at the nearest sign of danger, or like a fox running from the hunt. He looked as he should look.

Happy.

Calm.

Relaxed.

It was everything Kara had been hoping for him.

"Percy here is a regular Dr. Doolittle." John was saying, pointing his dirtied fork at Percy. "Horse whisperer if ever I saw one. One touch from him and that braying foal was acting like a little puppy, it was incredible."

Percy flushed at the praise. "I've always done well with horses, mom used to say I got it from my father."

"You said your father left when you were a boy," Clark said casually, as he buttered up a roll on his side plate.

Kara cast a warning glare at him, but Percy just shot her look that told her he'd take care of it,

"Yeah," He said, wiping some of the stew from the corner of his mouth, "Mom said he was lost at sea shortly after I was a boy."

"Navy man?" John asked, though there was no malice or ulterior motive in his question, only pure interest,

"At one point," Percy shrugged, "But he was more of a fisherman." His heart thumped in his chest, and Kara watched as Clark's eyes narrowed suspiciously, no doubt hearing that he was lying, as he always did when asked about his family. It was a topic that Kara had learned to avoid. If Percy didn't want to talk about his family, then that was his business, she trusted him to tell her when he was ready, but that didn't mean that she wanted her cousin prying into Percy's life without his consent, as she had no doubt he would do.

"That was incredible Mrs. Kent," Percy said, turning his attention away from Clark and beaming at Martha,

"Thank you dear," She said, as she rose and began clearing plates from the table,

"No you don't," Percy said, standing up as well, "You cooked, which means I clean."

"Oh, dear you don't have to-"

"I insist," Percy interjected, "Please, let me do the dishes, it's the least I can do."

Martha put a hand on her hip, and looked exasperatedly at Kara, "He's going to be difficult about this, isn'the?"

"You have no idea." She laughed.

With a show of great reluctance, but a smile on her face, Martha returned to her seat, as Percy began gathering plates and bowls.

"Nice to see some know how to be useful," Martha mused, sending her husband a knowing look.

"What was that dear?" John asked, digging a finger into his ear, "Damned hearing aids must be acting up again because I couldn't hear a thing,"

Kara laughed, as did the others.

Within moments, Percy was in the kitchen and the sink was turned on, followed slowly by the sound of something being scrubbed.

"There you have it, Smallville," Lois said sarcastically, running a finger around the rim of her glass while smiling slyly at her partner. "The scourge of the earth itself, washing dishes in your kitchen. God help us all."

"He was lying," Clark said, glowering in the direction of the kitchen. "About his father,"

"Oh have mercy upon us," Lois said sarcastically, "A teenager lying about his family? I think we have our next story, please, allow me to call Perry."

"It's not just that," Clark said slowly, "It's his bone density,"

"His what?" Kara spluttered, before shaking her head, "Wait, no, you were looking at him?" She hissed, keeping her voice low enough so that Percy couldn't hear them,

"His bone density and musculature, they're wrong." Clark said, almost sounding intrigued, "His blood too, it's…strange. His bones are far too dense for a normal human, and his musculature is too strong too…developed."

"Maybe he drank his milk and ate his wheaties," Kara said through gritted teeth, and Clark turned a glare on her,

"Look for yourself," He said simply, gesturing at Percy, and for a moment, Kara hesitated. it was an invasion of privacy, a gross and horrific invasion of her best friend's bodily autonomy. She had no right, and yet, her curiosity was at war with her desire to protect her friend.

In the end, her own curiosity won out.

Turning in her seat, she looked through the wall, and began scanning her best friend's body.

Her cousin was right, Percy's bones were thick, far too thick for that of a normal human's. Then there was his musculature, it was strong, and rippling, far too well designed for that of a normal human, it was dense and thick, corded as though made specifically for someone to be used exclusively for hard labor. Then there was his blood, there was something…strange about it. Something that wasn't entirely human, if Kara didn't know better, she would say that it shone with an almost gold-like aura.

She ripped her gaze away from the man. Her mind racing a million miles a minute, when her cousin's voice sounded in her ear,

"Kara, I'm being completely serious when I say this. But Percy Jackson isn't human."

AN: So this is coming out a day early because I won't be around my computer tomorrow night, but next week the story will be uploaded at it's usual time.

Shoutout to Double0Sxvxn for being an awesome Beta and dealing with my bullshit and as always if you enjoyed this but haven't checked out my other work, give them a try you never know you might find something else you like. I'm also on discord now, where I and a bunch of other writers hang out, chat and brainstorm ideas, you just have to copy the link that's in my profile bio if you want to come and hang out with us. Stay safe, stay healthy and have an awesome week

All My Love,

LilDB