DISCLAIMER : Percy Jackson belongs to Rick Riordan.
3. Ares.
He ran away.
Away from camp.
And Percy knew that he was in trouble. His siblings had probably already reported his departure from the camp to their father. He was in trouble. Percy kept moving around beating some monsters which got on his way. Percy knew that no child of the War God could leave the camp without getting Ares' permission unless it was a quest. Each God had his own way to keep an eye on their own children. Due to his violent attitude, his mother sent him earlier to the camp. He had nothing to say. She wanted him to stay put. But they could talk.
It was good to know he had siblings. He wasn't the youngest nor the eldest.
But he ran away before his thirteenth birthday. He was in trouble, he thought miserably. What excuse could he give to his father or to his immortals siblings ?
"Shit." He said aloud as he hid behind a tree.
There were three monsters in the area. He needed to be careful. He killed quickly the only one which was close to him. He killed the remain monsters when they found him. He continued to walk thinking on what he had done. He felt a shiver down his spine. Percy wasn't suicidal, he just wanted to be left alone for a few days. He needed fresh air. But all his demands were denying by Mr. D who was like Ares when he took care of his only children Castor and Pollux.
Three days later.
Percy was being sneaky. He knew he was hunted down by Phobos and Deimos, his immortals siblings. The two minors gods were probably riding Ares' chariot to find him quickly. Percy repressed a sigh as he walked in a store, he missed two meals, he was too much stressed about his situation. He knew that he shouldn't done what he did. Percy had a fight with his siblings before his unexpected departure. He bought food and drinks, he acted calmly in front of the mortals. Then again, he was on the run, he couldn't risk future issues. He stepped a foot outside the store as he saw in the sky a familiar chariot.
He paled and cursed himself. Percy knew he had limits but he couldn't allow himself to be captured. Not that early. He needed more fresh air. He will get them. Percy was determined to get away.
'What if I was wrong ?' He thought stopping his tracks.
Percy had the urge to fight, to test his limits. He felt so lonely lately, he hadn't speak to his mother but he knew something wasn't right as if he knew she was lying. He didn't know what to think about that. Why ? Was the only question in his head. Sometimes Percy felt so overwhelmed, he tried to not be furious when the other demigods insulted him and his family. Why ? Because he was an Ares' kid. It was so unfair.
'Do I want to go further ? Or go back and submit myself to my father's punishment ? Fresh air or… Fresh air, that's it.'
He put down his weapon. Percy let a sigh as he walked in a park his hands in his pockets. He couldn't stop thinking. Was he wrong ? Why did he quit the camp again ? To be alone ? To be alone dealing with pain ?
'What am I doing again ? Something stupid. Again. Father is probably furious.'
Percy looked up to the sky wondering if they found him, if they observes him, if they were still searching him. He didn't know. Maybe.. Clarisse will be mad at him, Percy was used to bottle his emotions. He was a walking bomb. All his siblings and his father as well knew about it. Percy knew he couldn't run away forever.
'I'm being stupid. Do I ?' He pondered.
Percy was a warrior, a child of the War God. He was a natural sword fighter. He did quests with his siblings, mostly Ares' quests. But it was still good. Percy knew nothing was perfect, he never knew how to talk about emotions and feelings. It was so.. Percy didn't know how to deal with them. He needed to fight. He needed to be free.
Freedom.
The word which had been haunted him since weeks. He couldn't take it and disappeared from the camp. He had no doubt that his siblings and his father were mad at him.
"There you are." A voice said.
He recognized immediately the voice. No. It couldn't be.. Percy failed to move, failed to.. Had he been so much lost in thought to be unable to sense him ? He kept to state at the sky, his presence was strong, Phobos found him. Deimos arrived next.
"You will come with us. Father is furious. Do not run away." They said at the same time.
"Or else ?"
He was probably suicidal to mock his older and immortals brothers. But at some point, Percy didn't care. He needed to breath. Why could he not breath ? He felt so heavy, his legs were shaking. Why ? He fought hard to master himself. He fell hard on the ground. He closed his eyes wondering why he had difficulties to breath.
"He's hyperventilating. Take him Phobos. I'll drive."
Percy passed out the next minute.
He woke up one hour later in his father's temple. Percy tried to sit down only to be unable to move. He couldn't move at all, Percy saw a silhouette moving towards him. He tried to speak, to ask his identity but again he couldn't. What was happening ? Percy started to feel fear as the silhouette approached him slowly like a predator. Percy saw one pair of eyes looking at him, he saw emotionless eyes, it put a hand on him startling him. Percy was petrified. Was he breathing ? Percy felt so cold. He felt so lonely, so hurt.
The silhouette stared at him saying nothing doing nothing. Percy didn't know how many minutes passed, he felt so exhausted. Then, he blacked out. He woke up in the same bed, he wasn't alone but at least there wasn't the mysterious silhouette. Only his father and his two older immortals siblings.
'Where is it ? It was just there.. Where ?'
Percy began to panic. But Ares' presence made him very comfortable, more peaceful.
The God of War put a hand on his son's shoulder as he felt his son's fear. Ares passed from furious to worried about his son Percy. When he found out that Percy ran away, he was so furious, he ordered to Phobos and Deimos to find him. Then when they came back with him, he began to worry. Percy had, according to his other siblings, lucid dreams. He was also too much exhausted, he started to distance himself from the other.
"Now stay put. You're safe. No one wants to hurt you. No one will. I'm here. We're here. You need to let them go." Ares started slowly forcing his son to look at him in his eyes.
He needed to express his feelings. To talk with someone. To open himself.
"You're my son. You're a warrior. Fear is universal. No shame of being scared. It happened to everyone."
Percy couldn't turn his head to escape his issue.
"You'll talk everyday with your siblings. You'll spend time with them. You'll work with them on your issue. You'll not run away again. Escape your issues is not a solution."
Ares' words made so much sense.
"Your siblings will listen to you. You're not alone. No one will hurt you. Do you understand ? No need to lock away your emotions. You're not an emotionless weapon. You're my son, you're mine, you're my warrior. We are warriors. We are family. Do you understand ?"
Percy nodded unable to speak.
Everything made so much sense now.
"It doesn't mean I won't punish you. I still punish you for running away. I mean it. "
At the end, Percy was glad that his brothers found him. He was glad to have a such good dad. Sure he wasn't too much around because of the ancient laws but to Percy's mind, he was the best father.
