It took Percy another five minutes to calm Dick down enough to be able to explain what happened. He listened as Dicks sobs became quieter, rubbing soothing circles on his back until finally he lifted his head from its place buried in Percy's shirt.
"You wanna tell me exactly what happened?" Percy asked softly.
Dick took a shaky breath and avoided eye contact.
"You said you couldn't read the paper?" Percy asked. Dick nodded his head face scrunching in frustration, angry tears threatened to fall once again. "Hey, hey it's okay. It's okay." Percy said quickly.
This was the second time Dick had broken down in a week, and although Dick wasn't exactly conscious for his first breakdown, Percy wasn't sure if he'd be able to successfully calm him down if it happened again.
"Okay, let's start from the beginning. Umm..." what would Bruce do in this situation, he thought. "Report everything that happened leading up to this event. Starting with where you got that newspaper." Is that something Batman would say?
It seemed to work as Dick took a deep breath and immediately calmed down. "So, well, I was trying to find a Gotham newspaper, 'cause before I left this crazy dude called Mr. Freeze escaped from Arkham asylum and I wanted to see if the situation was contained."
Now Dicks eyes were clearing up and all traces of his previous panic were quickly vanishing, save for the still wet tear tracks left on his cheeks. "Annabeth helped me find a newspaper, she asked me what language I wanted it in and I said English. But when I tried reading it all the words wouldn't focus it was like the letters were swimming around. I came back here to try again but no matter what I do I can't read it!"
After finishing his report Dick took another shaky breath and quietly asked. "What's happening to me Percy?"
Percy regraded Dick thoughtfully. "You said it was like the letters were swimming? You couldn't focus on anything?" Dick nodded. "It sounds like you have dyslexia." Dicks eyes widened. "It's a common trait in demigods!" Percy said quickly. "Never met one who didn't have it."
Dick looked away, his face scrunched up in confusion. "But I never had it." Dick said quietly.
Percy regarded him thoughtfully. "You also said you had never trained with a sword before your sparring session with Nico." Percy said slowly.
Dick looked up confused. "I... I hadn't. Well, Diana gave me a celestial bronze sword to protect myself in case anything ever happened. That's how I defeated Medusa, but she never had the chance to train me with it." He paused for a second. "What does that have to do with anything?"
Percy had a good idea of what was happening, but he needed to be certain. "Come with me." Percy said. Dick wordlessly followed Percy out of their cabin and out into the woods.
They arrived by a small stream, the same one Percy was in when he'd first been claimed. "Do you still have your sword?" He asked.
Dick nodded hesitantly. He dug into his pocket and produced a long bronze sword. Percy admired the fine Amazonian blade, before pulling out his own blade, riptide. "Care to spar?" He asked playfully.
"I'm confused what is this going to prove?"
"I'm just... testing a theory." Percy said. "Now raise your weapon. And fight!"
Percy quickly disarmed Dicks sword and it flung to the ground.
"No fair! I'm still in training!" He said.
"Pay attention Dick, that's the exact same move you used to disarm Nico."
"I-oh... ok." He raised his sword a determined look on his face. Dick lasted a few seconds longer this time, but ultimately ended up in the same predicament as last time, with Percy disarming him.
Dick huffed in frustration and kicked at the ground. "I'm waiting for your point." He said crossing his arms.
"That day you fought Nico, you were amazing!" Percy said circling Dick. He shifted uncomfortably. "So what was the difference between than, and every other time you've fought with a sword?"
"Luck?" Dick guessed looking bored.
"Step in the water."
Dick did as he was told and immediately Percy could see a difference in his face.
"Now." Percy said lifting his sword. "Fight me."
All that was heard through the woods was the sound of swords clashing in a heated battle, although Percy was holding back a little no one could deny that Dick was putting up an incredible fight. At one point he had almost disarmed Percy. That's when Percy took the fight outside of the water.
Upon exiting the water Dick immediately deflated, he looked worn out and his technique became sloppy. Percy disarmed him within seconds.
Percy was smiling like a mad man. "The difference, was water. You'd taken a shower before your training with Nico hadn't you."
Dicks face suddenly sparked with realization.
"Dick I think your powers are emerging."
Dicks hand flew to his stomach where Percy knew he was hiding his large angry scars. "That explains..." He whispered so quietly, Percy could barely hear him.
"That explains what?" Percy asked. Was he about to finally reveal his secret?
"Umm, that explains all the weird things that have been happening this week. I've been feeling a lot stronger, I cut myself when I was sparring the other day, after my shower the wound was gone. And... the weirdest thing that happened was I think I talked to a dolphin."
The dolphin cover up was a bit much but Percy was ecstatic. Dick was getting his powers! He couldn't wait to take him swimming teach him to control water, show him that he could talk to the horses at the stable...
"Hold on." Percy said deep in thought. "Why have your powers just started to emerge now? You've practically been human for the first nine years of your life. Why now?"
Dick shrugged and was about to answer when someone bolted through the woods into the clearing.
"Grover!" Dick cried. "What's wrong? what happened?"
"Dick!" Grover paused to catch his breath. "Come quickly! Diana! Wonder Women is here and she does not look happy!"
