Percy's PoV (6 years ago)
I remember it being wet, we had a storm warning but I knew I had to run. Tears were streaming down my face, a brand new red mark was scraped across my face. I ran past the street crying, it was really late so most people were asleep. I ran and ran until I was at a very recognisable building. It was an apartment building.
I ran up and pressed for his apartment. The beeping sound went off and I was greeted by his voice.
"Who the hell is here at this hour!" The voice said sounding half asleep. I couldn't say much just sob as I heard his voice. Instantly he hung up and in a few seconds I saw a figure run down the stairs down to me I could see him through the glass door.
He quickly opens it and lets me in. I ran into his arms and hugged him tightly.
"Gabe again?" He asked. I nodded into the hug I only reached his waist I was that small.
He patted me on the back and brought me up to his apartment. When we got there and I calmed down with a cup of warm milk he asked me to tell him what happened.
"I was sleeping and Gabe came back, drunk like last time. This time he had his friends come over. My mom told them to leave and for Gabe to go to bed, he hit her hard. I saw the bruise. Then his friends laughed, she told me to run and— I did". I say choking up a bit now that I realised I left my mom alone with Gabe and his friends.
He sees this. He stands up himself.
"Stay here Kid, I'm going to go check on you mom and bring her here so she can rest, you can take the guest bed, ok?" He says. when he told me he would help my mom I calmed down a little, I realised I was really tired, so I stood and made my way to my bedroom as he put his coat on and pulled something out of a locked safe that made a clicking noise.
"Good night, and thanks Ikaros." I say and go to bed.
"No issue kid, and goodnight."
—
Percy's PoV (present day)
The drive up was long and painful, every time second we were in the car it felt more and more real, I didn't want it to be real. Chiron was nice enough to let me bring Thalia, the rest of the group understood why I brought Thalia, they would support me, Thalia would tell me to get over myself and grow up. I needed that right now, someone to keep me in the moment and not get drawn into grief.
"We're nearly there!" Our driver Argus. He was quite determined to stay quiet this trip while me Thalia spoke, but it was almost relaxing to know I would be home soon, Almost.
Grover flew back from Miami a few days ago just before the accident. And Annabeth only just arrived yesterday from her long trip. I've told them I was bringing a friend and my mother was more then happy for me to have support on the way and way back from the funeral.
When we pulled in to my estate and outside my house we unbuckled and grabbed our duffel bags. Mine was blue with a yellow trident and her's was purple with a black lightning bolt on it. When we got to the door I passed for a moment and rung the doorbell.
My mom opened the door, when she saw me she gave a big hug from the door. Thalia kind of stood off to the side awkwardly. When my mom let go of me she saw Thalia.
"Just to be clear you said 'friend' on the phone, Right?" My mom asked. I looked confused and then at I looked at Thalia who blushing slightly. I copped onto what she meant.
"Oh yeah friend! Just friends!" I confirm. Thalia nods in agreement.
"It's nice to meet you Ms Jackson!" She says holding her hand out. My mom smiled.
"And the same to you, I just wish this was under better circumstances. And please call me Sally." My mother said trying to sound happy though I know the death of Ikaros hit her hard.
"I'm Thalia, by the way." She says. Pointing to herself. My mom smiled and let us in. When we got in I saw people all around getting ready for tomorrow.
"Percy, you and Thalia are in your room, we have the air mattress set up you can sort out your selfs who gets the bed and who get's the air mattress. Oh and Percy I would suggest saying hi to Grover and Annabeth before you do anything else." My mom says as she goes back to baking, knowing her she's probably hosting a small get together after the funeral.
"C'mon I'll introduce you to a few people!" I say putting on a smile. She smiles lightly and follows me.
First we bump into Annie, Grover and another girl.
"Sup dudes." I say when I get close, when they see me they instantly rush to hug me in a group hug, Thalia and the other girl staying away in awkwardness. After our group hug we separate and they begin the questions phase of our reunion. We talked a bit, I introduced them to Thalia and they introduce us to Juniper Grovers Girlfriend he met on his trip to Miami who also happens to live in New York about an hour away from here.
We all shook hand and got to talking a bit more. The part that scared me was Annabeth and Thalia began talking to each other, a lot. They were in a corner with Juniper just chatting while me and Grover talked out of ear shot.
"So, you like her?" Grover asked nudging his eye brows. I rolled my eyes, he smirked knowing that I did like her.
"Did you make a move yet?" He asked. I turn and glared at him.
"Tried to! But then my friend called and gave me depressing news!" I say smiling a little. I heard him laugh next to, me.
"Oh dam, that is really bad timing!" He says laughing his ass off.
"I hate you!" I say smiling myself. The girls looked at us, with confusion as Grover laughed some more.
"Now your turn, what the hell happened in Miami that you came back with a girl!?" I ask smiling a little. Grover smiles a bit once his laughter subsided.
"We met on the plane, apparently we had the same holiday plans, we even left Miami at the same time, i left cause, you know for the funeral but she was just leaving to prepare for going to Spain in a few days." He says.
"So her family travels?" I ask. He shakes his head.
"She's eighteen, she doesn't have a family, she was cared for in a orphanage, until she inherited her parents money a few weeks ago." Grover explained.
"Parents money?" I ask wondering what the hell he was on about.
"Her parents owned a resort in Spain, it was a woods resort, camping, hiking and what not, the government seized the building but it got to much publicity that they couldn't shut it down, so now Juniper owns it, and the fortune it comes with." He says. I give him an analysing look.
"Grover, before I ask just know that I'll believe you what ever you say. But are you-" I try asking before he interrupted me.
"Dating her for her money!? Hell no! I didn't even know she was loaded until a few hours ago!" Grover says. I put my arms up in defence.
"Sorry, I just had to know!" I say smiling a little. "I know your not a gold digger, you're to nervous around girls to try it." I say laughing a little.
I looked back at the girls while myself and Grover laughed. The girls were talking and smiling but Annie had a weird look in her face like, I knew that look that was the 'my plans is coming together' look. With one word from Thalia and Juniper Annabeth smiled wide, Annabeth said something and Thalia nodded, then they took out their phones, and started saying random numbers.
"Oh shit! Are they exchanging numbers!?" I say now very scared. Grover stopped laughing and looked up at the girls then started laughing harder.
I notice Juniper was giving out her number as well to the two girls.
"Hey are the sharing numbers with Juniper now?" As I say this Grover quickly stopped laughing.
"Do the girls we like have Annabeth's number now?" Grover asked.
"The better question is does Annabeth have the girls we like numbers?" I say. Annabeth glances at us and sneakily put up her middle finger and smirks at us.
"We're fucked!" I mutter. Grover just gulped.
The girls walk over to us.
"Grover, what were you laughing, you know people are getting ready for a funeral tomorrow right?" Annabeth says, smirking a little. We just glare at her as her smiles grows wider.
"Thalia, Let me guide you to where you'll be sleeping!" I say trying to leave Annabitch alone with Grover.
"Yeah sure, Girls Coffee later?" Thalia says. The girls nodded in agreement. Great!
I drag Thalia away from them and bring her to my room. Saying it like that reminds me of some of my more- recent dreams.
When we get to my room I open the door and close it behind me.
"Annabeth's fun!" She says enthusiastically.
"You know what you're doing don't you!" I say realising her own dark plan.
"You want to learn about a boy you become besties with their best female friend!" She surmises.
"I dislike this side of you." I mutter. She smiles and looks around, she notices the small air mattress and my big bed.
"So I'm assuming I get the bed, cause you know it's the gentlemanly thing to do!" She says
"I thought you hated chivalry!" I say looking at her in surprise.
"I do, but I also don't want to sleep on the floor!" She says dropping her bag on my bed. I chuckle a bit and throw my bag on the air mattress. She smirks and says nothing.
After we get comfortable with our new beds, I hear a knock on my door.
"Come in!" I say. My dad walked into the room and glances at us.
"Hey son, I just wanted to check on you!" He says smiling at me. I smile back, I have missed my dad but he wasn't big on hugging.
"I'm good dad. Oh this is Thalia by the way!" I say pointing at Thalia who waved at him. My dad looked at her and smiled.
"Hello sir." She says politely, she's never polite with me.
"Please it Poesiden none of that sir business, I get enough of that from work." He says chuckling a bit, we laugh as well.
He waved one last time and left the room. After an awkward pause, Thalia began talking.
"So how did you meet Grover and Annabeth?" She asked. I thought for a second and answered.
"I met Grover on my first day of School, he was very nervous and shy, always has been and probably always will be. We hit it off after I did like ninety percent of the work for the start of our friendship." When I say this Thalia rolled her eyes then gestured for me to continue.
I met Annabeth when our parents worked together. Her mother runs a publicist company and my father is the CEO of a sports company, they met while sponsoring our local football team, they brought myself and Annabeth along to a business lunch and we just became good friends. Though I wish I could say the same for them, they hate each other." I explain. Thalia nods.
She stands up and makes her way over to the door.
"Come on! Let's go get something to eat!" She says determinedly. I roll me eyes and awkwardly get off my air mattress. After the struggle of getting up was over Thalia dragged me out to Grover, Annie and Juniper. We decided to go and see if there was a good place open, after all the Labyrinth was closed, cause you know. We leave in hopes of finding a cafe open.
—
Percy's PoV (6 years ago)
I woke to the sound of heavy breathing. I ran from my room in Ikaros's place to check out the noise. I was shocked to see Ikaros carry my barley conscious mom through his Kitchen trying to get to the couch in the sitting room.
I quickly move forward and try to help him carry her. I was shocked to see her face bruised her clothes ripped and blood dripping down her face. I should have fought, I should have helped her! I was a coward! When we got to the couch in Ikaros's apartment we lay her down gently, she muttering in her sleep, even in her sleep she was begging them to stop.
"Stay here with your Mom, I'll be back!" Ikaros said before walking out of the room and out of the apartment. I run to the window and see him leave the building and get into a car, it was to dark to see it properly but I know it wasn't his.
"Percy!" I hear my mom call out for me. I quickly run back towards her.
"Mom, i'm so sorry. Please forgive me! I shouldn't of left. I'm so sorry!" I say crying at the sight of her.
"Percy, it's ok. I'm not mad at you, this isn't your fault! It's mine, I shouldn't of let Gabe stay, I was just scared of him, but I should have stopped him as soon as I knew he was hurting you!" She says pointing at my leg. I look as well, one final hit Gabe got in just before I ran, it was very badly bruised he nearly broke it. The mark on my face was healing thankfully.
My mom was weak, even at my age I knew that, I told her to get some sleep, she reluctantly agreed and almost instantly fell asleep again. I decided to do so as well and went to the guest room, to sleep off my pain, and anger.
Before I did that though I saw a safe, the same safe I saw Ikaros grab something from when he went to get my mom, what ever he took he didn't put it back, he also didn't close it. I move the door a little and see a case was open with special foam in the case. Only a little foam was missing in the middle it made a weird L shape but it was a side ways L. There was also small golden coloured pointy things the were cylinders with points like arrows at the front.
I just ignored it and went to bed, I had no idea at the time. Those golden things were bullets, and the L shaped item, was a gun.
—
Percy's PoV (Present day)
After we got some sandwiches and drinks from another Cafe, we ate talked and left. Grover, Annie and Juniper decided to head home. Annabeth walked home sense it was only about ten minutes away. Grover and Juniper would walk half way with her until they meet a bus stop then Grover and Juniper would take a bus to Junipers then Grover would head home from there.
Me and Thalia walked back to my place. When we got there it was more calm. My mom was making some dinner for the lot of us and Paul was back from school, he was sitting at the kitchen table reading a news paper.
"Percy! How are you?" Paul asked getting up from his chair and hugging me. I hug him back.
"I'm good Paul! It's been almost peaceful not getting called into your office everyday!" I say laughing a little. He chuckles and looks at Thalia.
"And…you must be this Thalia Sally told me about!" He says holding his hand out for her. "I take it you're not a hugger." He adds.
"Spot on, hate them!" She says smiling and shaking his hand, Mom smiles and goes back to cooking.
"I'm Paul, the guy who's dating Percy's mom for the past three years." He says. Thalia smiles, Paul gestures for us to follow him into the sitting room.
We follow him into the sitting room.
"So Thalia, when did you meet Perseus?" He asks sitting down on the armchair. Looking at her. The two of us sit down on the couch next to each other, myself closer to Paul.
"We met when myself and my group of friends decided to welcome's him to our floor!" She says fiddling with her hands.
"Nervous or ADHD he asked gesturing to her fiddling hands.
"ADHD most of us have it, but like Percy's it's minor." Thalia explains. Paul nods in understanding.
"I'm not going to ask, why your at the camp, but can I ask how long?" Paul says curiously. I look away not knowing how Thalia will react, she doesn't like talking about it, that was obvious but I actually had no idea how long she was in there for.
"I'm getting close to five years now." She says casually. "Both me and my brother live there, we have no place to go to, my father doesn't want us and my mother… is a different case." She explains looking away. Truthfully that's the most I've ever heard Thalia open up about. I knew they lived there but the fact they have no where else to go shocks me. But thats both Thalia and Jason who had an awkward reaction to their mother being mentioned, and for Jason to remember she was bad even during one of his incidents, obviously it was bad.
"Your brother is there as well?" Paul asks. Thalia nods.
"Uh yeah, he's a year younger than me, so I stick by his side."
"Will you be forced to leave when you hit eighteen?" Paul asked looking concerned.
"No, our age doesn't really matter as long as he don't do anything illegal with younger people if you know what I mean." She says. Before my mother could talk more about that happening at camp the egg timer went off and her questions were halted.
"Dinner's ready, Thalia I hope you like steak!" My mother says smiling.
"I love it!" Thalia says smiling and making her way into the kitchen. I start to follow when I feel Pauls hand rest on my shoulder.
"So dangerous women are you type?" I hear him say. I roll my eyes and smirk, before I could say anything back Paul walks into the Kitchen to eat. I follow so I can eat my mothers fantastic cooking.
—
Percy's PoV (6 years ago)
Ikaros came back at a late hour it was nearly five in the morning. When he came back he checked on my mother, he started speaking though I couldn't see who he was speaking to. Ikaros went into the kitchen and a figure crouched next to my badly beaten mother, he stroked her cut cheek, he turned his head slightly to look at Ikaros, it was my father.
I ran to my dad and hugged him tightly, he was shocked at first to see me awake but hugged me back, after the hug he was quick to check me for injuries besides a bruised face and a really painful leg I was fine. He noticed a burn mark on my arm and traced his thumb slightly over it.
"I'm sorry dad, I should've protected her. Im so sorry." I cry. My father looked at me with a bewildered look.
"Percy, those men were in their thirty's they were five times bigger than you and there was six of them. Tell me what could you of done? Getting Ikaros was the right thing to do! And I'm so proud of you, getting Ikaros possibly saved your mothers life tonight!" He says hugging me again. After this hug he stood.
"Speaking of, Ikaros I owe you. Thank you for what you did tonight!" Dad says. Ikaros looked at him, I saw Ikaros put an object into the safe.
"You're welcome, but we can never speak of this again!" He says glancing at me. I was curious as to what happened but said nothing.
"Percy, I'm going to take you to the hospital tomorrow to get the leg looked at, ok?" My father says and sends me to bed. I agree and head back to bed for the third time tonight.
My Father had a conversation with Ikaros and left, he picked me up the next day at twelve, I got a decent nights sleep and went to the hospital.
—
Percy's PoV (Present day)
Sleep eluded me for most of the night, maybe it was the thought of Ikaros dying or maybe the fact Thalia was sleeping in the bed over, or maybe it was this air mattress sent from hell I was sleeping on.
When I finally slept I had a thankfully dreamless night, the last thing I need is weird dreams.
Thalia was up before me as usual she was much more of a morning person then I am. when I got out of bed Thalia was having breakfast in the kitchen talking to Paul and Mom.
"Morning Honey!" My mother says when she sees me. Paul nods and Thalia waves from her stool while eating blue pancakes.
"So, you were saying that Percy use to only eat Blue foods growing up!" Thalia says looking at my mum.
"Mom!" I say looking at her. Thalia's smile widens.
"It's fine, I was just telling Thalia a few stories, nothing embarrassing!" My mom says defending herself.
"Yeah, like the time when you were eight and went on a road trip, and the first thing you said on the eight hour long drive was 'what's a blow job?'" Thalia says bursting into laughter. Paul smiling and mom looking away laughing into her hands.
"Mom!" I exclaim. I take my seat next to Thalia. She smiles at me.
"Did you ever find out Perce?" Thalia asks. I glare at her.
"Yeah! I looked it up!" I admit regrettably. "And why did I say that?"
Thalia bursts out into fits of laughter while my mom looked appalled and Paul magically had to go to work with a huge smile on his face. I swear I heard him laugh when the door closed.
"Paul will meet us at the church, but we should get ready if we want to be there early!" My mom says recovering from her shock. Thalia nods and leaves to change. I quickly eat my breakfast and when Thalia comes down in a pure black dress that went down to her knees and wrapped around her shoulders, I went to get changed myself.
I wore a clean suit, white shirt, black coat, black waist coat and black pants with black shoes and my tie was red.
We left the house thirty minutes before the funeral and still didn't get good seats. We sat in the back next to the old people and the people who cough every five seconds.
The priest was talking about God welcoming Ikaros into his kingdom, when someone coughed right down my neck. I squinted my eyes and balled my fists. I saw my mother move to calm me but Thalia bet her to it by resting her hand on my balled fists. My fists unclenched and she held my hand and I held hers, we were like that for the rest of the service.
I swear I saw Paul and Mom smile at that small action. The rest of the service went really well. The person coughing didn't stop coughing, but I really didn't care for some reason.
When the service finished we made our way outside. We talked to Daedalus a bit who was a fucking mess right now, understandably of course.
Daedalus decided to leave town for a few weeks. He already packed up his bags he'll be leaving soon so he won't be going to the service my mother prepared, but that's ok, he in pain.
We all went to the service my mother made. Everybody had a good time well they enjoyed the service.
After the service ended we all relaxed for a bit before heading to bed.
"Great, the Mattress made by Satan." I said half asleep.
"If you want you can sleep on the bed." Thalia says, now ready for bed, she was wearing a top that went all the way to her legs. And she wore shorts under that I was sleeping topless with a pair of pants on.
"No, then you would be in the hell I am." I say.
"I never said I wouldn't be in the bed as well." She says getting into bed herself.
'You mean, we share the bed?" I ask. She nods and turns her back from me.
I look at my slightly deflating mattress and then at the comfortable bed, I shrug and get into the bed next to Thalia.
Sleep finds me quickly, thankfully.
—
Percy's PoV (one year ago)
The next day my father took me to the Hospital and I got my leg checked out. The doctor check my arm as well per my dads request saying my arm was hurting a lot. Which was a lie, but he then saw my burn marks on the arm and questioned them, my dad acted like he didn't see them that night.
He was furious, after I was checked out the police were called by the hospital following protocol for possible child abuse. The cops showed up at my house, my mother explained that Gabe grabbed his bags and just left, he took his car half of his belongings and that was it then poof, that was five years ago.
The police did an investigation which lasted a week then declared him missing and that if he ever showed up again to call them immediately. Gabe never came back.
Over the years some more of what happened that night made more sense. My mother went through therapy, there came a point when she would panic as soon as someone touched her, even me. My mother was never really the same after that night, she never told me what happened when I ran but it became obvious Gabe and his friends, did something to her that deserves death, Gabe friends were all arrested I was never told the charges.
I moved on with my life, so did my mom. My dad was around a lot more as well. My mom met Paul a few years later which was when she got much better.
My dad spent three months with the guy before he trusted him, I guess he didn't want a repeat of Gabe.
Combined with the secrecy, my dads lies that he told the doctor at the hospital and Ikaros carrying the gun with him, a thing you should know about my house, we are approximately ten minutes from a thick woods those woods have rivers, lakes and roughly three different types of trees. People have got lost in there, there was no point in telling you that, I just thought I would mention it.
I know Gabe will never come back, and I owe Ikaros and dad for that and I will live my live knowing this, but i'll also be able to sleep without worry or nightmares because I know one more thing, that no one knows I know.
Gabe got what he deserved!