Before I start writing this fic, I found some Green Mile fanfiction on Percy being a "good guy" if someone really reached out to him and gave him a chance. Even so, some people have a love/hate relationship with him. I, myself, am not too crazy about him. Anyway, I hope you enjoy the story.
One morning, at Cold Mountain Penitentiary in Louisiana, there were prison guards working there named Paul Edgecomb, Brutal Howell (though his real name is "Brutus"), Dean Stanton, and Percy Wetmore. That morning, they brought in a new inmate. A BIG black one, even bigger than Brutus!
"Dead man walking," Percy chanted and repeated it over and over inside the E block.
"Percy, that's enough!" Paul scolded slightly, making him stop and then brought the new prisoner to a cell. To the inmate, Paul said, "We won't give you any trouble, okay?"
"Yes, sir," the inmate said.
"Come on. Go on in," Percy said gently, lightly tapping him in the abdomen with his baton, so the prisoner could go in the cell. The prisoner did as he was told. "There you go."
As soon as the prisoner had gone in, Paul told Percy, "Percy, they're movin' house down in the infirmary. Why don't you go see if they can use some help?"
"Sure thing, Paul," Percy told him and walked out of sight. On the way, he saw Del smiling at him and Percy smiled back. To entertain the prisoner, he made funny faces at him, which amused him. Del laughed so hard, he could hardly contain himself.
"Percy!" a familiar voice shouted. It was Paul.
Del and Percy stopped laughing.
"I was keeping him entertained, Paul," Percy told him, trying to reason with him.
"I understand," Paul replied. "But check if anyone needs help in the infirmary. I can take it from here."
Percy nodded. "Yes, sir." He continued on his way to the infirmary with Arlen Bittercock smiling at him.
…
While Percy was away, Paul returned to the cell to see the new prisoner. "If I take off the chains, are you going to be good?" Paul asked him.
The inmate nodded and Harry unchained the shackles and chains as soon as he gave Paul the clipboard so Paul could take a look at the notes.
Paul looked up at the prisoner and asked, "Is your name John Coffey?"
"Yes sir, officer," replied John, "Like the drink, but spelled differently."
"Can you spell?" Paul inquired.
"Just my name, sir. K-O."
"I'm Paul Edgecomb, John. If I'm not around, you can ask Brutus Howell, Dean Stanton, and Harry Terrwilliger or Percy Wetmore, who isn't here at the moment. He's at the infirmary to see if anyone needs his help. Questions?"
"Do you leave the light on after bedtime?" John asked, "Cause I get a little scared of the dark sometimes… if it's a strange place." Paul looked uneasily to his co-workers and answered, "It stays pretty bright, you know, all night long. We always keep a few lights bright in the corridor."
"The c-corridor?" John said.
Paul turned to the corridor and said, "Right out there." John looked where Paul was looking where the lights were in the Mile. As a thank you, John shook Paul's hand and the officer did the same, then let go. "You can sit down now."
"I couldn't help it, boss," John said sadly, "I tried to take it back, but it was too late." Paul gave him one last look at him before he and his colleagues left.
AN: Not much Percy in this chapter, but in the next one, there is going to be more of him.