Chapter 20

Leo POV

Zeus had been thrown a few feet when Poseidon barreled into him. I had only a few seconds to appreciate the fact that he had dirt on his white robes before he was hurling lightning bolts at his brother for it. In a blink Artemis, Hades and Apollo were surrounding me and Percy, whose small frame seemed to only curl in smaller and smaller in my hold, like he was curling in on himself, fire eating away at a page of paper, curling it's edges.

Apollo gently let his golden light wash over me and Percy, I didn't even realize it calmed me enough to put my hair out. Percy's shudders and sobs were reduced to shakes and whimpers. Not great, but better than the broken noises he had been creating. Hades had put up a shadow dome around us to protect us and dampen the sounds of the fight. It seemed to work, and I could barely hear the enraged cry Percy's dad let loose when Zeus tried attacking the dome. It bounced harmlessly off, but I saw the way the skin on Hades' face tightened in pain.

How long we were there, me sitting holding a silently crying shaking Percy, Artemis to my left, Apollo to my right, and Hades in front, I don't think I'll ever know. But when the screaming died down, and the rain stopped, and the crackling of lightning became silent, Hades warily brought down his shield. They both stood there panting, the ground muddy and steaming, blackened in some areas. Staring at each other, mud smeared along Zeus' white bearded face, water dripping from his pale hair. Poseidon didn't look much better, his brown beard was smoking and much of his skin blackened, both of their clothes were torn, muddy, and blackened. Rage smoldered in Poseidon's eyes but Zeus looked more confused than truly angry, though we could all tell he was still very angry.

"How could you brother?" Zeus demanded.

"No, you don't call me that." he whispered back a slightly manic light in Poseidon's eyes.

"What?"

"You don't ATTACK my SON, who has SEVERE PTSD and is all I have left of the love of my life, and then call me BROTHER." He stated, his voice so deadly even Hades looked worried. Percy had seemingly stopped trying to suppress his tears and let out a strangled wet sob. His entire form shuddering, Poseidon instantly was by my side, hovering his hand like he wanted to touch his hair but was too scared he would frighten him even more. Zeus had the decency to look confused, even slightly worried.

"PTSD? From what? He's what ten?"

That got him a lot of glares.

"Why yes, he IS ten. My Gods do you even THINK before you act? No? I didn't think so. Percy has severe PTSD from before he came into my care." Artemis replied nastily. Zeus looked at Apollo imploringly, Apollo was tense, and still glowing, not as harshly as before, but definitely glowing, like a damn light bulb.

"When Percy was 4 he was abused by his stepfather, no i'm not saying how, and watched his mother get murdered. Artemis saved him from a similar fate and took him in, I- I healed him a-as b-best I c-could. B-but, there was so much." Apollo whispered brokenly. "He was so, b-broken and s-scared."

My own memories of Percy flooded my brain,

We had decided we were going swimming, I stripped off my shirt and pants, ready to swim in my underwear when I heard a choked sound behind me. Percy was staring at me wide eyed and clutching his shirt to his body.

"Perce?" I whispered.

"I'm not taking my clothes off." he said sharply. Confused I said that was fine but not to whine later when all his clothes were wet and he was cold. He looked at me funny.

"Is that why you took your clothes off?" He asked, I nod.

"Oh." He looked down at his own shirt and pants, seemingly debating with himself, then nodding he looked at me.

"Can you keep a secret?" He whispered. Shocked I nodded,

"Always Perce, you know that." He nods slowly, and whispers,"just, don't freak out." I tilted my head but said nothing, I understood why in a second. He slowly took off his shirt, something I'd never seen before even on extremely hot days. And then I saw them, words. WORDS were carved into my best friends skin, deep scarring all along his chest, stomach, back, hips... I stared wide eyed as he shifted uncomfortably.

"Ok, well let's go swimming." He said, faking a smile and walked past my frozen form into the water. Shaking my head I realized the trust he must have had in me to show me that. Smiling I turned and cannonballed into the water, never mentioning it to him.

We went swimming a lot together after that.

...

Percy jumping when I touched his shoulder, a full body recoil in fear. I had froze and he had shook for a minute until he came out of his stupor and masked himself with a smile and rigid muscles.

I never called him on it.

...

Percy leaning over to grab a dagger off the ground, and his shirt riding up, hand shaped scars still imprinted on his hips, he stood quickly fixing his shirt. I looked away as he turned toward me, pretending to inspect my hammer. I knew what happened to my best friend. He would tell me eventually.

...

Waking up to Percy gasping for air after we fell asleep after a spar. Thrashing on the ground, silent tears running down his face as silent screams poured from his lips. I grabbed his hand slowly, softly. I was slapped, hard. I tried again a little more wary, he flinched and whimpered. I slowly positioned myself so he was cradled in my arms, his head resting against my chest. I pretended not to hear him whispering, his begging for him to stop, that he didn't like the game. Instead I stroked his hair and sang a lullaby my mom used to sing me, until his breathing evened and he relaxed in my hold.

I never told him what happened when he woke up.

...

But it wasn't like the help was one sided.

...

Nightmares of my mother burning, always my fault, waking up sobbing to Percy. Holding me like his most treasured memories. Stroking my unruly hair until I fell back asleep, dreamless.

Percy never asked what happened in them.

...

Sparring with Percy and him just missing a dodge, getting burned from my hands. Terror that I had hurt him, that he could in fact burn, just like my mom, flooded me. My hair and hands caught fire, I backed away from him, he was already dunking his arm in the pond. I was stuttering apologies, i'm sure I made no sense. He looked over to me and sprayed me with water, putting me out.

"What are you talking about?" He'd said. "You didn't burn me, i'm fine." And he held up the arm I'd just burned, showing me a clear unblemished arm. He told me he'd put me out next time I caught fire.

He never did let me say i'd burned him.

...

Me showing him my fire by accident for the first time because I had gotten too excited and little sparks lit my hair on fire. I expected him to yell at me, to call me monster, devil child, to run away. He never did, he simply stared at my hair, grabbed his water bottle, opened it, and dumped it on my head. Then he smiled at me and said it was COOL to be able to make fire, then he showed me he could manipulate water. He never once shied away from me, and I thank him for that every day.

...

No, I knew Percy was abused. So I wasn't as surprised as Zeus, who looked like he might be sick. From hearing about Percy or that his daughter took him in, i'm not sure. Percy shuddered in my arms and I tightened my grip a bit. I looked down at him, mud was smeared across the right side of his face, his hunters jacket was slightly scorched on his right arm, his hair was covered in mud, dirt and leaves, and tears rolled down his face creating little clean tracks. His eyes were still shut tight and his hands were still grasping my shirt like a lifeline.

He was curled into the smallest ball possible and I wondered idly where Ms.O'Leary was. As if she was summoned by the thought I was suddenly curled into Ms.O'Leary's grasp, Percy still in my arms. She leaned her head down and gently licked his cheek, he flinched at first but then relaxed into the comforting feeling. A blanket was draped over us and I look up to see Hades with a worried look in his eyes, I smiled and thanked him. Apollo was crying, and I don't think he noticed what with the blank look in his eyes. Artemis seemed to notice and softly rested her hand on his, he jumped at looked at her, she smiled sadly. Zeus was staring at us as if we'd suddenly all gone mad and had started making bets on Artemis' love life.

"Why do you all, dote on him?" He asked clearly perplexed, "I get he was abused but you could have given him to a mortal family, or put him in foster care, hell you didn't even have to save him, so why?" His voice rose and Poseidon flinched.

"Because he is worth protecting, worth saving. Have you even attempted to get to know him, learn anything about him before you tried to kill him?" I asked harshly, I had everyone's attention but I wasn't looking at them.

"No, because if you did, you would know Percy is scared of older men, he is scared of being alone, he is scared of poker, and he is scared of his memories. But that means nothing, because you would also learn about a caring boy who wants friends but is too shy and scared to make them, who would rather face his worst nightmare then have someone else face theirs, who has to work to smile, who has scars, who loves his daughter even though she's considered a monster, who befriended a pyromaniac murderer because he was lonely and a freak, who only wants to be loved, who wants friendship, respect, and SOMEONE to care whether or not he lives to see the next day."

Tears were forming in my eyes and I could feel Percy shift, I focus on him and see his eyes wide open and staring, tears still pouring. I give him the smile he always tells me makes me look like an imp and gain a tiny one in response.

"No Zeus," I continued looking up at him, his hair still dripping,"you don't know anything about Percy. So, Leave. Him. Alone." I spoke with finality and resolve, not once looking away from Zeus' astonished gaze. Eventually he broke eye contact and whirled around,

"Whatever, why would I want to get to know my brothers son 's clearly not strong enough to be a threat to me.I suggest you keep him out of trouble son of Hephaestus."

And with a strike of lightning he was gone.

.

..

.

I don't know how long we sat there in the mud, Percy in my lap, Ms.O'Leary behind me, Apollo to my right, Hades in front, then Artemis and Poseidon who had come over to stroke Percy's hair out of his face. Eventually Chiron came galloping into the clearing and saw the destruction, we could hear his mumbled,

"What in Chaos.." before he turned to our tight knit group, and walked over. "Are you all alright?" he asked hesitantly to the silent and still group. I hadn't even noticed the blonde girl and boy, along with a satyr and a blue eyed girl came into the clearing as well. Artemis jumped as if she'd been startled, which was possible. She looked blankly at Chiron for a minute until she seemed to come back online.

"O-oh, yes, yes. We are fine, Chiron. Thank you." She mumbled and turned back to watching Percy in my arms who was fast asleep. My arms and legs had fallen asleep a long time ago, so I didn't notice at first when Percy started to move. Chiron was staring at us with an almost indulgent look on his face. I realized then that it was in fact dark, meaning it was much past our bedtimes. My brain jump started like an old machine, outdated and unused.

"Right." I said, and shifted Percy in my arms. Scooping him up i hear a very quiet, "Actually i-i'm awake now, s-so you can put me d-down." I look down at Percy and see that he is in fact the one who spoke, but I also notice the exhausted glaze in his eyes.

"Ms.O'Leary, sweetie." She turned her big head toward me, "Can you shadow travel me and Perce to his cabin please, he's too tired to walk." Percy made a sound of protest, but Ms.O'Leary seemed to agree with me, biting the back of my shirt she lifted us up onto her back, I nodded to Artemis, Apollo, Hades, and Poseidon.

Then we were in the cabin, Nico and Bianca both squealed when they saw us appear. Seems they hadn't gone to bed yet. But both were instantly worried when they notice the way I cradled Percy. I slid off Ms.O'Leary and Laid Percy on his bed, quickly raising my hand to Nico and Bianca.

"We are both exhausted, we will tell you what happened tomorrow, please let us sleep in. Goodnight." And with that I crawled into bed with Perce, cradling him to my chest. A few minutes went by and I feel a weight shift on the bed, I crack an eye open to see Nico crawling into Percy's bed and snuggling up behind him resting a hand on his back, not a minute later Bianca had crawled in as well, and laid down behind Nico. It was a tight fit, but it made the feeling of security even stronger.

Just as I was about to sleep I heard the door open, and lots of footsteps, I turn my head to see all of the Hunters of Artemis laying down on beds and mats in the cabin. Even Artemis herself came in and laid down on the bunk bed above the one we were in. I relaxed, we were as safe as we could possibly be, I could sleep in peace.

Better yet, Percy could.

.

..

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AN:

HOLY SHIT. IT HAS BEEN TOO LONG. D:

I'm really sorry guys, i've been hella busy and since i'm a senior i've got a lot of responsibilitieswearing me down, good news though! I put up a new chapter! :D

I'm getting back on the horse, this scene was causing me massive writers block but now i've worked through it and you get more bro time and background for Percy and Leo! YAY! They are my fav bromanship. Anyways, I hope you guys liked it, and leave a review honest to gods it helps me write when you guys give me ideas. I can't think of EVERYTHING!

For real tho guys, i'm seriously sorry it's taken me so long.

Love,

WolfMistwood