Therapy time my dudes, in which Mr. D does actually care he just doesn't always show it to most people.
Replies:
Undeath9087: Heh, you're not wrong lol. And yeah, they need space. And there's four more chapters left!
Guest: Sorry there's no actual scene. Maybe after a bit of a break I'll come back and do some one shots but at the moment I definitely need a break from my Family ties series so I won't be writing any more for a bit since I think it's all nicely tied up by the last chapter. And it's one thing to sort of know but it's another to really have it spelled out.
Kryptonwrites: It's a weird feeling, I need a break but I feel sad. in any case I'm still working on my Percy Kane series so I'll focus on that for a lil while. And I have the Roman Percy one lined up to start once I'm ready.
MKDemigodzilla-warrior: It really has been, it's weird knowing it's ending.

Starting school again wasn't easy. School in general wasn't easy for Percy, but coming back to school after missing a year due to being dead? Yeah that was bad. Thankfully Chiron and Mr. D had pulled some strings. As far as the outside world knew her mom had thought she was dead after a tragic accident- that tracked with what people believed had happened, when in reality she'd been kidnapped and held captive.

It got her some pitying looks, some curious. It made her feel like a funfair attraction, but it was close enough to the truth that she could work with it, and most people were too freaked out by the idea of it to actually say anything.

And it wasn't like she had to deal with it alone. She'd been pushed back by a year because of the circumstances, which meant that she was in the same class as Leo- and Ethan, who had missed multiple years of schooling whilst being on the streets and a member of the Titan army, go figure.

Annabeth and Rachel were now a year above her- which was probably the only reason they hadn't switched schools, even though Annabeth had moved in with Rachel. Percy genuinely doubted that Rachel's crappy parents had even noticed.

And of course Percy should have known that it wouldn't take long for something to go wrong- though at least it wasn't something monster themed. And she wasn't in that much trouble. Her mom had lost her temper with the boys parents when they'd said they were considering pressing charges.

And it wasn't like the douchebag hadn't had it coming. Ethan and Leo had both backed her up on that, which was probably the only reason she hadn't been expelled.

She had however, been suspended, and the school had demanded that she undergo some form of therapy- to which her mother had snappily responded that she already had two hour sessions once a week on the weekends with a therapist that her biological father had personally selected.

The headteachers response had been that she better get some emergency sessions booked to deal with Percy's explosive and undoubtedly dangerous temper.

Which was how Percy found herself suspended from school, sat in a comfortable chair in Mr. D's private rooms at camp, the god pinching the bridge of his nose.

"What exactly did the idiot mortal boy say to you?"

"He asked me out." Percy was scowling, slumped in her seat, arms crossed over her chest protectively.

"Very annoying I'm sure, but hardly worthy of what I've been told you did to him."

"When I said no he kept pushing." Mr. D's crooked eyebrow told Percy that he knew she was still holding back, and after a long moment she let out a slight huff.

"When I told him I had higher standards he laughed and said I'd be lucky to get someone like him given the fact that I'm probably damaged goods because why else would someone hold me captive for almost a year."

"Hmmm." Mr. D took a sip of his coke, "And was that when you attacked the idiot boy?"

"No, I did that when he tried to squeeze my ass." Percy admitted, not sounding at all ashamed, though she knew there was a chance he'd see through her enough to see that there was something she hadn't mentioned still.

There was a flicker in Mr. D's eye, that spark of amusement. "Well then, your school should understand some bodily harm. What exactly did you do to the boy?"

Percy paused, considering as if she was making a list in her head before- "I broke his wrist, shattered his nose and cheekbone, broke two ribs, gave him a severe concussion, and I shattered his kneecap for good measure."

"Perhaps you went a little bit too far." Mr. D remarked. "Though he certainly deserved the broken wrist and the broken nose I would say."

"See." Percy threw up her hands, "Why am I supposed to feel guilty the guy was a total creep and he said fucking vile things and who knows what he'd have tried?"

"Percy-" the gods expression was suddenly uncharacteristically understanding. "The boy was a mortal. And from what I was told it took both Eddy and Lenny to drag you off of the boy. You could have easily killed him. There was a time when you'd have stopped after the first punch."

"He's a creep and a predator-"

"I'm not arguing against that point-" Mr. D rolled his eyes, "I'm saying that you've lost control. You lack self restraint. One blow would have been enough to punish the idiot mortal and ensure he couldn't continue with the wandering hands." he tilted his head, his eyes piercing her, "And what else happened?"

Percy went silent, scowling fiercely as she pulled her knees up to her chest, resting her heels on the edge of her chair. "I told you everything."

"No, you didn't. I have all day, being in here with you means I don't have to deal with the rest of you brats, you'd be doing me a favor."

"There's nothing-"

"Was it something about the way he touched you?" the god pushed, "Was it something else he said? You need to tell someone or you're a danger to yourself and everyone around you, You already proved that with your actions towards the Valdez's." and that made Percy's stomach twist.

"They made Leo's life hell and tossed him onto the streets-"

"Yes." Mr. D. rolled his eyes, "Truly the mortals were terrible people but that does not make hurting them for the sake of it right. A fact which you've acknowledged. You've been doing well, dealing with self restraint, so what made you snap this time- and snap so badly that you would have killed the mortal if you hadn't been stopped. Now tell me before I make you tell me, and that will help neither of us."

Percy was silent for several long moments before she spoke again. "He pushed the back of my tee up." her voice was barely more than a whisper, "He told me-" her voice caught. "He told me he liked my tramp stamp."

Mr. D leaned back at that, nodding slowly, "And when he spoke of your tramp stamp I assume he was referring to-"

"To the spot on the small of my back where Alabaster carved his symbol into the spot that used to be my Achilles heel." they'd talked about that before, so at least the god didn't need to ask for more about that.

"You lost control because of a trigger." the god spoke slowly, "We'll add it to the list of things that trigger extreme reactions from you. It's understandable but you need to work on them or they will get worse. You're doing well given what you've been through, set backs are to be expected. But you must try to control yourself. There are different methods you can use for the short term, but as I always say, processing these issues and the emotions that the triggers cause is the only way you'll recover from the things that plague your mind."

"Maybe I don't want to." Percy snapped the words defensively, "I- I haven't hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it. Rosa and Raphael were pricks and so was Danny. They were just asshole mortals I- what I did wasn't even that bad."

"I have an observation you won't like."

"Oh do go ahead." Percy scoffed, "No one else cares if I don't like their opinions."

"You're losing touch with your humanity."

"What do you mean by that?" Percy bristled, frowning at the gods words.

"Your reaction to the Valdez's is a good example- you saw yourself as above them-"

"I sure fucking hope I'm better than those dickheads-"

"You saw yourself as above them enough that you have the right to punish them. Perhaps they did deserve punishment, but that was not your decision to make. With all you've done, and all you've been through, it's hardly surprising that you're becoming detached from the concept of your own mortality. It's certainly ironic. You both think of yourself as twisted and broken and damaged- and yet a part of you feels as if you're superior enough to certain types of people that you are the one who can judge and punish them with no thought to the impact to your own soul, to your mind."

"I am not-"

"Percy-" Mr. D's voice was sharp. "You are likely as close to godhood as a mortal can get without becoming a god, and that is something that has an effect. That, combined with your trauma is dangerous. And that comes from a god." his expression was tight, "I was once a demigod like you, except as a demigod I don't believe I was as powerful as you. Immortality, godhood, it changes you. My father has considered offering you godhood Percy-" that made the daughter of Poseidon's mouth drop open in shock. "And while usually I wouldn't care about such things... that isn't a fate I would wish on you. It would slowly degrade everything about you which makes you special."

And somehow those words hit with all the force of a physical blow.

Mr. D, as much as he put on an act most of the time, did care about the demigods in his charge, Percy knew that. And she knew that he had somewhat of a soft spot for her- of course he did, he'd been forced to give her a year of therapy before her death.

Still, his words struck her harder than she had ever expected them to.

She doubted many gods would say something like that- dissuading her not because he was worried about her being more powerful than him- which was something that was possible given the fact that he felt she was more powerful than he'd been as a demigod.

No, was worried about her losing her humanity. Losing the best parts of herself.

She swallowed hard, trying to keep her expression clear of the sudden rush of emotions. "I just-"

"I know." Mr. D rose to his feet, "I think this session has given you enough to think on for today. Besides the rest of the brats will be wondering where I am. Can't have them accusing me of favoritism."

"I am your favorite- other than your kids-"

"Say that again and I'll turn you into a dolphin, brat."

Percy's lips twitched, "You can't fool me Mr. D. I know you love me-" she yelped when the now empty can of coke hit her head. "Hey! What'd'ya do that for?"

"To teach you some manners you impertinent brat. Now come on. Since you're here because you're suspended from school and it's a punishment you're going to stick with me today." the smile on his lips was suddenly evil, "You'll be my personal assistant. Maybe if you do a good job I'll let you teach sword lessons tomorrow-"

"Oh come on-" Percy practically whined the words, "You can't be serious Mr. D-"

"Do I look like I'm joking?" the smug look on the gods face did not look like he was joking, but still she had one last card to play.

"Maybe Chiron-"

"Already knows." the god practically cackled at the way her face fell, "Come on Penelope. Make sure you bring some of my cokes."