III

Percy

I had just gotten off the subway when I saw Jace leaning on a lamppost with his arms crossed looking bored. I just sighed and kept walking hoping he wouldn't notice me.

"It's rude to ignore people half-blood." Jace's obnoxious voice came from behind me. It was odd to have him wait for me at the subway usually he just broke into my house.

"What do you want Jace?" I asked as I kept walking. He stepped in front of me arms still crossed with a vain smile on his face. He looked so much like the Kronos it freaked me out.

"I need you to be my wingman at a get together with some friends." He said looking at me hard like he wasn't going to accept no for an answer. Then again the only time he did accept a no is when I threatened him.

"No." I said flatly walking past him. He just stepped in front of me again.

"Didn't I tell you that if you follow me I would unleash my godly powers on you?" I asked sarcastically glaring at him annoyed. He just kept smiling.

"There will be some hot girls there, and good food." He said trying to entice me. I just rolled my eyes.

"First of all I have a girl friend, and second I don't want to get entangled in your world. You promised remember?" I said looking at him expectantly. The smile fell, and his face became serious.

"The truth is Clary and I are in an awkward phase right now, and I don't want to see her alone. Everyone is bringing someone with them Isabel and Simon are coming together, Alec's not going to be there, and Clary is coming as a third wheel with Isabel and Simon. I just really need someone there with me." he said sounding desperate.

"So you want me there just to say that you didn't come alone? I'm still not doing it. It's bad enough that you know about me, I don't want anyone else from your world knowing about me nor do I want to know them. I'm sorry, but this is one time when you're on your own." I said.

"You don't have to tell them who you really are. We can make up some shadowhunter identity for you. Your already wearing a jacket that'll keep them from seeing your lack of marks." He said. "Why do you always wear long-sleeves anyway? Are you covering up a rash, scar… what?"

The tattoo on my right forearm began burning like it did when I first got it. I always covered the mark up, because I felt weird being this Greco-roman cross breed. Jason and I are the only two of our kind ever to have lived in history, and the present. You'd think I'd be honored, but honestly it just made me feel more like a freak than I already am.

"That's my business, and my answer is still no." I snapped.

"Percy I'm begging you here please come with me. I'll keep my promise, and won't make trouble for you if I break it I promise you'll never see me again." Jace pleaded.

"I wish I could have that now." I thought. "I'm going to regret this, but I'll go as long as you promise this'll be the last time." I said seriously looking him right in the eyes.

"I swear on the Angel I'll never make you see my friends or anyone from my world again." Jace promised with a big grin on his face. "Now follow me monsieur." I just shook my head at his obnoxiousness, and my stupid fatal flaw.

Now I've lived in New York my entire life, so I know my way around the city, or so I thought. Jace took me to this side of town I've never seen before, he explained that this area was where most of the cities downworlders lived.

"Jace won't these vampires, and other creatures be able to tell that I'm not a shadowhunter by smell?" I asked concerned. He put his hand to his chin in thought for a moment before answering.

"They probably will, but don't worry no one will bother you your with me." he said with a cocky grin in my direction. I just rolled my eyes and looked away from him. We finally reached a diner, but it wasn't like any other diner I've been to.

The customers and wait staff were monsters (excuse me downworlders), and the food on the menu was something out of a nightmare. For example A+* martinis, rat-tail soup anything nasty and bazar that you can think of was on the menu. Jace must have noticed my quizzical look at the menu because he pointed out the human food section.

The other shadowhunters we were meeting with were two girls and a boy. I recognized the red-head as Clary, she looked exactly how Jace described her. To me she looked Rachel minus the doodled jeans, and paint-splattered shirts/hands. The other girl was a beautiful, tall girl with long black hair and dark brown eyes. She seemed to be staring at me, and every time I happened to glance at her she'd smile.

"Gods I hope she doesn't start flirting with me." I thought to myself. My entire life girls always steered clear of me mostly because I was dubbed "un-cool" by the popular kids. It wasn't until the last two years that they've found me interesting all of a sudden. I didn't really care, but I could tell Annabeth hated it.

The other guy that was there was a bit shorter than me with dark hair, and eyes so brown they were almost black, like Nico's. His skin was extremely pale, like he'd never been out in the sun. He was giving me a strange look.

When Jace and I met up with them I told them the made up story Jace came up with. My name was Sam McCallister from the New Jersey Institute on vacation. They took it pretty well, but I could tell that they didn't really believe it. Simon kept grilling me for information about my life, and I could barely keep up with all the lies. Isabelle was still looking at me in a way that made me uncomfortable. Simon seemed to notice this, and he shot me dirty looks. Clary didn't pay much attention to me, but stole glances at Jace periodically. I always believed that nothing could be stranger than my group of demigod friends, but this group was probably stranger. For one thing these shadowhunters didn't act like friends. Clary and Jace were awkward together. Isabelle seemed jealous of them, and completely ignored Simon and instead focused all her attention on me. Simon was shooting Jace and I dirty glances.

"Where was the joking around, reminiscing about old times together, sharing news, plain enjoying one another's company?" I thought. They seemed more awkward with each other than friends. I was glad when Jace said it was time to leave.

"You're a better liar then I thought." Jace said jokingly as he walked me home, because I had no idea where I was.

"I lie best when under pressure." I said. I probably should have kept my mouth shut but I couldn't help blurting out. "You and your friends seem awkward around each other, what's wrong?" I asked. He was silent for a while, and I was afraid I offended him.

"You already know about Clary and I. The other two have their own problems." He said dismissing the thought. I just nodded and turned away again. Suddenly, Jace stopped, and turned to look at me. Surprised and confused I looked at him back.

"Why do you always turn away from me?" he asked his eyes imploring into mine. As if to answer his question I looked away. I saw him bring his hand toward me and I jumped back like he tried to stab at me with a sword. He continued to look at me but surprise and some hurt shown in his eyes. I stared at the ground, and swallowed. It wasn't his fault he looked exactly like Luke/Kronos (minus the scar), and that every time I looked at him I felt like running my sword through him.

I clenched my fists and continued to stare at the ground at my feet as I told him the truth.

"You are the spitting image of my greatest enemy Kronos." I said.

"Kronos? As in the titan father of the Gods?" he asked quietly.

"That's the one" I sighed. I went on to tell him about how he tried to kill me countless times, and came very close occasionally. He was responsible for the titan war that claimed the lives of many of my friends, and that every time I look at Jace it brings back all those bad memories I keep locked away in my mind.

I felt like there was a lump in my throat as I revealed all of my turmoil. I didn't once look up at him, or unclench my fists as I said all this either. I also realized that this was the first time I really talked about myself to him. For the last couple of weeks since we've met he's told me a lot about himself, and all this time the only thing he knew about me was what I am, and who my father is.

We were still walking as I talked to him, and it wasn't until we reached my apartment did I finish talking. I can't really remember everything I said, but I felt like the weight of the sky was lifted off me shoulders (again). Jace was silent and I felt his eyes on me.

"Percy look at me." he said authoritatively. I reluctantly looked up at him, but this time I didn't feel the anger twist around inside of me anymore. It was like talking about it made everything okay. It was rude, and probably making the shadowhunter uncomfortable but I kept staring at him delighted by the fact that I could look at him without feeling that there was unfinished business I had to take care of. Finally after what seemed like a long time I looked away and apologized profusely for staring.

"People always stare at me charmed at my good looks." Jace said haughtily with that cocky smile on his face. I covered my mouth and pretended to barf. He just laughed and clapped his hand on my shoulder, before going all serious again, and saying.

"You know that I come to you so I can unload all my troubles, and find peace of mind. I'll give you credit you are much better at hiding inner frustrations than I am, but that doesn't mean you have to always keep them bottled up." I just looked at him confused. He sighed.

"What I'm saying is that you can unload all your troubles on me as I do to you. That way both of us can benefit, and find peace and sanity in our messed up lives. Would you want to?" he asked this time his smile showed a hint of friendliness then the usual narcissistic, obnoxious grin. I've never really talked about myself openly before. Jace's right in how I'm usually a master at keeping my feelings at bay, so I can appear strong, for my friends in tough situations. Ever since my time with the Roman's I've never shown anything, because Lupa eats all those who show weakness and fear. Maybe this'll be healthier for me if I took up Jace's offer, and it isn't like anyone from my world will ever have to know.

"I'd like that, if you don't mind." I said smiling. Jace smiled wider.

"I finally get to learn something about the mysterious Perseus Jackson." He said. I cringed when he said my real name.

"First thing you should know. Don't ever call me by my full name. The only people who call me that are either enemies, if I'm getting scolded, or if my friends really want to annoy me. It's just and always will be Percy." I said. Jace just nodded.

We said farewell, before walking back to our respective homes. I slept good that night knowing that in the coming future I might finally be able to resolve my inner issues, and maybe I'll no longer have to fake happiness in front of people, but it can be real.

* A+ refers to the blood type. I can just imagine vampires drinking blood martinis at fancy parties ;)