It was just another Monday in Metropolis, according to the newspaper. Lois Lane exposed another pharmaceutical company for their illegal bypassing of FDA protocols. Clark Kent gave another rundown of last night's primetime matches that Percy never missed. Though, he wouldn't call the Gotham Knights losing by how much they did purely on the coach, like Kent implied. At some point, you have to get a new freshman premiere quarterback.
Percy put down the morning newspaper as the alarm on his phone buzzed. He tapped the screen, dismissing the alarm, and stood up from the booth he had spent his morning break in. Despite being a self-proclaimed hidden gem of the city, The Golden Mug was surprisingly empty.
Fixing his nametag back over his heart, he made his way back behind the counter. Ashley, his co-worker, looked up from her phone as he joined her in waiting for the next customer.
"Batman apparently caught the Joker last night," she supplied offhandedly, scrolling through her phone.
"What that makes that the fifth time this month?" Percy snorted. He straightened the collection of straws, fixing the ones that were katywampus.
"The second, actually."
"Two times too many if you ask me."
"Of course, you think that," the younger girl responded.
"Repeat offenders will not seek rehabilitation like they peddle on the news. The Joker has openly admitted to the world he finds it fun doing what he does. You don't quit what you find fun." Percy turned to her. "End of the day, if I ever find out you move to Gotham, Ashley, I will personally kidnap you and relocate you to Montana with a house and everything."
"You would buy me a house on a minimum wage pay?" she laughed.
"I do this job to keep a routine to my life, and not because I need money. Seriously, I know Gotham is cheaper than here, but I refuse to allow you to live there."
"Thanks, dad," she joked. "I appreciate the support, but I think I am about to move in with my boyfriend, who has a nice place nearby."
"Dad? I'm not that old, am I?" he feigned a hand over his chest. "I know the grey in the beard makes me look old, but I'm only thirty-five."
"You are fifteen years older than me, old man."
"Right through the heart." Percy stumbled back, clutching an imaginary wound.
"You are such a child." she rolled her eyes.
"Ah ha! So, I'm not old, then?"
"No, you totally are. You are just a man-child."
"That's even worse than being old!"
The two shared a small laugh that was cut off by the ringing of the door.
A man close to Percy's age entered. He was a familiar face in the coffee shop, him and his girlfriend. So, before he could even speak, Ashely was already grabbing two cups to make his usual order.
"Hello, Percy," the man gave a small smile as he pushed up his glasses.
"Hello, Mr. Kent." Percy nodded to the man. "The usual for you and Lois?"
Percy and Ashely already knew the answer. Clark Kent had been a consistent face in the morning rotation of customers. He never came with the early bird bustle. Still, he always did come in at the last minute before the morning rush officially tapered off to workers too late to care about being on time and who decide a cup of coffee cannot affect them being late any worse than it already has.
"So you call her by her first name but not me?" the man teased Percy.
"She threatened to beat me over the head with my own lovely collection of paper straws if I didn't. What could I do but give in to Lois?"
"I feel like I should be surprised by her actions, but I cannot say I am," Mr. Kent chuckled. "Am I going to have to threaten you too?"
"Nah," Percy shrugged him off. "I wouldn't believe it from you anyway."
"And why is that? I could write something in the Daily. This place could be busier than the morning rush all day."
"Bold threat, but I think I know you well enough to know you won't do that. That is too evil for you," Percy smirked.
"Oh, is that so?" the reporter scratched the back of his head, feigning embarrassment.
Percy shrugged, "How you take your coffee tells me a lot about a person. Certain people fit certain molds."
"You know, Lois said something similar to me once. Maybe you should look into joining the Daily Planet, Percy. You and Lois could expose the rest of the world for who they are based on the coffee they drink alone."
Percy laughed, "As funny as that could be"— he pushed the man his two coffees —"I'm afraid I enjoy the simplicity of making drinks too much."
"Fair enough, I suppose. You and Ashely do make the best in Metropolis." He raised his cup, toasting the two.
"Thank you, sir," the young blonde blushed. Percy just nodded. Clark said something along those lines every time he came by.
"You two take care, yeah?" the reporter said, bidding them farewell. The door rang on his way out.
The two employees watched Clark go before turning to one another.
"He is so Superman."
"Percy, that has to be the dumbest thing you've ever said."
"I bet you a house in Montana on it."
"That's the second dumbest thing you've ever said."
"You're afraid to take the bet 'cause you know I'm right. Clark Kent is Superman."
"How? How is he the Man of Steel? He's afraid of blood. Do you remember that one time you cut your finger, and he recoiled? Superman would not be afraid of some blood."
Percy shrugged, "People can put up an act, you know?"
"Right. People just casually go around faking who they are for a living. Next, you are going to tell me you are Batman."
"Are you saying you don't believe I could be a hero, Ashely?"
"No. I don't think you could. You are too boring."
"And that's why I think Clark Kent is Superman."
"Because he is boring?"
"Among other things. I mean, Superman is always saving Lois Lane, and there was that one TMZ thing with a picture of them kissing. Then, we personally know that Clark and Lois are dating. Explain that one?"
"Maybe she was grateful, and they weren't dating yet?" Percy raised an eyebrow at her, causing her to blush. "He wears glasses. Superman doesn't."
"Contacts, or better yet, it's his disguise."
"Glasses are not a disguise, idiot. I've seen Superman's face like a million times on Chirper. There is no way adding glasses to his face would make him look like Clark."
"House in Montana. I'll even throw in a boat."
"Where are you ever going to use a boat in Montana?" Ashley frowned.
"Couldn't tell ya, but I'm that sure."
"You're crazy, Percy. I didn't think you could go crazy at forty-nine."
"Thirty-five. Thank you very much."
:P LINE BREAK d:
Apollo had just passed the midway point of the day, and Percy was already making his way home for the day. Perks of opening the shop, he was the first out. So, as the son of Poseidon whistled a jaunting tune and bopped his head back and forth to a song stuck in his head, he never gave notice to what was happening in the sky above. Rather, he didn't care to give it his notice. That was Superman's job.
As it just so happened, Superman was already on hand, battling a swarm of humanoid robots in the clouds of Metropolis.
Bzzt. Bzzt. Bzz—
Percy put his phone to his ear, "Hey mom."
Sally always called her son every other Monday around when he got off work. No matter how busy she was or how busy he was, they always took the call. It had been this way for over a year or two now.
"How are you, sweetie?"
"Same old, same old. Walking home right now."
BOOM!
"Oh, jeez. What was that noise, Percy?"
"Uh…." Percy looked at the pile of metal smashed into the pavement ten feet before him. A smoking silver hand extended from the concrete, reaching out towards him. Then, red and blue landed on the metal instantly, destroying the metallic being.
Superman turned towards Percy and nodded once before blasting back into the air. Percy watched him ascend back into the sky, the red cape billowing his wake.
That is so Clark, Percy thought.
"Percy?" her concern bled through the phone.
"Sorry. Superman is just doing heroic things around me."
"Oh, so you're fine?"
"Of course. You know I can handle myself."
Sally sighed, "And yet, I will always worry just like any mother. You'll know what I mean when you become a dad, yourself."
"Yeah…." Percy trailed off, pained. "I guess. Someday…."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean it like that," she responded quietly.
"I know, Mom. I know."
The two lapsed into an uneasy silence. The only sound Percy could hear was his own footfall and people gasping at the sky above, but he still didn't hang up. He never would hang up on his mom. Instead, he let the silence reign, waiting for her to break it.
"She called me, y'know? Said she's been trying to get a hold of you. Something about you ignoring her calls."
"Did she now?" Percy feigned interest.
"You really should talk to her. If not for her sake, then for yourself. You two need closure. I mean, what happened between you two was horrible. You two were so young as well. You've come a long way since then."
"I'll think about it, but hey, something just came up, and I need to go handle it," he lied. "I need to get off the phone."
"Oh, okay," Sally replied, disappointed by the brevity of their talk. "You go take care of whatever it is, honey. Don't forget your sister wants to see you soon."
"I will keep that in mind," he replied, leaving the phone at his ear. He waited for her to hang up, but as the moment became seconds, he spoke one last time. "I love you, mom."
"I love you too, Percy. Don't forget to take your medicine when you get home."
"I will. I love you."
Content, Sally hung up.
Percy let out a slow breath as he pocketed his phone right next to his pen. He loved his mom. He really did, but there was a reason he was dodging her calls. She had been trying to get ahold of him for a few weeks now, but Percy couldn't find the will to answer.
It didn't matter at the end of the day. At least, that was what he had been telling himself for some years now. Life moved on. The sun rose, the sun fell, and then the sun rose again. He had moved on with his life, even if that wasn't something as glamorous as being the most requested architect in the United States.
Percy was content with where he was at. Life was simple and easy. All he had to worry about was being at work on time.
Percy stopped outside his apartment building. It was a new build sponsored by the Luthor Foundation, which very much reflected the wealth of the man it was built by.
Percy typed in his pin to the outmost door. The touchpad blinked green twice as the doors unlocked, and Percy entered the lobby. He nodded to Greg, the security guard who loitered near the door, and then he nodded to Amelia behind the reception counter.
The son of Poseidon then hailed the elevator and pushed his floor near the top of the building. Thankfully, the ride was quick, with no stops, and in no time, Percy had his shoes off as he fell back onto his couch. And in no time, he was dozing off deep into the hands of Morpheus.
"We made a deal, Perseus, and soon, your end of the bargain shall have to be met. Prepare yourself. Once more, the world and the universe will rest upon your shoulders. Once more, you shall have to be our hero. So come now, my sweet, wake from your rest and wait upon the falling star. Wait for the arrival of your destiny. Rise and rage against the dying of the light. Rise and meet me above bloodied water and rage into the night."
Percy's eyes snapped open as he was awoken by a series of sickening coughs. Each cough tore through his lungs, burning as they escaped his lips. He could feel his insides coming undone as he dashed for his medicine. He held a hand to his mouth as he stumbled into his bathroom. He could feel warm liquid splash against his hand as he continued to hack. His other hand opened the cabinet behind his mirror, and he snatched the shiny black flask on the highest shelf.
He pulled the cap off and swung it back, downing the final third of the burning liquid inside. Instantly, he could feel his throat burn but no longer sting in pain. He could feel the heat race into his stomach as his body shivered through the chills that ran across his nerves.
It was never easy taking his medicine.
He stared at the hand he had covered his mouth with…. It was almost entirely red.
He turned the facet on and washed away his blood from the cracks of his hand. Once his hand was mostly clean, he washed his mouth and lips, even some blood that had come up through his nose.
The son of Poseidon stared at himself in the mirror as he finally settled his heart. His depleted sea-green eyes stared back into his own soul. But, in the silence of his actions came the voice of his dreams.
"Prepare yourself, my sweet…. Prepare yourself to rage against the dying of the light."
Percy closed his eyes and opened them once more.
Long tresses of black hair dangled down his shoulder as he ignored the weight of the woman's head there. Instead, he stared at the galaxies that swirled in her eyes. The white freckles on her black skin twinkled like stars in the night sky.
"My sweet hero." her cold breath ghosted his ear, and goosebumps blossomed across his skin as his body hair stood, reaching for her voice.
He closed his eyes once more, and when he opened them, she was gone. Not a trace of her divine presence anywhere in his bathroom. She had simply vanished into the darkness behind his eyes.
"I need a pick me up," he muttered to the exhausted man in the mirror.
Percy pushed away from the bathroom. The burning of his medicine weighed like lead in his stomach, the molten magma doing what it did best as it haunted him. Unfortunately, he would need to get more before the following Monday after next.
Yet, that would be a problem for tomorrow-Percy. Tonight-Percy had a date with the pool.
He changed into something more fitting of someone going for a swim and grabbed a towel for appearances before he left his apartment. Back into the elevator, a few stories changed, and he walked the short hallway towards the gym and pool.
Thankfully, nobody was inside either room, so he had the whole place to himself. With a slight tug on his gut, the cameras inside the room misted over so that he could submerge himself as long as he wanted without drawing attention. He pulled his shirt over his head and threw it into a pool chair with his shoes and towel.
For a moment, Percy hovered at the edge of the deep end. Six feet of water awaited below him, beckoning him in, but he waited. In the ripples of the water, the man who stared back at Percy held his hand over his stomach, where a long scar dragged from one side of his side to the other. The blackened skin that had scarred over was not unlike that of the woman in the mirror. He could even still feel the phantom touch of her frigid finger.
She had saved his life on the terms of a deal….
He surrendered himself to the water. Tipping forward, there was no splash as he entered the water, for the water clung to him like glue. The molten lead in his stomach sizzled out as the goosebumps returned to flushed skin.
Six feet below the waterline, his problems were not but a thought. So, Percy stayed there, undisturbed. He remained anchored to the bottom as the night grew to its apex. He stayed under because he knew the moment he rose, he would have to face the music.
He would have to answer the call.
The call he had waited years to receive.
He knew it was coming. One day or another, he knew.
So even as their shadows lingered at the pool's edge, he ignored them for a minute longer.
It would be his final minute before the world needed the Hero of Olympus once again.
It would be his final minute as just Percy, a man working in a local coffee shop.
"Rise, my sweet. Rise into the night," the goddess purred.
He obeyed.
Perseus Jackson, two-time Savior of Olympus, Slayer of Legends, the Bane of the Divine, and a dead-man walking, rose.
Standing atop the water, he stared down the three most prolific heroes of the Justice League.
"I was wondering when you would approach me, Clark Kent."
AN: Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!
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-Manke
