Pleading Eyes

Troubled Mind

"Percy...what is that?"

The haunted man did nothing to address the Hyuga's question as cold, gentle fingers examined his eyes.

Again.

He would rather not have his eyes poked out this time and so Percy stayed absolutely still. It hurt enough the first time, after all his eyes were important...

Oh, the things his eyes could see...but it was better left a secret for now. Erebus's mark on the demigod's neck tingled warmly as if hearing his thoughts, one more secret wouldn't hurt, right?

And so Percy waited till Hirari was done wrapping his eyes in bandages, the uncomfortably familiar feeling of thick fabric covering his skin did nothing to ease the demigod's nerves , before answering Hakuto.

"What do you mean?"

As Percy waited for the older man's answer, Percy wondered not for the first time why his eyes needed to be bandaged, something that completely robbed him of his sight.

What did the Hyuga's see that he couldn't?

Well, it was a good thing then that Percy had already mastered his sense of chakra and would notice immediately if anyone was near him, still bothered him though that he wouldn't be able to see, see for at least 4 weeks according to Hirari.

Trust was asked of him frequently it seemed.

It bothered the young immortal more than he cared to admit.

He was scared.

"Those...marks on your neck."

"Ah. Just a sign of trust apparently, is it really necessary for me to wear this for so long though?"

Both Hyuga's had stiffened at the demigod's words but were lucky enough that Percy couldn't see at the moment. They didn't need to know that he could still 'see' them in a way, their chakra signatures bright and clear as day for the raven-haired boy to see.

Percy said nothing.

Discreetly glancing at the frowning brown-haired girl standing stoically in the corner of the room, dark assessing eyes watching the two pale-eyed elders as she silently guarded her fellow praetor.

Annabeth was surely to worry if Reyna said anything right now, and so she respectfully stayed aside and waited for Percy's next move.

He'd been praetor for something, after all.

Hirari spoke for Hakuto before her husband could say anything and she carefully explained what she hoped would sound convincing, praying to Kami that Percy wouldn't be able to hear the slight tremble in her voice.

"It's just a precaution, after those four weeks you'll be able to take those bandages off completely. Of course, you'll still need to regularly change them so that they stay clean but other than that you don't have to do anything. I can speak for my husband and myself when I say that something is wrong with..."

Hirari trailed off nervously.

She'd messed up.

Percy was not amused.

"Hm?"

Even Hakuto was starting to shift uncomfortably as Percy waited for either one of the adults to say something because damn it! Was it so clear that something was wrong with him? Was he really that pathetic?

Erebus's mark burned warmer and faint whispers surrounded Percy in a soft embrace as they grew louder and louder, yet staying unheard as their mutterings weren't clear to the war veteran. Fresh white bandages hiding red glowing eyes as scarred fists clenched in Percy's lap, the bandages were good for something after all.