Son of Poseidon (PercyJackson x Batfam)

P is for Panic

"Anna... Annabeth!" I gasped, untangling myself from the sheets, muffling my cries.

I slowly lifted myself from the bed, softly padding across the room. I bit my lip to keep from crying out until I felt blood, numbly being aware of it.

Don't wake the boys up.

Vapor traveling out, the boys still sound asleep, I sank to the ground. I shivered against the cool wall, bringing my head between my knees, clasping my hands over my head, wiping away some of the blood.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Come on Percy.

"Percy?"

BreatheInBreatheOutBreatheIn.

I felt strong arms pull around me, but I could barely feel them.

Annabeth, dead, Leo, dead, Jason, dead, Piper, dead, Hazel, dead, Frank, dead, mom, dead, Paul, dead.

Deaddeaddeaddeaddeaddeaddead.

Screams echoed in my ears, I couldn't tell if they were mine or the sevens, and I couldn't breathe, I couldn't process, I just. Couldn't.

(Bruce's POV)

I sent Nightwing up to bed, after promising I'd be right behind him, but after three hours of more research, I looked at what we scrounged up.

Name: Seahawk

Location: Gotham

Suspected Age: 19

Fighting Experience: 5 years

Weapons: Greek Xiphos (Sheathed at Waist)

Powers: Water/Ice, Some Type of Teleportation

Classification: Meta? Unknown

Identity: Unknown

Fighting Style: Unknown

Skill Range: Unknown

Background: Unknown

Intentions: Unknown

Notes: Has been seen working with Red Hood on multiple occasions, has had run-ins with Nightwing and I, one brief encounter with YJ where he saved them but he didn't stay long, not much is known overall_

I ran my hand down my face, the kid had so little on his file, even if he did only appear in Gotham a few months ago. I wasn't getting anywhere with him.

He evaded most of my questions, as he did with Nightwing's, and was acting completely impossible. When he jumped off the roof, he disappeared without a trace, pointing towards teleportation powers, but we didn't see him use any other abilities until the villain team-up on Easter.

We just don't know much about him, and I hate not knowing.

I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, before picking it up, and what was inside made the side of my mouth twitch up.

Master Bruce, I believe you would enjoy this photo of the young Masters asleep in Percy's room. It is quite sweet. I also do believe you should get some rest yourself, you have stayed up late one night too many over these past few months. – Alfred

I guess Alfred was right, but first I should check on the boys myself, see how they're settling. Ever since Percy came, it's been going really well between him and everyone. He's fitting in nicely, despite the little kidnapping incident.

I stepped out of the clock to the Batcave, walking up to the boys' hallway, when I saw Percy sitting against the wall.

He had his head between his knees and his hands were covering his ears, hiding the tears streaming down his face, as blood from his bit lip mixed with them.

He was hyperventilating.

I strode over to him in a few short strides, my footfalls muffled against the carpet, "Percy?"

I didn't get an answer, so I pulled him into my arms loosely, "It's ok Percy, I'm here, just breathe in and out. Slow and steady."

He shook his head hard, "C-can't."

He broke into a coughing fit, clutching the front of my suit like it was the only thing keeping him alive.

"Percy, look at me."

His eyes flitted to mine quickly, but he looked back down, his eyes holding a shattered look I've never seen before. He lowered his walls slightly to me, something that took a lot of strength and trust to do. We always wondered what lurked behind those intense sea-green eyes of his, and now I know.

Pain.

It wasn't just any pain, it was the pain that I saw so often in Jason, Tim, Dick, Damian, and my eyes. The pain of a survivor, the pain of someone who lost so much, who was hurt to and past their limit. But his pain looked worse than ours, and it broke my heart to see how actually shattered he was.

"I have you, Percy, and I always will. Lean on me, it always helps to lean on someone."

He sniffed, furiously wiping away the salty tears that were making their way down his cheek, finally breathing freely, "Thanks..."

I let him take in a few more breaths, rubbing my thumb over his hand, "Are you okay, Percy? I know that look in your eyes, it's all too familiar. You know you can tell me, right?"

My shirt wrinkled in his grip as he nestled his face in the crook of my neck.

It seemed he used this as a comforting mechanism, and he only used it when something was very bad. Like with the Joker's attack.

"They're dead because of me, I was too slow, Bruce. I was weak, I am weak," He started to shake heavily, squeezing his eyes shut.

"You're not slow and weak, Percy, you're far from it," I couldn't make sense of what he was saying. He said they are dead because of him, that he was weak and slow. Was he talking about his parents?

"The seven are gone because of me," He started to open up, but immediately shut down again, "I'm going to bed," He lifted himself, placing his hand on his door handle.

"Percy," I started.

"I don't want to talk about it," He snarled in a tone I've never heard him use before, it was very unlike him, cold and threatening.

He ran a hand through his hair, before softening his tone, "I'm sorry, Bruce, I just... can't talk about their deaths yet. You have to understand, they were my closest friends, my family."

He disappeared into his room, leaving me to wonder what happened to him. What would make him go from such a happy kid to a shattered mess in seconds? Percy was strong, but he would need all of us to get through this.

I wouldn't tell the boys, Percy could do that in his own time if he's ever comfortable telling. But for now, I just have to keep an eye on him, make sure he's okay, and that he stays that way.

_____________

Good Morning fellow demigods, and dear mortals!

Seems Daddy Bats has entered the building, ready to break someone's face for hurting Percy! But, sadly, he doesn't know much about Perce, so he can't help as much as he wants to. 

How he wishes Percy would open up more around him, and the boys, so they can help him out. Percy isn't ready to open up yet, but he's making progress, don't you think?

Let me know what you think of this chapter in the comments! 

               -EthanVenlivrenVari, Cabin #3, Child of Poseidon🌊🔱