Smithereens

Chapter 10

The video i attached is an awesome song by an awesome band that deserves more publicity. It's about the singer's grandfather, who was a great man. He actually died Friday, eleven years ago.

Warning: abuse.

Heads up: I don't know nothin' about law and court and all that jazz, so sorry that this is not at all accurate. It's fiction. Better yet, its fanfiction. Let it go.

The black car pulled up to Percy's old apartment. Both boys had been silent the whole trip, and I didn't try to start a conversation.

"This is it," Happy announced as he put the car into park.

"I'll pick you guys up as soon as I can," I promised. "I have a thousand lawyers looking into this. If all goes well, you guys will be back at the compound in a week."

Peter winced. "A week?"

"I'm sorry, kid. That's the best I can do." I pulled Peter into a hug. I couldn't believe I was going to just hand these children over to a monster who had obviously done terrible things to Percy, but I didn't have much choice. If Gabe was granted custody for good, I promised myself that I would kidnap the kids and move to Wakanda.

When I pulled away from Peter, Percy put his arms around me, which surprised me a bit. Even though we made up... it still seemed weird. 

"Don't let him hurt you this time, Percy," I told him. "You're stronger than him. He's just a fat drunk. You fought Captain America. You fought Wanda and won against her mind powers. You can beat him, if he comes at you."

"I don't know if I can," Percy admitted. "I had the chance when I was eleven. I could've taken it then, but I didn't. I just ran away."

"Well don't run away this time," I said, "It won't look good. All I'm asking is six days. Can you handle that?"

Percy nodded. "six days," he repeated. "But if he goes after Peter, we're out of there."

I hesitated, and then nodded. I knew he would eventually go after Peter, but I also knew the court wouldn't be on the side of two runaways. As I closed the door of the car, I heard Percy say:

"He doesn't actually have a thousand lawyers, Pete. It was an exaggeration."

...

Peter's POV

Percy grabbed my hand tightly in his as he knocked on the door. The apartment was on the sixth floor. 

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, I'm coming." I heard a voice say. There were footsteps inside, then the door opened, revealing a hideous man. 

He was about five foot, eleven inches, two hundred forty pounds. But I'm just spit balling here. He had about three hairs on his head, all combed over to try and make it look like he actually had hair. His extra weight, by the way, was all in beer belly form. He looked pregnant.

When he made eye-contact with Tony, he sneered. "So after all these years, you finally showed your face, huh?" He had a weird accent, New York-Italian, but there was something else mixed in there that I couldn't place.

"Yeah, well, I could say the same thing to you." Tony replied. I could see anger carefully hidden in his eyes. Gabe looked at Percy.

"Hey brain boy," he said, a fake smile making it's way onto his face. "Long time no see. Why don't you come on in. I just had my housekeeper pick up some beers for us."

"I don't drink." Percy said in a carefully controlled voice. "And you don't have a housekeeper."

"And this is your cousin, Perry?"