Fem Percy Jackson x Batfam

One Last Blue Cookie for the Road

(3rd POV)

Persephone, or Percy Jackson lived a hard life, especially considering her age, and her incomprehensibly kind mother. This however, could be easily traced back to a singular source. and this source happened to be the scum of the earth, the lowest of the low, and the absolute worst case scenario there is in terms of people. This scum was named Gabriel Ugliano. But Smelly Gabe would also suffice. He also happened to be married to Percy's mother, Sally Jackson.

As to why such a wonderful woman would be married to a man such as Gabe, Percy could not tell you. At least not until she was a little older. But in the time between now, and then, it was something that never truly escaped her thoughts. And it was on this particular day, that all she could focus on was why, when he was clearly the cause of every bit of misery in both her, and her mothers' lives.

The day had started off as any other. Persephone had woken to having strands of her raven-black hair gently pushed back behind her ears by the warm dainty hands of her mom. There was no immediate tell that there was something off about today, even when she crept quietly into the living room and came across the sleeping form of Smelly Gabe, whom was coated in the stench of alcohol, sweat and grime. Even sleeping she could help but shiver slightly in fear, and the grim anticipation of when he would inevitably wake, and take out anything, and everything on her mom, and herself. Of course it was no fault of Sally's that her only child was being abused, as she was not aware of it at all. She would always try to take the brunt of his beatings herself in place of her small seven year old daughter, who she thought would never have to know the pain of being hit. Unbeknownst to her, whenever she left for work in the mid-morning, after about an hour or so, Smelly Gabe with stir, and abruptly start to drink and rage about every little thing. And despite Percy always trying her best to hide during that time, she would always find herself within his line of sight again soon. And with the extra effort put in towards having to look for her, he would become further enraged, and make sure she knew it.

After a while of this, Percy learned hiding was futile, and would only serve her with a worse punishment. And so she would simply wait in plain sight for him to kick her around a little bit, allow him to lash at her torso with the metal end of his belt. And though she had long given up trying to stop him from hurting her, she never once gave him the satisfaction of hearing her cry, or scream, because she needed to not break. For her mom, and for herself. Because if she let him hear her pain, he had won, and she would never let him win. Because that's what her mom would do.

But that morning just after Sally Jackson had twisted the keys, locking the door as she left for work, Smelly Gabe stirred much earlier than he normally did. And that's when the air grew still, completely, and utterly still. Not a sound to be heard other than his breathing, as her own had caught in her throat. A chill ran down her spine, in foreboding for what was to come. As she could feel it, right down to her soul, that today was different. And it was, but nothing could've prepared her for what exactly it was that made today different.

As he hefted himself up and off of the couch, and began his daily heavy lumber towards her, she heard the distant sound of footsteps swiveling around, and walking briskly back towards their apartment door. But Gabe did not hear this, so he continued tromping in her direction. And when he reached her, things proceeded as they normally did for him. A few kicks in the ribs, stopping when he hears a crack, a quick three lashes with his belt across the back, but this time he slapped Persephone hard across the face. So hard in fact that she was knocked back into the wall, right next to the apartment door, as it slowly creaked open. Her sea-green eyes widened a fraction, before they flashed downwards at the ratty grey sneakers she knew to be her mom's. And when she looked up, she made searing eye-contact with one Sally Jackson. And she looked furious.