What if I never left?

Ch-2: What is bacon

TWs at the end of chapter

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Percy woke to the sound of sizzling bacon.

She didn't get up immediately, letting her mind wander (definitely not letting it wander into yesterday).

What, exactly, is bacon?

Percy knew it was strips of pork that was then fried to oblivion and back, 'murican style.

But that level of goodness?

That can't be achieved just like that.

So what is bacon? And more importantly, can it be made blue?

"I know you're awake, kid. No point stewing in bed."

Fair enough, not that Percy had actually been stewing, as Slade put it, for any reason other than pondering the significance of fried meat strips in the grand scheme of the universe.

She decided that they're magic. No other viable solution.

"Morning."

Slade shook his head, "Morning, kid. Finally up?"

"Well, I'm obviously completely asleep right now."

Slade let out a bark of laughter, "Got a spine, I'll give you that." His smile turned devious, "More than what I expected from Wayne's kid."

Shit.

---

Dick refused to talk to anyone.

Well, anyone but Alfred. Which was basically not talking to Bruce.

He had spent hours pondering about what his and Bruce's antics would have looked like to someone not involved.

Suspicious? For sure, Dick was sure that someone literally living in their house would begin to suspect something was up if the dynamic duo just appeared right after Bruce and Dick dipped.

No, scratch that. Percy used to go days without seeing Bruce because of "work."

She was bright, but even Batman couldn't solve cases without key evidence.

Painful? Definitely. People living in your house keeping a blatant secret and refusing to let you in on it? That has to hurt.

Dick Grayson and Percy Jackson.

It was supposed to be them against the world.

---

Well, this was just peachy. She managed to go about 12 hours without being recognised.

"I'm not Wayne's kid."

Denial is an evasion tactic that has been tried and tested throughout the course of history.

But was this really denial?

Slade didn't think so. "Care to explain why the tabloids went absolutely crazy when Wayne took you in. The other kid too."

"Took us in. But only one was adopted. Only one became Wayne's kid." She used air quotes, trying to mask the bitterness in her voice.

Slade's spatula froze in mid air for a second. He recovered quickly, resuming the repetitive action of flipping bacon. "Can I ask why?"

"Who understands rich, white men?" Percy laughed sardonically. Then she realised who she was speaking to.

"Oh."

Slade smirked, "Ain't that the truth. Who understands them, indeed. That's a good one, kid. Never reign that tongue of yours."

Slade was intrigued by the kid, sue him. She had the guts to not only face down The Terminator™, but also wise crack there. Not many grown men would do that - but maybe that's the wonder of kids.

She obviously didn't know about Batman and Robin's identities. Wayne would've found her hours ago if she did.

There was a fluidity in her movements - not like Robin, his was induced by his early training - hers was more... Natural.

Slade didn't understand why Wayne hadn't grabbed her up as his protegé immediately. But, as the kid said, who understands rich, white men.

"Come on, you okay with bacon sandwiches for breakfast?"

"I pity the person who isn't."

Hell yeah Slade liked this one.

"Absolutely, kiddo."

"My name isn't kiddo," Percy protested. "It's Percy."

"Percy. Why were the headlines referencing a particular Greek goddess, then? "

"That's what I go by, anyways. Persephone is so long."

"That's fair."

"You know what's not fair? You seem like you know like everything about me, but I don't even know your name."

"Haven't you heard of stranger danger? Why do you want to know so much about one." Slade smirked.

"You're not a stranger if I know your name."

"I'm not so sure it works like that."

Percy stared unblinkingly. Slade found it rather unnerving, "Slade. Slade Wilson."

Percy smiled brightly, "See? Now we're friends!"

And in that moment, Slade knew he'd do anything for this kid.

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Tw- i dont actually like bacon so i described my feelings for garlic bread and then tried to make it appropriate for bacon. Not sure if I succeeded.

It's very short I know I just couldn't stretch it longer and thought I'd actually update for once.