The healing hero

chapter 2

Tw: child Abuse, manipulation, torture

They all watched as Sally introduced young Percy to the man behind her. "Percy, honey, this is Gabe. Me and him are getting married in a few weeks." She told her son. Everyone looked at the older Percy with confusion, "Isn't your step dad named Paul?" Hermes asked. "Yeah, this guy was before him. Years before." Percy said, not meeting anyone's eyes. "Hey there little fella. I bet we will be the best of friends." Gabe said, his kind tone and words were clearly forced and fake. Percy nodded, looking at his mom, confusion all over his face.

The scene changed to a year later, Percy was now four, he was sitting on the playground at Preschool, with two other kids. "Hey, who is that?" One kid asked pointing behind Percy. There was a man in a trench coat and hat, but Percy could have sworn there was also only one eye on his face. "Was it one of yours?" Zeus asked, looking at his brother. "Yeah. I heard that Percy was having trouble and wanted to make sure it wasn't a monster involved at his young age." Everyone nodded, understanding. "Sir, you can't be here." A teacher said guiding all the kids away from the man. Percy was trying to get closer to the man and everytime the teacher tried to pull his away, he fought to get closer to the man harder. "PERSEUS! STOP!" His mom scolded walking towards him. "I am truly sorry ma'am." The teacher said to Sally before guiding everyone inside. The man left growling, taking one last look at Percy and his mom before disappearing into a mist.

The scene changed again, this time Percy was laying down in a sleeping bag, inside his Preschool classroom when a snake slid into his bag. It fast-forward to Percy strangling it before playing with it, thinking it was a toy. Everyone looked at the young god amazed, "So...super strength as a toddler?" Hermes asked, a smirk on his face. "Shush it." Percy said looking away.

The scene fast forward to Percy at home with Gabe and his mom. "Percy, I have to head to work. Be good for Gave okay?" Percy nodded, tears in his eyes. "Okay mommy." Gabe looked at them, watching as Sally left shutting the door. "Hey, brat. You won't tell your mom what goes on  you?" Percy shook his head, his hands trembling. "Good, because I don't think you want her to get the same treatment do you?" Percy shook his head again, tears falling from his eyes. "HEY BRAT! WHY YOU CRYING HUH?" Gabe got up and stomped towards four year old Percy. "WASTE OF SPACE DON'T GET TO CRY DO THEY?!" Gabe asked, before slapping Percy across the face, making him fall over. "N-No s-s-sir." Percy looked down, too scared to look up. "Good boy. Now go get me a beer." Percy nodded, scrambling to get up before rushing into the kitchen. He did as he was told before heading to his room. Everyone was seething, who could do that to a four year old. Percy was in a similar state as his past self. Tears on his cheeks and fear in his eyes. "Perce?" Apollo asked, trying to get his boyfriend to look at him. "Yeah?" Percy asked, raising his head a little. "Was it always like this when she went to work?" He put his hand on Percy's cheek. "Not always, sometimes it was worse." Most gasped, Artemis looked down guessing a few ways it could get worse. "Please tell me no. That my thoughts are wrong." Artemis pleaded. "I am sorry Artemis....but..." Percy looked down, horror crossed Apollo and Artemis' faces.

The scene changed again, Percy was now 5, he was sitting at the dining table doing his homework when his mom came through, "I have to go to work, honey. I'll be back by 7. Okay?" Percy nodded, looking at his paper. When the door closed Gabe got up off the couch and headed into the kitchen. "Brat, get off your ass and hand me a beer." Percy did as told and got up and grabbed him a beer. As Percy was heading to the fridge Gabe ripped up Percy's homework. "Brat why did you do that?" He asked once Percy got back to the table with the beer. "I...I didn't." Gabe looked furious, "Well than who did? It wasn't me, it was you." Gabe growled, taking the beer and before pushing Percy done onto the chair. "And for your punishment...." Gabe said getting before heading to the kitchen sink. He grabbed a knife. "Shirt off." Percy did as told too scared to do anything else. "Face the wall." Percy did as told. Facing the wall he couldn't see where Gabe was, all he would do was listen as he got closer and closer. Everyone didn't want to watch this but they really had no other choice. A few gods looked at Percy to see that the Fates had given him a blind fold and sound proof headphones. "Did you really think we were that cruel?" One asked, no one answered vocally, they all just shook their heads no. "Don't. Make. A. Single. Sound." Gabe ordered before slashing at Percy's back. Twelve slashes later, Gabe pulled Percy away from the wall before pushing his back against it. Everyone, minus the young god and the Fates, growled at the man.

"Clean this mess up. I don't want your mom to find out about any of this. And clean your back up too." Percy nodded, pain clearly in his eyes and on his face. "You wimp!" Gabe yelled slashing the knife across Percy's arm. Percy shut his eyes, trying not to cry. Everyone watched in horror, wondering how many times did this happen for Percy to have control on his reactions. "Hurry up, you lazy ass!" Percy pulled away from the wall, trying not to wince at the pain of it. He went to where his shirt was and pulled it on. Pain spreading across his face. Once he got his shirt on he started cleaning the wall and floor of any blood. Once he finished with that he went to take care of his back. He learned the hard way that water cleans wounds so he stepped into the shower, shirt off pants on, and put his back in the water. The water was freezing cold but Percy showed no sign to it. Once was done he went to his room and went to bed. No one could speak they were all in shock at how much Percy went through at just a young age, but there was still 12 more years to go until they were done. And those years would be the worst. Especially the ones before he went to camp, because only Percy and the Fates know what lies ahead for them all with Gabe Ugliano.