The One-Seven

Chapter 31: Family Gatherings

Percy stared numbly at the woman on his threshold. He blinked, hoping beyond hope that she was little more than a figment of his imagination. But he was immensely disappointed when he opened his eyes again and saw that she was still there.

As though able to read his mind, Helen smirked,

"I'm real, Percy, now are you going to invite me in or what? It's cold as balls out here, and in case you haven't noticed I'm carrying a heavy load here."

His mouth wasn't working, and his body acted of its own accord as he stepped aside and allowed her to step into the apartment.

"Man it's boring in here," she noted in disappointment, "I knew you Romans were lame but I was hoping that at least you wouldn't have a stick up your ass. Not even Jason is so neat,"

"He's been spending too much time around barbarians," Percy grumbled, "Helen, what are you doing here?"

She slumped down into his favorite chair, and sighed happily as she kicked off her flats,

"Gods that's better. You know I thought they were joking when they talked about your feet swelling but I didn't think it would be nearly this bad,"

"Helen," said Percy, snapping his fingers, "Focus. What are you doing at my home?"

"Visiting you, duh?" She rolled her eyes, "I mean seriously Percy, do you know how hard it was to find you. Low blow by the way, I had to find out you were in Gotham from Rachel of all people. I mean seriously! Did Jason or Reyna even know you were here."

"I wanted to be left alone," Percy crossed his hands over his chest and rested against his kitchen island, his eyes narrowing, "And I'd like it to stay that way."

"Don't be a dick," Helen frowned, her eyes flashing a bright green for a second, "Do you have any idea how worried I was when Diana called me and told me that you nearly died?"

It was Percy's turn for his eyes to flash dangerously, as lightning flashed outside the window.

"She had no right-" snarled Percy,

"I beg to-fucking-differ," said Helen hotly, "Percy you were shot, your ribcage had been crushed, your fucking heart stopped for over a minute. You don't get to keep me out of the loop when your life is in danger!"

"Why?" Said Percy incredulously, "We don't even know each other,"

"And whose fault is that?" Helen glared at him, "You've been blowing me off for years! I'm your sister, Percy. Your sister. I deserve to know when you've been shot by a freak dressed like a clown, which by the way, how the hell did you let that happen."

"We share a sperm donor," said Percy coldly, "And even then, not even. And I haven't been blowing you off, I've been living my own life."

"Bullshit," scoffed Helen, "The bodies hadn't even been buried before you'd disappeared. Nobody knew where you'd gone, I thought you were fucking dead, Percy. Dead. And then the next time I see you, it's getting pulled out of the rubble of some broken building on that hellhole of an island."

Her eyes began to glisten a little, "I just do not understand why you don't want to have a relationship Percy. We're family."

"We share blood," said Percy, "That doesn't make us family. I didn't know you existed until you stumbled into the city."

"That's low, Percy," sniffed Helen, "That's real fucking low. Jason and Thalia didn't know each other existed either, but look at them."

"Yeah, one's a House Representative, and the other is an immortal fourteen-year-old, they really epitomize familial love," snorted Percy,