I May Be Blind, But I Can Still See Your Bullshit

Percy Bonds with Happy

Helplessness was not a feeling Percy Jackson was accustomed too. Even when he was young and stuck with a terrible step-father, Percy never considered himself helpless. He was always strong and powerful, like Fury said. He never felt helpless until Tartarus.

Percy does not remember how or when he was blinded in Tartarus. He only remembers the moment he noticed. The only reason why him and Annabeth were able to make it to that damned elevator was the shear amount of adrenaline and fear coursing through their bodies. More unconsciously running for safety than the conscious thought of where they were. It was during that elevator ride that Percy knew something was different. To say they were exhausted was an understatement, but Percy turned towards Annabeth. He had to see for himself that they were both in fact still standing. But he couldn't see her. At first he thought it was the elevator itself. That Annabeth was also unable to see a thing in the darkness. He pushed his back against the wall and his hand searched the air in front of him.

"Annabeth?" He asked aloud. He heard movement from beside him and nearly lashed out.

"Percy." She breathed. And finally, with the knowledge that Annabeth was talking, was moving, was alive, let Percy relax. He slumped against the wall and tried to even out his breathing.

"It's so dark in here." He said. He felt Annabeth move closer to him and hold onto his arm.

"Percy?" She was so close to him he could hardly feel anything else. He didn't want to feel anything else. "Percy, what are you talking about? It's not dark at all." He turned towards her. He still couldn't make out anything in the darkness. He reached out and found her face. He cupped her cheek with one hand, the other hand still clenching Riptide.

"Yes it is, Annabeth I can't see a thing." He began to panic. He could feel the blood moving throughout his veins and it was uncomfortable. He could also faintly feel Annabeth's blood from where his hand was touching her. He quickly moved it away. The sensation made him nauseous. The memory of what he did to Misery wasn't far behind and that just made it worse. "Annabeth, I can't see. I can't," He couldn't seem to get enough air into his lungs. Annabeth then cupped his cheeks with her own hands. They were rough and dirty yet so soft. He could feel her callouses and the blood moving through her veins. But he knew this was Annabeth. He would never hurt her like he did Misery. She was safety. "I can't see." He whispered.

"I know, it's going to be okay." She didn't sound so convinced of her own words. "I never expected us to get out of here in one piece." She leaned down and kissed Percy on the forehead.

"I can't see you." Tears fell from his eyes. From the way she was talking, it was almost like Annabeth had just accepted the fact that his sight was gone. But her words, 'expected us'. "I can't see, Annabeth, are you okay? Are you in one piece?" He begged. He begged she was. If not, he would have failed to keep her safe. She let out a sobbed laugh.

"For now. I think my foot might need to be amputated if I'm being honest." And that was that. Neither of them didn't make it out of Tartarus in one piece. They will always be reminded of that place by the things they have lost. Annabeth her foot, Percy his sight. "Why would the gods ever give us a break?" On the floor of that dirty elevator, being risen up to go back to fighting a war that wasn't theirs, Percy and Annabeth held onto each other and cried.
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Happy Hogan looked at the apartment number written on his hand for the third time to make sure he got the right door. When he was certain, he knocked and waited. A teenager opened the door with a backpack and a walking stick. "I'm here to pick up Percy Jackson?" Happy said in the form of a question. "I'm Happy Hogan." The kid nodded and turned into the apartment.

"Mom, Mr. Hogan is here! I'm leaving!" He called.

"Take your stick with you, please! You need to get used to it." The woman's voice was filled with caution. Like the mention of a stick would cause a fight. Percy sighed loudly.

"Yeah! I got it." The intimidating teenager pouted. Happy cleared his throat and got his attention.

"Right. Well, the car is downstairs, so," Happy gestured to the elevator but than realized that probably wasn't the most effective way to get going. Percy moved towards the stairs. "Um," Happy began. "The elevator is this way." If Happy was being honest, he didn't know how to talk to a blind person without sounding offensive. He lived and worked with a bunch of assholes with superpowers. Kindness wasn't something he came into contact with often.

Percy kept walking towards the stairs. "I don't like elevators." Happy saw that as a sign to dropped the subject and followed Percy down the stairs. He could hear Percy muttering under his breath, counting the number of steps as he slowly walked down.

When they reached the car parked illegally in front of the apartment building, Happy opened the door for Percy and they began driving. "I will be picking you up every Tuesday and Thursday, as those were the days you gave Agent Fury, at the same time and same spot." Happy looked at his passenger through the rearview mirror. His head was turned facing the window and his hand was clenched inside his pocket.

"I might be blind but I can still feel you staring at me." Was the first thing Percy said all car ride. His head didn't stray from his position. Happy immediately turned his undivided attention to the traffic of New York City. 

"Right, sorry." Percy let out a small chuckle.

"It's alright. I'm still not use to his whole blind thing." He raised his walking stick, "I've only used this thing twice before. I actually don't go outside much so there isn't a lot of opportunities to use it since I know the apartment from memory." Happy hummed. He was used to people telling him secrets. He was a driver for some of the most powerful people on the planet, they all trusted Happy with their lives and secrets. But something about how the newest recruit looked fresh out of high school stirred something in him. The same feeling came up when he ran into a certain spider-person in the compound. 

"If you don't mind me asking," He said slowly, "When did it happen?" Percy took a pen out of his pocket and twirled it around his fingers. Happy thought it was a bit strange that the pen seemed to be moving around his fingers by itself, but didn't comment. He waited for the kid to speak, if he was going too.

"Six months and 14 days ago." He smiled, but it wasn't from happiness, it was a smile that looked like he was remembering something nostalgic. Happy guessed his sight. "Me and my girlfriend were stuck someplace during a war." Happy once again moved his attention back on the road. The traffic was starting to move. "She lost her left foot, I lost my sight. We all lost something during the war. We just were the ones that lost something physical. Something a part of us that we will never get back." 

"I'm sorry." Happy said. He didn't know what else to say. "My friend, well he's my boss and also my friend, he was kidnapped a while ago. When he came back, it was like he was a totally different person. He told me he lost something while in that cave. I never asked what it was but I knew it was something that can't be replaced." Happy made a few turns and was finally able to speed up. "You'll be able to meet him today. He's one of the Avengers." Percy hummed but didn't say anything else the whole ride. But Happy and Percy were both content with the comfortable silence. 

Welcome back everyone! I hope you enjoyed this chapter with the introduction of Happy and a small cameo for Annabeth. Romance is not a large plot point in this story but Percy and Annabeth are together and will have some small moments in the future.

Feel free to comment, vote and I hope to see you in the next chapter!<3