An Assassin's Guide to Family

Chapter 31: Present

--------------- Percy's POV: ---------------

I walked quietly out of the communal showers and into the base, running my fingers through my hair as I readjusted to my regular orca mask, the other bejeweled one tucked carefully under my arm. I'd changed back into my regular Orca outfit, the dress laid somewhere back in the showers. It felt nice not to be covered in blood again. 

I walked carefully as I stepped into the hallway, I kept my footsteps silent as I treaded through the halls. I spotted one of the doors slightly open, I peeked in carefully, spotting a young figure curled up on the bed, a small green cow catching my eyes. I smiled as the figure pulled the cow in close, holding it as if it were precious. I sighed, closing the door fully as I turned back and began walking down the hall. It was late, and I was getting tired so I figured I would go home. 

As I walked into the main room I found Talia, her head in her hands and her long silky brown hair laid delicately against the table. I stopped, watching her for a minute. If she'd noticed me, she didn't make any motion to let me know. 

I could very well leave and allow Talia her time alone, but I knew what it was like to be alone. I should just go and offer a talk. 

I walked over, making my footsteps loud enough to hear as I sat carefully in front of her. She slowly lifted her head, her hair pulling back like curtains to reveal her face. For anyone else, she would look fine, stunning even, but with the slight tug at her lips, and the unnatural way her eyes drooped, I could tell something was wrong. 

"Orca." I nodded, taking in a deep breath as I pulled back my mask. I placed the mask in between us, giving her a trying smile though the look didn't quite meet my lips I'm sure. I was always more nervous around Talia without the mask, something about the dynamic without a barrier made things too real but now I needed her to see I was being sincere.  She eased, the slight frown turning to a small smile. "Percy." She sounded amused. She tapped something on her wrist and with a sudden droning noise the cameras in the corners fell, their on buttons now blinking red for off. "You look a lot cleaner than the last time I saw your face." I smiled, taking a deep breath. 

"Well, I've had time to actually take care of myself so I suppose it was only natural." She chuckled lightly, her hands coming together in front of her. "but we can talk about that later, how about we talk about what's wrong?" Talia pursed her lips, a glint coming to her eyes that I'd only seen when she'd found me. 

"Of course." She nodded as she sighed herself, pushing the hair fully from her face and tucking it carefully behind her ear. 

"So what's wrong?" I asked, keeping my smile comforting as I kept my distance. Talia was never one for hugs. 

She took a minute to speak, seemingly carefully thinking over her words. After a moment she spoke carefully. "Sometimes I wonder..." She bites her tongue shaking her head. "I wonder if it would've been better to introduce Damien to his father." I sucked in a shallow breath, something I hadn't meant to do but it had come as an instinct. I'd been one of the kids to meet their father late in life. It wasn't something I liked to think about. Talia's eyes were trained on me as I relaxed, leaning forwards. "I know you said you didn't meet your father until later, how was..." she trailed off, not wanting to finish her sentence. I already knew where she was going with it. 

I collected myself before looking her directly in the eyes as well. "I was pissed," I spoke calmly, trying my best not to have an outburst. "I was angry I didn't get to have my father around like everyone else, of course, our situations are different, Damien's not being raised in an attempt at a normal life so I suppose for him the experiences don't match." Talia gained a relieved expression, I almost felt bad having to bring reality back to her. "but that doesn't mean he won't feel envy." Talia's eyes lessened. "He deserves to know his father, to have an attempt to make a relationship with him, even if the father doesn't want him." Talia looked down to her hands, sighing carefully. 

"That's the thing. I know the father will want him... want him to stay with him." I felt a small pang at my heart, I was angry at Talia sure, no one should deprive their kid of this if there wasn't a truly okay reason, but Talia was doing this, and I knew it wasn't justified. 

"Who's the father?" the question slipped before I could monitor the actual words. Talia's eyes hardened before she shook her head. 

"No one you need to associate yourself with." I nodded, I didn't like the fact she was hiding it but I wasn't one to press. 

"Mother?" I grabbed the mask and turned away from the sound faster than humanly possible, my vision restricted to small slits once more as I tried to keep my breathing calm. 

"Damien, darling, what're you doing up?" I turned back, now with the mask on I could see Damien had walked over, his confident look still placed on his face, no matter how sleepy he looked. He eyed me carefully before turning to his mother. 

"Nothing mother, I just thought I'd heard something." She nodded, placing a careful kiss to his temple. 

"Go back to sleep, we have a lot to do tomorrow." he nodded, turning, sending me one last look before walking away. We waited for a while before I turned back to Talia, she looked a lot more confident than she had before. 

I stood up, keeping one hand placed flat against the top of the table. I looked at Talia carefully, "From one person to another, that boy deserves to know his father, I didn't know my father till a little older than him and we still have fights about it to this day. He deserves to know and it will only leave you in better graces if you're the one to make this transition with him." I let the words hang in the air before I removed my hand, placing it against my mask once more. 

"Thank you Orca, sleep well tonight." I nodded, turning to look at her as she also stood up. 

"Have a good night Talia." With that I left the room, leaving Talia to take my words into consideration. 

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