An Assassin's Guide to Family

Chapter 39: Past

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

I awoke with a start, my heart beating and a sheen of sweat coating my skin. I sat straight up, my eyes opening with a speed that made everything blurry. My hand flew to my chest as I felt the desperate and quick beat from heart, it felt as if it were trying to free itself from my rib cage.

I took in a deep breath, I couldn't remember my dream, whatever it was it had to have been bad.

I blinked a few times, my body ached as if I'd been awake for a week and my body shook. Something terrible must've happened in my dream.

I breathed for a minute longer before pushing myself out of bed. I had school today, I didn't have time to think about these things. Even as I did so though I could feel something was off.

By the time I'd gotten to the breakfast table everyone was already there happily eating and talking, even Bruce sat confidently at the head of the table.

I took my seat, greeting everyone before taking a piece of toast and some eggs. I wasn't hungry, not after that kind of night. I took small bites, trying to get something down at least so that they wouldn't worry about me.

"Percy?" I turned quickly, finding the boys had turned their attention on to me. I raised an eyebrow as I shoved some eggs into my mouth just to make sure it wasn't about me eating so little. They didn't seem to pay attention as Tim continued. "I was wondering, why does Annabeth call you seaweed brain? I mean it's just strange, there are so many other nicknames out there." I felt a smile rise to my lips at the mention of Annabeth.

"Oh, it's because I really love the ocean, not to mention I'm a bit...to advanced for her thinking, so she calls me seaweed brain as a combination of the two." Jason snorted and rolled his eyes. We talked about nicknames and my friends for a while longer before we began to head out to the car.

As I stepped outside a heavy feeling weighed on my shoulders, as I looked up I noticed that even for Gotham it was noticeably cloudy, the dark grey plumes hung heavy above our heads, looking like boulders ready to fall.

Suddenly leaving the house didn't feel like such a good idea. I turned to look towards the door but Bruce stood there was his encouraging smile, that being the smallest of upturned lips. A sense of responsibility pressed on me, the two feelings of overwhelming unease and responsibility making me feel more tired then I already was. I gave him a trying smile as I rushed off to the car, clutching the straps of my backpack before I tossed myself into the car, the others getting slightly startled by my sudden intrusion before welcoming me in with a smile. I tried to reciprocate these emotions, to try and ignore the overwhelming feeling of danger looming behind my back, but the smile I put on my face didn't seem to wash away these feelings. I tried my best to grin and bear it, I just needed to survive today.

I stared outside the car window the entirety of the ride, keeping my eyes open for a monster or reason for the disturbance in my peace. Anything out of the ordinary to make me not feel crazy.

Nothing.

Not a single thing stood out aside from the extra dreary weather. As I stepped back outside the car, narrowly dodging Jason as he tried to tackle Dick, I continued to remind myself that I would be fine, that today would not be somehow horrific, but as I walked towards the school, the shadow looming over me and drenching me in it's cool dark atmosphere I knew I was wrong. I clenched my jaw as I put myself on high alert, walking into the dark and dreary hallways I continued to make silent prayers under my breath.

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First period through third period passed with nothing of significance, and as I headed to the one class I shared with Tim.