𝐃𝐄𝐉𝐀 𝐕𝐔 • Percy Jackson.

III-01

       HE DECISIVELY IGNORED THE DRUG ADDICT. Mortals are crazy, he concluded.  "Stop looking at me like I'm some no life crackhead." The guy complained and he raised his eyebrows. Deciding to give a little attention he asks, "and you aren't?" The guy rolled his eyes, "ha ha. You say that as if you aren't going to be one of those fuckers those smoking campaigns warn us about." Amani smiled a little, "touché." He shrugged, crushing the cigarette under his foot. "You're lucky I like you so much to hand you those packs." The guy sniffed, shoving his hands into his pockets. 

Amani didn't respond to the guy's comments. Truthfully he didn't even know his name, but he couldn't tell him that. "Man we're so fucked for the future dude." The guy murmured, looking up at the sky towards the skyscrapers. Maybe, he answered quietly. "Well that's fine. We got each other." He said with a grin, patting Amani's shoulder. Sure. The two walked away from the abandoned building on the streets of Queens with no exact destination.

 "You know, I still get those creepy dreams," the guy spoke softly. Amani sighed, "they're just dreams. Relax." He explained and the guy shook his head. "I just can't – I mean that monster he was out to kill you…" Clear-sighted mortals were truly too annoying. And I thought the hypnosis would work, he clicked his tongue. He would have left this guy long ago if it weren't for the cigarette packets he got off the guy for a twenty. "...Are you even listening?" Amani blinked. "That's a no. And I thought I was high off my mind." The guy said with a chuckle.

 "I'm not high just–"

"Tired. Yeah I know." 

It was left at that. The winter was far too lonely, maybe it was his own fault for distancing himself, but the words loomed in his mind that he believed it was worth it. It was so lonely that he'd go as far as to hangout with this mortal who he paid twenty a week to. The traffic was bustling and he waited a long time before the crosswalk switched to the walking man. They walked through the shopping district, boutiques lined up the streets, and pedestrians with bags along with street performers crowded the area. The talents of the performers hung high in the air. 

"Dude, I'd kill to buy that." The guy commented, staring at a store mannequin dressed with a rugged leather brown jacket that probably costs hundreds. It was clear the statement piece was the jacket as everything else was styled with it in mind and bland on its own; black trousers, white shirt, and sunglasses. Though he couldn't really spare much attention to him as he felt the phone in his pocket buzz. 

Don't let it be him, he prayed silently as he took it out. Fuck, he clicked his tongue. "Yes?" He answered politely. He grimaced when he heard her voice, "where the hell are you! I told you to stay home for two hours and then I'm told you sneak out to god knows where!" She yelled and he winced. "Calm down geez." He murmured, sending a glance to the guy who nodded in understanding. "Calm. Down," his mother repeated calmly but in between the words was hidden anger. "Calm down?!" She exclaimed, "are you in some shopping district? Just because I unfroze that card does not mean you spend it endlessly!" She was so angry he could hear her chaotic breathing.

 He swallowed, "amma I'm just looking–"

"Yeah right. Looking. Looking my head! You'll come back with two hundred checked out on that damn card." She cursed and Amani rolled his eyes, defeated. I really am here to just look. "Hey dude I know you're on the phone–" he hissed him to be quiet, "okay okay." He murmured but it was too late. His mother paused as if realizing something and a dread filled him, "you better not be there with that damn f–" he hung up. 

"Your mom?" 

"Yep." He murmured, feeling uncomfortable. The words are still echoing. "Tough. It's not about me was it? Last time, on the phone, I heard–" he shook his head. "Nah she's just mad I snuck out." He lied swallowing his own spit. "Oh. sorry dude, she'll get over it." Yeah, he agreed. "Let's go." He said quietly and the two walked out of the district. The music in the square and the chattering were deaf to his ears.