Not Always the Hero; Rewritten // (Percy Jackson x Peter Parker)

1st half of Percy's first day of school!!!

It's okay to be saved once in a while too.

The fateful time had come. Percy's summer was officially over. He shouldered his plain backpack as he dodged the kitchen island to say goodbye to his mother for the day. He had already eaten 20 minutes prior, was wearing some loose fitting jeans and a hoodie over his shirt, and had brushed his teeth. He was as ready as he could be for someone who was critically behind in high school and about to start what should've been his senior year.

"Bye mom," he murmured as he hugged Sally next to the stove. She gave him a reassuring squeeze. It had been a while since he had been expelled from any schools so it had been a while since he was forced to start at a new school; he wasn't used to it anymore.

"Have a good day, Percy. I love you," his mom smiled at him, her blue kaleidoscopic eyes sparkling with adoration for her son.

Percy couldn't help but smile back, "I'll do my best. I love you too."

"Last hug!" his mom decided right as he was pulling away. She reached up to kiss his forehead and Percy ducked his head to make it easier for her. Then, Sally very gently gave Percy a push towards the door, "Make it a good first day! Don't be late!"

Percy laughed and shook his head as he headed for the door and gave his mom one last wave.

He exited the apartment and took a deep breath. He would make it a good day, if not for any other reason than that his mom told him to. Percy closed the door to the apartment and while he fished out his keys to lock it, the door of the neighboring apartment opened. Peter Parker was wearing a collared shirt and jeans.

"Hey Pete," Percy grinned as he pocketed his keys once more and turned to go down the stairs.

"Percy!" Peter joined him. They went to different schools, but the schools in question weren't too far from each other, and happened to start at relatively the same time. "Excited for the school year?"

Percy sighed, "Yeah, I guess. I'm not excited that I have to redo so much, but things could be worse I suppose."

Peter knocked his shoulder slightly, "It's gonna be fine. I'll help you out however I can, how about that?"

Percy glanced over at his neighbor to see the other boy looking away. He thought about it for a moment, momentarily distracted by Peter's light eyelashes catching the light ever so slightly.

"Yeah, okay. I might need a bit of help in math and science," Percy admitted as they went down the next flight of stairs, "...and English...some history too probably." Percy made a sour expression which Peter laughed at.

"You're not giving yourself enough credit, Perce. You're a lot smarter than you let on."

Percy looked at Peter incredulously, "Are you sure about that?"

Peter laughed and rolled his eyes, "Yes! You're very smart, you just learn differently. Believe me, I know how hard school can be with ADHD; some of my classes are just so boring!" He enunciated the last part with an exaggerated flair of his arms.

It was Percy's turn to laugh at Peter's theatrics. "Yeah yeah, sure. Out of the two of us though, you're the smart one,"

He was met with a dirty look from Peter. It only made him laugh more. This just made Peter give a frustrated shrug, "You're so full of it Percy!"

"I'm being serious, man! You're literally in a paid internship for Stark Industries!"

"Okay, but this isn't about that! You're smart Percy!"