The Effort of Family

It's Rough Out There (But You'll Be Safe Right Here)

CW: Blood, medical inaccuracies, mentions of poverty and financial hardships, implied/referenced police violence.

Percy felt his shoulders relax as his mom walked in. She seemed worried and upset, but everything would be okay. It always was when she was around. Her eyes scanned the crowded front office, a look of horror crossing her face when she found him. "Oh, Percy!" She said. She crouched down in front of him, her fingertips ghosting along his face. It stung. She pulled her hand back and Percy mindlessly registered a bit of blood staining her fingers. The nurse must've done a bad job patching up his face, either that, or he was in a worse state than he thought.

The adrenaline had worn off. Percy felt listless. He wanted to go home and fall asleep watching a movie with his mom. He could hear her sharp tone directed at the officer standing watch over him and the other kids. The handcuffs keeping him in the chair fell away, and his mom pulled him into a hug. It was nice. Percy was so tired.

When she pulled away with a kiss pressed against his head, she said something softly to him. He didn't hear her, but watched her walk into the principal's office.

His mom spent forever in that office. She looked mad when she walked out. "Come on, Percy," She said, helping him up to his feet. "Let's get you home." That sounded nice.

His mom spoke again after a moment. "Your brother Jason is outside. I know this probably isn't how you wanted to meet him."

I'm sorry," Percy said. He hadn't wanted to drag her halfway across the city.

"It's alright," she soothed. "We can talk about it tomorrow."

Percy didn't remember the walk to the car. He just remembered his mom ushering him into the backseat. A young blonde woman sat next to him. Did Percy know her? She didn't seem familiar.

"You look rough man," someone from the front seat said. Oh, that must have been Jason.

"Hi," Percy said in lieu of a response.

The blond next to him hummed. He looked over at her. She seemed to be judging him, though not harshly. "Did you win?" She asked.

Not the question Percy was expecting. "Yes," he replied, deciding to be honest.

"Good." That was Jason. Probably. Percy wasn't really sure how awake he was.

"Do we need to take him to the hospital?" That was definitely Jason.

"No!" Percy said, "no hospitals, please." They couldn't take him to the hospital. They'd run tests there. They would know what he was. His mom would have to register him as half Atlantean, and she could get in trouble. They couldn't.

"Okay," his brother said. "I'll bring you guys back to your apartment, but at least let Steph look you over."

The woman next to him, presumably Steph, chimed in, "I'm getting my degree in nursing. He really needs some kind of check up." Her smile was soothing. Percy's eyes felt heavy. His mom said something. Then someone else was mumbling. Why were they all being quiet? Maybe he really should rest his eyes for just a sec-

"Well, he's out," Stephanie said. Jason glanced back to find that, yes, Percy had fallen asleep.

When Sally had walked out of that school with the kid leaning against her, Jason was seriously concerned. The left half of his face was black and blue, completely swollen. Dried blood was smeared under his nose and across his mouth. Small bandages had been placed on his forehead where a shallow cut followed his hairline, likely having been made by a ring or dull weapon. His hand was shoddily wrapped, and Jason could see the heavy bruising spanning out from his knuckles.