Deaf Percy Jackson and the Avenger (No Greek Mythology) (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 9: Nice or Not Nice?

Edited On: 12/17/19

Italics are the past, while the present is regular text.

"I'm confused. What are we doing?" I signed to Bruce, he adopted me two months ago and I was still sometimes hesitant about living here and having him as my guardian.

"We are going to play catch," Bruce signed awkwardly having two gloves and a baseball under his arms, "It was Tony's idea and something we can try."

I looked at the ball like it was a foreign object, I never was able to just play catch. Having a nonexistent father and a stepfather who could care less about you didn't help, mom would've if she had the time.

I shrugged and took one of the gloves Bruce had handed to me, we stood off to the sides in the park and I tried to remember what my mother did once tell me about catching.

So when Bruce threw the ball I freaked out for a second and barely caught it. Taking a breath and seeing the encouraging smile, I pulled my arm back, after almost freaking out about what my mom said, and then moved my arm forward and threw the ball back to Bruce.

Of course it veered right instead of at Bruce and I felt horrible but Bruce calmly got the ball and then proceeded to tell me how to really throw it, having one foot back and then show the correct way to release the ball.

After that, I got better, it still veered right or left but all Bruce had to do was reach out and grab it out of the air.

How he was so good at it, I didn't know. But for now I just relaxed and threw a ball with the man I was starting to see as my father.

I opened my eyes from the dream I was having. I was still in a fetal position and slowly uncurled when I just knew someone was in front of me.

I watched curiously as the kinder-man-than-that-John-Garrett knelt in front of me with what looked to be a fast food to-go bag.

"I got a cheeseburger and small fries. Plus a chocolate shake," The man signed and started to pull out said objects.

I was hesitant to take the food, but I was hungry and slowly started to pick at the fries. Feeling awkward I held out the small fry back to the man who smiled but declined saying he already ate.

Shrugging I started to slowly eat the burger, trying to restrain myself from gobbling it all down, "What's your name?" I asked when the burger was gone.

The man looked hesitant and glanced at John Garrett before turning back to me, "Grant Ward." he signed glancing every now and again at the man he argued with earlier.

"When can I go home?" I signed desperately.

The man winced, "I'm not entirely sure what Garrett has planned. Don't worry, no harm will come your way with me here." he signed looking like he meant it and I so badly wanted to believe it.

"Okay," I signed and slumped back into my corner, part of want to try and escape so I used this time to get a lay of the land just from my little corner.

Grant watched me for a few seconds before getting up and making a call. I used this time to remember something Clint said, ventilation was always a safe place to hide if I ever got in trouble with any of them. I wonder if it works in this situation too.

Looking around I spotted a vent right by the exit and I already knew there was one behind me, which was totally a design flaw for kidnapping me.

But I went with it and slowly had one of my hands start on the bottom right screw, they were so rusted that with a little force, they easily started to twist out.

I had to pause a few times especially when Garrett looked my way and Grant who seemed to be arguing with Garrett.

If I looked close enough I think they were talking about me, but reading lips from the side if very hard.

"Look, there is someone within Hydra says he's special and we're going to use that for Phase III. Don't get attached," Garrett growled to Ward, when he turned slightly so I could see his lips better.

Without another word Garrett turned and walked off, seeming to bark orders at some of the people because some of them swarmed and followed him out.

Grant was just about to turn to face me just as I got the screw out, instead of setting it down behind me, I stuffed it in the hoodie I was wearing.

"I'm not a brat right?" I signed to Grant to try and steer conversation out of anything that might give my plan up.

I saw Grant sigh and walked toward me, he knelt in front of me and licked his lips before deciding to sit next to me instead. I watched him like a bird.

"You're not a brat. Garrett just doesn't like kids," Grant signed and I tried to form what I wanted to say in a sentence.

"How do you know though, I mean you only met me like yesterday. Why are you nice to me anyway?" I signed feeling confused, why was he helping me and stuff.

"I know you're not a brat because you aren't snot nosed whinny your head off, or signing your head off. As for nice, I'm not nice kid," Grant signed, his face hardening with each word of the last sentence. When he was finished he stood up and walked away to a girl in a flower dress.

Part of me wanted to question if he was nice or not, and he never said why he was being nice to me anyway, whether he thinks so or not.

Questions swarmed my mind but there was one thing strong enough to push it back, this was no time to just be sitting around.

Getting more courage, I watched around me with vigilance as I slowly started to turn the other bottom nail out of the vent.