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Estelle was persistent, to say the least.

It started out small, cooing when they passed a dog on the street and squealing when one lounged on the cafe patio below their apartment. She would ask why they didn't have one, sigh and comment on how much she'd like one. Then, she brought it up without a dog even being present, insisting they had the room and she would walk it, feed it, and play with it every day. Their mom gave the same answer each time, just as she had when Percy was young and begged for a dog.

She went as far as to make a powerpoint on the family computer, complete with clipart and bright pink comic sans titles.

"I would take really good care of it," she had pouted, grumpily staring out the window.

He had just smiled, pulling her up from her crouch and throwing her over his shoulder. "Maybe you should write Santa a letter about it, big kids like you do that still, right?"

"Of course, I'm six, not an idiot."

And being November, he figured she forgot about it when the holiday season really rolled around. He lived two blocks away, so he couldn't know exactly what she focused on, but the occasional family dinner or baby sitting job told him she was all but obsessed over a chemistry set and it was definitely what Paul intended on getting her as "Santa's" present. Percy figured it would be "uncouth" if he got a stuffed dog, so he planned on giving her one of the comics she liked to read at his place.

Plus a pack of cherry coke, because he was a good older brother who knew their mom limited the soda in the house.

By the time Christmas did roll around, New York was uncharacteristically picturesque. Fluffy snow softly drifted past the windows, blanketing the streets and windowsills. His breath floated from his lips as he walked, the wind barely biting as it shot through the skyscrapers. The crockpot of chicken kept him warm and the morning traffic was considerably light, considering the day. Twinkling lights flashed from windows and people knocked on doors, red and green decorations adorning every street lamp and draping over doorways.

He nestled his nose into his scarf, warmth curling in his chest as he approached his family's apartment complex. The holidays didn't used to be a good time when he was younger. Sure, there were times that weren't as tense as others, and maybe Gabe would be sober and in a good mood at the same time, but he learned very quickly not to expect too much. Stella, though...she could grow up with what their mom wished she could have given Percy, and for him, that was enough. The best thing they could ever give her was a normal childhood.

A low rumble shook the ground.

Percy glanced around, eyeing the shaking street lights and shivering windows. No one else seemed to pay the strange tremor much mind and went on about their business, but it didn't sit right with him.

He warily continued his trek, flexing his fingers around the gift bag and adjusting the crockpot in his arms. There was always construction, sure; he just had a strange feeling in his gut and a chill down his spine unrelated to the weather.

Another rumble sent him stumbling and a loud whine shot through the air. Frowning, he briskly turned the corner, only to be faced with a wall of black. Percy backpedaled as the wall shifted and he looked up and up to the face of a dog. It's red eyes bored down at him and it's flopping tongue did nothing to detract from it's stare.

"What the fuck," he breathed.

"You must be Percy."

His head whipped around and he couldn't decide if the horse sized canine had given him the chills or the stylish lady beside it. "Must I?"