Detroit: Meet Percy Jackson *Complete*

Chapter 13: Loss

November 6, 2038

Percy walked into the hospital room, under one arm was a pillow the nurse gave him, the other held a blanket. He quietly crept into the room that had all its lights off except the one that showed the stats of one Leo Manfred.

"Hey, Carl. The nurses gave me these and are bringing in an extra bed for you," Percy said softly to the man who seemed to have aged twenty years since he last saw him.

"Thank you, Percy," Carl sighed as he looked at his son in the hospital bed. After the opening of the museum, Carl returned home to find someone breaking into his art studio. He had Markus call the police and checked it out, the person seeming to be his son who he denied giving money to earlier to fuel his Red Ice addiction.

After a confrontation between Markus and Leo, Leo having pushed Markus too much, got pushed back and hit his head against the machinery that helped Carl paint, ending with Leo in the hospital and Markus being shot by the police.

"I'm sorry," Percy said softly as he took one of the other chairs around the room. The only reason Percy was able to get in after visiting hours is because his cousin's boyfriend worked as a Doctor here.

"It's alright. I don't know who I'm more sad about, Leo or Markus," Carl said just as softly. His heart conflicted on each of his sons.

Percy stayed silent, knowing his friend didn't need him to talk, but rather just be there.

"I'm getting weaker, I think my days are more numbering," Carl finally said after thirty minutes of silence.

"Elijah is paying for you to have a new android, he's asking if you want him to make you a new RK200 or better version?"

"Neither, I don't want another RK android, please," Carl said softly. His heart internally breaking at the thought of even attempting to replace his lost son.

"Then we'll get a caretaker model. It shouldn't remind you of Markus," Percy said softly as he laid his hand on Carl's shoulder.

From there, the two sat. Not a word was said between them as they waited for Leo to wake up from the head trauma that was given.

During this silence, Percy couldn't help but grieve in his own mind. Because yes, he did have a crush on Markus. The android just acted so...non-android. His personality, his thoughts, his concern. It all drew Percy to him.

He didn't see the mechanics of a robot, but the heart and soul of a human. If you asked Percy, Markus was more human than the common actual human. The brightness, the ability to think everything will be alright even in the darkest of times.

Percy wished he could think like that. But the last few months have Percy's mind going toward the more gloomy side of humanity. That everything has a time and place to die.

Percy just wished that it hadn't been Markus' time to die. Because he knew the robot would've changed the world.

The sun that chased the shadows that held humanity down.

Instead, it seemed like the shadows were creeping in, drawing humanity down with them. Trying to cover the hand before it grasped the robotic hand reaching out with open arms, no sign of violence.

This was one of the few times Percy allowed that shadow to cover him, cover him and Carl, as their hearts were broken from the loss of a dear friend.