Judgmental (a Percy Jackson AU)

In The End

Frank had fought for his country for three years. He had been deployed two times. He had nearly died countless times from roadside bombs and enemy fire. He had killed terrorists and saved civilians. He had risked his life for his country and for what he believed was right, but in the end, it didn't really matter to the American military.

One show of disobedience had gotten Frank dishonorably discharged. He didn't regret what he did because he knew wha he did was right, but it was still a huge blow to his self-confidence. He had enlisted in the U. S. Marines because both of his parents had fought in the military and though both had died for their country, Frank knew it was a sacrifice he would've — and still would — be willing to make. The problem was he couldn't make it anymore.

Frank had hoped after fighting in the Marines to go to college and graduate debt-free. His family used to have a mansion, but little as far as liquid assets. Besides, the family mansion burned down a month ago and Frank had lost his grandmother, his only known living family member, in the fire. She had been in her eighties and quick in mind, but not in limbs.

     Frank felt a hollowness in his chest when he thought of his grandmother. Perhaps if he had been there, she would still be alive. Frank had refused to live in the family mansion for the same reason he had refused to contest his dishonorable discharge: if he was to be punished for doing the technically wrong thing when it was the morally right thing, then he would accept it. If he had the courage to disobey his superiors, then he had the courage to face the consequences of his actions.

         Although he was more upset about his grandmother's death and his recent dishonorable discharge, he thought of finances as he did his laundry. He was sharing his apartment with a roommate, but money was still tight. The family mansion was not insured, so he wasn't compensated for any of his family's valuables — not that any amount of money could replace the memories lost there and the futures shut off.

    Adjusting to civilian life was hard and that — combined with his dishonorable discharge — made it hard for him to get a job. He wasn't eligible for most of the benefits veterans generally received because of what he had done. Frank was on his fifth job in four months. It wasn't that he wasn't trying, but the war haunted him, pouncing on him when he least expected. Frank suspected it was only a matter of time before he was one of those veterans who begged on the streets — forgotten by a government who owed them everything.

       Frank's thought moved to how he was discharged as he started folding up his laundry. He remembered a girl with wide eyes who had been captured by the Marines. He remembered her crying as she told she was being ransomed and pleading not to he sent back to a father who treated his daughters like prisoners of war. Frank remembered being reprimanded for freeing her and the look of disappointment in Bellona's eyes as she announced he was kicked out of the Marines. Frank folded up his last pair of pants and stared at the wall before him, but in his mind he remembered the girl's words of thanks and he didn't regret a thing.