Percy was pissed. He had just gone out on his first patrol of the city. His father would handle the north side of Hell's Kitchen, because it was so close to Harlem. He would patrol the south side of the city, which was closer to Midtown, which was a very safe part of the city. And he was closer to his Mom that way. anyway, he'd just lost a bomber who had blown up 8 police cruisers. Brett Mahoney was injured in one of the attacks, which had made Percy and his Dad mad. Mahoney was a close friend and asset in the P.D. So when Percy was listening to the whole city, reaching as far as he could with his hearing, when he heard that the bomber had struck again. He raced over rooftop and rooftop. When he reached the crime scene, he decided to see if he was still around. Normally, pyromaniacs like to watch their destruction unfold. Percy was checking every alley, fire escape, and rooftop he could. Eventually, he found the criminal. After racing through block after block, Percy was worn out. He was only fifteen, after all. It came to a final long roof. Then he turned around. Percy was blind, so he couldn't tell that this was Frank Castle, who had also been watching the scene for the culprit. Frank said, "You did good, kid. But no one can beat the real guy. Do yourself a favor, get away from this life while you can. Quit copycatting around trying to be Red. Won't get you any favors." Around that time, Daredevil came flying to the rooftop. "Frank. This you?" Matt asked. 'Frank', apparently, chuckled. "No. This ain't me. I'm tryna find the jackass that did this. Finally settled down, I see. Training him good, Red. Keep it up, kid." Then he turned around and just. . . jumped off. "Dad," Percy asked, "Who was tha-" He was interrupted. "That? Was Frank Castle. He isn't the fastest guy around. This was a training exercise for speed as well as stealth. Wanna explain to me how he shook you just now?" Percy was shook to his core. Never had Matt talked to him that way. Ever. "Wanna explain how you knew the guy that was caught at the scene of the crime. And that this was a TRAINING EXERCISE?!" he had tears streaming down his face now. He had taken off the bandana blessed by Artemis as soon as Frank jumped. "I thought you trusted me more than that. Trusted me enough to at least say, 'Hey i'll take north, you take south. Oh by the way, this is a pop quiz.' I mean what the hell, Dad?!" Percy cried. Matt sighed and walked up to him. He put a hand on Percy's shoulder. "Look, just. . . be at training tomorrow. 8 a.m., OK?" Percy slapped his hands to his thighs and scoffed. "Yeah, okay." He said, his voice thick with emotion as he put his hands on top of his head and laced them together. "Hey. You did the best you could, okay? I promise never to do that again, if you promise never to let that happen again, okay?" Percy nodded, wordlessly. Matt put on his mask and ran, leaping off the building into the night. Percy decided to see Sadie. He called his mother to let her know first, as always. After that, he leapt into the night.
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After Percy had explained everything to Sadie, he was in tears. They both sat there now, outside the window of her house. Sadie hugged Percy as he sobbed into her hair. "I just. . . I-I don't understand why he would just. . . completely lie to me like that, Queenie." His body racked with sobs. "Sshhh. I know, St. Percy. It's all right. Just go to your training tomorrow, alright? We both know Matt. He'll apologize to you. And if he doesn't, well, he'll be goin' down to the real Hell's Kitchen after i'm done with him." Percy gave a watery chuckle at that. Sadie looked into the stars, then out at the city. Percy said suddenly, "Y'know how we absolutely LOATHED each other at first? In school? And we completely dodged each other every chance we got? Well I heard this wise saying once. I think it was, 'One often meets his destiny on the road he takes to avoid it.'" Silence for a few moments. Sadie hesitated. "Was that. . . Kung Fhu Phândarr?!" She asked with an amused tone, her British accent really coming heavy. Percy immediately started laughing.
"Yes. But, it was beautiful. Just like you." He shook his head with each syllable on the last sentence, leaning in playfully. Sadie blushed momentarily. Then she shoved a hand in his face, pushing him back. "Oh, how CORNY was THAT?" She rolled her eyes, but was pleased nonetheless.
"Yeah, but you love me."
"Okay, okay, let's not get ahead of ourselves, here. More like. . . tolerate. Yeah, that's the word. . ."
They just sat there for the rest of the night in silence. But it was peaceful, calm. For just a moment nnothing else was there. Just Sadie Kane, Percy Jackson, and the most comfortable silence that was rarely given in The City That Never Sleeps.
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ok guys. NGL, that one had me teary eyed. Just a bit of Persadie fluff for ya. Most likely the last chapter for a few weeks. Deuces.
