Princess of the Sea (Fem Percy x YJ)

19

"Percy?" I knocked on the doorframe. She didn't move, didn't make any sign of having heard me. I looked over at Diana. She shrugged.

"Aquaman said she hasn't moved since yesterday."

At that a frown passed over my features. Percy is a restless person by nature, her ADHD only adding onto that which stemmed from her parentage. 'The sea doesn't like being restrained,' she'd tell me every time I tried to keep her in the infirmary. Of course, I'd yell at her and say, 'I doubt the sea would like having a knife stuck in its arm. Get back into that bad.' Honestly, that girl has no self-preservation skills, so seeing her curled up like this is disturbing. Even during our therapy sessions when she has a breakdown it's that- a breakdown, not a shutdown. 

I walked to the bed after shutting the door behind me, and I rested my hand on Percy's shoulder. No response. I shook her and she moved her head. Sea green eyes stared up at me blankly. I placed the back of my hand on her forehead. No fever, and it wasn't hard for me to check her pulse and find that it fell between the range for normal. Definitely a mental issue then.

"Do you mind sitting up?" I asked. Slowly but surely she lifted herself into sitting position. I sat beside her and lifted my arm. She leaned against me. "What's wrong? Normally you're the one who calls me, but I got two calls from two different people saying I needed to come talk to you."

"-not a little kid."

Okay. I didn't know what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't that. "I know you aren't. You're a kick ass teenager who's the only person who scares Nico more than I do." I try not to think about that too much. "Can you tell me what happened?" I needed to be careful. This is the first time I've ever seen her like this, and considering everything she's been through that's honestly a miracle.

Percy shook her head, more of her weight resting on me. I didn't press her. If dating Nico has taught me anything, it's that children of the Big Three are absolute bastards when you try to force them to tell you things. Not that any of us aren't bastards anyway, but still. I don't need to make it so she won't trust me, that wouldn't end well for anyone.

Eventually, long after one of my feet had fallen asleep, she started talking.

"They keep treating me like I can't do anything, Will. I'm not a child, but they keep treating me like one. I can't do anything without someone babysitting me, and I'm fucking sick of it. Do you know how long Orin lectured me about running off? I was with Paul, and that's the most normally I've been treated since Mom died, but then Orin shows up and suddenly I'm getting yelled at because what if I got hurt." She scrubbed her eyes with her arm. "Yeah, let's just ignore the fact that I saved the Team's asses is Vlatvia. I'm totally not capable of handling myself."

Part of me wanted to sit here and keep listening to Percy, the other part wanted to go find Aquaman and punch him squarely in the face. He's her uncle and I get that he's probably being overprotective because his sister died, but Percy isn't, and never has been, a person who can handle grief by sitting around and doing nothing. Her thoughts draw her into a never ending abyss. Yes, I know it's not exactly the healthiest coping method but I'd rather have her do that than anything rash. 

A sigh broke past my lips and I stood up. My fingers wrapped around Percy's wrist. "Come on, you need to get up and blow off some steam."

"No one will even spar-"

"Hey, I'm here, aren't I? I don't have any reason not to spar with you, especially when it'll help you."

"I don't want you doing this out of pity, Will."

"Well, good thing I'm not then," I said. I pulled her to her feet and out of the room. Aqualad's head snapped up when we went through the living room, and a quick glance showed he got up to follow us. I could see what Percy meant.

"No holding back." Percy's arm slipped out of my grip and she turned to face me. 

I shifted my stance. "Please don't kill me."

She laughed. "I can't. Death Breath would kill me, bring me back to life, and then kill me again." She lunged forward. I dodged to the side and hooked my fist into her stomach. It didn't faze her at all. By all means, it should've, but even as watered down as the Atlantean blood is she still has enhanced durability. 

As the fight wore on, it became increasingly clear that Percy was holding back. She hesitated with each blow, and thus the strikes were much, much weaker than they could've been. 

"Come on, Perce. You said no holding back," I said. She frowned. 

"I don't want to hurt you."

"Every time I'm made to give the the talk hurts. And I'm supposed to do that in two days so please, please knock me out." That wasn't a joke. Twice a year I had to do it, and I have no idea how either of my brothers did it. Sure, they were older but- WHO THE HADES THOUGHT THIS WAS A GOOD IDEA? 

"I'm sorry, but I can't. If I make you miss it, he'll know and I'll be forced to do it."

"Percy, please. I will literally beg you."

"Then beg."

"Percy, I am- Pfft." I doubled over. "I'm sorry. I- I can't."

Chapter done! 

And...

I should probably sleep or something

See yah