Percy Jackson Stark

chapter 15- sacrifices?

disclaimer: i don't own anything

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As the light dispersed, Tony started seeing things properly. He had hardened his grip on Percy without realizing, so he loosened it a bit.

"dad?" Percy asked. "what's wrong?"

Tony fixed his eyes on Percy. "nothing."

Percy shook his head. "you look..." Percy studied him. "scared." He decided.

"you look bloody, but I never said anything." Tony said.

Percy laughed. Then he doubled over and stated coughing. Tony rubbed his back.

"you should've gone with your mom," Tony said. "this wouldn't have been happening."

"really?" Percy asked. "did you forget I was fighting two wars?"

"right."

Behind them, Gabe grunted. His hands were clutching his bottom as if it was going to fall off. Tony gave him a 'how-dare-you-interrupt-couldn't-you-see-that-we-were-having-a-moment-?' look. Tony's mask had fell off when Gabe shot him. His head still felt like lava was freezing inside, but he tried not to show it. But what was the golden light about?

"hey pig-butt!" Tony yelled, and Gabe looked up. "was the golden light you?"

"yes." Gabe groaned. "I was calling him."

"who?"

"him."

Percy said something like "very helpful," under his breath. Tony sighed. They all were just there. There was nothing to do. Tony wanted to talk to somebody. He didn't even notice when Percy sat up.

Tony raised his eyebrows at him.

"what?" Percy asked.

"I don't think you should-"

"I'm just sitting up, dad. I'm not going to run a marathon like this." He informed Tony.

Gabe sat up on a rock, his butt hanging from the other side. "you know when you were a kid, you didn't forgive people so easily."

"when I was a kid, you were in my life," Percy snapped bitterly.

Gabe looked shocked that Percy actually said anything. "and when you had your mother."

Percy looked at Tony. "you said you'd explain."

Tony nodded. "I told you, your mother asked. Yes, I didn't KNOW, but..." Tony couldn't find words. "I didn't want to. I had to."

Percy looked down his fingers. They were cut up and looked bad. But Tony felt like he would make things worse if he mentioned the fingers.

"what happened to your hands?" Tony asked.

"some people don't have armors everywhere." Percy didn't look up once.

Tony felt like giving him a hug. But he didn't want to make things even more awkward. Some people don't have armors everywhere. The words kept ringing in Tony's ears. He took a deep breath.

"why did you even think I was important?" Percy asked. He sounded like he was trying hard to hold back. Like when he was angry or sad.

"'we were best friends." Tony remembered.

"were we?" Percy looked up. "ever?"

"I thought-"

"sorry but what you think is different from what I think." Percy interrupted.