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2000 - Second Grade
Angela Brown loved all her students. But one boy, Percy Jackson, really caught her attention. Sure, he had his difficulties but he really tried. Despite what the rest of the faculty thought about Percy, he was a good boy. But that wasn’t what really caught her attention. It was how he wore long sleeves in the dead of summer or would hide that flinch when someone got too close.
She had brought up her concern “David, I need to talk to you about one of my students”
Mr. Hughes looked up “Ah, Angela! How can I help you?”
“It’s about one of my students, Percy.” She watched his face drop into a disappointed sneer. “The Jackson kid?” Angela nodded “He’s nothing but trouble, I don’t know how he’s still enrolled here”
“Please, Perseus is a lovely kid. But it’s not his behaviour I want to talk about”
“What is it then?”
“Uh- I believe something is going on at home.” David Hughes looked up from his work
“You think the kid’s being beaten?” He replied bluntly
“Well that’s not exactly how I was going to put it, but yes, I believe something is going on at home. He’s wearing long sleeves most days and when he’s not he’ll have bruises.”
David just shrugged her off “He’s a 7 year-old boy. He’s going to have bruises. Have you talked to the kid?”
“Yes but, all Percy’s done is make up a lie. He fell off his bike or something.” Angela paused anxiously “The other day in class he flinched when another student came close.”
David rolled his eyes “Fine. I’ll get the kid”
So the next day, during her classes silent reading, Mrs. Brown snuck next door and asked another teacher to look over her class. She pulled Percy out of class “Where are we going?” Percy asked, “We’re just going to take a small visit to the principal's office.” Percy immediately became worried, “I didn’t do anything!”
Angela stopped and crouched to his level, reassuring him “I know you didn’t do anything, Percy. You’re not in trouble, we just want to speak to you” he looked at her, those bright green eyes looking into her pale blue ones, and nodded so she gave him a small smile.
She led them into the office and shut the door behind her. Percy sat in the chair on the other side of the room and Angela kneeled in front of him, her hands resting on her legs careful to keep them in view. She’d done some research on abuse victims and learned that keeping her hands in view could help the person not feel as scared. Her voice was gentle, “Percy, is everything okay at home?”
He nodded quickly, clearly wanting to avoid the subject “Yeah” She looked at him with sympathy “Percy, you can tell me. Is everything okay?” he looked into his lap and fidgeted with the hem of his shirt. “Everything’s fine” his voice breaking, indicating it was not fine.
Okay, different approach. “Who lives with you at home?”
“Me, my mom and stepdad” ‘Stepdad and I’ corrected the teacher's voice inside her. ‘Not the time’ She reasoned back
“That’s great”
“But my mom isn’t home a lot. She has to work so it’s me and Gabe. I don’t like Gabe.”
This comment caught her attention. “And why’s that?”
“He steals my money and says I can’t tell my mom! He-” Percy’s voice quivers “He makes my mom give him the money she worked for”
Financial Abuse.
“That’s not very nice” Angela had to tone it down for Percy, despite her feelings to this situation inside. “A-and when his stupid friends come over he’ll call me names and they’ll just laugh at me!” The first tear fell.
Psychological Abuse.
This was going deeper than what Angela intended. “What Gabe is doing is bad. He isn’t being a good person” Percy nodded as more tears fell, marking spots on his pants. “Percy, can you tell me about those bruises on your arms and legs?” Angela knew she was pushing it but she needed an answer from him. For his safety.
“I was riding my bike and fell over” But she knew that wasn’t true, based on what he’d just told her she could tell it was going further. “Are you sure, Percy?” he nodded. She mistakenly moved her hands and he gave her the answer she needed without words. “Percy, I'm going to need you to be 100% honest with me. Can you do that?”
Percy nodded slowly “Does- does Gabe hurt you?” she swallowed, scared for the answer. Maybe David had been right and Percy was just being a kid.
Percy nodded again and her face fell.
Physical Abuse.
“But that’s normal, right?” He looked at her expectantly and when she gave no answer he repeated “Right?” his voice practically pleading and wavering with emotion.
Normal? How could a sweet child as young as Percy realise this was normal?
“No, darling it’s not.” her voice quiet. Percy lifted his legs to his chest and sobbed. Sobs that no child should ever make.
Angela couldn’t believe what Percy had going on at home as well as his struggles in school. She came closer to Percy in an attempt to comfort him but only resulted in making things worse with Percy flinching again and apologising. “I’m s-sorry. I’m sorry” He repeated that phrase over and over. “Hey, Percy. I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.” he looked up
“But Gabe doesn’t like it when I get upset. He said it made me weak” Angela's heart broke a little more. “Percy, Gabe is a bad man. You're allowed to cry and it does not make you weak. I promise you, alright?” Percy nodded “Can I give you a hug?” her hands rested in front of him. Percy nodded again and she embraced him tightly as he cried into her shoulder.
“I want my mom” her heart melted at his sincerity and vulnerability.
“We could get the school to call her? Is that what you’d like?”
“Yes please” he asked quietly
“Alright, you stay here and I’ll be right back”
“Okay” Percy sat, but he wasn’t very still. His hands fidgeted in his lap, then he got up and paced the room.
Eventually, Mrs. Brown came back into the room “Your mom is able to come” Percy’s eyes lit up, just a little bit. She usually never left work early.
“Percy?”
Percy whirled around at the sound of his mom’s voice “Mom!”
Sally ran and knelt, embracing Percy tightly, her head resting on his mop of black hair. “Oh Percy”
“I’m sorry, mom”
“Hey, look at me” Sally had her hands resting on the sides of his head. Percy pulled away from his mom’s warm comforting embrace to look her in the eyes, his own unnatural green shining with tears. “You have absolutely nothing to be sorry for, okay? I love you, Percy”
“I love you too, mom” more tears ran down his small face “I hate Gabe”
Sally sighed, knowing Percy didn’t understand why she had to keep Gabe around.
“Me too, but Gabriel is what's best right now. I can’t tell you why but you’ll just have to believe me, okay?” her voice shaking and face wet “I should be the one who should be apologising. You’ve had to suffer because of my mistakes.” Sally placed a kiss on Percy’s forehead “I love you, Percy.” She repeated “So much. And you just have to understand that what I'm doing is best right now” Percy nodded once more and Sally wiped away her tears “I have some blue sour strings, if you’d like”
“Yes!” and he grabbed Sally’s hand, pulling impatiently. Sally turned around and whispered to Angela “Thank you” and was out the door.
2008 - Sophomore Year
Percy hated school assemblies. With his ADHD he just couldn’t sit still and with the teachers droning on about school spirit, it just wasn’t a great time. This assembly was one he wasn’t expecting, though. Percy needed to leave as soon as he heard the principal say
“Abuse” he announced “I know this is a touchy subject for some” he looked straight at Percy.
How did he know?
Percy looked down as some of the students around him either gave him a sympathetic look or started muttering between themselves. Percy looked up and his eyes found Paul's “Are you okay?” he seemed to ask and Percy just nodded. He could do this.
He couldn't do this.
The principal was talking about the effects of abuse and Percy just wanted to get out. He couldn't do this. Panicking, Percy jumped up from his seat and ran out of the gym. He sprinted through the halls, vaguely registering Paul following behind. Finding a random classroom, Percy opened the door and slammed his back against the wall, sliding down and sinking, legs brought up to his chest. He started hyperventilating, rushed and uneven breaths escaping his lips. Tears started to flow down his face and into his lap as he cradled his legs closer.
Why? Things had been going so well. Gabe was gone, finally out of his mind and then he got brought up again, the principal pointing it out to everyone.
“Percy, breathe” Paul was suddenly next to him, appearing too quickly for Percy's state. He flinched and immediately apologized “I-i’m sorry” his voice shook
“Percy, it's okay. Breathe for me, bud” Paul instructed
“I can't” Percy had had panic attacks before, but he hadn't in a while. It was only so long until his peace was disrupted. “Yes, you can. Take a deep breath.” Paul took a deep breath and Percy tried to copy his movements. “Whats 5 things you can see?”
“The desks, you, the door, uh-” Percy took a shaky breath “my shoes and a pen”
Paul offered a small, encouraging smile “Good, now 4 things you can touch”
Percy ran his hands over his jeans “My jeans, the floor” he felt into his pocket and pulled out riptide “Riptide and you” Paul continued the exercise.
“Are you okay?” he asked and Percy nodded.
“I think so” then he groaned, shoving his face back into his knees “I can't go back out there!”
“Everything is going to be oka-” he started
“No, it's not! They're all going to think I'm some abused kid!” though he had never spoken it out loud Percy knew what had happened with Gabe. “I’m already getting bullied! This is just going to make it worse because Mr. Young had to point it out to everyone during this stupid assembly” Percy sobbed. “My life is hard enough as it is” Paul only knew the extent of the bullying, not the ‘my father is a Greek God and before my 16th birthday I need to stop a war that might kill the entirety of New York’ part of his life.
“Percy, it’s going to be okay. I know what you went through was horrible, but no one’s going to think you’re some abused kid. Gabe is gone”
“I know he’s gone and I don’t know why he’s affecting me so much! It wasn’t like it was that bad anyway”
Paul's face dropped, realising just how much this was still affecting Percy. “Percy, it was that bad. I’m really sorry to bring this up but, what Gabe did to you growing up was serious. Abuse is abuse no matter the form or severity.”
“But-”
“No excuses. I know I wasn’t there and I can’t speak for you, but I've seen the way you act when his name is mentioned or when you flinch ever so slightly. No one's going to pay attention to you, no one’s going to bully you about this, Okay?”
Percy bit back a retort, knowing it wouldn’t take him anywhere “Okay” he agreed. Paul nodded, “Are you ready to go back out there or would you like me to call your mom?”
Percy sighed, leaving was what he really wanted and to be able to have a warm batch of cookies but his mom would also be disappointed for leaving and Percy wanted to avoid bringing the subject back up with his mom. “I’ll stay”
Paul smiled “Good Job, bud” he stood up and held out a hand to pull Percy up. The bell rang “Time for maths” Percy groaned and Paul just chuckled.
2010 - Argo ll
“Morning guys” Percy greeted the rest of the Seven in the dining hall. The rest of the group gave half-hearted replies, clearly not morning people. Percy gave Annabeth a kiss on the head before sitting next to her, wishing a stack of blue pancakes in front of him. The plate gave his wish and Percy started eating. Quickly. Leo looked up at his ravenous eating “Woah, dude.” Leo commented “Slow down, you’re going to choke.” Percy swallowed and looked down sheepishly “Sorry, hungry”
Leo rolled his eyes “No one’s going to take it from you” he joked. It was meant as a joke. It wasn’t a joke to Percy.
He couldn’t really blame Leo. He didn’t know about Gabe. “Uh, yeah. Of course not” Percy tried to keep his tone light but his fists balled and suddenly the old terror he felt came back. The fear of Gabe stealing his food before he was done and if he argued Gabe would slap his face until it was red and raw.
Percy pushed his plate away from him and stood up. “I’ll be on guard duty” Annabeth gave him a worried look before he stepped out. Leo just looked at Annabeth “Did I say something wrong?”
Annabeth shook her head “It wasn’t your fault, Leo” the mood had dropped with everyone watching. “Is Percy okay?” Jason spoke up
“Yeah” Annabeth put down her fork. “It’s not my place to share what happened with Percy.” The others gave her a solemn look. Jason, being the leader he was spoke up again “We’ve got chores to do”
About a week later the topic was brought up again. Leo had demanded a mandatory ‘rest day’ despite everyone else's protests “We can’t just drop everything, Leo” Annabeth had argued “We’re so close-”
“It doesn’t actually seem like a bad idea” Percy chimed in
“But Percy-”
“Annabeth, it’ll be fine. We could use a chill day before Greece. It could be fun”
Annabeth rolled her eyes but smiled “Fine” Percy pumped his fists in the air before pulling off his shirt and diving into the water. Any other person this might have been dangerous, but her boyfriend was a son of Poseidon. Percy’s head popped back up from under the water and smiled “Come on!” His excitement over the water was contagious.
Lying on the deck, basking in the sun Percy felt serene for the first time in a months. That is until Leo noticed several purple, round scars on Percy’s hips as well as a few small cut scars, too hidden to be from a sword and too fine. “Percy what are those from?” he asked. Percy followed Leo's line of sight “Oh, from a monster” Leo was suspicious at Percy’s extremely vague answer. “What monster? Those look like burn scars” Leo pushed with curiosity, unaware of what he was bringing up. “Just a monster, Leo. Drop it” Percy jeered and Leo backed away, scared by Percy’s sudden mood switch.
Did he pry too much?
Later, Leo thought he’d apologise. He walked up to Percy’s door and knocked “Hey, Percy? Could I come in?” Leo waited a minute before the door opened and an exhausted looking Percy came out. His hair messy and eyes bloodshot like he’d been crying. “Are you okay?” he asked, fiddling with a random piece of metal. Percy just gave him a tired look and nodded, gesturing for him to come in. Leo sat down on Percy’s bed, probably leaving grease marks.
“Look man, I just wanted to apologize earlier. I pried too much. I get that you want to keep secrets” he looked down.
“No Leo it’s not that” Percy sighed, his breath shaking before talking again. “What I said before wasn’t a complete lie. They were from a monster- my ex-stepdad.”
Leo understood now “I know saying ‘I’m sorry’ seems like empty words but I really am sorry.” Leo paused, debating whether to share his story “If it helps, I had some shitty foster parents. They didn’t hurt me but they threatened to and some got close” Leo cringed at his words. “Shit- i’m really not good with people. I’m sorry. I just wanted to apologise, I'll go now” he turned towards the door before Percy called; “Leo, wait. Thank you, but it’s okay. You couldn’t have known”
“I was still inconsiderate”
“Gabe’s been gone for years now. My mom turned him to stone when I was twelve-” Leo did a double take “Hang on, did you just say your mom turned him into stone?” Percy smiled softly “During my first quest we ran into Medusa and I mailed her head to Olympus but when I got back they had mailed her head back” Leo stood there with a mix of concern and impressed on his face but Percy continued “Gabe hasn’t affected me in a while but down in Tar- that place-” Percy caught himself “-It smells like your worst fear and I smelt Gabe. I don’t kno
w why he’s come back up but he just has.” His voice wavered like he was going to cry again. “Thank you”
Leo smiled “Anytime”