Chapter 15
Tony POV
After the shocking revelations of yesterday, Percy's cousins left. Percy was a little sad to see them go but they assured him that they would call often though how they're going to do that without phones, I have no idea. When I asked them about it the three of them shared a glance and then Percy mysteriously winked and said, "You'll see." That kid has too many secrets.
At least the mystery surrounding him is mostly solved. He's still pretty mysterious and scary, if I'm frank. Percy has a pretty strong aura of power surrounding him but he's still so young. He shouldn't have to go through this shit all because of a God's fling.
Although he told us a lot, I strongly suspect it wasn't everything plus that whatever he told us was still watered down version judging by the glances passed between Nico and Thalia. I frown and vow to myself, I am going to take care of this kid, woah where did that come from? I'm honestly never one to admit that I'd make a good figure to look up to. Howard wasn't the best role model the only sort of father I had growing up was our butler Jarvis and even he was there only because he was paid and Obadiah and look how that one turned out. I think, I'm doing this because I know what it's like to be lonely, and when you get that way it makes you reckless and suicidal and Percy is clearly both. It makes you self-destruct and go down dark paths which you do not want to think of. I just hope Percy's walls aren't as high as mine.
It's easy to see that despite the previous mistrust everyone has grown to care slightly for the boy. Even Natasha who I daresay offers him the softest and gentlest smiles that I've ever seen from her. We all can tell that he's a good kid.
I'm tinkering around with one of my cars when somebody enters the lab.
"Umm hey Tony." The person, I now recognize as Percy greets.
"Hold on, gimme a sec." I clamber up from under the car I was working on to see Percy standing awkwardly in the middle, looking around slightly warily.
"Relax kid, they aren't going to bite you." Percy jumps slightly and explains, "Yeah, it's just that demigods and technology don't mix. Every time we use technology it kind of sends a signal to any monster in the nearby area and they come to find us."
He shrugs as if it's a regular occurrence which makes me frown but then I suppose in his world it is. I decide to shake it out and ask, "So why'd you come to see me?"
He fidgets for a bit before stammering out, "Uh, um nothing but I was just bored and then Nat told me that you were working on cars, and I've always wanted to sort of do that but it's okay- if you're busy or-"
I put my hand up to stop his rambling, I gesture him to come forward, he takes a step ahead slightly nervously, I sling my arm around him, to my surprise he finches slightly and tenses but doesn't shrug it off which makes me smile. If Percy notices, he doesn't say anything.
I lead him to the car, my personal favorite, a Ford Flathead Rollercoaster, I was working on and start explaining the engine I was working on. He's a quick learner and gets the hang of it pretty soon. As we work we chatter away about nonsense subject and I can see Percy is opening up to me little by little.
Even after we've finished on the car we sit around the lab chatting. I've learnt a lot about Percy, his favourite colour is blue, he hates seafood, he loves swimming and that his fatal flaw, whatever it is, is loyalty.
"Hey Tony?" He asked out of the blue, "Who's this?"
I saw him looking at an old picture of me and my father, Howard Stark, immediately my lips curled into a frown. Percy noticing this instantly put it down and began apologizing.
I waved him off, "It's alright Perce. That was my father, Howard Stark, he was a famous guy but that was all he cared about. He wasn't around much and even if he was he never cared. The only father figure I have was his assistant Jarvis. He was really nice to me."
It was all true and I didn't mind telling it much. I glanced up to see Percy's face. He looked lost in memories but when he caught my eye he smiled reassuringly. I got the feeling that he understood, somehow.
After a long moment of silence Percy started, "Well it was pretty much the same with me. Poseidon was never around when I was a baby. My mom quit her job to raise me but we were really poor. Sometimes we struggled to eat but we managed. Then she met this guy- Smelly Gabe I named him" I narrowed my eyes. I did not like where this was going, Percy had his eyes trained on the floor, voice devoid of emotion, "My mother married him to protect me. Demigods have these scent, I guess, which alerts monster, the more powerful your godly parent is the stronger scent you have." I let this soak in.
"So I had a really strong smell but Gabe he-he smelt so repulsively human that his scent covered up mine and kept me safe but that didn't keep me safe from him. He was a really nice guy for the first 30 seconds of marriage then showed his true colours as a world class jerk. He- he used to hit me whenever I screwed up. I never told anybody. Then when I was 12 I defeated Medusa and Poseidon sent her head to my mother. She used it to turn him into a statue and sold him. With that money she got a new apartment and started working again."
"Your mother sure was a badass." I tried lightening the mood, and it worked, he gave a small smile, albeit sad though. Then I slowly got up and sat down beside him, he was lying on the couch now eyes still trained upwards. I slowly put my arms around him ready to pull back if he tenses but fortunately he doesn't protest, instead he clings to me tightly, I hug him back just as tight and suddenly a thought occurs to me, Percy must be touch starved, it's a common effect in abuse survivors. The thought makes me angry again at that Gabe jerk, who put Percy through the trauma, as if he didn't already have enough. Sometimes, scratch that, most times I really hate the universe, such beautiful souls broken so much. Percy's slightly muffled voice brings me out of my thoughts.
"Then she met this guy, Paul Blofis they dated for some time before marrying. He was a great guy really and recently they had a baby, my sister, Estelle. But they were killed. I never even got to see them."
I feel tears staining my t-shirt but I don't mind the kid deserves somebody, he's gone through fucking hell. I thread my hands through his hair, something my mom did to soothe me, it seems to calm him down too. Soon the sobs get quieter and his breathing evens out.
I glance at him only to see that he's already asleep. I smile down at him. I want to let him sleep but if he sleeps here no doubt he'll be sore tomorrow morning. I gently shake him, "C'mon Percy don't fall asleep here. Let's go upstairs."
He blinks slowly and with my support stands up. Gently I lead him to his room and lay him down on the bed, pulling the covers around him. He doesn't complain, in fact I'm pretty sure he's asleep. I run a hand through his hair tenderly and mutter a soft, "Good night Percy."
What I hear in reply freezes me on the spot, "Night dad." I shake my head, he must have been really sleepy and so he said that. He can't have meant anything by that. After all I have no experience and role model for a father.
I shake my head once more before hurrying out an gently closing the door behind me.