Chapter Text
Percy knew grief. He knew it better than most. He never thought it could possibly get worse than when he led hundreds of kids, young kids, to their death. Dozens of innocent demigods died who could have had such a great future because he wasn’t good enough, smart enough, strong enough. He didn’t think it would ever get worse.
Then his mum died just two weeks later.
It felt like his heart had been ripped out of his chest. Sally Jackson, the incredible, amazing Sally Jackson, died because a stupid fucking drunk didn’t think before getting in his car. He prayed to any God that would listen to save his mum. He prayed to Apollo, God of Healing, to do anything.
“I’m sorry, Percy, there’s nothing I can do; she’s gone,” Apollo had said to him.
“What do you mean, she’s gone? You’re a God, are you telling me you can’t even save one mortal?” He didn’t cry, but his voice definitely had an edge of hysteria. He didn’t care. “If it wasn’t for me and your children, Olympias would be nothing more than a pile of ash right now. You wouldn’t be here right now, and you’re telling me you can’t do anything? Trade my life for hers, I don’t care, she doesn’t deserve to die!” Okay, now he was crying.
“I’m so so sorry, Perseus.” And if Percy weren’t so worked up, he would be shocked to hear the unshed tears in Apollo’s voice. “But you know resurrection is beyond my capabilities.”
Percy shook his head frantically, “I brought her back from the underworld once; I can do it again.”
“That was different, Percy, you know that she wasn’t really dead.” He hung his head. “I’m unbelievably sorry for your loss, and I thank you for everything you have given up for us. You did not deserve this.”
And with that, Apollo flashed away. And Percy collapsed to knees, sobbing, unable to find his breath.
He didn’t register the way the weather had turned from a clear summers day, to startling hurricanes, rain that could cause floods, wind that could knock trees down, seas that crashed uncontrollably. The worst weather New York had seen in years. The earth grieved with Percy Jackson.
At some point, Percy felt strong arms wrap around him. Too sturdy to be human. He looked up through tears to see Posideon crouched on the floor next to him, tear tracks sliding down his face silently. Distantly, Percy thought how odd it was to see a God cry but he couldn’t bring himself to care.
“There’s got to be something we can do” He whispered desperately into his dads shirt collar, his voice cracked and sounded so unbelievably weak.
The sea God held back a sob before righting himself, leaning away so he could look his son in his eyes, “I am so sorry Perceus, you have to believe how sorry i am, how much I cared for Sally. If there was anything that could have been done, I’d have already done it”
So that was it, then.
His mum had died. The woman who always cared for him, never called him crazy, never got mad when he got expelled time and time again, provided him with comfort and cookies when Gabe became too much (not that he ever told her what he did), made sure any food that could be blue was blue simply because it made him happy, told him stories before bed, comforted him when his nightmares became too much, and who stayed firmly by his side even when things got way out of hand.
And just like that she was gone.
“I’ll take you to camp Perseus, you… you need to be around your people right now.”
Percy nodded numbly, his mind a constant spiral.
She can’t be dead.
There must be something I can do.
She cannot be dead.
She can’t be.
Because deep down, Percy isn’t sure he will be able to survive it if she is.
—---
If someone ever asked Percy how he arrived at camp, he wouldn’t be able to answer. One second he was on the ground in a completely abandoned room of the hospital next to his dad, and the next he was stood by the great pine tree, that provided safety to camp and Annabeth’s arms wrapped around hs neck.
Percy clung to her, like if he let go she might just evaporate. “I’m so sorry seaweed brain” She murmured into his neck, her tears soaking his T-shirt.
“I can’t believe she’s really gone Annie” He choked.
“Oh Pearce, I know, I know. Come on, lets get you inside okay.” She said, loosing her grip around him but never letting go of contact, just moving her hand to grip his.
He let her lead him, passing Grover on the way, his eyes glistening with unshed tears as he gave Percy a sad smile but otherwise gave him space. Percy felt so out of it like the day had only just caught up to him. He couldn’t really feel… anything. Huh.
Annabeth opened the cabin 3 door, and led Percy to the bed. “I can stay with you in here tonight if you want, Percy. It up to you.” Percy couldn’t find his voice so just nodded minutely. He couldn’t think of anything worse than being alone right now.
Annabeth nodded wiping the tears from her cheek. She nudged Percy down onto the bed and carefully went to lie next to him, as if he might shatter. The bed wasn’t big enough for the both of them by a mile but neither cared.
“She was an amazing woman Percy” Annabeth whispered pressing a soft kiss into his hair.
And Percy broke.
—---
It has been almost three weeks since he had arrived at camp… since his mum died. It has been rough but he has amazing friends who have all been so unbelievably patient with him. They had a small funeral for his mum. Not many people, just Percy, Annabeth, Grover, Nico (he had only met his mum once but insisted on attending, his mum had that kind of impression on people), some people from her English class and a nice woman who worked along side her in the candy store.
It was nice.
It felt like exactly what Percy needed to accept that his mum was actually gone, nothing he could do would bring her back. Which sucked and totally made him have a complete and utter breakdown but he needed it.
He’s not better. He doesn’t think he ever will be. There will always be a Sally Jackson shaped hole in his heart, but he’s stopped with his little dissociation episodes that were really freaking Annabeth out, so that’s good.
During the first week before the funeral, he was losing hours stuck in his head. Apparently Annabeth and Grover tried to break him out but he was just too much of a ‘stubbon son of a bitch’’. Annabeth’s words not his. He hated scaring her but he didn’t know how to not do it. Chiron said it was because he had been through too much in such a short period of time that his brain just needed a break to catch up, which he guessed made sense.
But anyways he hadn’t done that for an extended period of time in almost a week so he’s gonna say he’s over it. Nope, don’t wanna hear it. If he’s decided he’s over it, then he is, deal with it.
But all in all, he was getting back on track. That was until today.
“Percy, can you come into the office for a minute.” Chiron said in his talking to vulnerable kids who could break at any moment voice. Sigh.
“Ooooooo, someones in trouble.” Clarisse said from her place led on the training met, where Percy had just obliterated her in their spar.
“Shut up, or I’ll show you more where that came from.” Percy said without any real hostility in his voice.
“In your dreams, Prissy, you got lucky.”
“Yeah, yeah you tell yourself that” Percy said pushing her back to the floor as she tried to get up. Gods, he was hilarious.
He left a complaining Clarisse behind as he made his way to the big house. Him and Clarisse had a complicated relationship. Percy knew she loved him and she knew that he loved her, but to anyone else, it looked like they hated each other.
He’ll never forget the day when a new camper tried to get in the middle of them because he thought they were about to murder eachother and they both just turned on the new guy. He was older then them so it was fine… probably. They would both go to the ends of the earth to protect one another but that didn’t mean that they didn’t love beating the crap out of eachother whenever they got the chance. It was their way of showing affection. And super fun.
Percy shook his head clear of the thought, a small smile gracing his lips as he pushed the door to the big house open. “Ah Percy, take a seat.” Chiron said from the other side of the room in his wheelchair.
Percy did so. He took in Chirons expression and immediately knew something was wrong. The centaur was good at many things but hiding his emotions was not one of them. “What’s wrong?” Percy asked, immediately on edge.
“Ah straight to it then” Chiron cleared his throat and the looked Percy directly in the eyes “Were you aware that your mother had a sibling - a brother to be exact”
Percy bluescreened. His mum had never mentioned anything about having a brother. Why would she hide that? When he came back online, Percy spluttered for a moment before managing a “No?’
“Yes well, I believe she did Percy. One Bruce Wayne.”
What. The. Fuck.
“You mean the billionaire Bruce Wayne? The face of Gotham Bruce Wayne? That Bruce Wayne?”
“I do believe that is the one, yes”
Yeah no. Percy was not dealing with this. Not today. Hopefully never. Thank you very much.
“Why wouldn’t she tell me?” Okay then, apparently he is dealing with it.
“Well, for starters, he was quite a bit older than your mother, and as you know your mothers parents died when she was very young, so she moved in with family friends, the Jacksons, she reinvented herself there, no longer Sally Wayne but Sally Jackson. Bruce Wayne, however stayed, took over Wayne Enterprises and from what I can tell stopped reaching out shortly after.” Chiron pauses looking back up to Percy, “They were estranged Percy but they were family”
Percy didn’t know why he was telling him this. His mum was a Wayne? It didn’t sound right, it wasn’t right. No as far as Percy was concerned his mother was sally Jackson. The kindest, most open hearted woman the world will ever see, the woman the earth lost far too soon.
“Okay… so?” Percy shrugged. “She had a brother. That doesn’t mean anything. I doubt she even remembered him.”
“I was merely ensuring you knew all the facts Percy. You have the freedom to make whatever choices in life you want, you have earnt at least that. I came across her family heritage in my studying of your files and I believed it was only right you knew.”
Huh. Yeah okay that made sense. “Thank you, Chiron. For letting me know” Percy took a breath, then stood from his chair. “Anything else, orrrr?” He asked gesturing to the door.
Chiron chuckled slightly, “No no young hero you are free to leave, have your fun.”
Percy gave a half hearted salute before leaving to do exactly that.
—-----------
“Bruce Wayne, Annabeth.” Percy exclaimed gesturing his arms wildly, whilst sprawled across the bed next to her, “I am related to the Bruce Wayne, how crazy is that.”
She laughed softly, a sound that Percy could literally listen to forever, he missed it. “Very crazy. So he’s your mums brother?”
“Yeah, well estranged brother, I don’t think they ever saw each other after their parents died, but still, it’s Bruce Wayne, you know.”
“Yeah…” Annabeth replied distantly. She looked like she was deep in thought before she righted herself.”I think you should go.”
“Uh,” Percy said dumbly, “Go where, Wise girl?”
“Gotham. Wayne Manor.”
Percy stared at her for a solid minute, just blinking trying to understand if he heard her right. “And why would I do that?” He asked.
She rolled her eyes, but turned to look at him fully, a more serious, yet caring expression spread across her face. “Because Percy, your mum just died, and she was your rock. Bruce Wayne can give you something we can’t. A piece of home. Even if they didn’t necessarily grow up together, they were related. It might help you to go there.”
Percy didn’t quite know how to respond to that. How on earth would going to Gotham help with his grief? It made no sense. But then again, Annabeth was the smart one in the room. What did Percy know? “You think so? Like you really think?” Percy asked quietly, unsure.
“I don’t know Percy. I honestly don’t. I just think that if I found out my mother had a secret brother, I would be a little curious.” She said, “And you always talk about how you’d hate to be a year-rounder at camp.”
“I know I did… but that was when I had someone to go home to.” He replied, deep grief coating his voice.
Annabeth’s face softened as she enveloped him in a hug. “I know seaweed brain, it’s all up to you. If you want to meet the guy, I’ll support you. If you want to forget this ever happened, done. Never even heard of Bruce Wayne. The ball is in your court.”
Percy laughed gently, allowing himself to be held by her. After a moment, he sighed. “You already want me out of camp, tired of me so quick?” He said with a smile on his face.
She laughed, shoving him away, “Ugh, yes. Why did I ever agree to go out with you again?”
Percy stroked his chin in mock consideration. “Hmmm, if I do recall correctly, it was actually you who kissed me, both times,” He replied, to which he earned a kick to the ribs.
“Shut up, Jackson, just because you were too much of a wimp to do it yourself.” She huffed before sobering up. “But really, you always have a place here; we’re your family. If you go and hate it, what’s the worst that can happen? I’ll pick you up, and we have a laugh about the secret life of the Wayne family.”
Hmmmm, that did sound quite fun to be honest. It’d be like he’s in an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians (sue him, he likes reality TV)
“You make good points Chase.”
“I know it’s literally what I’m known for,” she replied.
Ugh, this is going to be the worst decision he has ever made.
Guess he’s going to Gotham.