Work Text:
“Mama, I’ll be back tonight or tomorrow, I’ve got to go visit some friends, let them know I’m not dead and all that.” She smiles, hugs me tightly one more time.
She’s hardly let go of me since four days ago when I came home from camp. I had given her and Paul the brief overview of our latest - fix the gods’ mistakes - quest that ended with me and Annabeth in literal hell.
… I might’ve skipped over that part, but who’s to tell. I grab a sidebag and my subway pass -this might be expired - making my way to Queens. I’ve got to see Peter. Mama had let me know that Aunt May had passed and that was an emotional experience for all of us. It was devastating to hear that one of the bravest, and most selfless people I knew had died. If I was there I could have saved her.
She had a hazy memory around whether she visited Peter or not. Which was concerning, but at most I’d have Lou Ellen come check her over, if anything else weird happens. She might’ve had a bigger stress, namely me.
I wince, my mama deserves more than she’s ever gotten in life. The metro was crowded, and the feeling of being underground filled me with anxiety.
The monster attacks had settled down after the war ended, most of them crawling back into Tartarus and the rest seemed unorganized as their cause for chaos had died.
Still I better keep an eye out -In the city, I was usually fine - the scents of people everywhere allowed for demigods to slide through unnoticed.
The metro slides to a stop and I’m out as soon as the doors are open, jogging up the air slightly desperate for the ‘fresh air’ anything but belowground.
Peter doesn’t live in his old apartment anymore, but I was able to find his apartment through a maybe legal-maybe-not-search with the Hephaestus kids. But I’d like to find him naturally instead of showing up like hey I stalked you to find where you live.
So my plan was to swing by the coffee shop that MJ works at and ghost around to see if he’s hanging out with his friends. If so I’ll wait until he’s done obviously, I wouldn’t interrupt him and his friends. I'm not a monster. If he’s not there I’ll get a donut, and stalk him at his apartment.
Hey, it sounds good to me. I spot the entrance to the shop and I feel an anxious feeling flood through my veins. I peek through the glass entrance.
huh.
Both his friends are there. Just sitting at the counter talking, and laughing like nothing is wrong. Something is wrong.
I walk in and MJ turns to me with a customer service voice at the ready, “Hey.” I give a head nod in return, and order two donuts, a hot chocolate and a coffee. Something's not right.
She salutes waving me out the door. What. The. Hell. I memorized his address, and I walk down the street, my steps speeding up with my thoughts. There’s no way they would hang out without him. They’re friends through him, I mean maybe he’s sick? But wouldn’t they be taking care of him? Hello? Your best friend is sick. You don’t hang out without him.
There was zero recognition from MJ when I came in, I know Peter has talked about me. Something is definitely off. Was it my fault?
At the building I enter the code - perks of being friends with the Hermes and Hephaestus kids - quickly making my way to the second floor. I count down the doors, my heart in my throat.
I set the individually wrapped donuts on top of the drinks - hesitating one last time - before knocking.
There was virtually no sound from the other side of the door, until a faint, “One minute echoed through.” That's him. That’s Peter. That’s his voice.
My chest felt tight, I’m about to see one of my best friends since I abandoned - well I didn’t try to abandon - him almost a full year ago. Who has had next to zero explanation about where I’ve been or what happened. And something is wrong -
The door slips open. Peter meets my eyes and we both freeze. Something akin to panic lighting in his gaze. He has more scars since I last saw him, so do you.
“Hey.” I speak into the silence, holding up the drinks in one hand, “I brought food?” Nothing but shock and disbelief exist on his face. “You gonna let me in? … Peter, are you okay?” At his name a choked sound comes out of his throat.
He sags against the door and steps backward, his eyes wide as if he doesn’t believe this is reality. I come in and put the drinks down on a side table near the door. Dang, it’s barren in here. Every time I’ve been in Peter’s room previously the walls had been lined with movie posters, posted notes and designs.
These walls had… nothing.
He closes the door, his face morphing into a confused, disbelief that was slowly turning into suspicion, “Peter what’s wrong?” Again at his name he flinches.
I take a step towards him, my hand coming to rest on his arm, “Peter are you okay?” I make eye contact searching his face. Once again a choked noise escapes him and he collapses forward into my arms.
His whole body shakes with the force of his sobs, tears soaking into my shirt. Immediately I pulled him close. Somethings wrong, what’swrong I needtohelphim
“It’s okay petey I gotchu.” He lets out a wet chuckle at the nickname before heading into another round of sobbing. “It’ll be alright, I got you.”
My heart races with joy at the feeling of being close to one of my best friends, and I lean down to rest my chin on his shoulder. His body shudders a few more times, before he pulls back. “Percy-” I smile.
“It’s okay. It’s been a while. Annie says ‘Hello’ by the way.” His eyes crinkle into a happy but confused smile.
He opens his mouth to speak and then closes it, “I- uhm. Come sit, I have so many questions.” He pulls me over to the table situating me into his tiny kitchen space.
“Oh- “ I say suddenly remembering, “I brought food, I put it on the side desk.”
“I can grab it, no worries.” I sit down, allowing him a moment to compose himself as he grabs the drinks.
Undoubtedly noticing the label he pushes the hot chocolate over to me, but says nothing. We study each other from opposing sides. I take a deep breath before huffing out a laugh. “I think we have a lot to talk about.”
He tiredly grins, his eyes sad. “Ya, I think we do.”