Chapter Text
September 30, 2000
Seven year old Percy Jackson swallowed, trying not to cough from his dry-as-bone throat. He gently slid the tiny square into the slot, silently hissing at the small vrrr noise it made in the complete silence. He sat under his covers in his room, door closed, clutching his little screen as hard as he could lest he drop it onto the soft bed covers. It was a handheld little Gameboy, and the little game he had traded for a piece of shiney money at school worked great- he finally got CarKills ll- The Reckoning. The game made a beeping noise as it started up, and Percy’s soul nearly ascended as his blood went cold. He rushed to slam his tiny hand down on the volume button, and listened very carefully for Smelly Gabe’s thundering footsteps. All was silent, as the clinking from the kitchen continued. His mom was working late at the candy shop, and had smoothed Percy's unruly hair before leaving.
“Don’t go,” Percy had cried, “please don’t leave me.”
His mom had smiled sadly. “It’s okay honey; I won’t be gone long. Just a few hours, and you can hang out with Dad! How does that sound?”
“He’s not Dad,” Percy protested immediately, even at that young age. “That’s Smelly Gabe!”
His mom sighed. “You don't have to call him Dad, but he's very nice for living with us, okay? Treat him kindly. Like you do the kids at school.”
Percy hmmpted. “The kids at school are mean, too. One of them even has pokey horns!”
“Percy. Remember what I said about lying?” If Percy had payed attention a little bit more, he would've seen the flash of shock and fear in Sally’s eyes. But he just sighed and nodded.
“We’re always kind, okay? Especially to Gabe,” his mom said firmly.
“Smelly Gabe,” Percy had muttered, unable to resist. His mom looked at him sternly.
“It's Gabe, okay?” she looked at the time and hurriedly stood up. “I’ve got to go, honey. Remember what we talked about.”
Smelly Gabe, Percy thought now, huddled underneath his covers lest the monsters get him. He heard the sloshing of a bottle as Smelly Gabe poured a glass of his mom’s special wine. Percy gritted his teeth.
Be kind, Percy.
He didn’t know how well he’d do at that, so he just turned back to the game. As he played, his mouth fell open in shock. His mom would never let him play this- which made sense, for he was sneaking it now. For every NPC he killed, the kill count ticked up, and pixelated blood sprayed everywhere. He was trembling a little now, but he still didn't make a sound. He didn't want the monsters to hear and the sloshing of alcohol to stop. But just as Percy reached the end of the achievement he had been working on, he heard thundering footsteps. He barely had time to shove the game under his pillow before the door swung open, revealing Smelly Gabe. the door would have left a mark on the wall, if Gabe hadn’t removed the doorknob a year ago. Percy hadn’t ‘earned privacy’ then, and by the looks of it he hadn't earned a quiet night tonight.
“Hey, shit-for-brains,” he growled, stalking closer. Percy drew back as his obviously drunk eyes roamed all over the boy. “I had $3.75 in change at the bottom of this.” He shook his wallet high in the air. “Where’d it go, shitsack?”
Percy felt his stomach drop. He remembered rummaging through the black leather wallet, searching for coins to trade for his game. He’d never thought Gabe would notice a few pieces gone, but apparently he had. But what to do next? It was hard to think through the fuzzy static in his head, screaming panic panic panic.
“I took it,” Percy decided on defiantly, head held high, looking at Gabe though he couldn’t see him through the haze of fear very well.
Gabe took a dangerous step forwards. “Why did you do that?”
“Candy,” Percy made up, fidgeting and finally dropping his gaze before daring to look up again. Gabe was very close, almost a jumpscare, and was breathing right into Percy's face. His breath smelled like tart wine.
“You know what, kid? I think that's bullshit.” Gabe tilted his head. “Ask me why I think that's bullshit.”
Percy made a little noise in his throat and shook his head the tiniest bit. Suddenly, Gabe grabbed his chin, making his squeak in terror, pulling him upwards so he had no choice but to look at the man.
“Ask me why I think that's bullshit,” he repeated more forcefully. After another beat of silence, Gabe threw his face to the side.
“Ask!” he shouted. Percy could barely think through the tremors of panic racing through his mind, but he did muster enough courage to look up into Smelly Gabe’s eyes.
“Why do you think it's b-bullcr- shit?” Percy whispered, internally screaming. His mom had told him to never say that word, but Smelly Gabe was telling him to, and everything was so conflicting-
“Because,” Gabe continued in a scarily icy voice, “your pillow seems to be glowing.”
Percy could barely breathe, could barely think. He had discovered it. The Gameboy.
Gabe lurched forwards, snatching up the little game. Percy watched in horror as the man’s hands twisted it, made it crack and whine. The bright lights sputtered out, and all Percy could think was ‘that’s mine’ as Gabe popped open the game slot and shook the tiny piece of machinery out- the game Percy had gotten at school. The device smoked and sparked as Gabe let it drop to the floor, where Percy was hyper aware of the easily flammable carpet.
All he could see was red as gabe held up the tiny square reading ‘Carkills ll: The Reckoning’ on it.
Be kind, Percy.
No. Percy wanted to, longed to push this man over and take back what was rightfully his. He desired, deep down, for this awful, smelly guy to be gone forever. But Percy was little, as he had been told many many times. When he was big and strong, nobody would mess with him. He’d protect his mom. And get a doggy.
But he refocused on the man. The few times he had surged up physically against the monster, Gabe had simply batted him aside. And the beating was much worse when he did that. And when he was bruised and hurt, his mom worried. And his mom already had enough to worry about, so Percy had to keep from being hurt at all costs.
That meant staying quiet and still.
“Tell me, boy, where did my money go?” Gabe growled. Percy opened his mouth but Gabe pushed his small shoulder back before he could get anything but a small squeak out.
“That was fucking renor- rehorn- retorni-”
“Rhetorical?” Percy suggested meekly. Gabe’s face turned visibly red underneath the fat and the stubble. And Percy felt a stinging, blinding pain as his head was whipped to the side from Gabe’s slap.
“Don’t correct me,” he hissed. Percy couldn’t stop his eyes from welling up with tears from anger and pain alike. Everything in him screamed to hit Gabe back as he slowly brought his head back to where it was, jaw clenched and chin jutted.
“Sorry, sir.” Percy was practically smoking from white hot anger now. Think of Mom. Think of Mom.
“That's what i fucking thought!” Gabe exclaimed. He snatched Percy's black hair and forced his chin back even more, Percy resisting the urge to cry out. “And I’ll tell you what happened. You bought this… video game, with my money. Which makes it mine.” Percy didn't take his eyes off the game as Gabe slowly crushed it between his fingers, letting go of Percy’s aching hair with a thrust.
“Got it, shitsack? Everything you have is mine. Do you understand?” When Percy didn’t say anything, just stayed stockstill, Gabe's eyes darkened as Percy quickly tried to remedy his mistake.
“Yes! Yes, I do-“
But Gabe struck fast, slamming the heel of his hand into Percy’s forehead, making him fall back from his kneeling position on the bed. Percy stared up at his ceiling, unable to tell between the painted stars and the floating ones in his vision. the dizziness dissipated, leaving him hyper aware of the stink emanating from the man and the sudden, unusual clanking and hissing in the walls that his mom had explained was the water pipes. He quickly sat back up, ready to fight, ready to fight-
But Smelly Gabe looked so confident and smiley. “Remember, Perce, this is our little guy secret. No telling your mom. I’m doing you a favor- I don’t think Sally would like that you were playing a game that you’re not allowed to be playing.”
Percy froze. She couldn’t find out. His mom would be so disappointed in him, and he couldn’t stand that. He already let her down too much- he didn’t want to upset her even more than he already did. So he nodded stiffly. Smelly Gabe smiled with rotted teeth and gently clapped Percy on the shoulder, making him flinch back.
“Good man, Perce.” He meandered out, leaving Percy staring at the twisted remains of his Gameboy.