Chapter Text
The road was dark and empty with buildings towering on both sides. They were old and seemed as abandoned as the alleys that ran between them. Yet, there was a feeling similar to those he felt before a monster made itself known that told him neither truly were.
The air was thick and reminiscent of that of the underworld. It seemed to stick to him as he walked, telling the misery of others and asking for his. He refused to acknowledge the familiarity of it. A shadow moved in his periphery. He braced and kept moving.
There was a gunshot in the distance and police sirens from the opposite direction. The city was a sharp contrast from Manhattan. He had always heard the stories but only now was that truly evident to him. He could only hope the crazy of Gotham allowed him to settle in before doing its thing. But lets be honest he’s Percy Jackson when has his life ever been that kind?
There was movement behind him. His hand glided to his pocket fingers wrapping tightly around the pen that was within. There was one of two things that could be following him. A monster looking for a nice meal that hadn’t realized quite who it was following yet. Or a mortal who's down on their luck and thinks they found an easy score. Only time would tell. They would make a move soon and he’d be ready.
His building was in sight when it finally did. The cold metal pressed sharply against his neck. Not a monster then. Though that didn’t make things any easier. He let go of his pen.
“Give me the bag!” The man, maybe a kid really, shouted. The gun shook against his neck.
“Hey there's nothing good in it kid. You picked a bad hit.”
“I don’t care! Give me the bag or I'll shoot.”
“You don’t wanna do that kid. We both know it. So put the gun down and we can talk. Maybe get you some things you need.”
“NO! Just give me the bag!” He shouted, shoving the gun hard into his neck.
“Okay kid. Fine. Here.” Percy slowly moved his arm to let the kid grab the bag. As soon as he had his hand on it Percy pulled and grabbed the hand with the gun just as it fired. He pulled the hand down slamming it over his leg. The gun clattered to the ground. He swiped the kids legs out from under him, laying him out. Then planted his knee on his chest.
“What the fuck!” The kid shouted.
“I warned ya kid. Picking on the wrong person. Look. I’m not for hurting kids. What's your name?” And because the universe loved playing games with him.
“L-luke.”
“Okay. Luke.” Percy sat up a bit, knee still on the kids chest reaching into a hidden pocket of his bag that was off to the side. “Take this. Should be the equivalent of what you paid for that gun.” He slipped some bills in the kids front pocket. “Get a taser or some shit to protect yourself and some food before you attack the wrong person and get yourself killed.” The kid stared at him for a few seconds, saying nothing.
“You aren’t from around here huh? Guess that’s what we're here for. Welcome to Gotham Percy. You can have a spot on the ground right here.” Before Percy could respond the kid smirked and gave him a knee to the groin. He grabbed tight on the bag but the kid took off without looking back. Percy sat for a minute breathing hard head to the ground. After a second he grabbed the gun that was still sitting on the ground and slid it towards his bag opening it and slipping the gun in just as he went to unload it he heard a voice.
“Kid got you good huh?” It was deep and groggly. Percy tightened his grip on the gun, hiding it in the bag and sitting up to look at the man in front of him letting out a sharp breath.
“I’ve had worse.” He said through his teeth bringing a knee up to kneel as he pulled his bag up onto his shoulder.
“Seems you have. That’s a nasty few scars. Kids right though you aren’t from here huh?” Percy finally got a look at the guy talking breath evened out. He was bulky mostly in the arms. His hair weirdly enough also had a grey streak. His eyes were a deep green. They seemed to hold a lot behind them but the scars seemed to tell some.
“Am I that obvious? I had hoped I might fit in around here for once.” Percy stood and dusted himself off with one hand. The other still in that bag behind him grip loosening on the gun within but very much still there.
“Well that accent of yours doesn't help much. You also don’t have that dead look in your eyes. Oh! And that advice you gave the kid was pretty shit. Oh! And-”
“Okay! Okay. I get it. Intruder alert. Whatever. You gonna rob me too or just stand there and laugh.” Percy gave him a look that the man must have found funny because that's exactly what he did. Laughed.
“Hah! Just thought I'd make sure you didn’t get killed on your first night in Gotham. Be a real sad way to go.”
“My family would never let me live it down.” The man gave him a look and nodded.
“Don’t I know it. Where ya headin’?” Percy raised an eyebrow at the guy.
“Don’t know if I wanna share that information with a guy I just met.”
“Would you look at that? Guess you do have some self preservation on yah huh?”
“I may look it but I don’t go around looking for trouble.”
“Sounds like someone I know. I’ll let ya be. Maybe I’ll see you around.”
“Preferably not being mugged.” Percy responded. The man grinned. Then he was walking by Percy and further down the street. When he was finally out of sight Percy unloaded the gun, cut on the safety and laid it in the bottom of his bag. Percy gave one last look around and was sure to listen closely for anything. When he was sure no one else was around he made the rest of the trek to his apartment.
He was on the 4th floor of a rundown apartment building. He was just lucky the fire escape looked semi usable. The place was not cream of the crop but it would do. It was close enough to Gotham University he could just walk and cheap enough that he would have the rent handled for a few months to allow him time to find a job.
He was quick to set his bag down and throw himself on the couch once inside. The last few days had been rough. Traveling as a demigod, especially one with his luck, always was.
Percy just sat looking at the ceiling for some time letting the exhaustion of the past few days fester and roll over him making itself known. His tense shoulders slowly loosened and his feet slid forwards, his hand falling to his sides. It felt great to relax even if only for a little.
“Mom!” Percy sat up quickly reaching down into his bag. He pulled out a small prism and a light.
There was little chance this would work but Annabeth made him swear to try once he made it to the apartment. He reached across to the coffee table turning on the light and setting it by the prism. A small but clearly visible rainbow formed. He pulled a drachma from his pocket.
”Oh iris, goddess of the rainbow, please accept my offering.” He flipped the coin in.