the bond (we wish we didn't share)

part one

2003

Percy coughed, hunching into himself at the accompanying stab of pain. At least it’s not an actual stab, he thought wryly. Had enough of those to last a lifetime, thanks.

He was seated on a hospital bed, alone in the plain white room. The bed next to his was currently unoccupied, which he wasn’t sure how to feel about- happy that there was one less hurt kid, or sad that he didn’t have any company on this, his latest visit.

How many times have I been in here, anyway? Somewhere around…. twenty, I think.

Suddenly there was shouting outside. The door burst open and a kid was wheeled in on a cot.

Percy caught his breath. His new roommate looked horrible. He was all banged up: bruised face, with a bleeding cut at the temple; dark curly hair that was clumped in drying blood; slashed- up arms and torso, clad in a shredded, muddy shirt, like someone had gone after the poor kid with a knife.

Maybe they had. Or a beer bottle. Amounts to the same thing, doesn’t it?

The bed came to a halt and Percy was relieved to notice that the boy was unconscious- those wounds had to hurt, a lot. Percy knew from personal experience.

2014

“Leo!”

The still-scrawny (why, nonexistent muscles, why do you ignore me??) Latino turned, grinning, to face the son of Poseidon. “Hey Perce! What’s up?”

The demigods froze suddenly, staring at his friend. Leo frowned, walking toward Percy and his companions- Annabeth, Hazel, and Frank. Why they were all together- and how all four of them managed to fit in this narrow corridor in the Argo 2- the mechanic had no idea.

“Percy….?” Annabeth asked, concerned, poking his arm. She frowned at the lack of response.

Suddenly the dark-haired demigod shook himself and looked up, green eyes lightening and fixing themselves on Leo. “Sorry. Memories.”

The son of Hephaestus smiled encouragingly at his friend. Even if no one else understood, Leo did… even if he wished he didn’t. He knew what memories Percy was referring to.

“We all get flashbacks, man. No problem.” He knew Percy would get the hidden meaning in his words, even if no one else did. “Now, why did you come here in the first place?”

The blonde-haired daughter of Athena went in to explain some invention idea she needed Leo’s help with, although both Percy and Leo were drifting in and out of memories and heard about half of what she said. Hazel kept shooting the pair worried looks, which they missed entirely.

2003

“What's your name?”

The kid’s head whipped up and around to stare at Percy. The ten-year-old shifted uncomfortably, but held his gaze. Finally the Latino sighed and replied, quietly, “Leo.”

“Hi, Leo. I’m Percy.”

Leo seemed uncertain, but he smiled slightly and reached over to take the proffered hand. “Hi. What are you here for?”

Percy winced. He couldn’t tell the nurses, or his mom, but he wanted to. Maybe telling this kid would help?

“My… my stepdad.”

Leo didn’t seem to need more of an explanation than that. His already dark eyes became almost black. “Huh. Uh… me too. Sorta.”

The green-eyed boy flinched in sympathy. “Sorry ‘bout that, dude. Sucks, doesn't it?” Then he tilted his head inquisitively. “Whaddaya mean, ‘sorta’?”