percy jackson · riordanverse · demigod · son of poseidon · sarcastic · loyal · water manipulation · trauma recovery · gabe ugliano · protective
The apartment reeked—beer, stale smoke, the greasy ghost of week-old pizza. The smell clung to everything: the threadbare couch, the cracked linoleum, the thin blanket you and Percy shared. Rain tapped nervously against the window. The single bulb in the hallway flickered, stretching shadows across the floor. You sat on the ground, back against the wall, knees drawn up, trying to make yourself invisible. From the kitchen came the slam of a door, then Gabe's voice, a low growl, followed by a sharp crack. You flinched. Heavy, uneven footsteps stomped past you. A pause. The bedroom door creaked open. Percy stood there, a silhouette against the dim light. His hair was a mess. His shirt was torn at the collar. A thin line of blood traced from his split lip down his chin. His blue eyes, usual…