Soulmates

Chapter 67

TW

it's not in a lot of detail, but there is child abuse. i also get into the story oedipus, so incest, inbreeding, murder, suicide, and violent attempts at death.

it's a pretty fucked up myth

i also get into achilles, so murderous rampages are also a part of this list, though none of this is in detail

anyway, be careful babes

Tragedy. The Greeks loved a good tragedy. Orpheus and Eurydice, Heracles, and Medusa, but the ones that struck Percy the most were prophesized.

    He saw himself in the minds of Achilles and Oedipus, too blind with trying to prevent the future to realize they had started it.

    Percy only met his father in person twice. Once when he had mono and was in the hospital, the other when he was 9.

    It was a new-ish relationship at the time. Gabe once was friendly to Percy, and Sally seemed to like him.  He was young and didn't have an eye for... well, anything--much less what manipulation looked like. He couldn't even figure out 3x6.

    On his 9th birthday, Poseidon happened to be in New York and visited the apartment. Immediately he asked, "Does he do anything to you?"

    Percy had been confused. "He dunks me on the couch?" he offered. It was weird. Dad barely has time for anything more than a phone call once a year and semi-monthly postcards. He didn't know how to talk to the man.

    Poseidon knelt down to Percy's level. "Are you sure?"

    Percy tensed. The frick was the guy doing? "Yeah?"

    "Percy, if he hits you--"

    Percy rolled his eyes. "I'd kick his entire butt. I can take him."

    Perseus Achilles Jackson had been 9 and built like the wonky stick figures he drew in kindergarten. Gabe was 6 feet tall and went to the gym--or so he said. Percy would not have been able to take him; he was just a cocky shit.

    "You tell me or your mom if he ever," Poseidon looked deep into Percy's eyes. It was very uncomfortable. "hits you."

    Percy just nodded to get away from him and to annoy his downstairs neighbors by jumping on his bed. His mom would be able to blame it on the birthday party, and Percy loved being a menace. It was a win-win.

    Two weeks later, when Sally was off at work, Gabe was getting mad.

    It would be fine, Percy used to think. Like, what was the dude gonna do? Besides, Percy was so nice to Gabe.

    When Gabe wanted a beer, Percy would bring it. When Gabe wanted money, Percy would crack open his piggy bank. When Gabe wanted Percy to cook food, Percy would... attempt it.

    Wasn't it funny? Oedipus ran from his adoptive parents, trying his damned best to not kill his father and marry his mother. In doing so, he ran into his biological father, where Oedipus killed him. He then killed the monster of the kingdom and was gifted the queen as his bride. His biological mother. They even had 4 kids until they found out. The queen killed herself, and Oedipus gouged out his eyes.

    Achilles was a careful and calculated soldier who would stay far from Hector in the Trojan War. Then down goes his lover, and in a rage, he killed Hector. Then Paris killed Achilles.

    Fate was inescapable, no matter how hard you tried. When you're obedient for so long, you are expected to be more. To be perfect.

    Percy couldn't be perfect, and it gave him a red blotch on his arm from a chancla.