Uncle Bruce

1

Percy sat at the NY police station, music playing from her demiphone. She returned home from the war with Gaea to find her mother, stepfather, and baby sister, dead in their apartment. She recognized the empousa signs, and the letter stating so. She grabbed it, and called to police.

They had found her on the floor staring at them as tears rolled down her face. She was practically carried away from the scene.

She was, now, waiting for her Uncle Bruce to come pick her up. She hadn't seen him since her mom was still married to Gabe. Before Gabe started drinking badly, but hopefully it won't be too awkward, and he wouldn't ask questions.

Percy huffed at that thought, she knew how her uncle was. Very logical, and a good investigator, of course he'd ask questions.

"Percy?" a voice called, bringing her out of her thoughts, and music.

She pulled the headphones from her ears and looked up.

She saw a police officer standing next to her uncle.

"Your uncle's ready to take you to your new home now," the police officer said.

Percy nodded at them, and grabbed her book bag she had with her. It had small mementos from her apartment, of her family, and of her fallen friends. Then she stood up and followed the two out of the police station.

"Good luck, Percy. We're looking into the attack," The officer said, then walked back into the station.

Alfred opened the back seat door and let Percy get inside. Bruce got in with her, much to Alfred's surprise. He didn't say anything but shut the door.

"Percy, it's good to see you again," Bruce said, looking at his niece's appearance. She had bags under her eyes, which showed she doesn't sleep well. She had a scar on her shoulder that looked recently healed, when she slipped her bag off her shoulder. And her eyes looked like he was staring at the ocean, just before a bad storm.

He didn't like what he saw. It was too similar to his boys, but the most startling was the grey streak in her hair, that was too similar to Jason.

"Yeah, it has, Bruce," Percy said, not showing any anger or sadness in her tone. It was very monotonous.

"I'm sorry we're seeing each other again, because of these circumstances," Bruce said.

"You and me, both, Bruce. You and me, both," Percy said with a sigh.

Bruce didn't say anything after that, but did try to imitate a gold fish. He eventually just sighed, and sat back against the seat.

Alfred looked at the rear view mirror, but didn't say anything.

The rest of the ride was silent, and when Alfred pulled into the driveway, Percy looked out the front window, since she was looking out her window. She sighed, as she saw the large mansion she was supposed to call home now.

"I can show you your room, Miss Persephone," Alfred said.

Both Bruce and Alfred noticed how she tensed when Alfred called her by her actual name.

"Call me Percy," she said, quietly.

Alfred didn't say anything, but motioned for her to follow him.

Percy scowled, but didn't comment as she followed him to a set of stairs.

"Your uncle has two boys that live with him, and two adult boys that come by and visit, so don't freak out when you see them," Alfred said.

Percy nodded, "I have cousins?"

"Yes, though, don't expect them to be a hundred percent welcoming at first," Alfred said, watching her reaction.

Percy couldn't help but chuckle a little, "as long as they don't expect me to be welcoming at first."

"Of course, Miss Persephone," Alfred said, watching her reaction again.

"Don't call me by my full name," Percy said, her tone was more demanding than Alfred expected.

"Why?" he asked, "it is your name."

"I have yet to meet someone who says my full name with good intentions," Percy said.

Alfred looked at her profile as she walked, and nodded, "alright, Miss Percy."

He watched as she visibly relaxed, "thank you, Alfred."

"Here we are. I'll get you for dinner, Miss Percy," Alfred said, opening the door for her.

Percy nodded at the man, then walked inside the room.

She shut the door, and started to unpack. She let her mind wander as she did so. She thought about the wars, and the death of her friends, even her wise girl didn't make it out alive.

And now, she learned that her mortal family was killed because of her relation to the gods. She pulled the note from her pocket and looked at it.
It had gold dust on it, as well as red blood. It was also written in Ancient Greek.

Persephone Jackson,
Even if you manage to defeat me, I still won. I got to greet your mother and her family personally, before I joined the battle. They had lovely screams, your sister went quickly. I'm not that much of a monster.

~ Gaea
P.S. how are your dreams?

Percy couldn't help but let her tears fall. Frank was dead, Hazel was dead, Jason and Piper were dead, Thalia survived, but most of the hunters were killed, Leo was assumed dead, Annabeth was dead too. Nico was with Will, which was good for them, but she just left.

She helped camp for a few days, then she ran, because the memories were too much for her. Not even mentioning her nightmares.

She put a few photos of her and the seven on her dresser, as well as her and Grover, who was out doing his god of the wild duties.

"Miss Percy, it's time for dinner," Alfred said.

"Coming," Percy said, as she stood up from her bed.

Percy came down and saw four boys sitting there, along with her uncle. She sighed, this was not going to be fun.

"Percy, these are my boys," Bruce said. Then he looked at the boys, "boys, introduce yourselves."

"Richard, call me Dick," The oldest said.

"Names Jason," the guy said with a grey streak that had Percy's attention.

"I'm Tim," the guy said, that was holding a cup of coffee under the table, and one sat in front of him.

The last kid was the youngest, "Damian," he said, not saying anything else.

"Persephone, call me Percy," she said, observing each person individually.

Dick was a police officer, if the badge in his pocket was anything to go by, but he has some bruising around his knuckles, that he's trying to hide.

Tim was clearly looking at screens for a while, and didn't sleep because of that. And probably hasn't slept in a while. He looks similar to her, but his eyes have a glazed look from staring at a bright light for a while. She had something similar when she first got her phone, and couldn't sleep at night.

Jason had a grey streak, which Percy couldn't help but notice. However, her demigod senses told her he's died before. She's been around enough of this type of thing to notice. He also had a black eye that was just about healed, and a gun in his jacket pocket.

Damian, however, had a blank face, which spoke of training. Though, the biggest thing that caught Percy's attention was the callouses and scars on his hands and arms. He's used a blade of some sort, and is good at it. However, she wondered why and how, since he didn't seem older than fifteen, but it wasn't her business. She'd learn eventually.

She noticed this in a span of a few seconds, as she walked from the hallway to the table, and sat down.