Chapter Text
“Jason! Jason!!” I heard giggles and the pattering of feet from the hallway, Percy slid to a stop losing his footing momentarily. His bright blue Finding Nemo socks slipping against the hard wood floor of the manor.
He sprints in the room and I brace myself for an impact that never comes, he slams to a stop in front of me, I raise an eyebrow in his direction feigning indifference for his sake. He’s been scared of physical contact since I’ve known him but it gets worse when you point it out. Oh how I wish I could find that man - Percy’s giggle interrupts my thoughts and a fond smile is tugged from my mouth.
I’ve been listening to Dick and Percy chase each other around the manor for the past hour, taking it as my alone time to read my books. Seeing as my solace - being the library - no longer exists I sigh dramatically, but gesture to the blanket next to me, motioning for him to get under it.
He muffled a giggle before curling himself under the blanket and scooting so he was pressed up against my side. My eyes - ALMOST - sting at the casual comfortability that he’s expressing, so used to the fear, and flinches he’s had since the start.
Speaking loudly I watch the entrance to the library, “Percy, I’m not going to help you with your silly game right now, I’m reading.” Dick’s footsteps started to falter and I grin, continuing on, lowering my voice to sound conspiratorial, but I know he has good ears. “If you really want to hide go to the alcove three windows down from the second doorway out- Percy! Be careful, don't run too fas-” I sigh dramatically, “that kid.”
Tensing and smothering laughter I listen to Dick hesitate right before the libraries threshold choosing to last minute change direction towards the kitchen. And suspiciously towards an alcove I may or may not have mentioned.
Percy’s head pokes out from under my arm, and I raise an eyebrow at him and his disheveled hair. He whispers quieter than I’ve heard ever before so I lean closer to hear, “... good at that Jay, can you teach me how?”
I smile ruffling his hair with the hand not holding my book, “Of course I can, sharkie” he wrinkles his nose at the pet name and relaxes back into my side. His fingers find the frayed patch on the blanket covering me, some ratty blanket I found in the back of a closet when I first came here.
I force casualty once again as his head slowly lolls to the side, the exhaustion from the day finally creeping in. Something that Dick has been trying to do since he drove Percy home from school; he’s been concerned that something’s happening at school. I flick my eyes towards Percy, silently begging whatever deities exist in this world, protect him.
He comes home from school a little more reserved than the day before, and I’ve watched as Dick has gotten more desperate and Bruce has gotten more withdrawn. Bruce never could handle emotions. There’s been grants sliding through the schooling systems with anti-bullying pledges however - that didn’t go unnoticed from me or Dick.
“Jay-jay.”
My eyes are pulled yet again from my book and onto his face - he pushes out his bottom lip and wiggles closer, I smile “Yes?”.
The next few minutes are filled with sounds of him moving and getting comfortable - I let my gaze linger for a few seconds more but look back to my book.
“Jayyyy.”
“What.“ I give him my best Bruce impersonation and his giggle resonates through my chest. My heart squeezes for a moment, and I brush a hand through his hair to get it out of his eyes. He tenses at the contact for a moment and I freeze, his eyes search mine for a second before he leans ever so slightly into the touch.
His gaze flickers from my face to my book and his pleading expression returns, “Jay will you read it?” His hand - still holding onto my sleeve tugs once more before letting go. The eyes that I’ve labeled as his ‘kitten eyes’ or if you ask Dick he’ll say ‘they’re way too much like a seal’s - and he loves seals!’ - the eyes have come out and I avert my eyes as fast as possible.
“Sharkie, I can grab a different book to read if you want? This one is kind of sad.” and gruesome desperately I try to keep my gaze from his, but to no avail. His hand returns to my arm and my eyes flicker to his.
His bottom lip pushes out in what I can only imagine is his eight year old version of a pout, he blows out a sigh before asking once more, “that’s okay the world is sad anyways. A book won’t change that, will you please?”
“I- Perc-, I-” A sigh leaves my lips and I turn back to my book, “Okay, get comfy.” A short burst of joy spreads over his face and he snuggles even closer making eye contact when he’s ready.