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Percy drummed his fingers on the wood, his other hand clenched on his thigh. He was sitting on a wooden bench in the woods, staring at the grey menacing clouds looming above him, conjuring up a storm. Percy knew that the weather wouldn’t affect the camp, but it was still very frightening to see Zeus’s work in the process.
Percy had just woken up from a petrifying nightmare, the screams of terror and the feeling of broken glass hitting his skin lingering in his senses. It was dawn and he still couldn’t get rid of the unnerving feeling in his chest. His senses were in overload, detecting every thing around him, his chest heaving slightly. Slowly but surely, he felt himself calm.
Percy heard somebody sit beside him.
Alarmed, Percy’s head whirled around, and he met enchanting, twinkling multicolored eyes, swirling around like the storm. Her eyes sparkling and her features defined, Silena was the prettiest woman Percy’s eyes had ever laid eyes on. In Percy’s opinion, Silena had more Aphrodite blood than anybody else in Cabin 10. But he didn’t see her in that way.
“Hi, Percy. Couldn’t sleep?” Silena asked. Silena’s voice was smooth like melted warm butter, and her soothing tone made Percy drowsy. Percy blinked, and looked back at his clenched fists, his memories flooding back to him.
“Hey, Silena.” Percy replied. “Yeah, I just sort of… nothing.” Percy shook his head. “Just annoying stuff.”
Silena frowned, her eyes gleaming with genuine worry. “What’s bothering you? Have a nightmare?”
Percy looked up. He didn’t deserve Silena’s kindness, or even her acknowledgement. Why did she even bother approaching him? They hadn’t talked before now.
“Yeah. Nightmare.” He said, playing with his camp half-blood necklace. He cursed himself. Yeah, nightmare? You’re meant to elaborate after that.
Silena tried smiling. “After your second quest, it must be pretty hard to deal with the aftermath. What was it about?”
Percy couldn’t help the way his hand twitched. Of course she would think it was about the quest. His brain hadn’t even processed the first quest - much less the second one. Apart from that, Percy was shocked that she knew that he had helped during Clarisse’s quest. Silena must have found some way to make Clarisse tell her everything. With her charm, it wasn’t surprising.
Percy didn’t answer. Silena frowned. “Percy?” Silena reached out her hand to place her hand on Percy’s shoulder. Percy flinched away, grabbing her wrist, turning to face her, his expression panicked. Percy blinked, his shoulders slumping. “I- um- sorry.” Percy said quickly, placing Silenas hand down onto her lap carefully. Silena observed Percy, her eyes wide.
They sat together in silence, Percy hoping, hoping that she wouldn’t point out on what just happened.
“Percy, how was your life before you came to camp?” Silena asked gently.
Percy’s heart sank.
“What do you mean?” He asked, even though he knew exactly what she meant.
“Percy, can I touch you?” Silena said. Percy looked at her in shock. Nobody had asked him that. Percy nodded his head.
Silena gently took Percy’s hand, her expression softer, her eyes crinkling in the corners.
“Percy, you’re safe here in camp now, you know? Nobody’s gonna hurt you here. When the time is right, you can tell us your troubles. But for now, just know that I am here for you. All the campers are here for you. We will never harm you, Percy. Your safe.” Silena said. Silenas words echoed in Percy’s ears.
He was safe.
It took all of Percy’s willpower to not cry since he had woken up. But now, like a wall was broken, all his emotions came flooding out, and he started crying, silent tears running down his face, his body shaking. He looked down, staring at the tears falling down onto the bench, collecting in a small puddle.
Silena looked shocked at Percy’s display of emotions. But after, her expression turned pained and regretful, like she regretted the fact she didn’t expect him to cry.
Percy’s head pounded. How could he believe Silena’s words? Was camp really safe? Hadn’t he just been sent to two quests in a row, endangering his life too many times to count? All the campers hated him for being a big three kid, how could Silena’s words really be true? She just pitied him. She probably hated him too. Why would she even try in the first place-
Selina engulfed Percy in a hug, her warm arms gently wrapped around his body. Percy gasped, more tears rolling down his face.
You’re safe, echoed in his ears.
Percy sobbed shakily into Silenas shoulder, the sun rising on the horizon.
For now, he was safe.
*
Once Percy pulled himself back, he rubbed his cheeks furiously, taking several shaky breaths. He looked back at Silena, and Silena was still smiling fondly at him.
How could such a fragile kid like Percy be scary? Silena remembered all the gossip among the Aphrodite cabin.
“I’m surprised he isn’t in the Aphrodite cabin, his looks would’ve made it here.”
“Did you see how scary he looked during capture the flag? I nearly ran away in fear.”
“He’s a really good fighter, too. Even better than Luke. I wonder what he’ll achieve in the future?”
All these expectations set up for this child. Ever since Thalia came back, they pushed him aside, like a weapon. Nobody had ever seen this side of him. Everybody saw him as a strong, scary, stupid son of Poseidon, incapable of feelings. Never a traumatised kid.
Silena couldn’t believe that she was surprised when he started crying. And the way he recoiled away from her- no doubt it had something to do with his home life.
Silena made a silent vow to never see Percy in that light again, and that she will help him if he ever needed her.
Silena looked across through the trees; she could see and hear the ocean waves thrashing and crashing against the shore. The storm that was building up slowly was no doubt Percy’s doing.
“Hey, Percy. Promise me something.” Selina said. Percy watery eyes focused onto Silenas.
“Promise me that you will heal.” Selina said firmly. Percy’s eyes widened in shock.
“You deserve help just like anybody else does. Promise me that eventually, you will tell somebody about your problems and troubles, and that you will seek help when you need it.” Selina said. Percy took those words in, but he remained speechless.
“Percy?” Selina said, squeezing onto his hand. Percy hesitated, but he nodded. Selina smiled. “Good. Take all the time you want. Just keep that promise for me, okay?” Selina assured him.
Finally, Percy returned a watery smile.
(:)
The next week, Silena found Percy by the beach. Silena smiled, and approached him. “Hey, Percy.” Silena greeted him. Percy turned, and grinned. “Hi, Silena. How are you?” He asked. Selina sat down beside him. “Good. Beckendorf burnt his finger today. I had to basically drag him to the Apollo cabin just to get a Band-Aid.” Silena huffed. Percy laughed. They both stared above them at the glowing stars in silence.
Silena brought up her palm sideways up to line up with a cluster of stars, her fingers straight. “Hey, do you know how to read constellations?”
Percy shook his head. Silena smiled wider. “I’ll teach you. Let’s start with the constellation… Perseus.”
Percy scoffed at that, and Silena giggled. They spent that night staring at the stars, talking about the various constellations, the promise Percy made the week before left unspoken. Without knowing it, Silena was healing a part of Percy, the part of Percy that thought he was undeserving of love and care, slowly but surely.