[TRIGGER WARNING/CONTENT WARNING: chapter contains mentions of alcoholism, suicide, sex, homophobia and homophobic slurs, bullying, etc. Please read with caution if these topics may affect you in any way. If you don't feel comfortable reading the chapter, please reach out to me and I can give you a summary of what happens. Thank you, and stay safe.]

What would he do without Jason?
*****

For the first time in a long time, Percy had been having a somewhat enjoyable day at school. He only had one class without his friends, and he spent most of it playing game pigeon with Leo. Only Jason, Piper, and Leo had that lunch with him, but Percy didn't mind. He rather enjoyed the dynamic among the three close friends.

At the start of last period, Percy was starting to think he was going to have an unproblematic day. With nothing happening at school and Gabe being out of the house, he could finally experience a day of peace.

However, Percy was himself, after all, and peace wasn't particularly included in the package deal.

With fifteen minutes left of the school day, Percy left class to use the restroom. He was washing his hands and was just about to leave when he faintly heard the door open, close, and lock from around the wall. He really didn't know what to do other than sigh as he turned around to face Chris Rodriguez leaning against the wall that led to Percy's only exit.

"Jackass," Chris offered, "funny seeing you here."

Percy merely huffed with a roll of his eyes in response. He was just in class with Ethan. The teacher only ever let one student leave the room at a time, so Chris probably got a text from his friend and decided ruining Percy's day was more exciting than taking notes or reading textbooks.

Instead of instantly going for the kill as Percy had expected, Chris continued to stand there, picking at his nails. "I can't hit you or they'll kick me out of this school. I'm sure you'd be real upset if you didn't get to see my face anymore."

Percy furrowed his eyebrows as he cautiously dried his hands before throwing the paper towel into the trash, never taking his eyes off Chris.

"Ethan says he'll do it for me, though," Chris explained, and Percy nodded. There's the catch. "Where's your phone?"

A look of fear struck Percy's features. He'd left his phone tucked away in his backpack in the classroom. Chris seemed to notice and nodded once contently. "Good. That boyfriend of yours knows how to throw a punch, I gotta say."

Percy fought the urge to glare at the other boy. He really didn't want to make Chris angry, and he was sure correcting him would do just that. He could jump Chris himself and make a run for it, but the other boy was definitely stronger than Percy. He'd never make it to the door.

"I heard about your stepdad," Chris muttered. "What'd he do?"

Percy was this close to flipping Chris off at the mention of Gabe, but instead he just shook his head.

Chris scoffed at him. "I'd commit a crime, too, if I lived with you."

Percy glanced at the old analog clock in the corner, seeing that there were only five more minutes in the school day. He was sure Ethan was just thrilled to get his hands on Percy and would waste no time getting there. He sighed helplessly, ignoring Chris's smug smirk.

"Aren't you excited, Jackson?" He asked. "This is new for all of us. Ethan never gets a chance with you. Don't tell him I told you, but he's just scared of your boyfriend. It's a shame, really. I've always been surprised that Jason Grace was a fag."

Percy tensed. If he was going to have to sit there and listen to Chris shit-talk Jason, they were going to have issues. Going after Percy was one thing. Bringing Jason into all of this was unacceptable though. This time, Percy did shoot Chris a glare.

Chris raised his eyebrows. "Oh, sorry, is Grace a sensitive topic? I could go on forever about that kid."

Gods, please don't, Percy pleaded silently.

"Being a fuck-up is in that boy's genes," Chris chuckled at himself, "No wonder he hangs around you all the time. Mom was a batshit alcoholic, dad's gonna locked up until the man dies, sister drove that damn boyfriend of hers off a bridge. Really, I'm not shocked that he takes such an interest in a freak like you."

Percy clenched his fists, ready to knock Chris out cold for the comment about Thalia. He was having second thoughts about not fighting back.

"And that Valdez kid," Chris sounded disappointed even mentioning Leo, "what the hell's even wrong with him? I swear, if I have to hear that annoying fucking voice one more time, I'm gonna kill someone. That's why you're my favorite, Jackson. You don't talk back. You just let me give you what you deserve, and we both go on with our lives."

Percy tried his best not to react. It's what Chris wanted from him. He wanted to make sure he was bothering Percy, but he refused to give Chris the satisfaction.

"That Piper girl is a different story," he just kept on talking. No wonder Leo interrupted this guy every time he spoke. "She's fucking hot. Just imagine the noises she'd make if I got my hands on her, Jackson. I'd gladly give her the best night of her—"

Percy abruptly backhanded the guy with as much force as he could muster. Chris seemed shocked, and Percy took the opportunity to try to step past him, but Chris quickly recovered and snatched Percy back by his hood, throwing the boy into the side of the stall. Chris's calm manner had disappeared within a matter of seconds.

"I'm gonna destroy you, Jackson," he spat angrily, taking a step in Percy's direction.

Chris grabbed the other boy by his shoulders, slamming his head once into the metal behind him and sweeping his legs out from under him. He stepped back afterwards, walking around to the bathroom door and opening it before quickly flicking the lock again. Ethan Nakamura came into view. It was two against one, and Percy was screwed.

"Thought you couldn't take a swing at him," Ethan muttered to his friend, smirking as Percy stumbled to his feet.

Chris rubbed the side of the face where Percy had hit him. "He asked for it. Tear him to shreds. It'll be fun to watch for once."

Ethan nodded once, approaching Percy slowly. "Jackson."

Percy's head was spinning, but he decided he was already in too deep and thrusted his foot at Ethan's groin, taking the boy by painful surprise. Ethan wasn't his problem, though. Chris was. He stopped Percy as he tried to escape once again, twisting the arm behind the boy and turning him back to face Ethan.

"Do you really need him on a platter like this, Nakamura?" Chris taunted. "This must be why we leave the beatings to me."

Ethan, although offended by the statement, knew it was better if Chris just held onto Percy for a moment. Once he recovered from Percy's previous attack, he stalked over to the boy who was still desperately trying to escape Chris's grasp. Ethan reeled his arm back before landing a punch on Percy's jaw and stopping the boy's resistance. He threw an uppercut to Percy's chin before taking the green-eyed boy out of his friend's arms and throwing him to the ground.

Percy, albeit slightly dazed, tried to stand, but his efforts were useless once he was met by a swift kick in the side from Ethan. He was carelessly turned onto his back before Ethan pinned him to the disgusting floor of the bathroom. He threw a couple more punches at the boy before glancing up at Chris, who sauntered over and crouched down beside the two boys. Percy's legs kicked hopelessly, and his arms were futile in pushing Ethan away.

"Don't forget, Jackson," Chris warned darkly, "we could kill you right now. We are in charge here, not you."

Percy pressed his lips together in a thin line, his expression unwavering despite the fact that he was in immense pain. Chris just sighed, slapping Ethan once on the back before standing.

"Go for it," Chris motioned for Ethan to continue, leaning against the sink in the corner.

Ethan nodded, grabbing a handful of Percy's hair and slamming the back of his head into the concrete below them. Percy groaned in response, the first noise he'd made since he came in the bathroom. Ethan seemed to enjoy the fact that Percy wasn't silent and did the same action twice more.

At that point, Percy's ears were ringing and all he wanted was to disappear. He faintly heard Ethan insulting him as he continued to beat down on him, but the words didn't even process in Percy's brain. The only thing he heard was a loud banging on the door before Chris and Ethan both went silent and exchanged looks. Percy, desperate for any escape, sighed happily upon hearing a voice outside.

"Open the fucking door, Nakamura!"

Oh boy, oh boy. I got really into this chapter so it's longer than normal. I would say you're welcome if the chapter wasn't just torturing poor Percy.

Hope y'all are doing well! Stay safe with everything that's going on, and have a great day!