Percy didn't know what he expected to happen when he woke up. Maybe he'd still be stuck in his cell alone, stuck in a state of predeath until someone - anyone - finally takes pity on him and let's him leave this awful world.

Maybe he hoped to be back in Canada, cuddled up to the others and making sure they're okay.

Maybe there was a part of his brain, a part he didn't want to admit to, that hoped to wake up and find his blonde there with him.

What he hadn't expected was to wake up in an actual bed. The room seemed to have a purple and gold theme to it.

Dark violet sheets made his pale skin look sickly, somehow worse than it did before.

Looking around the room, Percy spotted a window, pale gold curtains blocking out the light.

Ignoring the pain that flared through his body - making him want to shrivel up and just end it all - Percy got up and made his way over to the window, flinging the curtains aside to let in the light.

He didn't even care that it was locked, all he cared about was all the green he could see.

The window showed a garden, healthy apple trees and beautiful roses. Percy had never seen such beautiful plants before.

Humans ruined nature. Whenever they came across lakes or other large bodies of water, Percy would go and speak to the fish. What he was met with was always slightly depressing. Older fish seemed done with life, just trying to keep the younger ones away from danger.

The younger ones were usually so optimistic. Swimming around the other fish in circles, shouting with glee, squealing with excitement whenever they spotted something cool.

And then Percy would witness the wires coming down, watch the nets drop.

He always returned to the others to tell them the wonders of the water. How beautiful it was below the surface, how happy all the fish were.

He remembered when they would all sit together at night, huddled up from the cold and tell stories.

Percy remembered their favourites.

Nico always loved the one about the young clown fish who got lost, Percy telling them all about his journey and how he was reunited with his dad and a silly fish with short term memory loss.

Hazel always loved the one of the young mermaid, tired of the sea and just wanting to explore the land. Listening to how she falls in love with a prince with such awe that it never failed to make Percy smile.

He remembered the first time they came across a horse. Little Hazel had been so scared. Nico too had been scared but he tried not to show it, trying to seem strong for Hazel. Percy remembered dragging him aside the next day and telling him how it was okay for him to be scared, he just needed to know that Percy was there for him. Percy wouldn't let anything happen to him.

Nico had listened in awe, admiring Percy's bravery and decided for what was probably the hundredth time that Percy was definitely the coolest person in the world.

Except Percy wasn't. Percy would always shake and cry when the others were asleep, remembering the fear he had felt earlier that day.

He'd comfort Hazel, calm her down. He'd give Nico a shoulder to cry on, telling him he'd always protect him. He'd remind Piper that she didn't have to shoulder her responsibilities alone, that Percy was there to help. He'd tell her to let it out and that she didn't always need to be strong, he would do that for her.

And then he'd cry his eyes out like the little child he was at heart.

Would sob until the sun came up.

Would bawl until the others woke up.

Would wipe his eyes and put the mask back up.

Would let the routine repeat.

And the others had no idea.

Just the way he liked it.

Percy jumped as he felt a hand on his shoulder, turning around to be met with the blue eyes of his captor.

Percy blinked, only slightly confused about the small smile on his captors face.

Sighing, the hunter reached out and grabbed Percy's wrist, gently tugging him towards the bed and making him sit down.

After making sure Percy was comfortable and wouldn't cause any unnecessary strain to his wounds, the blonde sat on the bed, facing Percy and making sure he could see his hands.

"Do you know who I am?"

Percy shook his head, he was confused but he had a small amount of hope that he was about to tell him.

"My name is Octavian."

Percy nodded slowly, not knowing if he's supposed to know him.

"...Simmons."

Percy's jaw dropped and he had to remind himself to breathe.

Octavian watched him carefully, searching his eyes for any hidden emotions.

He could see a slight fear in his eyes. That was no surprise to him, what confused him however was the hope pushing it out of the way.

Percy, still unable to use words, reached a shaky arm up to place it on Octavian's shoulder.

Innocent eyes looked up at Octavian, capturing him, pulling him in. Eyes like the sea, promising for his ship to go down after one wrong move.

He knew the boy could be dangerous. He'd lived to seventeen as a unique.

He didn't know why, but the fact that such a strong person had been reduced to this, it didn't sit right with him.

And it's all your fault.

Percy lightly shook his head, hoping to get rid of the weird tension in the room.

Smiling slightly, Percy leaned up to place a kiss on Octavian's forehead, still not familiar with kissing.

Taking Percy's hand in his, Octavian wrapped his arms around Percy's waist and placed him on his lap, allowing him to cuddle up to his chest.

Yawning, Percy's tried to tell his eyes to stay open, not wanting to fall asleep just yet.

They stayed like that - cuddled up with Percy on Octavian's lap - until Percy fell asleep, still exhausted from his time in his cell.

After a few hours, Octavian started to feel weird. There was this feeling in his chest and he didn't know what it was. It was different to the other one.

Octavian furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, feeling something wet slide down his cheek.

Reaching up, Octavian swiped his hand over his cheekbone, finding some sort of clear liquid on his fingers. It looked like water. His eyes were watering?!

Percy woke up to the sound of small sniffles, blinking repeatedly in hopes of his eyes finally adjusting to the light.

Percy felt his eyes widen as he looked up to find Octavian crying.

Had he done something wrong?

Carefully, Percy reached up his hands and placed them on either side of Octavian's face, wiping away the tears.

Percy leaned up to place his forehead against Octavian's, hoping to let him know it was okay.

Seeing as Octavian's breathing had slowing started to pick up, Percy tapped a finger against Octavian's chest and then his own, signaling for him to copy what he did.

Percy slowly started his breathing technique for when he's in similar situations, watching Octavian to check if he's still following.

Once his breathing had calmed down, Octavian leaned down and placed a kiss on Percy's lips, trying to make the boy understand his thank you.

Percy smiled and nodded, showing he understood what the kiss was for and that he accepted it.

They lay there in silence once more, Percy hearing the voices come back. Except this time, they were different.

Not alone.

Not alone.

Octavian is there with him.

Octavian is there with him.

He's not on his own.

He's not on his own.

Just as he was always destined to be.

Just as he was always destined to be.

Not alone.

Not one.

Despite the way he'd treated him so far, Percy couldn't help but feel something for Octavian. Maybe he could help him. Save future uniques the pain he went through.

The only thing that would make this better would be his siblings and the three humans. He missed them.

What he didn't know was that they'd given up on find him the moment they found a piece of his shirt from that day, little blood stains covering the material.

That they'd given up hope when Nico confirmed the blood on the ground as Percy's.

He didn't know that though.