"That's not the point Percy!" A furious Nico shouted. I was getting a little upset that he didn't understand my actions.

"What's the point then!" I yelled back, waving my arms around in the air. Nico took a deep breath to calm himself before he answered.

"The point Percy, is that you don't run from your problems." I began to interrupt but he cut me off with a glare. Dam where did he learn to glare like that. "Even if they were going to ship you off to the next orphanage, which they wouldn't even think about from what you've told me about them, you still need to talk to them." He finished his rant and I looked down in shame.

I wanted to go back and apologize for everything I kept from them, but at the same time I didn't. I was scared, no terrified that some of the only people that love me and actually care if I'm ok, reject me. My stomach twisted up into knots when I thought of going back, being scorned, I wouldn't have any family left.

Nico put a hand on my shoulder and I stared at him with pain visible in my watery eyes. It wasn't pain from the multiple injuries that I had forgotten about, it wasn't the numbness of my previously frost bitten limbs. It was the mental pain, I didn't know if I could take it if they rejected me.

"Percy.... you owe them at least a talk, they took you in and took care of you, they still care about you." The tears that were welded up in my eyes finally rushed down my face as he pulled me into a hug.

"But what i-" he cut me off.

"If what Percy, you can't let something that might happen stop you from making the right decision." I pulled away and plopped down onto the metal platform that hung below the window, above the rest of the warehouse. My feet hung of the platform, swinging aimlessly as I stared down into my lap.

"What made you run in the first place?" Nico questioned, taking a seat next to me on the platform. I shrugged in response.

"Maybe the author was running out of ideas." I voiced and he groaned.

"We should have never went to see Deadpool." I snorted at the memory, we had to sneak into the movie theater using Nico's powers because we the clerk wouldn't sell tickets to a rated R movie to 8 year old's. News flash clerk, one walk down Crime Alley and your rated R movie seems like it's PG.

"Shut up yellow box, I will not do such a thing in public." Nico burst out laughing.

"Well if you get to be Deadpool I'm Spider-Man." I scrunch my eyebrows at him.

"Why?"

"Come on Spider-Man awesome, he may not have a healing ability but he has spidey sense and great agility and strength."

"Well you can't be Spider-Man because I ship Spideypool." He stared at me blankly.

"What is that?" I rolled my eyes at him, of course he wouldn't know what that was, he was a normal person.

"Well a ship is when you imagine 2 people together and things like Spideypool is the ship name that allows you to identify the people in the ship." I explained trying not to laugh at Nico's expression.

"Is that why you yelled Birdflash a couple of days ago?" I smirked and nodded, i was a super stalker.

"That's also why you can't be Spider-Man, it would be too weird, I think you would make a better Negasonic Teenage Warhead." Nico pushed me in the arm.

"Ha ha very funny." He rolled his eyes then his expression turned to anger. "Dang it Percy, how on earth did you change the subject so easily." He groaned and fell back onto the platform.

"It's a gift." I answered following suit to his actions.

"You can stay here as long as you want, you gave me a mattress I am forever in your debt, but you need to go back." I closed my eyes in submission, I knew he was right.

"I know I'm just scared."

"I'm here if you need me Percy."

"I know. I know." Closing my eyes I scooted back into the middle of the platform and curled up on the cold metal. Soon we were both at rest, me on the floor, him on the pre-mentioned mattress.

The next morning was...stressful, to say the least. Nico practically forced me out the window and as soon as we climbed down the fire escape he pulled me deeper into ally.

"Where are we going?" I glanced around nervously, finding it hard to trust the boys smirk. He turned around a pointed deeper into the ally. Shadows danced along the walls, even in the day light, what little light that shined through the overcast sky was drowned out by gigantic brick and metal buildings.

"Were heading deeper into the city, I know these alleyways like the back of my hand." He stated and pulled me deeper into the connecting paths, drenched in darkness.

We continued to make several turns through the maze of alleyways and gradually the building startled to get taller. Suddenly he pulled me left and we exited onto the streets... at crime alley.

"Ok i give up, what are we doing?" I found myself asking. He just dragged me through about a mile of ally systems to come to one of the most notoriously known crime places.

"Going to my old house." I stared at him as if he said I need to smell a high school boys gym locker.

"You live in crime alley?" I asked motioning around franticly, eyes wide with disbelief. He just crossed his arms and smirked, which looked creepy.

"Yes, not all of us live in a billionaire's house."

"You know i didn't mean it like that, but we're like fish out here." His smirk grew wider at my words.

"Speak for yourself, I'm a big fish, and I have no problems with the sharks. They know better than to mess with me." I groaned and raked my fingers through my hair.

"Please don't tell me your a ninja too." The boy in question just sighed.

He continued to jump up onto the fire escape and climb the ladder and what choice did I have but to follow. The rusted metal groaned under our weight, but held it and we came to a floor where we stopped.

He made his way to a shattered window, glass littered all over the metal platform and glinting in what light the place provided. The boy hesitated for just a microsecond and a look of unease passed over his face, but his usual defensive expression returned a moment later, no trace it was ever there.

He entered the apartment and I soon followed carefully maneuvering around the broken glass. I was hit with a familiar sight when I popped my head through. The place had a sickly green shade of peeling paint and a brown rugged floor that looked like it was vacuumed every 15 years.

I moved through the window and my skin brushed onto the discarded think worn out blanket that used to cover it... so familiar.

My blood ran cold as I remembered the dream, my heart quickened slightly remembering his golden eyes. I walked all the way through the window not meeting Nico's eyes, he would see right through me.

He turned the corner leaving me standing awkwardly in the middle of the room of my literal nightmares. The boy returned only moments later with a rucksack full of cloths and a wad of money he was stuffing into the pockets of his black jeans. He was nervously twisting a ring on his finger that looked like a skull with red eyes and readjusted the sack on his shoulder.

He looked down and I frowned when I saw a slightly crumpled photo clutched in his pale hand.

"Can I see?" He tensed defensively for a moment, but relaxed and nodded, still not meeting my eyes. I took a stance beside him and peered over his shoulder.

In the picture a tan Italian toned girl stood smiling next to a younger Nico. She wore a brown bulky jacket that reached her knees, hiding her legs covered in black jeans. On top of her head was a green floppy cap that covered her black straight hair glistening in the sun. Her smile radiated so much warmth that it made the apartment with peeling paint look homey.

"Bianca?" The young boy nodded and looked to the side still not meeting my eyes. "We should leave this place may bring back... memories." He snorted and finally looked me in the eyes, they held pain, longing.

"Come on let's get out of here." He motion for me to follow and I began to, but was hit with a wave of dizziness.

My head swarmed and throbbed painfully, I doubled over breathing heavily. My vision went in and out of focus as I was pulled into a vision, flashing scenes so quickly I couldn't make them out. Darkness consumed my vision completely and I could vaguely feel Nico in the apartment shaking me and screaming at me in a worried tone, but it all seemed fuzzy as my vision blurred out and I was pulled into REM.

The image suddenly stopped at a familiar face. It was of Bruce typing away furiously on the batcomputer, the blue light the only thing illuminating his almost impassive face. You could see the underlying worry and grief that flashed in his eyes which were bloodshot.

After a moment of silence he finally leaned back in his chair with hopeful features as the computer ran a program, his eyes darting back and forth between numbers. He slammed his fist on the counter as his face lit up in a red hue, the computer showed an 'Access Denied' message.

"I can't track his AI and facial recognition software didn't pick up any traces." He explained in a steely voice to the worried ninja butler who was now behind ninja.

"We'll find him master Bruce, we'll find him." They both looked up to the computer once more, their faces bathed in the red light, before the scene swirled around me once more.

After series of images catched my eye, flash in and out slow enough for me to just catch the contents of the image but not to fully comprehend. All I saw was blood and tragedy, faces of anguish and loss. Then everything stopped on one image, one scene that played out smoothly.

It was a man running, a man being chased. He had wind swept raven black hair and sharp masculine futures that were flushed in exhaustion. His sea green eyes were wide with fear as he streamed out of a tall building, weaving through crowds of people.

He wore a black leather jacket and loose fitting black jeans, he looked about 27 but was fit and muscular, yet slim and agile. I watched as he sprinted into an ally, skillfully avoiding people. He collapsed against the wall holding his side which you could see the tinge of red that stained his hand. He was breathing heavily, gasping for breath as he fell to the floor.

He made a slow movement to retrieve an item in his pocket, his now red stained hand shaking slightly. He pulled out a now blood coated pen and it hit me. Those features that seemed to familiar, the hair, the eyes, I almost screamed at the thought, this was Poseidon, my father.

He removed the cap off the writing utensil and it turned into riptide, still breathing heavily, he tightened his grip on the sword.

"All bark and no bite." I familiar deep smooth voice rang out through the darkness of the ally. My dad and I flinched at the same time from the sadistic nature that the sound held.

The man walked out of the shadows, now donning a white business suit that contrasted sharply against his tan skin. His hands were coated in vibrant blood, staining the sleeves of his suit. He held a golden double sided scythe in his right hand that matched the color of his hair that was greased back.

The man's feral grin widened as my father tried to move away back on to the street, clawing at the concrete leaving a trail of blood.

Why was I seeing this? I screamed out into my subconscious for it to stop, it wouldn't stop. It wasn't like it could close my eyes, I couldn't focus somewhere else. I was trapped there screaming obscenities as the golden man stalked up to where my father lay still clawing at the ground.

"You shouldn't have done that Don, you know what happens when you go against the Titan's." My father tried to scoot away but was stopped by a black combat boot firmly planted on his chest. The boot pressed down hard and the man underneath screamed in pain.

The man took his sword and put it to my father's neck, his eyes were wide with fear, but they held defiance. The man bent down to where his face was above the green eyed male, his eyes shining in sadistic glee.

"Any last words, old friend?" The man growled and my stomach twisted, I felt the bile come up into my throat. I couldn't watch this is had to leave.

"Go to hell Kronos." He spat the blood forming in his mouth and peering through his teeth into the tan features of the sneering man and my heart nearly stopped. It was almost the same thing I had done to him in my dreams. "I heard they needed more rapists and pretentious bastards."

The man, Kronos growled and I screamed into the void all of the obscenities possible but no one heard them, I couldn't change anything. I watched in horror as he moved his blade through Poseidon's neck with a sickening slice.

I fell back and gasped as my vision cleared, trying to breath. Why couldn't I breath? It was like my throat closed up, all I could do was look around franticly, trying to take a breath. My vision started to blur as pressure built up behind my eyes and tears welded up, not being able to stop them.

Nico was in front of me shaking me, panicking out of my nonresponsive form, but I didn't register anything but the bile that was rising in my throat and the sickening sound of the vengeful decapitation.

My ears were ringing and I saw Nico was shouting but I couldn't hear it, it's like my senses were jumbled. My head pounded painfully and I closed my eyes to block out the light.

Everything was quiet for a moment before I felt something quite painful on my cheek. A large smack echoed across the room and my cheek stung. I shot up into a sitting position breathing heavily, putting a hand to my cheek.

I felt Nico wrap me up in a hug as I got out of my dazed state. I stared at the wall for a moment while Nico released his hold and snapped fingers in front of my face

"What?... oh w-we s-should prob-bably get out of here." I stated my voice quivering. I wrapped my arms around myself trying not to shake.

"What happened?" He asked concerned, I avoided his eyes.

"N-nothing." I answered defensively, my voice vulnerable.

"You freaking collapsed and your eyes turned white Percy, that didn't look like nothing." He shouted and I growled.

"I said nothing happened." My voice was a little harsher and Nico dropped his eyes. "Can-can we just get out of here?" I asked almost whispering. Nico nodded and took my hand, leading me to the window.

"You can go home." I stated after moving through the alley maze, my gaze dropped to the floor. "You probably don't want to be there when I give the bascom my location, he may...interrogate you."

Nico stopped to look at me and then smiled widely.

"I'll be here, but hiding in the shadows, you'll need the moral support. You are dealing with daddy Bats after all." I snorted and looked up confused.

"Daddy bats?" I questioned, Nico just shrugged. I shook my head and sighed.

"Leo alert the Batcomputer of my location please." I waited for a second before I heard the voice of my AI.

"Affirmative, and finally sir, he's been trying to hack me so many times it was getting annoying." I laughed slightly and leaned against the brick wall that was drenched in darkness, yet it being mid day. Nico had already disappeared into the shadows and I waited, waited for the reprimanding that was too come.

What couldn't have been 30 minutes later the batmobile pulled up, it sleek black design and beautiful curves starkly contrasting to the brick walls. In my position against the wall, my knees to my chest and me curled up as tight as I could be.

I must have looked like crap. Not showering in 3 days, torn suit and scratched up skin, wild hair, I must have looked like a feral child. This fact didn't stop daddy bats, I'm keeping that name thank you very much Di Angelo, from pulling me into a tight hug.

I tensed in his hold but relaxed into his warm suit. The cold suit made me really how cold I was. My flushed faced laid against his shoulder as he picked me up, carrying me to the batmobile.

I looked up at him with big eyes, wet with tears, almost begging him not to ask why I ran, not to ask what happened, not to ask what I was, but that was wishful thinking.

"Just tell me." his voice rang out through the vehicle as the engine hummed to life, his voice softer than the bat voice, but still harsh. I made me flinch and curl up on myself tighter.

"If I tell you, you won't want me anymore." I whimpered, tears brimming my eyes. I was so tired of the lies and the reticent lifestyle, I was just tired.

"Percy, only I can decide that, it's not up to you." He shot back in a steely calm but strangely soft voice. I was so tired of the secrets and withdrawn personality. I closed my eyes tight trying to stop the tears, they wouldn't cease.

"Do you know a meta by the name of storm?" I asked my voice quivering and hoarse. Bats nodded after a moment and answered.

"Yes, the supervillain Storm, an operative in the Titan gang, what does he have to do anything?" I shot him a broken glare, the red tint of the window making my features harsher as the tall buildings of Gotham loomed over us. I looked away and closed my eyes tight, letting the tears fall down the corners.

"He was killed by a man by the name of Kronos." Bruce came to a realization of what I was talking about and almost lost focus of the road. I looked him in the eyes and he drove faster, already entering the cave. "And he is my father."

He looked at me strangely, then nodded, just nodded. He motioned for me to continue, ok.

"He passed down an ancient alien bloodline, don't know which species, but we're called descendants." I glanced up at him nervously but his face still remained impassive. "I have the power to control water in all its forms and use REM, which is complicated."

"The creature, what was it?" He asked voice gruff and I looked down, the sudden memory popping up and I tried desperately to keep it at bay. He stopped the car at what I guess you could call a parking lot and jumped out, me soon fluidly following suit.

"That is the first encounter with them, but I am told that they are bounty hunters. You have to understand that, to the ones who the bloodline is passed down from, we're nothing but vermin, weak." I almost whispered the last part and wrapped my arms around my form protectively, trying to stop shaking. Bruce took his caw of and stared at me, taking in my grungy appearance, I felt uncomfortable under his gaze.

"Sorry about the kitchen." I apologized, wincing at the awkwardness, but in truth I was terrified he would be too angry, shipping me off to an orphanage or taking his anger out another way.
"I'd understand I-if you don't want me anymore, I'm, I just-" My rambling was cut short as a hand was laid on my shoulder and I looked up, my eyes showed pain in ways that cannot be faked.

"Percy, I'm not mad. Well I am mad, but not because of the monster, that was not your fault. I'm mad because you ran, you never run." I nodded my lip quivering.

"I.... I'm sorry, I guess I was just acting purely on my thoughts." I looked down, not wanting to meet his eyes. "I should probably go get my injury checked out." I muttered as an after thought and Bruce nodded. I turned around to leave but Bruce caught my arm and I turned to face him.

"It's August 18 Percy, happy 9th birthday."

Losing something you love is unbearable.

Mabye the only way to know you love something is to lose it first.

But be careful....

You might not get it back.