Chapter Text
"Percy, why the hell do you have to move to another state?" a teenager complained loudly in the apartment hallway.
A deeper, older voice responded with a hint of amusement, "For the sake of studying, Nina. You know Gotham Uni is reputable, and the rent here is ridiculously cheap."
“But Uncle Seid could help, you know?” Nina persisted.
“Nina, no,” Percy quickly dismissed the idea.
“The box is so heavy, Percy!” Nina continued her complaints.
At that moment, their new neighbor, in a furious rage, swung open the door with incredible strength. His gaze locked onto Percy's, a fiery intensity burning in his eyes. Percy braced himself, preparing for a confrontation based on the man's actions and anger. With the infamous reputation of Gotham explained to him by his girlfriend, he was even more cautious.
However, as the man's eyes shifted towards Nina, Percy noticed a subtle shift in his demeanor. The rage seemed to be subdued momentarily, replaced by a more hesitant stance. Percy was drawn to the man's hands, which discreetly moved to the side, placing something down once he noticed Nina's eyes. It was a small but telling gesture that caught Percy's attention, raising his curiosity.
Percy began to observe the man, taking a moment to scan the features that made him distinct. The man had a sense of intensity and strength about him, an air of confidence that demanded attention but also danger. His dark, tousled hair gave him a rebellious look like Percy himself. There was also a white streak running through his hair, resembling Percy's own, though he highly doubted that this man had ever shouldered the weight of the sky.
Percy's sea-green eyes met the man's intense gaze, searching for the story behind it. He couldn't help but notice the flicker of hidden pain and determination in those striking blue eyes, resembling what he had seen in his sister's. The scars that adorned the man's skin, visible through his short sleeves, spoke of battles and hardships endured. It was clear that this man had faced his share of struggles.
At that moment, Percy felt a connection, sensing a kindred spirit in the man before him. Their experiences shaped individuals, bearing both seen and unseen scars. Percy's curiosity was piqued, wanting to know more about the story behind this neighbor who exuded a mix of fury and restraint, but then again, it wasn’t his business unless something were to impact his family directly.
As the neighbor's gaze shifted towards Nina, Percy noticed how he was analyzing her. He disliked the uncomfortable feeling that his sister was in possible danger, but he dismissed it as something normal that would be happening in Gotham, being an outsider and all.
After silence and mutual observation, Percy broke the silence with a fake and uncomfortable cough, “Hi?” The two siblings were both staring in the same direction at the neighbor who had opened his door suddenly, without a word and just stared.
"You're not from Gotham," was the man's first response to the sibling duo.
Nina retorted with a playful roll of her eyes, one hand resting on her hip and the other holding a lock of her hair. "No shit, Sherlock, was it the hair?" She smirked, aware that her hair was unique with its striking blonde streaks. "They kinda stand out, but I’m pretty sure the working ladies have these more commonly. Oh, or was it the accents? Gotham isn't ready for the Jackson siblings' awesomeness! And Sassiness. We might need to tone down the charisma a bit," she teased, exaggerating a theatrical bow. “Maybe it is being loud or something, is it unusual- Ah!”
The neighbor observed the siblings with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. After Nina's words were abruptly interrupted by a playful bonk to the head from Percy, he couldn't help but crack a small smile.
"Enough, sis," he chuckled, shaking his head. "Save the theatrics for the big screens.” Turning to their neighbor, Percy apologized. “Sorry about her. I'm Percy, and this is my little sister, Nina.”
Nina recovered from the surprise bonk and shot a playful glare at her brother. “Nina, the more tolerable sibling. Mom’s second favorite,” she said with a mischievous grin.
“Who’s first?” Percy asked.
"Estelle, of course," her response earned her another sack at the head, only for the girl to duck and aim a kick at Percy's leg. Percy lifted that leg and slightly pushed Nina, who was still on the stairs. In a panic, the neighbor horridly reached out to grab the girl's hands, trying to prevent her from falling, only to be late as Percy rescued her.
"You, okay?" her brother, who had pushed her, asked with amusement.
"Thanks for the adrenaline rush, douche," was Nina's response, although her features showed how not angry she was.
"You've been through worse," he countered.
“Not thanks to a certain someone,” she continued.
The neighbor, who had still not introduced himself, watched the duo in worry. He understood why he and his siblings fought. It was usual for them to be dysfunctional; however, being unfamiliar with the two siblings' dynamic, he watched the exchange with a mix of concern and curiosity but mainly concern. Sensing his worry, Percy extended a reassuring smile.
“Don't worry, she's used to many shenanigans,” Percy reassured the neighbor. “We've been through a lot together.”
Nina, recovering from her moment of theatrics, flashed a grin at the neighbor. “Yeah, he’s survived worse, and I have witnessed IT,” she chimed in, nudging her brother playfully.
Curiosity getting the better of him, the neighbor finally introduced himself. "I'm Jason," he said, extending a hand towards Percy. "Nice to meet you, Percy, and Nina. So, you guys just moved in? It's not often for people to move to Gotham by choice," suspicion was laying quietly into Jason's mind without thought. Bat's paranoia was creeping into his non-work time. Damn fuck, Bruce.
Percy shook Jason's hand, offering a friendly smile. His smile wasn't disguising anything. It washed a partial of Jason's suspicion away. "Yeah, we did. We're settling into Gotham for a while."
“Mom has enough trouble with Estelle… and, well, worrying about you,” Nina comments.
“As if you’re such an angel. Who’s the one who sneaks out every night and isn’t going to do it here?”
“Estelle.” It was a straight answer from the young girl who put on a severe face.
"Haha, funny. Throwing your baby sister under the bus?" Nina shrugs in response. “I’m trying out the university scene, you know. Going into marine biology course.”
Nina adds, “Percy thinks we can find peace here to study. I’m here to witness and eat popcorn to what trouble he can get into. This is Gotham, after all.”
Percy rolled his eyes, but the glimmer of amusement was evident. “Hey, you think too little of me, lil’ sis.”
Jason chuckled, finding their banter amusing. “Well, welcome to the building and Gotham, then. Feel free to ask if you need anything or have questions about Gotham.”
“Thanks, Jason,” Percy replied warmly. “We appreciate it. And sorry again for the little commotion earlier.”
“No worries,” Jason replied with a shrug. “Seems like you two will keep things interesting around here.” A silence crossed over them.
“So... you going to help now or what? This box is getting heavy now.”
Percy looked over at his sister, “Nina, be nicer.”
"Not everyone has your strength," his sister snapped back as she looked at the three big boxes he carried, whereas she was taking two small ones.
"Yeah, wait, let me," Jason quickly grabs the box from Nina's hands. Nina was relieved by the release of the weight from her shoulders. She rolled and stretched her stiff shoulders while Jason approached the apartment's open door.
“I’m returning to the car to get the rest.”
As the hours went by, Percy, Nina, and Jason worked together, swiftly moving boxes and furniture into their new apartment and cleaning the dusty parts of the apartment, which was everything. Despite the initial commotion and teasing between the siblings, it didn’t end, and Jason was a guest in their show of who would win the banter.
After moving multiple boxes into the apartment, Nina dropped onto the couch Percy had set up. Her eyes slowly closed until she was deep asleep.
“Seriously?” Percy asked exasperatedly in a tone of disbelief before smiling lovingly. Grabbing a blanket from one of the suitcases Nina had brought up, he covered her.
“She must be drained,” Jason commented. Percy only continued to smile as he watched his sister sleep.
“Thank you for your help, Jason,” Percy said.
Jason nodded, returning Percy's smile. “No problem at all.” Jason soon left for his place.
Percy picked up his sleeping sister and took her to his bed. Hers still needed to be made. While his sister slept, Percy tried his best to follow the instructions, and thankfully, they were images, but unfortunately, he was never very good at following instructions. Where was a wise girl when he needed her?
Now that the boxes were in the apartment, he needed to call his mom.
He waited as the phone rang, and on the other end of the line, Sally Jackson's warm voice greeted her son. "Percy, how are things going over there? Are you and Nina settled in alright?"
"Hey, Mom," Percy replied with a smile evident in his voice. "Yeah, we just got everything moved in. It's been a bit chaotic, but we managed to survive. Nina's already knocked out on my bed, and I think she will be out for a while."
"Oh, I'm sure you two had quite the adventure," Sally chuckled. "I hope she's not too exhausted. Moving can be tough, especially to a new city."
"Yeah, she's a tough cookie," Percy said affectionately. "By the way, we met our neighbor. His name's Jason. He helped us with some of the heavy lifting. Seems like a cool guy."
"That's nice to hear," Sally replied. "It's always good to have friendly neighbors. And what about the apartment? How is it? Is it nice? What do you think about it?"
Percy glanced around the apartment, taking in the new environment. "Yeah, it's not too bad. A bit dusty, but we'll clean it up. It's small, but it's cozy. I think we'll manage just fine here. It's perfect for Nina and me."
"I'm glad to hear that," Sally said warmly. "And how are you feeling about starting at Gotham University? Excited?"
Percy's voice carried a mix of emotions. "Yeah, excited and a bit nervous, to be honest. I've heard good things about the university, but it will be a new chapter, you know? And you know how I am with new things."
Sally's voice softened with understanding. "Change can be challenging, but I know you'll do great. You're smart and capable, Percy. Take it one step at a time, and you'll find your place."
"Thanks, Mom," Percy replied, grateful for her encouraging words. "I'll do my best. And I'll have Nina keeping me in check, too, so that's something."
Sally chuckled. "Ah, your sister always has a way of keeping things lively, right?"
"You bet," Percy said, a fond smile in his voice. "Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that we made it here safely and are settling in. I'll keep you updated on how things are going."
"That sounds good, dear," Sally said. "And remember, if you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call. I'm always here for you both, no matter the distance."
"Thanks, Mom," Percy said sincerely. "You take care, too, alright? Give Estelle a big hug from me."
"I will, Percy," Sally replied warmly. "Take care of yourself and Nina. Love you both."
"Love you too, Mom," Percy said, a smile in his voice. "Talk to you soon."
With that, they said their goodbyes, and Percy hung up the phone, feeling mixed emotions. Moving to Gotham and starting at a new university felt like a big step, but he knew he had his sister to lean on. Call his friends if he needs extra support. He knew they would always be there for him.
Looking at his sleeping sister, he knew he had to be there for her, just like she had always been there for him.
The next day, the sun’s rays hit her eyes, annoying her, which woke the girl up. A sudden gasp of panic made her mind run. Where am I? Did Percy get kidnapped again? Wait, was I dragged into his shenanigans unwillingly? Fuck. No, wait, where is he? Let’s get mad later.
Jumping off the bed quickly in a rush, she started to run around. “Percy! Percy!” Nina shouted in a panic. “Percy!”
Percy's heart raced as he heard his sister's panicked cries. He quickly leaped off the floor he slept on and rushed, mind racing with thoughts of danger and the worst possible scenarios. His brain couldn't shut down imaging those scenarios, only to stop at the sight of his little sister running around at the end of the hallways before setting her eyes on him. Quickly, he approached her.
“Nina, what's wrong? What happened?” Percy's voice was filled with urgency as he reached out to grab her shoulders, trying to steady her. He looked over her to see if anything was wrong. This scene reminded him of her screaming she was dying when blood stained— Percy focus!
“I... I don't know!” Nina stammered, her eyes wide with fear. “I woke up and... and I couldn't find you! I thought... I thought something happened to you!”
Percy's initial fear diminished as he realized the source of Nina's panic. He took a deep breath, attempting to calm himself and think before speaking. His girlfriend advised him to think before talking. He could do this, he wouldn't screw it up. “Nina, it's okay. We're in Gotham. We just moved here, remember?”
Nina's eyes searched his face, trying to comprehend his words. Slowly, the realization dawned on her, and her panic began to subside. “Oh... right. Gotham. We moved... for school.” Embarrassment started to flush her face as it turned pink
Percy nodded, relief washing over him as he saw Nina regain her composure. He gently picked her up and set her to sit on the edge of the bed, keeping a comforting hand on her shoulder and kneeling right in front of her.
“Yeah, that's right,” he said softly. “We're in a new city, and everything's different now. Understandably, you'd have a moment of confusion. But I'm right here, Nina. I'm safe, and we're together.”
Nina's breathing began to steady as she took in Percy's reassuring words. She nodded, still feeling a bit shaken but slowly regaining her composure.
“I'm sorry,” she whispered, her voice filled with embarrassment and relief. “I just... I thought I had lost you and couldn't bear the thought of going through that again. Especially mom.”
Percy's expression softened, and he pulled Nina into a gentle hug. “Hey, hey, I’m here. I won’t leave anytime soon. I know it's scary, Nina, but I'm here. We'll look out for each other, just like we always have. We're a team, remember?”
Nina leaned into the embrace, finding solace in her brother's arms. She knew they would face challenges together no matter what challenges lay ahead. He would be here to protect her; in return, she would protect him. As much as she could, she would.
“Yeah,” she murmured, her voice muffled against Percy's shoulder. “Team Jackson, together.”
She was mortal, which never failed to remind Percy of his duty as her older brother. He felt a fierce protectiveness towards Nina, and he vowed to shield her from any non-mortal threats that might come their way. She didn't need to worry about those; he would handle them with all his strength and experience. However, if she found comfort that he would rely on her for the mortal part of the problems, he would.
The last thing that would ever happen to her was getting hurt on his watch. He would kill severely harm the person who brings her pain. Whoever it was, himself included.
"Together," Percy whispered, his voice filled with unwavering commitment, as he placed his head above his sister's. In that simple word, he conveyed the depth of their connection, the promise to stand shoulder to shoulder in the face of any challenge ahead.