We all realize that Percy is more quiet than outgoing, right? That he’s more prone to listening and thinking than actually speaking, that he trips and stumbles over his words (especially around girls) and prefers when someone else speaks to a crowd for him because he doesn’t like the attention? That he constantly questions his own abilities and his funny one liners are more often than not said within his head for his own personal dark amusement because his life sucks and he handles it by making fun of it? The quietest people have the loudest minds after all, and Percy certainly has a loud mind.
And then we all know of course that Percy is in a foul mood 98% of the time, that his sarcasm stems from anger and frustration that isn’t always controlled very well and ends with him creating waves that are far too big or blowing up volcanoes or laughing a laugh that scares him as much as his enemies? That a good majority of his snarky comments are directed to himself, that he’s still stunned to this day that he has friends and people who care for him, that he lives with the burden that the world would probably be better off without him, because he’s just a dangerous mistake that’s only alive from other gods’ fear of offending Poseidon with his death. And despite being reassured that he is loved, constantly wonders if those other gods that hate him are right and he should be dead, because no one hates Percy Jackson more than Percy Jackson does, right?
And when he’s upset we know that Percy immediately retreats to a solitary location, preferably near the ocean but sometimes also to the empty sword fighting arena where he can hack and slash until his anger has diminished some and he can focus on thinking without anyone around to distract him. And he gains peace from being away from people, probably because he doesn’t want to burden them with his problems but maybe also because he doesn’t want anyone to see him break. And when he does he likes to put his own broken pieces back together because he’s pretty used to it after all those years spent alone in those boarding schools and if he’s done it before surely he can do it again, right?
We’re also aware that Percy is quite intelligent despite being socially obtuse at times when he’s paying attention and not lost in thought? After so many years spent without friends its no wonder that sometimes he’s a little slow to pick up on those social cues and respond to them properly. Its also pretty hard to come across as smart when you’re standing next to a daughter of Athena but if the enemy underestimates him then that’s a good thing, right? Then he can surprise them with his own ingenious, if not reckless, plans and take them down just as fast.
And when he does pick up on someone else’s distress, we know that Percy immediately turns to them and tries to communicate his sympathy. Most often its through actions, but sometimes its also through words and Percy takes such satisfaction in seeing his friends smile because wow they are so wonderful and amazing and how can they not see it? How can they not see how much they mean, especially to him? So he is loyal as can be, ready to die for them in a second, and its not just friends either but strangers, poor people who got snagged in a monster’s crossfire, because he can’t stand to see them hurt above himself and if anyone dies its going to be him, right? That only seems fair after all, its probably his fault these people are suffering.
Then its obvious of course that Percy is scared of losing people he loves and is scared of hurting people he loves? Growing up in an abusive environment can certainly make someone hesitant of initiating kisses or holding hands and expressing love, because what if one day he’s mad and his touch isn’t so gentle and oh gods he doesn’t want that, he could never live with himself if he ever laid a hand on Annabeth like that. But the past is hard to shake and Gabe is always there, lingering at the back of his mind, and Percy would rather die than turn out like his sorry excuse for a step-father, right? He would do anything, even kill himself first.
Outside of his stressful hero life, we don’t really know if Percy does many things, do we? We know he likes to play videogames and skateboard and takes an interest in basketball, although its never been confirmed that he plays. But we know he must do something to take his mind off things because sometimes we know that he questions his own sanity and if the places he’s seen and people he’s met are even real and goodness how terrifying it must be to dream you’re in a straight jacket, trapped and confined and convinced that you are crazy, right?
We know that Percy is a wretched singer, that he doesn’t run very fast, isn’t very fond of his own appearance. We know that he trips when he walks, that he’s always wished he was taller, that he eats his mom’s homemade chocolate chip cookies and their best things in the entire world. We know that he comes close to crying when he’s frustrated and frustrates quickly. We know that his hair is a mess but he gave up trying to take care of it years ago. We know that Percy had to welcome a new step-father into his life who just happens to also be the principal of his school and gee he hopes Paul doesn’t mind all the detentions he gets.
We know that Percy saved the world.
We also know that Percy isn’t perfect.
But that’s kind of the whole point, isn’t it?
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