do you ever think about Paul silently noticing Percy being on edge?
Like, he doesn't say anything because he’s still not sure what his place in Percy’s life is yet, considering the kid hasn’t been around all that much so they could figure it out. But he notices. He sees the way Percy’s eyes always scan a crowd. How his fingers are constantly tapping with anticipation, even at the dinner table. Makes mental notes of all the sounds and smells that make Percy turn pale. Whispers soothing words to Percy under his breath when he sees the way Percy clenches his fists as his knuckles turn white and he tries to swallow the anger back down. Paul sees all of it, and knows to a certain extent the things Percy has gone through.
So the first Christmas back, Paul buys Percy a punching bag and some boxing gloves. He doesn’t make a big deal out of it, claiming he remembered how much Percy loved the Rocky movies and thought it could be good hero and basketball cross training. But Percy knows. He noticed Paul’s watchful eyes and reassuring smiles. He was too scared to say anything, because how do you even begin to talk about the darkest things the world has to offer with the most normal guy you know? So Percy keeps to himself, as much as he wants to reach out. Though the punching bag becomes more comfort than he realized he needed.
So after Sally goes to bed, and Paul stays up late to finish the dishes, Percy sneaks out from his room where Annabeth lays in his bed, and gives Paul a hug.
It’s a long one, and neither of them say anything, but they both know. They understand the gap that exists between them, and the hug is the perfect beginning to bridging that gap. And for each of them, simply knowing is enough.
