Time for Chapter FIVE WOOOOO!!!
Chapter 5: The Stage of a Thorny Truth.
It was a quiet night in Paris. the fewer building lights were glowing, the crickets were playing a melody for the stars. . . But it was a sleepless night for Percy. He’s still sharing a roof with that Cyclops that knows the dark past, and even if it were burnt to ashes. It won’t take long for Joe to mess with Percy’s mind and making him snap at some point.
Percy tossed and turned in his bed, unable to get a wink of sleep. He gets up to check if the door is locked. He counted the stars through the window. He looks at himself in the mirror. . . Feel uneasy about everything. His mind, Joe, loosing the duel, getting locked up again to go through the worst torture, getting his family and the people involved in his problems if he doesn’t find a way to deal with it. . . (And probably his weight. He’s been insecure for a few months now).
Percy sighed as he was about to try and sleep but as always a familiar twisted giggle decided to taunt him as usual. His room turned yet again into a cage with the same twisted puppets.
Twisted being: “hehehe~ enfin désespéré?”. (Translation:hehehe~ finally growing desperate?) he said as he slowly lowered himself hugging Percy from behind as his winged arms engulfed Percy, its head nuzzled against the back of Percy’s neck.
Percy clenched his fist: “Faites-vous chier . . . Je suis juste fatigué”. (translation: Piss off . . . I’m just tired)
Twisted being gently played with Percy’s hair but slowly pulling it: “Mhm . . . Fatigué, mais~ ton esprit dit autre chose”. (translation: mhm . . . Tired, but~ your mind says something else~).
Percy pushed the Twisted being off of him: “Arrête de m’ennuyer pour une fois! J’en ai assez que ce cyclope mort retourne tout le monde contre moi! Maintenant, Je ne peux pas laisser mess amis me regarder car ils lui ont donné des conseils sur la façon de dénoncer davantage! . . . Au moins Jack et mes parents sont de mon côté. . . Et ça suffit”. (translation: Just stop annoying me for once! I have enough that this dead cyclops is turning everyone against me! Now I can’t have my friends look at me as they gave him hints on how to rail me up more!. . . At least Jack and my parents are on my side. . . And that’s enough).
The twisted being giggled as if it heard the stupidest yet sweetest joke ever: “Hmmm~ comme c’est mignon~ mais tes parents n’ont-ils pas pensé à un thérapeute? De plus Jack a dit que tu étais allé trop loin dans tes “farces”. Cela ne devrait-il pas être son influence sur eux”. (translation: Hmmm~ how cute~ but didn’t your parents thought about a therapist? Plus Jack did say you went overboard on your “pranks” shouldn’t that be his influence on them?).
Percy gridded his teeth tightly as his face slowly cracked. . . Literally: “Tais-toi! Jack détest Joe! J’ai dit à mes parents ce que Joe savait! Et même eux ne peuvent pas lui parler de la même manière sans détourner la conversation de moi!”. (Translation: Shut Up! Jack hates Joe! I to.d my parents what Joe knew! And even they can’t talk to him the same without steering the conversation away from me!).
The twisted being smirked more as his broken face and crocked teeth was showed in a big horrifying grin: “hehehehe~ c’est vrai, maintenat même eux ont peur de lui. Une fois la vérite révélée avec ou sans preuves, qui croiront-ils? Toi? Quelqu’un? Ou quelqu’un qui a l’air mature? Sain d’esprit et qui parle comme un vrai gentlemen?”. (Translation: hehehehe~ true, now even they are afraid of him. Once the truth is revealed with or without the evidence who will they believe? You? Someone who’s slowly growing unstable? Or someone who looks mature, sane, and spoken like a true gentleman~).
Percy: “. . .” Percy looked away still clenching his fist until his palms started to crack as well.
The twisted being grinned more and more finally hitting the spot: “ohhhh allez~ Je peux voir les désespéré~ allez~ allez~ dis-le. Dis-Le. Dis-Le. Dis-Le. Dis-Le. Dis-Le. Dis-Le. Dis-Le. Dis-Le!”. (Translation: ohhhh~ come on~ I can see the desperation~ come on~ come on~ say it. Say it. Say it. Say it. Say it. Say it. Say it. Say it. Say it!).
Percy immediately lost it grabbing the dismembered head of a broken puppet and tackled the twisted being and smashed his head over and over before finally admitting: “ D’ACCORD, JE SUIS DÉSESPÉRÉ!!!”. (translation: OK I’M DESPERATE!!!).
Suddenly there was a knock on the door and Percy’s room turned back to normal and Percy snapped out of it and looked down seeing the pillow he was holding and the bed he messed. He stayed quiet until he heard a soothing voice that has and will always be his comfort.
Marcel’s gentle voice came through the door: “Percy? . . . Est-ce que tout va bien?”. (Translation: Percy? . . . Is everything ok?).
Percy slowly took a deep breath trying to calm down: “ouais. . . Je viens de l’avoir . . . Une panne”. (Translation: yea . . . Just had . . . A breakdown).
Marcel’s voice became worried: “oh chérie. . . Tu veux en parler? Ou tu veux que Je t’apporte une collation ou au moins une boisson?”. (Translation: oh sweetheart. . . Do you want to talk about it? Or do you want me to bring you a snack or at least a drink?).
Percy: “non. . . Je vais bien. . . Je veux juste être seule”. (Translation: no. . . I’m fine. . . I just want to be alone)
Marcel sighed but the worry never left her eyes: “Je comprends, chérie, mais. . . Souviens-toi. . . Ne le faites pas seul si C’est trop difficile à gérer. S’il te plaît, parle-moi, à nous. . . Nous ne voulons plus te perdre”. (Translation: I understand sweetheart but-. . . Remember. . . Don’t do this alone if it’s too much to handle. Please talk to me, to us. . . We don’t want to lose you again).
Percy didn’t say anything for a bit because as much as he wants to . . . He still doesn’t want to: “I. . . Je vais y réféchir”. (Translation: I. . . I’ll think about it).
Marcel stayed quiet for a bit before finally speaking: “ . . . Bonne nuit Percival. . . S’il te plaît, dors un peu”. (Translation: . . . Goodnight Percival. . . Please get some sleep).
Percy: “. . . Je le ferai. . . Bonne nuit maman”. (Translation: I will. . . Goodnight mom).
Percy heard the footsteps of his mom retreating back to her bedroom. Percy himself collapsed onto his bed and burying his face in his pillow and clenching it tightly out of sorrow and anger. Sorrow for his parents for having them deal with all of this even though they didn’t have to be involved. Angry because Joe was making it worse for him, the paranoia, the anxiety, the angry breakdowns that had been going on for weeks now and it started to show more and more. . . And his instability showing, not directly but surely in ways that are visible.
Percy continues to go to abandoned places alone and instead of exploring it as he used to. He just destroys what remained of abandoned furniture in hopes to calm down, to not lose the duel, to avoid Joe’s gaze on him.
But this time . . . It was the final straw, he was finally desperate enough to use what Joe loved and use it against him. He didn’t want to do it but had no other choice, he got his sanity back and he doesn’t want to lose it. One day Percy was on the rooftop trying to think of something! Anything! Until he heard something and looked down.
He saw Acacia hanging out with Jack and the girls and singing one of the songs she used to performed in Andalusia. Percy then looked at Joe who was observing but also . . . Smiling? Mostly at HER. Percy finally found an idea but. . . He didn’t want to feel like he’s using her. . . He rather convinced himself that he’s gonna do it so she could finally see who Joe really is and how she’ll “confront” him hoping to drive Joe away. . . But then again after realizing (and observing how Joe only care, listens and rely his existence for Acacia) he knows that Joe would easily end himself once Acacia tells him to never see her again, it’ll be his fault, she’ll feel guilty and blaming herself. . . But it was too late to go back. . . He already made up his mind on the plan.
In the afternoon Percy approached Jack who was helping Peterson tidy up.
Percy: “hey Jacky boy. Got a minute?”
Jack: “hm? Sure? Anything you want to talk about?”
Percy got closer and whispered really quietly only for Jack to listen: “just out of curiosity. What Made Joe exactly attack you before his eye was poked out?”
Jack looked at Percy confused but just thought that Percy was curious about the extra details of his past. So hé who’s back: “it was over a birthday card from Acacia. . . I never realized that we shared a birthday and looking back . . . I never really knew her name when I first met her, nor did I told her mine. Let alone the address to have the card sent to me. . . And I saw it fall down his pocket”
Percy whispered back: “that’s pretty petty”
Jack took a deep breath out of embarrassment: “I realized that too late, I still have the other half. . . I don’t know if Joe has the other but knowing it has Acacia’s signature, he might’ve as well has it”
Jack looked down: “looking back at it. . . It was mostly my fault, I poked his eye out, I lost Madeline and almost lost my life because of it”
Percy wrapped an arm around Jack’s shoulder: “listen to me, you told me how for ten years you’ve spent it inside a house because of your heart and the rules. It’s not your fault you never knew how the real world works or how emotions could be handled, everyone go through what makes curious, obsess, scared, or even angry. It’s a normal human reaction with its own consequences. Plus you said it yourself he was gonna rip your heart out causing the gears to jerk for the cuckoo to pop out so don’t blame yourself for his eye. It’s his mistake for his anger and he got his consequences “
Jack: “. . . I suppose you’re right, I still wish I took her place in that prison cell”
Percy: “don’t say that. You gave her the best years of being a mother, you might as well enjoy your teenage years living it to its fullest and who knows, you might be able to take her place in helping people now that you’ve seen what she could do. And thanks to my dad guidance you could do it without having anyone follow any rules”
Jack smiled a bit: “it’s only fair I take over for her and make her years of raising me worth it”
Percy nudged Jack: “There you go! That’s my Happy Jacky!”
Jack chuckled: “thank you. . . For everything”
Percy: “it’s my duty as a friend to help”
Jack: “. . . I do appreciate it but. . . What about you?”
Percy: “hm? . . , what about me?”
Jack: “I’ve been noticing things about you “
Percy Froze fearing that Jack starting noticing his behaviour:” u-Uhm. . . Like what?”
Jack: “you tend to help and worry about everyone. But how come you never let anyone help or worry about you? You deal with everything on your own, especially when I overheard about your parents wanting therapy for you but the way you refused is as if. . . You don’t want anyone to know what have been bothering you”
Percy sighed in relief in his mind: “because these problems are mine to deal with, I don’t want people to worry. And I always find ways to solve my own problems”
Jack: “but the way you cope sounds. . . Extreme “
Percy:” w-what do you mean?”
Jack: “you seem to . . . Take it out on people who hurt others. Is it a hero complex?”
Percy chuckled nervously: “now why would you say tha-“
Jack: “you fight Joe constantly and your pranks always come out harsher than a simple lighthearted ones. Not to mention your friends talking about the amount of people you hurt for messing with them”
Percy froze completely: “I just. . . Want to make sure they don’t hurt them again”
Jack stayed quiet for a bit: “what if you get caught, or you accidentally hurt them really badly they’d die. I don’t want you to be seen like that. You have a happy life yet I don’t understand what’s bothering till the point of you doing all of this”
Percy stayed quiet for a long while: “don’t worry about me. . . I know my limits” and walked away leaving Jack to continue helping Peterson.
Percy went upstairs and walked down the hallway to his room until he paused at the guest room where Joe was still staying in. He made sure that no one is looking and the room was empty before entering, he immediately started looking through drawers and luggages and clothes until he found the other half of the birthday card. But before he could leave he heard footsteps and immediately put everything back in its place and tidy to look like he was cleaning the room.
Joe entered and paused for a second: “. . . What do you think you’re doing?”
Percy: “oh since it seems that you haven’t forgiven me yet I thought that why not clean your room? I did went overboard on my extreme pranks on you. So why not go to the extreme to earn your forgiveness “ he blinks innocently behind his goggles.
Joe crossed his arms and just looked at Percy: “ that’s it?”
Joe got closer and leaned a bit close: “. . . What were you really doing here?”
Percy gridded his teeth but still spoke with a sweet tone: “just trying to make up for being rude. Am I not allowed to even try and earn your grace of forgiveness?”
Joe didn’t say anything but smirked before walking up to him desk and toss his papers and two ink cups on the floor: “if that’s your greatest wish then who am I to deny you the pleasure of it. Please, be my guest” before walking past Percy and leaving.
Percy just clenched his fist and gridded his teeth more before taking a deep breath and collecting the papers especially the ones that were dampened with ink.
The next day, Percy approached Acacia who was taking Marcel’s class with the girls. Percy took a deep breath since he already started his plan. Acacia was practicing some of the moves she learned until she saw Percy signalling her to come.
Marcel noticed Acacia’s distraction: “is everything ok my dear?”
Acacia: “hm? Oh! Yea! Uhhh. . . Can I take a quick break?”
Marcel: “oh of course. In fact everyone deserves a break, will continue in 30 minutes”
Acacia took the opportunity and approached the door and closing it behind her.
Acacia: “ is something wrong?”
Percy took her hand and guided her to a room: “this is where I watch a cinematography of ballet”
Percy nodded: “ and I want to show you one of them”
Percy opened the door showing a small cinematograph with a few chairs.
Acacia: “ huh, day by day this place has secret room in every unexpected area”
Percy chuckled: “can’t blame my father for building it. He likes secret places, especially when it’s hidden well”
Acacia: “I suppose I can’t”
Percy pulled out one of the films and started the camera. The white curtain glowed with the image that appeared from the camera. It showed a woman that was also from Andalusia, dancing and singing. Fusing two dance moves from different traditions into one.
Acacia looked at her in aw and amazement: “she’s beautiful. But. . . Why show me this?”
Percy: “you seem to miss singing and dancing for a crowd that made you feel alive. Sooooo I want to help, I could ask my dad to prepare the stage on the back of the store. It’s also where Dolly performs as well. She wouldn’t mind you borrowing it “
Acacia: “you’d do that for me?”
Percy: “of course, we could build a rose themed gazebo, a group of musicians, back singers and give the atmosphere so you’re thorns could sprout without any fear”
Acacia looked back and the woman before smiling: “I would love that”
Percy: “Great! How does two days sound?”
Acacia: “sounds like enough time for me to warm up”
Percy: “Awesome!! I won’t let you down Miss thorn!”
Acacia giggled and left the room to go back to Marcel’s class.
Over the next two days Percy with the help of his dad and Jack to create the stage and the life size puppets. On the night of the show, Marcel and the girls were Helping Acacia get ready. Marcel and Abby created a rose themed ballet dress with thorn patterned ribbons. Cheryl helped with the hair making it wavy and down with a bit of roses on the side of the hair. Victoria helping with Acacia’s makeup. Marcel went to check on the stage.
Acacia: “thank you for all of this”
Cheryl: “girl don’t mention it, we’re just helping for your first impression”
Acacia giggles: “I know. . .”
Abby: “something on your mind?”
Acacia hesitated not sure if it’s personal or out of the blue: “remember when you girls called out Percy for his Prank and brought out what he’d done to people “
Cheryl: “well duh. We always do, even though he means well we get worried over his actions”
Acacia: “is it ok to do so?”
Victoria: “are you asking that because you’re having doubts about Joe?”
Acacia froze: “. . . Perhaps”
Abby: “you can tell us if you’re comfortable “
Acacia took a deep breather: “I remember Jack and how he once told or. . . Rather we argued when I found out about the rules of his heart, he mentioned how Joe tormenting him an-“
Victoria: “you’re unsure if you actually believed him?”
Acacia: “I’ve been in Andalusia when I escaped and. . . I never really knew what he did when I was away”
Victoria: “you did mention that he’s too emotional, always by your side. But has it never crossed your mind that he’s in love with you as well?”
Acacia: “that can’t be true he’s my friend an-. . .”
Cheryl: “you do realize that there are cases of friends falling for the other. Especially when they are the only friend they have”
Abby: “are you afraid that Jack’s words are true?”
Acacia: “ I-. . . I’ve started to have doubts. . . The way he fights with Percy with the same aggression but at the same time in his eyes it felt . . . Familiar”
Victoria: “could you name one time Joe was violent in front of you?”
Acacia paused: “ once with a student who gave me a flower, then the next day no boy ever got close to me again. . . I didn’t see what happened but at the very moment as they all glanced at Joe they. . . They keep their distance”
The girls stayed quiet until Victoria broke it.
Victoria: “do you think Joe tried the same with Jack, but messing with his old clock heart? I did talk to Jack as he explained his side”
Acacia: “what did he say?”
Victoria: “how Joe once crushed the egg of memories Arthur gave him and smashed it on his face, another where Joe opened Jack’s heart and had everyone play with it, how he was publicly beaten, tormented. And until the birthday incident he mentioned how Joe gripped him by the neck and pinned him on the tree in order to rip his heart out. . . Over a birthday card you wrote”
Acacia stayed quiet hearing it.
Acacia: “I-. . . I don’t know who to believe anymore”
Cheryl: “the problem is ain’t believing. But it’s trusting”
Acacia: “I suppose you’re right”
Victoria placed both hands on Acacia’s shoulder: “look at me, what happened between the two shouldn’t be something you need to believe, because either way you’ll always doubt who’s telling the truth or who’s dancing around the truth, it’s all about who they react or speak. But then again it’s not your place to be in the middle of it. Not your place, not your problem and certainly not your burden. You carried so much on your shoulders that you’ve forgotten what voice you should really trust, your own voice. You’ve been muting it for the sake of two people who are dear to you, just listening without a single say on it. You’ve been muting need a break from it. Give yourself a break”
Acacia: “. . . Do. . . You think they’ll understand?”
Victoria: “if you ask them, they might understand since you’re dear to them. But know this, their reaction shouldn’t matter if you asked that from them. How about after the performance you ask them for what you want and hope that they’ll understand”
Acacia took a deep breath: “I hope it works”
Abby: “hey, hey. Don’t hope for it to go well. Just do it, no need to feel like it should come out in a positive or negative way. You just need to tell them, it’s your word now. Don’t mute it again”
Acacia stood up: “then I will. . . Thank you. . . I really needed this”
Cheryl: “anytime. NOW BREAK A LEG GIRL! SET THE STAGE ON FIRE!!!”
Acacia giggled: “I will!” And soon left the dressing room. Before getting on stage Percy approached her.
Percy: “awesome! Oh! Almost forgot. After the show could you meet me here on the stage in an hour. But stay behind the curtains, it’s a surprise “
Acacia: “oh, Uhm . . . Ok?”.
Outside everyone took their seats. The girls and Jack sat at the front row. Joe sat at the front row as well. Acacia took a deep breath as the puppets started playing the music and the back puppets started singing. Acacia stood underneath the gazebo and slowly started singing à song called Quedate (it’s a real son by Olivia Ruiz on YouTube). As Acacia sang it slowly became intense as she started dancing like she’s in a field of roses as the petals danced with her and swarmed around her like she’s controlling its movements to match her rhythm, each step, each note of her voice left everyone cheering for her to sing her voice out.
At the end of the song and the fine hum of her verse, she gave a graceful bow as the petals fell down to bow with her. The audience cheered and whistled from the sheer intensity and power of the voice and movement. Acacia smiled as she gently walked to the backstage.
As the last of the audience left it was Percy, Joe and Jack’s duty to clean up the stage and put the puppets back. As Jack went to put the puppets away, it was only Joe and Percy.
Percy checked his watch noticing that only ten minutes left for Acacia to meet him here. Time for his plan to proceed.
Percy looks up at Joe: “soooooooo, felt anything missing?”
Joe checked his coat and pulled out the page of Percy’s diary and smirked: “if anything I’m merely surprised you didn’t just take it”
Percy: “oh you know, I’m just following the duel’s rules. And since you say you play fair~ I might as well do the same ~” he said pulling out the other half of the birthday card with Acacia’s signature.
Joe’s smirk faltered: “yo-“
Percy tore a bit of the card and stopped to see Joe’s reaction: “what? It’s not like the only card you have? Unless it’s the meaning that you’re worried about “
Joe for once clenched his fist and said through gridded teeth: “give me that card right now”
Percy: “ah,ah,ah~ hand over my diary page and you’ll get the card back”
Joe: “you really expect me to-“
Percy tore a bit more down to Acacia’s letter A: “I’m not joking Cyclops. Hand.over.the.page”
Joe clenched the page tightly knowing full well it a trap: “go ahead, I’d like to see you tear it up”
Percy chuckled and pulled out more and more birthday cards: “give it up Joe. It’ll only get worse”
Joe now showed more anger then he should: “you wouldn’t”
Percy: “hm” hé then pulled out a lighter “how about they go in ashes instead? Memories burned down ~”
Joe begrudgingly extended the page only for Percy to snatch it and took a few steps back.
Joe: “you got your page back. Now give me the card-“
Percy burned both the page and the card: “not yet, I want you to admit something”.
Meanwhile Acacia was about to head to the stage to know what surprise Percy has for her.
Jack emerged from the closet after placing the last puppet: “where are you going?”
Acacia: “Percy told me to meet with him at the stage. He says he has a surprise for me?” She said unsure.
Jack: “need me to come with?”
As they headed to the stage and were about to lift the curtains until they paused upon hearing what’s going on between Percy and Joe. Jack and Acacia took a peak and froze at what’s happening.
Percy: “so you admit that you tormented Jack because he fell for Acacia? Don’t lie cyclops” he held up another card as he lifted the lighter to the edge of the card.
Joe clenched his fist but stayed where he is: “yes”
Percy: “and admit to messing with his heart and letting everyone join in?”
Percy: “and is it true that Jack was the one who poked your eye out?”
Percy: “and do you admit that you were gonna tear his heart out causing it to malfunction and it poked your eye out?”
Percy lifted the lighter more as the card started to smoke.
Acacia gasped quietly as she took a few steps back. She then looked at Jack unsure if she should say anything but only tears ran down her face, all this time. No matter how much she wanted to believe it but couldn’t until-.
Percy: “are you in love with Acacia? Is that why all of this happened? Because you couldn’t handle that she found love that wasn’t with you?”
Joe: “. . .*sigh* . . . Yes”.
It was the genuine tone that finally broke something in her. She gridded her teeth and her thorns sprouted like crazy as she emerged from behind the curtains.
Acacia: “so it’s true then!? He didn’t poke your eye out but you willing tried to pull his heart out!! How could you lie to me like this I feared believing that he could harm a fly but after hearing how your the cause of all the anger I don’t know if I could ever believe you an-. . . AH!” She stormed to the backstage as Joe was still stunned, the thorns, her anger. . . How it was towards him.
Joe then looked at Percy: “you planned this”
Percy snorted before throwing the rest of the cards towards Joe: “don’t know what you’re talking about~”
Joe waisted no time and tried to catch up with Acacia. As he got closer to her, he grabbed her arm ignoring the thorns that pierced his palm and fingers.
Acacia shoved Joe away: “HOW COULD YOU!?”
Acacia: “who are you? Who’s my frie- former friend I’ve been sending cards to?”
Joe: “former-. . . Friend?”
Acacia: “I can’t believe I fell for how you danced with the truth and told me false accusation of the boy I loved! I just-. . . Why? Why did you do all this? I even wrote you how much I thought about him and loved him yet you planted doubts about him and made me fear that I was a murderess for loving him! . . . Please tell that it isn’t true. That it isn’t because you had feelings for me? . . . Please “
Acacia’s breath hitched before clenching her fist: “you-. . . You-. . . YOU BASTARD!!! THE MOMENT WE BECAME FRIENDS YOU ISOLATED ME!! YOU FORBID ANYONE FROM GETTING CLOSE TO ME THAT MADE BELIEVE I ONLY HAD YOU AS A FRIEND!!! JUST HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT FROM ME IN ORDER FOR YOU TO REALIZE I NEVER FELT THE SAME! I NEVER LOVED YOU! I NEVER WANTED THIS!!! . . . I just. . . needed my friend. . . Yet even I can’t. . . Nor want to be your friend. . . I felt so suffocating just standing next to you! I felt trapped just by the fact that anyone who looks at you stayed away from me! How can I trust you! How?! . . . Tell me how?” Her voice got weaker as she shed tears and her thorns sprouting more and more as if she’s building a shielding to protect herself from either the lies or the truth.
Joe was just stunned and . . . Heart broken: “ I. . . Loved you”
Acacia: “yet you knew I loved someone else. . . You easily made me doubt him. You can’t imagine how hard it is just hearing it from your mouth. . . I hoped it wasn’t true but now. . . You just confirmed that you’re a tormentor. . . I don’t want to see you anymore! I don’t even want to look at you! I don’t want ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU!!!” And stormed off still shedding tears till it slowly turn into sobbing knowing that she’ll be mourning a friendship that became what she feared the most.
Joe was just standing there, frozen from the words that he wished to never hear and from the once Percy he didn’t want to hear it from.
Meanwhile Jack and Percy was still in the stage, but instead of the continuing to clean. Jack confronted Percy.
Jack: “Was it necessary?! Didn’t you see how upset she was?”
Percy: “are you kidding me?! She needed a boost to finally tell him how she really felt”
Jack: “you said she could take her time. What made you plan all this to push it like that!?”
Percy: “are you seriously defending the cyclops?”
Jack: “why would you think that!? It’s about Acacia! You planed this!”
Percy: “Ok! Fine! I might’ve been. . . Planning th-“ Jack pushed Percy before the chair could hit him.
Joe emerged from the curtains looking furiously, but not the kind of quiet furious. It was eye wide, vains bulging from his neck and forehead, his eye turning red and gridded teeth.
Percy: “. . . . Oh merde”. (Translation: . . . . Oh shit).
and immediately started running out with Joe chasing after him. Percy ran far and far outside the city of Paris hoping to tire Joe. But as he looked back Joe was still chasing him.
Percy: “Comment diable ce cyclope maigre ne se fatigue-t-il pas? Ou du moins à bout de souffle à force de courir?”. (Translation: How the fuck does that skinny cyclops not get tired. Or at least a loss of breath from running?). Percy looked back again only to see Joe getting closer and closer.
Percy panicked and continued running faster and faster until Joe tackled him on the ground and started punching. Percy dodged the punches and pushed Joe off of him as the two started fighting, but not the normal hate fight. It was an extreme fight where the two left bruises on each other, Joe immediately grabbed Percy’s goggles pulling it hard but it immediately tore off causing Percy to stumble away trying to hide his eyes but Joe wasn’t done he punched and kicked Percy as Percy gave the same treatment back until Joe pushed Percy causing him to fall onto a thorny bushes.
Percy was stuck but immediately got out causing his coat, scarf and hat to get stuck and torn and Joe . . . Paused because what’s he’s seeing in front him was what was supposed to be the fragile puppet that he saw at the circus.
Percy: I-. . . Am gonna KILL YOU!!!” And immediately lounged at Joe punching him until Joe blocked Percy’s punches finally seeing his face for the very first time.
Joe: “huh. . . So this is the real you. . . I expected something skinless instead “
Percy: “SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!!!” before Percy could punch Joe more, he was stopped by Jack and Cheryl who were also stunned upon seeing Percy’s face.
Percy panted heavily but as he saw how they looked at him: “ I-I. . . I di-. . . I didn’t-“
Victoria, Abby and Acacia arrived and paused as the others.
Abby: “ isn’t that. . . Dolly?”
Victoria: “. . . She’s bleeding?”
Percy: “I-I. . . I didn’t wa- . . I ju-”
Victoria & Abby were stunned recognizing that raspy voice:” PERCY!!!!”
Percy just started trembling as Jack and Cheryl got him off of Joe.
Cheryl: “Percy. . . Wha-. . . Why did you hide this?”
Percy just trembled more shedding tears: “I d-didn’t. . . I didn’t. . . Ahhhhhhhh!” He just started sobbing and covering his face with his hands. The atmosphere just became messy. No one spoke, no one even tried to say anything at the end they all left without a word. Only Percy and Joe were left. Joe gripped Percy by the collar.
Joe: “are you happy now. You broke my friendship with Acacia!”
Percy stopped the sobbing and started chuckling:” hehehehehehe~ I won the duel! Now you’ll have to leave~ FOR GOOD!”
Percy: “heh~ don’t blame me. You let a delusion of “love” blinded you to easily admit all what I needed to take you out. The ships will be arriving at the docks in a week. You might as well start packing up”
Joe: “you do realize that they won’t talk to you anymore!”
Percy: “. . . I know, and I can live with them not talking to me for a couple of weeks. Now~ chop.chop~ start packing cyclops!” She he broke free from Joe’s grip and started walking.
Joe: “you’re willing to show people what you hid for years?”
Percy paused: “at least that way no one would ask my parents if I’m for sail” grins “can’t by what’s alive” and continued walking.
The next day Percy just showed his face to the world, not out of comfort but to prove a point to Joe. His parents confused and worried about Percy’s sudden revelation but nonetheless followed suit thinking that he doesn’t want to hide anymore and wanted to support him. Percy walked around wearing what he deemed as comfortable and pretty with a hat protecting him from the sun.
People had mixed feelings about this. Half never expected that the beloved puppet dolly was a real person. Some are in shock that Dolly was Percy. The rest were just shocked that Dolly is a boy. Even the girls, Jack and Acacia still can’t wrap their heads on this revelation.
On the day before the ships arrived. Peterson asked Percy to get a package for new music instruments for the music boxes.
Peterson: “and take Joe with you”
Percy paused: “I’m sorry? What?”
Peterson: “to show him where the docks are”
On the way to the docks Percy was skipping and humming loudly as Joe walked beside him.
Percy giggled: “you’ve been in your room for a good five days. You look awful, if not? Way worse~”
Percy: “awww come on Joseph~ I thought it’s impossible for you to show emotions ~”
They arrived at the docks where life size sailor puppets were maintaining.
Percy: “this is your dock of shame~ enjoy coming back here to leave for good~ oh I wish to just shove you in the boat. But that’ll make my new gloves tainted with sadness “
They went to the post office of Mr. Bindery to get the package.
Percy: “it’s such a shame really. You were a fun rival for a short while “
Percy: “but then again it’s all your fault Joey isn’t it. I’ve expected a fight even after you lost. Ah~ I’m really disappointed. I dropped by to Check on Jack and Acacia on their little picnic date and I saw her snuggling safely into his warm embra-“ Joe slammed Percy’s head on the desk. But Percy caught him just in time only for the two to start fighting again, completely forgetting that there are people in there.
As they fought Joe’s lighter fell from his coat as it slides between the boxes as the flickering of the lights lightened up.
Percy was about to punch Joe until he smelt something: “. . . Hey. . . Does anyone smell something burning?”
Everyone turned to the burning boxes.
Person: “SORTEZ TOUT LE MONDE DU BÂTIMENT!!!”. (translation: EVERYONE GET OUT OF THE BUILDING!!!)
Everyone immediately started running out of the building. As Percy escaped with the package and some people helping Joe escape
Percy still holding the package: “. . . Well at least a bit of water would sol-“
The building just exploded.
Leaving Percy shocked and Joe still miserable to react.
Percy and Joe felt a gust of warm air breathing down his neck, only for it to be Mr. Bindery.
Percy chuckled nervously: “ehehehe. . . H-hey M-Mr. Bindery w-we didn-. . . IT’S HIS FAULT!!” hé pointed at Joe only for him and Joe to end up in a cell.
After a while Percy’s parents bail the two out but not after Percy’s mom dragged the two by the ear.
Inside the Puppet store the two were getting the scolding of their lives.
Marcel: “ARE YOU TWO CRAZY! YOU BURNED DOWN A WHOLE BUILDING! DO YOU KNOW HOW MUCH THE REPAYMENT FEE WOULD COST!??”
Percy stayed quiet and looked down. Joe was still miserable.
Marcel sighed: “luckily Mr. Bindery is a friend and he was kind enough to let you two work your way to pay off the debt”
Percy: “. . . As in. . . Work together?”
Marcel crossed her arms: “yes”
Before Percy could protest.
Marcel: “Either that or you two will deal with delivering 50 packages in one day?”
Marcel: “now both of you go to your rooms. And Joe? You can forget going back to Edinburgh, you’re also at fault for causing the fire. Got it?”
Marcel: “now both of you, to your rooms. You’ll have a very long day tomorrow”
Percy & Joe: “ understand”
They two went to their rooms without a single word. As they entered their room they finally let it out with just one word.
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