PROLOGUE:
THE DEADBEAT STONER NAMED JAMES.

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Percy sat at James' house, a glass bong in one hand, and a lighter in the other. The two patrons were quiet – speaking no words to each other – but James had NCIS in the background at its loudest volume to cause no suspicion to his parents.

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The two weren't especially close, however Percy spent most of his free time with Ethan's best friend (who was surprisingly Percy's age) to keep whatever memory of his recently deceased brother he could. James gave the younger boy a sense of comfort and familiarity that Percy couldn't get anywhere else with anyone else. This included Ashleigh and Oliver. Although they are Percy's closest friends, he hasn't been able to muster up the courage to speak to them or spend any time with the two all summer.

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James' room had a strong sent of marijuana soaking itself into the furniture and the only thing the eighteen-year-old could do was open his window. The room was already a lost cause, in Percy's opinion anyways. The smell of weed was previously lingering through the air before he stepped in, and when seeing James' parents earlier that night both his mother and father seemed disappointed – as if they already knew James was a dead-beat, unemployed stoner. But it wasn't like Percy was going to say anything to James.

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"Hey Perce," James grabs the boys' attention, leaning forward from his beanbag, reaching his arm out to grab the bong Percy held. "I'll take a hit of that, yeah?"

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It sounded more like 'give it to me dickhead' than 'is it a good idea for me it do this?', but that was just how James spoke. He never asked for the opinion of others, and instead bossed them around without making it obvious that he was. Percy could easily see through James' language, either because he picked up the eighteen-year-old's idiosyncrasies, or because James speech wasn't that thick to begin with.

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"Uh yeah, here," Percy says softly, looking over towards the small TV; which was in front of the uncomfortable bed he sat on. The episode playing was one of the earlier ones in the series, one where Tony and Ziva had disappeared and the rest of the NCIS had to find them. In a weird, indescribable way, Percy could relate to the episode – whether he was the one boxed up, or trying his best to find those who were. Percy was so involved with the episode that he didn't even realize James began speaking.

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"Perce. Percy. Bro!"

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Snapping out of his trance, Percy turns his attention over to James so fast, almost giving himself whiplash. He nods his head without even realizing his actions, utterly dazed and confused. James furrows his eyebrows together in complete judgement, taking another hit from the pipe before be continues his suggestion – however to Percy, James only just began.

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"As I was saying, we should go after those fuckheads who sold your brother those drugs."

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Taking a few seconds to comprehend James' statement, Percy only becomes more confused. A short laugh relieves itself out of Percy's mouth, the boy finding James' statement to be some sort of bad comedic joke. He couldn't imagine that his brothers' friend was actually being serious in that situation, so instead Percy made himself believe it was a joke. Unfortunately for the young boy, James was being absolutely serious.

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"The fuck are you laughing at? I'm not joking Perce. The Empire caused your brother's death!" James shouts, loud enough to spook the seventeen-year-old in front of him, but too quiet to cause any drama within the house. Percy's lips separate slightly as he sizes James from head to toe. There was no way this little 5'6" pale-ass teenager would be able to put any dent into the operation of The Empire, and there was no way Percy was going to allow James to think that he could.

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"Dude, you're a fucking small, privileged white kid who has no talents besides smoking out everyone. What do you mean 'we should go after those fuckheads'?" Percy notices the steam coming out of James' ears as his face turns red, and backtracks in hope to make this situation less awkward. "I mean, uh, you know, you can't do it by yourself. It's too dangerous, i-it's a bloody suicide mission!"

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"Why? Because I'm a 'small privileged white kid'. Fucking hell Perce, and here I thought you of all people wanted to avenge your brother."

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"Avenge my brother? James, are you serious? The Empire didn't cause my brothers overdose, he chose to do that himse-"

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"They may not have killed him directly by shooting seven fucking bullets into his goddamn skull, but they still sold him that shit!"

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Percy's lips shake as the boy stumbles over his words. More than before, Percy couldn't believe what James was saying. The biggest drug traffickers killing Ethan? That must be the words from the high. And doing something about it? Was James even hearing himself? Percy's anxiety levels rise high as he tries to figure out what was going on in James' head. He was extremely worried, and most of all, Percy wasn't able to mentally prepare himself to live after losing yet another person this summer.

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James sighs loudly, slamming the bong down onto the carpey floor - struggling to leave the dirty blue beanbag that had swallowed him whole. Pinching the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger, a frustrated sigh leaves James' mouth as he begins to circle around his small room. "Percy, if you're not gonna join me fine. But I'm doing this anyways."

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"Doing what?" Percy's voice breaks down, almost as if he was about to cry. He had an idea of what James planned to do, but was too nervous to think of it as the truth.

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"It doesn't fucking matter man. Just... just take another hit and leave yeah?"

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And there he goes again, bossing around Percy without making it obvious that it was an order, not an opinion.

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a/n:  i should have cautioned this in the suspect report, but this book does involve a lot of swearing, drugs, mentions of death & possibly suicide, as well as a chance of violence. if you're not comfortable with any of these, please message me and i will try to restict the use/talk of these topics unless it is necessary and has importance to the story !!!  thank you for your compliance.