"Uh, hi?" I said.

The kid rolled off and offered me a hand. "Sorry, didn't mean to knock you over. My name's Dick."

"Percy." I grabbed his arm and he helped me up. "Technically it's Perseus, but if you call me that I'm going to punch you."

"Noted." He looked at Bruce. "Hey, can Wally come over? He said he can kick my butt in Twister and I want to show him how wrong he is."

Bruce stared at him, and the wide smile that had spread over his face. Bruce sighed. "Maybe later. We should let Percy get settled in before she meets any of your two friends."

"Ouch. I don't only have two friends. I have three. But okay."

"That doesn't mean invite him over anyway and have him sneak in."

"Aw, now what am I supposed to do?"

A small smile appeared on my face. He reminds me of Nico in a way, well, Nico before Bianca died. My smile was replaced with a frown. How is Death Breath? I hope he's okay.

"Hey, um, is there anything I should do?" I tilted my head. "Help with dinner or anything?"

Bruce shook his head. "No, Alfred will throw a fit and I don't have the patience to sit through another lecture." He looked at Dick. "Can you show Percy her room? I'm pretty sure it's going to be the one next to yours."

"Yep. Come on, Percy," Dick said, starting up the stairs. He led me through a wide hallway and down one of the branches.

"How and why are there so many hallways?"

Dick laughed. "No idea and no idea. You'll get lost a couple times, but you'll learn fast. I got lost once, but I grew up in a circus. Good luck." He smiled before opening a door into a large bedroom.

It wasn't the size of my cabin, but it felt just as roomy. Probably the lack of bunk beds.

"I can't-"

"Nope, you don't have a choice. You'll get used to it. You have to."

Walking over to the queen sized bed, I was well aware of his eyes following me. I ran my hand over the blanket on top. My eyes widened. "It's soft."

"We have an hour until dinner. Do you want to hang out in here alone or hang in my room?"

"Whatever you want to do."

He grabbed my arm and pulled me to his room.

As I looked around, my eyes widened. "Wow," I said, "this place is awesome."

"It's my own little bird nest." He laughed, as of he had made a joke. I narrowed my eyes, before shaking my head and taking another look around his room. I couldn't tear my eyes away from the full-sized fridge.

"Wally eats a lot. Alfred got tired of having him constantly in the kitchen, so now I have a fridge. I'm not complaining, I just wish it wasn't so loud at night."

"Who's Wally?" I asked. "A friend from school or is he..."

"He's the nephew of a guy Bruce works with." Dick said, ignoring the second part.

I nodded. "So, what are we going to do?"

"Talk? I mean, me and Bruce have went been through the same thing. We've all lost our parents."

I opened my mouth, but closed it without saying anything.

"What?"

"It's nothing." I shook my head. "I was going to correct you. I spend too much time with..."

"With?" He prompted.

I sighed, looking away and clenching my hands. "My best friend." I took a deep, steadying breath. Don't cry. Don't show weakness. Not now, not ever.

"You okay?" Dick put his hand on my shoulder.

"I'm good. How do we get to the kitchen?"

"Go to the foyer, turn right, walk until you find the dining room. The kitchen is past that."

Somehow, despite the simple directions, I got lost.

"See you in a bit." I walked out and tried to follow the directions. The key word is tried. Somehow I got lost.

"Do you require assistance, Miss Perseus?"

My heart pounding and hand wrapped around Riptide, I whirled around and found myself face to face with Alfred.

"Oh gods, you almost gave me a heart attack." I put my hand over my heart. "Can you help me get to the kitchen?"

Smiling, he nodded. "This way, Miss Perseus." He led me to the kitchen and I didn't doubt that he could do it blindfolded.

"Here you are. You may have a small snack, but do not spoil your appetite. Dinner is in a half-hour."

"What are we having?"

"Alaskan cod, battered in- are you okay?"

One hand against the fridge supported my weight, while the other covered my mouth. I swallowed and nodded. "Yeah, but I, uh, I can't eat seafood and stuff like that."

"Would you prefer a grilled cheese?"

"Yeah, where do you keep the skillet?"

"Do not trouble yourself, I will prepare it. If you wish to do something, would you mind finding Master Bruce and telling him dinner is almost ready?"

I walked towards the door. I paused. "Where is he?"

"If you walk I am sure you'll find him. And if not, he'll find you."

It didn't take long for me to get lost again. Somehow, I was having a harder time navigating in here than in the Labyrinth. And at least the Labyrinth was obvious when trying to kill you. Spike traps, fire traps, monsters, and the like. Here, I feel like I'll get lost and die a slow painful death from starvation. Actually, I'd die of dehydration first, and that's worse. Not only is it an overall worse way to die, it would be the most ironic way to die. The daughter of Poseidon dying from dehydration.

"Did you get lost already?" Bruce asked. I looked up at him and nodded.

He smiled and offered me a hand up. As I took it, I couldn't help but to chuckle. The uncle who watched his parents be murdered smiles more than the uncles who murdered their dad.

"Alfred sent me to tell you that dinner's almost ready."

Bruce nodded and led me to the kitchen, where a fire now burned in the fireplace. "You both managed to get her lost." He shook his head. "Good job."

I put my head in hands. "Why do I feel like this will end up like the Stolls?"

"Who are the Stolls?" Dick asked.

"Friends, though they're more like my brothers. They live for pranking."

A large smile spread across his face. "Sound like my kind of people."

"No. They will steal your underwear and put fish in them. It wasn't a fun time, for them." They tried to do that with me, but the fish were practically screaming in my head for water. Travis and Connor needed to be in the infirmary for a little bit after that stunt.

"That doesn't sound so-"

"The Wallman is here!"

Originally published: Nov ?, 2017

992

Edited: January 8, 2020

1161

Well, my dog broke her chain. So now shes in the basement in her old cage

See yah