The Sea's Protector (Fem. Percy x Young Justice)

51

Megan pulled us out of the memories, leaving us all staring at Percy in horror.

Percy's body shook and she curled up into a ball. I snapped out of the stupor first and reached over, pulling her close to my chest.

"Can you call Black Canary?" I looked at the others, running a hand through Percy's hair.

They nodded and walked away, leaving the two of us alone.

I laid down, allowing Percy to press herself close to me. I wrapped my arms around her.

I mumbled apologies and rested my head on hers. Percy didn't complain for once, simply pressing herself closer. I curled around her, trying to make her feel safe.

I laid like that until Percy cried herself to sleep.

Even though she was asleep, I kept apologizing. Tears fell down my face until my eyes eventually closed, sending me off to sleep no matter how hard I tried to fight it.

Orin

I walked into the living room of the Cave along with Dinah. I had no idea why she called me until I saw the Team gathered around the couch.

They moved aside silently, allowing me to get closer than Dinah. What I saw conflicted me. I didn't know whether I should smile or frown.

I settled for a sigh and knelt at the edge of the couch. I rested a hand on Kaldur's shoulder. He didn't move, aside from tightening his grip on Percy.

"What happened?" Dinah asked.

"Percy...showed us some of her memories." Megan wrapped her arms around herself. "They were..."

"Horrible. Traumatic. Those and all their synonyms rolled into one." Wally said, looking at the ground.

I sighed and shook Kaldur until he woke up. He stared at me with tired eyes, before mumbling a greeting.

I softly hushed him, pressing a kiss to his forehead. "I am not your king at the moment. You do not need to hold up a facade."

He gave a small nod, but didn't do anything else.

"Black Canary?" I looked back at her, waiting for her to finish talking to Megan, who had tears streaming down her face.

When she did, she looked at me with an eyebrow raised. "What?"

"I am going to have them return to Poseidonis with me. I trust you can inform Batman."

"Go ahead. I'll get things sorted out here."

"Thank you." I looked back at Kaldur and Percy. Kaldur sat up, Percy's head resting on his lap. His lips moved, but no words came out as he stared down at her.

"My son, we should go. She would be more comfortable underwater."

He slowly nodded and stood up, carrying Percy bridal style. We walked to the Zeta Tubes and we soon reappeared in Poseidonis.

Kaldur shifted Percy to one arm and stared at me, waiting for directions.

I guided him through the palace to my chambers.

"My king-" he paused before the doorway.

"Kaldur, as far as I am concerned the two of you are just as much my children as the one my wife carries." I grabbed his arm and pulled him inside before gesturing for him to sit.

He sat down on the bed and I gently took Percy from him.

"Lay down. The two of you will need to sleep."

It took him a minute, but he eventually did so. I laid Percy beside him, before sitting.

"My king-"

"Kaldur, it is okay for you to call me Orin. Like you did when you were younger." I ran my fingers over his hair.

He smiled softly then curled around Percy.

I chuckled. He may act more mature, but he is still the same as when he was younger.

"I am going to-"

"Please stay." Kaldur mumbled. "It is likely that Percy will have a nightmare and what I know of them..."

"I have a feeling this means you are worried about having a nightmare yourself."

He looked up and his eyes showed me exactly how true my statement was.

My shoulders fell and I laid down. "I will stay with you. It will be like when you were young.

I wrapped my arms around both of them. That quickly changed when Kaldur pulled away and moved to my other side.

"Do you want me to move?"

"Please." His voice was soft.

I did my best to move Percy before rolling onto my back. Kaldur pressed himself into my side, curling up. When I wrapped my arm around him, I could feel him shaking.

I sat up and leaned against the headboard, pulling him up onto me.

His head rested on my lap and I hushed him, keeping an eye on Percy.

"What is it?" I asked.

His shaking grew worse and he didn't answer.

"Kaldur...what is wrong my son?"

I only grew more concerned as time went on, especially considering the sobs that left him.

"I should have been there." He mumbled. "I should-"

He was cut off by Percy screaming.

Almost immediately one of the guards on duty rushed in, but I waved him away. Kaldur climbed over me and pulled Percy close to him.

Soft words left his lips as he attempted to calm her. It didn't seem to work.

I pried Percy away from him and held her close, softly singing a lullaby. She calmed down but...it wasn't exactly a good thing.

Kaldur stared at her sadly, like he had failed her by not being able to calm her down.

"Kaldur, I know exactly what you are thinking. But this is not failure. She recognizes you as a protector, my position is more father oriented. And if I remember correctly I have calmed you both from nightmares."

The look in his eyes didn't change.

I sighed and let Percy float before moving back to Kaldur. He was staring at his hands.

I placed my hands on the sides of his face and forced him to look at me. "Kaldur, this is not something you can protect her from. You do the best you can every day and you know it, I know it, and Percy knows it. So listen to me, blaming yourself is not something that you need to do. We both know you would lay down your life in an instant, something you swore to do and have never shown any sign of regret towards. Half the time when you could not protect Percy it is because she purposely kept you away. Most likely because she would not want to live knowing you died for her."

"Even if my oath would not kill me, I could not live with myself if she died. And the fact I could not protect her from injury..." His hand touched the bandage around his throat.

I pressed my lips together before kissing his forehead. "If you ever...and I mean ever think about doing that again, I want you to call me. I don't care if I'm in the middle of a battle, I want to know so I can come help you."

He sighed and hugged me. "It does not matter."

"Why?"

"She forbade me."

So, I should really work on my costume since I need that done for next week

But I haven't eaten yet and...

See yah