[hr][hr][center][b]Zach Young[/b]
[color=598527][sub][b]LOCALE[/b] // Smith's Rest, New Anchorage (Conference Building)
[b]TIME[/b] // Afternoon[/sub][/color][/center][hr][hr]
[indent]

[color=indianred][b]"Pierce!"[/b][/color] 

As Zach kept his eyes on the fiery head of hair as he weaved through the crowd. He had told Ana to stay right there as he went after Percy - she was of course hesitant, but he promised it wouldn't be long. He [i]hoped[/i] it wouldn't be long. Ana could handle being by herself, sure, but Zach didn't [i]want[/i] to leave her surrounded by those people - not out of his own distrust, but they did kinda talk about Ana dying. Not exactly what he wanted to do, but if Percy's [i]really[/i] freaking out, Ana doesn't need to see that. At all. He knows what it's like to watch your parent absolutely [i]lose their shit[/i] - you panic, end up feeling powerless and like it's somehow [i]your[/i] fault, even if there's no reason to think it is.

Zach caught sight of the red-head darting into the canteen, then sitting down.

	[color=indianred][i]At least he's not [b]drinking[/b].[/i][/color]

Zach made his way to the canteen, shutting the door and going to sit with him until he got a better look at Percy. The redhead was taking quick, shallow breaths, staring dead into the table top, and was shaking. Wide-eyed, horrified, like he was looking at a dead body. Glasses off, revealing the dark circles under his eyes. Even if Zach hated Percy, you end up feeling [i]some[/i] kind of sympathy for people you've been around for years. And this? This was an [i]awful[/i] sight. Percy hasn't been this bad in years.

[color=indianred][b]"Pierce?"[/b][/color]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"Bits and pieces."[/color][/b]

Zach carefully sat down, not sure what he could say. He figured silence would be the best option, though. It was for Ana, so it probably was for Percy too.

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"[i]Bits[/i] and [i]pieces,[/i]"[/b][/color] Percy said, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"An eye here, a finger there. Blood painting the concrete [i]red[/i]. Can't stop thinking about it."[/b][/color]

[b][color=indianred]"You only saw [i]pictures[/i], though."[/color][/b] Zach didn't see the real thing either, of course. He too only saw the pictures taken for documentation of yet another attack.

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"Doesn't matter. I.. Ana- Zach, w-what if [i]Ana-[/i]"[/b][/color]

[color=indianred][b]"She's not going to die like Laura did, Percy."[/b][/color]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"How are you so sure? What if she [i]did[/i]? They're so similar-"[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"We'd cope, Percy."[/color][/b] What else could Zach say? While he was sure that she wouldn't die like Laura, he couldn't say for sure she wouldn't DIE. [b][color=indianred]"We'd keep going. We kept going after Laura-"[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"Ana is [i]my daughter[/i],"[/color][/b] Percy retorted [b][color=lightsteelblue]"How the fuck would I keep going after HER death? The fuck would be keeping me from blowing my [i]goddamn[/i] brains out finally?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"Cause I don't wanna clean that shit up, maybe?"[/color][/b] Zach said, [i]daring[/i] to inject humor. [b][color=indianred]"I mean, oof-"[/color][/b]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"Seriously?" [/b][/color]

	[color=indianred][i]Son of a bitch.[/i][/color]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"[i]Seriously?[/i]"[/b][/color] Percy looked at Zach like he was the most idiotic person on the planet, with the added bonus of looking psychotic. [b][color=lightsteelblue]"I shouldn't just go ahead and shoot myself in the head because you're grossed out by the thought of cleaning my [i]brain matter[/i] off the wall? Fuck you."[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"I was joking, I'm sor-"[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"-Because suicide is [i]totally[/i] something to joke about, right?"[/color][/b]

Zach rolled his eyes, beginning with exasperation in his voice, [b][color=indianred]"[i]No[/i], Percy-"[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"ARE YOU [i]FUCKING ME[/i] RIGHT NOW?"[/color][/b] Percy shouted.

	[color=indianred][i]God [b]damn[/b] it.[/i][/color]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"I'm just SOO fucking OVER-DRAMATIC, right? I'm just the fucking WORST, aren't I? I'm just- I'm-I'm just a WORTHLESS FUCK, [i]aren't I?[/i] I-I [i]DESERVE THIS[/i] SOMEHOW, RIGHT? I DESERVE to live in fear for my daughter's safety every day-"[/b][/color]

[color=indianred][b]"You're the one that said to put her on base with you,"[/b][/color]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"BECAUSE THE [i]LAST TIME SHE WAS WITH YOU[/i],"[/b][/color] a finger right in Zach's face, which actually made him jerk back a little bit. [b][color=lightsteelblue]"SHE WAS ALMOST [i]KIDNAPPED[/i] AND [i]TAKEN[/i] TO [i]FUCK KNOWS WHERE![/i]" [/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"Percy, am [b]I[/b] yelling at [i]you?[/i]"[/color][/b]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"Are you yelling- YOU ARE [i]KIDDING ME[/i]-"[/b][/color] Percy let out a wordless shout, slamming his hands on the table. [b][color=lightsteelblue]"SHOVE YOUR FUCKING [i]CIVILITY[/i] RIGHT UP YOUR ASS!"[/color][/b] The redhead made a rather crude gesture just to accentuate his point. [b][color=lightsteelblue]"SHOVE IT [i]SO FAR[/i] UP THERE IT COMES OUT OF YOUR [i]GODDAMN EARS,[/i] FOR FUCK'S SAKE!"[/color][/b]

Zach sighed. [color=indianred][b]"Lower your voice and calm down."[/b][/color]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"THEN STOP TALKING DOWN TO ME LIKE I'M A CHILD!"[/color][/b]

[color=indianred][b]"Quit [i]acting[/i] like a child."[/b][/color]

Percy got that wild look in his eye - the one that he got on stage, where he looked like he was about to murder someone in front of a group of people. He then pulled at his own hair and screamed again, turning around and taking a few steps away from Zach. [b][color=lightsteelblue]"God DAMMIT, ZACH! NOT EVERYONE CAN HAVE THEIR LIFE [i]PUT TOGETHER[/i] LIKE YOU, ALRIGHT?!"[/color][/b] Percy turned back to him, tears streaking down his face, [b][color=lightsteelblue]"I'M [i]A FUCK UP[/i]. I'M[i] A DISASTER[/i], YOU'RE [i]MORE CAPABLE[/i] AND [i]STRONGER[/i] AND YOU'RE [i]BETTER[/i] IN [i]EV-ER-Y[/i] GODDAMNED WAY-"[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"Percy, you're gonna make yourself hoarse. [i]Lower[/i] your voice."[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"YOU JUST-"[/color][/b] Percy paused, sniffling. He took a moment to attempt composure before speaking again, [b][color=lightsteelblue]"You... You don't [i]get it,[/i] Zach. You just don't. I.. I should just be dead."[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"And then you leave Ana alone - [i]that's[/i] smart."[/color][/b]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"She has you,"[/b][/color] Percy responds, [b][color=lightsteelblue]"She has [i]you[/i], the stable, sensible, calm-all-the-time and not-overprotective uncle Zach who's able to actually talk to her about how the goddamn world works."[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"She needs her father, Pierce. Her [i]actual[/i] father."[/color][/b]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"[i]Why?[/i]"[/b][/color] Percy said, [color=lightsteelblue][b]"Why? What good am I really doing her? I.. I like to think I'm doing alright, but god damn it-"[/b][/color]

[b][color=indianred]"Pierce, I woulda given [i]anything[/i] for my own dad to be in my life,"[/color][/b] Zach said, [b][color=indianred]"She's [i]lucky[/i] to have you. She could have NO parents. You, being here? It.. It's good for her. You know how much [i]I[/i] love her, but it doesn't compare to unconditional paternal love. Where I give her the.. the common sense, you give her the emotional outlet she needs. You're better at the whole.. comforting.. thing."[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"...I think that's the [i]nicest[/i] thing you've ever said to me."[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"Well good. Buck up and get over yourself, then."[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"Aaannd you [i]ruined[/i] it,"[/color][/b] Percy said, putting his glasses back on, finally. [b][color=lightsteelblue]"You fuckin' [i]prick.[/i]"[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"Birdbeak."[/color][/b]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"[i]Jackass.[/i]"[/b][/color]

After a quick shared laugh, the two sat there in silence. Percy tried to regain composure, and Zach was taking a moment to breath and calm himself as well - Percy losing his shit was always at least a little [i]off-putting[/i] and distressing. They both take a deep breath at the same time, looking at each other.

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"Are you [i]really[/i] not worried about Ana dying?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"I [i]am[/i] worried about it, Percy,"[/color][/b] Zach said, [b][color=indianred]"I just.. I [i]know[/i] she won't die like Laura did. She's not a mechanic, for one. She's [i]eight.[/i] She has to be at least fourteen to even start."[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"She's not-"[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"I wasn't suggesting we put her in the engineering guild, [i]dipshit.[/i]"[/color][/b] Zach glared at him for a moment - what the [i]hell[/i] would make Percy think that was what he wanted for her? [color=indianred][b]"No way would I let her do that."[/b][/color]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"Where is she, anyway?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"Huh?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"Where's Ana?"[/color][/b] Percy's voice was a little more urgent.

[color=indianred][b]"Oh, she's, uh, she's at the table-"[/b][/color]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"[i]By herself?[/i]!"[/b][/color]

Zach groaned, covering his entire face. In a highly exhausted tone, he said, [b][color=indianred]"[i]Percy,[/i] she's [i]fine.[/i]"[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"How the [i]hell[/i] do you kn- [i]Fuck you[/i]! Zach, I swear to God..!"[/color][/b] Percy got up, immediately leaving the canteen. Zach could hear Percy cursing him out under his breath before he left. Zach didn't hesitate to follow him out.

[center][img]http://sherrygideons.com/wp-content/themes/flexsqueeze150/images/dividers/square-dotted-grunge.png[/img][/center]
[b][color=ffe1ff]"Hi Daddy. Hi Zach."[/color][/b] Ana said with a small smile.

[b][color=indianred]"What'd I tell you, Pierce? She's [i]fine[/i],"[/color][/b] Zach said, ruffling her hair a bit. [color=indianred][b]"Hey kiddo."[/b][/color] He then sat down.

Percy sat down with them, earning a look of confusion from Ana. [b][color=ffe1ff]"Weren't you sitting up there, at that table, with Madi and Vera and Stein and stuff?"[/color][/b]

[b][color=lightsteelblue]"I'd rather sit here with you, Ana,[/color][/b] Percy said, making himself good and comfortable in his new seat, [b][color=lightsteelblue]"My part's done, anyway."[/color][/b]

[b][color=indianred]"You sure that's allowed?"[/color][/b]

[color=lightsteelblue][b]"Zach, I could [i]breathe[/i] and Graham would hound on me. I don't [i]care[/i] if I'm not allowed. I can't win with him, why bother trying?"[/b][/color]

[b][color=indianred]"[i]Sure.[/i]"[/color][/b]
[/indent]