[hr][hr][center][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/019bd967-8a56-74db-98b0-fce7e8f0795a.webp[/img][/center][hr][hr] Percy felt so much better than he had the day before. He had spent the night snuggling with his boyfriend, watching [i]Pride and Prejudice[/i] as they drifted to sleep. All of the worries and anxieties, the overstimulation and the noise, all of it had left his system. They had won the Contest of Champions, there was no more school until the new year, and his mothers were both in town. They’d asked to have breakfast with him in the morning, suggesting that they meet at a diner Dorian’s father James had recommended. He was looking forward to having a strong cup of coffee, and some eggs and potatoes. Even the stress of knowing his old bully, Chase, was going to be attending the same school was distant, a problem he could deal with another day. For right now, things were good. Almost perfect, really. He didn’t notice the way his mothers had quickly insisted on a table instead of a booth, or that neither of them were wearing their wedding rings. He was just focused on reading through the menu, deciding what sounded good. The specials looked intriguing. Dominika shot a glance over at her wife, before clearing her throat slightly as she looked at her own menu. [color=add3ff]“How did you sleep last night?”[/color] “He was with his motek, how could it not be perfect.” Naomi reached over and pinched Percy's cheek. Naomi pushed her glasses up as she looked over the menu, lips pursed as she eyed it. “Goodness, this New Orleans fare seems so greasy, so simple. Where are the schmears? I wouldn't expect them to have a decent bagel but my Oytzerl deserves a proper latke after winning his championship. I ought to have brought some from home. Now Oytzerl, why have I not met your motek yet? Your letters skirt around this [i]Dorian[/i], but I did not expect to be the secret parent. I only want to show him your baby pictures. You were so cute, always poking around in my skirt at the temple. To see you standing on a world stage so everyone can see the man I knew you would become.” [color=add3ff]“Oh, I wouldn’t worry about that. I gave Dorian one of his baby photos already,”[/color] she was frowning ever so slightly. She knew what Naomi was trying to do. She wasn’t going to let her win. Percy’s face flushed at his mother’s affections - and her questions about his boyfriend. Dominika had already met Dorian, and it had gone about as well as could be expected, given that the meeting was to discuss how they’d become entangled on a quantum level. He shifted slightly in his seat, pointedly looking down at the menu. His mother wasn’t entirely wrong, either - he [i]did[/i] miss proper bagels and latkes. [color=ed1c24]“Do you want to meet him, Mame?”[/color] he asked. [color=ed1c24]“I think you would like him. He’s very…studious,”[/color] he landed on. Dorian was studious - when it came to superheroes. Not so much when it came to reading and writing and academics, the sort of things his mame cared deeply about. Naomi didn't offer Dominika a response, but her jaw tensed as she realized the opportunity Dominika took. “He's studious? That is a lovely surprise! I know the youth of the day are all about “bad boys”. I should have known that my Oytzerl wouldn't have been taken by such trends. Does he have an opinion on Hades and Persephone? How does he feel about the nature of the conflict between Demeter and Hades? And is he Jewish or are you taking after your mame?” Naomi asked, flagging down a waiter. “Make sure you get milk and orange juice. You're a growing boy and you can't be skipping out on essentials. Actually, don't worry. I'll order them for you. What else would you like? We'll have coffee after the meal, I think.” [color=ed1c24]“Coffee after the meal?”[/color] He raised an eyebrow. Almost every family gathering he could remember started with coffee. He had been drinking coffee since he was five years old - maybe even as long as he could really remember. He did want coffee now. He could feel the pinpricks of exhaustion in his eyes. He was usually on his second cup by this time of day. [color=ed1c24]“And erm, yes. He does. He has a pretty strong opinion on them,”[/color] Percy made a mental note to educate Dorian about Hades and Persephone as soon as was physically possible, just in case his mame somehow got her hands on him. [color=ed1c24]“He thinks Persephone went with him willingly and it was her choice.”[/color] He then fidgeted his hands slightly, twirling one of the beads on the Dorian bracelet. [color=ed1c24]“He’s Genoshan,”[/color] he offered, trying to sidestep the question of religion. [color=ed1c24]“Genoshan diaspora, him and his siblings.”[/color] [color=add3ff]“His parents are nice people,”[/color] Dominika said. [color=add3ff]“I met three of his fathers a long time ago - you remember the stories I told you about the Scarlet Witch’s world. I think I will get drinks with his father James soon.”[/color] “Genoshan, did you say. How fascinating. It was a shame. Effectively a new civilization cut off from the study of its development by their infighting. Sad.” Naomi sighed, her smile a little more forced than it was a moment ago as her retort to Dominika was cut off by the waiter's arrival. “My son will have this meal with the seasonal fruit, an extra piece of toast, and over medium eggs with a glass of milk and orange juice. I'll have the same actually and mayn ketzel… actually, I think we'll just have three of those. Thank you.” Naomi handed her menu to him and waved him away. “It's interesting, tayere. I remember a James from your stories and… Are you sure you didn't misplace your glasses? I know it's confusing sometimes without them.” Naomi asked, all innocent concern. “Well mayn Oytzerl, I'm glad you've found yourself someone to keep you grounded. I know with all the changes over the last few years, it's been tough and you've been so strong through it. You cannot understand how proud we are of you, right mayn ketzel?” Dominika frowned sharply, clenching her fists under the table. Each [i]tayere[/i] grated on her nerves - and the way that her wife had ensured she had gotten in the last word… It was absolutely infuriating. But she held her tongue. [color=add3ff]“Incredibly proud. It’s not often that a freshman wins the Contest of Champions. If you want to be a superhero, Percy, the world is your oyster.”[/color] Percy’s eyes narrowed slightly. Dominika never ate the continental breakfast - she preferred breakfast tacos. And the way the conversation had taken a sudden shift… He wasn’t great at reading people, but he knew his mothers. This was beginning to feel like somewhat of a trap - like he was about to be assigned lines to do as a punishment for something. His anxiety raised for a moment, as he considered what it was about. Probably the entanglement, if he had to guess. [color=ed1c24]“Am I in trouble?”[/color] “Keynmol nisht, likht fun meyn hartsn. Du bist perfekt in yedn veg.” Naomi reached out, cupping Percy's cheek in one hand and taking his hand with her other. “But you remember how it breaks my heart when I can't help you, when it feels like I'm on the edge and can't quite reach in. And now, I hear I have failed you again and my heart hurts, meyn oytzerl. They told me you are drinking again and Percy, I don't know why.” Naomi heard her voice crack with emotions and she cursed inwardly at herself. Percy needed her stable right now but she'd cried herself to sleep when Dominika had called her, too devastated to even bicker. Percy bit his lip, and looked down at their hands. His heart sank. Breakfast had been a trap - just not for what he had been expecting. He didn’t know who had told his mothers that. He hadn’t told anyone - the most he’d done was mention to Dorian once that he had bourbon in the room, but he… And then he winced, remembering when he had met James - how James’ powers had activated, healing him of the hangover. [i]“Welcome to the…family. I'm James. If you're ever hurting, don't hesitate to let me know. Even if you can't figure it out, [b]I can.”[/b][/i] He swallowed thickly as those words came back to him. Dorian’s father then. He’d ratted him out. Anger flared up inside of him first. His privacy had been violated. It wasn’t any of James’ business. He clenched his jaw. But the anger was soon replaced by shame - seeing the way his mame was barely holding it together, the crack in her voice - and knowing that it was all his fault. His mom was harder to read, the ruby red glasses a shield - but he knew that she was probably dying on the inside, too. He felt nauseous and ill - he felt the energy beginning to build up in his body. He didn’t want to be here. He didn’t want to be having this conversation. He wanted to be absolutely anywhere else. He would have preferred to hug Chase a thousand times to this. He would have lied if he thought he could have gotten away with it. But his mame didn’t need superpowers to read him like a book. [color=ed1c24]“It’s nothing bad, I promise,”[/color] he said quietly. [color=ed1c24]“Just a little here and there. It’s…”[/color] Percy’s voice died. He didn’t know how to finish that sentence. [color=add3ff]“I thought we talked about this, Percy,”[/color] Dominika said, her voice a bit sterner than she meant for it to be. She had crumpled in front of James, had done her best to hold it together when she called Naomi - and now, face to face with her son, she felt almost hollow, empty, defeated. She couldn’t fix the entanglement. And she didn’t know if she could fix this, either. It was her job as a parent to protect him and she’d failed on multiple occasions. [color=add3ff]“You said you understood - that it was a mistake and that it was dangerous - that drinking won’t solve your problems.”[/color] Naomi shot a withering look across the table at Dominika. Percy didn't need their anger right now; he needed their support and their love and their understanding. “We just want to understand, Oytzerl. You're seeing a therapist the school said, your team seems so close, you don't…” Naomi ran the interactions with his teammates on the field back through her head. She hadn't thought of it in the moment; the world stage was no place for personal business to come to light and Percy, despite some of the sharper comments she would like to discuss with her son that he made out there, composed himself with perfect professionalism with his teammates and that made sense to her. But now, putting the pieces together… “Mayn Oytzerl, zey mash deyne freynt, ya?” Dominika’s face pinched with concern. She didn’t think Naomi was doing this to isolate her from the conversation - she knew her wife switched into Yiddish to give Percy a sense of privacy, particularly when they were in public spaces. But she wasn’t thrilled to find herself on the outside of this conversation - even though she did agree that Naomi was the one more equipped to handle things. Whenever Dominika tried to work with these more delicate, emotional matters, she seemed to have all the grace of a sledgehammer. And much like her son, she had little to no idea where Naomi was going with this conversation. But she held her tongue. For now. Percy pulled his hand away from his mame, somewhat nervously rubbing his thumbs against each other. Were any of them his friends? Dorian was, yes, but he was his boyfriend - it felt almost like cheating to say yes to that. Andy had defended him yesterday against Chase, and he had gotten along with Sabine early on when the team first formed, but… If he were to be honest with himself, he wasn’t really friends with any of them. He shook his head slightly at Naomi’s question. [color=ed1c24]“Zey zenen nisht shlekht tsu mir,”[/color] he mumbled. [color=ed1c24]“Endi hat zikh nekhtn far mir aoyfgeshtelt. ikh meyn aber az di andere zargn zikh nar vegn mir als a farlengerung fun Doryan.”[/color] Naomi inhaled sharply, but nodded. “Sorry, Domi. I asked him if he… If his team was his friends. Percy doesn't think they care about him past his relationship, but that an Andy stood up for him.” Naomi explained. So Percy still felt excluded, even at a superhero school. Naomi would absolutely have words with Dominika after this; Naomi hadn't been sold on separating him from others on his intellectual level and it seems she'd been correct. “Oh, Percy. I'm so sorry that's what you're feeling and I am so sorry we couldn't see it. We thought a new environment for you would… would solve the challenges you were facing. We didn't think about the support you'd need. Will you tell us what else is making you drink again, Oytzerl? I heard you when you said it's just a little here and there, but I just want to understand what is even making it that often.” [color=add3ff]“Are you being bullied again?”[/color] Dominika asked. It had been the problem last time - one she thought they’d solved by getting him away from those boys. And she had been so sure he was happier at Margaret Carter - he had a boyfriend, he was on the team that won the Contest of Champions. Yes, he had gotten into trouble with the Framework, but she was hardly one to talk when it came to skirting the rules. She was about to suggest that they could move him to a new school again - maybe the Future Foundation in New York, he’d be able to live at home with Naomi potentially - when she recalled James’ advice. Even if Percy didn’t think those kids were his friends, she didn’t want to separate him from them. [color=add3ff]“We can talk with your counselor, switch your class schedule for the new semester.”[/color] Percy shook his head. He wasn’t being bullied again - not yet, at least. His jaw twitched slightly at the thought that Chase would be at his school again. [color=ed1c24]“My school is fine,”[/color] he said, still looking down at his hands. He didn’t want to risk that they’d try to take him away from Dorian. It might have been silly, but he genuinely couldn’t imagine life without him anymore. And he didn’t want to, either. [color=ed1c24]“It’s just… it’s just when I feel overwhelmed,”[/color] he explained softly. [color=ed1c24]“If one too many people bump into me in the hallway, or things start feeling too loud… It helps me quiet it all. I… I did it this time because I was scared Dorian’s parents wouldn’t like me.”[/color] Naomi ought to be given a Nobel peace prize the way she restrained herself from flipping the table on Dominika. But she'd agreed on a united front because Percy needed both his mothers. Naomi just wished one of them wasn't the human embodiment of ChatGPT. Their son needed to be heard, not solved. “Oytzerl, it's okay to have those feelings. You came from a bad place and you're still recovering so don't feel bad that you feel this way. It is entirely understandable and even if we didn't, you'd still be valid for those emotions. Is there anyone you've told about any of these feelings?” It wasn’t bullying, then. A different cause from last time. Dominika clenched her jaw, studying her son. She didn’t want this for him - this wasn’t how his life was supposed to go. His biggest challenge was supposed to be deciding what he wanted to wear in the morning, not dealing with what sounded like an assault on her senses. And she couldn’t help but continue to problem solve - to wonder if maybe they ought to invest in some noise canceling headphones for him, ones he could wear around school to help with the noise level. Maybe she could look at the routes to classes and help him identify one that had the least amount of cross traffic. There had to be a strategy here, an approach… something she could do to help make this right. [color=add3ff]“Have you talked with the therapist about this?”[/color] He shook his head again. He hadn’t talked about any of this with Dr. Whitehall. He’d only seen her once, and the biggest takeaway he recalled from the session was her suggestion that he looked to his boyfriend for cues to navigate social situations. He hadn’t really talked to Dorian about these feelings either. It felt like something he was supposed to keep hidden - something to be ashamed about. “Okay. I don't know why you haven't spoken to the therapist the school has for you, Oytzerl, but we're going to be a little more involved this time. I understand these feelings can be scary and big, but you can't let the things in your head tell you to keep them inside. It's hurting you, Percy. You're 14. [I]14[/i]. You should be worried about acne and dates and remembering to do your homework, not chasing relief at the bottom of a bottle.” Naomi struggled to keep her composure, but she wasn't certain how long she could if she kept going. She took a deep breath and sat up a little straighter. “Oytzerl-” Naomi fixed the water with a glare that could curdle milk as he tried to deliver food and he quickly turned away. “Percy-look at me when I say this-you are more important than anything in this world to us. And it hurts that you felt like you had to hide your fears and struggles from us. Nothing matters more than you. Will you please tell me why you couldn't tell us why you felt this way?” He had to force himself to move his eyes away from his hands, to look his mame in the eye as she requested. His heart nearly broke from the guilt. He didn’t know how to explain it to her, and he wished that he did. He tried to reach for the words that he needed, but they kept on slipping between his fingers like sand. [color=add3ff]“You can tell us anything, okay?”[/color] Dominika prompted as gentle as she could. [color=add3ff]“We won’t be upset with you, Percy.”[/color] Percy swallowed. He wished his mame had allowed the waiter to drop off the food. He could have used the time to stall. He lowered his gaze again - it was easier to talk to the table. [color=ed1c24]“I… I didn’t want to burden you,”[/color] he finally said. [color=ed1c24]“I thought I could handle it on my own.”[/color] “You are never, ever a burden Percy.” Naomi reassured quickly. She left her hand out on the table in case Percy wanted it. She knew he didn't handle touch well and this was a lot for him. “When I carried you and everything in me ached, the only thing I cared about was meeting you. When you fussed and needed our attention at all hours of the day, the only thing I cared about was seeing that pretty smile and hearing that silly laugh. When you threw a tantrum the first day we left you at day care, I had to pull the car over and cry because all I wanted to do was go back and pick you up. Every last minute project, every scraped knee, every little thing you may have thought was an inconvenience, I was happy because at least I had [i]you[/i]. And even now, knowing this is happening and this is the decision you made, I can only be glad we found out because at least it means we have a chance to keep our baby with us.” Naomi grabbed a napkin and dried her eyes, dabbing away the tears tracks on her cheeks. “I'm not an expert on this and neither is you mom, but I need you to know what we're going to be there for you every step of the way, okay? You're not okay right now, mayn Oytzerl, and that's alright, but we're going to help you better this time.” His chin was wobbling now, and each breath was shaky. He could feel his heart beating faster, and for a fleeting moment, he felt like a small child again - like he had skinned his knee on the playground and all he wanted was to cry on his mothers. It broke him to hear all of this, to see his mame in so much pain. He knew his mom was hurting too. Hurt he could have spared both of them if he’d made another choice. He took another shuddering breath. [color=ed1c24]“ikh veys nisht vos iz mit mir. ikh bin... ikh bin dershrokn. ikh veys nisht vi es aoyftsuhern.”[/color] Dominika’s knuckles were white underneath the table from all of the stress, all of the tension. And as much as she couldn’t stand Naomi these days, she couldn’t help but remember for a split second why she’d fallen in love with her. She was able to understand people and emotions in a way Dominika struggled to - able to hear them out without a compulsive need to solve anything. And she could see the results now - could see the way Percy was listening, rather than arguing and fighting back. [color=add3ff]“We love you, kiddo. More than you’ll ever know. And we’re never going to stop loving you.”[/color] “There is nothing wrong with you, Percy. You got hurt and now your brain is trying to protect you. That's all. It just doesn't care that it's hurting you in the process. And it's okay to be scared. Everyone gets scared. And when you're scared and frightened, you have to reach out to get help. That's what we're here for.” Naomi, overwhelmed and trying to stay focused on Percy, hated herself for needing it but reached a hand across the table, palm up in invitation to Dominikia. “Will you let us help you, mayn neshumele?” Dominika was surprised for a moment - she and her wife hadn’t touched each other in a long time - but she understood. She had the same impulse to wrap Percy up in a tight hug, the sort of hug she used to be able to get him, before the touch aversion grew worse. She took one of her hands out from underneath the table, small crescent moon indents on her palm from where her own nails had dug in, and she gripped Naomi’s hand. She rubbed the back of it gently, just the way she used to. Percy couldn’t hold back the tears any longer. They weren’t wails like they had been in the astral plane with Dorian - but the pain wasn’t any less. He nodded, absolutely terrified of what it would mean - of what his mothers had in mind for helping him. [color=ed1c24]“bite makh mikh nisht farlozn doryan.”[/color] Naomi squeezed Domikina's hand, the familiar glide on the back of her hand more comforting that she'd care to admit. At Percy's plea, Naomi smiled. That at least she could do. “Don't worry. We- Your mom has already spoken with a few people who had people important to them go through this and that was the first thing they recommended, not to take you away from your support system. Your motek will still be there for you to be sweet on, Oytzerl.” Naomi teased. She'd stalled for long enough and she glanced at Dominika, a moment of hesitation in her face, before her steely determination came back full force. “You're going to rehab, Percy. Next Monday. ” [color=add3ff]“It’s near your school, the program is really highly rated. You’ll be there for a few days inpatient to detox, and then you’ll go for outpatient a few hours after class each day,”[/color] Dominika elaborated. [color=add3ff]“They even have a shuttle that will take you there.”[/color] Percy was silent for a moment, his death knell having rung. They were sending him to rehab. It felt surreal. As scared and terrified as he was, as much as he didn’t understand his own feelings… rehab was for people who had serious problems. Did he…? He took a peek up at his moms, and his body trembled again. Maybe he did. He remembered the way during the contest he had wished for a drink when he was panicking - the same way he had wished for one after running into Chase. [color=ed1c24]“O… okay,”[/color] he sniffled, before nodding again. He wasn’t thrilled by the idea. But he also knew it wasn’t an argument he could win. [color=ed1c24]“I’m… I’m really sorry, Mame, Mom. I… I thought I had it under control but… I… “[/color] He shook again, his voice breaking, [color=ed1c24]“am I an alcoholic, Mame?”[/color] Naomi's heart broke and she looked up for a moment. She prayed quietly for strength. Every prayer she'd said for him at night, at the temple… She'd need every ounce of it to get through the rest of this without hating herself. “I don't… I don't think you're there just yet, Oytzerl, but I think… I think you're too close for comfort and that's okay! We're getting you the help you need and we're going to make sure you have more support even afterwards okay?” The world didn't deserve their son. She wished for the days where he was small and nervous, where her skirts were enough to shield him from the demons that drove him to drink now. But there wasn't a skirt large enough that would keep him from this and she drew in a shuddering breath. “I'm taking a sabbatical and moving so I can be there with you as well. I love you so much, Oytzerl, and we're going to get you what you need, okay?” Naomi waved at the server, who skittishly slid food onto the table and vanished. Percy had lost his appetite as the food arrived. He dried his tears on his sleeve, still sniffling slightly. He did a double take as his mom said she was going to take a sabbatical, that she was moving back to California. She’d been in New York since he’d changed schools. [color=ed1c24]“But… what about Columbia? And your research?”[/color] he mumbled. Dominika’s jaw had dropped too. She knew how much her wife hated California - there hadn’t been a week where Naomi hadn’t complained about the academic scene, or even about how the bagels didn’t taste right without New York water. She’d never taken a day off work in her life, and here she was, announcing a sabbatical? She’d been prepared to be the boots on the ground so to speak. “You're more important, Oytzerl. Columbia, and my research, will still be there when I return. I want to make sure you will be too.” Naomi replied quietly, halfheartedly taking a bite of food. “I know you're feeling a lot, but that's no reason not to eat. Eat your hash browns at least. You'll feel better with a little bit of food in your stomach and potatoes, even with this much grease, have a myriad of nutrients in them. Good for a growing boy.” Percy hesitated for a moment. He knew she was right - and that he needed to eat. He’d burned so many calories training and competing in the contest, and he was underweight already as it was. He slowly took a bite of the hash browns, before glancing at Naomi to see if she approved of how much he’d taken. And then slowly, carefully - moving almost like a spooked, wild animal - he slid his hand across the table to his mothers. [Hider=Translations] 1 - Motek: Sweetheart 2 - Oytzerl: Little Treasure 3 - Mame: Mama 4 - Mayn Ketzel: My little kitten 5 - Tayere: Beloved 6 - Never, light of my heart. You are perfect in every way. 7 -Mayn Oytzerl, zey mash deyne freynt, ya: My little treasure, they are your friends, right? 8-Zey zenen nisht shlekht tsu mir: They aren’t mean to me. 9- endi hat zikh nekhtn far mir aoyfgeshtelt. ikh meyn aber az di andere zargn zikh nar vegn mir als a farlengerung fun doryan: Andy stood up for me yesterday. I think the others only care about me as an extension of Dorian, though. 10 - ikh veys nisht vos iz mit mir. ikh bin... ikh bin dershrokn. ikh veys nisht vi es aoyftsuhern: i don't know what's wrong with me. i'm... i'm scared. i don't know how to make it stop 11 - Mayn Neshumele - My little soul 12 - bite makh mikh nisht farlozn doryan - please don’t make me leave Dorian [/hider]