Chapter Text
All Percy remembers is the last pieces of the fight against the earth mother. Him and the seven all fighting for the world and when they had finally won the world went black.
Waking up in what smelled like New York but even worse somehow, like piss, fear and garbage, Percy curses the world and his great grandmother. While sitting up, he realizes that him and Annabeth both got transported to this shitty place. Quite Literally, he thinks when he realizes that they are sitting in one of those big trash bins.
He hears Annabeth groaning and thinks she sounds weird, but why wouldn't she they got dropped from the sky. It's drizzling and the sky is dark. It must be nighttime, he thinks.
“Are you ok?” He asks Annabeth. “I've been better,” she says. “Where are we?” “I have no idea," he responds.
While they have been talking there has been much shuffling and trying to get out of this bin while staying as clean as possible for the both of them. “Is it realistic to say that this place smells worse than New York?” Annabeth asks.
“Oh gods, it might be” he says
“Well fuck. We need to get to a library and figure this place out.”
Percy has been doing some cataloging on his person while talking like she has, and that's when it hits him why it feels extra different; they are both younger than normal, like 14-15. “fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk” he suddenly exclaims in the deepest voice he can muster.
“What is it” she says, lost in thinking of what they need to do in this very unexpected situation.
“We’re like 15” Percy says while freaking out “I mean I feel the same I have the same scars and I can remember everything but look, we’re both like 5’6 I mean I'm taller but still”
Annabeth thinking he's going crazy from the fall for a minute scoffs, “there's no way...” she starts but trails off halfway through, “holy shit, what the fuck. How. What curse is this thing? How do you de-age a person and make them teleport at the same time. Do you have riptide, what are we going to do? I didn't carry id with me, fuckk”
“It's ok. I have riptide; I don't think anyone of our age knows how to do things like this. How about we get out of this back ally before we get jumped. This place still feels like New York but like way worse.” He says trying to stay calm for the both of them. Annabeth can handle her shit all the time but today was worse from the beginning and this won't help her stay chill.
“Ok, ok” she says, while taking deep breaths. “Let's go to a library and get a map of this place.”
While walking down the street, they see many things happening that wouldn't happen in their world. First a sign saying that it gives out free tats for anyone that had gotten mugged in the last week with proof. In neither of their cities had mugging been quite so common for that to be an advertisement. There was a woman with a gun just resting in her belt holster, out in the open asking to be used at any moment. And there was a guy who people were going to great lengths to avoid, crossing the street when they saw him or just turning around. Both Percy and Annabeth were confused but followed suit with the pedestrians around them. Finally stopping to ask for directions to the nearest library when they saw a nice-looking old lady.
“Hello ma’am” Annabeth starts in the most cherry voice she can muster. “We are looking for the nearest library; we have some schoolwork we need to do while were here on a field trip.”
“Oh, you are both such sweethearts, I'm sorry I can't help you right now. It's been shut down because of the Riddler and one of his latest pranks. It almost burned down. There is a bookstore near here that should be open right now though. I assume you wanted to use the computers. I sure hope that helps you both.” The lady says talking much faster than Percy would have thought for someone her age.
They both thank her profusely after getting directions from her; they speedwalk there to make sure they get there before closing.
When they get to the computers, they both search things up madly. She goes for things they need to know like who the Riddler is and what they do. Leading her down a rabbit hole of “The Batman” and his rouges. All the while Percy is looking for places; they might be able to stay. He considered the oxygen bubble thing but after learning about the state of the rivers in this city. He now knows is called Gotham, he thinks otherwise. Landing on not wanting to sleep outside him and Annabeth decide that staying in a homeless shelter for women and children is the best bet for them at the moment. It hits nine o'clock and they get kicked out of the store.
While walking down the street they get pushed into a back alley. “What do you think you're doing out here all alone at night, people like you are bound to get pushed around” the thug says.
Percy almost laughs but holds it in. “We’re just trying to get through here; can we hold it on whatever this is.”
“As long as you give us whatever you have” the biggest one says trying to look like the leader of the group.
“I mean man, we don't have much” Annabeth says “probably less then you guys have”
“Sure, a sweetheart like you has to have something in that backpack” the big guy says.
“What she's trying to say is back off. We don't want trouble, for you that is” Percy sneaks in there.
“Ohh we get ourselves a Mr. Tough guy here” a smaller one of the men says mockingly, “You sure you want to stay with this joker babe.” He says to Annabeth.
“Yes, and before you get in any more trouble, I'm 15. Back off” Annabeth says while putting a hand in the pocket she keeps her knife in.
“We’re going to go now.” Percy says, “Have fun with all the mugging you get to or whatever this is.”
They push past them onto the street while they are almost comforting the big guy who looks like he feels a little bad for flirting with a 15-year-old.
“That was something," Annabeth says, looking murderous.
“At least it seemed like he felt bad,” Percy says, trying to make sure no one actually dies today.
“That seems like the bar is a little too low” She rightfully says.
“Well, they were trying to mug us sooo” He retorts.
Then they hear a scream from the alley they just left. Turning around and sprinting back they see a hooded man with a red mask holding a gun at the biggest man in the group. Holding him in the air he says something in the bug guys' ear, and he and the group of, albeit far more injured guys run away. The man in the hood backs away to leave not seeing them but Percy yells out “YO”.
Annabeth is absolutely freaking out because she just read about this man and does not want anything to do with the vigilante side of Gotham. She wants to break this curse and leave before they can do anything to actually affect this other world. The Red Hood strolls down the alley and before she can jump Percy to book it, he starts talking.
“What's good man, where’d you learn to fight like that” Percy says sounding like he knows nothing, which he does.
“Many places little man, it was good that the two of you handled those guys like that, I don't want kids getting hurt when I was watching from above” The Red Hood admits.
“That's not at all creepy” Percy says sounding like he has a death wish to Annabeth, but what does she know.
Cutting in she says, “thank you for that we better be going” and then backing away as fast as she can.
“It's good, been meaning to talk with those guys for a while." he says. Then askes the burning question. “You two, ok? Looks like you've taken a beating from something”
Percy jumps in “Yeah we’re good little tired but what can you do.”
“Both of you shouldn't be out late. This is the tamest it'll get all night. You got a place to stay?” He says, sounding slightly concerned.
“Yeah, we’re good staying at my aunts for a bit.” Annabeth says.
“Here” The Red Hood says “Call this number if you need anything, and just so you know. We will know if you need help, so seriously call.”
“Totally, thank you for this, uhhhhh we gotta go. Anyways have a nice night.” Annabeth says and pulls Percy away from the man.
“What was that.” Annabeth says a while later.
“I don't know”
“You yelled out yo at the man who just had a gun pointed at another guy's face. Dumbass. What if he wanted to kill us?!” She whisper yells at him.
“He seemed like a good guy” Percy retorts. “And I was right, he said to call if we needed anything”.
“Percy, he's like a mass murderer in Gotham. He kills people who do bad things all the time. Like a textbook vigilante.” She says, trying to get through to him.
“Ok. If you don't want us to be involved with that, we won't be promise. It's past time to get into that shelter so i think we have to sleep outside tonight.” He says.
Oh, that sucks. We can't try to sneak in or something? We could totally do it. I don't want to sleep on a bench.” Annabeth says trying to figure something out.
“We could but it seemed like a strict place, and I don't want to be kicked out and not able to go back. Let's find a park or something and sleep someplace private.”
“let's do that, but if we don't get into an ok place after a week then I'm leaving” she says in a mock threat.
After like an hour of searching they find a place near the trees and a bunch of bushes. They use their jackets to lie on and cuddle while falling asleep.