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Light was not something Percival was unfamiliar with, even as he was grounded, the tug of floating away always stayed there. The call of emptiness rang through his body all day, every day. As he worked in his workshop, around his friends, in battle, as he tries to have fun, to sleep, to eat, everything was always over a layer of the pit in his stomach threatening to overtake the rest of his body and take his straight out of his mind.
He went through his life ignoring it, only giving in when he fully went to sleep, only to be shocked awake by vicious nightmares or when he shot his guns, when he had a moment where he was either truly in full control; or out of it.
Of course, something as important as eating, sleeping, socializing, hydrating or just living is something Percy would ignore, ignore in the pursuit of excellence, of revenge. Ignore to the point of passing out right in the middle of Greyskull keep's dinner room, right beside the table on their shitty old carpet and broken old chairs.
And then he didn't wake up. And didn't wake up. And no one saw. No one knew.
Of course it was Pike who found him, the rest of the group out to a bar crawl for the night, Percy, in all his weak humanhood, pale and taking shallow breaths with his eyes closed on the floor. His black powder stained clothes adorned his thin frame. How did she not realize she needed to check on him after he didn't come down for breakfast or dinner ?
Pike slapped his face, no response, just the feeling of clammy, cold skin under her hand.
She shook him, his body stayed slack, unconscious.
"PERCY!" She yelled, tears welling in her eyes as she gripped the human's shoulders with all her might. Fear tugged at her, threatening to bring her to her knees and sobbing, she was the healer, what good would she be if Percy was lost on her watch.
Of course she used her last spell just before coming out to find him here.
Percy's breaths stayed shallow and irregular, and worry pressed into her mind stronger and stronger.
She shook him once again for good measure before rushing up into the kitchen to turn on the tap and yank a glass out of the cabinet before running back to the dining room.
She put the glass to his mouth and tilted it forward, but he didn't swallow, and he didn't wake up. Water spilled across his face and shirt, washing away from black powder.
What would she do if she couldn't get him back, if he died--the spirit needs to be willing, if this happened, would he be willing? He probably wouldn't. How many secrets were you hiding De Rolo.
She walked into the kitchen and opened their chill chamber, scooping a handful of ice and putting it in a glass, walked back into the dining room again and poured it on his face and Percy's eyes fluttered open, confused and exhausted.
"Percy?" Pike said quietly, touching his face softly, with such care he felt like a porcelain doll in her hands.
Percy cleared his throat, trying to stand up but being humbled by his eyesight suddenly blacking out, he clutched Pike's shoulders in order to avoid a tumble to the floor.
He looked so, weak, his lips were chapped and ripped, dried blood adorning his face, his arms scratched and caked in black powder. His glasses were fogged over with ash and more black powder ( seriously did he bathe in the stuff? ) and face pale as a ghost. Moments like these Pike was reminded how young he was, he was just a kid, lost and in a spiral after facing hardship after hardship with no one in his corner.
"Percy, we need to talk about this," Pike said, grasping his shoulders again, trying to get his eyes. The blue specks kept their point on their floor tight, pupils heavily dilated. He looked so scared .
Percy fumbled with his fingers, thin things half caked in his black powder and ash "I suppose we do," he sighed, defeated.
"Percy, why didn't you take care of yourself? Or tell us? You've been getting so much better." Pike said sadly, rubbing his shoulders up and down.
"I- I guess it's just a way to get out of my head, I always chase it, focusing do hard on my projects, letting the pull of light take me, so I didn't have to think--I just didn't have to think. There are definitely worse ways I've tried to get out of my mind--definitely worse." Percy croaked.
"Percy," Pike said breathlessly, he had been through so much, and she kept getting struck by how young he was. He thought the only way way out was destroying himself. "We--I can help you, it isn't the way Percy, please." She begged.
"I know, I know Pike, but I don't have an option, I have to finish these guns, I--I have to--" He said, cutting off into a sob.
"We aren't the picture of healthy coping I know, but--we are there for each other, and, we care about you, and we can't keep watching you do this." Pike took a sharp inhale to bury the lump growing in her throat. "My first thought after you didn't wake up was--it was what if he didn't--what if you didn't want to come back--what would happen to you if we couldn't get you back. Percy, we love you." Pike finished, tears pouring down her face.
"I'm--I'm sorry Pike, I never wanted to do this--I just--I'm losing control Pike." Percy choked, leaning forward and resting his forehead on her chest.
Pike softly kissed his forehead, running her hand over the scars at his hairline, she then wrapped her arms around Percy, holding him close, gripping his shirt with her smalls and not letting go.
"It's ok, it's ok, we'll be there." Pike said quietly.
And Percy believed her.