"Where's the baby?"
There was a little giggle.
"There she is!"
A loud, adorable laugh followed.
"Where's the baby?" Percy hid his eyes behind his fingers and another little giggle (which he still swears to Annabeth and Eli that it had a mischievous tone to it) followed. He just couldn't smile any wider if he wanted to.
"There she is!" he said and looked down at the little girl as she laughed and laughed until Percy was joining in and tickling her sides.
"No, no, no more!" she cried and laughed and, gods, Percy felt like this was perfect. Absolutely perfect. He always felt like this with his children. He didn't care what Annabeth or Eli or Zeus or Poseidon said. His children were fucking perfect and they made him happier then he knows he'll ever be.
"I think Fish Sticks Dad is going to give Elicia a heart attack, Mom," Luke hollered from somewhere in the house and Percy pouted. If anything, he was going to give everyone else a heart attack because there was nothing cuter than a laughing Elicia. Except, maybe, for baby pictures of Luke and videos of him laughing. But it was too close to tell.
"Really, I'm starting to think she loves you more than me," Eli mock-groaned as he watched on. Percy couldn't blame him. Everyone wanted to be the reason Elicia laughed.
"I think Math Magician Dad is jealous of Fish Sticks Dad again, Mom," Luke's voice again traveled through the house, though it was closer now. Percy flipped the bird at his son (which Eli was quick to slap away, much to Elicia's amusement) and glared at the boy who waltzed into the living room.
"You are a terrible gossip at school, aren't you?" Percy said and Luke, now fifteen, just grinned. Eli and Annabeth both said Luke looked like him when he smiled but Percy was pretty sure he was more handsome. No way was the fox-like smile comparable to his awesome charm.
Annabeth poked her head around the corner from the kitchen, only to roll her eyes at all of them and disappear again. "You all are childish."
"Wait, me too?" the only other man beside Percy gasped. Percy, for his part, laughed with Elicia.
Percy picked her up and handed her off to Eli who smiled as she immediately went for his glasses. Babies and precious things. Like magnets, they were.
"So really, how's school, Luke. No one picking on you? If they are, just beat them up. It's always worked for me. How about a girlfriend? I know your mom's been watching you but any crushes? Oh right, I have to make sure you're not doing any drugs too. Mom's orders as well." Percy grinned when Luke rolled her eyes, just like his mother.
"Not you too," he bemoaned and Percy laughed. He knew no one picked on his son. He was just too likable. He did have Percy's good looks and awesome (if still amateur) fighting instincts just in case of anything. His son didn't have a girlfriend either. He was a bit too mature for anyone in his grade, apparently. As well as the few grades ahead of him as well. Definitely his mom's fault. Luke also wasn't stupid enough to do any drugs. One, he was too mature. Two, he looked out for his health. Three, his mom.
But it didn't hurt to poke at him a little.
"He's doing great," Eli said and Percy looked at him.
Eli married Annabeth a few years back already. Percy had approved of him long before that. To start with, he had the crazy smarts to match Annabeth, though he fell more into the science department than architecture. He was unimaginably understanding (he didn't believe them when they had to break the whole godly business to him (another story for another time) but he'd eventually come to terms and had been adamant in supporting them (mainly Annabeth) in any way he could) and didn't judge anyone unless he knew he was in the right to. He could be territorial but that habit didn't apply to people he cared for, which Percy liked a lot. But the real thing that caught Percy's attention was that he was kind. He had a heart bigger than anyone else Percy knew, which was a great feat because Percy's met many, many people.
It was why Percy had introduced him and Annabeth just a month after he'd met the other man.
Before that, Percy had been content. But raising Luke with Annabeth was difficult while he worked for Olympus. Percy's life wasn't entirely his own and he knew that. Annabeth had wanted to make it work though. They both wanted Luke to be raised with both his mom and his dad. They'd tried to for eleven years.
But Percy wasn't there nearly as often as he should have been. Annabeth was understanding. By the grace of Hades, Luke had been understanding which hadn't made Percy feel any better. Worse really. He barely visited once a week. That wasn't what a real father would do.
So Percy had also been searching while working. He had loved Annabeth and Luke more than anything but that was also why he didn't mind giving up his spot as a father to someone who could be with them for more than once a week. And who didn't attract nearly as much trouble (Annabeth tried to argue that point but Percy wasn't having it) as he did.
Percy found someone too.
It wasn't a fascinating story. While Percy was ready to rescue a couple of demigod children from a few nasty hellhounds, a mortal had burst onto the scene and thrown a trashcan with the wild fervor of someone who didn't know what they were doing but wanted to do something.
Of course, it didn't work. The man did have the arms and the trashcan would have really injured normal dogs. Hellhounds did not fall into that category though. The hellhounds were distracted for only a second (long enough to let the children slip past) but they had pounced again and the man had just thrown himself at them. He would have died as well if Percy hadn't intervened. It was a bloody ordeal that ended in Percy escorting crying children to Camp Half-Blood one way and escorting a comatose man to the hospital the other way.
After that though, Percy had just… become friends with the man whose name he'd learn to be Eliezer Fallas. He liked to go by Eli though.
Before he'd realized it, he visited Eli every day while he was in the hospital because of his response that was "I saw someone who needed help and I couldn't just stand and watch". That was impressive. When Percy got to know Eli more, when he knew for certain that the man was genuine, he'd introduced him to Annabeth.
Gods, it was the best decision he's ever made and he's made some world-saving decisions. To top it off, (after months of explaining gods, Titans, giants, etcetera) Eli didn't mind Percy around Annabeth while they were dating and even after they married. Sure, in the beginning, it was hella awkward and Percy had avoided coming around because he was feeling a bit angsty at the time (and boy, did Luke have an earful for him after that) but he learned he didn't have anything to worry about. Eliezer was so much of a fucking godsend that he wanted Percy around. Percy has been blessed! He's sure of it. What kind of newlywed wants their wife's previous boyfriend around?
Eliezer, that's who. Because he's fucking perfect.
And so Annabeth, Luke, Percy and Eli had a thing that worked. Luke didn't like any of it at first, but he'd taken to calling both Eli and Percy 'Dad' so they figured he'd come to accept it. Annabeth still loved Percy (for some reason he still couldn't quite understand, like, at all) but she'd grown to love Eli as well (really, who couldn't?). He became a necessary and loved part of the family.
Soon after that, Eli and Annabeth had Elicia, named after Eli's older half-sister who was just as kind and impossibly understanding as her brother. Percy had the chance to meet her and afterward, had been convinced that the Fallas family were probably all angels in disguise. Like, angels of the capital G. Yeah, that kind of angel.
Now they had what they had now. Luke was Percy's and Annabeth's child and lived the first eleven years of his life with an on and off father. Elicia was Annabeth's and Eli's child who couldn't be happier with life at the beautiful age of two. They were all one big, happy family. Percy just needed his mom, step-dad and sister to make this whole thing complete.
One that Percy wouldn't give up for the world. Gods-be-damned.
"Well," Percy said and he smiled one of his cheekier smiles. "He does have a smart, doting father and a mother that could scare Medusa."
Eli grinned (oh gods, could a man look that happy and still be a simple, mortal man? Eli could) and bounced Elicia who smiled. She had Eli's smile.
"Did you just call me ugly," Annabeth called into the living room.
"No!" Percy cried, absolutely appalled she could ever think so. "I just said you could scare Medusa!" Annabeth? Ugly? They didn't even belong in the same sentence. And Elicia had inherited her mother's blonde hair and beautiful grey eyes.
Luke laughed as he set up the table. Percy and Eli played with Elicia for a bit longer before they were called for dinner, to which they both started to argue over who got to feed the youngest resident of the house. Eli won because Percy just happens to suck at rock-paper-scissors.
"I wanted to feed the baby!" Percy cried dramatically and both Luke and Annabeth shared an eye roll. Those two were too alike for Percy's liking. Eli laughed.
Percy liked these moments. Truthfully, there was a lot of things he liked about his life but sitting down at the table with his family, enjoying life as it slowed down around them, this was something too precious to even put into words. It was something that he never wanted to end. He enjoyed his spars with Nico. He enjoyed visiting Camp Half-Blood and guiding the youngest arrivals to the safe haven. He enjoyed sitting down with the praetors at Camp Jupiter. He enjoyed getting to know Artemis and Apollo. He enjoyed his walks with Poseidon.
Percy liked a lot of things in his new life but none of that could come close to the perfectness that was his family: Annabeth, Luke, Eliezer, Elicia. If he had to choose between the world and his family, Percy was almost scared of what his choice would be.
Night came all too soon. Luke and Elicia were safely tucked away, their dreams hopefully filled with love and happiness. Percy hugged Annabeth and Eliezer before he stepped out their door.
"Come back as soon as you can, Perce," Eli said. His smile was too kind to be mortal. Even Percy's stepfather wasn't so nice.
"Luke has been getting a bit rowdier so you might need to drop by. There's only so much we could do," Annabeth said but there was that shine in her eyes that Percy was pretty sure meant she was amused.
"I'll be back," he said. Of course, he'd be. "I love you guys."
"We love you too, Percy," they chorused back and wasn't that cute? Wasn't that perfect? Maybe Percy was just clingy. Maybe he felt lonely sometimes. Never with his family though. So he waved at them before walking further away. He waited for the sound of the door closing before he disappeared in a flash of light, off to fulfill his duties to Olympus for the day.
Steve Rogers: A.K.A. Captain AmericaAlcohol didn't work on Steve. The super soldier serum just burned right through it. He already knew that. Sometimes he didn't like it but he accepted it. Foregoing the incapacitations and hangovers for the strength to protect his country and the world from anything that would do it harm? It was a pathetically small price to pay. Extended life that inevitably outlived his old friends and family? Maybe that was harder to accept. It was also the cause that made him want to get drunk. Sadly, it just wasn't happening.
It was alright though. The slight burn of the alcohol going down his throat reminded him of celebrations long ago, of those not-so-long-ago. Of happy times spent with people he could trust, people he'd taken to calling family. Drinking alone definitely didn't help but the alcohol reminded him. He enjoyed the memories.
He set his glass down. He looked at it.
Steve poured the remaining contents down the drain.
Bitter-sweet memories of life before and after the ice as well as drinking alone wasn't healthy for him. He actually felt a little worse than he had before he poured himself a glass. He'd just go to sleep. Then he'd get up at five and go for a run.
So that's what Steve did. His sleep wasn't all that fitful. There weren't any nightmares but the images that flashed in his mind had been vivid. Too vivid for him to completely relax. He didn't mind that too much (he was too used to it). When his alarm started to ring, he'd hit the clock a little more forcefully then he'd intended to. Fortunately, it just flew and hit his couch harmlessly. Maybe a little more dented than before but alright. He washed up, got dressed, then left before anyone else was awake (he wasn't really sure about Vision but he wasn't out of his room at least) to go for his jog.
This was much better. The steady rhythm of his feet hitting the ground, the beating of his heart steady as he breathed, the air cooling him down as he ran was therapeutic. Even if he could get drunk, jogging was definitely the better medium for calming down and relaxing.
It was a bit early but there was still a decent amount of people already out and about (definitely not as many as late morning or noon hours would yield). Some recognized him and waved so he politely waved back but he didn't slow. Some were too tired to notice who he was, which was nicer. One kid who was probably his late teens flipped him off. Steve carefully ignored that. These days, people had mixed feelings about the Avengers. He couldn't blame them.
Sokovia had been a disaster. Stopping a city from falling and causing the damage of a meteorite had been the only upside. That, apparently, wasn't enough compared to the flip side. One hundred and seventy-seven dead because of one rogue AI that was the creation of Tony Stark himself. Steve wanted to be angry, he really did. He couldn't though. The other man was already beating himself up enough about it, even if nobody said anything. Steve also understood that Tony Stark was Tony Stark. The lady Peper Potts could barely control him.
Still, taking into account that one hundred and seventy-seven died because of Ultron, and then seventy-four deaths were directly correlated with the Avengers actions during the Battle of New York. He didn't expect people to not say anything. It didn't hurt any less though.
Steve just kept running.
He was reaching his tenth lap around the block when he heard shouting and cursed words being thrown around. It was far off and wasn't all that much of a rare occurrence in New York, of all places, but Steve still broke off of his street, making his way down towards a neighborhood of apartment complexes. It wasn't his first time stopping a fight in small, shadowed corners of the city. But he'd learn since his first time that he had to be cautious. Some fights he could intervene to stop someone from dying. Others were too personal, something that Captain America wouldn't be appreciated should he intervene.
When Steve rounded the corner to find a man with two children thrown over his shoulders, he was very convinced that it didn't matter what was going on. He should intervene.
He took note of fine golden powder that seemed to be scattered everywhere. The man was definitely covered in it the most. Then he noted that it wasn't a man at all. He couldn't be older than seventeen but he was tall, his shoulders broad with arms that were well defined. Definitely capable of picking up children on running off before anyone could notice. He swung a bat… not a bat. He was pretty sure that was a sword and it was held in one hand, one he was using to hold one of the children upon his shoulder. Two little girls that were probably eleven at most.
Oh God, this was so unorthodox and suspicious and wrong at the same time, Steve was tempted to ask questions later and use fists first.
"Hold it." Steve never went into a fight without first knowing what was going on. So questions would have to be now. Unless he had no choice. "Who are you and what are you doing with those little girls?"
When talking with highly suspicious persons, Steve always made sure to use what the others called Captain's voice. Apparently, it wasn't a very nice voice.
"Seriously man, that made me sound like a pedophile. I'm sixteen, just so you know," came a voice and Steve was almost thrown by the light, amused tone. From a normal teenager, it would have made him relax. Right now, it made this just seem… a little more wrong.
The teenager turned to face him and Steve almost sighed at the surprise he saw in strikingly green eyes. Almost unnervingly green, like contacts made to look like the sea. Except, they looked very much natural. The surprise filtered away though and all that was left was a bright smile. Something in Steve suddenly felt like this guy probably wasn't a threat. He didn't relax yet.
"It's alright, Mr. America. These are my cousins. They were in trouble so they came to me but their anemic too. They just fainted from the run."
Steve just really, really didn't buy that. The bad lie almost made him cringe. "I'm not sure I can believe that, son. Can you tell me what you're doing with a sword in your hand? Hopefully, you're not using it to help your… cousins." Were there any laws that prohibited the public use of swords? He was pretty sure there was. Maybe.
Again, there was a surprised look on the teenager's face. Steve did sigh this time, though he tried not to make it too noticeable. Did the other think he could just walk around with it? Was Steve dealing with someone with mental disabilities? Or was it just something that was normal in the twenty-first century that he needed to get used to? No, that didn't sound right… hopefully.
"Well, uh. It's from Toys-R-Us," he said lamely but even his smile died.
"I'm sorry, but I think I'm going to have to alert the authorities. Unless you tell me the truth."
The teenager pursed his lips before shrugging, with Steve had to admit was impressive with two children resting on each shoulder. The boy gestured to the alley which Steve had yet to take a look into. He did. He blinked.
Steve could have sworn there hadn't been anyone in the alley but now that he was looking, he saw three burly men all slumped over or lying limp on the ground. One of them was even groaning. All of them had some sort of mask or covering on their face. There was no way Steve would have missed that but apparently, he had. Now he was looking at three downed men. There wasn't any blood on the ground so they probably weren't dead.
"Okay, they aren't my cousins. But these guys jumped them and I stepped in." The teen pointed up a fire escape at one open window. "That's my apartment. I came out when I heard something then grabbed my sword before jumping in." He shrugged again. "The sword's my dad's. He likes that kind of thing. And I do know these kids. I was going to take them to their parents."
"Without calling the police." Steve didn't mean for it to come off as suspicious. The story was starting to make sense, even if it was strange that a teenager just had a sword lying around and was evidently capable of using it. Still, something didn't settle quite right in him. Like something was wrong.
"I figured their parents wanted their children back first. Besides, if I just jumped some kind of gang-affiliated business, it's better to get involved, then step back. First hitting each dude hard enough that they won't remember the last twenty-four hours. See? Safe."
He was smiling again. Steve almost smiled, almost, because the boy looked pretty proud of himself. Steve would be too. It was a good deed that he just accomplished.
"I'll report these men to the authorities then," Steve said. But just as he was reaching for his phone, there was shifting movement. He and the teenager turned to see the three men rousing themselves. Steve instantly went on the alert. Too bad he didn't have his shield. Instead, he took a step forward in order to knock them all out again.
Only for something hard to slam into the back of his skull. Steve's vision flickered for a second. Then everything spun and swam around him and he thought he heard shouting and a flurry of movement. It was confusing. Everything was moving and there was a pounding that mixed with all the noise, that drowned out the noise.
Slowly, things started to slow down. The world wasn't violently turning anymore. Worried green eyes filtered into view and he realized he'd been laid on his back. There was a smarting pain on his cheek. He probably fell after the blow to his head.
"Wh-what–"
"Don't speak man. That was a nasty hit you just took. I think any normal man would have died just now."
Steve shouldn't have gone down in the first place. But the brain was sensitive. But it hurt. He felt like a truck just ran him over. The serum should have prevented that kind of thing. He couldn't have been felled so easily. Actually, he should have heard someone coming up behind him.
"I'm alright," Steve grit out. He sat up. He touched the back of his head and felt the warmth. Blood.
"I don't think you are. But then again, I don't know a whole lot about Captain America," the teenager said. "Do you need me to take you to the hospital? Anyone I can call to pick you up?"
"Where are the men?" Steve asked. He looked around. He didn't see anyone besides to the two girls sitting up against the wall.
"They jumped you," the boy said. "A couple of their friends sped by, hopped out, collected them, then took off. They didn't touch anyone. Probably thought they didn't hit you hard enough and wanted to make it out of here without having to deal with Captain America."
What?
That was…
He got jumped by what was most likely a small gang. Not only that but he didn't even lift a hand before he was down. That was just… that didn't happen. That wasn't possible.
Steve suddenly wanted to scoff at himself. Of course, it was possible. Anything was possible. If he wasn't on top of everything, he could be killed. If he wasn't vigilant, someone could die. Had… had he been out of it? Was Sokovia bothering him, was the Battle of New York bothering him more than he realized? Of God, what would have happened if he stepped onto the battlefield as distracted as he was?
Steve groaned and rubbed the heels of his hands into his eyes. He made sure not to get blood on his face. With a sigh, he let the teenager pull him to his feet.
"Thank you," he said. He wasn't feeling very thankful. He should be. "I'm sorry I couldn't have been more of a help. It's… disgraceful as Captain America."
"You're human. You're allowed to make some mistakes sometimes."
"Not when someone's life may depend on it," Steve said and it came out harder and more bitter than he had meant for it to. Actually, he hadn't meant to say that at all. He, Captain America, the super soldier, wasn't supposed to lay his worries on some poor, unsuspecting teenager that didn't know what he was talking about.
Steve was out of it. He must be.
"It's alright." Steve couldn't help but feel surprised. Two words seemed to cut through the bad mood he had seemingly, unknowingly, been suffering. He looked into green eyes as a warm hand clapped him on the shoulder. He was used to being taller than the people he met on the streets, taller than anyone that wasn't his team. He was used to standing taller than everyone else. Steve stared at the teenage boy who was clearly an inch shorter than him in height but seemed to be… bigger somehow. Larger, taller. Unwavering. "If I wanted anyone to be a superhero, it'd be someone who was afraid of making mistakes because he understands the consequences.
"But," the boy continued. "I think you can only worry so much before it's just getting in the way. Like, you can worry about it. But the important part is actually doing something about whatever you're worried about. You might make more mistakes if you get paranoid. At least, I'm pretty sure."
Steve studied the kid before him. "What's your name?"
"Percy," he said. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. America."
"Just Steve is fine." It was fine. He hoped it was. Steve was confused, not to mention this encounter was probably one of the strangest he's ever had the pleasure or misfortune of having. But this kid, Percy, was a good kid. He gave off a light, pleasant vibe and his smile was genuine, for the most part. And he'd supposedly jumped in to help two girls that were in need of aid. Steve wasn't any psychologist or anything but nothing said he was a bad person.
"I'll… I'll help you carry these kids home," he said. He could probably tell the police there had been an attempted kidnapping but he never saw the perpetrators' faces. He also never saw the vehicle they took off in. "If you had to, would you be able to recount a detailed description to the police about the vehicle the men used to escape?"
But Percy just shook his head. "All I know was that it was a white van but there's so many of those. Also, I don't know my car brands or whatever. Sorry."
"No, no. It's alright." So nothing. He had nothing to give the police. There was no point in going to them in the first place. "I guess just getting these girls back home then."
"I don't think that's a good idea," the kid said. "You've got blood all over the back of your shirt. I mean, even if it's nothing, you probably don't want to scare the public or anything."
Right. Steve almost forgot. Captain America couldn't just walk around with blood on his shirt. People might jump to conclusions.
"Do you maybe have something I could wear?" Steve asked. God, he felt embarrassed asking this kid for help after he got knocked out. Briefly, he wondered if Percy probably didn't think as highly of him as he did before. That would be… disappointing but unsurprising. Hopefully, he didn't go and do anything like post this event on any of his media things.
"Sure, no problem!" Percy, sword still in hand (and Steve was going to look up laws about that later), scooped up one of the girls. "Can you carry her?" he asked. Steve didn't answer, just took the girl. Percy picked up the other one. They seemed to be breathing alright. They didn't have any obvious injuries. Fainting was the most probable case here.
Percy led him into the apartment complex and up two flights of stairs and down a hall before he came to a stop in front of a door. When they were both inside, Steve and the kid laid both girls down on a couch. Steve took a look around.
It was a surprisingly nice, cozy home. Everything seemed small, the hall, the living room, the kitchen, the dining room but it was nice. The living room was neatly furnished with soft couches and a bean bag chair in one corner with a television that was still playing. The dining room had a table that seated four and there was a cornucopia with fruits inside. There was a glass door that slid open for access to the fire escape and it was currently open. The hall's walls had pictures of various children with the only person in multiple frames being Percy himself. Steve took note of that. He also noted that Percy's bathroom was sparse but clean when he opened it.
"You can use the tub and wash up in here. I'll grab a shirt for you," Percy said. Steve nodded.
He'd blacked out for a second when he was hit so he probably had a minor concussion, one that won't be bothering him in a few hours. He slipped his shirt off and grimaced at the blood that soaked the back. He wasn't bleeding anymore, thankfully but he'd bleed enough that it trickled down his back. It looked worse than it really was.
By the time Steve rinsed his back and his head, he turned to find a shirt already sitting on the bathroom sink. He was almost unnerved at how he hadn't noticed it being placed there. He dried his hair before voices drew him out of the bathroom.
"Thank you so much, sir. We- we've been searching. We didn't know wh–"
"Sh, don't worry. It's alright now. I'll take you the rest of the way there. You and your sister will be fine. They won't be able to find you."
"B-but–"
"It's okay. It's okay. Just rest up for now. I've got food and a bunch of blankets. You can be strong and get moving tomorrow. No one'll bother you until then."
There was some muffled crying, then 'thank yous' that just poured out afterward. Steve smiled. This kid…
He waited until the crying turned into steady breathing before actually stepping out of the bathroom and heading to the kitchen. The two girls were sleeping on the couch, in more comfortable positions. They had blankets wrapped around them as well. One of them, the older one, had red, puffy eyes but slept peacefully.
"Are they alright?" Steve asked and the kid gave a thumbs up. He pulled a granola bar out of a cupboard and tossed it to Steve.
"They're covered. I'm taking them home later because the younger one's still sleeping. Other than that, they aren't gonna be in any trouble anymore."
"That so?" Steve said. That wasn't what it sounded like to him, granted he hadn't heard very much. But there was definitely more to this than two little girls getting kidnapped on the street.
"It's alright."
Steve had already heard those two words. Hearing them again let him know there was definitely a different tone to it. Percy said those words with a note of finality. There was nothing else to discuss. Steve didn't need to poke his nose any further.
It was one of those situations, apparently. One of those situations that were too private to warrant the help of a third party, that needed to be solved between the two parties and those parties alone. But there were children involved. Steve was tempted to grill the teenager further but he looked into eyes that were impossibly green and he didn't. He didn't do anything but eat his granola bar, briefly say goodbye, check on the girls one last time, then leave.
Steve walked down two flights of stairs with a mild headache that persisted until he'd finally reached the exit of the apartment complex. There were some things he just couldn't understand about the goings on of people. Things that people wouldn't let him understand. People that had their own secrets that Steve had to skirt around. This whole ordeal had felt long and confusing and arduous but when Steve looked at the time, it was only six forty.
Steve jogged his way back to the Avengers Facility.