Title: Silver Lightning
Genre: Romance, Adventure, Family
Rating: T
Pairing: Sherlock/ John Greg/Mycroft
Warning: Slash, violence, implied sexual content.
Summary: Zeus's daughter has gone missing near Scotland so Hera commands John, son of Apollo and Greg, son of Athena to go and rescue her. But they have to hide all this from Sherlock and he's not happy, nope, he's jealous actually, as is Mycroft.
WARNING: Slash! nothing heavy or graphic but just warning that this will be a slash!
John stepped out of the yellow cab a block away from the Empire State Building. Paying the cabbie John straightened up and took in a big breath of city air. Very different from London, but still the same as John remembered.
Standing in front of the famous Sky Scraper John couldn't help but get caught up in many reveries. From when he first found out who his father really was. His summers in Long Island. Fighting the impossible. Risking everything to be with his mother and sister and step father in London whenever possible. Even as the years passed and he became excellent in protecting himself and his family so far away from Camp Half Blood and Olympus, he was required to come back every now and again.
Since meeting Sherlock Holmes, and inevitably Mycroft Holmes who has a nasty, and somewhat OCD habit of keeping tabs on him, it's been hard to keep half of his life a secret. He thanks the gods every day for the Mist and it's ability to mask him and his actions some times.
It's been about a year since Sherlock's remarkable return from the 'dead'.
It was hard for John to accept it at first. How many times had he imagined Sherlock's return? How many times had his godly side caused him to hallucinate his flatmate? How many monsters had used his best friends image to weaken and distract him?
No, it had taken a lot of convincing.
From Mycroft, to Lestrade, to Mrs. Hudson, even Harry was needed to convince him that Sherlock was real and not just a figment of his ever lasting imagination.
Sherlock and Mycroft seemed a bit confused as to why it took so long for him to accept Sherlock's return. Harry understood, knowing who he was, having grown up with him. She had been there when he'd disappeared suddenly for months at a time. She was there when he'd wake up from nightmares that were really visions of some monster reeking havoc somewhat linked to him. She knew the things he's seen, the things he's fought, and the challenges he's had to overcome. Lestrade was surprisingly patient with him and came to visit with him every day for nearly a month helping him.
Since Lestrade had conversations with Sherlock and Sherlock's responses made sense with what Lestrade said John eventually accepted that Sherlock was actually real and not a sign that he finally lost his mind.
But after the denial was gone, then came anger.
John was furious with Sherlock. How dare he make him think he was dead!
Even though John understood deep deep deep down that what Sherlock did was logical and for the best, he couldn't help the anger that burned in his heart and stomach. He felt betrayed.
When you're a demigod, you're born a warrior and raised a hero. You're brought up to save lives, and expecting yours to end at any given day and any given time.
Hell, most Greek demigods don't expect to make it to twenty. If they do, it's considered a miracle. Being heroes, and surrounded by other heroes isn't the best thing in the world. They are just as much as you, out for the glory and fame that comes with being a hero. And even if you make friends there's always a monster out there waiting to either take them or you away.
So he grew up being comfortable with people, but was always cautious to not get too close. He had made the mistake once and became friends with a spunky child of Ares, and that ended in his friend's death. With Sherlock it was different. Sherlock had caused him to be alive again after his time in Afghanistan. After being an empty shell from all that he'd seen. From the worst in humans to the bile horrors of the monsters in the desert, it was Sherlock that brought him back to life.
Sherlock had meant more to him than anyone else and losing him had caused John great pain. Pain he considered going on suicide missions for. Pain that almost caused him to just pack up and leave permanently for New York and become a camp councilor. Pain that just wouldn't leave him be.
But they were healing. And that's what mattered.
It was hell though, getting away to visit his family all the way in New York. He would have told Sherlock but as clingy as Sherlock's been lately, John didn't think it was the best idea.
Sherlock cared a lot for John. The Good doctor didn't really understand why but he knew he did. Sherlock's current goal at the moment was to make it up to John for leaving, and that meant a clingy Sherlock. From accompanying John while he went grocery shopping, to waiting for John's shift to end and waiting patiently in the waiting room, to always running to the kitchen to make a cuppa tea when he deduced John was about to get up and do it himself.
It wasn't that John minded...at first. He sort of liked 'nice' Sherlock, but after a day or so not only was it not really 'his' Sherlock, but it was weird and annoying. But no matter how much he told Sherlock that he could stop, the detective didn't.
So when John walked towards the park he kept his eyes open for an opportunity and grabbed the first cab he could. Hoping to the gods that he was in one of the CCTV's blind spots.(and okay he may have used a heavy Mist to help his escape.)
He knew it wouldn't last too long but it was long enough for him to get the airport. Having already discussed his problem with his father in his dreams, John walked into one plane and then a cloud Nymph teleported him to another. So if(not really a question) Mycroft had been tailing him he will think he is off to Hong Kong and in reality was on his way to New York.
He didn't want Sherlock to think he'd abandoned him but it was required of him to come to New York and Sherlock being mortal meant he couldn't come with.
Plus with all the danger Sherlock already gets into John doesn't want him anywhere near his other world.
"John?"
Looking behind him John was brought out of his reverie and saw Lestrade crossing the street towards him.
"Greg?" John asked confused. "Did Mycroft send you?"
Damn! Sometimes John wants to know exactly what Mycroft can do...then again he'd rather not.
"What? No. No one knows I'm here. All they know is I took a few personal days. What are you doing here?" Greg asked.
"I have some business to do..." John pointed towards the building, "Here."
"Huh...small world. Me too," Greg said and they entered.
They both headed towards the front desk, but as it was busy with tourist they waited. It was then that they both took a moment to study each other. Even if they hadn't been friends with Sherlock Holmes, the worlds only consulting detective, they both know that it's too much for it to be pure coincidence.
"Are you sure Mycroft didn't send you?" John asked again.
Greg sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose, "Yes. I didn't know you were going to be here, at all...and I guess it's safe to assume that the business you have here is...uh, meeting a parent?"
"At the Sixth hundredth floor?" John asked Greg who nodded.
"What are the freaking chances of that?" he asked mostly to himself but loud enough for John to hear as well.
"Slim...very slim," John then looked at the detective inspector closely, "I should have guessed. I've seen enough of those eyes in my childhood. Athena right?"
"Yep. At first I'd say Ares because of your whole soldier thing but that's not right. Blonde hair, blue eyes, medical interest, and one hell of a shot...has Apollo written all over it. Am I right?" Greg asked.
"Yes," John replied.
"I should have guessed. With all those freaking jumpers you're all cuddly and warm like the sun," Greg teased.
"I am not cuddly. Don't make me get a spider," John answered with a smirk. Greg's grin fell and he turned slightly green. "Thought so."
Greg sighed, "Whatever. Let's just go and see what they want. Even though I sometimes visit the camp to see how they're doing my mother never directly visits me."
"My dad's only ever done it while I was going to be chosen for a quest to warn me. Any idea what it's about?" John asked as they made their way towards the now empty desk.
"No. She didn't say. She only told me to make sure I wasn't late on getting here," Greg answered.
"Hm..." was John's reply.
"Can I help you?" the guy at the reception asked not looking up from his magazine.
"We've got an appointment...for the 600th floor," Greg said.
The receptionist looked up and examined both of the demigods. He looked at a clipboard on his desk and got up, "Follow me please."
He opened up the elevator and inserted the key. Once it was visible he pushed the sixth hundredth button and got off before the doors closed behind him.
"So I'm guessing Sherlock's not taking this well?" Greg asked.
"He...doesn't know where I am. When my father told me that I was summoned I explained the situation. I took one of his privet jets here. I'm positive it wouldn't take long for Mycroft to tell, or at least tease Sherlock about information about me, and they'll hopefully think I'm on my way to Hong Kong." John explained.
"And when he finds out that you're not there?" Greg asked curious as to what the doctor will do.
"At the moment my plan is to wait and cross that bridge when I get to it. As annoying as I know it'll be to come up with an explanation to both of the Holmes brothers I'm more worried about this summoning," John confessed.
"I understand. After the whole deal with Cronus and Gaea I can't think of anyone else we need to worry about but then I remembered...we're demigods with hours upon hours of stories of monsters that want us dead because of our ancestors..." Greg said sarcastically.
"Oh and don't forget that apparently powerful demigod odor we give off..." John replied dryly.
"Right...can't forget that." Greg said.
The elevator stopped with a ding and the doors opened. As they stepped out they took a moment to observe the heavens and the home of their parents.
"Still amazes me..." John said.
"This is my first time being here in solid form," Greg commented.
"Dream vision?" John asked knowing what he meant. Demigods get a lot of dreams from odd places depending who the message is from. John's had some pretty odd ones himself. Once on a quest all those years back that seem like a life time ago he had a dream vision from the underworld and saw the palace of Hades.
"Yeah. You've been here before?" Greg asked still looking at Olympus.
"Once. After completing a quest in my fathers honor when I was thirteen he asked if there was anything I wanted and he would grant it. I wanted to ride in his Sun Chariot and visit Olympus and was granted the wish," John answered.
They stood silently a few more minutes before walking up to the giant palace. Once they reached the entrance they were greeted by a girl.
"Annabeth!" Greg was hugged by the girl.
"Hey Greg! Mom said you'd be here soon," the girl said.
"John, this is Annabeth. My sister. Annabeth this is my friend John. Son of Apollo," Greg introduced them and they shook hands.
"Hello. We've been expecting you. Come on, everyone's waiting," Annabeth said.
"Everyone?" John asked.
"Well, almost everyone. Hera called a meeting, but none of the Big Three are actually here. Hades is in the Underworld of course and Poseidon is in his palace under the sea, but I have no idea where Zeus is," Annabeth explained.
"Any idea what we're being called in for?" Greg asked.
"Not really but I can tell it's big. Mother called for us specifically, and seeing our track record I can only imagine it being huge," Annabeth replied.
"You were called in as well?" Greg asked.
"Well...I was here because I'm still designing more buildings, shrines, and statues but then mother interrupted me and told me to wait for you. She also said to clear the rest of my day because I was to be present at the hearing," Annabeth said and if they weren't there before, butterflies of nervousness were buzzing around in the Englishmen stomachs.
They didn't talk anymore as they entered the giant palace and walked into the throne room. The gods and goddesses were all there minus the Big Three just as Annabeth said, all in their giant forms.
"Welcome demigods. Let us begin," Hera said as they walked towards the center of the room.
All three of then knelt down and raised their fist to their heart.
"Arise," Hera commanded.
And they did.
"I'm sure you are all wondering why you have been summoned, correct?" the queen of the gods asked.
"Yes ma'am," John replied.
"We have a quest for you," Hera stated.
"All of us?" Annabeth asked.
"Not necessarily," Athena answered, "Mostly Gregory and John. But there will be other demigods. They will be needed along the way to help them in their quest. You are one of those demigods Annabeth. It's going to be a difficult one...one that will take time."
John's stomach dropped. He knew he was needed for something and expected to take about a month but...oh Gods how the hell was he going to explain this to Sherlock?
"I don't understand. Along the way?" Greg asked.
"Perhaps I should just elaborate your quest," Hera said before a scowl graced her face, "Zeus's daughter," She said the word with distaste, "has gone missing. She was on a quest of her own, given to her by Zeus himself. I do not know the details of the quest but whatever happened...she's now gone. From what I have gathered she found something very...interesting. Her last known location was somewhere near Scotland. As demigods nearest that location who can also hold their own I am assigning this quest to you. Find her and ultimately what she found, as well as who kidnapped her."
"Any idea who the kidnapper is? Or what it was that she found?" John asked.
"Like I mentioned before, Zeus was the only one who knew the details of her quest. I know nothing of this child other than she's now missing," Hera waved off as if it weren't important. John saw Greg place a hand on Annabeth's tensed up shoulders. Looking at the blonde with gray eyes John saw some anger cross her face before she schooled her emotions back in place.
"Annabeth will meet up with you in a week after she's gotten everything she needs from Chiron. In the mean time you'll merely be investigating the last place she was heard from. Gather clues as to what she was doing and so on. Just treat it like a normal missing person's case. Take no major action until Annabeth and the others join you," Athena explained.
"Who exactly are the others?" John asked.
"All in time. You are all excused. Within an hour Hermes will take you back home to London. Your things have already been sent over." and with that all of the Gods disappeared.
"Well...that was informative," Greg said dryly.
Annabeth didn't reply but went over to the corner where one of Poseidon's fountains was. She dug out a coin and called to 'Thalia'.
Minutes later a black haired girl with stormy blue eyes and a tiara made of silver appeared in an aurora above the water.
"Hey wise girl. How's Olympus?"
"Are you on any quest?" Annabeth got right to the point.
"Huh? Nothing really qualifying a mission. Just training some of the new hunters and inspectING some territory that has some questionable inhabitants," Thalia said.
Annabeth let out a shaky sigh but then raised her eyes in confusion, "Thalia...do you have a sister?"
"A sister? No, why?" Thalia asked, just as confused.
"Hera just sent me, one of my brothers, and a son of Apollo to look for a daughter of Zeus who disappeared near Scotland. Any ideas?" Annabeth asked.
Thalia's face turned pensive but she shook her head, "No clue. I'll ask Lady Artemis and give Jason a call, but I don't think...well, we're not related in our mortal half's at least."
"Okay...thanks," Annabeth said. "I'll be going back to Camp. Think you can stop by?"
"Sure. I'll see you there," and as she waved her hand through the mist, the image disappeared.
"She's a daughter of Zeus too?" Greg asked.
"Yes...Thalia. She was the one who found me and brought me to camp when I was seven. She became a hunter of Artemis when she was fifteen to help against the war with Cronus. It's weird seeing her like that. I'm nineteen now and technically she's older but being immortal she's stopped aging...it's weird," Annabeth said in a single breath. John could see she was nervous about the information. He was too and decided to make it known.
"She said she has a brother? How many children of the Big Three are there?" John asked a but flabbergasted, "I thought it was against the law for them to have children."
"It is but...Zeus has Thalia and with the same woman also had a son but in his Roman form. And I guess apparently another daughter. Hades had three kids but one died when I was thirteen when we fought against Atlas, her name was Bianca. That leaves Nico, who's Greek, and Hazel who's Roman. Then there's Percy. He's son of Poseidon, only demigod child of Poseidon and my boyfriend," Annabeth explained.
"Wow..." was all John could say.
"So what now?" Greg asked.
"We wait an hour until Hermes comes back and magically sends us home...where I'll have to explain to my flat mate where I was and definitely explain to his over controlling brother how I got back without his knowledge without telling them my fathers side of the family..."John drawled out.
"Oh joy...how long do you think it'll take him to clue in that we're here together?" Greg asked as he scrubbed his face, he was tired just thinking about dealing with Sherlock while on a quest.
"Oh...the minute he went to demand of you to look for me?" John guessed.
"Then having someone, or Mycroft telling him, where you booked your flight...oh Gods, he's in your hotel room right now isn't he?" John paled.
"Or in the building..." Greg deadpanned.
"That will give me a few hours I suppose..." John said.
"Um...who are you talking about?" Annabeth asked.
"My flatmate and best friend...he's um...he's special," John said.
"How so?" Annabeth asked.
"Well...if he were a demigod he'd be my brother with that mind of his that could only be from Athena herself. But he's also a high functioning sociopath with a very big soft spot for only John here," Greg explained with smirk.
"I wish everyone would stop making it sound like he fancies me!" John explained with his cheeks reddening.
Greg shrugged, "If enough people think it's true then it must be, and not only all of Scotland Yard think so but so does Mycroft, Mrs. Hudson, practically everyone at St. Bart's...and well anyone who knows Sherlock in general."
"Shut up," John said with a glare towards Greg causing Annabeth to giggle.
"That bad?" she asked.
"Worse...I just wish they'd admit it already. It's driving the rest of us mad just watching them!" Greg talked to Annabeth ignoring John.
Annabeth was about to reply when the throne room shook and the hearth roared into life with a fire twenty feet tall. Out of the fire walked out a man in his thirty's, wearing leather, and had a piercing gaze.
Annabeth gasped, "Lord Hades!"
He looked at the three demigods and settled his eyes on John, "We need to discuss some things."