The Battle of New York part 2

When Percy stepped into the tower, his first thought was to obscure his face with the mist. It had been like pulling teeth to get Chiron to teach him how to manipulate it like he had Thalia the summer before Hera kidnapped him. And, as it turns out, the reason why is that Chiron thought Percy was enough trouble as it was without him having the ability to change people's minds and perception. In his defense though, I was a bit of a magnet for trouble and irresponsible at that age. Still, can't seem to stay out of trouble it would seem.

There were more of the creatures in the main lobby guarding the elevator. Percy cut through them brutally and efficiently taking life and limb. Percy reached out to the water and brought it out of the sprinkler system using the water to trip and bully the others that tried to flank him. When there was only one left he turned and tried to leave but before he could make it to the door to get help, a javelin of pure ice sprouted from its chest.

Percy wasn't sure what gave him the idea to manipulate the water in that way. Huh, that's a neat trick, he thought as he gathered up water and froze it into another javelin in his hand. I'll have to play with that later. Didn't know I could do that with the water. Percy shrugged and dropped his hold on the ice as it melted back into a puddle at his feet. He turned and strode around the bodies and into the elevator, but was confused when he found no controls. How the hell is this thing supposed to work without any buttons? "Excuse me Sir, but what do you think you're doing?"

Percy froze and turned around in a defensive stance but found no enemies. "Who's there? Show yourself thirío."

"I am JARVIS. I am a program designed by Mr. Stark to assist his needs in any way. You are?"

"Trying to help. So even Stark's butter is a robot. Why am I not surprised?"

"Well technically I am a highly advanced natural language UI. I am without form. You didn't answer my question however. Who are you, and what is your purpose here?"

Percy stopped to think. What exactly was his plan. He didn't even know what was keeping the portal open, or what he could do about it. But something, anything needed to be done. Too many lives had already been lost. Percy had come across dozens of dead in the street. Whole families gunned down trying to escape the carnage. "I've come to see what's keeping the hole in the sky open and to see if I can close it. If someone else won't, I will because there are people out there who can't protect themselves from these things."

"I've analyzed the devise keeping the portal open. It's to well protected to destroy."

"Well it hasn't met me."

Percy was meet with silence after that. He began to grow impatient and finally said, "People are dying out there. I'm going up one way or another." He began to look around for a stairwell but was stopped when JARVIS said, "Get in I will bring you up to the penthouse. You can get to the roof from there."

"Thank you."

"You still have neglected to tell me your name."

"Yup."

*

The ride up was short and quiet. JARVIS seemed to be content without knowing Percy's name which suited him just fine. When the elevator stopped moving, the doors stayed closed. "Sir a fair warning, the perpetrator behind the attack is in the room. He is extremely dangerous and powerful."

"So am I. Who is he?" Percy asked getting ready for another fight.

"Loki, of Asgard."

"The god from the old Norse myths?" Percy sounded astonished. He thought he was finally gone dealing with troublesome gods and their wars, but it would seem not to be the case. "Yes, are you sure you want to do this? JARVIS asked with apprehension somehow creeping into his voice. How does a robot sound apprehensive? "Yes, open the doors and let's get this over with." Percy said in a hard commanding voice. He brought Riptide up and into a ready stance. "Just my luck to ditch one crazy pantheon for another" he muttered darkly under his breath as the doors opened. What met Percy on the other side however was not what he expected.

The once beautiful penthouse living room was trashed. Broken glass from the shattered windows littered the floor. Furniture was thrown, some on fire, and in the center of the room was a man smashed into the concrete floor. Percy saw a glimpse of the Hulk as he leapt off the building and back into the fight. Damn, that might have been bad. I wouldn't want to run into him and have him think I'm an enemy, he thought before he schooled his expression.

Percy edged cautiously to the body on the floor that must have been Loki but stopped when he let out a long painful wheeze. Percy then rushed forward and leaned over the body to have a closer look. He had a long angular face with high cheekbones and eyes of a deep emerald green. Cuts and bruises marred his face and dust coated his long black hair. He looked at Percy and tried to move but before he could get up Percy dropped a nee onto his chest keeping the god down with his weight.

The god let out a sharp scream of pain and then eyed Percy harshly, his bright green eyes full of malice. "And who are you then?" he asked. His voice was light and smooth, and his accent was a mix of English and Scandinavian. Percy brought his sword up to the god's face and drew a small line along his cheek to test if the celestial bronze would work on him as well. What surprised Percy, especially because he didn't notice beforehand, was that red blood began to flow from the cut not the golden Ichor of the gods. He bleeds like me so that might mean he can die like me.

"You're no god, I can tell that much." Percy stated blandly, his face blank and neutral like he was describing the weather. "You're powerful, I can feel it, but you're not all powerful like a true god" This seemed to enrage the man as a sneer made its way onto his face. "I am more powerful than anything you have seen in your pathetic life boy. Unhand me peasant, I am your King." he spat, but Percy was unfazed.

"I have fought actual gods and killed beasts that would make a pathetic skýla like you piss his pants. I fell into the darkest pit on this planet full of nightmares and horrors you couldn't even imagine and crawled my way back out. You don't frighten me, and you're no king of mine. Now then tell me how to close the portal or I start cutting off fingers." Percy told him his eyes dark and cold like the sea, completely unforgiving.

A look of realization crossed Loki's face when he heard the insult in Greek, "You're kind was said to have died out centuries ago. How are you here?"

"Don't believe everything you hear, now answer my question. How do I shut off the portal. Last chance or you can say goodbye to Mr. Pinkie."

"With his scepter. You don't need to bother with that anymore." a feminine voice called out from behind him. Percy turned and looked to see who else was up here with him. Percy spotted a woman standing in the balcony door. She had an extremely attractive face framed in fiery red curls and was wearing an all black jumpsuit that seemed to hug her curves perfectly. She was armed to the teeth and holding a long metal staff with a wicked blade curving around a glowing blue gem.

Percy shifted his weight around to face the newcomer but didn't stand. "And who are you supposed to be sweetheart." She raised an eyebrow as if to say really is this the time to try to flirt but otherwise was unfazed by the question. "I'm Agent Romanoff of SHIELD. Who are you?"

"Would you believe me if I said I was just a concerned citizen?" Percy asked.

"No." she responded flatly keeping her eyes on the sword Percy currently had poised over Lokis throat. "Also if you could not cut off any fingers I would appreciate it. His brother would like him as intact as possible."

Percy groaned, "There's more of them?"

"Yes but only Thor, and he's an ally, so you don't have to worry. Now if you wouldn't mind, stop avoiding the question and tell me who you are." she said with a little more force. She's getting impatient, probably best I don't piss her off. She looks more dangerous than this little piss ant. "Who I am is not important, you said the portal could be closed with that?" Percy asked gesturing to the staff in her hand. Loki interjected before he could continue, "You will never win gre-"

Tired of listening to him speak, Percy smashed Lokis temple with the butt of sword before he could continue. He then stood up to fully face Agent Romanoff of SHIELD. "So lets worry about the aliens streaming their the portal before we do anything else."

"Okay well there must be something I can call you?" she asked as she turned around to head up to the roof. Percy strode forward to catch up. "You can call me Pete." he said with a wry grin, offering his hand her. She shook his hand with a strong grip. When her eyes caught the tattoo on his forearm, her grip slackened. She hid it well on her face but Percy knew she had recognized it when she saw it.

Once they made it to the roof the first thing Percy saw was the machine. It was about as tall as Percy and comprised of two large discs that looked like advanced futuristic Tesla Coils with two smaller pylons in the middle, pointing towards the center. In the very middle was a glowing cube, spinning violently with a stream of energy shooting out up into the sky. It was obviously the power source for the machine.

They were met with a balding man in his mid 40s. He is face was round a little pudgy and his eyes narrowed at the sight of Percy. "Who's the kid?" he asked while he picked up a console that had been knocked over and fiddled with some wires connecting it to the portal device. "Not important right now, how do I shut this down Selvig?" Romanoff asked briskly, moving to stand in front of the machine. If they can shut this down, then I don't need to be here, Percy began tho think as they discussed what to do.

"Take the scepter and touch it right on the crown." the man now identified as Selvig said while he typed some commands into the console. I'll just slip out now while they are focused on the portal. It's probably best I not be around after. I'll imagine that she would have some questions that I don't really fell like answering, he thought as he silently crept back the way they came. Once he was sure he was out of earshot he bolted back to the elevator and left without a word.

*

It had taken longer than he expected but Clint Barton finally made it to the lobby of Stark's tower. The main room was just as bad as the street outside, with body parts of the Chitauri littered everywhere the floor flooded with a mix of water and blood. Gods this kid is brutal. His thoughts were interrupted when the elevator dinged and out stepped the object of Barton's thoughts. He looked at Barton with a look of boredom and said, "You with that Romanoff chick upstairs?" while subtly slipping into a defensive stance with his sword. It's not any kind of Roman made sword. It looks more Greek. This kid is getting weirder by the second. "Did she question you?" he asked holstering his sidearm. Clint had only one arrow left, and he was saving it for a special moment.

The kid looked at him with an almost exasperated frown. "I managed to slip out unnoticed, or that is until you stopped me. Listen I'd rather not fight you, but I will if you don't let me go quietly." And for the first time in a few years, Clint thanked his grandfather for his good fortune. His secret was safe. "Get out of here before someone else shows up, but one thing take this." Clint said as he reached into his vest and pulled out a card with his number on it. "There are people that are going to want to know who and what you are. I can keep them off your tail. Call me in a week and I'll set up a meeting to discuss how."

"Why should I trust you?" the kid asked ask he tentatively accepted the card, never taking his eyes off of Clint. Clint simple showed his right forearm revealing his SPQR tattoo with 8 bars and a harp, signifying his service to the legion. "Because I'm like you."

*

thirío - beast

skýla - bitch