Chapter 2
Paul was in the kitchen making blue pasta for dinner. Even with the passing of Sally, blue food was a favored habit of his. Percy was in his room, typing away on Annabeth's old laptop while Kate was taking her second nap of the day. Her crib was moved to the living room during the day time so the men could have an easier time watching her.
Life was peaceful. Nothing was going on at S.H.E.I.L.D., Paul's students were keeping up with the curriculum, and Kate would sleep through anything. Of course, the apartment was lonelier now that Sally was gone, but they made due.
Percy stopped typing and sighed. He looked around his room and tried to remember how it looked when he was younger and his mother would clean it. The scent of lemon furniture polish had faded a long time ago, but if he concentrated, he could just imagine his mother opening the window, the fresh air flowing in and spreading the lemony scent around the apartment.
"Dinners on the stove if you want some." Paul stood in the doorway. Percy saved his work and walked with Paul to the kitchen.
The pasta was good. Not quite the same as how Sally made it, but it was getting there. The color was off as well. It was darker than usual.
"I know that work is all secret and everything, but did you have a good way at work? I remember you telling me about some annoying forms for a gun range?" Paul had stopped eating and leaned back in his chair. His greying blond hair looked greyer than usual.
With a mouthful of blue pasta "My SO says if I can't hit something intentionally by the end of testing, he'll put me on desk duty. You had me in your class. You know how bad that will be." Percy continued eating. He wouldn't be able to handle daily desk jobs. All that paper work, signing things, answering phones; Percy wouldn't handle it even without his ADHD and dyslexia. Maybe the Sweet on America candy store that his mother worked at would be a better option than S.H.E.I.L.D.
Once they finished their dinner, Percy worked on the dishes while Paul settled down with papers to grade in the living room by the napping baby. She must have been tired from refusing a nap earlier.
Percy felt a shiver down his spine as a knock sounded on their front door. Paul glanced at the direction of the knock and shared a worried look with his son and then grabbed Kate from her crib.
Approaching the door with caution, Percy formed three balls of water that floated about the room, ready to be used. He looked to through the peep hole and saw his SO standing outside the door. He gave the all clear sign to Paul and let the water flow back into the sink with the still dirty dishes. Kate was placed back into her crib as the door opened.
Percy's SO, Agent Folkerson, was an older agent. One that had retired before the HYDRA infiltration was discovered. He was brought back in because of short staff to train the new members coming in.
Agent Folkerson walked in, followed by an agent Percy did not recognize. "Agent Jackson. How is your aim coming along? I talked with Agent Avis and he says you have gotten worse, but I wanted to hear it from you." Folkerson sat down on the other end of the couch from Paul while the unknown Agent remained standing, looking around with curiosity. The stranger looked like a happy man, seemed like the type to smile. He had sandy hair with smile lines on his face. His gaze lingered on Paul and Kate before settling on Percy.
"I think I have been improving. Avis just doesn't like me sir. I have been getting closer and closer! Maybe next time I will actually hit the darn thing!"
"Calm down Jackson. I'm not here to test you. In fact, the long-range weaponry part of your exam has been waved. Apparently you have friends in high places." Folkerson gestured to the stranger that came with him.
"This is Director Coulson. He says that you have more than proven your ability and that he has a job for you."
Couslon's POV
Walking down the hallway of a middle class apartment building, Agent Coulson listened to his old friend describe his student with great affection. Talking of his persistence to succeed, his aversion to paper work (which Coulson could sympathize with), his skills as a fighter, and his passion for taking care of his family.
Coulson couldn't help but compare Folkerson's description with the one he received from his time spent in the underworld. The stories and second hand accounts conveyed strength and humility and leadership. Folkerson's account fit more in with Sally's and Annabeth's stories; that Percy was a loving individual who cared for others and had weaknesses that made him better.
They eventually stopped at an apartment that didn't look any different than the others. There were some scuff marks at the base of the front door that told a story of being opened many times and mistreated by shoes as it was held open. Folkerson Knocked and Coulson could hear shuffling as someone walked over to answer.
Once the door opened, they walked inside and Coulson was pleasantly surprised. It was a small apartment, nothing different from any of the others, but the feeling in this household was good. There were toys in the corner that looked like they went through a lazy clean up, probably belonging to the sleeping baby being placed in its crib. The walls were a calm blue color and the place smelled like pasta and cookies. The couch was old and torn, but looked over stuffed and comfortable. There were crayon drawings on the wall that looked too advanced and old to be done by the baby in the crib. The Living room/ Kitchen area was small, but cozy. This was a happy family… or was a happy family. Despite the welcoming looks of the apartment, there was an aura of mourning.
Coulson had done his research and knew that Sally, the woman who he met in the Underworld, had left behind a husband and a newborn. The husband's name was Paul Blofis, an English teacher at Goode High school now far from here. He had no record other than the occasional Parking ticket. The newborn was well taken care of with both the father's and the brother's salaries coming in. Coulson turned his attention to Percy.
Folkerson had just introduced Coulson and told Percy the news.
"A pleasure to meet you Percy. I have heard much about you and have high hopes for you in the agency." Coulson moved to shake the young man's hand. Percy gave a firm hand shake. So firm that it almost hurt. "I have a team that has been assigned for a longer mission and your skills would…"
Before Coulson could finish, the phone in Percy's room rang. Paul quickly got up to answer it.
"As I was saying, it would be greatly ap…"
"Percy, it's for you and you might want to take this one!" Paul called out as he quickly walked back into the living room with an urgent expression.
Percy turned to Coulson and apologized, then walked to his room closing the door. "Would either of you like cookies? I made some for dessert after dinner, and they should be just about done by now." Without waiting for a reply, Paul rushed over to the oven to remove the odd blue circles. Why anyone would make cookies blue, Coulson would never understand.
There was a lingering awkwardness in the room now that Percy have left. Folkerson looked slightly put-off by the sudden exit, but that faded the moment that cookies were supplied. They were delicious. The flavor brought back memories of when Coulson's mother would bake for him and the neighbor's kids. After a long day of catch, they would all come in and have soup and cookies (not in that order of course). She would smile and tell them to slow down.
"These are sensational! Where did you get the recipe?" Coulson needed to know. He wanted to have these more often. Paul gave a sad smile as he set the plate down in the coffee table. "This is my late wife's recipe. She always made these when guests were over." Paul became lost in thought.
The Baby started to stir from its nap. Coulson went over and gave Paul a look, asking to pick her up. She was a heavy baby. Coulson could tell that it was a she. She had a tuft of light brown hair like her father, and blue-grey eyes that she must have gotten from her mother.
The peace was short lived though because once she caught sight of who was holding her, she let out an ear piercing screech. Tears started to form in her eyes as she struggled to get out of the strange man's hold.
"Paul! What happened!?" Percy ran back into the living room and snatched the babe out of Coulson's arms. She immediately quieted and gave her brother a smile.
"I am telling you! You are the only person in this universe that can make her happy. She liked me at first, but as the weeks went by, she started to notice that I wasn't you... so what did they say?" Paul gestured back to Percy's room where he was on the phone.
"They said they would take care of everything." Percy gave Paul a weird look that Coulson only caught because he was looking for it. Coulson smiled. He knew there was something else going on, but he didn't pry.
"If you don't mind, we should get back to the reason we're here. I'm not getting any younger." Folkerson was getting impatient. The only thing that kept him from yelling at his student was the cookies and the baby's presence.
Everyone sat down, Percy still holding the baby. "I want you to join my team on a mission. This is only a onetime thing if you don't want to join the team permanently, so you can come right back to New York afterwards, but we do need you for this. You willing to sign up?"
Percy's POV
Who on earth would be calling me? It can't be a demigod friend, because we don't use phones, and it wouldn't be a human friend, because all of the mortals we know are Paul's friends and wouldn't want to talk to me. Percy quickly made his way over to his room, apologizing for the interruption. Once there, he knew why Paul wanted Percy to take this one. Sitting on the bed was his father Poseidon, looking uncomfortable and fidgeting with his trident.
"Hello son…" Percy walked over and sat next to him. He looked to guilty, like he didn't like what he was about to say. "The council has a favor to ask of you. Before you say it, we know you are retired and need some time away after… after sally passed, but the circumstances have changed some things…"
He knew it. Percy had made friends with most of the gods and goddesses on the council, but once they were in a meeting, things were done for the greater good of Olympus and they disregarded their emotional attachments to anything other than their duty. Poseidon loved his son and Percy knew that. Poseidon was there when Kate was born, there when Sally and Paul got married, and there when Percy turned 18. Percy knew he loved him, which was why Percy was willing to forgive his father for anything he asked.
"What do you need me to do? Keep in mind that I have Kate and Paul to take care of." Poseidon took a deep breath and avoided Percy's eyes.
Poseidon spoke quickly, like he was ripping of a Band-Aid. "We need you to accept the mortal, Coulson's, offer. We need you on this mission and yes, we will compensate for it with care for Paul and Kate. The council has decided that Coulson must be watched and that their mission would benefit us as well if it's completed. We would have asked someone else of ours in the mortal agency, but he was already going to ask you."
They sat in silence for a moment, with Poseidon looking at the floor and Percy thinking about what he would say next. "As long as you keep your promise to help take care of Kate, then Paul can take care of himself. I have money put away in the bank for an emergency and my income will still be coming in. All that's really needed is for someone to watch Kate while Paul is at work."
Poseidon sighed with relief and smiled. "Did you like the touch with the phone? I didn't want your guests to see me." Percy let out a short laugh. The atmosphere in the room felt much better. They started to talk. Comfortable conversation and intermittent comfortable silences followed until Percy heard the sound of his sister screaming.
"Your master is calling for you." Poseidon joked. "I love you and remember what I said." Percy averted his eyes as his father disappeared in a burst of light and an ocean breeze. Percy rushed in to the living room to care for his sister.
Coulson's POV
"I'll do it." Coulson watched as Percy smiled at his sister and bounced her up and down on his lap. Her giggles gave Coulson a happy feeling. The aura in the apartment was much better than when he first arrived. Things were going to get better, and Coulson was going to help. This mission would help him to better understand Percy and to get to the bottom of his Underworld experience. Percy had all the answers he needed. Coulson knew that this was a good idea.
He just wondered how his team would react to his choice to have another member.
UPDATE: Just made a few grammar changes
Sorry for the late Update! I am getting better at this though!
Much longer than last chapter.
Had a poll for the main pairing. Surprisingly there was five way tie so now I am in the same place as before!
