Percy left camp in the morning decided to crash at his now empty apartment. Paul and his mother had opted to drive down to Florida to where their cruise ship would depart, instead of flying. His mother must've known he would be coming back, because there was a plate of blue cookies on the table waiting, along with a fridge full of soft-drink and fruit (the fruit would surely rot).

He hadn't heard anything from any of the Avengers all day and was grateful. Percy missed lazing around in front of the TV during summer, playing video games and watching loud movies. It was currently four o'clock and Percy was finishing the last of his cookies while watching the latest Transformer movie.

"Well, you tell her that we're not your pets, and we're not your toys, all right? We're an advanced genius alien race just looking for a home!" a robot on the screen said.

Kicking his feet up he shifted a bit on the lounge and turned the volume up. He wished Annabeth was here, but she was going to meet Thalia, who should have been returning from her monster-hunting trip. He hadn't been able to get in contact with Nico (he tried not to worry) and Grover was out at a peaceful protest in Montana. Therefore, he was left home alone with his cookies and Coke.

He didn't know what was going on with Thor, or if he had even returned to Earth. Hell, he didn't even know what the Avengers where doing. For all he knew they could be living it up in Hawaii, but he doubted it. With no signs of monster attacks, he seemed to be able to relax.

His hand reached for another cookie and turned up empty. Looking down he saw all that remained was little blue crumbs. Grumbling in the traditional teenage manner he paused his movie and rolled off the couch. After three cans of Coke he was as calm as an ADHD child could be. Padding into the kitchen he opened the fridge and stared at the cans before reaching in to pull one out. He was about to straighten up and shut the door when he felt the strangest chill run down his back, almost like someone had dropped an ice cube down his shirt.

Turning around he let his free hand drop to his pocket. Gazing around he looked at the kitchen, not spotting a thing out of place. Gripping his can he walked over to the doorway and looked into the hallway, not finding anything suspicious. Shrugging he decided that maybe he was just becoming paranoid. Spinning around he jumped back a foot at the sight of thickening shadows. In a flash of yellow something was upon him, digging its paws into his chest.

"Tell me, Mr Jackson, how much blood is in the human body?" A voice purred in his ear before the creature tried to chomp of his shoulder.

Frowning slightly Percy jerked up, sending whatever was on his chest flying off into the bench. He was a little surprised to find the Sphinx that had tried to kill them in the Labyrinth staring back at him with stern eyes.

"How am I supposed to know? It's summer holidays!" Percy yelled before charging in to attempt to swipe at the creature.

"I would tell you to attend summer school," it attempted to scratch off his leg "but it isn't very helpful when you're dead,"

Percy grunted in acknowledgement before rolling over the floor to pick up the Coke. He sent it flying towards the Sphinx, distracting it shortly. He went in for a clean beheading kill, but great speed it reared around, using its large front paws to send him crashing right through the kitchen wall and into the alley between the apartment buildings. It was a short but even with the curse, the landing was uncomfortable. The air whooshed out of his lungs, while he felt his only weak point send a jolt through his body on impact.

"Mom is going to kill me," Percy groaned as he began to reach for his sword.

"Not if I have my way," the Sphinx pounced down and Percy barely managed to roll away in time "perhaps you can tell me how much pressure it takes to break a human bone?"

"Can I pass?" Percy picked up his sword and stared in dismay at the smoke beginning to spiral out of his out "did you set my apartment on fire and ask me biology questions?"

As a paw swiped at his head, he took that answer at a no. He was about ready to pull water from the fire hydrant he knew rested outside his apartment, but he saw people begin to rush out his apartment as the fire alarm went off. Many people chose the nearest option; the fire escape.

"What is that?" People screamed.

"Is that the Jackson boy?" Another asked.

Cursing his bad luck Percy spared a glance at his sword before putting it away. No doubt people in his apartment had heard the mysterious yelling and crashing from Percy's various escapades with weapons (it wasn't like he could just go to the park to practice with his javelin) and he still had to stick by the Gods rules. With no mist, they would see the sword, and surely, they had watched the news reports on New York's own personal 'Gladiator'.

"Giving up child?" the Sphinx questioned as it licked it's lips.

Percy didn't respond, but instead did one thing he hated to do, run. Of course there are two types of running. You could run for exercise in sport class, or run away. Percy hated both, and unfortunately, it looked like he would have to do both. He quickly attempted to think where he could run to, and decided Stark Towers. If the Sphinx was so set on him, it wouldn't hurt others.

"Just getting started," Percy smiled wickedly before skidding out of the alley calling behind him a strangled and well acted "help!"

Percy wished he had worn shoes. Even though he couldn't physically feel the pain, he couldn't help but wince whenever he felt glass, rock or rubbish attempt to dig into his foot. He skidded around the corners, yelling for help at various periods. The Sphinx padded behind him, becoming dangerously close to swiping at him. He had just rounded a corner into an alleyway when he came face to face with an Empousai.

"How about that kiss?" the seemingly beautiful women purred.

"Sorry, in a stable relationship at the moment!" Percy chimed as he rolled under her legs and drew her deeper into the alley. By now, he could hear faint sirens and he prayed that they would come soon. People were watching in horror as a seemingly defenceless teenage boy was attacked be two monsters.

By now the curse was reaching a bad point. He had run….gods, he didn't even know how many blocks. The Sphinx spat and hissed at the mortals who screamed and ran away in terror. Percy drew his sword at the advantage, but cursed silently as his back hit a brick wall.

"I like the boys that show fear," the Empousai licked her lips, dodging a messy swing from Percy.

She then kicked up with her mismatched legs and set Percy into the brick wall. What Percy hadn't been expecting was how much it would hurt. A powerful yell escaped his lips, tearing at his throat as his sword clattered to the ground and his knees gave way. His back felt like it was on fire, it felt like he was swimming in the Styx again.

"I love it when they scream," the Empousai particularly vibrated with energy, but ironically enough it was a shot of vibrant blue energy straight to the head that made her erupt into dust.

Percy pushed away from the wall and stared at the small circular piece of pipe heading out of the wall, a drain pipe perhaps. It had driven straight into his weak point, not hard enough to break the skin (that would've killed him!) but enough to make him actually throw up all he had just eaten.

To be honest he half expected to see blood in the blue vomit. Is this what Luke felt before he died? Surely it would've been worse. Wiping his mouth, he stood up and leaned heavily on the wall, watching as Steve cleanly decapitated the Sphinx with a mighty hurl of his shield, but not before it screeched;

"She'll get you Perseus! Like the others!"

"You alright kid?" he heard Stark ask. His frazzled mind was slightly confused at to why the billionaire called him 'kid' but at the sight of the news vans deduced he was going for the 'I have no idea who you are' act.

"Fine," Percy coughed and resisted the urge to rub his back.

Steve came over while Tony went out into the street to shortly distract the cameras. Percy leaned heavily on the wall, sweating. How long had it been since he felt true pain? Percy never realised how much he hated pain.

"Go to the ambulance, it'll drive you to Stark Towers," Steve slung his shield over his back and offered a hand that Percy openly accepted.

Camera's flashed wildly as Percy made his way over to the ambulance. Great. At least in the ambulance it was only him and Dr Banner. Sitting down Percy rubbed his tired feet before collapsing onto the bed (stomach first) fully prepared to fall asleep.

"You can't fall asleep yet Percy," Bruce said kindly.

Percy mumbled something into the rough pillow, already half asleep. How was it he could create a tornado and still keep going but running for ten minutes nearly wiped him out. He supposed he should take the pain radiating from his back into consideration, but right now he was to tired to care.

"You could have a concussion, after I've checked that you can sleep," Bruce rested a hand on Percy's shoulder and attempted to turn him over, put the teenager batted him away.

"I can't get concussions," Percy mumbled.

"Is this part of the teenager ego nowadays?" Bruce asked.

"Do you have any ice?" Percy asked in a seemingly random fashion.

"Don't try and change-"

"If you give me ice I'll explain," Percy mumbled again and he heard Bruce fumble for a moment before handing him a gel ice pack. With a sigh of relief Percy placed it down on his back, feeling it sooth the fire that raged below the skin. Bruce's light fingers tenderly touched the skin through his shirt, feeling for cuts.

"You're not even bleeding," Bruce said in surprise.

"You know Achilles, right?" Percy rubbed his tired eyes.

"Not personally," Bruce responded, eyes betraying his eagerness to get new information.

"The curse he got from the river Styx, Curse of Achilles, I have it," Percy would have to explain it in better detail later "I can't get hurt,"

The 'ambulance' stopped and Percy realised he would have to walk. Pushing himself off the bed he held the ice to his back, breathing a sigh of relief as the pain began to minimize. He followed Bruce into an elevator, ignoring the concerned looks the man gave him. They came out on the main lounge room level where Pepper was sitting doing paper work, trying not to focus on what trouble Tony might be getting into now.

"Good lord! Are you okay-" Pepper quickly placed her papers on the table and moved towards Percy, who in turn moved towards the couch.

"Fine-have to sleep," Percy replied with fractured English as he collapsed face first into the couch and began to breath deeply.

"He can't be asleep already, can he?" Pepper gazed at Percy.

Bruce kneeled down next to the teenager and gently took his pulse, always the doctor. Feeling it slow and even he deduced that Percy was in fact already well asleep.

"Out like a light," Bruce answered Pepper's questioned before quickly looking the teen up and down for wounds.

His eyes landed on the gel pack that rested on the small of his back and he gently lifted it, surprised to find an angry bruise already formed in a perfect circle. Even as Bruce watched it slowly began to heal, becoming smaller and small each minute.

"He can heal?" Pepper asked, gazing at the bruise.

"He said he has the Curse of Achilles," Bruce said softly, watching as Tony landed outside and had Jarvis and various robots begin to strip off his armour.

"So if he gets shot in the ankle he dies?" Clint asked as he strided into the room.

"I wouldn't say ankle as such," Bruce mused silently.

"I need a sample," Tony strode into the room and went straight to the bar, pulling a needle out of one of the draws.

"Tony, what did I tell you about taking peoples bodily fluids without their permission?" Pepper frowned playfully at her boyfriend.

"Not to do it," Tony pouted, watching out the corner of his eye as Steve and Natasha came in "but- he doesn't get a say because he is currently drooling over my very expensive lounge,"

Natasha cocked her head and stared at the small amount of drool escaping from her teammates mouth, smiling slightly.

"Tony," Pepper stared blankly at him.

"Pepper," Tony retorted as he knelt down next to Percy "now shush,"

He attempted to drive the needle in the fleshy exposed arm, but as expected, it refused to go in. Tony gave a knowing smile and moved to the small of Percy's back.

"Anthony Edward Stark if you even attempt to stick anything into that boy I will give your Black Sabbath poster to charity," Pepper crossed her arms over her chest.

"You wouldn't," Tony stared at his girlfriend in mock horror.

"Watch me," Pepper said in return before her phone began to ring.

"Will that be all Miss Potts?" Tony asked with a raised eyebrow.

"That'll be all Mr Stark," Pepper said in return before answering her phone and heading down in the elevator.

Clint glanced at Percy, who was still deeply asleep.

"How can he sleep through the noise?" Steve questioned, sitting down in a chair.

"He's a teenager," Tony shrugged as he positioned himself near Percy's lower back "back at M.I.T I slept through a whole lecture on the adverse affects of chemical explosions-"

"What are you doing?" Natasha asked, folding her arms over her chest.

"Getting samples," Tony replied, removing the ice pack and resting the tip of the needle right above the middle of the bruise.

"Didn't someone die from having a sharp object lodged into their only mortal weak spot. What was his name again? Oh right, Achilles," Clint said sarcastically.

"It's a needle, not an arrow," Tony rolled his eyes "he won't die,"

He was about to drive the needle into the skin when suddenly the elevator opened. Tony jumped a little, scared shitless at the thought it might be Pepper, but when he saw it was Thor he merely offered his greetings.

"Worked off that anger, Point Break?" Tony questioned playfully as he re-positioned the needle.

"What are you doing, friend Stark?" Thor asked his own question instead.

"Getting samples," Tony returned, preparing to drive the needle into the skin the second time.

"Stop!" Thor boomed so loudly that Percy actually jumped and rolled off the couch, landing solidly on his back. While he groaned in the floor and tried to wake up fully Tony let out an angry grumble.

"Stop what?" Percy asked finally, standing up and rubbing his back.

"Stark was about to drive one of those needle devices into your back," surprisingly Thor didn't seem angry at Percy, but rather Tony.

"What?" Percy asked, eyes growing wide as he ran a hand through his hair "why would you want to do that?"

"Samples," Tony shrugged.

"I would've died!" Percy yelled in horror "you would've killed me!"

There was a deadly silence around the room. All the Avengers stood silently in various positions, various emotions flickering over their faces. Natasha was cool as always, but part of her was wondering why you would want one spot so open. Clint was thinking along the same lines, and yet thinking about all the times he had killed people with things smaller then a needle. Bruce was filled with horror and guilt, while Steve basically radiated guilt. Thor was crackling slightly with his anger.

"That would've sucked," Tony said finally, chucking the needle down on the table.

"Just a bit," Percy said sarcastically "what stopped you?"

"Him," Tony jerked a thumb over his shoulder at Thor "I'm sorry about trying to kill you with a needle,"

"I shouldn't have left it open," Percy shrugged before striding over to Thor. No matter how annoyed he was at the man, when someone saved your life, you just didn't walk away without saying thank you. He stuck out a hand towards the demigod "thanks,"

Thor grasped the hand and shook it strongly "I must apologise Friend Jackson, my actions have been most rash of late,"

Percy attempted to process the information in his sleepy brain before replying "I shouldn't have brought up Loki, I'm sorry too,"

"Nor should I have challenged you or your family. The All Father sends his greatest apologies for my actions, and has sent forth a request for the redrawing of the treaty," Thor gave him a beaming smile.

"Wait," Tony cut between the pair "Thor fought you, ridiculed you, while Percy insulted your bag of cats crazy brother and now your best friends?"

"From the sounds of it Thor got told off by his daddy," Clint rolled his eyes and sat down.

"I did indeed get threatened with banishment by the All Father, if that is what you are implying, Friend Barton," Thor let go of Percy's hand.

"Well I'm to tired and sore to care about anything," Percy threw his hands up in the air an began walking towards the elevator, he turned though and pointed at Tony "you better not try anything like that again, or I'm going to introduce you to Mrs O'leary,"

"Who's she, your over weight pre-algebra teacher?" Tony asked snidely.

"She's my large-as-a-tank Hell Hound," Percy shrugged as he stepped into the elevator "I killed my pre-algebra teacher,"

The doors closed, leaving behind six thoroughly confused Avengers.