A/N: Chapter Eleven.
NOTE: I'm putting up a poll. Should Marvel: Agents of Shield play a role in all of this? Let me know! I'd love to bring in Inhumans and Phil Coulson. It would be awesome!
Anyway, thank you so much for all the reviews. I read every single one.
Some of you are annoyed that Percy isn't using the full extent of his powers. My reasoning behind this is that Percy realizes that they aren't horrible people, and doesn't wish to kill them with a hurricane or an earthquake. Not to mention that he is also exhausted from using his powers for the last couple days straight.
As for Hazel not really participating in the fight, my logic in that was that she was probably tired from shadow travelling from California all the way to Africa. Nico passed out in the canon often, and he had that ability innately and had used it far longer than Hazel had before making a long trip. She'll get her moment.
Chapter Eleven
-X-
Wakanda, Africa
Steve's blood froze. Demigod?
"Half god," Wanda breathed curiously. She wiped at the mud on her cheek with her forearm.
"A Greek half god," Percy clarified. His hands, which had been raised in anticipation only moments prior, dropped to his sides. Steve felt like throwing up. Their fears were now confirmed; there were more gods than the just the Norse in play on Earth. Steve felt his spirits drop just imagining the type of media and government fallout this would cause—having Thor around was enough celestial activity for Earth to handle.
But having children of the gods around, also?
There would be utter chaos.
"Percy, what are you doing?" The dark-skinned girl accused, both looking and sounding incredulous.
"Hazel, we can't just . . ." Percy trailed off, shaking his head. "We need to start thinking for ourselves. People are dying. We need to help them."
The raven-haired teen crossed the muddy clearing, which was covered in scorch marks, impact craters, debris, and small fissures from Percy's constant mud bending. He bent down, grabbing Hazel gently underneath her arms before hoisting her up to her feet.
She pushed him off of her, stalking away before shaking mud from her hands.
Steve and Wanda watched quietly: a result of both shock and interest.
"These people kidnapped you," Hazel reasoned as she turned around finally. "You called us here to save you. Not to watch you join them!"
"I make mistakes," Percy stressed, "I'm not perfect!"
A blur of color streaked past Steve's vision, and suddenly Travis Stoll was standing beside Percy. His legs were bent, and his fists were clenched in front of him as if he were expecting a fight. Then, he relaxed, his eyes widening as he saw Hazel and Jason.
"Hazel? Jason?" Travis asked confusedly.
Steve felt Wanda tense up beside him. Her face had paled considerably, making her look like she had seen a ghost. Steve frowned for a moment, unsure of the cause of her sudden behavioral change, before it suddenly hit him like a freight train.
Pietro. Travis had reminded her of Pietro.
Steve nudged her, giving her a look that told her she needed to focus.
"Travis?" Percy responded, frowning. "We were about to save you."
Travis looked around. "Well, it seems you're doing a fine job here."
"Percy told them," Hazel informed him, ignoring Travis's seemingly sarcastic compliment.
Travis's eyebrows rose. He slowly turned to the son of Poseidon.
"Told them what, exactly?" He asked quietly. The atmosphere suddenly seemed a little colder. Dull rays of the morning sun were beginning to shine on the muddy clearing, but Steve was pretty sure none of its warmth was reaching them.
"That we are demigods," Percy confessed.
Travis stared at him for a moment, his face an unreadable mask. Then, he chuckled. It was an incredulous laugh—one that he let out as he slowly crouched down to balance on his haunches. He placed his hands on his face, partially muffling the laughter.
"You've got to be kidding me," he muttered, almost inconceivably, before standing up and saying it again louder.
He grabbed Percy's shoulders and shook them.
"What the fuck have you done?" He yelled, the mirth disappearing from the situation. "Chiron sent me to get you so this didn't happen!"
Percy turned his shoulders toward Travis. Steve noticed as a hardened look seemed to pass through his eyes. His tan, muddy arms inching away from his sides. He wasn't going to back down.
"Chiron doesn't always know what's best," Percy snarled, pushing Travis away from him.
"Oh, and you do?" Travis bit back. "You just damned our race to experimentation and torture. You know what people like Ross will do to us."
"Not everyone is like that!" Percy argued.
"That's naive, Percy," Travis answered. The veins in his neck popped out as he set his jaw. He pushed his hands through his curly locks, sighing in a tired fashion that Steve could definitely relate to.
Hazel look distressed, but said nothing as she slipped a strange, yellowish cube into the unconscious boy's—Jason's—mouth.
"We aren't like the secretary," Steve interjected, wanting to voice his own thoughts even though he guessed they weren't too keen on hearing it. "We fight to protect people, and something tells me that you do the same. Your kind—demigods—is the same to us as regular mortals. We can protect you just like them."
"We don't need your protection," Travis growled. He turned back to Percy. "We're leaving. Thor is taking us back to New York."
"Thor?" Wanda asked confusedly. "Thor's here?"
Travis shot her an irritated look. Steve was fairly certain that he was in a terrible mood now. The speedster groaned.
"Hold on."
Travis bolted away, the wind behind his speed blowing through Steve and Wanda's hair. Percy hooked his hands behind his head before walking a way a bit. Steve opened his mouth to say something else, but Travis had already shot back into the clearing. This time, a tall man with bushy blond hair and a large hammer stood beside him.
"That was . . . unsettling," Thor admitted, shivering. Then, his eyes widened and a wide smile split his face.
"Steve Rodgers!" He exclaimed happily, with a booming laugh. Thor crushed him in a godly hug that Steve was forced to return.
"And Wanda Maximoff," he continued as he released Steve. "I take it you are doing well?"
"Well enough," Wanda answered. Steve knew her well enough by now to know that she had said it only to be cordial—he knew Wanda hated being in the jungle.
"I wish I could stay, but . . . " Thor trailed off, turning to Percy.
"Perseus Jackson," Thor said loudly.
They couldn't have looked any more different. Thor was fair-skinned and herculean, and had that dashing combination of a wide chin, chiseled jaw, and flowing, celestial blond hair. He was tall and imposing—the kind of man that could make anyone tremble in fear just by entering a room. Mjolnir only amplified that feeling—the Norse hammer was as mighty and powerful as Thor was himself.
Percy, on the other hand, was slender and trim—like a swimmer. He was around average height, but the way he stood would make anyone feel unsafe. His knees were inconceivably bent, his fingers twitched in expectation, and his shoulders were always pushed back slightly as if he were already preparing to throw a punch. With his olive, sun kissed skin and shadowy hair, Percy looked a lot less regal than Thor did. He looked like a lethal soldier—something only further proved by the dark look in his eyes.
For a moment, they stared at each other. Percy looked bewildered by Thor's sudden involvement, but he hid it well. Steve only knew by the initial look of panic that passed through his eyes when Travis first brought him into the clearing. Now, his face was a stony mask—an impenetrable one at that.
Thor scrutinized him for a moment.
"I thought you would have been bigger."
"I thought you had red hair," Percy shot back swiftly.
Thor did not look amused. "Travis told me during our . . . quick travel that you have revealed your heritage. I do not believe that was a wise choice, but that it not for me to judge. However, I am trusted with the responsibility of returning you and Travis to New York."
Percy stared at him, unmoving.
"Now, preferably," Thor said, extending a hand to Percy.
"No." It was quiet, but the one little word had an effect that seemed to still the jungle. The calls of the extravagant birds fell silent, and the sun began to shine even brighter over the clearing.
Thor looked as stunned as Steve felt.
"Percy," Travis warned. "Come on."
"I can't."
Percy's eyes shifted to Wanda. He spoke to Travis again, but his eyes didn't leave Scarlet Witch.
"It's my obligation as a human being," he recited, clearly remembering Wanda's earlier words.
She stared at him in a curious way, as if she were seeing him for the first time. The shock of seeing another speedster like Pietro seemed to have faded slightly, allowing Steve to notice that the paleness of her face had melted away into a healthier shade of peach. Even with mud plastered across her face and hair, Steve had to admit that she was beautiful.
Still, in Steve's eyes, she wasn't near as beautiful as Sharon Carter.
Thor seemed to shake out of his stupor. "Staying isn't an option. I promised to—"
"Zeus swore an oath," Percy pointed out. "When you take Travis back, remind him of that. I'm staying."
The son of Poseidon said it in a tone that made it clear that his mind was made up, but that didn't stop Travis from glowering at him.
"So that's it? You're just going to abandon us again?" He alleged.
It sounded biting, but Steve was surprised when Percy only gave the speedster a gentle, nostalgic smile instead of becoming offended.
"They don't need me anymore, Travis. But the Avengers and the mortals do."
"But you're a leader, Percy," Travis debated, "You can't just leave! Not after we're so close to getting you back! Think of those kids that looked up to you!"
Percy walked forward and put his hands on Travis's shoulders.
"Now they'll look up to you."
The slim teen let go of Travis's shoulder and stretched out his hand.
"Goodbye, Travis."
The speedster looked conflicted—everyone could see that—as he stared back incomprehensibly at Percy's hand. He seemed to realize that Percy wasn't going to be convinced to come with him, and, with a sickening acceptance, Travis extended his own hand.
The handshake was brief, firm, and meaningful.
Thor cleared his throat. "I do not think Zeus will approve of this."
"It doesn't matter what my father thinks," came a voice.
Steve turned and found that the blond boy—Jason, as the others had called him—was sitting up now. Hazel stood beside him, offering him a hand to help him up. He was around the same height as Percy, but with a military haircut and bulging muscles. A wicked scar carved its way through his face, almost covering his cheek entirely.
"He swore to leave Percy alone after the war. He technically can't bring him back in without breaking it," Jason explained.
"After the war?" Steve repeated questionably.
Percy gave him a grim look. "It's a long story."
"Were you fighting an army of monsters in a grassy field with hills around it?" Wanda interjected suddenly.
Percy and Travis shared a look.
"How—" Travis began.
"I accidently saw a memory when Percy escaped the compound," Wanda confessed, a soft pink blush appearing. It was so light that Steve was pretty sure he was the only one close enough to see it.
"You can do that?" Hazel inquired.
Wanda shrugged. "My powers can be a bit . . . spontaneous."
They were silent for a moment. There had been a lot of revelations in this jungle.
Thor grabbed Travis's shoulder.
"I'll see you soon," Thor said to Steve and Wanda, before he thrust Mjolnir up into the air. The two were ripped off the earth, soaring into the sky.
Percy was surprised by a hug from Hazel. "If you need something you know how to reach us."
Jason shook Percy's hand. "Good luck."
Then, much to Steve's surprise, Hazel grabbed Jason's hand and sprinted full speed at a tree that was hidden from the sun by a canopy of leaves. He opened his mouth to ask what was happening, but as soon as they hit the trunk, they disappeared into nothingness.
"Shadow travel," Percy told them, as if that would explain everything.
Steve ignored him, smiling a little as he reached out and put a friendly hand on Percy's shoulder. The slim teen watched him warily—and rightfully so, since they had just been fighting—but did not push it away.
"Welcome to the team."
-X-
Wakanda, Africa
Tony stood quietly, his hands resting in the pockets of the of his dress slacks. His dark eyes were pointedly gazing at a metal machine in the shape of an egg. However, his interest was not in the contraption itself, but in its occupant.
A tall man with long, dark hair stood stationary inside the cryogenic container. He was missing an arm, which Tony knew was resting somewhere close by that Steve would be able to retrieve if they ever brought Bucky back from his deep, frozen sleep. His skin was a pasty white from prolonged time in the frost, leaving him looking more like a corpse than a human being—if Tony could even call him that.
The room was filled with scientists and doctors, but Tony felt like he was completely alone. He ignored the soft hum radiating from the thick tubes that connected to the cryo-egg, and simply wondered—briefly—if it would bring satisfaction to him to kill him.
It was horrible, to fantasize about killing a defenseless man suspended in a medically induced sleep—Tony acknowledged that. But he couldn't wipe away the security camera footage he'd seen of Bucky killing his parents all that time ago.
Would vengeance be worth it?
Tony glared at the unconscious body of James Barnes. His Ironman suit was merely rooms away. No one would be able to stop him fast enough.
God, what was he thinking? Tony shook his head, pinching the bridge of his nose as he stepped away from the egg. Shame and guilt flooded his body as he quietly reprimanded himself for letting a thought like that enter his mind unopposed. But his hate was definitely justified.
Almost as if he had sensed Tony's thoughts, Steve Rodgers himself entered the room. As the doors slid back together behind him, Steve stopped in his tracks, eyeing Tony suspiciously.
"What are you doing in here?" Steve asked darkly, as he approached the cryo-egg carefully.
"Just looking at the lab rat," Tony said with a forced grin. He played off embarrassment at being caught in the room by acting indifferent.
"Look, Tony," Steve told him, "I don't think you should be in here."
"Why?" Tony asked, his smile fading. "Because you don't trust me to not kill him?"
His words cast an icy shadow over the room. The scientists moved unhindered, completely oblivious to the growing situation between two men who used to be teammates—friends.
Steve grimaced. "Your words, not mine."
Tony chuckled, raising his hands in surrender as he slowly moved past Steve and backed towards the door.
"Aye, aye, Captain," Tony mocked, plastering a grim smile on his face.
When the doors closed, separating him from Steve and Bucky, Tony slammed the bottom of his fist against a thick metal wall, anger pouring out in his actions. Hot rage coursed through Tony's bloodstream. Steve didn't trust him? Wasn't that rich? How could he say something so utterly stupid after keeping the secret of Tony's parents' death from him? The fucking hypocrite!
"Uh, are you alright?" Someone asked carefully from further down the hallway.
Tony whirled, startled by the sudden voice. A dark-haired young man with intelligent green eyes had sneaked him up on, and had seemingly just rounded the corner of the hallway.
Percy Jackson had been in the compound for four days now. They had a simple arrangement—Percy would come every day at noon to the conference room, where he'd dump loads of Greek information on them. They'd show him dozens of pictures and ask innumerable questions: all of which he'd answer or explain. He was forthcoming with the information, forcing Tony to admit that whatever Steve and Wanda had said or done out in the jungle had really gotten to the kid.
The situation wasn't peachy, however.
To put it simply, not all of the Avengers fully agreed with Steve's decision to bring him into the fold. Clint was suspicious of every thing he did. Tony didn't know what was wrong with the archer; was it the typical paranoia of a spy? Or was it some type of gut feeling? And Hawkeye wasn't the only one sharing in the distrust. Sam made it known that he wasn't comfortable with Percy being in the compound. Scott seemed generally distressed as well, but he had yet to verbalize it—not that Tony would care about Antman's opinion, anyway.
These kinds of feelings floating around in the compound made even simple actions likes eating meals and relaxing in the common rooms tense. Percy was given a bedroom, and Tony was honestly pretty sure that he only left to come to their meetings. Ironman was even convinced that the demigod ate alone in his room.
He didn't blame him really—Clint wasn't a good person to be enemies with. The others were hardly hospitable, with the exception of T'Challa. He seemed to genuinely like Percy—something Tony couldn't say was fully true for anyone else. Steve brought him in because he provided an advantage for information—which the immediately passed on to all militaries and government agencies (anonymously, of course) to help with the day-to-day protection of citizens—and Wanda seemed to vacillate between opinions. Tony admitted that he felt a bit guilty for taking him away from his home—and in the middle of grave visiting, nonetheless. Rhodes hadn't voiced his thoughts either, but he seemed cordial enough.
"I was just . . . uh," Tony trailed off, drawing a blank. "Just—"
"Testing the structural strength of that wall?" Percy suggested with a wry smile.
"Sure," Ironman answered, a ghost of a smile flitting across his face, "let's go with that."
Percy seemed to sober slightly as he recognized what room Tony had just left.
"I'm guessing whatever really caused that happened in there?"
"You're a good guesser," Tony told him.
The slim boy leaned against a wall. "Who's the guy in there? The frozen one."
Tony swallowed. He did not want to talk about James Barnes. "Ask Steve."
"I'm asking you," Percy pressed.
Tony sighed, not wanting to deal with this. He walked briskly past Percy, heading for the common room. Percy, unfortunately for Tony, fell in beside him.
"You're avoiding the question. What's so special about him?" Percy questioned.
Tony was growing exasperated. "He's the Winter Soldier."
"The killer?" The son of Poseidon asked incredulously.
He nodded. "He's in cryostasis. Frozen in sleep."
"I know what cryostasis is," Percy muttered indignantly. "Why did you freeze him?"
"He got brainwashed," Tony answered. His words felt sticky in his mouth. Even talking about him made Tony want to hit the wall again. He turned the corner, thankfully approaching the common room doors.
Percy looked like he wanted to ask more, but Tony swiftly entered the common room as an evasive maneuver. The room was filled with many comfortable chairs and couches, but the Avengers who occupied it were centered at the back corner. Sam and T'Challa laughed as they drank—alcohol, most likely—from small glasses. Clint had his feet kicked up on a coffee table as he restrung his bow. His eyes flicked up as the duo entered, before going back to his weapon.
Wanda was in the kitchen portion of the room, staring at a small bottle of paprika. She wasn't cooking anything, however; she was just inspecting the bottle. Tony frowned, but shook away his confusion as he gravitated towards the back corner. He plopped down by T'Challa, who quickly poured him a glass of whiskey. Not even noticing that Percy hadn't followed him, Tony willingly took the drink.
"To relaxation," T'Challa said with a modest grin, "however short it may last."
The four of them cheered and laughed. Tony definitely needed the drink. He savored the way it burned the back of his throat.
Maybe if he drank enough he'd forget about considering killing Bucky.
-X-
Wakanda, Africa
Percy sat down on a stool. Several of them lined the bar area of the kitchen, which was opposite of the preparation counter, where Wanda was currently having a staring contest with a bottle of paprika.
She was interesting to Percy. He wasn't sure if it was because she was the closest Avenger to his age or because she had powers somewhat similar to his own, but he honestly had decided he didn't care in the long run. Percy wondered how she'd gotten into this life—one of so much danger and pain. Percy was born in it. But, judging from what the others said, Wanda was not. Who would choose this kind of life for themselves?
She was hard to approach as well; that was something he learned after he sat down and realized he had nothing to say. Then, his eyes slowly drifted down from her light, cinnamon hairline down to the bottle of paprika.
She eyed it carefully and held it gingerly—like she was holding a fragile egg on verge of hatching.
"Planning on cooking something?" He asked. His tan fingers laced together in front of him.
Wanda shook her head, her eyes never leaving the bottle.
"No," she murmured, "just thinking of someone."
Percy frowned. "By looking at paprika?"
Wanda's eyes flicked up to him briefly—just long enough to see a mirthful glint in them as she let out a single, soft chuckle.
"Yes," she told him as she carefully placed it back down on the counter. "It's a long story."
He nodded, not wanting to press for the fear of annoying her. However, he felt words of a different subject bubbling up in him. Shifting uncomfortably, Percy cleared his throat.
"You don't avoid me like the others," He noted quietly, making sure the others didn't overhear.
Wanda's eyebrow rose, a quaint, interested look passing over her face.
"Why would I?"
Percy found that he struggled to find an answer. Instead, he just shrugged.
"You aren't so different than we are," she pointed out. "We're actually quite similar. You fight people—we fight people. You protect people—we protect people."
"I suppose," Percy conceded. "It's just . . ." he glanced back at Clint, who was busy talking animatedly with Sam, "some people don't seem to really want me to be here."
"Well," Wanda confessed, "I do have to admit you just walking around here is a major security threat—and I don't mean that in an offensive way. It's just that most recruits get proper training and get assessed by the veterans—like Steve and Tony."
"I'm not a recruit," Percy snapped, suddenly feeling demeaned. "I'm here to help, but I'm not doing it to gain 'Avenger status.' You said it yourself; I protect people. That's the only reason I'm still here."
They were quiet for a moment.
"I didn't mean anything by it," she commented. "It's just we don't know you. Not well, anyway."
Percy nodded, albeit reluctantly, but his blood was still sizzling. He wasn't doing this for fame or fortune. He wasn't doing this for the Avengers. He was doing it for his mother. For Paul. For Annabeth's family, and all the other mortals who had someone who loved them. He was all that stood between them and monsters from their worst nightmares. Maybe Wanda hadn't meant it the way Percy took it, but he was far too proud to apologize or back down.
The doors to the common room opened. Steve stepped into the room. He looked rather casual today, wearing a fitting white shirt and a pair of khakis. His hair was still damp, as if he had recently stepped out of the shower. His kind eyes found Percy quickly.
Steve motioned into the hallway. As Percy stood from his stool, Wanda reached out and grabbed his forearm. Her tan fingers were separated from his skin by the material of his shirt, but he still felt the warmth.
He turned back, surprised by the sudden movement.
"It will get better," she said, her gaze shifting to the four in the corner, "just give it time."
He stared at her, unsure of why she felt the need to give him consoling words, but he gave her a brief nod nonetheless. She released him, and Percy stepped out of the room and into the hallway.
Steve was waiting. He raised his eyebrows.
"Making friends?"
Percy ignored him. "What do you need?"
"I wanted to know if you were ready to get in the thick of things. To get your hands dirty," Steve told him.
"I guess it depends on what that means," Percy replied, his interest piqued.
"I mean that I'm sick of sitting back and doing nothing. The people back home are going to need help, and I want to know if you're willing to give it to them with us." Steve explained. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, like he was eager for Percy's answer.
"You want me to fight with the Avengers?" Percy asked incredulously. The idea would have made him laugh had it been presented to him a week ago, but he found that he was very calm as he slowly mulled it over in his head.
Steve smiled. "Yes, I am. Having you alongside us will be a big help. Are you with us?"
"When do we leave?"
-X-
A/N: Thanks for reading! REMEMBER TO VOTE ON THE POLL. It will decide how the story plays out. And leave a review so I know how I'm doing! See you next chapter!