We are Heroes CHAPTER 16
They spent the rest of the day training. Steve had to note that these kids did know what they were doing. He was not sure what to believe when it came to what they had shared but he could tell that there was danger coming and these kids seemed to know what to do. That is why he agreed to this training session.
"Where is Pietro?" Clint asked
"Jarvis?" Stark asked his AI
"Mr Maximoff is in with Miss Bishop." His AI informed them. Steve went with Stark to get him back.
"Pietro what are you doing here?" Steve asked
"She is in pain." He replied he had a cloth and was wiping her brow. "I will not leave her alone." Pietro stated he had no idea why he felt like this or if what she had said was true the only thing he really took away from her speech was that she liked him. She was strong and capable and yes she was very beautiful but that was not the only thing he likes about her. She protects the innocent and has values she will not back down from. She will also not put up with any nonsense from anyone. He felt a pull towards her and seeing her on the bed in this state he really wanted to protect her.
"Artemis." Sam mumbled but her eyes were still closed
"Pietro we should return to the others." Steve stated
"You have much to learn before you fight." A voice stated behind them making them turn to see a girl that looked 8 standing in the doorway. She was wearing a silver parker like Thalia and carried a bow and arrow.
"You are?" Stark asked
"Milady?" Thalia asked coming up behind her
"You are Artemis?" Steve asked not believing it
"We are here to help." Artemis replied looking at Thalia before turning back and looking at Sam on the bed. "Anna." Artemis stated moving over to her.
"I'm sorry you expect us to believe you are the goddess Artemis?" Stark asked Artemis turned to look at him and he stepped away from her as her eyes were silver and they could feel her power grow as she glared at Stark. She stopped when Anna grabbed her arm making her look at her, she saw the black lines begin to form up her neck.
"He is an idiot genius, forgive him." Sam stated but ended up groaning as she closed her eyes.
"You are stopping Athena from healing you why?" Artemis asked
"No good…if I am like this." Anna replied with a small smile
"You would cause him pain?" Artemis asked
"You would support this?" Sam asked back gripping her arm tighter
"Even I cannot help you Anna, this is your curse."
"Iwanttojoinyourservice." Sam rushed out only to end up crying out loud as Athena's symbol on her arm burned.
"I would refuse, you cannot join my service."
"I do not want to fall in love again, please? I cannot watch another one of them…HE has a good heart. He deserves better. If I cannot join your service, if Athena cannot help then this. I would gladly take this pain if it means he gets to live." Sam stated as her body was sent in another spasm. The others in the room remained quiet at what she had confessed
"That is not an option Anna." Artemis stated looking down at the girl she had her eyes closed and her face was scrunched up in pain, not to mention her normal golden complexion was now pasty white as sweat stuck to her forehead.
"Elizabeth?" Sam mumbled
"She is on Delios."
"Want her."
"She is staying there for now."
"You should not be here." Sam stated opening her eyes and looking at her.
"I was sent to help, normally I do not fight alongside mortals but on this I have been instructed to." Artemis replied
"She show you the plan?" Sam asked
"It is a good plan."
"Not ready, everything is different. He was here…"
"We know." Artemis stated
"Entertainment of the year?" Sam spat out in disgust knowing that Artemis was referring that the others would have watched what had happened
"It is not…" Artemis began to speak but was stopped when Sam sat up and coughed up blood.
"Sam?" Thalia asked stepping forward Sam held up her hand stopping her
"I'm fine…just leave me alone."
"Let Athena heal you." Artemis stated
"No. I want no part in what is to come. Just let me die." Sam stated Thalia seemed to freeze not by what she had said but she had snapped at Artemis. The others also seemed to wait for the goddess to respond. Her only reaction was a sigh
"So it is like that again. I will set up a defensive perimeter around this base." Artemis stated "Try to get some rest." Artemis told her the others were not sure what was going on but Artemis walked out of the room with Thalia and Steve following behind. Stark, Annabeth and Pietro stayed in the room trying to help Sam.
"Milady?" Thalia asked hoping for an explanation.
"Continue helping Annabeth to train them, we do not have much time left."
"Everyone keeps saying that but not actually what it is that is going to happen." Steve stated making Artemis stop and look at him and he felt a little uncomfortable.
"War." Artemis told him before she walked off and the look she gave him he knew not to follow even though that did not help any of his many questions he had.
"Let's go back to the gym the others are waiting." Thalia stated and Steve could see that she had new determination.
Sam was resting as best she could but the pain was intense, the physical pain she could handle the problem she was having each time she closed her eyes she would see him. How his hair would hang loosely over his face draped down his shoulders. How his brown eyes would sparkle as he talked with her. But the more upsetting thing was seeing his death over and over. She opened her eyes and saw Bruce Banner in the room.
"You're awake?" he asked surprised moving over to her to take her vitals.
"What time is it?"
"Late, the others are in bed."
"What are you doing up?"
"Only way to get Pietro away, I have so many questions…" he stopped seeing Sam wince, she honestly looked terrible black veins were noticeable on most of her skin and she was extremely pale, he had her on an iv but there was no antidote for this type of poison it was a miracle she was alive. He still was having difficult believing that she was not going to die because of it. "You should get some more rest." He stated
"No more, don't want to…talk to me, tell me about your life." Sam stated
"You really should…."
"Please…I need to stay awake."
"Nightmares?" he asked sympathetically
"More like memories." She replied closing her eyes she groaned clenching her jaw shut before opening her eyes to look at Bruce.
"Well what do you want to know?"
"Anything…everything."
"Well everything will take a while, my life is pretty…complicated." Bruce stated rubbing his glasses on his shirt.
"You do that a lot…"
"What?"
"Rubbing your glasses on your shirt."
"It helps me think…So you were raised by Athena?" He asked a little awkwardly
"You really don't want to talk about yourself." Sam stated she began to chuckle but stopped as it was evident she was in pain. "I don't remember much of my mother…in a way she kind of took on the role…no that's not right, she is my mentor, friend. We've been through a lot together."
"You've been through wars?"
"More than I like to admit."
"What can we expect?"
"For Artemis to be given permission to assist? We need to succeed."
"If we fail?"
"Death, not just ours…if we fail the gods will fall, earth as we know it will be different those that survive? Will wish they died. Monsters will claim the land without the gods and demigods there is no one that can stop them. Most monsters like to eat humans…others kill for sport…lets just say losing is not an option."
"Then how can we help you? Because the others think you are a key component in winning."
"I am merely one person, I will cause more trouble then good." Sam mumbled but ended up crying out that was when Bruce moved over to her and injected her with enough morphine to knock her out.