Panting slightly, Percy wiped away some of the dust from his eyes and took in his surroundings. There were no other water signatures in the area, aside from Stick's. He was breathing hard andwas propped up against the far wall. His hands on his knees as he took in deep breaths. Dispersing the mist with a wave of his hand, Percy reached down. Unlike its former master, the weapon that the…monster? Had tried to use on him had not disappeared. Wrapping his hand around the hilt, the weapon felt wrong in his grip. It was a strange sensation. When he gripped Riptide, he felt comforted. As though he were in the arms of an old friend. But this blade? It felt as though he had dunked his hand into something icy. A deeply discomforting sensation came over him. He released his grip on the blade, and it clattered to the floor.
Deciding to leave the weapon be for the moment, Percy turned his attention towards Stick. The man had managed to catch his breath and had pushed himself off of the wall.
"Glad to know that not everyone is as chicken shit prideful as Matty," The old man grumbled, "Suppose I should say thank you,"
He strode over to Percy, and kicked at the pile of dust, absently.
"Well, I sure as hell wasn't expecting her to be here." Stick mused,
"You knew her?" Percy asked, pointing at the pile of dust, "For that matter, how the hell do you know who and more importantly what, I am."
Stick chuckled to himself, "You Greeks always were an insular bunch. Never were able to see beyond your own clubhouse. It's a big world kid. You go far enough, and you see things you'd never dreamed of before." He answered without telling Percy a damn thing,
Seeing Percy's glare, he asked, "I don't suppose the name K'un-Lun means anything to you?" When Percy shook his head, Stick just sighed, "Don't suppose it matters then," He muttered, then gestured to the dust pile.
"She," He said, shifting slightly so he was using the katana in his hands as a makeshift cane, "Was a demon. Old Persian demon of illness. Went by the name of Agas if I'm not mistaken. Could use her eyes to manipulate humans, control their emotions, and cause disease and pestilence." He snorted, "She was a bitch."
Percy knelt down on the ground and ran a hand through the dust, "This is the second Persian I've killed in as many months. Something is going on, someone is making moves, and it revolves around this Darius thing. Who are they, what do they want?" Percy demanded,
Stick just shrugged, "I only know a bit more than you do kid, which is next to shit all."
Percy growled, stepping forward into the man's personal space. The only reason he'd gone after the old bastard was because he had made it sound like he knew who and what Darius was and what they were after.
"Better start talking then, consider it payment for bailing you out," Percy snarled, wrapping a hand into the front of the man's collar,
Stick raised his hands in deferential surrender, "Relax kid, we're on the same side here. I'll talk, just let go of me," Growling, Percy did as he was asked. Sighing, Stick backed up against the stairs, before slinking down and taking a seat on the lowest step.
"Like I said," The man began, rubbing absently at his wrists, "There isn't much I know. Darius, they're more slippery than the Hand. But twice as powerful and connected. It started a few years ago. I started hearing rumors coming out of Iran. Strange rumors. Sightings of mythical creatures, and legends long thought lost. I figured it was a bunch of nonsense, but then more whispers started seeping through the cracks. There was a rumor that some of the old guard, some of the old pantheon, had survived. That they hadn't died out when Alexander took the Empire. They were simply waiting, biding their time, rebuilding their strength, simply waiting to take revenge on the one's who'd wronged them." Stick shrugged,
"Wasn't sure whether I believed them or not, sounded like a bunch of nonsense, and to be honest? The divine world ain't my problem. Got enough shit to deal with, without getting into your business," Stick took a couple seconds to hack up a mouthful of blood, and spit it out onto the floor,
"But around the same time these rumors started coming out, I began hearing the name Darius get tossed around. Real sneaky shits. Moving in on the Hand's territory. That's how I first hear about 'em right? Ain't nobody tells the Hand what to do before, then these guys show up, and suddenly they're calling shots, ordering people around, and the Hand is granting weapons, equipment, money, you name it. Only ever got so far as to put together a possible connection between it, and the rumors coming out of Iran."
Percy frowned, "You know dick all then,"
"Pretty much kid." Stick shrugged unapologetically, "Sorry son, don't know what else to tell ya. I've spent my life fighting the Hand, that's my battle, my war, why I came back to this shit infested city. Only reason I ever hear about Darius was through them. Only reason I said anything to you was to piss you off. Guess it worked," He added with a self-satisfied grin.
For a hot minute Percy contemplated knocking what teeth were left, out of the man's mouth. Ultimately, Percy decided it wasn't worth the trouble, and sighed, running a hand through his hair. Placing a hand against his ear, he tried to hail Hill,
"You catch all that?" He asked,
"Yes," Came the terse reply, and in the background, Percy could hear her furiously typing at a keyboard,
"You looking through our bosses' stuff again?" He asked,
"I am, if Fury knew anything about this Darius though, he never said anything to me. But I'll keep digging. If it's there, I'll find it. I'll have a clean-up crew at your location soon to remove the bodies. This is becoming a bit of a habit, maybe it's time to think about laying low for a bit."
Percy couldn't agree more.
There was a click, and the line went dead again.
Sighing once more, Percy scratched behind his ear, flicking some more golden dust away as he did so. He'd forgotten how annoying monsters could be, even when they died.
"Alright," Percy said, deciding to change subjects, "The Hand, what are they doing in New York. What were they after?"
Stick snorted, "What makes you think they were after something?"
Really? He's going to try and play hardball now? Percy suppressed the urge to roll his eyes and opted instead for crossing his arms under his chest. "Not really in the mood to be playing games old man," Percy said, his foot tapping in annoyance,
It was Stick's turn to sigh in defeat, "Guess it doesn't matter, you're the one who took them down at the hospital right?" Percy nodded, "You get that shit out of the kid's blood?" Again, Percy nodded, and that seemed to satisfy Stick somewhat, "Well, that'll at least delay the hell out of their plans if nothing else."
"And their plans are?" Percy prompted,
"Currently on her way to maximum security if I had to guess," Stick shrugged, which threw Percy for a loop,
"The hell is that supposed to mean?" He asked,
"I don't suppose there's any harm in it. You seem like you're at least willing to do what's necessary, and you made it this far," Stick mused, before seemingly coming to a decision, "Remember when I said I spent my life fighting these bastards?" He gestured vaguely at the bodies lying on the floor, and Percy nodded,
"I'm one of the last dedicated to fighting and ending these bastards. They're an organization that goes back centuries. Long story short, some greedy war lords found some shit they shouldn't have, and accidentally stumbled across immortality,"
Percy groaned, and swore in Greek under his breath, "Glad to see you're at least a little more intelligent than I've heard," Stick smirked, to which Percy just flipped him the bird. The man could not see, but Percy was confident his message got across just fine.
"Anyway, they worship a weapon, call it the Black Sky. They think it is their tool to total world domination. Over the centuries there have been several candidates for the Black Sky, but none of worked as of yet. The latest candidate? Elektra Natchios. At least, if the prophecy is to be believed,"
"Oh, gods dammit" Percy muttered, "Why is there always a damned prophecy?"
"Preaching to the converted kid," Stick nodded, "But like I said, in order to mold the Black Sky, they need to use their ancient device. To use the ancient device, they need the blood mixed with that green ooze shit that you pulled out of those kids. It takes a while to find proper hosts for the chemicals, and even longer for the hosts bodies to…marinate, I suppose the weapons. Either way, you derailed their plans something fierce, and with Elektra on her way to prison, I assume they're going to have to set their plans back a bit. Can I trust that you didn't just hand Elektra over to the NYPD?"
Percy shook his head, "We have connections with people in pretty high places. She's going to a hole in the ground to await trial. Prophecy or no prophecy, that girl has carved a pretty bloody trail over the world. She's got a lot of countries out for her blood. Whether that trust in the people holding her is well placed?" Percy shrugged, suddenly feeling very much done with all of this nonsense.
Ninjas, ancient prophecies, and new shadow organizations hell bent on revenge for something that happened nearly a millennia ago? Percy was done. He just wanted to find Jean, curl up next to her, and get some damn sleep.
Rubbing tiredly at his eyes, Percy shook his head, "Well, I suppose we'll need to cross that bridge when we get to it. You think they'll leave New York?"
"For the time being," Stick nodded, "They'll need to lick their wounds and restructure. They assumed the only hindrance to their plans was the kid, nobody expected you to get involved. They'll need to figure out their next course of action before they move again."
Percy just nodded and sighed. He would start having Jarvis run a subroutine of some kind to watch and keep tabs on these people. Better to be safe than sorry. But, if New York was safe for the time being, he was content with that.
"Get out of here," Percy said, "We've done all we can for now." Fishing in his pocket, Percy pulled out a card, before realizing there wasn't any brail on it. Too tired to care though, Percy just tossed the card at the man, who caught it deftly. "Call me if shit starts popping off. There's a clean-up crew inbound, so I'd make yourself scarce." Before Stick could say anything else, Percy disappeared in a swirl of mist.
BREAK
Unfortunately for Percy, he knew he couldn't just leave things with Murdock unaccounted for. Tracking the man down had been simple enough, though his apartment certainly left a lot to be desired. It was sparse, large, and had the glaring problem of an enormous neon sign, shining right into his bedroom. Though he supposed it wouldn't be as much of a problem for a man who couldn't see.
Percy was half dozing on the couch in Murdock's living. He'd changed out of his uniform and back into civies. He was jolted awake by the sound of the door opening, and Matt stepping into the room. The man looked like hell, his suit was crooked, his tie askew, and he looked like the most defeated human Percy had ever seen before.
Murdock chose to ignore Percy, choosing instead to go straight for the fridge. Opening it, he withdrew a beer, broke the seal, and downed the entire bottle in one go.
"Long day?" Percy asked, stretching his arms over his head, enjoying the way his back popped.
"What do you want?" Murdock said in leu of a greeting. He reached into the fridge and grabbed a second beer. Arching a brow, but choosing to ignore it, Percy got right to the point,
"Ran into your old…teacher? I guess, and your girlfriend,"
"I'm aware," Murdock said, slamming the bottle on his countertop. "I got a call from Elektra, from the inside of a maximum security holding cell halfway across the damn country!" He snarled,
Percy's eyebrow remained raised, "You expected less? Murdock, the woman is wanted by nearly every charter nation of the U.N. Did you really think I was just going to let her walk away?"
"She's not that person anymore!" He snarled, coming around the other side of his bar. Percy stood up, and Murdock got right in his face, "She's changed,"
"When I found her, she was literally trying to kill your old teacher," Percy said, "After killing someone else at a private airport north of the city,"
"After Stick tried to have her killed too," Murdock shot back, and Percy shrugged,
"Fair point. Doesn't change the fact that she's an assassin. You know how many bodies she has under her Murdock? She killed for money. Doesn't matter how much she's changed, she's going away."
"And like you're so different?" Murdock snapped, and Percy stiffened
"Excuse me?" He asked,
"Don't act like you didn't hear me," Murdock said, "You sit there and evangelize over the bloody trail Elektra's left in her wake, and yet you sit there, acting like you've walked the righteous path. How many bodies have been 'taken care of' since you started poking your nose into my business? How many bodies do you have under you?"
"I didn't kill innocent people!" Percy snarled back, "I didn't kill for wealth. The people I killed, died because they deserved to die. Because they were bad people, because they did bad things. More to the point, I don't kill because I enjoy it."
Murdock laughed, a sardonic and cruel sound, "That's such a load of bullshit," He countered, "You didn't kill innocent people? According to who? To SHIELD? Or was it HYDRA? How many people did you kill to fulfill HYDRA's agenda? How many regimes did you topple? How many Countries did you throw into disarray, all because you thought you were doing what was right? It doesn't matter how pure your intentions were, every body buried because of you, is another tick against you pal. You made a living in blood, but now you're too ashamed to admit it, so you hide behind some false code of honor, and justify your actions as being in the interest of the greater good. You're unbelievable."
Percy's blood boiled. He wasn't sure what was making him angrier, the fact that Murdock had said what he had, or that he'd parroted back all of Percy's own internal fears at him. The last month, Percy's conscience had been wracked by those very thoughts. How many people, potentially innocent people, were dead because of HYDRA? Hell, he couldn't even be certain of SHIELD's motives. Had they been as altruistic, and devoted to humanity as they claimed? Or was everything a lie.
Percy shook his head; he wasn't in the mood to deal with this. It had been a hellacious week. He needed rest. Needed to bury those feelings before they threatened to overcome him. Needed Jean.
He reached into the back of his mind, pulling on the thread of Jean that lay dormant in his subconscious. He tugged at it, letting her know he was there. There was an immediate response, and Percy got an image in his mind of the lounge at the mansions. Apparently, they were back from whatever was going on down in Florida.
Percy decided she was more important than Murdock.
Taking a card out of his pocket, he slammed it on the side table, "The Hand's gone for now. But they'll be back. When they are, call me." Before he could hear Matt's reply, because he was sure that it would have been something Percy didn't want to hear, he disappeared from the room.
BREAK
The mansion was always impressive, no matter how many time Percy laid his eyes on it. The gate blocking the main drive opened up for him, before he even rolled his window down to speak. Jean must have spoken with whoever was on gate duty and let them know he was probably stopping by.
Pulling his car into one of the garages, Percy stepped up and out to the mansion. Only for the door to fly open, and a dark-haired missile to launch at him. Stumbling slightly, Percy let out a light chuckle, and wrapped his arms around the considerably smaller shoulder of Patty. Bringing her in for a close hug.
"Good to see you too," He said with a laugh,
"Miss Grey said you'd be coming over tonight!" She said excitedly, pulling away from him. Wrapping her smaller hand in Percy's, she started dragging him in the direction of the mansion, "Are you two dating by the way? Because that would so cute if you were. Kitty thinks you are, but you can't believe half of the things she says. But I think you two are better for each other than Mr. Summers was. You're nicer, and better looking, and oh my god if you two had kids they'd be so-"
"Patty!" Percy spluttered, feeling his cheeks color slightly. He heard light laughter in the back of his mind, and his ears flushed in further embarrassment, standing at the open door, looking thoroughly amused, was Jean. She looked comfortable, standing in a simple pair of sleep pants, and a simple white t-shirt covered by a simple gray cardigan.
Percy felt himself smile.
It was like coming home. Reaching over, she gave him a quick peck on the cheek, as Patty dragged him into the house.
"Good to see you," She said in his head, "Missed you,"
"Missed you too," Percy said back, before his attention was turned back to Patty, who was talking a mile a minute. She'd been a bit clingier than she had been before her kidnapping. Not exactly surprising, and Percy wasn't going to object.
The mansion was relatively empty. The weekend having descended upon the school, many of the students had been picked up by their parents and taken home. Even most of the staff seemed to have vacated for the evening. As Patty dragged Percy into the main room, he noted that the only other adult in the room, was a tired looking Ororo. She gave him a pleasant smile, and a wave hello that he returned, then Percy was swarmed by eager students.
Many of the year-rounders at the school had been brought by him personally. Most of which were half-bloods, but the odd mortal in the mix as well. For the next several hours, Percy spent the night conversing with the students, spending time with the kids he had saved. Listening to how they were doing at school, how their training was going.
Percy relaxed on the couch, as they settled in to watch some new action movie that had come out a few months previously, Jean snuggling in on his other side, her head lounging on his shoulder. For a few hours, Percy let his worries simply slip away from him. He allowed himself to forget about Darius, about the Hand, about his own internal struggles over the amount of evil he unknowingly committed over the years. For a few hours, he allowed himself the simple luxury of pretending to be a normal man. A normal man, with a woman he cared for deeply, surrounded by people he loved and cherished. Feeling safe, and secure.
It was perfect.
The movie concluded, and the children slowly began filing out of the room, heading for their own bedrooms. Yawning and tiredly rubbing at their eyes as they bid him good night. Ororo followed shortly thereafter, and before too long, Jean and Percy began making their own way to Jean's personal quarters.
Removing the light coat, he'd been wearing, and hanging it on the back of a chair at the desk in the corner of the room, Percy sighed. He felt a pair of soft arms circle around his waist, as Jean laid her chin on his shoulder.
"You've been a million miles away tonight. And you feel…distraught. What's going on?"
Turning in her arms, Percy wrapped his own around her shoulders, drawing her in close, and tucking her head up against his neck. For a few moments, he didn't say anything, just allowed himself to feel lost in her comforting embrace.
"You remember how I was helping the Devil?" Percy finally said, to which she nodded against his neck. "Things got…complicated."
She leaned back, and looked up at his face, "Complicated how?"
"Like I might have gotten mixed up in a centuries long dispute between rival ninja clans and discovered the Persian Gods might still be around and are seeking vengeance on my family for Alexander's conquest of Persia." He said, with a completely straight face.
Jean just blinked at him, then sighed and laid her head against his chest again.
"You might be the single unluckiest man I've ever met," She said into his shirt, and he couldn't stop the light chuckle that burbled up. His laughs shaking her shoulders slightly,
"Understatement," He said back,
"As…distressing as all of that is, I can tell that isn't everything. Talk to me Percy, what has you feeling so mixed up?"
Percy's throat dried up as he tried to find the words to explain how he felt. Slowly, he began marching forward, until they were pressed up against the side of the bed. Sliding onto it, he pulled Jean up close, as they snuggled on top of the blankets, against the headboard.
"A lot. There's a lot that's got me mixed up. Immediately? This whole Darius thing is distressing on a level I can't even begin to describe. I've gone years without getting too mixed in the God's world. Then…this happens. I just…it feels like something is coming. Something bad. And I just know that I'm going to get caught up in the middle of all of it. And things are going to get ugly. I'm talking like the last war. The pantheons don't interact. They just don't, so for there to be rumors about one of them planning to strike out against another. Even if they're just rumors…" Percy trailed off and shuddered. The implications were unpleasant to think about. Made even worse by the fact that he knew nothing about this so-called Darius, or what they might be planning.
"Then there's-then there's SHIELD. The Devil and I-we got into it tonight. He said-he said some things that hurt. Things that hurt because they were what I've been thinking since D.C. How I've been little more than a hired gun. An assassin for hire, that's fooled himself into thinking he's done right by only killing the people who 'deserved it.' He was right. How much blood have I spilled, how many lives destroyed, how many countries and governments have I toppled, thinking I was acting in the name of peace, when really, I was working for an agent of evil."
He was shaking slightly, and Jean tightened her hold on him. Letting him know that she wasn't going anywhere but staying quiet so that he could continue speaking. She knew how hard it was for him to open up.
"Worse than that though? Was that I let myself get conned into it. Even if I didn't know that SHIELD was really HYDRA, even if I didn't know that we were all being manipulated, I let myself get manipulated into joining. I let myself get tricked and used. Just like before. After I'd sworn to never let it happen again. How can I call myself a hero, how can anyone call me a hero, or a role model, after what I've done? Widow isn't the only one with red in her ledger. My life, my work, it was bloody. The thought that innocent people might be dead, because I allowed myself to get tricked…It's killing me Jean."
He took in a deep breath, and tried to steady his nerves,
"This whole time, I've only been keeping it together, because I've had you. Because I've been able to distract myself. That's all this Devil business was for me. A distraction. A way to keep my mind occupied so I wouldn't spiral. So, I wouldn't lose myself to this-this evil that I can feel in my heart. I just-I feel so lost. I don't know who I am, what I am,"
For a minute, Jean didn't say anything, she just continued her strangle hold on him. Then, slowly, she shifted. For a terrifyingly brief moment, Percy was worried she was about to leave, then she swung one leg over his, and straddled his waist. Grabbing his face with both hands, she forced him to meet her eyes.
"Do you know the kind of man I see when I look at you, Percy Jackson." She asked, but she didn't wait for a reply, "I see a man who does anything he can to help someone in need. I see a man, willing to sacrifice his life, if it means that just one person gets to live, even one second longer. I see a man, who has rescued dozens of hurt, lost, and confused children, and brought them hope. I see a man who has given everything, sacrificed everything, for the safety of the planet. You are not to blame. You are a victim. Do you have blood on your hands? Yes. Have you hurt people? Yes. Have you done things that are morally questionable? Yes. But you did them with the goal of bringing about peace. Of helping others. Of trying to make good, positive change, in a world that's all too often cruel."
Her fingers danced across his cheeks in a tender caress,
"You were victimized Percy. Taken advantage of in a moment of absolute weakness and vulnerability. You were essentially brainwashed into thinking that what you were doing was right. That the people giving you your orders, were right. You were told that you were saving lives. That you were saving the world. But all of that, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter what happened. It doesn't matter who you were. What matters is the man you choose to be. What matters is the man you choose to want to become. The fact that you're even having these thoughts, these concerns, it speaks to your character. To the type of man, you are. To the man I love."
She leaned down and pressed a soft kiss against his lips.
"You are never alone Percy. As long as I'm here, I'm with you. Always."
Percy still hurt. He still felt conflicted. But his worries were slightly assuaged by the kindness of her words. Of the honesty behind them. Jean was one of the kindest, most compassionate women he'd ever met. A woman who knew right from wrong. She wouldn't be with him, if she didn't trust him.
Trust.
The concept that had been plaguing him since D.C.
Having someone in his life he knew, without doubt, that he could trust to be honest with him. To be his moral compass and guide him to perhaps fix the mistakes he'd made.
It gave him hope.
AN: Pretty cheesy there at the end, but I love some fluffy cheesy shit. It brings me happiness. Anyways, this concludes this arc! Hope you all had a good time, because I did! Laid a lot of groundwork for future arcs to come, and a lot of hints at the future of the universe. So, get excited! Next up is going to be my Harry Potter Crossover, so if you're a fan of that, get hype because it's going to be getting some much-needed love! I have no idea when it's going to come out, because I start law school in two weeks and that's…that's my priority if I'm honest. BUT I'm going to try and get as much written between now and then as I can! Thanks again for all the love you guys have given me and this story, the support always astonishes me! I never would have imagined any of my stories got the kind of love and reception they have, but I'm so thankful for it. Thanks again folks. Stay safe, love you all, and see you soon.
Love,
LilDB