chapter one! I hope you like it! Free cookies if you review and free answers if you have questions!
"You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you. You have the right to a lawyer. If you can't afford one, the government will provide one. If at any point you wish to answer questions without a lawyer present, you always have the right to stop and request a lawyer. Do you understand your rights?" The redheaded woman cinched the handcuffs around Percy Jackson's wrists, behind his back.
"Yes," the demigod said, looking up at his family and friends.
"You can't arrest him without a warrant," Annabeth Chase stood defiantly. The redhead handed Annabeth a piece of paper. "You can't arrest him without saying why."
"Perseus Jackson, you are under arrest on charges of terrorism and destruction of private and federal property."
"Terrorism? What? Release him. Now. He's innocent."
"Unless you want to be arrested under charges of aiding a terrorist and hindering a federal investigation, I suggest you shut up and stay back, blondie."
"Annabeth, I'll be fine. Don't worry about me. Just... keep everyone safe, and don't do anything stupid."
"Percy, you didn't do whatever it is they think you did."
"I know. Just be smart. Make your mom proud."
"Enough chitchat," the redhead shoved Percy into the back of a black van. The man in the front seat drove off, his brown head of hair never turning to look at Percy. Percy watched the redhead. The building was a skyscraper (duh. Almost all NYC buildings are skyscrapers). A black bag was pulled over his head as the redhead led him inside the maze of halls and offices. When the bag was taken off, Percy was face to face with a dark skinned bald guy wearing an eyepatch. Percy almost grinned when he saw it.
"Perseus Jackson. You have been brought in on charges of terrorism dating back five years, and yet you're just a kid. What do you have to say for yourself?"
"My cousin is an insane lunatic who made me do all that," Percy said, mentally blaming it on Ares.
"Five years ago, you blew up the Gateway Arch."
"No I didn't. My cousin, Aaron, kidnapped me, threatened to kill my mom if I didn't plant the bomb, and then tried to kill me in California a few days later."
"Yes I know. That story was all over the news for about three months, and again a year ago when you went missing for eight months."
"My aunt kidnapped me."
"So first your cousin kidnapped you, and now your aunt kidnapped you?"
"My dad's side of the family is all psychotic maniacs," Percy said without hesitating. Thunder rumbled overhead.
"Hawkeye, tell Thor to stop messing around," eyepatch said into a mic on his collar. "You expect me to believe that everything the past five years has been the fault of your dad's family?"
"No, but that doesn't make it not the truth."
"Boy, you had better confess to your crimes."
"I was twelve!" Percy stood up, knocking his chair backward. "How many twelve year olds do you know who go around terrorising the country?! My bet would be none. And if you do, how many of them do it without being forced?"
"Sit down, Mr. Jackson. We know about the gods."
"Then why accuse me of terrorism? If anyone deserves to be arrested, it's Luke, and Kronos, and Ares, and freaking Hera. Not me. All I did was try to keep the normal world safe from idiotic gods and Titans and Giants."
"You, Mr. Jackson, have connections to a murderer and enemy agent that we've been tracking for seventy years."
"What? I don't know any- I'm not going to finish that, because it's not true. I do know murderers who've been around that long. But they're freaking gods."
"Mr. Jackson, you have ties to the winter soldier."
"Who?"
"Fifteen years ago, the winter soldier pulled a two year old child out of traffic, saving his life. Thirteen years ago, he killed a hellhound who was attacking a four year old child. Eleven years ago, he stopped a gang from killing a six year old child. Nine years ago, he took an unconscious eight year old to the hospital after the child had been hit by a car. Six years ago, he pulled an eleven year old out of the shark tank at an aquarium. In all five circumstances, Mr. Jackson, that child was you."
"I have no clue what you're talking about."
"Five years ago, he approached you. Surveillance told us that he said 'your world is about to change.'"
"Okay yeah. That happened, but I never saw the guy before or since."
"Is this him?" eyepatch put up a picture of the winter soldier. Percy paled.
"The guy that warned me before everything happened is a killer?"
"Yes. And a human at that."
"But..."
"Mr. Jackson, you weren't brought here because of anything you did. You were brought here because we need your help."
"Then why arrest me? Why the handcuffs?"
"No one can know that we exist. As far as your family and friends are concerned, you are in a federal prison on charges of terrorism."
"I won't help you without them. We're a team."
"Who do you need?"
"Annabeth Chase; Leo Valdez; Piper McLean; Jason Grace; Hazel Levesque; Frank Zhang; Nico di Angelo; Thalia Grace."
"They'll be here before the day is out. For now, Agent Romanoff will escort you to the Avengers tower."
"What's that?"
"The Avengers are going to be in charge of this mission. They are a team of... unique individuals. Steven Rogers, aka Captain America; Tony Stark, aka Iron Man; Thor; Dr. Bruce Banner, aka the Hulk; Agent Natasha Romanoff, aka the Black Widow; and Agent Clinton Barton, aka Hawkeye make up the team."
"What's your name?"
"I'm Director Nick Fury."
"Director Fury, you asked for me?" The redhead from before walked in.
"Yes, Agent Romanoff. Please uncuff Mr. Jackson and escort him to the tower."
"I thought-"
"No. He's going to help us find the winter soldier."
"Oh," Natasha Romanoff uncuffed Percy and led him to a giant pneumatic tube in the basement. Percy hesitatied.
"This takes us to the Avengers tower in three minutes," Natasha explained, stepping in. Percy followed, tense and ready for battle. The door slid shut with a finality Percy didn't like. What made it worse: the tube was completely dark. Percy's hand trembled.
No, he told himself, I can't. Think happy thoughts. Puppies, kittens, baby hippocampi. Who am I kidding, thinking happy thoughts does nothing but prolong the inevitable. Oh well. Positive thoughts. Only two minutes left. You can make it. Besides, you have to get this under control sooner or later or Clarisse will give you crap about being scared of the dark. Deep breaths. You're safe. You're-
"Here," Natasha said, interrupting his thoughts. He pushed past her into the well lit basement of the Avengers tower. He took a deep breath steadied himself against the wall.
"Jarvis, tell the others we're back," Natasha said to no one in particular. "You okay?" Natasha asked. Percy nodded.
"Fine. I just don't like being underground."
"Okay, we'll get you a room high up."
"Nope. Hate heights."
"Uh, the middle good?"
"Fine."
"Okay. Jarvis tell the others to meet in the conference room on floor thirty-three."
"Sir, Natasha would like to meet with you in the conference room on the thirty-third floor," Jarvis, Tony Stark's AI security system, said.
"Everyone or just me?"
"The whole team sir."
"You heard him guys," Tony motioned the Avengers to follow him. "Time to meet the newbie."
The conference room was more like a den. Three couches formed a U around an ping pong table. Percy sat on the ping pong table. Thor choked on his cupcake. Steve smacked his back and moved to the couch next to Natasha. Tony sat across from them with Bruce and Clint sitting on the couch in the middle. Thor just stared at him.
"Earth to Thor," Natasha snapped.
"He..."
"And Thor clearly knows the kid," Stark pulled the god onto the couch. "So tell us about yourself."
"That's a broad topic."
"Okay, how about why Fury thinks we need you?"
"Believe it or not, that's even broader."
"Tell us why you're here," Steve said, making it easy.
"Someone called the winter soldier."
All heck broke loose in the den. Steve, who'd been leaning forward, slumped back, a defeated look in his eyes. Tony started shouting about dead people staying dead. Thor, no longer focused on Percy, started shouting at the ceiling. Bruce yelled, trying to get everyone to calm down. Clint and Natasha remained expressionless.
"HEY!" Percy shouted, causing the water cooler in the corner to explode. Six heads looked at Percy, then the water cooler, then back at Percy.
"How'd you do that?" Clint pointed.
"I dunno. I just can."
"New question. Why can you do that?"
"My dad is Poseidon, god of the sea. I can control water because I sort of am water."
"I've heard weirder," Stark shrugged.
"You've lived weirder," Natasha pointed out.
"Back to the issue at hand," Clint interrupted. "The winter soldier. Why does Fury think you can help?"
"I've met him."
"Fury, or the winter soldier?"
"Both."
"You met the winter soldier."
"Yes."
"When?"
"Five or so years ago."
"Did the winter soldier say anything?"
"He has a name," Steve muttered.
"What?" Percy asked.
"The winter soldier has a name. So use it. His name is Bucky."
"Uh..."
"Steve and Bucky used to be friends."
"More than that Clint. He's my brother."
"No he's not."
"He's my best friend. Ever. And I've lived in two different centuries. Bucky is the closest thing I have to a brother."
"He's a killer, Cap. That's not something to be overlooked."
"No, I get it," Percy said. "My friends and I have been through a lot. I'm an only child, so they're the closest I have to siblings. I'd do anything to protect them, even if they had switched sides."
"Sir," Jarvis interrupted, "Director Fury is on the phone.
"Put him on speaker."
"Stark, has Romanoff arrived with Jackson yet?"
"Yep," Natasha said.
"Good. Expect nine more tonight for dinner."
"Nine?"
"Yes. Jackson has his own team and refuses to work without them."
"Fine. Just send them over when they get here," Stark said. He waved his hand through the air and Jarvis ended the connection. "Working with that guy is like walking through hell."
Percy shuddered and a look of fear plastered itself on his face.