The funeral was heartbreaking.
Seeing Pietro's body riddled with bullets was terrible, and the reason for it made it even worse, saving Clint from being shot by Ultron as he tried to save a kid and get him back to his mom. Just made Wanda pulling the bastard robot's heart all the more justifiable.
Percy had never seen Wanda in such bad shape as ever in the funeral, practically sobbing into Percy's arms as he was quietly buried in a cemetery in Sokovia. After the funeral was over, just Percy and Wanda remained, the Sokovian girl kneeling before the grave with a small bluebeard in her hands.
Even Percy felt grief wash over him. He liked Pietro, and it hurt him that he was killed prematurely. He felt as though him and Pietro were on the path of becoming perhaps, even best friends.
Wanda planted the bluebeard on Pietro's grave, her choice of flower for its blue and silver colors. Percy could almost mirror the day his own mother died, and him planting planting a flower of her favorite color on her grave.
Percy stood as support behind Wanda as she said her final goodbyes to her brother.
"Do you miss your mom?" Wanda suddenly asked.
Percy sighed. "Every day."
Wanda sniffled, her voice cracking as she spoke. "I'm going to miss him. Every day."
Percy nodded and Wanda walked into his arms. "I'm going to miss him, too. I really liked Pietro. He was … a charismatic guy. We probably could have even become best friends. But Ultron had to take him out prematurely."
"Ultron," Wanda repeated, her voice oozing with distaste.
"Yeah ... Ultron," Percy said. "But, you know what? Despite everything that's happened … I don't think Pietro would want us to wallow in self-pity. He would want us to move on."
"How am I supposed to do that?
"It's not easy," Percy admitted. "I know it took me a pretty long time after my mom died to do exactly that."
"You said you missed her."
"I do," Percy said. "But just because I moved on doesn't mean I don't miss her. You're able to do both."
Wanda nodded into his chest. "Pietro liked you too, just so you know."
Percy scoffed slightly. "I wonder if he would like me all that much now, hugging his sister like this."
Wanda looked up at him. "I think he would. He actually told me himself, he was okay with you, if it was you who ended up dating his sister."
Percy raised an eyebrow down at her. "When was this conversation held?"
"I told Pietro a while back that I liked you," Wanda admitted. "And he approved."
Percy frowned. "Huh."
"That's what Pietro had meant when he said no fooling around," Wanda said.
Percy smiled at Pietro's grave. "Son of a bitch."
For a while the two of them stood there, smiling at Pietro's grave. Percy could almost imagine him still being here, teasing them both about each other. Unfortunately, it would never come to pass, but still, Percy could envision it. It wasn't that far-fetched.
Pietro Maximoff would be missed dearly.
"Where do we go from here?" Wanda wondered.
"Now, I guess … we should go on a formal date," Percy suggested.
"Yes," she agreed. "We should, but where?"
Percy smiled at her. "You ever had New York style pizza?"
…
"What are you doing here by yourself like some creepo?"
Natasha turned to see an amused Percy Jackson walking into the room as he raised his brows at her. The redheaded spy had been staring at the wall in dark room as she contemplated about the events that followed the attack on Sokovia.
"Sulking in the dark? What have you come to, Natasha?" Percy teased. "What have you become?"
"Just … thinking," she said.
"Yeah, I've been there," Percy agreed with a nod, his tone switching to serious. He stood next to the redhead. "So … Banner ain't back yet, huh?"
"No," she admitted.
"He'll be fine," Percy said. "He probably just needs some alone time. You know how it is."
Natasha nodded.
"I guess that basically means we're all that's left of the Avengers," Percy said. "I mean, Thor's gone back at Asgard, Tony is going back to whatever mansion he lives in and Banner might be taking a permanent vacation. Oh yeah, and Clint is retiring for good. Good for him. But at the very least, you and Steve decided to stay, so that's good news."
"And what about you?" Natasha wondered.
"I'll stay, too," Percy said, nodding. "I like this place. And the Avengers, it's a … it's something I want to a be part of. And also, I'm kind of dating … Wanda, too."
Natasha tilted her head at him. "When did that happen?"
"Just yesterday," Percy replied with a goofy smile.
"Well, I hope you kids have fun," she said.
"Me, too," Percy agreed. "So … are we gonna train or what?"
"That's exactly what you'll be doing," Steve said, suddenly walking in as well. "Get back with the rest of new members. We'll meet up with you soon."
Percy saluted him jokingly. "Yes, sir."
…
"So … I guess this is the future for us?" Percy asked.
"Yeah, I will staying in the Avengers Compound," Wanda said.
"Then I guess I have no other choice," Percy joked.
Wanda smiled.
"But whatever the future has in store for us … I think I'm ready for it," Percy said. "And I look forward to it."
"I suppose this is our future," Wanda said, gesturing towards the other recruits.
Presenting the newest Avengers were Sam Wilson, James Rhodes and Vision along with Percy and Wanda. The Avengers were ever expanding.
Steve and Natasha burst through the train room doors to meet them. "Avengers … it's time for your first day of training."
Percy smirked. "Well, this should be fun."
I know, short chapter. But this was pretty much just the ending of Age of Ultron. We moving on to the events of Civil War on the next chapter.