Disclaimer: We do not own the characters or concepts from Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, or MARVEL. Those rights go to JK Rowling, Rick Riordan, and MARVEL Studios respectively.

AN: This story is co-written by shadowphoenix55. Read and review!

Chapter Two

By dearemmahansen

Percy and Annabeth were tired.

Really tired.

The war against Gaea took far too much out of all the demigods. After being overwhelmed by monsters and watching those they loved die, it could be a miracle just to see someone at camp smile.

Growing up with his mom, Percy wasn't used to this gloominess. Sally Jackson had always had a smile and a hug for whenever things grew hard, and if he was being honest- he could really use a smile and a hug. Annabeth was always there for him, but he could see the toll the battle had taken on her. See how her eyes watered when she thought he wasn't looking- how he was the only one who could drag her from her laptop and sweltering cabin.

He knew she needed a break more than him. He didn't have as many ghosts from the past.

"Hey," Percy had said softly one afternoon, sitting with her head on his shoulder, watching the clouds over the lake- "What would you think of taking a break from camp?"

"What?" Annabeth had replied immediately, eyes wide as she looked at him. "Are you crazy?"

"Hear me out," he assured her. "I think we need to get away from all of this. All of this gloominess and mourning and curling up with laptops."

Annabeth narrowed her eyes. "I feel attacked."

The truth was that she had been feeling much too gloomy. On dark nights when her cabin felt too empty and her shoulder ached, her mind would go back to her days on the run, Luke and Thalia the only people that she could trust. But while those adventures once were thrilling and exhilarating, the memories of them brought chills down Annabeth's spine.

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Sally said we could come stay with her." That did nudge Annabeth along. "And that there's an intern position open at Stark Industries…."

"Really?" Annabeth asked, mouth open. Her dream job.

Percy nodded with a smirk. "So, what do you say, Wise Girl? Take a small adventure into New York City for a few months? High school not included."

"High school's still included for you, Seaweed Brain. Just cause I graduated early doesn't mean that you can just stop going."

Percy pouted. They eventually reached a compromise. Percy could go to school while Annabeth chased the internship of her dreams.

A few days later with bags packed, Annabeth and Percy were on their way out of camp and down to New York City - following a chance at a normal life.

Unfortunately, the Fates had a different plan.