Hey Guys! New chapter! Yay! Currently going through some crap as I type, so I'm going to cut this short!
Disclaimer: I'm not Rick, or Marvel!
Annabeth:
He was smiling in every single picture he had in the room, though there weren't many. Half smiles, sometimes only the smallest of upturned lips, greeted Annabeth when she began inspecting them. She recognized almost every background, person (mostly other Avengers) and building, if there was one. Deserts and jungles, swamps and grasslands, cities and dumps- even a few famous places that Annabeth would never be allowed to visit due to monsters.
That red head- Natasha, was in a lot of them. She had this evil, yet playful smirk that Reyna sometimes got after a good spar. That blond man with them striking odd poses in sunglasses outside of multiple buildings and signs. Many of the signs said Danger, but Annabeth knew that there were worse places he could be in.
They did have a photo of him in a hospital bed, black and blue with a bandage wrapped thickly around his skull. He was smiling, giving the camera a thumbs-up. Annabeth brought her hand up, grazing the corner of the photograph. She hated seeing Percy like that, and it stirred a nest of self resentment deep inside of her gut. She should've been the one taking that photo, or at least could've prevented whatever caused Percy so much injury!
It should've been her…
More photos of him and other Avengers. Tony Stark and him, lounging on a recliner in graduation robes, a blueprint tucked between them as they were eating tacos. Him and Captain America and that man with the wings she'd seen on TV, all in running clothes outside of the Washington monument. More and more, with the red skinned man, or the girl with the accent. So many…
… The one she was looking for wasn't there.
And it terrified her to think he might've gotten rid of it, but at the same time she shook her head, pretending that it wasn't a surprise. He'd moved on- been forced to move on. She could expect he might hold some sort of sentimental value for anything regarding his past life. His loyalty was to the Avengers now, she saw that clearly. The gods, demigods, her… They were just some people that he used to know.
It didn't make her feel any better, but she understood. It was selfish of her to assume he hadn't moved on.
Actually, Annabeth ended up letting out a bitter chuckle. Looking around the room, examining the pictures, the bed sheets, the fancy interior design- her plan had worked. Percy Jackson had moved on from his days of being a demigod. His days of being her boyfriend and best friend. She'd done it. She'd won, in the end.
At least, looking around her it seemed that way.
That agent, Clint, had been completely unmoving when she's mentioned nightmares. They all had, in fact. Agents Romanoff and Hill had twitched, as if uncomfortable. Agent Romanoff did not strike Annabeth as someone who would ever feel uncomfortable. If Annabeth were to guess, she was dead on. Percy was still having nightmares.
He'd moved on, alright. He'd completely erased himself from existence, even. But he hadn't escaped Tartarus. He hadn't escaped the Hell she'd put him through all those years ago.
So, yes, he'd moved on. He just hadn't healed.
Talking with him directly had been a mistake. At least, with a mob of superheroes trying to break in and stop her. No, it should've been just them, somewhere that they could've considered equal ground. Somewhere that meant something to them, and only them. Not even romantically, just… intimately. She would've even considered Crusty's Waterbed Palace.
He'd lied to her, and robbed her of an answer to the question that had driven her for years. She actually hadn't been lying to Agent Romanoff; Annabeth had black boards in her dorm laid out with the 'Jackson Case' on them. Being put down at the last second, when the one question she needed answered most was brought up, had hurt. She just needed to know. She needed to know what he did to be banished and 'killed'. What had cost him his life. What had thrown him out of hers.
The revelation made her shoulders sag and posture drop. She'd taken a nap, but it had been mostly restless and edgy at best. The sheets had even smelled like him. Ocean and cookies, but… Sharper. Something metallic that mixed surprisingly well. Smoke off the barrel of a handgun, maybe, or a live grenade about to go off. Those mental images had quickly shoved the prospect of sleep from her mind. She would remain awake until she left Avengers Tower.
It wasn't a second later that the lock disengaged and the two Avengers stepped in.
Blond, buff, and blue-eyed. If he would grow his hair out an inch longer, bite a stapler, and get a tan, Captain America would look exactly like Jason Grace. He'd become Jason Grace. Not the son of Zeus who thought Percy could ever be a threat, but the boy before. A carefree, loving boyfriend. A husband, even. Annabeth knew this man was an enemy, but she wished he wasn't. He'd make a better ally.
Tony Stark was a good two-three inches shorter that Steve Rogers, but he didn't seem to mind. He closed the door behind him, never taking his eyes off of her. If Annabeth hadn't read all about his achievements, she consider his blank stare just that: blank. But the fire that gleamed with curiosity inside of him was noticeable. Something Leo might've noticed, had the boy been alive. Annabeth would treat her role model as a rival now.
For a few awkward seconds nobody did, or said, anything. Annabeth simply turned to face them, eyes piercing theirs in an attempt to cleave whatever information they could give her by simply walking into the room. She crossed her arms, stood tall, and quirked an eyebrow for good measure.
They simply stood there, arms in front of themselves. They both wore the same expression, but Tony Stark was openly biting his lip while the Captain remained unmoving. They were… Confused. No, that wasn't right. Befuddled? They didn't seem to know what to make of her. They didn't seem to understand who she was.
Good. The trio of Agents were professionals. These two were unprepared and uncoordinated. If she played her cards right, she could be the leader of the discussion here. Then she could get some answers.
She raised her shoulders, shrugging, but her attention never left the two. "Well?" She asked. "I can't just stand here forever. What does a billionaire and a super soldier need from me so badly to interrogate me themselves?" She felt really good about those words. They were commanding. She had started the conversation, and she could keep it going if she played her cards right.
Tony Stark wasn't playing cards, though.
Tony Stark spoke first, his tone surprisingly a mixture of disinterest and laziness. As he spoke, he moved to sit at the corner of Percy's bed. "Let's skip the small talk that the Agents like to use and get straight down to business. How do we stop people- or gods. Whatever -from finding out Percy is alive?"
Annabeth's mouth opened and closed twice in astonishment, but the Captain didn't seem to notice. Captain America shot Tony a glare and spoke. "What're you doing?" He asked.
Stark didn't remove his gaze from Annabeth. He did the same shrug she'd used before. "Direct approach. They never see it coming."
Annabeth had to agree. She didn't see it coming. Captain America didn't seem to take it as well as she did, oddly enough. "This isn't a contest, Stark. We can't expect her to-"
"Then don't make it one." He replied easily, only now sending a condescending look towards the blond. He again looked to Annabeth. "I mean, you show up to see him, offer him a chance to talk, and… what? Expect him to leave with you? No, I think you're smarter than that." Tony said, standing again and crossing his arms as well. He cocked his head to the side. "I mean, all you really want is your ex to stay in one piece, right?"
Annabeth… didn't know what to say. That seemed okay with Tony, seeing as he continued to speak. "You know how stupid he can be, and you know how much thought he actually puts into his plans. Correct me if I'm wrong, but he'd charge into the first god he sees if we gave him a tree branch to work with, right? Figure it out as he goes along?"
Annabeth took another moment to think the scenario he was describing through. Apparently, even on the Avengers, Percy was as reckless and straight forwards as before.
'Just not with you.' She thought bitterly.
She nodded. "Yes, Percy wouldn't think twice about it."
"But they know that, too." He guessed.
Annabeth found herself nodding.
"So the best- safest -place to be would be hiding? Or dead?"
Annabeth gaped, open mouthed for a few moments. Her head pounded, trying to come up with an answer. Apparently, all Stark wanted was a way to keep Percy out of trouble. In a sense, that was her goal. But… Could she trust an Avenger? Could she trust Iron Man, or Tony Stark, or whoever he was at the moment?
She didn't see much of a choice. But she also needed to see Percy again. To talk with him and plan his escape alone. Just the two of them. Captain America and Tony Stark would not be present. And if they solved the problem before her… She'd never see him again. Of that, she was certain. "He'd want to be here. He'd want to talk about this with us, otherwise he'd never listen." She said, baiting them. Maybe they would bring Percy into this.
Steve Rogers, if her memory serves her correctly, shifted uncomfortably where he stood. Annabeth watched his gaze waver, looking downwards. Annabeth raised an eyebrow. What could've gotten into him?
"He's made up his mind." Tony said. "We're going to give him a better option. Now, how do we keep Percy Jackson safe from the Olympiads-"
"Olympians." Annabeth and Steve both corrected flatly. She didn't dwell on the happenstance. Tony didn't seem to, either.
"Right, right, whatever. How do we keep him alive?" Tony asked.
Annabeth felt a dozen different answers fly through her head, theories weaving together and counter measures being put into effect. She saw countless possibilities, but her mind couldn't find a definite answer. Not that she would be sharing it with the two of them. She hated people taking her ideas, and the fact that Percy was involved made it more… personal. She needed to see him again.
"Take me to Percy, and I'll help him solve his problem. I can convince him." She bartered, though all she had was a handful of theories. She would help Percy, but not without his involvement, and not without a chance to explain herself to him. She needed to do that- she hadn't given him a straight forward answer, and she'd forgotten him much he actually needed that. "Take me to Percy." She said, switching her gaze to Captain Rogers.
He again shifted on his feet, and this time she saw Tony dart his eyes from the Captain to herself. Realization dawned on her, and she let out a bitter chuckle. "He doesn't know, does he? You're doing this without his consent." She supplied, giving Captain America a sad, tired smile that didn't reach her eyes. "I'd leave while you still can. Otherwise, who knows what he'll do when he finds out on his own."
The blond stood up straighter. His posture was defensive. "Is that a threat?"
Annabeth shook her head. "I know you know he trusts you. Do you know how hard that trust is to get from him? Has he not told you what a fatal flaw is?" She asked. At their confused faces, she frowned. "You should ask him. Then, you should figure out what yours is. Really, I'm surprised he hasn't already told you."
The two men in front of her were quiet for a moment, until Steve spoke. "And what's a fatal flaw?" He asked, his eyes taking on a much more dangerous look. Annabeth took on a serious look of her own, but for much different reasons beyond their understandings. Arms, tightly woven around her. A promise to never let go. Wind whipping past her head as they descended into darkness…
"The personality trait that could kill you, if you let it." She deadpanned, deciding that telling them would be a better idea anyways. "If you want an example, Percy would be your best. His has gotten him into serious trouble on multiple occasions. Including his banishment, if my theory is correct."
"And what's your theory? We can discredit it right here and now." Tony Stark said.
"Stark-" Rogers began, but Tony put up a hand for silence.
Annabeth felt her head swimming. Had… Had Percy told these people, these 'superheroes' his story? His reasoning? The one answer she wanted from him today?
But not her?
"He jumped in for Bob and Damesen!" She burst, blurting out her biggest question that had haunted her for years. It'd taken days to formulate the theory, but no proof. No evidence. "He jumped into Tartarus for the Giant and Titan that saved our lives. Then, he escaped using pearls he stole from his father, right? That's the truth?" Her eyes flickered between the two of them, rapidly.
Steve didn't even have to blink for her to know that he was trying to hide the truth from her. Tony didn't have to stay silent for a second too long for it to be abnormal. And she didn't have to minor in psychology to know she was just proven right.
"He's not a traitor. He didn't try to over through the gods." She said under her breath. She felt an incredible burden she didn't know she'd been carrying lift off of her shoulders. The idea had still been at the back of her head. The idea that Percy could be a bad guy, a monster, another Luke… It scared her. She was relieved to know she was right.
Steve heard her, cursed, and grabbed Tony by his shoulder, dragging Stark out of the room and keeping a warning glance on Annabeth. She didn't care.
For one glad, carefree minute, she sat on the edge of Percy's bed. Her fingers grazed over the covers, and the lingering scent of cookies, ocean, and gunshot smoke reached her nostrils. Her smile reached new levels of happiness, and her sudden rush of emotion almost made her want to scream into the pillow.
She had gotten her answer. She knew why Percy had left.
Now, she had a two new missions:
Apologize to Percy and (if the Fates allow) get him to take her back.
Destroy the people who tried to kill him.
Tony:
"Hey, let me go! Hands off the band shirt!" He protested, trying to get out of the super soldier's vice like grip. Really, Steve must eat pure steel for breakfast, because nobodies grip was this powerful. The fabric of one of his favorite shirts was going to tear. If that happened, Tony was going to sue. Even if he was a war vet.
Steve literally dragged them into the elevator before he pushed Tony to the far end and hit the button. The doors locked them in as Steve spoke. "How did she turn that on us so fast, Tony? How?" He asked, the stress clearly displayed in his voice. "We didn't even make it five minutes." He moaned desperately.
Tony admitted, he was just as surprised. He just didn't plan on whining about it, but he was ticked. When Percy said this girl was good, he didn't know he meant 'Teenage-Stark-if-he'd-been-a-girl' good. She'd taken his direct approach and turned it into a game of cat and mouse, but also convinced Tony he was the cat when he'd really been the mouse the whole time!
… Confused?
So is Tony.
"She's good! Yeah, I get that, but we're grown men, Rogers! Give me ten minutes and we can actually walk in there with a game plan-"
Steve pushed his shoulder a little, jostling him around. He looked distressed, looking between the door and Tony. "No. We are not going back in there, Stark. She beat us, and took exactly what she came here for. From us." He said. "It was a mistake. We need to tell Percy what happened, then help him figure it out. We shouldn't have done that. Even she was right about that."
Tony shook his head. "She's getting in your head, man. She's trying to play us right now."
"She did play us. She got what she wanted and gave us nothing." Steve deadpanned, his shoulders sagging. He put his head on the elevator wall, and judging by his look of pure loathing and curled fists, Tony guessed that if he didn't act quickly he'd need to replace a dented elevator. Again.
Tony put a hand on Steve's shoulder, albeit reluctantly. This was more Pepper's thing in the relationship, not Tony's. He didn't work well with living, breathing, emotion filled people. Not even himself. "We thought we were doing what was best for the kid. We got in over our heads instead. But, if I'm right, we can still fix this."
Steve stood up straight and Tony took his hand off of his shoulder. Steve looked him in the eye. "How, Tony? How do we stop Annabeth from messing up Percy? He obviously has something for her still."
"And she has something for him still." Tony said, putting his palms up. "We have equal reasons for saving Percy Jackson's life from whatever might want to hurt a hair on his well- defended head. We just need to remind her of that." He reasoned.
Steve shook his head. "Annabeth was right, though. We need to tell Percy what we've done. Preferably before he finds out himself."
No sooner had the words been spoken from his mouth did the speaker in the ceiling come on.
"Sir, I was told to inform you that Percy Jackson's room is currently empty." Jarvis said.
The two men in the elevator froze. They both paled at the same time. "Who told you to tell me that?" He asked.
"Maria Hill is currently outside of Mr. Jackson's room. She wishes to speak with you immediately."
Read, Review, Favorite, and Follow!
LHG :)
