Stars shine brighter in the darkest night
Percy hated the council. Oh, the mortal one he means. The Olympus one went on very well. It was included in his training (as an agent of SHIELD) on how to deal with official stuff. So the treaty went better than he thought. It did help him that the treaty itself was written by Zeus so Percy could handle the whole matter easily (He could see glimpses on where Athena tried to fix it but well you know Zeus)
So why does Percy hate the council?
First of all, the World council is a bunch of scared imbeciles that sent a dam nuclear missile to save their idiotic hides. Second, the dam council is denying Percy (Avengers) clearance to help the dam people with the cleanup work. Something about valuable individuals and power. Third, Tony Stark is still a consultant even after he saved the whole city from their foolish order and won't make him an official Avenger. And that was only three this past few days, the council had been a pain in SHIELD's rear for years.
As Percy deals with his annoying headache from the council, Nick Fury who is equally unhappy with them is not going to let them go free of charge. For his son, for himself, and SHIELD.
Director Fury always records whatever is possible, from important phone calls and to the World Council meetings themselves, he knows that those things can help in the long run (He sued a teacher for insulting his son a few times).
That meeting where they wanted to order a nuclear strike at Manhattan? Recorded in full HD. That jet order the councilwoman ordered? Her voice is heard nice and clear. All stored in the SHIELD database. It isn't enough information to bring them down but it will be enough for some of them to leave the council for good and that's enough (for now).
Nick could ask for Stark to help then Fury could change the council (for good) but he didn't want to deal with the aftermath of Stark's smug face and words if he does ask. That didn't stop his son's first problem though.
No matter who is on the council Nick Fury knows that the council people will always be foolish headless chickens. Getting the Avengers the go for the official cleanup work will be easy after Director Fury makes those very real threats to the council. It also helps that Tony Stark is already helping with the cleanup job. Nick Fury already put Stark as an official Avenger member yesterday. That solved the rest of his son's headache.
Percy was in the infirmary when he got a notification from his mobile.
"Who's it from?" Agent Phil Coulson asked from the infirmary bed. Phil had bandages over his abdomen, he looked tired, but he looked at Percy with love and pride. Phil was a bit annoyed before Percy came- he didn't like how his card was ruined when the Director shyly (to his eyes) gave them to him.
Percy pulled out his mobile and looked at what it was.
"It's a notification to check my email- Oh Maria sent a short summary.." Percy's eyes moved side to side as he read the message and his face grew into a bright smile
"It says that the council allowed the Avengers to be part of the cleanup! Finally! I have no idea why they won't let us do cleanup work- don't answer Uncle it was rhetorical- of course, the 'superhero' team shouldn't do the 'insignificant work' huff as if saving the city is only defending it from attacks and stuff." Phil gave a proud smile as Percy huffed
"A few bad aspects of being in the world-saving team eh?" Phil said
Percy groans as he agreed "Forget 'glory' from doing jobs that the public can know, I get more restrictions than dad now! At least my names out of it, should I like wear a mask or something?"
Phil chuckled "Maybe you should have a code name like Black Widow or Hawkeye?"
"Oh don't get me started on that! I hate them. And what code name should I have? All the ones that we say are all cringy."
Phil smirked "Like Hurricane?"
"Noooo," Percy said
"Riptide?"
"That's my sword's name! And a bad code name!"
"Omega!"
"That's even worse!" Percy separated "You don't have a codename!" Percy puffed glaring at Phil with a pout
"Undercover ones have code names and I'm not an undercover agent but if you don't want your real name out there then you should have one too."
Percy sighed "I should ask dad. Anyway, I'm glad that you're okay Uncle Phil,"
"Mr. Solace did a good job.'
"Yeah…" Percy stood up from the chair "I should get going, see you later?"
Phil waved him off "See you later Percy, I'll think of more names for you!" He said as Percy walked off. Phil laughed at Percy's deliberately loud groan.
Percy was feeling better after seeing his family safe and awake. Percy made a detour to a private part of the Helicarrier with sunlight, remembering that Annabeth wanted him to tell her if anything changed. Percy made a rainbow and flipped a drachma in.
On the rainbow was Annabeth, she was talking to someone. They noticed the Iris message and motioned to her. Annabeth turned her head to see Percy waving with a bright smile.
"Percy!" Annabeth said her blond hair almost glowing in the sun and her smile almost as bright.
Percy was a lucky guy.
"Hey Wise girl! Just wanted to say that dad got the council to revoke their 'order' of no cleanup"
"That's great! I'll tell everyone then."
Percy made a confused face "Everyone?" just in time few more faces appeared in the IM
Leo, Piper, Jason, Hazel, Grover, Frank, and the Stoll brothers from the order of appearance showed up from behind the IM. It was a small fit but they somehow all fit in the rainbow. Iris does her job well.
"Did you think that we wouldn't help with the cleanup?" Annabeth scolded but had mirth in her grey eyes.
"Seaweed brain," she said when Percy nodded
Piper crossed her arms "As if we would just leave after the battle."
"The aftermath is almost as important as the battle itself Perce," Grover said with a smile.
"Of course we will help Percy" Piper cut off Percy when he opened his mouth
"the Roman demigods will help also," Frank said his smile kind
Percy grinned real big "Thanks guys,"
"Yeah! A bunch of teenagers that are helping people and lifting things that are too heavy for normal people in orange and purple t-shirts is not suspiciously suspicious at all!" Leo said cheerfully
"Leo," Piper groaned rolling her eyes "That's what Hazel and the Hecate Cabin are going to do"
"Still, the colours will still be visible, right Hazel?" Hazel gave a slow small nod as if not wanting to add fuel to the flame
"We'll just say it's a uniform?" Jason shrugged
"But from where?" Travis squinted his eyes and pointed his index finger and moved it side to side with Conner making 'hmm' noise with Leo
"We'll figure it out," Percy said. "Though I still don't know if I should go undercover too, using my powers will be a better help but-"
Leo gasped dramatically "You need a code name!"
Percy sighed "Or I could just go with you guys and pretend to be-"
"-You should use Water boy as a code name!" Leo said
"No. Definitely not. That's worst than Riptide!"
"Oooh, why not? Riptide is a cool code name!" Conner said
"I sorta agree?" Grover said
Percy gave a betrayed look to him "Not you too"
"How about Gladiator?" Frank said
"Where did that one come from?!"
Annabeth piped in with a mischievous smirk "Maybe a code name that has something related to your power? How about-"
"OH, would you look at the time! I have to go and talk with the Avengers on the cleanup job! So I have to go now! Thank you for the help! I'll be going now! I love you Wise girl see you later!" Percy cut her off and finished the IM talking the last sentece very fast.
The demigods were left staring at thin air, they all laughed a few moments later. Talking about the ridiculous code names and Percy's annoyed expression on his face
"Aquaboy sounds like a good code name," Leo said and that brought another bout of laugher from the demigods
The aftermath of the battle of New York was on the news for quite a while alongside the Battle itself as well as the controversy of the World Council. The people will never forget the cries of children without their parents, the anguish of parents who lost their children, and the death the battle cost. But also they will never forget how everyone helped each other, race, religion, and gender did not matter as they shared food, shelter, and the pain of their loss.
The News reported the group of extraordinary individuals who were assembled to defeat the Chitauri army called the Avengers participating in helping to bring New York back on its feet. They were seen helping people move debris, saving people from buildings, and a picture of Tony Stark covered in dust and dirt with an equally dirty child in his arms went viral on the internet.
But what brought hope was the two groups of teenagers in orange and purple volunteering to help the people of New York. There was no individual spotlight or interviews and for some reason, all of their faces were burry in the pictures that were taken but seeing teenagers being the first to help make shelters, provide food, and clear up after the battle made the people move as well. It brought hope to everyone who saw it.
The stars shine brightest in the darkest night. And will continue to shine in the light and you never forget.
