The roars of the Hulk continued to be heard all across the Helicarrier. Agents were running in several directions, rushing towards the armory, the bridge, and the cell block.
Helping up the Director and leading him out of the laboratory doors, Percy made his way towards the bridge. Nick had taken the most damage of all the inhabitants in the lab at the time of the explosion. A few piles of debris had been launched at his covered head. Although his arms had taken the brunt of the damage, he still had taken a few hits to the head and chest area. His forehead had trails of crimson streaking down his face and he was certain that he had bruising to a few ribs.
A quick Godly scan of the Director's body confirmed that he indeed had two cracked ribs and a hefty amount of bruises.
When Percy turned the first corner, he was met with a handful of agents aiming automatic rifles towards him.
"Gentlemen, please take Director Fury to the bridge and initiate the lockdown protocols." Percy commanded them, handing over the injured man and turning towards where the Hulk was still tearing through the ship.
He was about to flash to the Hulk's location only for his powers to fizzle out halfway through the process. His eyes narrowed as he saw three beings fade into view in front of him.
Perseus Jackson, you are forbidden from interfering with Bruce Banner's fight aboard the Helicarrier. Lachesis stated, glancing at the God before her with a bored gaze before turning her attention back to the yarn in her lap.
Percy was quiet for a few minutes, baffled at the statement before he finally managed to scrape a few brain cells together to respond.
"...why?"
Atropos looked up at Percy, moving her hands to the sides of her chair. Percy stares at the scissors that continue to cut strings without anybody holding them. He knew that they weren't being affected by magic either, as his godly senses would've easily picked up on it.
He raised an eyebrow at the scissors and looked back to the now standing Fate. "I thought the Moirai were the determiners of Fate?" He questioned.
The Fates determined the birth, life, and death of every immortal and mortal being on Earth. But according to what he was seeing, their physical forms weren't even required. Why do they exist if the devices that determined destiny still worked without interference.
We are the Moirai. Our plans have plans, our backup plans have fallback plans. Failsafes for every single possible outcome. Precautions and protocols are implemented in case of any issues regarding our ability to physically and mentally utilize our artifacts. Atropos informed him, her tone dull and emotionless. It creeped Percy out beyond belief.
A crucial point in Bruce Banner's future revolves around the current situation. We will not allow you to interfere, Godling. Bruce Banner must learn key lessons before you may interfere at all. Lachesis continued, staring through the several walls that separated the four immortals and the Hulk.
"You make it seem like I wouldn't be able to teach him these lessons." Percy replies, crossing his arms over his chest. It was a small act of defiance that most immortals would never do. If the Fate's were bothered by it, they didn't make it known whatsoever. If anything, they seemed amused by the demigod turned god's behavior.
Bruce Banner must come to terms with what the Hulk can do for the world. He must realize the good and the bad of the beast and accept both sides. Clotho responded, her hands smoothly twisting and molding another mortal's life. Percy was always curious at how the Fate's were able to keep ahead of the rising population if they only did one at a time, then he realized that it was probably a mortal that wouldn't be born for another five hundred years.
Tell me, Godling. If you were to approach the doctor and try to convince him to accept the Hulk, do you truly think he would accept the advice? Atropos asked, condescension evident in her tone. You are an immortal being. A God who has shown up in his life and already made an impression. The mortal who will steer him onto the right path has never met Bruce Banner. Humans respond better to those they don't know than those they do.
"I don't like this. I know you three know what is to come. This team needs to be strong and bonded as fast as possible before the Mad Titan arrives!" Percy replied with a frustrated tone, "that is why you gave me immortality isn't it? How am I supposed to help this team if you prevent me from affecting their future?!"
Calm yourself, Perseus. There is very little that we will prevent you from affecting. The Hulk is one of them. Do not presume that you can do our job better than us, or we shall remove your immortality and cut your string. Atropos sternly answered, flicking her powerful gaze to match Percy's stare.
His breath hitched as he saw his possible deaths flash before his eyes. Burning in a fiery cage, death by deatomization, car crashes, plane crashes, being struck by lightning.
He slammed his eyes shut as dozens and dozens of scenarios that involved his death pummeled their way through his mind. He stumbled back, falling to the steel floor of the hallway, and curled up into the fetal position. Percy's head pounded as his brain processes were being strained from the overload of information. The pain was excruciating, even worse than his dip in the Styx. It felt like his brain was melting and molten lava was being poured into his head and neck.
Gasping for breath, he placed his hands on his head, futilely trying to calm the pain in his hippocampus. It took a few minutes, but he soon was able to open his eyes and not be subjected to extreme pain.
"Okay. Okay. I won't interfere. Gods, that hurt like a mother fucker." Percy acquiesced, not wanting to ever experience this again. He got up and turned towards where the Fates were only to see them gone.
The roars of the Hulk disappeared as he sensed the beast falling through the sky. He spread his senses across the Helicarrier and raised an eyebrow at the lack of Thor's power and body on the ship.
Spreading his senses further, he cursed as he felt the cage that held Loki falling to the earth with Thor trapped inside.
Loki.
He had completely forgotten that the Trickster was on the ship, so focused on the Fates and getting Nick to safety.
Percy flashed himself to the cell block and frowned at what he saw. Coulson was laying against the wall with a large weapon laying in his lap and a stab wound in his chest.
Percy approached the barely conscious agent and placed his hands on the wound on his chest. Light began to shine from Percy's hands as he focused his power into the agent's chest. Despite his best efforts, the agent's chest wouldn't heal. The body rejected his powers and at the moment he knew it was the decree of the Fates.
He stood up and looked to the hole in the wall where Loki was apparently shot through. Stepping through the hole, he bent over the God of Mischief and grabbed his jaw. Emerald green orbs bore into his own green eyes as Loki glared at him.
"I did say you would fail, didn't I Lucy?" Percy quipped, picking up the god and binding him with celestial bronze cuffs. Before he left, he picked up Coulson's earpiece and called for a medical team to help the agent.
"Coulson is down. I tried to heal him but I couldn't save him in time." He told the people on the headset as a few medics came rushing into the room. He stared at one of the men holding Coulson's neck to check for a pulse. The man shook his head and began to prepare the body for transport.
"Call a medical team, they ca-"
"They just called it, Director Fury."
He threw the earpiece across the room in anger before whirling towards the bound Asgardian. He grabbed him by the throat and began to walk him towards the bridge.
"One move and I will remove your head from your body, banish you to Tartarus, and sautée your broken body over the River of Fire." Percy said nonchalantly, anger boiling underneath his skin. He wasn't worried about Loki's fighting capabilities to be honest. Sure the immortal was good with knives, but Percy was stronger, faster, and more powerful. He could remove Loki's head from his body with a mere flick of his wrist.
Loki remained silent as he was led towards the bridge. Cursing mentally, the Trickster God knew he couldn't escape with the celestial bronze around his wrists. Perseus Jackson had gotten better at planning, apparently. The last he had heard of the Son of Poseidon was from the Second Giant War. Now the man was a god. A powerful, ruthless god with a zero bullshit policy.
When the two reached the bridge, Percy raised an eyebrow at the complete silence that greeted him. Almost fifty agents were aiming automatic rifles at his chest, red dots appearing all over his and Loki's torsos.
"You're welcome." Percy told Nick Fury, who was currently sitting in a chair being stitched up.
He pushed Loki into one of the chairs at the table and applied another set of celestial bronze cuffs to Loki's legs, preventing the god from escaping. A few minutes later, the doors behind him opened once more as Captain America and Iron Man came bursting into the room, weapons at the ready.
"Where is the archer? Is he himself yet or not?" Percy inquired, looking between the two exhausted looking heroes. He didn't want any possibilities for Loki to be rescued.
Before anyone could speak, an arrow flew from a small cubby above the deck, slicing through the celestial bronze and freeing the god from his restraints. Before Percy could stop him, Loki had teleported out of the helicarrier, giving him a smug smirk as he left.
Percy threw his hand out and pulled on the water in the archer's body. Hawkeye went flying through a few walls until finally ending up having his throat grabbed by an angry Percy. As Hawkeye stared into the volatile green pupils of an enraged immortal, he felt his energy slip away rapidly, the oxygen in his blood being unable to reach his brain at the crushing grip on his neck. Clint Barton went limp in his hands as he went unconscious. Percy finally dropped him to the ground and turned towards the Director.
"I will be reporting this. Prepare yourself for a war, Fury, because Loki sure as Hades has." He said, leaving the room and immediately flashing away when all eyes were absent.
Olympus
The golden aura of Percy Jackson's true form faded away slowly as he rematerialized in the Olympian Throne Room. He tilted his head towards the extravagant roof and pulsed his power outwards. The Olympians began to flash their way into their Seats of Power, each holding their Master Weapons in their hands.
Zeus looked down at his nephew questioningly, eyebrows furrowed as he felt the power roll off the Son of Poseidon's form. Was it him, or did Perseus seem more powerful than last year?
"Nephew." Zeus greeted him after a few seconds of tense silence. "Why have you called the Council?"
"Loki escaped." He replied simply, holding up his hand to stop any further arguing. "The celestial bronze cuffs didn't work, Athena. In fact, a mortal broke them with a fucking arrow!"
Athena stiffened in her throne as her cousin openly challenged her abilities. Several powerful gazes flickered between the two immortals as the tension in the air rose. It was well known that the two hated each other greatly. The intensity of their rivalry was only just below his father's.
"The Great and Wise Athena was bested by a mortal once again. How many times is that now? Three? Four?" Percy quipped dryly, ignoring the harsh gaze of Athena and Zeus.
"I will be fighting with the Avengers. Don't enter the battlefield or I shall fight you too. Loki is mine and mine alone." Percy told them calmly, turning to leave before being interrupted by Ares' snort.
"Sounds like you are about to fuck him. Have you suddenly changed preferences in the past year, Jackson?"
"Have you suddenly stopped letting Aphrodite do your plumbing in the bedroom?" Percy sniped back without turning back around, leaving the War God steaming in embarrassment and anger. Hermes and Apollo had to put a hand over their mouth at the statement as chuckles threatened to leave them. Aphrodite's cheeks flushed at the disgusted gazes and raised eyebrows thrown her way.
"That's what I thought." Percy said, leaving the room quickly and making his way towards the edge of Olympus. As he stared out across his city, he felt a familiar presence at his side. A hand placed itself on his shoulder and turned him around. Bright silver orbs framed by long auburn locks greeted him, leaving him momentarily speechless.
"Do I want to know how you found out about Ares and Aphrodite?" Artemis asked, removing her hand from his shoulder and putting them on her hips. The entire sight would've been adorable had it not been for the several daggers strapped to her thighs and the longbow hanging from her back.
"Is that jealousy I detect, Moonbeam?" He replied slyly, a small grin on his face as the Goddess of the Moon pouted in frustration.
"You know, I thought Arty was an annoying nickname, but yours is even worse. One day you will have to teach me how to piss off immortals via name calling."
"Sorry, Artemis, but I'm afraid that that ability is only available for tall and handsome sons of Poseidon…" He paused for a few seconds as his eyes glitter with mischief, "then again, everything has a price."
Artemis was rendered speechless at his statement, torn between scalping him and laughing at his sarcasm. She decided on not responding at all and brushed past him to lean on the railing. Percy joined her at the railing, looking out over the bustling streets of New York.
"What is the real reason you are going down there, Perseus?" Artemis asked after a few minutes of silence. "You may have convinced the council of your reasons, but I know you better."
Percy went still at her statement, mentally cursing at the smug smirk on Artemis's face. He had to get out of here now. Artemis was much much smarter than people give her credit for. If he didn't leave right this second, she would quickly figure out everything involving his immortality and the Fates.
"He's about to attack the city I grew up in. The city I had defended once before against Kronos." He answered smoothly, turning his head down some to stare at the unassuming citizens below. "You know, I really miss the days where the only thing the people of Manhattan had to worry about was a few muggers and the occasional gunfight."
"Times change, Percy." She replied softly.
"Time may change...but humans don't. You don't see this because the Gods do not concern themselves with the activities of mortals." Percy paused, closing his eyes and hanging his head.
"If you did, you would see that man, and woman, are innately selfish creatures. We are hardwired to survive, adapt, and overcome. The average person might not realize it, but humans are subconsciously manipulative. A man may say he is donating to charity out of the goodness in his heart, and he may actually believe it. But deep down, whether he is aware of it or not, he does it for his own selfish reasons. Fame, public favors, whatever."
Artemis was silent as Percy continued to vent. This was a routine that she had gotten used to quickly. He would bottle up his thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. She would be here when the bottle inevitably broke.
Eventually, Percy stopped spilling all of his problems and stood there silently, "it's exhausting, Artemis. Especially when I know that I am no different than the average person."
"You're wrong." Her reply was stern and confident, "You are so much more than the average person. Yes. Almost every person would fight for fame, fortune, or a favor of the Gods. The select few that don't go unheard and unacknowledged." She started to reach out to place a hand on his face before stopping herself from making a mistake.
"You will never be just another person to me, Perseus. You can believe that if nothing else." She finished softly, turning on her heel and walking away from the Son of Poseidon. His mind began to wander into dangerous areas.
What would Artemis think of Steve Rogers?
If he were drinking, he would have choked at the abrupt and random thought. His cheeks flushed as his heart rate sped up.
Ok. Time to stop thinking increasingly dangerous thoughts and focus on the impending invasion.
He slapped his cheeks a few times to clear his head and rolled his shoulders, relishing in the cracks and creaks that escaped his body.
When the clear blue sky blew up and the dust settled, he would swear to everything that the Fate's were grinning at the timing of it all.
*Laughs in No-Hulk fight*
Sorry boys, but there isn't going to be a Hulk vs Percy fight.
My book should be here in a few days so keep an eye open for when I update Flames of Freedom!