Percy

He crouched low in the dark, in position to the far right of the sleeping monster. Kampe's snores rattled the cavern, and out the corner of his eye he spotted the shadows thicken where Nico was stationed. The enchanted metal of Thor's hammer glinted at the center of their position.

"NOW!" He yelled, leaping forward, Riptide drawn. Shadows shot forward, stabbing at the monster. Percy felt the familiar tug in his stomach as the stores of underground water he'd felt earlier burst through the walls of the cave, whirling angrily at the waking monster. Lightning crackled and thunder boomed at the Norse god's power struck.

And above it all, the beautiful sound of the Hulk's angry roar could be heard.

Kampe woke with a startled snarl, her expression confused and disoriented as she was blasted with shadows, water, and electricity. Percy summoned water beneath his feet, carrying him high above the newly enraged monster. The Hulk leapt at her, pounding at Kampe before she could draw her swords. The animals that kept emerging from her waistline were unsuccessfully snapping at the invulnerable Hulk's green skin. Nico engaged the snake tail, Stygian Iron sword glowing with a menacing purple light. Thor continued to blast her with lightning, the god working around the Hulk, keeping the monster completely distracted.

Percy glanced down, gaging the distance between him and Kampe. Percy let the water supporting him fall, dropping down with it.

Kampe looked up, her snake hair hissing with irritation as they drooped with the weight of the water he'd dropped on them. Riptide flashed as he dropped past her neck, severing the chain on which the key was attached. A second later, a hard force slammed into him. Kampe had swatted him out of the air.

Percy slammed into the wall, the harsh hissing of Kampe's ancient voice echoing triumphantly as the monster began to fight back in earnest, now that the element of surprise had worn off. Her swords dripping with the harsh green poison were drawn, and now Thor, Nico and Hulk were forced onto the defensive. But it didn't matter. Percy had the key, and Kampe had conveniently thrown him into the wall beside the tunnel that lead to Annabeth's cell. Natasha suddenly appeared in front of him, the red head's face blurring slightly. He held up his hand, key dangling down from the broken chain.

"Get her out of here." He ordered, even though his voice slurred a little. Looking worried, the assassin did exactly as she was told, taking the bronze key from his hand and rushing away. Percy slumped down to the ground with a groan. It was too bad he didn't have any nectar or ambrosia on him. He reached up to push back his damp hair from where the water he'd summoned had dripped down the cave walls and soaked it. Percy sat up too quickly and his head spun.

Water.

Annabeth's voice echoed in his head, a teasing laugh ringing in the back of his mind.

"You're such a Seaweed Brain." Percy pressed his hand into the small puddle that had gathered on the floor, and instantly began to feel better. But it wasn't nearly enough. He reached out and began to pull more water, summoning every puddle on the floor, every drop from the walls. He reached out and felt the underground river he'd been borrowing from, and felt the sea rise within him.

Once, he'd been told that no matter where he went, he'd always have the sea inside of him. It was a part of who he was. In his blood.

With a harsh scream, Percy let all his power pour out of him and the cave boomed with the force of his power. Water swept in out of nowhere, pouring in from everywhere. The swirling masses of water were a symphony and Percy was the conductor. He remembered the giant crocodile he'd fought with Carter Kane once, and began to move the water into a wide circle.

Kampe lost her footing, quickly swept away by the forced of the whirlpool. But so were his friends. Percy, for once was thankful for his ADHD, and spilt his focus in two; maintaining most of his concentration on powering the whirlpool, the other focused on using the momentum of the currents to spit his friends out of the water.

Nico hit the ground next to him with a grunt.

"Ugh. I hate your plans." The son of Hades mumbled as he coughed up water. Percy just smiled grimly. He could already feel his powers draining away his strength, and knew that he wouldn't be able to keep this up much longer and still collapse the cavern on Kampe.

"Get them out of here. I'm right behind you." Nico reached down and helped Thor pick up the unconscious Bruce Banner who was now only wearing ragged pants that looked like they were going to fall off any moment. His cousin glared at him.

"If you don't come out of this cave right behind us, and I mean right behind us, I'm going to kill you." Percy laughed through gritted teeth.

"Get them out of here Nico. I'll be right behind you." He repeated, the silent promise between them unspoken. He wouldn't make an unnecessary sacrifice. But he would make it if it meant everyone he loved getting out safely. Nico nodded and stumbled away, shouting hoarsely at the Avengers.

Percy just gritted his teeth harder and concentrated.