(I do not own any Marvel or PJO characters. Just realized I forgot to do this in the first three chapters. Also everyone except Sam and Peter know he is a demigod. Just wanted to clear that up.)
Both Clint and Percy were slightly out of breath when the reached the hospital. Slightly. They weren't that out of shape. When they opened the door they found everything as they had left it except Pepper wasn't there and Steve was sitting up. Percy ran to the bedside as Clint eased into the chair next to Natasha, careful not to wake anyone else. Percy pulled a chair over and sat down, waiting for him to notice he were there. Steve heard him sit down and painstakingly turned towards them.
"Hey Perce. How are you doing?" He asked, trying for a smile. Percy rolled his eyes at him.
"Really? You were in an exploding Quinjet and your asking how we are?" He asked, his tone incredulous. Steve flinched a little bit.
"Yeah. About that…. Hope you had any secure files in SHEILD." Peter narrowed his eyes at him.
"Why?" He asked suspiciously. Steve lay back, exhausted.
"Nat had to upload them to the internet." Percy sighed and fell back in his chair dramatically.
"Thank goodness I didn't have any on me. I think." Then he started muttering to himself about it. After a minute Percy turned to Steve.
"You okay? You look terrible." Percy said bluntly. Steve gave a small laugh and started coughing. When the fit subsided, he closed his eyes for a moment then reopened them.
"I'll be fine. I heal faster than most." Percy noted the tinge of sadness in his voice when he spoke.
"You know that's not what I meant." He said gently. But is was true. Steve may have been covered with injuries but his eyes held a hollowness that Percy rarely saw. It was a look he saw every time he looked in the mirror. Steve studied the teenager in front of him. Percy had grown a few inches since the last time he had seen him so he was now about six foot even. His jet black hair had grown so it covered his sea-green eyes. The eyes that held more pain than any teenager should ever have.
"I know. But I'm fine." Steve insisted. Percy held his hands up in surrender.
"Okay, okay." He said, laughing softly. Steve smiled and lay his head back, falling asleep.
"Pepper?" Percy asked the woman next to him.
"Yes Percy?"
"You think Steve will be okay? I mean emotionally." Percy added quickly. Pepper raised an eyebrow.
"Why wouldn't he be?" She asked, confused.
"His eyes, it's like they're hollow. I know that look, and it's the one of someone who's lost a friend." Percy whispered, almost to himself. His hand rested on Riptide and started tightening on the cap. Pepper stared at his face, trying to grasp what he was saying. Then it clicked. Why Steve and Percy got along so well and why Percy seemed to know what all his expressions meant.
"Percy have you been through any wars?" Pepper asked gently. Percy looked at her, feigning shock.
"Why would you ask such an insane question?" He asked, trying to hide the (slight) panic in his voice. "Because I haven't. Nope. None." He said, shaking his head rapidly.
"You sure? Because you're sure acting like you're lying." Pepper said, looking at Percy in the eye.
"Okay maybe I've been through one that took 4ish years to finish and another one that ended only a year ago. Any maybe I've lost friends in both but I've also made some." The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them. Pepper looked at him sympathetically. "But they're in the past and I don't worry about the past." Percy finished, closing his eyes and slipping Riptide back into his pocket. He closed his eyes and his breaths evened out, signaling he had fallen asleep, leaving Pepper to ponder his words.