Bruce wondered for a moment why he had been given the tour job, but quickly came up with an answer. Thor would most likely start a battle of the egos, Tony would be his usual annoying self, Steve still believed in the one god, and the super spies where busy. But Bruce wasn't a talkative guy in the first place, or even social for that matter. Percy didn't seemed to mind though as he kept pace with him in the halls, hands in his pockets, looking awfully said for someone who had just joined the world's best super hero team.
"What do you do?" Percy asked as he looked away from the New York City skyline.
"You don't know?" Bruce questioned. "I thought the world did."
"I don't get to watch the news often." Percy shrugged as he gazed back to the skyline, and Bruce nodded. His eyes rose to the top of the Empire State Building before shifting away.
"I'm the Hulk," Bruce said simply.
"That giant green creature that smashes things?" Percy snorted but seemed to quickly gather his wits and blushed deeply.
"Yeah, that thing," Bruce nodded with a thin smile. "What about you?"
"Each demigod usually inherits a power from their godly parent. I can control water, breathe underwater, talk to sea animals-"
"So you're Aquaman?" Tony sauntered into the room and took a seat on a couch. "I hope you're good away from water."
"I can create my own water," Percy shrugged as he turned away from the window "and I can fight with weapons."
"We already have a pair of gun and arrow wielding people, and I don't think they're open to making it a trio," Tony snorted as he sunk into the couch.
"I can't shoot," Percy gave a small smile "but javelins, swords, daggers…I'm the best with a sword."
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised," Tony shrugged "so, where's the sword?"
Percy rummaged in his pocket and pulled out a ball point pen, making Bruce and Tony frown in sync.
"That's a pen," Tony said slowly like he was speaking to a child.
"That's what I said at first," Percy went to uncap it, but suddenly it transformed into a 3 feet long glowing bronze sword. The teenager spun it in a smooth arc, before letting it settle in his grip.
"Jarvis, scan it." Tony stood up eagerly like a child. "Can I have a look?"
"Uh, sure," Percy turned the blade down at offered it to the billionaire, who instantly began testing the weight in his hand.
"What metal is this?" Tony questioned as he held it so close to his face Bruce thought he was going to cut off his nose.
"Celestial Bronze," Percy watched Tony run his hand across the blade, "mined from Mt. Olympus."
"Greece?" Bruce asked in confusion.
"New York," Percy corrected, gently taking the blade off Tony, stopping him from cutting through his TV.
Tony snorted and watched as the son of Poseidon made the sword turn back into a pen. "I can see why you got a D in history," he snorted.
"The true Mt. Olympus moves with the heart of the west, where human civilisation is strongest," Percy pointed to above the Empire State Building "It's right above the Empire State Building, on the sixth hundredth floor."
Percy sat down in one of the chairs and fiddled the pen, gazing around the room as if trying to take every little detail of it in. Bruce and Tony sat in another seat, watching him.
"There's a room set up for you," Tony commented idly.
Percy looked up and gave a kind smile. "I'm not staying here. My mum's apartment is just on the upper east."
"You have a mobile phone?" Bruce questioned.
"No, they act like magnets for monsters," he stated it like it was obvious.
"Then you're staying here," Tony said it like it was final.
"I have a girlfriend, and a life," Percy muttered.
"She can come over, as long as you keep the noise down, Steve has really good hearing." Tony didn't seem at all abashed by saying it.
Percy, though, blushed a deep red and stared out the window, obviously uneasy. Bruce was about to change the subject when suddenly there was a loud poof along with an even louder clang. The demigod jumped at the sound and looked at the things now sitting in front of him. Bruce was trying to calm his racing heart, while Tony looked as if he was trying to figure out how that happened.
It looked like there was a duffle bag, along with an even bigger bag. Percy leant forward and plucked a note off it, scanning it, a faint smile coming up on his face.
"What does it say?" Tony asked as he shifted over and looked at the note, only seeing strange symbols. "What is that?"
"Ancient Greek," Percy leant forward to the bigger bag "all demigods are ADHD and dyslexic to some degree, but we can read Greek just fine…..wow."
That last statement was echoed by the two other members of the team. Percy had pulled out what seemed to be a Greek style chest plate, but that wasn't what was so amazing about it. The metal was a deep, perfectly polished bronze, while imbedded into it were giant pearls most likely worth thousands. Percy ran his hand across the smooth metal, feeling the trident that was forged into it. He then set it down and proceeded to pull out leather greaves for his shins and arms. Last though, was a Greek helmet that despite the open face, they could not see into. A plume of sea green horse hair was a top it, adding a spark of colour to the bronze.
"Tyson, you're amazing," Percy breathed as he set it down the helmet and picked up the chest plate again, hand going straight to the lower back. Percy then picked up a wrist watch that lay at the bottom of the bag and stood up, going a little way away. Bruce watched with amazement when at a press of a button a full shield emerged, glowing bronze in the middle of the day.
"Who made these?" Tony questioned as he eyed one of the pearls.
"My brother," Percy said, putting the shield.
"I have to meet your brother," Tony said with glee, turning suddenly as the elevator opened to reveal Steve. "Hey, Capsicle."
"Capsicle?" Percy asked, confused.
"Tony has a nickname for all of us," Bruce sighed.
"You bet it, Jolly Green," Tony smirked.
"I don't think anything can be worse than Seaweed Brain," Percy muttered without seemingly realising. "What do they call you?"
"Things that aren't supposed to be heard by young ears," Steve said with a heavy frown.
"I get Jolly Green, but Capsicle?" Percy gathered his things up into his bag.
"He was frozen for seventy years; he became the all American Capsicle." Tony pulled out his phone.
Steve's frown became even heavier but Percy didn't seem to notice. "I wondered how you looked so youthful. My friend's like you."
"How many people get frozen in ice?" Tony questioned. "Is there a statistic for that?"
"No, sir," Jarvis answered the question.
"He wasn't frozen in ice." Percy shrugged the bag onto his shoulder. "So, where's this room?"
"I'll show you," Steve said, suddenly happy to show Percy around.
Percy just shrugged and entered the elevator, letting Steve press the button. It was a slightly awkward ride and Percy escaped the metal moving box as soon as possible. Steve didn't seem to notice, but instead just walked down the hall and pushed open a door.
The room was large and expansive. On a raised dais was a king sized bed fitted with nice grey sheets, while the walls were a cool dark grey. The window ran the entire length of the wall, giving him a full on view of the city. On one wall was a giant TV, while on the other was a set of cupboards and drawers.
"This place is bigger than my whole cabin," Percy breathed as he stepped into the room.
"Bigger then my whole apartment," Steve said with a grin. "Bathroom's through that door."
He pointed to a single door while Percy dumped his bags on the bed.
"I don't even want to know how big that is," Percy commented as he removed the armour from the door and set it against a wall.
"If you pardon-"
A sudden loud alarm broke through Steve's comment. Percy saw the man instantly freeze and gaze out the window. Percy followed his line of sight but saw nothing.
"What was that?" Percy asked once it'd stopped.
"That means someone's attacking," Steve shifted back to the door. "Meet on the top floor."
Percy quickly changed into a pair of long jeans and a long shirt before chucking on the armour with skill. He usually wore armour at camp so that people couldn't guess where his Achilles spot was, but apparently this armour would his identity. He rushed into the elevator and onto the top of the building, where he found a plane waiting.
"Giants on the Brooklyn banks," Steve said, decked out in his trademark uniform. "Tony and Thor are already on it, come on."
But something black suddenly swooped down from the air and landed gracefully on the roof. In an instant the master archer had an arrow on it, but Percy quickly stepped in his way.
"That horse has wings," Natasha stated.
The horse whinnied loudly and flared its wings.
"Pegasus." Percy raced over to him and jumped skillfully onto the back of the creature. "Are we going to get going or are you going to stare like idiots?"
As Percy flew he put on his helmet. Blackjack could keep up with the jet and it didn't take them long to reach the Brooklyn banks where what seemed like three giants were on the banks, smashing everything in sight.
"Here's your chance to show us what you got." Percy jumped at the voice in his ear, but quickly remembered what his father had written about the communicator device within it.
"On it," Percy said as he dug his knees into Blackjack's side.
The pegasus instantly dived in towards one giant, sword at the ready. Percy jumped off Blackjack as he landed, drawing Riptide in the process.
Thor was already there, hammering back a giant with….well, his hammer, while Tony was distracting one by flying around its head, firing at it occasionally. Percy quickly took in one of the giants: wearing only a loincloth and armed with clubs he had no idea what type they were.
Running up to one he gazed at the water, formulating a plan. Raising his arms wide he called the water from the river, letting it swirl around him in a polluted funnel. He controlled it so he soon became at the same height of the giant, and then leapt out of it, landing nimbly on the monster's shoulder.
"Son of Poseidon!" it roared. "You look tasty! We like sea food!"
"Why does everyone say that?" Percy questioned before avoiding a smashing hand.
Plunging Riptide into the creature's neck Percy clung on for dear life. The rodeo then began as the giant began bucking wildly, trying to reach its neck to pull out the offending piece of metal. Percy knew a sword of his size wouldn't be able to defeat the giant without a clear hit to the head, so he put his hand to his lips and let out a whistle.
Straight away Blackjack came soaring back. Percy jumped onto his friends back and yanked out his sword, making the monster roar in pain.
"Draw him to the water," Percy said to his friend.
"Sure thing, Boss," Blackjack neighed as he avoided a club and began flying towards the river, giant following, swinging its club wildly in an attempt to hit him.
"On three," Percy said Blackjack as he watched Clint fire arrows in rapid succession into the giant's eyes, making him roar in pain. One got lucky, though, as it shot right through the eye and most likely into the brain, making it collapse into a huge mound of bronze dust that was quickly swept away by the wind.
"One-" Percy gripped his sword "two, three,"
The son of Poseidon jumped off Blackjack and free fell towards the water. Inside the murky depths Percy felt the water strengthen him, and with a burst of strength he called upon the power of the ocean and burst back out atop a large wave. Preparing Riptide he ran off the wave and plunged the sword straight into the giant's head.
Then came the free fall Percy wasn't prepared for. Riptide fell from his hands as he fell from the sky. Blackjack though was on the scene and swooped under him. Even with the Curse of the Achilles Percy could feel the impact of the landing, making him wince just at the thought of the pain.
"Thanks," Percy breathed, guiding Blackjack to swoop down to the ground.
Hulk was on the scene, looking angry and green. Percy watched with fascination as he grabbed the giant's head and squeezed it between his hands until it caved in and exploded into dust.
"Head back," he heard Steve say. "Hawkeye and Thor have got this."
As Percy rose higher into the air on Blackjack, he was forced to avoid a news helicopter. Unconsciously he still dipped his head, despite the fact he knew no one could see his face. When he made it back to Stark Tower, Blackjack left for Camp, looking forward to the promised sugar cubes.
"So what where those ones?" Iron Man asked as he landed on the roof.
"Giants. Probably long lost descendants of the first ones." Percy felt Riptide return to his pocket.
Once inside the building Percy stripped off the armour and showered quickly, letting the water refresh him. Heading up to an upper level he was surprised to find the Avengers in the room, boxes of pizzas spread out on a table.
"Pizza?" Tony asked, offering up a piece.
Percy shrugged and took it, sitting as far away from the group from possible, noticing the absence of Banner.
"So you own a pegasus?" Steve asked conversationally.
"Blackjack," Percy nodded "a great friend, but sometimes he doesn't know when to shut up."
"You can talk to horses?" Natasha questioned as she picked up a slice of pizza.
"Yeah," he shrugged, taking a bite of the pizza, wondering slightly how it got there so fast
Suddenly though the shadows in the room began to darken. Everyone was on instant high alert, but Percy just watched with amusement as Nico stumbled out of the shadows, looking weary and tired.
"Finally the right room," he muttered as he staggered over to Percy. "Good, pizza."
His cousin took the piece of pizza from his grasp while the Avengers just watched on, confused and wary.
"This is my cousin, Nico Di Angelo, son of Hades," Percy said with a nervous smile. "Excuse me."
Taking Nico's arm he dragged him over to the farthest corner of the room, glaring a death glare at him.
"Don't do death glares, they don't suit you," Nico muttered as he gazed back at the group who still seemed a little shocked. "Honorary Avenger, huh?"
"Shut it," Percy snapped. "Why are you here?"
"Just saw the news and I thought I'd come to congratulate you," Nico smirked at him. "Also, Father passes on a message."
"A message?" Percy questioned.
"Monsters aren't the only thing stirring," Nico read off his palm.
"Tartarus?" Percy questioned in a soft voice, heart doing a flip.
Nico shook his head, finishing the pizza. "That place is locked up tighter then Apollo's' record cupboard."
Percy couldn't help but smile. "Why do gods always give riddles?"
"I don't know," Nico shrugged. "Also, Thalia says we're seeing a movie at three tomorrow."
"Are you everyone's messenger now?" Percy questioned.
"No," Nico huffed.
"Good," Percy pushed his cousin towards the shadows. "Now go."
Nico melded into the shadows of the wall.
Percy walked back to the seats with a deep blush. Thor was frowning deeply over his giant slice of pizza, while Steve stared in wonder. The rest seemed to be keeping fairly stoic faces.
"I'll need to have Jarvis update security," Tony muttered. "I don't want that to happen again."
"Nico won't hurt anyone," Percy explained, "not on purpose, anyway."
"Underworld men are bad business," Thor grumbled.
"Why do I have a feeling I'm not going to like you?" Percy muttered.
"The feeling is mutual, Griska," Thor said in return.
"Did you just call me a criskit?" Percy asked, anger flaring "I've been called many things, but a cracker is strangely one of the most insulting. Braccas meas vescimini."
Percy seemed pleased with what he just said, and Thor seemed to crackle with electricity for a moment.
"What?" Tony questioned.
"He just told Thor to eat his pants," Natasha translated.
Criskit is actually a kind of cracker/biscuit thing. Griska means Greek in Icelandic (the closest to Norse, which I figure Thor might speak. He is a Norse god.)
Reviews Appreciated.