Slight OOC warning. Also this chapter may seem confusing, but please stick with me.
For a man surrounded sitting in the presence of three gods, he was rather calm. Not even a hint of apprehension rolled of him, and Zeus wasn't sure he liked that. One thing he knew he didn't like being was ordered around, but he supposed he couldn't get away from it, Hera could get very loud when she wanted to. No one had dragged his brother here, he had turned up out of is own free will. How he knew to come, Zeus would have to figure out later.
Nick Fury remained calm even as Poseidon lost his cool. Zeus hadn't expected his brother to like the plan, that's why he didn't want him to come to this meeting.
"Calm down brother," Zeus resisted the urge to role his eyes "the mortal is right, the damage is to great already. At this rate the battle will continue through the day,"
"We don't need to go to last resorts," Poseidon argued "this is my son we're talking about,"
"A mortal son, I do not get why you are so attached to him, he'll die eventually," Hera said, the words dripping off her deadly tongue.
"He means more to me then you'll ever know," Poseidon spat at his sister "and I promised his mother that no ill would befall him,"
Director Fury watched the arguing gods with his single eye, becoming rather amused, but amazed at the same time. The god of the sea did seem to care about his child a lot, obviously something uncommon in the Greek world, taking from Hera's reaction.
"I am King of the Gods, not you, brother," Zeus stood, putting the brothers at the same height "my words are my law."
Zeus and Hera calmly travelled out of the room, while Poseidon stepped forward to lock eyes with the Director, anger shining through his own sea green eyes.
"You do not know what you are about to unleash, Director,"
-this is a line break –
Percy was beginning to tire. Emotionally and physically. He felt as if someone had made him swallow a lead ball, it sat in the pit of his stomach, weighing him down. His mind was becoming pre-occupied with Annabeth, and that gave monsters a chance to break through his defences. He'd lost times how many times he had been slammed into walls or stepped on.
"Come of Percy," Nico dug him out of the latest pile of rubble "this is the last one before the Boss Level,"
"This isn't Mario, Nico," Percy sighed, "we aren't going to fight some dude in a spiked shell,"
"Aren't you Captain Cheery," Nico rolled his eyes as he pointed his sword towards the serpent slithering onto the scene.
"Says the guy I have to bribe into smiling," Percy returned "lets just get this finished, I don't like the look of that portal,"
"Nothings gone in or out of it for ten minutes," Thalia strided up next to them "not even a hint of Hecate, and Starks com link must've died,"
Percy readjusted his grip on his sword "right, let's do this, then see if we can get up there,"
Just as the trio began to move in for the kill, Hulk suddenly came onto the scene. He jumped down and landed solidly on the serpents head, smashing it in with his large green fists. Thalia scowled slightly at the loss of her kill, but Percy was so grateful he could've kissed that big green smashing machine.
Thalia let her gaze fall on the sky "how do we get up there?"
"Uh, guys, I think that's the least of our problems," Percy tapped his cousins on the shoulders as he stared in awe at the new lot of monsters coming down the street "Dracaenas, Empousai, Minotaur…..Medusa? Great, just what I needed to deal with, my dads ex-girlfriend,"
"Captain, we've got Medusa. The snake hairs a give away, leave her alone. We'll deal with it," Thalia said through the com feed.
"Got it," came the reply.
"What's the score?" Thalia questioned as she began walking towards the advancing monsters.
"You're three hundred and twelve, I'm three hundred and five and Percy is…." Nico frowned slightly "I lost count after four hundred,"
"Why do you guys make everything a competition?" Percy questioned, preparing himself to break through the lines.
"I like to win," Thalia raced forward and began a battle with an Empousai.
"How do you know what winning feels like when you always loose?" Nico made a small fissure in the pavement.
"Shut it, Old Man," Thalia grunted.
"Ditto, Old Hag," Nico replied.
Percy was about to race forward to deal with the biggest threat, Medusa, when a flash of gold behind him made him turn around. He was surprised to find Hermes standing there, looking rather solemn in his own right. Percy felt the ball in his stomach triple in weight at the sight of him.
"Percy…." Hermes trailed off "…the dagger was poisoned. We couldn't save her in time, I'm sorry-"
Percy felt as if the world had frozen around him. His grip on his sword strengthened, the wind began to pick up, and the ground began to shake. This couldn't be happening, how could the god of medicine not save her? How could they not be fast enough to save her?
"-please understand," Hermes was still speaking "I have to go, Apollo's getting his ear chewed out by Hera for even stepping foot down here. I'm sorry, Percy,"
Hermes wrapped Percy's unresponsive body in a light hug before disappearing. Tears fell silently down Percy's cheeks as he tried to comprehend what had just happened. She couldn't be gone. He had just been laughing with her this morning; no one could just be gone like that. The ground was beginning to shake more violently now, little geysers of waters beginning to break through.
"You're even cuter now Perseus, but will you let me see those lovely green-"
Medusa never got to finish as Percy turned sharply, sword up. It would have to be a new record for killing Medusa, just less than five seconds. He sliced straight through her neck without second thought. His vision was tinted red, and the wind howled in his ears.
"Percy! What's going on!" Thalia yelled above the rising wind.
"She's gone!" Percy yelled loudly.
Thalia's eyes grew wide as well "Annabeth?"
Percy slammed his sword into the ground, right up to the hilt. Steve, Clint and Natasha tried to comprehend what was going on. Obviously, Annabeth had passed away, but why had the ground began to shake and the winds become nearly unbearable? Surely, Percy wasn't that powerful.
Percy then ripped the sword out of the ground, letting the water fly out of it in a geyser nearly eighteen feet tall. With the point of his sword he turned the water on monsters, giving the remaining Hunters a chance to pierce them with their arrows. Above them the thunder and lightening had grown in Thalia's fury. The head Huntress was cutting down monsters left and right while the tears streamed silently down her face.
Nico, for all it was worth, looked rather confused. However, his cousin's fury soon caught onto him, and in one swift, single blow to the ground he had made a large fissure appear. The monsters didn't have a chance, they all dropped into the pit, becoming swallowed up by the whole that soon healed itself, locking them below the ground.
Water flooded the street, both from rain, geysers and fire hydrants. Percy didn't really care. He gazed up at the portal and watched as Iron Man flew out of the hole, chasing a blur in the air.
"We're at Central Park," Tony finally broke through the comlink "we might need some help,"
Thalia and Percy both grabbed onto Nico's arm in a silent plea. The son of Hades dragged them towards the shadows, where they soon emerged in the shadows of Central Park. Percy let go of the tired Nico and raised forward, following the sounds of the crashes that broke through the trees. He cut taking a short cut when suddenly she stepped out of the trees, looking rather pleased with herself.
"I thought I'd come and say goodbye before I leave," she smirked at Percy "It was forecast sunny skies and low tide, but from the looks of it I'm guessing the blonde didn't make it,"
"Percy!" He heard Thalia call through the trees.
"Not going to call for help?" the women spoke to him like he was a lost child.
"You killed my girlfriend, sunk my parents cruise ship, kidnapped my cousins- then threw them of the Empire State Building-this is my fight, I'm not letting you hurt anybody else," Percy felt the wind pick up around him, beginning to form a hurricane.
"My, my, the whispers are true," Hecate advanced further into the clearing "you would destroy the world to save a friend,"
"Why did you do this?" Percy asked as he felt the water in the underground pipe mains swirl at his command "why her?"
"If mortals think me to be a Crone, let them see how bad I truly am. They are weak, pathetic, and were made to be ruled," Hecate drew her own wicked sharp sword "they rose against Zeus, and yet he sits on his throne, taking it like a scolded child. Your petty girlfriend is just a casualty of war, Perseus. She, like you, is no more then a pitiful pawn-"
Percy charged forward, attempting to swipe her head straight off her shoulders. The goddess blocked easily, and using her strength, sent Percy crashing into a tree.
"-the Gods use you Perseus. Can you not see that? You fight the battles they are to afraid to fight themselves. They are weak-" Hera continued her rant. As she did though, she raised a hand, and with an easy flick of her hand sent Riptide flying out of Percy's hands "-and their children weaker,"
Clenching his fists he broke the water mains below the grass and soil, sending water flying up into the air. Merging it all together he brought it down on the goddess of witchcraft in one continuous stream. In that time he collected his sword and stood ready for the onslaught.
"I thought they would've trained you better, Perseus," the voice came from behind him, and he turned, swinging Riptide around in an arc he was only greeted by empty air.
A twig snapped to his left and turned to the trees, not finding anything. He heard a slight whoosh and turned just in time to avoid the blunt of a sword against his head. He faced the goddess again, prepared to swipe that head straight off her shoulders. She killed Annabeth; she deserved no less then an eternity in Tartarus
His sword was shorter then hers. Through his fury he remembered the manoeuvre Luke had taught him all those years ago. Rolling around Hecate he stepped forward, catching her blade on his, he ran his blade down hers, locked the hilt, and then sent it flying from her hands.
"Nice trick," she smirked playfully "is that the best you've got?"
Percy fainted towards her knee, then lunged up for her stomach. The goddess side stepped easily and tripped him. Landing the mud, Percy didn't even let himself be on the ground for more then a second.
"You have spirit, I'll give you that," she pulled raised her hands "but spirit doesn't get you anywhere in this world,"
Pushing her hands forward, Percy was sent crashing right through a tree. He staggered to his feet like a drunken man. He was determined not to give up. Ripping off his helmet, he knew he'd get a better view this way. He knew no one would be in the park, so what was the point in wearing it?
Running back into the clearing he spotted Hecate leaning rather calmly against a tree. He was about to go in for another well executed swing when a sudden blast of blue light made him jump back in shock. Hecate barely managed to miss being hit.
Percy used that was a distraction. Running low against the ground he felt the winds grow around him. As the hurricane formed around him, lifting him nearly twelve feet off the ground, he prepared to jump down on the goddess. When she rolled out of the way, he returned with a high jab to the shoulder. When it actually hit her skin Percy stepped forward and pushed all his strength into it, skewering her through.
With their faces no less then twenty centimetres away, the wincing Hecate said; "doesn't it feel nice Perseus? To hurt those who've hurt you? Help me finish the gods, and I promise I'll bring your girlfriend back to life,"
Percy yanked his sword out of her in disgust. Hecate danced away from his blade, leaving a trail of ichor in her wake. Percy moved forward, following her every move. He was just about to faint a blow towards her neck when the whine of the repulser started up again. As he turned, distracted by the sound, Hecate landed a solid blow on his chest, sending him flying yet again.
This time though the repulser beam did hit Hecate. It hit her on the right side of the face. Percy could smell the flesh as it burnt, while the ichor dripped down onto the grass. Percy didn't waste a second. He took up his sword and slammed it into the ground, creating a large shock wave that sent Hecate tumbling down. Hefting his sword out the soil he went up to the goddess and slid his sword into her stomach.
"That's for Annabeth," Percy gave the hilt one final push before walking away, leaving his sword in the now mutilated god.
"The portals closed and we've got the Hunters on stray monster patrol, I say we call it a day- " Tony tried to get to talk to the teenage demigod, but Percy just shook his head.
After finding his helmet he walked through the park. He sat down on a park bench, helmet resting next to him. He rubbed his face tiredly. Tears streamed openly down it, wiping away the grime and light remanets of blood. Resting his elbows on his knees, he buried his face in his hands. The tears became heavier with each passing minute. Soon enough he was crying like a child.
They had won, and yet Annabeth was gone.
Someone sat next to him on the bench and he peeked through his fingers. It was Thalia. Her eye make up had long since been washed away, her hair was flat, clothes ripped, and face drawn. She looked at worn and weary as Percy felt.
"The dagger was poisoned," Percy offered in explanation, voice muffled by his hands.
Thalia wiped away a tear, trying to remain strong.
"You won't get in trouble if I hug you?" Percy couldn't help but ask.
"They don't have to know," Thalia replied as she wrapped her arms around Percy "tell anyone about this and I'll kill you,"
Percy let out a wet chuckle "some things never change,"
Breaking apart the pair sat in silence on the bench for a while. However, when Thalia heard something on the comlink, the pair wiped away their tears and stood up.
"Media's going to start flying overhead soon," Thalia said as they began to walk.
Nodding his understanding Percy put the helmet on. A few moments later he felt Riptide appear in his pocket. Wiping his face he still couldn't stop a few tears escaping. When they reached the outside of the Empire State Building the rest of the Avengers were waiting. Above four different news media helicopters flew over head, training spot light onto them.
"I'm going to head up," Percy stared at the building "you two coming?"
The question was directed towards Thalia and Nico. Both of them nodded. Thalia yelled out orders to her Hunters before entering the abandoned building. The deskman had left, and Thalia searched the desk for the key card. The elevator ride up was a quiet one. Percy removed his helmet, as did Nico.
Up in the city of the Gods all the nymphs, satyrs and people who lived there bowed down to them, calling them their lords and thanking them. Percy just stared ahead at the god's hall, wanting nothing more then to disappear into the shadows and not reappear for some years.
In the hall, the gods were waiting. As they sat up in their thrones, Percy gazed into each of their eyes. When he finally met his fathers gaze, he saw deep turmoil in his ocean green eyes. His gaze flickered to Athena, who seemed rather stoic considering the situation.
"Well done….again," Zeus said as the three heroes knelt in front of him, "you have fought well-"
Percy gazed at the ground, finding the marble more interesting than what the king of the gods had to say.
"-but we have not been entirely truthful with you,"
This time he did look at Zeus. He stared at the god of thunder, wondering what on earth he had lied about.
"Annabeth is alive,"
The world seemed to tilt dangerously for a second. Percy gripped the plume of his helmet as he tried to comprehend what had just been said.
"You lied to us," Nico was the first to speak "I knew that couldn't be right. Why?"
There was a bit of an awkward silence around the hall. Nico stood, helmet clasped under his arm. Percy had to give it to Nico, he had to have a lot of balls to glare at the King of the Gods like that. Percy and Thalia stood at the same time as well.
"We knew it would get the situation handled faster," Athena spoke this time. The three demigods turned to her in near sync "it was taking to long,"
Fury bubbled up within Percy again and his angry words left his mouth in little more then an angry hiss "you would hurt us all just because you're impatient?"
"Watch the way you speak, Perseus," Hera glared at the demigod.
"He's right, we just fought a near all out war for you and all you can do lie to us?" Thalia moved closer to Percy.
"It got the job done quicker," Ares stated "also it became a bit more entertaining,"
"Where is she?" Percy questioned, knowing that if he didn't leave the room he was going to end up saying things he'd regret.
"We still have things to discuss-"Zeus began to say.
"I'll show you," Poseidon stepped down off his throne.
"Brother," Zeus stared at his sibling.
"This way," Poseidon began walking towards a door on the side.
The three demigods followed the god without a second thought. They walked through some halls, all trailing behind the god.
"I'm sorry," Poseidon apologised.
"Why couldn't they just ask us to pick up the pace?" Percy asked "why did they have to go that far?"
Poseidon stopped outside a door and paused for a moment, looking at Percy with apologetic eyes "they know my nature. When angry nothing can reign in the sea. They used your anger against you,"
"The Gods use you Perseus….." Hecate's voice trailed through his mind.
"She's resting at the moment, but otherwise she's completely healed," His father continued to speak "take all the time you need,"
Poseidon began walking down the hall, but turned a moment later.
"I never could've wished for a better son," Poseidon said, green eyes clear and honest.
Reviews appreciated. Please excuse the OOC'ness, but honestly how would you react if your girlfriend/boyfriend had just died….yeah…