DISCLAIMER: I do not own Percy Jackson/Heroes of Olympus, all rights to Rick Riordan! I also don't own The Avengers either, so rights go to Marvel or whatever.
Okay, here's the deal guys. This story takes place after the first Avengers, but before the second Avengers and before Captain America 2. So Agents of SHIELD season 1 before the whole HYDRA invasion thing happened. Got it? I hope that's right, I really suck at timelines. :/ Anyways, if you guys have any questions or anything, feel free to ask in a comment/PM. :D
"What do you mean I'm not going?" Sky protested, following her leader into his office.
"I mean you're not going," Coulson said, shoving a stack of files into his desk drawer.
"But why not? I mean, I've helped out on other missions," she said, standing in front of Agent Coulson with a glare.
"Sky," he said, stopping what he was doing. "This mission is critical. This kid is running around New York armed and dangerous. The Avengers couldn't bring him in, so I'm going to try a different approach. And I just don't think you've had enough experience with this kind of thing."
"This kind of thing? Coulson, I—"
"Sky, I'm done arguing with you about it. You're staying on the Bus. End of story."
Sky recoiled at the harsh tone very uncommon for Agent Coulson to use. She had hoped maybe if she pushed him a little farther, he'd let her go. She knew she'd be able to help. She was great with kids! But she realized she'd pushed him too far, and now nothing would make him change his mind.
"Fine," she said with a sigh, leaving the office. "I'll just wait here, a safe distance away from all the fighting. Playing checkers."
Coulson glanced up at her as she left and shook his head. A red light on his communications system blinked rapidly, and quickly answered the call.
"Director Fury," he said.
"Agent Coulson, is your team ready to move out?"
"Yes, sir. Have you gotten a lock on his location?"
"No. He's gone off the grid. I sent an agent to his apartment, but his stepfather was the only one there. He claimed he had no idea where his son went."
"Did you search the apartment?"
"Not yet. We're going to wait and see if he turns up. If he's still gone by tomorrow morning, I'm putting you in charge of searching the place."
"Understood, Sir," Coulson said, nodding even though he knew the Director couldn't see him.
"Good. I'll let you know when we've got him." With those last words, the call ended.
Coulson sat down at his desk and picked up Percy Jackson's file. He stared at the picture paper-clipped to the first page of the teenage boy in the pizza parlor. Poor kid. He was so young.
Coulson stared at it for a few minutes, letting a bit of sympathy for the kid sink in. Then he quickly closed the folder and shoved it into his desk, not wanting to think about it. Perseus Jackson was a dangerous person with superpowers. And Coulson himself an Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. There was no time to be sympathetic.
~*~
A pink sunrise dawned on the Big House at 5 AM, the hazy morning light leading Percy to his destination.
The demigod climbed the stairs up to the old farmhouse before knocking on the door. Chiron swung it open, looking awake, but still battling off sleep. There was a mug of coffee in his hand.
"Percy?" He asked.
"I've got to go back to my parents, Chiron," the son of Poseidon said.
Chiron frowned. "I'm not sure if that's the wisest thing to do, Percy," the centaur said. "Staying here at Camp Half-Blood would the safest option. You do know S.H.I.E.L.D. will stop at nothing to find you, do you not?"
Percy nodded. "I know, Chiron, but I have to go. I can't let my parents take the rap for me."
Chiron remained silent, and for a moment Percy thought the old centaur would forbid him to go, but he finally nodded. "I take it your arm is feeling better?"
Percy looked confused for a minute, then glanced down at his formerly injured arm. "Yeah, it's fine now. I just needed a little ambrosia," the demigod said.
"Stay safe. Don't let those mortals catch you. Camp Half-Blood is always here for you, Percy. We're ready to fight if that's what needs to happen."
The demigod felt a little warmth in his chest at his teacher's words. "Thanks, Chiron," he said, stepping forward to embrace the old centaur.
Then he broke away and turned away from the Big House, whistling for Blackjack.
His jet black pegasus shot into the air somewhere above the stables and flew towards him.
"May the gods be with you." Chiron said quietly as he watched his student disappear over Half-Blood Hill astride his midnight ride.
~*~
Percy trudged up the stairs to his apartment, quickly finding the key in his pocket and unlocking the front door. He'd told Blackjack to wait for him on the roof and be ready just in case something happened.
He pushed the door open and locked it behind him, walking into the kitchen quietly so as not to wake his mom and step-dad. He checked the clock on the microwave: 5:32.
He searched the refrigerator for something to eat before finding a plate of muffins. Percy was unsure of what he was going to do until his parents woke up—or until something actually happened.
Careful not to spill any crumbs on the couch, he clicked on the TV and flipped through the stations. He stopped on one of the many news channels and watched as footage from yesterday's attack played.
"Percy?"
The sudden voice startled the young demigod and he dropped his half-eaten muffin, leaping to his feet. Riptide was in his hands in an instant, though still in pen form.
His heartbeat slowed back to a normal pace when he saw it was only his stepfather lowering a baseball bat with a relieved looking Sally behind him.
"Don't worry, it's just me," Percy said, trying to calm them down. He felt a little guilty. He should have thought to turn the TV down.
It was at least nine o'clock before they arrived. There was a knock at the door, and Percy rose to answer it. Sally was at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a donut, and Paul was in the shower. Percy made a mental note to bring Blackjack a donut too.
Percy glanced through the peephole and cracked the door open as far as the chain would allow. "Yes?" He asked, his voice only slightly suspicious of the man outside.
"I'm here to see Percy Jackson?" He said.
Percy stood silently for a minute, trying to think of something to say. It was always awkward when someone asked to see you and they had no idea it was actually you they were talking to. It happened all the time over the phone.
"It is," was all that came out of the demigod's mouth. "I mean," he elaborated after seeing the confused expression on the man's face. "I'm him. I'm…Percy Jackson."
The man's face brightened. "Phil Coulson. Mind if I come in?" He motioned at the chain still holding the door closed.
Percy glanced back at his mom, now standing and watching the scene at the door. He shook his head. "I don't think so," he began to close the door, but the man named Phil Coulson wedged his foot in the gap quickly.'
"Please, Mr. Jackson, I'd just like to talk with you and your parents."
Percy knew this man was from S.H.I.E.L.D., but he sure didn't act like it. First off, he said please; secondly, he called him Mr. Jackson; and third, well…he just looked like a generally nice person.
The man wore a gray suit and had thinning brown hair. His eyes were bright and friendly, and his lips were curved in a small, polite smile.
"Whatever you have to say, you can say it from here," Percy finally replied.
The man glanced behind him down the hallway, and Percy knew it was only for emphasis, not because Phil Coulson was nervous. "I don't think I should. Ears everywhere, you know?"
He sounded friendly enough. He looked kind enough. Percy bit his lip, a recent habit that Annabeth had been after him to drop. Just because someone dressed in a suit and tie and had manners didn't mean they were any form of the word "good".
Percy shrugged, unlatching the chain on the door and letting Phil Coulson inside the apartment. Whether he was S.H.I.E.L.D. or not, he knew Coulson would stop at nothing to speak with him. Besides, Percy figured he deserved a few extra points for good manners.
Well, that was kind of boring. Basically just a filler with a little itty bitty cliffie for the next chappie. :D And a special shoutout to NightOwl for getting my Doctor Who reference! :)
Arrow :D