AN: So here is the next chapter, I hope you enjoy it. I was initially going to update my PJ/GoT story, but I have put that on pause as I want to see how the series ends first, I've mixed feeling about it so far, especially that bullshit with the 'Long Night' (or rather single evening). I was also going to update my PJ/ Avatar story, but have only planned out and outlined the chapter, before I got distracted by this. I am really enjoying writing it at the moment, I hope you are enjoying reading it too.
Thanks a lot for reading, please do leave a review.
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or DC.
( - )
(Last Time)
"First Cadmus, then Mister Twister. Now Santa Prisca." Another Light member said. "Their interference is becoming a pain."
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. But three times is enemy action, and enemies of the Light will not stand." The leader of the Light said, his tone uncompromising.
"More concerning however is this new hero, this Perseus. His abilities and origins are unknown, but his power and ruthlessness are not in doubt." Another one of the Light members replied, this one female. "He is an unknown variable, and unknown variables are dangerous."
"Indeed, he could be an issue. Or he could be an asset. Either way he will see the Light… or he will be removed from the game, permanently." The leader of the Light finished, his deep, harsh tone holding a deadly edge to it now.
( - )
Chapter 9
( - )
(Ten months ago, in Tartarus)
His body was aching, not just from the gnawing hunger in his gut, but also due to the many wounds, cuts, abrasions and bruises that littered his dirty, blood and gold dust encrusted form.
He'd found it again, finally after what felt like decades, he had finally found the ever moving, ever shifting Gates of Tartarus.
A relieved smile spread across Percy's face at that thought, even as he placed his hand on the warm, yet twisted and demonic looking metal that made up the door.
The last time he had found the door, he had been forced to retreat. At the time there had been far too many monsters gathering around it, fighting and battling for access to the doors as they always did whenever it appeared, as well as a Titan and two fallen gods.
The odds had not been in his favour, and after a brutal battle he had only just managed to escape with his life.
Several weeks or so of recovery later and the door had of course already disappeared as he knew it would, it didn't tend to stay around for long. Suffice to say Percy had spent the next few months venting his frustrations and anger out on any monster unlucky enough to cross his path, after which he once again set off looking for the door.
But now he had found it. Not only that though, but he had also fought and butchered the other denizens of Tartarus who had also found it. Which was helped by the fact that this time there were only a couple of dozen lesser foes to face at the moment, and no gods or Titans to deal with.
Percy grinned wildly at this thought, he had made it. After nearly a century he had not only found the doors, he had also got to them too and was now in a positon to use them. Now it was only a matter of forcing his way through them, and out of Tartarus and onto the other side.
His hand reached up and clasped the broken bronze hilt of Anaklumous, which was still looped in his hide belt, at that thought. The familiar grip soothing him as he took in deep, ragged breaths. The sword had been a trustworthy companion to him for many years, but even so the godlessness of Tartarus had taken its toll. The blade had shattered, breaking off inside of the guts of one of his foes, faithful to the end though the blade had still managed to reap his enemy's life at least.
This had of course happened a long time ago, decades in fact, and since then he had picked up and acquired many other weapons. Swords, spears, halberds, warhammers, maces, axes, he looted them from the enemies he killed, or found them in stashes at the occasional alter, but in the never-ending maelstrom of war, death and chaos in the pit, none of these weapons lasted long.
His most recent acquisition was surprisingly not one of the ones he had scavenged, instead the giant of war, Damasen the Bane of Ares, had crafted him the sword on commission. With it having been forged from the bones of a Drakon, and designed and crafted to perfectly match Percy's own style of fighting.
On top of that his old friend had also managed to scavenge a Celestial Bronze cuirass which had he also buffed up, before he then handed it over to Percy, in return for some of the loot and spoils the Demigod had acquired over the last few years of course. Nothing was free down in the Pit after all.
Still it was worth it, as the additional protection of the cuirass, when added to Percy's Nemean lion skin jacket and the Celestial Bronze cuirass and greaves he had previously acquired, he was now very well protected.
Pushing those thoughts aside for the moment, Percy instead braced himself on the ground, after which he started to push on the doors. Ignoring the pain in his arms and back, and the way the rocky ground below him shifted and cracked, as he instead pushed, tectonic shock waves erupting from his palms as he did so causing the gates to rattle, shake and lurch.
With a groan the giant doors began to move.
Gritting his teeth, Percy drew upon more and more energy, bolstering his strength as much as he was able as he continued to push, the gates still slowly, but steadily, centimetre by centimetre, opening.
From behind him, far in the distance, he could hear roaring, shouting, and shrieks, along with the tell-tale tramp and clomp of monsters approaching.
He was running out of time. Soon enough this place would be swarming with more monsters, and not just the common variety. Giants, Titans, gods and the ancient eldritch monsters of old, all of them would be heading here as they always did the moment the doors new location got out. It wasn't often that the door appeared, once every few years, and when it did it was always in an isolated location and only for a few hours, hence the rush to get here and then the battle over momentary ownership.
Forcing the doors open, Percy for once was very grateful for having a human sized body. It made it much easier for him to force himself through the small crack he had created, as oppose to needing to have the doors fully open. Which was especially useful as it had taken nearly everything he had to open the door the silver he had.
He dreaded to think how long it would take to fully open the door, if it were possibly for him to do so at all, which considering the size, weight and nature of the door he very much doubted.
Still he was through. Casting one last look back at the barren landscape of Tartarus, Percy couldn't help but feel a strange sense of melancholy, even as he saw the horde of charging, squabbling, fighting monsters appear in the distance.
He had spent over a century in Tartarus by his reckoning, and in that time he had lost the girl he loved, Annabeth. Had had a passionate, decade's long affair with a Titaness, Selene, one which had only ended two decades ago for reasons beyond their control. Had engaged in a dangerous sexual relationship with a dark goddess, Eris, one which even now he was surprised he had survived. On top of that he'd also struck up an odd, initially sexual relationship, and later friendship with the monster, Medusa, one which lasted even to this day.
Over the last century he had fought, and loved, laughed and lost. This horrible, miserable place, as strange as it sounded, had almost become like home to him. A horrible, miserably grim home, but his home all the same. Only it was a home that he was hopefully soon about to leave, most likely forever.
With that last, bittersweet thought, Percy looked away. Instead reached for the soft, orange light he could see on the other side of the door. As he always said to himself back when he was at his lowest and darkest points, 'never look back, always go forward'.
With that in mind, and with a last concerted push he forced himself through the gateway and out of Tartarus, and instead onto the other side, the giant, black, hell-forged metal doors slamming shut behind him.
Once on the other side, he found his vision had blurred as he suddenly found himself in what looked like a brightly lit cave. His breathing was still coming out ragged, even as he found himself breathing relatively fresh air for the first time in a century. The usual acidic taste, and sulphur in the atmosphere absent, along with the oppressive heat too, as he found out when a sudden chill overcame his body.
Unfortunately Percy only had time for a single, deep, exultant breathe of this sweet, fresh air, the air of freedom, before he was snapped from his jubilant thoughts, by the sound of a nearby voice shouting out, and several dozen other voice then shouting out too as a deafening war cry suddenly filled the cavern he was now standing in.
"Unleash hell!" A powerful, yet unfamiliar, female voice bellowed. "Charge!"
( - )
(In the present, with Percy)
"So when was the last time you were here, Diana? You seem to be getting us a little lost." Percy asked, his voice full of amusement as he walked along side Diana. Both of them currently dressed casually, with Percy in his jeans, orange T-shirt and tan coloured, golden fur lined 'leather' jacket, whilst Diana wore jeans, a dark blouse and a smart jacket of her own.
In response to Percy's question Diana's cheeks went a little pink, with her mumbling under her breath as she did so, even as she then turned around and gazed at their surroundings in confusion.
At present the two of them were playing tourist, both of them having gone to London for the day. With them having already gone on the London Eye, and been to the Natural History museum and Buckingham Palace.
Now though they were walking around the backstreets of the now mostly gentrified Canary Wharf, both of them looking for a nice restaurant, one which Green Arrow had apparently recommended.
"I'm sorry, what was that?" Percy continued in amusement, his smile widening at his friend's obvious embarrassment. Both of them continuing on down the street as they talked, both noticing as they did so, the number of looks they were drawing.
Likely this was because both of them had quite striking appearances, Diana after all was a beauty that would outshine even the most gorgeous of supermodels. Whilst Percy, while not beautiful or anything like that, had a certain roguish handsomeness, which along with his broad shoulders, and powerful build, made him stand out quite a bit in a crowd.
On top of that it was also likely their accents, Wonder Woman had a distinctly odd, Themyscira accent, one which stood out from both the multiple British and conventional American ones. Similarly Percy too had a very odd accent, one that was closer to Diana's than a native of New York or London, though it was also distinctly different as he had acquired it after spending over a century in Tartarus speaking either Ancient Greek, Latin or English to ancient and eccentric beings.
"I said, back in 1945." Diana replied, speaking a bit louder this time.
"During World War Two, I didn't realise you or the Amazons were involved?" Percy asked. By now he had gone through the major historical events in both of their worlds with an Amazonian historian, and had found that the majority of them were the same, or had least had distinct similarities, or at least up until the mid-1970s when the first superheroes began to officially appear to the public at large.
"The Amazons weren't, I however was. There was a pilot who crashed on the island, Steve. He told us of what was going on, and although my mother and the others didn't want to get involved, I thought differently." Diana replied after a few moments of silence, her tone oddly stiff, as if this were a topic she was uncomfortably talking about.
"Right." Percy nodded, he had developed enough tact to know when to change the topic of conversation. "Well, by the looks of it we're lost. How about we just find the nearest pub and grab a few drinks. You look like you could do with a bit of gin, plus I'm gasping for a pint of ale. Tell you what, the first round is on me."
Diana's lip curled upwards in amusement as she heard this. "Fine, but I warn you, you men pale in comparison to the Amazons when it comes to the consumption of alcohol."
"You know, that sounds like a challenge to me!" Percy grinned back, leading the older, dark haired woman to the nearest pub, the Cock and Bull, which just happened to be a dozen or so metres away. Though considering that their seemed to be several pubs or bars on every single street in London, this wasn't really a surprise.
"Sounds like a challenge?" Diane smirked, locking gazes with Percy now. "It was a challenge Perseus."
Percy laughed at that, even as he opened the door to the pub and gestured for Diana to go in first.
( - )
(Sometime Later)
"So, Perseus. How are things going with your new team?" Asked Diana as she sat back on the sofa in their little booth, a glass of pink gin, tonic, assorted berries and ice on the table in front of her.
Percy took a sip of his stout as he thought about Diana's question. How were things going with his team?
He and Megan were getting on fine, both of them connecting as strangers of the group. On top of which she just had a very likeable personality, sure she was a little innocent and naive, but in some ways that was quite endearing. Either way, both of them were getting on with one another quite well.
The same could be said for Superboy, over the last week or so he had started to get along with him too. Especially now the clone had started to loosen up, starting with him apologising to Megan for his previous behaviour. That being said, there was still a little tension when it came to asking Superboy to do something, or when the still volatile clone got frustrated or angry. But still for the most part they were getting along better and better every day.
Kaldur too seemed to have loosened up considerably. Though he was still very serious and measured in how he spoke. Despite that though he seemed to have adopted a more open approach when dealing with Percy and Superboy, which was paying off as, although not friends, both he and Percy got along swimmingly. Though Percy suspected that Kaldur had considerable questions about Percy and his origins, questions he was holding off on asking for the moment. But for how much longer Percy didn't know.
It was the same with Wally too. In the week and a bit since the mission to Santa Prisca he had been a lot friendlier with Percy and Superboy, and just as friendly and flirtatious as ever to Megan. More than though he had also lost some of the subconscious condescension he had previously had, and instead seemed to be more excepting of their thoughts and ideas, treating them as contemporaries as oppose to as rookies.
He was still an annoying prat at times, but he was getting better. In fact in the deep recesses of Percy's memories he was beginning to equate Wally with the Stoll twins he used to know, or at least he saw similarities between Wally and them from what little he remembered of the two, twin sons of Hermes.
So yes, for the most part things with the team seemed to have evened out. They were not perfect by any means, there was still friction, and uncertainness. But for the most part things were going in the right direction, save for one issue, Robin.
The Boy Wonder had become the prickliest of the bunch. He still held onto the superiority complex he had had at the beginning, and although he had begun to become more amiable with Superboy and Megan, along with his old friends. Percy still noted an undercurrent of superiority and condescension in him when it came to matters of heroics, training or planning.
On top of that was Percy's relationship with the boy. Robin didn't trust him. That much was clear to see. The boy treated Percy like one would a coiled up snake, as if he were just waiting for him to snap and show his true colours. Suffice to say this had put a dampener on things. More than that though was the fact that the boy seemed to be seeking Percy's acknowledgement, almost like he wanted Percy to admit Robin was better, or more experienced or more fitting to be leader.
Not that he would ever get such an acknowledgement from Percy, in fact the boy's attitude had honestly started to annoy him.
"Well?" Diana prompted, looking at him over the rim of her glass as she had another sip.
"Things are fine. The team is still settling in and getting used to one another really." Percy shrugged, drinking another mouthful of his chocolate stout as he did so.
"I heard they elected you leader…" Diana smiled, her lips curling upwards as she watch Percy's face carefully.
"Megan and Kaldur suggested it, and both Superboy and Wally agreed. So yes, for the moment I am the leader of the team, at least until one of the others prove themselves fit to take on the role." Percy grimaced, honestly he did not want to be leader. To be so was neither his goal, nor his dream. But without any other options it seemed like it would have to be him, or at least for the moment. "I am hoping Kaldur will take on the role in a few weeks or a month. Once he has gotten a proper appraisal of everyone's abilities and made bonds, I am hoping to hand over the mantle to him. I think in terms of personal development, it would be better for him to have the responsibility foisted on him, as opposed to it being put on me."
"To Kaldur… that will make Aquaman happy…" Diana replied, before she smirked when she saw Percy grimace once again. "Honestly, I don't know why you're so against him. Aquaman is perfectly pleasant. I mean, yes he can be a little arrogant and full of himself at times, but for the most part he is a decent man."
Percy sent her a flat look as she said this. "I'm sure he is wonderful." He replied dryly, before continuing. "But to me he is still a pretender. I'm not sure why, but for some reason his masquerading as the King of Atlantis and Lord of the Sea makes me uncomfortable. Call it pride, or loyalty to my father, but the thought of someone else usurping his position, no matter how impossible and ridiculous that sounds, and I know it does, makes me angry."
"Give it time, I suppose you are still settling into this world. It's only been ten months since you arrived here cousin." Diana said, reaching out and taking Percy's hand comfortingly, with her giving it a momentary squeeze before she pulled back. "So what of Robin, you've not mentioned Batman's little protégé yet."
Percy sent her a crooked smile as he pondered on that question. "The boy is as arrogant and socially inept as his master. Both of them are idealists, with far too higher opinions of themselves, and an unwarranted superiority complex."
"Tell me how you really feel." Diana laughed. "You're being far too harsh on both of them, and you know it. Neither of them is as bad as you're making them out to be. Yes they have issues, that much is obvious. Batman is controlling, mistrustful, paranoid and admittedly a little egotistical. But he is also reliable, very intelligent, skilled, and above all, well intentioned."
Percy grunted in response to that.
"You don't have to be friends with them, but you will need to work with them. Give the boy time, be patient, and I'm sure your view on him will change." Diana said encouragingly, finishing off her drink as she did so.
"I'll try, but I doubt anything will come of it." Percy replied, the expression on his face clearly unconvinced.
"Well the fact you try is all I ask." Diana nodded, before she paused as the communicator in her pocket began to go off.
Pulling it out she raised it to her ear, and a few moments of whispered conversation later she clicked it off and put it away. "But anyway Perseus, it appears I need to shoot off. There is an issue over in the United States. Apparently some kind of robot is running amok, and has apparently been going on a rampage for the last couple of hours."
Percy nodded at that, draining his own pint as he did so. "That's not a problem, I should be getting back to the cave anyway. Team training is supposed to start in an hour or so, and I'll need to get ready and do a warm up in preparation first."
"Come on then, we'll catch a Zeta Tube up to the Watchtower. Don't worry, I'll fly you to the transporter, it'll be much faster that way." Diana nodded, both of them standing up and preparing to head off as duty called. "Hopefully we'll be able to do this again, soon."
"I'll have to check my calendar." Percy shot back, a cheeky smile on his face as he did so. Forcing the grimace off of his face at the thought of Wonder Woman carrying him in her arms as she flew them over the city. His ego and manliness may never recover.
( - )
(Back at Mount Justice)
"Recognised B06: Perseus." Looking up as he entered the cave, Percy had to withhold a scowl as he heard the name the machine tinny voice called out to the rest of the cave.
He really needed to get himself a new alias. At the moment though, he was still undecided. He thought Tempest could be good name, short and to the point. But now he was thinking of Trident too, or maybe Riptide. He wanted his 'superhero' name to give a nod to his heritage he knew that much, but it was just deciding on one that was the problem.
"Percy!" Megan called out enthusiastically as he entered the room, the green skinned girl taking to the air as she flew over to greet him.
"Megan." Percy acknowledged, a smile on his face as he then looked over her head and saw an electric clock on the wall. He had ended up spending much more time than he had meant too at the Watchtower. But then again, how could he not want to have a look around. After all it was not every day, for most people anyway, that you got to be in space on a floating command centre.
"How are you? Did you have a good time in London with Wonder Woman?" Megan continued, floating beside Percy now as he walked towards the centre of the cave. Training was supposed to be starting soon, it was strange that it was just the two of them here at present.
"Yeah, it was pretty nice. It is the first time I've been if I'm honest, though I'll admit, it was a little bit too busy for my tastes." Percy nodded, looking back to the green Martian girl now as he saw her land on the ground next to him. "What about you?"
"It's been a bit of boring day for me. Superboy went out to help with an accident on the Metropolis Bridge an hour ago, and none of the others have been round. So I have been pretty much alone." Megan shrugged, her lips turning downwards as she said this. Though she seemed to brighten up when she looked up at Percy. "But now you're here, we can do something together!"
"I think we have training in a little bit. But after that I am up for heading out, did you have anything in mind?" Percy replied, smiling as he saw the younger girl brighten up considerably at his words.
Unfortunately though, before she could give voice to what she wanted to do later, the Zeta Tube behind them flared to life once more.
"Recognised B02: Aqualad."
In a flash of light, the stern looking Kaldur entered the cavern. With him, like the others, wearing civilian clothes, consisting of a polo neck jumper, jeans and trainers.
"Kaldur!" Megan grinned, turning from Percy now as she looked to the new entrant, grabbing Percy by the hand as she did so, so she could spin him around and drag him over to the approaching Atlantean. "What are you doing here?"
"I was hoping to hang out with my friends." Kaldur replied, a smile on his face as he walked over to the others. "It is good to see you both again, I hope you've been well."
"Well enough, what about you?" Percy replied amiably.
Before Kaldur could reply, he was once again cut off as the machine behind him lit up and whirred to life once more.
"Recognised B03: Kid Flash!"
"Hey Megalicious, did you miss me?" Kid Flash said brightly as he entered the room, though unlike the others he was dressed in his usual bright yellow costume and red mask. With him blurring off in a burst of speed a few moments after entering the cavern, speeding over to Megan as he did so, before he then placed an elbow on her shoulder and grinned at her. "Want to spend some alone time together."
Percy felt his eye twitch at Kid Flash's actions. Seriously this kid had issues, he had to at least have severe ADHD, and coming from Percy that meant something.
Megan, as naive as ever though, merely gave the ginger haired teen a friendly smile. "It is nice to see you too Wally."
Shaking his head at this, Percy gave Kid Flash a nod, after which he headed for the corner of the room. Pulling off his jacket and throwing it onto the sofa as he did so. Training would be starting soon, hence why they were all showing up now, it was not just some lucky coincidence, nor just because they were bored and wanted to hang out.
"Recognised B01: Robin."
"Hey," Robin waved as he strode into the cave wearing his costume, cape and all. "I am ready for a mission, who else is?"
Percy turned back to the group as he heard this, his arms crossed as he watched the ongoing interactions.
"Tell me about it." Kid Flash nodded, the loud, enthusiastic teen already munching away at a chocolate bar as he looked around the cave. "I am getting bored with all this nothing."
"I am sure we will get a mission soon," Megan replied reassuringly, her demeanour brighter than ever as she looked around at all her new friends.
"Hmm, well a proper leader would have been on at Batman or Red Tornado about getting us a new mission." Robin shrugged, his pointed statement not going over anyone's heads as those present looked between Robin and Percy awkwardly, the only two members of the team that were still somewhat at odds.
Luckily for the others, before Percy had a chance to reply, or Robin a chance to continue speaking, they were both distracted by the Zeta Tube lighting up again, as the tinny voice sounded out once more.
"Recognised B04: Superboy."
Moments later Superboy entered into the room, clad as usual in his black and red Superman shirt. Though perhaps more unusual, of late at least, was that there was also a scowl on his face, and a certain tenseness to his posture that spoke of barely restrained anger.
"How did everything go?" Megan asked, glad that Superboy was here as he would distract from the previous awkwardness. Unfortunately though her question was never answered, as the clone instead stormed past the entire team. His actions and obvious anger catching the attention of all five of them.
"Superboy!" Percy called out, his tone firm, and his expression unrelenting, even as he saw Superboy come to a stop and tense.
Megan, Wally and Kaldur sent Percy nervous looks at this. All three of them knew that Percy was not the most tactful of people, in fact at times he could come across quite abrasive. The last thing they wanted was for Percy to provoke Superboy to lose his temper, after all none of them knew what would happen if that occurred. Especially since the two of them were probably, in terms of raw power alone, the strongest members of the team.
"You look annoyed. If there is anything you want to talk about. Or even if you just want someone to hold a punching bag whilst you vent your frustration, I am here." Percy said after a few moments. Like Diana said, he was the leader now, even if he didn't want to be, as such he needed to start putting some effort into it.
"As kind as that offer is Perseus, I am afraid there won't be time for that. Not at the moment anyway, not until after you've finished your training." A new voice spoke out, attracting everyone's attention, including Superboy, as they all turned around and saw two more figures walking towards them. One of them, Martian Manhunter, and the other, Black Canary, both of them walking side by side as they approached the assembled team.
Walking forwards so he was standing amongst the rest of his 'team', his coat currently folded up and resting on a nearby sofa, which left him in just a baggy T-shirt, his tanned, bare, muscly forearms clear to see as he kept his arms folded in front of him. His hard, sea green eyes trailing over the two newcomers, one an alien, the other a mutated human.
Focusing on the human, Percy quickly noted only that Black Canary was very attractive, but also that she was favouring one shoulder and arm over another. It appeared she might have been in a fight not too long ago, one from which she had not fully recovered.
"Uncle J'onn!" Megan gleefully shouted as she saw the newcomers. The red head quickly running over to give her uncle a hug the moment she saw him. "What are you doing here?"
"I was in the neighbourhood, and I just decided to drop by to see how you were doing," Replied Martian Manhunter, his usually stoic face breaking into the slightest of smiles as he put his arms around his niece and pulled her into a short, but meaningful hug..
Megan smiled up at him as she heard that, "I hit a few bumps but I am learning."
"That is all I can ask." Nodded the older Martian, before he then looked up at the rest of the group. His red eyes surveying them all, the intensity of his gaze making more than one of them stiffen and stand a little straighter.
Meeting the older Martian's gaze, Percy tilted his head to one side as he eyed up the green skinned, red eyed figure warily. As strange as it seemed, considering he had spent the vast majority of his life in a hell dimension fighting monsters, gods, giants and Titans, he still found it odd to be faced with living proof that extra-terrestrials existed.
Superboy too studied the two Martians, only his gaze was jealous as opposed to curious as he watched Megan and Martian Manhunter's interactions. Scowling, the clone let out a grunt of irritation, after which he once again turned to leave.
"Stick around," Black Canary spoke up, her blue eyes locked on the clone as she drew his attention to her. "Training is in session."
The clone didn't verbally respond to Black Canary's statement, but nor did he leave as he instead crossed his arms in front of him and glowered at the older heroine.
Ignoring the look, Black Canary instead walked into the middle of the room, activating the training simulation as she did so, the projector like devices overhead flaring to life, even as the floor beneath her lit up.
"I want you to know that I consider it an honour to teach you." She began, removing remove jacket as she did so. "I will throw everything at you. Everything that I learned from my own mentors and as well…" She winced in pain here and put a hand on her visibly bandaged shoulder, "and my own bruises."
"What happened?" Asked Megan, concern lacing her tone, and clear on the expression on her face.
"The job," Smirked Black Canary, rolling her shoulder carefully as she did so. "Combat is all about putting the battle on your terms. You should always be acting and not reacting. I need a sparring partner. Any volunteers?"
"Oh me!" Shouted Kid Flash, the cocky smirk on his face, and his overall attitude making it clear for all to see that he wasn't taking this serious. "Once this is over, I'll show you my moves."
"No." Percy's voice rang out before Black Canary could respond, or Kid Flash could enter the metaphorical ring. "You are clearly not taking this serious, and as funny as it would be to see Black Canary make an example out of you. I think it would be more beneficial to get on with training. Some of us have things we want to learn after all."
With that said Percy unfolded his arms and walked forwards, walking over so he was directly opposite the bemused looking Black Canary. Completely ignoring Kaldur and Megan's amusement at his put down of Wally, Wally's expression of both irritation and anticipation as he moved back to watch, and finally Superboy and Robin's twin scowls. Both of which were likely for different reasons.
"Ok then Perseus, it looks like you're up." The tall, blonde haired woman said, eyeing Percy curiously as she sank into a fighting stance. "Though I am curious about what you are hoping to learn from this."
Shifting the position of his body, Percy raised both arms up in front of him, his fists clenched as he took on what looked like a standard boxing stance. His posture revealing the scars on his forearms, some of which didn't look to have been made by humans, and also the aged SPQR tattoo on his forearm.
"I am more skilled than most when it comes to close combat weaponry, and have an admirable control over my abilities. What I am lacking though, is proper technique and experience in hand to hand combat, save what I have managed to teach myself." Percy replied, keeping light on his feet as he kept his arms up, ready to either lash out or defend himself.
"I'm impressed." Black Canary nodded, shifting her positon as she watched Percy shift his own stance too, closely. "You are aware of your weaknesses, and appear to be willing to learn and improve on them. That's an admirable quality, and something that everyone should aspire to have."
Percy didn't verbally respond to that statement, instead he darted forward, his foot work fast as he moved in close, lunging out for a quick jab.
Only Black Canary saw this, with her instead darting forwards and to one side in order to intercept, her right leg coming round to blast a kick into Percy's unprotected side.
Percy though reacted in an instant, pulling back he allowed her kick to swing past him, after which he darted in again, rapidly getting in too close for her to land any effective kicks. With him crowding her, launching hooks and jabs to her body, head and shoulders, aiming for her weaker right side as he did so.
Black Canary though was no slouch. Instead of back off, she instead lunged forward, getting within one of his swings as she landed two quick blows to Percy's ribs, after which she whirled around a counter swing and landed a strong knee into his kidney.
The only response she got from Percy was a gasp, as he moved into a defensive positon, his arms up as he protected his face and sides from Black Canary's knees, kicks and punches. Giving ground now as he let her take on the role of aggressor. A positon he maintained, right up until she threw a powerful kick at his gut, aiming for a sudden gap in his defences.
The moment this happened, Percy lunged forward, one of his arms wrapping around her leg, whilst his other hand got her throat in a chokehold, his momentum and weight forcing her to overbalance and knocking her to the ground. With Percy shifting from Roman style boxing to Greek style wrestling as he used a mixture of strength and technique to grapple the smaller woman into submission.
Once again though, Black Canary proved herself more than capable as she lashed out with her elbows, threw back her head and writhed in his grip. With her thrashing about, and constant blows and strikes causing Percy's grip to weaken, even as he continued to try and subdue her.
Twisting on the ground, Black Canary freed her legs, wrapping them both around Percy's neck as she did so, even as she pushed herself above him, her own arms now wrapped around Percy's arm and hand, which even now scrabbled at her throat, even as she used her thighs to attempt to choke him into submission.
Growling in frustration at this, Percy used raw strength to throw Black Canary off of him, though he couldn't break her lock around his neck. Noting this, he instead forced himself up, freeing his hand as he made it onto his feet, Black Canary's legs still around his neck and her arms now forcing his right arm into a lock.
Raising his arm Percy slammed the smaller woman into the ground beneath him, the force of the blow loosening her arms and legs, allowing him to throw her off of him probably now. Only for the heroine to roll to her feet straight away, her movements swift as she moved in close again, landing a kick to Percy's side before he could fully recover.
Though he did recover enough to block her next blow, and then counterattack as he landed a glancing jab on her injured shoulder, and then a body shot to her kidney. That was as far as he got though, before she kicked him in the chest forcing him to step back, some of the air having been knocked out of him.
This then gave her the time and space she needed to run at him, leaping into the air as she did so, her legs once again wrapping around his neck, even as she twisted. Only this time she had the momentum to knock him off of his feet. Her manoeuvre slamming Percy into the ground, with Black Canary on top, her forearm pressing into his throat.
A few moments later the floor underneath him lit up, a circle appearing around him with the word FAIL appearing too. A tiny voice calling out the word too, as if to add insult to injury.
"And that's that." Black Canary said, her breathing much harder than before, her chest rising and falling rapidly. With her long, blonde hair being in complete disarray as she got off of Percy and swept it back, revealing as she did so a few red marks on her face and throat from the recent fight. "You did well Perseus, your style was that of a very unconventional boxer. Though I did see some dated wrestling techniques in there. That being said, in all fairness I would say you were more of a brawler than a properly trained fighter."
"And I would agree." Percy replied, pushing himself to his feet as he did so, his own breathing even. Though his face was a bit flushed and his forehead was beaded with sweat. "I did a bit of boxing and wrestling in my youth, it was compulsory for us to be taught it, along with archery, swordsmanship and the like. But that was a very long time ago and I've not kept up with my practice."
"I could tell," Black Canary said dryly, massaging her red throat, putting aside her questions over Percy's phrasing of that statement, about how it was compulsory, and that it was in his youth, which was apparently a long time ago. "The basics were there, but you relied more on raw strength and unpredictability than technique. You have potential, but you definitely need some training in hand to hand. I'm thinking a bit of taekwondo and judo, or some krav maga. Either way I will look into putting together a training regime, and getting you some one on one training."
"Thanks." Percy nodded, smiling at the older looking blonde now. "And you fought well too. You turned my strength against me, and adapted on the fly. The only way I could get a hit in was by throwing caution to the wind and leaving myself open."
"Years of practice, but like you just saw, there is always more to learn and always ways to improve. I should have taken you more seriously from the start, if I had shut you down earlier instead of trying to take your measure I could have avoided some of those hits." Black Canary shrugged, easily admitting to her own mistakes, forgetting for the moment that she was the teacher here, and thus had purposefully not gone all out.
Smiling up at Percy for moment, her eyes trailing down to his arm and the tattoo visible on it, Dinah then cleared her throat and looked to the rest of the team. All of whom were watching on with mixed expressions. With Superboy looking bored, and Aqualad interested and curious as he eyed the trident part of Percy's SPQR tattoo. Robin and Wally meanwhile were just smirking, both of them happy to see Percy knocked down a few pegs. As for Megan, she merely grinned at Percy and gave him two thumbs up.
"So what did we learn from what just happened?" Asked Black Canary.
Robin raised his hand. "That a trained fighter will defeat an untrained one, ninety percent of the time!"
Percy cocked an eyebrow at that comment. Robin had a point, but still, Percy suspected he was trying to prove some kind of point here as oppose to being helpful.
"There is that…" Dinah nodded slowly, before she made to continued. "But not exactly what I had in mind…"
Only for her to then be interrupted by a loud scoff.
"Please." Turning around, Dinah and the others immediately saw that it was Superboy who had spoken. "That might work for normal people, but for a person with my powers, I will always win. I am literally a living weapon and this is a waste of my time."
Percy couldn't help but release a bitter bark of laughter as he heard that.
"What?!" Superboy snapped, glaring at Percy now. "Just now you held back, if you had used your powers you would have crushed her with ease!"
Black Canary frowned as she heard that.
Percy though just shrugged. "Maybe, maybe not. She's had powers she didn't use too, you know. But no, that wasn't what I was laughing at. I was more amused by your assertion that just because you are a 'living weapon', that you're unbeatable and need no training."
"And your point is?" Superboy scowled.
"My point, is that I was born and bred to be a living weapon. I, like my brothers and sisters before me, like my cousins, nephews and nieces, the rest of my kind, were created to be warriors, to be fighter, killers and heroes. We were born for the sole purpose of dying a valiant death on the field of battle. We were born to fight and die, all so we could bring honour and esteem to the rest of our family." Percy replied, his voice getting heated and his green eyes flashing with fury now, as long buried feelings began to rise up inside of him. "You spout off about being a 'living weapon', but you're barely a month old. You have no idea or comprehension of what the term means! Nor any comprehension of the fate that most 'living weapons' have…!"
Silence, absolute silence followed this statement. With all eyes in the room on Percy as he stood tall and resolute, his expression stony, and yet the look in his eyes fierce and furious.
In contrast Superboy looked completely taken aback. Before now Percy had snapped at him and scolded him, but never once had he lost his temper, never once had Superboy had his anger returned back on him tenfold. Honestly it was a little intimating.
Megan too looked very worried, but her concerns were not only about Percy's words, but about their own safety. Percy's powers she knew, were connected to his emotions. She had seen him nearly bring down the mountain when he lost himself in his memories whilst training. She dreaded to think what reaction his anger, his fury, would cause.
Only in the end there was no reaction, the walls of the mountain did not crumble, nor did the ground below them crack. The air didn't become thicker, or acidic. In fact all was still as Percy stared Superboy down.
"Now shut up and get involved. You're being offered an opportunity here, an opportunity to better yourself, to become more than you are now. You are being offered the chance to become stronger, faster, better, all of which could be the difference between life and death later on." Percy continued, his tone once again mellow and his sudden anger buried, the tension, although still there, lessening slightly now.
"Perseus is right in what is being offered. Powers are not the be all and end all. More than that your natural abilities can be enhanced by learning new skills, plus in the possible, if unlikely, case that you lose your abilities, even if only temporarily, then it is always useful to have other skills to rely on." Dinah spoke up, her words snapping the others out of their contemplation, even as she tore her gaze away from Percy, pushing down her thoughts on just what the dark haired teen was for the moment, as she instead focused on the matter at hand.
"Now Superboy, it's your turn!" Dinah continued, gesturing for the still quiet clone to step up.
Her words seemed to snap Superboy out of his current state, as he sent Percy one last partially nervous, partially curious look, after which he turned to face Black Canary, his eyes narrowing as he did so.
Stepping forward, Superboy crouched into a fighting stance, his gaze locked on the attractive blonde. Black Canary meanwhile, still favouring her left side, got into the same stance as before.
A few moments passed at this standoff occurred, after which Superboy lunged forward, throwing a punch Canary's way, only for her to grab his arm and toss him over her shoulder in a single fluid movement.
Percy, watching from the side could only shake his head. Did Superboy not learn from Percy's match, he lacked the skill and technique to fight Black Canary in such a manner, instead of throwing punches he should have been looking to turn this into a grappling match. After all Superboy was far stronger than even Percy, so much so that once in close he could have dominated Black Canary if he got a hold of her. Instead though, he was just playing into her hands.
Moments after Superboy landed on his back, a burst of laughter came from Robin. With Kaldur nudging his friend, even as Robin put his hands over his mouth to muffle his laughter.
Reacting to this, Superboy angrily charged at Black Canary. Only for him to once again find himself knocked to the ground with ease.
"Good, you are angry. Channel that anger," Said Black Canary patiently.
Growling, Superboy leapt forward for the blonde once more, only to have his legs swept out from under him, after which, for the third time, he found himself flat on his back with the words FAIL next to his body.
"Enough!" Superboy shouted standing up. "I am done."
"Training is mandatory," Dinah shot back, her gaze shifting over to Percy, almost as if she expected him to once again reprimand the clone. Only to see Percy cross his arms and shake his head.
You could lead a horse to water, but you couldn't make it drink.
Moments later, before anymore could be said, everyone in the room was distracted when a screen overhead lit up.
"Batman to the cave!" Batman's voice rang out, even as the Dark Knight in question appeared on the large overhead screen directly in front of them.
Seeing this, the assembled team and League members gathered around to listen.
"Five hours ago, Green Arrow initially called in the League to help deal with an android threat. It turned out to be disastrous." At those words another screen lit up to show an odd, striking looking android fighting various members of the Justice League and winning. "The android possessed the ability to copy the powers of anyone it came in contact with. In the end, both Wonder Woman and Superman had to be called in to help deal with it. With it taking, in total, eight League members nearly four hours to defeat the android."
Robin's eyes widened as he heard this, his gaze locked on the screen as he studied the android. "A machine with the powers of the entire Justice League. Who made it? T.O. Morrow?"
Percy cocked an eyebrow at the name, not only did it sound ridiculous, but it was also a name, or more likely an alias, Percy had never heard before, even if the others seemed to have.
"Good guess, but Red Tornado doesn't think so." Replied Batman promptly.
With that said, Martian Manhunter turned to address the team. "It bares the signature of Professor Ivo."
"Ivo? But he is dead," Said Aqualad.
"So we thought and hoped," Black Canary replied, her face set in a frown now.
Percy's eyes narrowed at this, even as he looked up at the android. A machine that possessed the ability to mimic and copy other people's power. That was worrying, and frighteningly overpowered. He had no idea that technology was capable of doing such a thing. More than that he was curious whether this android could just copy 'Meta abilities', or whether it could also copy natural alien abilities, and abilities that are divine in nature.
"Until this threat is permanently neutralised, we are sending two trucks carrying the parts to two separate STAR Labs, one in Boston, and the other in New York. You all will split up into two separate teams to safe guard the two real trucks," Continued Batman, oblivious to Percy's musings.
"So now we take out your garbage?" Superboy spoke up snidely, surprising some of the others as that was the kind of thing they expected from Robin or Wally, not the clone. Anger, yes, but spite and sarcasm, not so much.
In response to the clone's comments, Batman stared at Superboy for a moment, before responding curtly. "You had something better to do?" After which the image disappeared, leaving the screen blank.
"Right, we've received the coordinates for the rendezvous." Kaldur called out from a nearby console, looking to Percy for instructions.
Meeting his gaze, Percy withheld a sigh as he instead nodded. "Fine, everyone gear up, it's time to move out."
With that said the team all turned and broke apart, all of them heading off to get ready for their latest mission.
It was as they were doing this, that Black Canary reached out with her good arm and grabbed Superboy's arm. "When you are ready Superboy, I will be here."
With that said, the heroine let him go, and then stood back and watched as all the teens began darting about, readying themselves to head off on their latest, dangerous mission.
( - )
AN: So that was the chapter, what do you all think? I hope you enjoyed it?
Honestly this chapter ended up being much longer than I thought it would. But even so I think it needed to be to contain all the development and detail I wanted in it. Still I hope that isn't a problem, I don't want to bog down the stories plot.
On another not I have decided to address an issue I have noticed in the reviews, Robin. A couple of people seem to think I am being unfair on him, bordering on bashing. I would disagree. Robin to me is the youngest of the team, only thirteen, and also pretty cocky and arrogant. That does not necessarily mean I dislike him or think he is shit though. Though I will admit his season one character for the first few episodes does bug me a little.
What it does mean though it that it will take longer to humble him, and he is still developing. For one in canon he accepts Aqualad as leader, and acknowledges his weaknesses, after the team's initial disastrous attempt to capture Kobra and Sportsmaster. In this story though Percy is there, and his overwhelming competence and cynical outlook means that they don't fail, and so Robin does not get that humbling experience. What does happen though, is that the mature members of the team start to realise their own issues, and what they need to work on. The same too will happen to Robin. So to reiterate I am not bashing, I am developing his character in line with what is happening in the plot.
The next thing is not an issue but more of a request for people's help/ opinion. I am picking Percy's hero name and finalising it. These are the three I am thinking of;
Riptide,
Trident,
Tempest,
I would love to hear your opinion on these three as I am hoping to make it official next chapter. If you have other suggestions I am happy to hear them, though it would be useful to hear some reasoning too.
Another thing, Percy's spar with Black Canary. This is a pre-emptive answer. Percy is skilled in using his powers and weaponry, but never really trained or honed his hand to hand combat abilities. In Tartarus his foes were often far stronger than him, or were better adapted to hand to hand. This forced him to focus on weaponry and his abilities, which in turn made him develop and push his abilities and skills beyond the limits in order to survive the harshness of hell. What he didn't do is hand to hand, hence why he is hoping to plug up that gap in his skillset with proper training, practice and technique.
Similarly Percy is stronger than a normal human, I would call him 'enhanced'. But he doesn't have super strength. There are plenty of DC characters who will be significantly, physically stronger than Percy. This is because super strength is not in his skillset as a Demigod. If I had brought Hercules or Zoe Nightshade to this world, then yes I would have had more to work with. Hercules would be comparable with Superman, and Zoe with Wonder Woman. But that is not the case. Percy is a unique Demigod from another version of earth, and so although he has many skills, super strength and super speed is not one of them.
Then finally, I was pondering about bringing in a very interesting character called Terra at some point, some may know her. This is in spite of the fact that I know now that she is brought in in season 3 of the canon programme. But for me I just find her character and potential fascinating. Plus I like the idea of Percy having a protégé/ minion/ apprentice. That being said this is just a thought that literally came to me today so no promises.
Other than that, thanks for reading and I hope you enjoyed it. Please do leave a comment or a review. If you have any questions etc. please do PM me, I tend to be quite good at responding promptly to those.
Thanks a lot and I'll catch you later.
Greed720.