Cassie Sandsmark found herself disappointed.

Not in herself or her team, but rather the villains she went up against this morning. The H.I.V.E. Five had proved to be little of a challenge despite what they boasted. It also didn't help that the thrill of the fight was washed out by the fact that they were not new combatants or even ones of renown.

All they did was dirty up her gauntlets, which she was cleaning now. She sat in her wine-red beanbag against the grand window of the common room. One hand held a gauntlet and the other a cloth that wiped away the ash and soot from the bank. Cleaning was as eventful as the rest of her morning had been so far, but it was all a part of the warrior's process. Patience was supposed to be a key virtue or something according to Diana.

Naturally, as her boredom grew between wipes, her mind went adrift as did her eyes.

The city was on the horizon, tall and dull. She liked it better when the night came down and the lights came on. Jump Cuty always felt more alive in those dark and exciting hours. She could also attest to that as both a citizen and a hero. A little sneaking out never truly hurt anyone, and if it was a problem, Cyborg would've given her the I-know-what-you-did-last-night look by now.

Below at the far end of the bridge connecting the Tower to the tall and dull city, a swarm of paparazzi and news station vans crowded about like ants discovering sugar. Their cameras were angled towards the front of the building where they had likely just seen Clark Kent enter the tower, ushered in by Cyborg.

That would be one of the day's biggest headlines, pushing the Titan's fight to a side note in just why Clark Kent was at Titan's Tower.

How annoying.

How was she ever supposed to make a name for herself if they didn't write about her? How could they be her Homer, recounting her acts of heroism to the masses and inscribing her legacy into the annuls of history when all anybody really cared about was gossip and rumors? The sensationalism of the he-said she-said was a silent blade to an upcoming hero.

She turned away from the window, putting the reporters and cameras out of sight. Yet, it didn't axe the thoughts completely.

Today's fight wasn't even much to discuss. It was lackluster. Uninteresting. Another day at the office. More people would be concerned about their bank going up in flames than the who and what of the fight. That's what people would want to know: Was their money safe?

And yet, Clark Kent was coming to talk to them or something along the lines.

She didn't know why. She wouldn't pretend to. The Metropolitan news reporter had no reason to be on the literal other coast of the United States. Plus, if the trend continued how it had been lately, he'd just be another pen dragging her team's name through the mud after Nightwing's absence. He'd say that today's performance was expected, and that should not be an indicator of true success, and a part of her hated that she agreed with that thought and so would many others.

The pen truly was mightier than the sword, sometimes. Was there an antithesis of Homer? If so, that's what the reporters were these days.

She huffed and brought her gauntlet up to her eye. Lord Apollo's radiance glimmered effortlessly through the windows and onto the pristine celestial bronze. She could see herself in the reflection of the divine metal. Did she have something in her teeth? Gross. How long had that been there?

She dropped the gauntlet into her lap. The herculean swordsman engraved onto the metal stared back at her. His sword was raised above his head as he saluted the bearer, possibly even offering her a toothpick in her hour of need. Now he looked like a true hero. Whoever he was, he had to have been to have his likeness forged forever into the bronze.

She was envious.

With how her days were going lately, she'd be lucky to find her face even drawn onto a pithos by a second grader. Even then, they'd think it was Wonder Woman.

Ding!

The elevator reached the main floor. Its arrival echoed across the silent room like a whistle in an amphitheater. She, like the other Titans in the room who were scattered about the place, turned to the sound, waiting. From the corner of her eye, she could see Starfire and Percy stand up, in unison.

Percy….

That was another thing that she found herself thinking about lately.

Who even was Percy? Starfire and Cyborg accommodated him well, with respect in their eyes as they talked with the older man. However, they held no familiarity with the man either. Yet, she didn't understand why. Who was he?

He just appeared saying he was here to help and they took it in stride, following in Starfire's lead.

The man looked tired and old enough to be in the middle of a midlife crisis. Hades, for all she knew, could be in one and thought taking over the Titans was the answer to all his problems. It's not. Get therapy, and do NOT buy that red Corvette. It won't help you with the ladies, old man.

Then again, he did have powers.

Could still be in a midlife crisis, though….

She had seen the video playback of Cinderblock. Percy had taken care of the beast with ease. What had pummeled the team down one by one even after being torn apart and put back together again had been a cakewalk for him. Water and darkness bent to his will as he stood there, watching his victory delivering itself into his hand as if it was his by birthright.

But who was he?

Percy wasn't a common name from her counts, and the man hadn't been too giving with his personal life to paint any more details to help build an identity to who he was. So, that naturally left her with her personal and limited conclusions about the man.

He was an old-timer. Maybe he served on the League back before she was born as a lesser sidekick to Aquaman or the likes. The guy had his fifteen minutes before getting hurt and sidelined. Now, as their team struggled to put one foot in front of the other, the League threw them a bone. A broken bone, perhaps, but he was a bone, all the same.

It was just about the only thing that made sense to her.

Because the only other idea she had seemed outlandish and wrong. Percy looked nothing like an actual Greek Titan slayer, a Giant crusher, or even a god amongst men. She refused to believe that Percy was a shortening of Perseus Jackson, the hero of Olympus, whom Diana had told her stories about.

Now those were legends.

To do battle with Ares as a boy and overcome the odds to best him…. To bear the weight of the sky for the good of humanity…. To slay Kronos and save Olympus from complete and utter destruction….

Beating down on the H.I.V.E. five did not compete and never would.

Nor did old man Percy. He looked like a substitute teacher who threw on a movie as he nursed a hangover in the corner.

So why was he getting the interview of the hour instead of one of them who actually fought something other than the urge to get out of bed today?

Cassie didn't know. She really wanted to, but she just didn't know. Until then, she'd play nice as she had been doing already. They were on the same team at the end of the day. It wouldn't help anyone to sow discord over an opportunity she'd be plenty available to achieve later.

How was that for patience, Diana?

Heavy thunks approached with each step of metal signaling the arrival of the oldest teenage titan. He'd never be able to sneak up on anyone with his clomping metal feet. Not that it was Cy's style anyway. He was a let's talk kinda guy and didn't shy away from a confrontation.

"Yo!" Cyborg's finger gunned the group down. "I present to you—" he slid out of the way "—Mr. Clark Kent of the Daily Planet."

Starfire flew forward first, her ever-present smile on her face. How badly did her cheeks hurt when she went to bed? "It is good to see you again, Friend Clark."

Cassie's ears twitched at that, making note of the familiarity in the alien's voice. She didn't know the two knew each other prior. Clark Kent sure had never been around the Tower before, and she knew that Starfire had not frequented Metropolis often either. Often being the keyword there. Then again, maybe this was just the Tamaranean being friendly. Starfire made friends everywhere she went, and men were always eager to befriend her.

"The pleasure is mine, Princess." The reporter shook her hand. When their hands separated, his vision shifted to the other leader of the team. "Percy," Clark Kent smiled. "Pleasure to see you again."

Right, of course, Percy was from the same city. It's no surprise that the two ran into one another.

"We talked this morning, Kent." Percy took his hand, shaking it once. Or, they ran into each other this morning. That was also a possibility.

Neither man seemed to grasp the other's hand, Cassie noted, continuing to watch them. Sure, they did the motions, but the handshake was just that. Perhaps, despite the pleasantries and smiles the two were not eye to eye with one another. Something about their talk this morning perhaps? Or did history extend deep between them back in their big city?

Clark laughed and it sounded fake as if he was trying to keep the air light, "Of course. A pleasure all the same." Then his gaze shifted to Cassie and the two others in the room, lingering on the daughter of Trigon. "And you three must be the other Titans. Good to be seeing you, today. Your work this morning was effective."

Before Cassie could even respond, the animal-human blabber mouth beat her to it.

"Thanks. What can I say? It's hard work being a hero, but I don't do it for myself. I do it for everyone else out there." Beast Boy spewed. He slid over to the reporter, and with a wink, he continued, "Make sure to quote me on that, and I can give you my number as well to share with the ladies who read my interview."

"It's not your interview, stupid," Raven muttered, pulling the boy away with a tendril of darkness. Hidden in the shadows of her hood, Cassie imagined she either rolled her eyes or was currently murdering the green boy in her mind. Either of them was par for the course. "Just shut up and sit in the corner like the rest of us."

"But—what?" Beats Boy frowned, looking between her and Clark Kent. "I thought it—it was about us?"

"Apologies," Clark grimaced. "I'm here for an old friend." He nodded his head to the bearded man. "Perseus."

Perseus….

Cassie frowned. But if that was actually his name his full name—that wasn't…. What were the odds, honestly?

"Jackson?" she winced, her voice barely cutting across the room. She had to know. There was no way….

Percy turned to look at her, eyebrow raised.

No, scratch that.

Perseus Jackson turned to her, substitute teacher's salt and pepper beard and all. Her wide eyes met his, with crowfeet at the corners. There were even very mortal-like bags under his eyes as if he hadn't slept well in days.

There was no way.

He looked nothing like the man who should've been dining with the gods.

"Sandsmark?" he repeated.

"Wait. You are the Perseus Jackson?" she squeaked, shooting up from her beanbag. The gauntlets she had meticulously cleaned, fell to the floor with a clatter. Cassie didn't care, she could pick them up later.

Confusion marred the demigod's eyes for a moment, and she watched as understanding slowly stirred in his sea-green eyes, the eyes of Poseidon himself according to Diana. A small smile formed, partially hidden by his facial hair.

"So that's at least one of you who hasn't read my file," he chuckled.

Cassie was still at a loss for words nearly fifteen minutes later. The two men had sat down in the main room after spending ten or so minutes in the kitchen, privately.

Starfire had turned to her and the others at that time. The princess proceeded to talk to them about being on their best behavior during the two's absence, but Cassie only half listened. Nightwing had given them this spiel before and she had more interesting things to do.

She was trying to study Raven who was doing a bad job of hiding the fact she could get impressions of the men's conversation without even being in the same room as them. And considering how much Raven was distracted by what she could spy on, the less Cassie cared about what Starfire was saying. Raven, after all, wasn't one to be distracted easily.

That was a few minutes ago, however, and Raven had retreated into herself when the two had returned to the present room. She didn't say a thing. She didn't stare at either of them. She just pulled her hood down over her face a bit more than usual, seeking refuge in the dark.

Then the interview began. Half their words passed through her ears like water through a net. Cassie's mind just kept spinning. Part of her wanted to know what Raven knew, but then the louder part looked at the guy who was scratching his beard unsure of what he even wanted to be called in the print.

Her new team leader wasn't just some guy. No, no, no. Not even close to that. Some guy was an insult. Oh gods, she compared him to a substitute teacher. She might as well have called Queen Hippolyta a librarian who slept in her office all day.

'Percy' was The Demigod. He was proclaimed the greatest hero since Heracles. He was someone even Diana looked up to. Well at least, she got that impression from Diana when she spoke of the man. Or maybe she saw them as equals? Cassie wasn't exactly sure. Either way, Diana respected him on the levels of Superman and Batman.

So, for him to be her new teacher…. Her new leader….

She was destined for greatness. She'd be carving her name into history by the end of the year.

"Close your mouth, you'll catch flies." Beast Boy elbowed her.

She promptly elbowed him in retaliation, sending him flopping sideways into Raven, an innocent bystander too busy meditating. Then he was gone. Consumed by a portal courtesy of the half-demon without even a scream to mark his disappearance.

Cassie could only just blink at how fast that all unraveled. Did Raven even know where she sent him? That it was her who pushed him? What if—

"I don't care," Raven cut her off, whispering. "He'll be back to annoy us in no time."

That girl was scary sometimes. Cassie slowly nodded at the empath and turned back to the interview in front of her.

Perseus Jackson and Clark Kent were sharing a good ole chuckle as Starfire smiled at the two from her spot on the couch beside the son of Poseidon. The alien's eyes lingered on Perseus before turning to Mr. Kent. Yet, she still tossed her co-leader the frequent look.

For a brief flash, Cassie could've imagined the three of them, like this, huddled in a booth at some coffee shop in Metropolis. Smiles and laughter would have been shared amongst one another, and not a thought was given to the fact that two of them had the power to reshape the world at a whim, and the other had the power to sway the minds of millions with a single sentence in the newspaper.

It was almost sobering in that regard. There was so much power in this room of all flavors. They were the modern-day Argonauts. Modern-day superheroes. Their names would be inscribed into history. It was guaranteed, and Clark Kent would be their Homer.

"While I'm sure your skills with a spoon are undeniable Percy, I have to ask, for the sake of the readers and the world. What is your goal concerning what people are feeling lately about the Titans?"

"My goal?" Perseus parroted. He scratched his chin. His eyes drifted beyond the conversation to the grand windows of the tower.

Cassie couldn't help but follow his gaze. Perhaps she too could see the glory of Olympus on the horizon. The glory of the gods that he would bring down to them.

She squinted her eyes at the distant clouds rolling in from the Pacific. They were dark and massive, the forward wall of a storm that would scare the criminals back into their homes until the wind died out. Was this Poseidon watching over his prodigal son?

"I think the most important thing I can do for anyone, especially these kids, is to remind them there is more to life than fighting."

Cassie turned back to the man. His right arm was clenched in his lap, the muscles and veins flexing as he took a deep breath. His gaze had returned to the room, briefly sweeping over the teens, and then frowning when he didn't see Beast Boy.

"What do you mean by that?" Clark asked, bringing the focus back on him.

"Growing up how I did, there was a…a…." Percy paused, chewing on his thoughts. "Let's call it an expectation from me. People put labels and expectations on me. They had ideas of who I was and who I was meant to be before I could even figure out who I thought I wanted to be. My fate was defined by words that hung over me like a plague. For a while, I didn't have a choice in the matter either. It was fall in line or die, really.

"It wasn't till a few years or so later after the expectations fell away did I realized I missed out on a lot. At this point, I'm a legal adult, and the people around me now see me as this. Which is fine, now, but at the time and even now, I've realized that I sacrificed my childhood and my teenage years fighting for the world around me because people said it was my job."

Clark leaned forward, but he had yet to write a single word. "Do you regret it?"

"No, never."

The words were spoken before there was even a moment to think about the question. A true hero's answer, Cassie summarized. That's what a hero was, someone who didn't hesitate for the good of everyone else. He was Perseus Jackson after all.

"I mean. Sure, I made mistakes," Percy continued, slumping back onto the couch. "Along the way some things really sucked, but I mean, we are all still living today. It means I did something right."

"So, if I understood this anecdote properly, you want your new wards to remember that they are kids?"

Percy cocked his head to the side a moment before nodding. "Yeah, and I hope the world gives them the respect that is due that it's these kids who have taken up the mantle to help. Because I can easily turn this speech into a 'why aren't you doing more' spiel, but I don't want that.

"I want the message that people read about is that the next time they see one of the Titans get knocked down, they know it's a kid trying their best. They aren't the Justice League, they aren't Superman. They are kids. They should be out drinking sodas by the liters and playing games until the morning hours with their friends, but the Titans have chosen to try to be more."

"So because they aren't playing video games we should cut them slack?"

"Look, Clark, I think everyone needs to remember what they were doing when they were kids, and then realize how much these kids are sacrificing to make sure that when you go to the bank, you aren't a hostage or worse. These kids are trying their best to keep the world turning as best as it can, and if people cannot respect that…. Maybe people should ask themselves what a world without either cops or metas look like. What if we had no doctors or even athletes? What if nobody tried to be the best version of themselves? What if everyone was fine being a bystander and passenger to the whims of life?

"When I lived in Metropolis they'd say they believed in a better tomorrow or the likes, I'm sure you are familiar, Clark. I think you've even written that headline yourself once or twice." The reported nodded. "The city lives and breathes that idea. I can only hope Jump City embraces it as well because I will be teaching the Titans it. How the world labels them and what others expect from the Titans doesn't matter.

"These kids deserve to be the best version of themselves, and they choose to be heroes. So, I'll help them become the best heroes they can be. So the first thing that I'll teach them and let the world in on is that you have to fight for yourself, your friends, and your family, not just because someone orders you to march. When you have a personal purpose that acts as your higher calling, you can do anything, you can win any war."

"Wars?" Clark perked up, writing the word down. "Are you calling superheroes warriors? Soldiers?"

"For a better life, Clark? We all are."

"I see. It is a provoking statement." Mr. Kent wrote down a few more words in his notepad. He adjusted his glasses and flipped a page as he turned to Starfire. "And what are your thoughts on your new team member, even if he is one left behind at the Tower to be a mentor?"

Perseus Jackson hadn't said much more to anyone after the interview. He had claimed he needed a moment to think and had walked off towards the elevator. Cassie assumed he went to the roof. It was after all one of the best places to think at the tower. It was weirdly comforting how often she could bump into someone else up there when she needed a moment to herself. It made her not feel so… isolated when struggling with her moments of doubt.

So, while Perseus disappeared for a private moment, she waited in the main room for him to return. She had to speak to him. His earlier comments left her certain that he was her way forward into history. She would be the best version of herself because of him.

However, she did have a few questions that weren't exactly about extensive hero training that she'd like answered. No, she needed her curiosities sated.

When he locked blades with Kronos was he really thinking about saving the world for his friends? Was the power of friendship really all it was cracked up to be or just some gimmick that people and TV preached about?

Then of course she had a nitpick or two to give.

Like what was it about them being kids? They were heroes first! If the world started seeing them as kids first like they were already, they'd keep tearing into them and telling them to abandon being the Titans. It took the old team years to shake the "teen" pre-fix. They didn't need anyone tagging it back on.

They were heroes. They did what heroes do. It shouldn't matter what age they were.

But at some level, his words had to hold merit, right? Maybe she just didn't see them?

He had lived this already where Cassie had not. She recognized that. He was the veteran of the world while she was the student. But sometimes the student could teach the master new tricks as well. Though, she really hoped to be the one learning everything.

Ding!

Cassie whipped around to the elevator.

There he was, alone and stepping out on her floor.

"Mr. Jackson!" she called out to him, rushing over to him just as he exited the lift.

"Just Percy please."

"Right," she nodded. That was what he wanted to be called. Diana had mentioned Perseus Jackson was a humble man. "I was wondering since you know, with all you've done, that like you could really teach me."

"Really teach you?" he frowned. "Wasn't that the plan already? For all of you?"

"Well, yeah, but like I'm an Amazon or at least one in training, and you are like the best demigod ever. So like with a little Mr. Miyagi magic we could be like the BEST duo in the world."

His head tilted in confusion, "Miyagi magic?"

"Karate Kid?" She followed up. It was among one of her favorite movies even if it was about a boy. How had he not heard of it?

Percy shrugged, stepping past her. "Never watched it. Kind of forgot it existed."

"Really? There's no way it's one of the best movies ever."

Percy shrugged once more. "Doesn't help me to lie to you about a movie."

"Oh. That makes sense." She nodded. It would be a weird thing to lie about. "Anyways, it's just that he mentors the kid that knows nothing into being the best. So like, with me already knowing what Wonder Woman has taught me, like surely I'd be great."

"Right. Okay." Percy sighed. He brought his hand to the steeple of his nose, clutching it in thought. "I understand where you are trying to go, I do. Ambitious." He led her into the kitchen. Raven sat quietly in the corner, not even glancing up at them as they entered. "However, there are a few hiccups. The first and foremost, you are Diana's student, and well, to put it simply, I don't know how cool she'd be if I took her student. Second, my feelings on the matter. Without getting into the nitty gritty, what I know is not something I'd want anyone to know. And it sure isn't helpful for the whole 'don't kill' policy of being a hero."

"So you won't teach me because you don't want me to know how to defend myself?"

He winced, a hand coming up to try and placate her. "Don't phrase it like that. It's more complicated than that oversimplification." He sighed. "Let me ask you this, when you go out into the city every day, what are your priorities?"

"Put down the bad guys. Protect the people."

"Right, and do you know what mine was? What some of my friends were?"

"Put down the bad guy to protect your people?" she frowned. It sounded like the correct answer in her head, but the question sounded too easy, too simple for that to be right.

"Close but no." Percy took a sip from his glass of water. As he lowered the glass, his gaze went with it, watching as the remaining water began to swirl into a whirlpool at his thought, or perhaps because his own thoughts were reflected in the water. The water then stilled, and he exhaled. "It was to kill everything that wanted me dead and make sure nobody died beside me. Two completely different methods of fighting."

She frowned. "You won't teach me because of that?"

"I already told you that I'd teach you, Cassie. However, I'm not going to let you become me-2.0. That is a road paved with pain and blood. I do not feel comfortable letting a child bear that burden like the gods do."