•--• • •-• -•-• -•--

Percy heard screams coming from outside and was immediately on his feet with Riptide in one hand and the shield Tyson had made him expanding from the watch on his wrist.

By his side, Annabeth was standing with her sword and Yankees cap at the ready. In silent agreement, they moved forward, keeping Paul, Sally and Estelle behind them. Percy looked through the wide windows to the streets outside.

Strange creatures riding what looked like flying metallic SeaDoos zoomed around, shooting blue beams of energy that left craters in the pavement and caused cars to flip and explode.

There was a sudden rush of people coming into the building from the streets, and everyone began putting as much distance between themselves and the door as possible. Percy stepped towards the street and was stopped by Annabeth’s hand on his arm. 

She gave a pointed nod towards his parents and sister, who were looking between the scene outside and the weapons in their hands. 

He hesitated.

“We have to… people are dying out there.” He looked around helplessly, feeling the familiar intense focus and rush of adrenaline that came with battle. Estelle had started crying, and there was a loud metallic screech from outside as a car was sent tumbling past the restaurant.

Sally gave a weak smile filled with a grim sort of resignation. “Of course.” She stepped forward and pulled both of them into a warm embrace. 

“I am so proud of both of you. Just… stay safe.” She pulled back.

“I’ll keep an eye on him.” Annabeth said, nudging his shoulder with a smirk.

“Make sure you keep an eye on yourself, too. I want both of you back here with me, okay?” Her eyes were glistening, but she didn’t cry. She just gave them both one last squeeze, one last “I love you,” and stepped away.

Paul came forward with Estelle, and gave each of them a quick hug before leading Sally over to the rest of the civilians, who were huddled in the kitchen.

Cautiously, Annabeth moved closer to the window and looked outside. She looked over at him. “Houston, we have a problem.”

Nerd. Percy thought fondly.

“Yeah?”

“These things aren’t monsters. They’re aliens.” She pointed at a spot in the distance, and he moved closer to see what she was staring at. The creatures were emerging from a portal directly above Stark Tower. A portal that seemed to lead directly into space.

“Styx.” Percy cursed quietly. “Does Celestial Bronze even work on aliens?” he murmured, hoping none of the mortals in the kitchen could hear him.

“That’s not the only issue here, though we should definitely check.” she whispered, brow furrowed. “Those things are flying. I don’t know about you, but I didn’t bring any long-range weapons.”

“Styx.” Percy repeated.

“We need to call in reinforcements,” she said firmly. “People who can get here quickly. People who can fight in the sky, or at least reach them better than we can.”

Percy felt that ever-present ache in his heart pang painfully. Jason would have been able to help them. But Jason was gone, and he didn’t have a miracle cure on hand like Leo had. He wasn’t comingback.

“Annabeth, we… we don’t have an aerial fighter anymore.” he said, voice strained. “And the others are all over the country. Nico’s the only one who could get here on time, and he’s not long-range either.”

Her face twitched at the mention of Jason, but she shot him a sharp smile. “Make me a rainbow and we’ll see about that.”

•- -• -• •- -••• • - ••••

After some very creative work with several glasses of water and the bright spring sunlight from the windows, Annabeth smirked at the faint rainbow in front of her and considered how useful it was to have a boyfriend who could manipulate water. She pulled a drachma from her bag— she always kept some on her for emergencies.

“Oh, Iris—” she started, but Percy held up a hand and she paused.

“Didn’t I ever tell you about meeting Iris with Frank and Hazel?” he questioned. Something about that sounded vaguely familiar. She thought back to that hectic day when they had been reunited after months of worrying. The details of Percy’s quest escaped her. 

She shrugged and handed him the drachma. He tossed it into the rainbow. “O Fleecy, do me a solid. Show me…” he trailed off.

“Frank Zhang at New Rome.” she supplied. Percy raised an eyebrow. She sent him her patented: trust me on this look. He shrugged and repeated the words.

The rainbow shimmered, and Frank’s image appeared in the mist. He jumped slightly, then his face cleared and the corners of his eyes wrinkled happily as he saw who it was. 

“Hey Annabeth, Percy. What’s up? How’s the birthday going?” There was a slight pause as Frank took in their surroundings: the loud bangs from outside the window, the deserted and overturned chairs, the swords that both of them held at the ready. 

“Gods, what happened?” His happy eye crinkles migrated up his face like birds in the winter and settled into their usual place of residence as worry lines on his forehead.  

“Alien invasion.” Percy said bluntly.

“You’re kidding.” Frank raised a disbelieving eyebrow and looked at Annabeth.

“Nope,” she said. Frank sighed. “They’re coming out of a portal in the sky that looks like it leads into open space.”

“Of course they are.” Frank scoffed, sounding tired. “Every time I think the world can’t get weirder.” He shook his head and sighed. 

When he inhaled again his shoulders were squared and his jaw was set, every bit the praetor. “How can I help?”

“We could use some long-range fighters. They can fly.” Percy explained.

Annabeth paused, some tiny part of her that had been winding in knots since she saw that portal eased. She and Percy weren’t alone in this. They had friends who didn’t hesitate to charge into battle by their side. It was a good thing to remember.

Frank was speaking hesitantly, a hand cupping his chin as he spoke with evident frustration. “Hazel could call Arion, but even he would take—”

“About two and a half hours when carrying two people, yes.” She interrupted. Frank flicked his hand in agreement.

“Do you think you could shadow-travel if you turned into a hellhound?”

Frank’s eyes widened. He blinked. “I… don’t know.” A thoughtful expression overtook his face. “Well when I’m a unicorn, my horn does have medicinal properties, so I imagine so. I don’t know if I’d be able to take someone. Hades, I don’t know if I’d even be able to navigate.”

“I have a solution if New Rome can survive without both praetors for a day or so.” Annabeth said, leaning back to sit on the table behind her. “Hazel has helped with shadow-travel before. She could help you navigate. Besides,” she glanced out of the window, “I get the feeling we’re going to need a lot of help with the mist over here.”

“No kidding,” Frank gave a weak chuckle. “Should I contact any of the others?”

“No, that’s alright.” Annabeth waved him off. “Just try to get here as soon as you can.”

He nodded shortly. “Where should I meet you?”

“Stark tower.” She responded, glancing out of the window. “That’s where the portal is. Can’t miss it.”

“See you then, Chase. Jackson.” he waved.

“See you, Zhang.” She swiped a hand through the image, dispersing it.

“Who’s next?” Percy questioned as she drew out another drachma and tossed into the rainbow.

“O Fleecy, do me a solid. Show me Leo Valdez at the Waystation.”