The many woes of an assassin that just wants to do his job.
Percy hoped to the gods above, as much as he disliked them, that none of his old camp mates, or even the newer campers saw him. He had just finished explaining to Tyler and Blair anything and everything Greek, before sending them up Half-Blood hill. The storm we was making was keeping away the monsters – for now – and should hopefully shield him from the direct line of anyone’s sight. This place brought back the best memories, and he still couldn’t believe that his assignment whenever he wasn’t overseas was to find demigods and bring them to safety. Because that lead to the greater safety of mortals, even though Percy had argued many times with Nick over the fact that monsters didn’t attack mortals, nor even care about them.
To make matters worse, he missed her. He gets that she did it because she was scared, and didn’t want him to get hurt again – hell his arm wasn’t even completely healed yet (stupidly slow mortal healing). But it didn’t stop him from missing her. It was fun, really fun when she was with him. It was good that she didn’t seem to care about his profession either. At the time, he hadn’t even known about SHIELD yet, let alone fought with the avengers. It was probably for the best that she had gone there anyway. It was way less likely that she would be attacked at CHB. She could get real training too. He wouldn’t have his half celestial bronze, half normal bullets forever, (honestly who knew what bullets were made from these days? (Stark would.) that’s just stupid.)
After a very heartful goodbye, he promised that he would find a way to send messages into camp for her, and once she got some necessary training, they could meet up again. Besides, it would lead her to make some new friends. Friends that were just like her.
His thought process was interrupted by his work phone. No doubt that Nick already had another assignment for him.
“Nick, what can I do for you on this fine, fine day?” It was not a fine day. It was dreary and there were about 4 different traffic jams in Manhattan alone.
“That’s Director Fury to you, Jackson,” came Nick’s gruff voice from the other side of the line, “I need you to come by headquarters, I have a new assignment for you. And you’ll be glad to hear that it doesn’t have anything to do with that camp you despise so much. You’ll be going out into the field with Romanoff and Barton. It’s a scouting and recon mission…”
Nick continued to relay the main details to Percy, as he got out of his cap and started walking to his mum’s apartment. Apparently, people have been waiting for him to get back home, because as soon as he crossed the street, about 20 girls, including one with auburn hair, and intense silver eyes, and another with spiky black hair and a silver tiara in her hair, all surrounded him, weapons raised.
“Nick, I’m gonna have to call you back. I also might be a little late to the debrief. I’ll call you when I can.”
“What? Jackson don’t you dare hang up that phone! And that’s Director Fury-”
He hung up the phone. Percy then turned to the leader of the group, and her lieutenant.
“Artemis, can’t say that I’ve missed you and your girls threatening to kill me. Thalia, pleasure to see you again after what? 15 years?” Artemis snarled at him, Percy just grinned back. “Look, it was really great seeing you guys around, but I really have somewhere to be. Give me a call, we can set up a meeting date that I definitely won’t turn up to.”
Artemis growls, and Percy knows that he definitely won’t be going to that debriefing anytime soon. Her eyes glow, and she clicks her fingers. The next thing he saw was a camp set up, not much different to the one he had stayed at when he was 14.
Percy rolled his eyes, and glances around at the trees. Forest Park. He knew this place like the back of his hand. It really was stupid of Artemis to take him somewhere so close to home. Unless… unless she was planning to let him go.
Thalia was the one to speak first. “Percy, we need your help.”
He yawned, “So?”
Thalia’s eyes flashed, “So? So? There’s a prophecy! And a war coming! We need your help!”
He had to stop himself from rolling his eyes again. “Why should I help you? I was done with the Greek world 15 years ago, and I’m done with it now. I was banished. I renounced any and all ties that I have with the Greek world. Just because I still have my powers, doesn’t mean that I’m obligated to help you, any of you, whatsoever!”
Thalia looked rightfully gobsmacked. Artemis, not so much.
“What you didn’t know? I thought I’d made quite the reputation for myself when there were aliens tearing New York apart.”
Artemis’ eyes flashed this time. “Perseus, I order you to tell me what your relation is to Adelyn Powers! We know it is you bringing the children to camp, and we know you are sending message to her through these young demigods. So, tell me. Now.”
It made Percy chuckle. He doesn’t owe them anything and he’s not about to listen to a god that thinks he owes them when they’re the ones that banished him. He tells Artemis, Thalia and the rest of the hunters as such.
Thalia tried to get through to him again, “Percy, please. There is a prophecy, a war. One that you’re part of. Prophecies are fate, you can’t outrun them.”
Percy knew about the prophecy. He didn't care. He wasn't going to help, why should he? He was done with that life. But he also knew that you can't outrun a prophecy, not matter how hard you try. Everything would sort itself out though... all in due time. There was no doubt about it. But it didn’t mean that he had to deal with it, and by extension the gods, sooner that necessary. Right now? It was not necessary.
“Look, I’m already late for a meeting, and I’ve got a ton of shit to do that has nothing to do with the Greek world. So, if you will, or won’t, I don’t really care, excuse me, I’ll be off.”
With that, he turned around, and disappeared out of plain sight. Reappearing in Nick’s office, and scaring the shit out of Clint.