Chapter 3
Percy POV
Why? Why can't they just leave me alone? Goddamnit. I turn around quickly my fingers reaching towards my ballpoint pen but I did not uncap it yet.
I then shouted in my commander voice, "Show yourselves." I had perfected this tone in battle it proved even more useful than charmspeak sometimes. It left no space for disobedience the person just did what asked.
Six people stepped out of the clearing with various expressions of surprise on their faces, well at least I could see five of them. The sixth had his face covered by some sort of metal mask.
There was a tense silence as I observed the six of them. The leader of the group was wearing what seemed like the American Flag and had a fit build with blond hair and blue eyes. He reminded me of Jason. Next to him the redhead had wiped her expression clear. Just like me. Smart. Her body language showed her tenseness though.
The archer dude beside her was same. I guessed they were spies or something. The redhead looked vaguely Russian.
Next there was a guy who looked pretty simple and kind. I wondered what he was doing here. But if he was here there was something about him so I decided not to dismiss him as a threat. Yet.
Next to him was a man in a metal suit who was floating above the ground. I decide not to wonder about him and moved on to the next person or rather God.
I tensed at the sight of him. His aura was similar to Zeus', and I called him out, the anger in my voice unmistakeable as I said, "I thought I told you Gods to stay away from me."
He flinched back under my glare and replied, "I mean no harm and I'm Norse, Perseus. It's an honour to finally meet the legendary hero. I've heard about your tales of bravery."
Then I remembered that he was Thor. He was Norse and I'd heard about him before. He was generally good but that doesn't mean I trust him immediately.
So I asked, "What do you want from me?"
I kept my voice flat. Thor opened his mouth to speak but the redhead interrupted him saying, "We just need to ask you some questions. I think you should peacefully come with us or we will take you the hard way.
I almost laughed. No way could they take me. Especially dressed like characters from Comic Con.
Still I eyed them warily asking, "Hold on. Firstly, who are you guys? Secondly what's with the costumes? Why's that blond dude dressed up like the American Flag?" at that some mouths twitched up but I continued, "Next why do you even want me? For once in my life I just want to be left alone. Is that too much to ask?"
The last part was yelled at the sky if you couldn't guess. To my surprise there was no response. Not even the sound of thunder.
"That's new." I muttered to myself. The rest of them just gave me weird looks except Thor who seemed to understand.
"So Perseus," I flinched slightly at that but nobody noticed. Thank goodness, the redhead continued, "We are the Avengers. Ever heard of us?"
I shook my head. Avengers? Nope I had never heard of them. Who are they?
They just stared at me incredulous. Finally the man in metal suit asked, "Wait, have you been living under a rock. We saved the world and you've never heard of us?"
I shook my head. Saved the world?
I wanted to scream, yeah guess what buddy? Me too! Twice! But I resisted that and said, "No I've never heard of you. Now why do you want me?"
This time the blond dude, I decided to call him Spangles replied, "You are a suspected terrorist. You blew up the Gateway Arch and are suspected of many more things. So just come with us quietly or we will force you."
I stared at him for a second, surprised, then started laughing, "Hah! Me, a terrorist? If you read my account carefully, you'd see that I was just at the wrong place on the wrong time. So cut it and goodbye."
With that I turned to leave. Knowing they would attack me. Then my prediction came true as I heard the tell-tale sounds of an arrow being fired. Quick as lightning I turned around and caught it before it embedded itself in my shoulder. The tip had a tranquilizer. Furious I looked up to see the redhead running towards me, her fist aimed towards my head. I quickly ducked and as her momentum carried her forward I swiftly punched her in the gut causing her to double over. Muttering a quick sorry I punched her in the back of her head knocking her out cold.
Then I turned my attention to the Spangles who was looking at me shocked. After meeting my gaze he snapped out of it and threw his shield at me. At the same time I felt the man in the metal suit shooting laser beams at me. I caught the shield and used it to deflect the beams towards the arrow dude who fell out of the trees, landing on the ground with a thump, unconscious.
It was then that I noticed that the kind guy was gone and in his place stood a green monster that I had never seen before. He roared and charged at me. Wrong move. I side stepped easily like I had during my first fight with the Minotaur. Turning around I jumped quickly on his back and smashed the shield I still held into his head. He roared before he was knocked out cold by another kick to his head.
I jumped off the green monster as he fell and threw the shield at Spangles direction who was not expecting it and it slammed into him knocking him down. Time for the metal man. I turned my full attention to him and he started shooting laser beams at me. I dodged easily. Then I got tired of it and I called upon the water in the air to do my bidding. I thrust out a hand as I concentrated and the water turned into a liquid before rushing straight into the metal suit causing it to malfunction.
It dropped to the ground at a rapid speed which I managed to slow down controlling the water vapour in the air. Still he hit at great speed. Worried I rushed over to check on him ripping off the mask and checking his pulse.
Thankfully he was alive. Not too much damage. He'll live. Relieved I turned around and came face-to-face with Thor. I'd completely forgotten about him. I tensed reaching for Riptide.
Thor then bowed his head saying, "I mean no harm Perseus." At that a flashback threatened to take over but I fought it. I did not need one right now. In the company of strangers who wanted me captured. I focused on Thor's voice saying, "It was an honour watching you fight. I have heard many tales of your strength but what I see has far surpassed them. I will leave you in peace young hero. Goodbye."
I was a little shocked at that speech. Where and how had he heard those stories and plus I'm not even that strong. There are heroes far greater than me. Still stunned I nodded and bowed my head saying, "It was nice meeting you too. And, uh, thank you for trying not to, uh, kill or kidnap me."
Thor laughed and said, "I would never cause you harm young hero. You should leave now before the others arrive."
I once again nodded and left. I knew I had just brought myself some more time but soon they'd be back. I needed to think up a seriously good cover story to fool these people. Damn it! Can't people just learn to leave me alone?
Natasha POV
The kid, Percy, looks like any other teenager. Unruly black hair, and sea green eyes from what I could tell and I guessing that he probably had that troublemaker smile but I didn't see him smile once. He walked around shoulders slumped as if he carried the weight of the world on them.
Apparently he lived alone and liked to swim. He swam for quite a lot of time before he headed out somewhere. We followed him hoping to catch him. He walks along before wandering down a path I never knew about. It emerges out in a cemetery with golden gates they say something in Greek, I suppose but I can't read it.
Silently we follow the boy as he moves along the rows like he has the path memorized. He stops a lot on the way touching a lot of graves. I look at the dates on them and I'm shocked to see that all of them are around 14 to 18 year olds. How did so many of them die? I shake it out of my head as the boy comes to a stop in front of six graves.
We watch as he places a flower in front of each grave. Then stands back softly murmuring something that sounds like an apology. But what is he apologizing about?
But my thoughts are cut off when he suddenly tenses his shoulders as if sensing our presence and turns around. He looks angry now and his eyes look stormy but his expression his neutral. He then calls out in a commanding voice which I and by the others' reaction, cannot resist and step out.
He eyes each of us warily and in turn I inspect him up close. I mirror him with a blank expression giving nothing away. Even his body posture seems blank although I can see his clenched fingers. He is tall with a pretty lean and muscular body. He definitely works out a lot.
His face is handsome in the typical bad boy way but his eyes…they're a different story. They look broken, shattered and haunted. They don't look like a 17-year-old's should look, twinkling and full of mischief instead they look older, like they've seen a lot and judging my experience I guess he has. But what could he have seen that made him like this?
I redirect my focus into trying to get him to come with us. I'm surprised that he hasn't heard of us but I shake that off. Once the diplomatic approach has failed. Clint quickly fires an arrow at his shoulder but lightning quick he turns and catches it. My eyes almost bug out of my head. What? How?!
How did he catch a freaking arrow?! He examines the tip noticing the tranquilizer dart and his expression turns furious I quickly grab the injection and charge at him fist aiming for his nose but he ducks and I go flying ahead. He punches me in the gut. I gasp as the air is knocked out of me. He has one heck of a punch. I'll give him that. I hear a quick sorry being muttered before my world goes dark.