Chapter 15
Steve
Wherever Percy learned all those technics didn't even matter to Steve anymore. The soldier saw the look in his eyes while he gave them the advice that were actually warnings. Percy clearly knew this from personal experience. Whether he learned it first-hand or second-hand seemed irrelevant, the fact was that if he knew that then he had to be fucking destroyed inside. No one can know how to successfully hold a knife against a professional assassin's neck and not have a trauma. The most disturbing thing, however, was the way he did it gracefully, denoting training and experience, and ruthlessly, denoting his capability of actually cutting off Natasha's head without even blinking if he saw it necessary.
It was only then that Steve realized how he could really be a great asset to the team and not just some lazy teen that likes sneaking out. Thor had mentioned it but he hadn't believed him. Fury made him part of the team but he thought he had gone crazy. Now Steve found himself being in awe with both men's wisdom.
All Steve knew was that he and Percy needed to talk.
.ψψψ.
Next in training came Clint with archery. Everyone was surprised to hear Percy groan in distaste. They were all still a little on edge because of the previous situations, but that didn't mean that they couldn't recognize talent. If he hadn't beaten Steve and Natasha, then they'd all think he was great. And he was.
"Do you know how to shoot an arrow?" Clint asked.
"I know how to, which doesn't mean I can."
"Right. But before you try anything, I'll teach you the technique-"
"I already know the technique, thank you very much. It was carved into my brain the day I managed to shoot backwards." Clint blinked. He seemed about to say something but was cut off before he could even make a sound. "Don't ask," Percy said and turned around to grab a bow.
Once he chose one (poor decision that one), he headed to the shooting area. He didn't lie, he had a perfect technique, but, somehow, he fired upwards. Everyone stared at him in surprise.
"What? Can't I suck at something?" They were all startled out of their thoughts by Percy's words.
"We didn't think you could," Clint corrected.
"Everyone can. That's what makes us human," Percy answered and then seemed to realize something. He closed his eyes again and without even opening them, shot the arrow. This time it hit bullseye.
Percy opened one eye as if fearing what he might find, but joy crossed his features once he saw his success.
"I've been trying this for like 5 years! Finally!" he said with glee.
"How did you-? You know, I don't even want to hear the answer," Tony said. Clint laughed.
"Unbelievable," Clint commented with a spark in his eyes. "Finally someone who can properly fire and arrow in our team!" He then turned to the rest of the Avengers. "I'm sorry guys but you all suck. Maybe Natasha's decent but..." he made some exaggerated hand movements pointing at Percy, who was now running, shooting and hitting the bullseye every single time. Steve shook his head while smiling. Natasha nodded her head, accepting the fact. Thor was too focused on Percy to pay attention. And then there was Tony.
"You wound me," Stark said while falsely weeping and taking a hand to his chest.
"You look like the caricature of a rich hormonal teen girl with a tendency to dramatics," Percy commented as he approached them again, without wiping the smile off his lips.
"Not so far from the truth, then," Bruce said under his breath but everyone still heard. Needless to say, they all lost it.
"Team bonding, I see. Well, even if this is nice and all, I have to interrupt it. Percy, your uncle wants to see you," Fury said as he entered the gym.
"Weren't we all locked in here? They were higher orders," Natasha said, furrowing her brows.
"His uncle makes the higher orders," Nick clarified. The team was surprised (except for Thor) but didn't argue.
"Which uncle?" Percy asked. To Fury's hesitant demeanor, he added, "The one upstairs or downstairs?"
"Downstairs," Nick replied confidently. Almost everyone else in the room was confused, but, for some reason, that answer seemed to make complete sense to the boy.
"Right. Better not to keep him waiting, then." He turned around and regarded the Avengers. "I don't even know if I have the authority for this but it sounds cool so imma say it: you're dismissed." He smirked and turned around to follow Shield's director, completely ignoring the raised eyebrows he left behind.
Percy
Percy and Fury walked quietly through some hallways before the younger one broke the silence.
"Since when do you know?"
"Since I received the order to make you join the Avengers. It was quite a surprise... and a not so pleasant meeting..." Cue to thunder. With their newly improved relationship, Percy only laughed. The thunder stopped.
"Yeah, I know how they can get. I need to ask, however, how much do you know."
"Demigod son of Poseidon. Veteran of two wars. Subject of various prophecies." Percy visibly relaxed. This answer meant he didn't know of the unification, or the fact that he had led both wars, and that the 'various' prophecies were actually ten. Altogether, it meant he didn't know his full story, only the basics, so he could still tell them all when he planned to. "They made me swear not to reveal anything," Fury added and the younger stopped dead in his tracks.
"Over the River Styx?" he asked. The other nodded. "Do you know what that involves, right?"
"Not really. I think your relatives left that out. Anyway, I'm not planning on breaking a vow made to the gods, even if I wanted to."
"I'll just tell you so you can be cautious...Don't ever break an oath made upon that river. There are few destinies worse than death, and that is one of them." He resumed walking. Fury became slightly nervous stayed fairly calm for someone who had just been told something of that magnitude.
The dark-skinned man kept guiding Percy through the maze of hallways to an unknown location, which turned out to be an empty room.
"He said you'd know how to reach him from here," the man said and turned to leave.
"Thanks," Percy said right before he left.
He closed his eyes trying to locate his uncle's aura. That didn't take long considering he Lord of the Underworld was one of the most powerful gods out there. Percy opened his eyes and headed to the last window on the left. He opened it and jumped out, landing with a roll right in front of a bakery.
Percy walked in and a bell rang indicating his arrival. Hades eyes met his and they stared at each other for a good ten seconds before Percy finally decided to get it over with. He sat in front of the wealth god with a sigh and waited for him to speak first. Seeing as he wasn't, Percy decided to take the lead.
"A bakery? Really?"
"I like its pastries." Hades shrugged.
"Whatever," the former demigod said defeatedly and chuckled lightly. "What did you want to talk about?" The conversation turned serious.
"We both know there is a war around the corner." Percy nodded his head, waiting for the news that were sure to come. "But something feels different."
"Go on..."
"As the god of the dead, I am able of sensing events in which my domain will expand. In war, this is something common... But this time I don't feel much death coming. I am not saying this as something bad, but I wanted to know what are you planning." Hades looked Percy in the eye, but just before he could say something, he spoke again. "Don’t try to deny it. I know it is you. If something big will prevent deaths you cannot tell me it will not be the 'key to victory' the prophecy speaks about, who is you. And casually, just casually, you have loyalty as your fatal flaw. Trying to refuse this would be useless," he finished. Percy sighed.
"I have a plan, but no one can know just yet. I'm trying to maintain this whole unification thingy secret so it can be successful... The plan will only function if nobody is aware, though, so I'd appreciate it if you could refrain from telling anyone. And I mean anyone. None of your brothers know-"
"Wait a second," the older god said and fixated his gaze in the table between them, though his mind seemed far away from where they were. "What was the last thing you said?"
"That none of your brothers know... Why?" Hades completely ignored him.
What seemed like hours for Percy's ADHD self, the god spoke again. "You're my brother too, Percy." The alluded was confused by the seemingly random statement. Yes, it was true, but what did it have to do with anything he had been saying?
"Yes, you're technically my brother, but-" Hades eyes lit up as he realized something.
"No, not technically. You're my brother."
"Well, yes. We're brothers. I guess. Kinda," Percy said, each second passing making him a little more confused. Hades suddenly broke away from his thoughtful state and lifted his head.
"That’s it! You have to accept your identity or else it will not work!"
"Wait, wait, wait. Hold up," Percy said and looked at his 'brother' in surprise. "What? Go back just a little bit."
"Oh, yes, sorry. Well, when you refer to yourself as someone else other than Poseidon, the feeling of possible death increases. When you accept it, however, the chances crumble down. I think that you understanding and connecting with your new identity is what will lead us to victory... Maybe that is what the prophecy spoke about: you, a god, leading the Avengers, mortals, into battle. That union would be deadly considering it is a mixture never done before, so the Pit can't know how it will affect his troops. And there is also the fact that you are the most powerful god, in alliance with the most powerful mortals!" Hades explained excitedly. "If you do not acknowledge your identity then you will not be as powerful as you will not know the extent of your powers. You need to accept it, for everyone's sake." Percy looked like he was at war with himself. He hated power so it was no surprise he didn't want it, but the fact that it'd save lives made him finally nod solemnly.
After some minutes of silence in which both gods processed the new information, Percy spoke again.
"So you're also trying to tell me that I'm the only one of the godly world that'll take part of the war?" Percy asked. "Well, I don't really care because that was exactly what I was planning. I'd rather risk myself than let anyone else die."
"That was what I meant when I said I was sure it was you," Hades commented and smiled, the gesture looking not as foreign in him as Percy had first guessed.
"There's something else I have to tell you, but you must keep it a secret." Hades nodded. "Egyptian gods will take part of the war... The Kane siblings, the most powerful children born in centuries, are looking for information right now. We don't yet know who the enemies are but I think we may have some new allies," Percy revealed gravely. Hades took it with ease and submerged again in the previous thoughtful state.
"There is a way... It takes energy but maybe..." Hades hesitated.
"What are you saying?"
"There is an Egyptian way to lock a powerful being, especially gods. It is ancient, but it exists. Risky, too, but it is Tartarus we are dealing with, so I believe it is worth it."
"And the way is...?" The wealth god put his hands over his temples in evident tiredness.
"The Duat. One thing is for sure: we will need those Egyptian allies."