Raised in Tartarus (AvengersxPercy) (PeterxPercy)

The Exposed Stomach

Thank you all so much for being so patient waiting for my slow-ass to actually update. <3

I've got another chapter coming tomorrow :) 

Chapter 11: The Exposed Stomach

Percy's POV:

Peter holds the door open to the delicious restaurant, letting me walk through first. The second I step through, the smell of gurers slaps me in the face, making my stomach growl in anticipation.

Damn. Why don't we have these at home?

I march right up to the counter, ready to order and practically drooling. But before I can get there, a hand shoots out and slaps onto my bare abdomen, halting me.

My gaze slowly slides down to see a small, uniformed man frowning up at me from under bushy grey eyebrows.

Before I can beat the daylights out of him for touching me and getting in the way of me and my food, he starts yelling, startling me.

"What the hell do you think you're doing young man? You can't do that!" He throws a finger up to point at my face.

I stagger back, blinking in surprise.

Shit, what did I do? Is this another one of those unspoken rules humans have?

"There's a sign on the door! Can't you read?" His arms fling towards the entrance. "You can't just waltz in here with no shoes on and- and"—he glances at my exposed stomach— "and no shirt! You're practically naked!"

Naked?

"Get out of here immediately!"

Get out?

He pushes back on my abdomen again, making me stumble.

Rage flares up inside me. Who in Tartarus' name does he think he is? How dare he challenge me?

"The hell did you say to me?" My hand flies out and grabs his collar, lifting him off the ground and yanking him up close to my face. "You dare to provoke me in that puny, frail body? I'm fucking hungry, old man; so get out of my way before I take your tiny body, smash it into even tinier pieces, and feed it to the customers," I snarl.

"Damarion!" Peter shrieks, grabbing my bicep and trying to pull me away.

Tony appears on the other side of me and wrenches my hands off the man's collar.

The employee drops to the ground, stumbling away from me to hide behind the counter with wide eyes.

I'm about to go after him when Tony and Peter latch onto my arms and haul me out the door.

Once we're outside, the pair lets go and Tony whirls to me. "What the hell was that? You're gonna get us arrested, kid!"

"I—" I start, but then realize I don't even know what to say.

He sighs. Rubbing his forehead, he gently pushes me to lean against the wall of the building. "Just- stay here, okay? We'll go in and grab something for us all to eat."

I nod and he turns around to walk in, looking back at me once. "Just don't move, kid."

I give him an awkward smile and a thumbs up before they disappear behind the door, leaving me alone.

Tilting my head back to look at the sky, I quietly snap my fingers, tapping my foot to a nonexistent beat.

I hope I didn't cause them any trouble. I tend to do that.

Wait.

Why do I even care?

You're here to kill the goatee one, Percy. I tap my temple.

I have to remember that.

Suddenly, a deep, authoritative voice fills my head. "Ciarán. Have you completed the mission yet?"

My gaze snaps to the ground. "Father!" I say in surprise. "I, um... You uh- you never contact me during... during missions."

An irritable sigh spreads through my brain, feeling like it's leaking out my ears. "You know how much I hate it when you stutter, Perseus."

"Sorry, sir." My feet slide closer together and I lift myself off the wall, standing erect. (😏)

"Answer the question."

"No, father, I have not completed the mission yet."

"And why not?"

Maybe it's just my imagination, but his voice, which is usually calm and collected, sounded a bit on edge with that phrase, agitated.

"I stopped to purchase a bit of food," I try my best not to stutter. "And- well, it's been a while since I've been on a mission, father. I was giving myself a small portion of time to adjust." I tried to sound confident, but it came out sounding like a question.

He's silent for a moment before a thoughtful hum rings through my ears. "Very well. But I expect you to be back within the next few days."

"But- Dad! You never give me time lim—"

"Excuse me?"

He said it calmly, with no emotion; nevertheless, I know exactly what he's implying. He's daring me to continue, and reminding me of precisely what would happen if I did.

I swallow. "My apologies, sir. I will have it done by then."

There's no response, but I can imagine his signature slight nod, eyes narrow and gazing condescendingly down at me.

I let out a heavy breath, falling back to lean on the wall again and closing my eyes.

"Damarion!"

My eyes snap open and I lurch off the wall, my head snapping in the direction of the voice. It's Peter.

Scampering out of the building with bags in hand, he excitedly bounds up to me and throws one out to me.

Tony follows behind, eyeing me with a bit of suspicion. "Are you feeling okay, kid?"

I take the bag from Peter. "Yes, sir. I'm fine."

He stares at me. "Who were you talking to just now?"

Trying to appear nonchalant, I swallow and relax my shoulders. "Just myself. Got bored, y'know?"

Tony nods once. I can almost see the gears turning in his head.

He doesn't believe me for shit.

"Can we... eat now?" I hold up the bag and Peter stares at the older man, seemingly oblivious as to what he was talking about.

"Ah right, right." The man with a goatee holds up his own bag. "Let's sit at that table over there. We can talk for a bit." He gives me a strange side-eye that I can't quite read.

I gulp, feeling uneasy all of a sudden.

I really should just hurry up and kill this man.