A Favor

Chapter 10: Breakfast and More Exposition!

And so Percy made everyone (including the slowly growing amount of animals) breakfast. He figured since he was the new guy, he should probably make the food. In the middle of pouring the first batch of pancakes he stopped and realized they never actually answered his question of food. They just sort of grabbed a cup of coffee and moved to the table. Digging bacon out of the freezer, he figured nothing could go wrong with pancakes and bacon. And so, the Team (besides Wally) actually woke up to the sound of bacon on the pan and the smell of pancakes in the air. 

Absolutely laden down with food, Percy appeared at the bar, dishing two enormous stacks of (blue?) pancakes onto the table, and a literal pile of bacon to boot. They stared at the food, not quite sure what they expected, but it sure as hell wasn't this. 

"The right side of the bacon platter's crispier." Percy advised, attempting to break the silence.

Megan and Connor both grabbed for the pancakes, one out of an effort to be nice and the other because there was no way in any hell he was letting free food go to waste. Eventually Robin, Kid Flash, and Aqualad began to eat as well. Well, technically Wally swallowed the food as fast as Percy could pump it out. Even the various animals got their share of bacon and pancakes. 

Eventually, everyone managed to eat their fill, and they noted a few hours before training with Black Canary. Percy got up and made his way to the teleporter.

Wally threw his head over his chair and asked the retreating demigod, "Where are you going?"

"You guys said we had a few hours before training, and Diana said she wanted to talk to me at 11:00. It's like 10:30, so now seems like a good time."

The ever-inquisitive Boy Wonder asked, "Who's Diana and where's she meeting you? Is she like family or something?"

"All she told me was to put this," he held up a scrap of paper with a series of random numbers on it, "into the teleporter thingymajig." Flipping his eyes between the teleporter's keypad and the paper, he added, "And Diana's my cousin. You guys know her as Wonder Woman. Don't kill the animals and don't let them kill you." Leaving the Team to actually process that, he activated the portal and walked through.

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Percy was spat out in an alley way somewhere in what he hoped was the U.S., and he walked out to the street. He caught Diana's eyes almost immediately at a restaurant that looked Greek. I'm a comedian, I know. He walked to the door, hoping his unshowered, morning breathed, two-day-old-clothes-wearing ass wouldn't just get thrown out. Noting that no one was acting as maitre'd, he slipped into the outdoor seating and into the spot across from his newest cousin, who was eating a pastitsio.

"So cousin dearest, what got you calling at this time of day?"

"It's 11:00 in the morning, how could this possibly be considered early?"

"My house is literally a zoo with nocturnal animals, I have no sleep schedule. Plus the occasional brave or stupid monster makes itself known."

"That is actually what I wanted to talk to you about. All my life I thought the Amazons were all that was left of Greece, and suddenly my people learn the gods never died! They just moved on while we stayed behind. Tell me, what is the mythological world like?"

Percy took a deep breath before starting the story of the Titan and Giant wars. But you already know those, so let's just skip 'em. "So a few months after Gaia, I got a little bored. Me and Annabeth met up with a couple of Egyptian magicians, and her cousin became einjhar around that point. The two of us figured there were other mythologies hanging around, and dragged Grover with us to look for 'em.

Alot centralized themselves of an American city, but some stayed in their origins. Either way, they've all got gods, monsters, and some race between god and mortal who have to clean up the other two's messes. We made friends with them, and started building sort of safe spaces for every myth. At this point, all that's left is the Abrahamic faiths, who need to reach a consensus before they do anything. Apparently Judaism and Islam don't have a problem, but Christianity won't 'cause they 'won't debase themselves as to consort with pagan sinners' or something, I don't care."

Diana was silent as she took in all this information. "G-gods...how did I not know these things? I could have, should have helped you in the those wars. I'm a supposed to be a hero, and I can't even help my own people!" Diana held her face in her hands as silent stray tears fell through her fingers. 

"If it helps at all, you did have a major impact in the mythological world," Percy offered when she had finished crying. 

"How so?"

Percy leaned across he table toward his superhero cousin, " Myths live by virtue of belief, and gain strength the more people believe in them. You told the entire world you were the daughter of Zeus. People believed you, and I guess they started to think that the Greek Gods may still be around, accurately mind you. The next logical leap is obviously hmm, if the Greek myths are still around, why not the others?. You singled-handedly supercharged every myth out there."

"How much stronger did you all get?"

"Take me for example. Before you went public I could lift all small pond with not a ton of effort. Now, I can lift the combined water of all five Great Lakes without breaking a sweat." Diana nodded, picking at her food. Percy looked at her, concerned, before standing up and putting a hand on her shoulder.

"Hey. Take it from the master of taking on grief you don't need. It's not your fault, and nothing will be solved by moping. You couldn't be there for us then, but you can now." He gave her his usual smirk before adding, "I'll take you to meet your half-sister and brother in a couple days, alright? Take care."

With that, he turned toward the exit and almost made before swiveling 180 degrees on his heel. "How do I get back to your super-secret base? I've got training in like an hour."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=12XO38PONoI

TADA! I've arisin at last! And I have a defense for why the myths are gonna be kickass! If Wonder Woman can go toe-to-toe with Supes, then I gotta either bring PJO to DC's level, or bring DC down to PJO's level.

Obviously I chose the fun one.