Avenger's God: A Percy Jackson Story

Chapter 8: Stealth Plan

3rd Person P.O.V.

Bruce had never known a pressure like having someone's life in is hands. The nervousness, the fear, it got his heart racing and blood pounding. And that was something everyone could do without.

While everyone was fighting on the island, Bruce was left alone to fight a different sort of battle with the creepy kid Nico. Something about that boy, sent shivers down his spine and a cold feeling in his gut.

Grabbing the white linen bandages Nico passed him, he wrapped the head tightly, almost like a mummy. He could almost hear the stuttering heartbeat, the room was so quiet. The only noise in the world seemed to be the steady thrum of the engine and Jason's hitched breathing.

Taking the broken armrest Nico snapped earlier; he placed it beside his leg and wrapped the bandage. It wasn't perfect, and it wouldn't help much, but it would last till they got back to Tony's and they could get SHIELD medics.

Nico's white face was watching him, as if worried he would whip out a knife and attack either him or the other kid. It was like he sensed something dangerous from Bruce. As if sensing he was a monster...

A low growling from somewhere deep inside himself echoed through his head. The other guy had been quieter since the alien invasion in New York. This was the first time he had felt him for many months. It had almost felt like he was normal, the other guy gone forever. Of course, nothing was that simple for Bruce.

"Is he going to make it?" Nico asked, trying to keep the worried edge from his voice and sound emotionless. His voice was laced with nonchalance, but Bruce could see through it like glass. Jason meant a lot to Nico, and Perseus too by the efforts to find and save him from whoever had taken him and done this to him.

Wrapping another bandage around a deep stab wound in his torso, green pus mixing with the blood, he said "He'll survive till we get to Stark tower, but after that, unless we get SHIELD agents on the scene as soon as we arrive, it will be tight."

Nico nodded, as if used to his cousin's almost near death.

The kid (he couldn't be older then seventeen) groaned quietly when Bruce shifted his head. He nearly jumped back in surprise.

The kid opened one eye, bright sea green and glazed with exhaustion and probably drugged into oblivion.

"Nico?" he said hoarsely, reaching out blindly for his face, prodding his forehead. Nico smacked the prodding hand aside and placed his hand on the son of Zeus's shoulder, whispering "I'm here Percy, you alright?"

Jason grunted in some distant acknowledgement and asked "Where?"

Nico shushed him and said "You're in San Francisco. Shut up for once, you're hurt badly."

Percy's mouth twitched, as if attempting to smile and closed his eyes, falling limp. Bruce was honestly surprised he was awake, let alone that he could talk. He was littered with bruises and broken bones and burns and scars and stab marks. He was most likely drugged, with a concussion judging by the lumps the size of an egg in two areas on his head.

Suddenly, there was a cold breeze, almost dark that seemed heavy and ancient and powerful. Percy was writhing, moaning in pain, too weak to scream. His eyes were open and blank, and he hissed something unintelligible. Bruce looked to Nico and said "Hold him down; I need to finish bandaging him."

Nico nodded and with strong hands he pinned his cousin's arms to his sides and said "Hurry up!"

Bruce went as quickly and gently as he could, but he could feel Jason flinching in pain as he wrapped the linen. And he knew Nico could feel it too. Jason fought, twisting and hissing and his eyes blank with horror and terror and something else. Something dark, mad, and evil beyond any capabilities of understanding.