The Jackson Enigma

Two Part Trust

Once again, Percy Jackson has found himself in a group meant to save the world. On one of the few occasions he had been able to visit camp, the demigod decided it was in his best interest to do his research. Using the Big House computer, the son of Poseidon looked for news on his teammates.

Percy had already surmised that Steve Rogers was a soldier, but he was shocked to discover Captain America was a man out of time. The demigod guessed that explained the old-fashioned aura the soldier carried with him. Percy briefly considered the possibility of Steve Rogers being a demigod himself. The only other people Percy Jackson had met who were out of time were both demigods, and Rogers abilities certainly surpassed those of a mortal. The son of Poseidon tabled that as a conversation to have with said mortal at a later date.

Anthony Stark's history was both surprising and unsurpring. The billionaire used to have a weapons contract with the military for many years, supplying them with terrifying arms. It seemed he came to his senses and turned a new leaf for the better. The size of Stark's ego, Percy noticed, had yet to change.

There were a lot of things the half blood didn't understand in his research of Anthony Stark, mostly due to their scientific nature. Percy Jackson wasn't stupid, but he also wasn't a genius engineer. After the man of iron left his weapons contract with the military, he made continuous efforts to right his wrongs, but it seemed trouble liked to follow the philanthropist, something the green eyed half blood could relate to.

The SHIELD agents, Clint and Natasha, Percy didn't find much on. Most of what he could dig up was news on the activities of their alter egos, Hawkeye and Black Widow. Unlike Captain America and Iron Man, the two of them weren't spotted doing much "superhero" activity independently. All in all, they were hard to track and Percy Jackson wasn't known for any hacking skills. He quickly moved on.

From what the two-time savior of Olympus could gather, much of the information on Bruce Banner's beginning times as the Hulk were speculation. Percy quickly shut that passage down, not wanting to fall into rumors. The doctor's other half was certainly a cause for caution and an embodiment of destruction, however, Percy noticed for the most part, it was aimed and focused destruction. The demigod allowed the doctor room for error on the basis of a learning period. The battle-tried demigod noticed that Banner wasn't present at all of the Avengers sightings, merely the ones that required the skillset of his larger, greener form. Percy doubted that the doctor wasn't present entirely as his use and skills extended far beyond turning into a rageful green giant, but instead, concluded that he had simply been working behind the scenes.

As for Thor, well, the half-blood son of Poseidon found his sightings much more irregular. There didn't seem to be any particular pattern of when he was spotted with his other teammates and when he wasn't. Percy learned that Thor was a norse god from the other Avengers, but didn't see any mention of that in his research. Thor's divinity or godly lineage was not known to the public.

Percy Jackson was certainly hesitant when it came to the norse god. His own experience with gods were rocky --especially with his own thunder god-- and he didn't know how certain members of the team-- namely Tony Stark-- haven't been smited yet. Perhaps Asgardian gods were more tolerant. The demigod hoped so for his own sake, he already had enough to deal with in his own pantheon, he certainly didn't need two drama queens.

Spiderman was everywhere. Nowhere with the Avengers yet, but the webslinger really took the 'friendly neighborhood spider' to heart. From petty theft to bank and weapons robberies, Peter Parker took them all on. Percy didn't know how the teenager still managed to be a ball of energy. Percy Jackson had his own incredibly hectic life, but he still marveled at the brown haired teen. Spiderman stayed in queens, except for that sighting in DC.

The demigod understood that. Peter still had school and a guardian to answer to, and while Percy had the same, what called him wasn't exactly something his mother could say no to. Percy also knew that Peter's Aunt May had no idea that her nephew was the famed webslinger protecting Queens. That was another hindrance to any superhero travel plans Peter might make. The demigod determined that should Peter need to travel as his alter ego, his fake Stark Internship would account for any questions about his whereabouts.

Percy thought that by knowing more about his teammates, he'd be able to trust them more. Percy Jackson was a firm believer in the saying 'actions speak louder than words,' something he had learned in his demigod life the hard way. Could he trust his teammates? Could he trust their morals? For some of them, he had already started to trust to some extent, for others, it could be a long way off. Trust is a foundation, and without it, everything can fall apart. Luke Castellan had taught him his first painful lesson in trust, a lesson Percy was determined not to learn again.

So did it feel like jumping off a cliff with his eyes closed when Steve Rogers announced the team building exercise they would be doing? Yes, it did.

Was Percy already nauseous and feeling like he narrowly escaped death as he stood on a wide grassy field in front of a forest after being on a plane for what felt like forever? Yes, he was. While everyone else calmly filed off of the plane, the son of Poseidon was trying to gain his bearings. Hunched over his knees, the demigod tried to take deep calming breaths and swallow the bile that was threatening rise in his throat. Sensing someone coming up behind him, Percy straightened, swiveling around to see Natasha approaching him. Definitely not someone the half-blood wanted at his back.

"You get airsick?" Her brow was raised in question. She was trying to make conversation. Percy nodded curtly, not quite trusting himself to speak without upchucking just yet. "You take meds for that?" At that he shook his head. "You know there are meds for that right?" Finally, the greek spoke.

"Trust me, it's not something medication can fix, or else I would be on them." The spy shrugged, as if to say she tried, but Percy didn't miss the piercing glint in her eyes. Yeah, it's not hard to trust her at all, the demigod thought sarcastically. Thankfully, Peter chose this moment to come bounding over. While Percy still didn't understand his endless enthusiasm, he was grateful for the save.

"Natasha," the brown haired teen whined, much to the demigod's amusement. "Was it really so hard to say we were going to a random field?" The superspy looked annoyed, but Percy detected the mirth in her eyes she was trying to hide.

"Peter," she mocked. "Was it really so hard for you to wait?" Ouch. Natasha - 1, Peter - 0. However, the webslinger didn't seem too bothered other than the playful pout that had formed on his lips. Feeling awkward just standing there, Percy started to slide away until Peter Parker turned his gaze on him.

"Percy, you looked like you were about to totally barf back there, you okay man?" The half-blood groaned with Black Widow's face lit up with cruel glee. Okay maybe he was being a little dramatic, maybe cruel was too strong a word.

"I'm fine, thanks, Peter." Percy smiled tightly and abruptly strode towards where the other group was gathered. Peter Parker was the closest thing Percy Jackson had to a friend on the team, but the topic of his terror of being smited out of the sky wasn't something Percy like to dwell on. The son of Poseidon just barely caught the tail end of what Stark was saying, something about aerial maneuvers.

"Wait, what?" Percy interrupted, his stomach already starting to churn again. "I don't-- we-- how about we do some ground stuff first, warm up our body. We don't have to go into the air again." He knew it was a pathetic attempt, but was very relieved at the response he received.

"Not 'we,' just me, kid. You know, seeing as I'm the only one here with a flying suit and thunder brains isn't around to swing his magic hammer." Tony replied, and Percy felt quite stupid. He decided to simply keep his mouth shut for now.

Once everyone was together and had stopped moaning and complaining -- Tony--, Steve clapped his hands together to get everyone's attention.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road. Before we start, I'm splitting us into two teams. For now, Bruce, you're playing medic." Percy heard Bruce mutter a sarcastic 'great' under his breath. He held in his laugh. "Peter, you're with Tony and I. Percy, you're with Natasha and Clint." At that, Percy couldn't help but echo the doctor's earlier sentiment.

Great.