Aquaman? Whoops, Wrong Universe: A Percy Jackson Marvel Crossover

Chapter 28: Annabeth

Seeing Percy that way broke Annabeth's heart—what little was left of it. Everything about him looked wrong. There was no sarcastic smile that she loved so dearly. No twinkle of humor in his deep, sea-green eyes that made her heart flutter. No casual stance of nonchalance. There was nothing that made Percy, Percy.

As he raised his sword, pointing in the direction (of what seemed to be) Annabeth's heart, Annabeth feared that her boyfriend was truly gone. He was a shell of his former self. All the things they had been through together... did it mean anything now? Was it all meant to lead up to this single, terrifying moment? Was their love story always destined to end up how all Greek tales did—in tragedy and loss?

And another thing: she and Leo had similar trains of thought. Was a god behind all of this? One that hated Percy so much they simply wanted to make him suffer? Was there a larger plan behind this? Or was it petty revenge?

Annabeth suspected the latter. All of this violence and scheming didn't feel like it was building up to something greater. Annabeth tended to have an uncanny ability to know when a ploy was meant to be a distraction or a ruse. And right now, that ability was telling her that this was the climax of their story. For once, it wasn't all climbing towards a goal of destroying camp. It felt oddly... personal. Why else would they deliberately make Percy's name Riptide? It felt like the thing he had become was meant to be a joke. Turning him into a laughingstock and away from everyone he loved. 

But who?

Who was the most likely candidate? She and Percy had far too many enemies to count. Plenty of them probably had enough influence to be able to pull something like this off. Persuasion was easy when you lived in a world full of Mist. Even monster grunts, as long as they had a semblance of intelligence, could probably manipulate mortals (AKA HYDRA) into doing their bidding. Human minds were weak and easily bribed with the prospect of money or power or fame. Greed was a pesky thing. 

Annabeth was startled out of her thoughts when the monsters came rushing in. Cyclopes, hydras, telekhines—dozens upon dozens of teeth-chattering creatures, come here to kill them. With Percy leading them all. 

Leo didn't hesitate, flying at full speed with his new semi-Iron Man armor. Annabeth had to admit, it certainly suited him. Leo always had a flair for the dramatics, and this suit was no less than that. The golden designs weaving all around the black armor added a decorative element that drew every eye to it. It was scary, for sure, which was perhaps a bit uncharacteristic for Annabeth's ever-joking friend. But maybe they needed a little scary on their side today.

Annabeth took a defensive stance, waiting for the monsters to come to her. A particularly large cyclops with a crude club saw her and immediately growled with a bone-chilling grunt. Annabeth squared her shoulders, and as he rushed towards her, she ducked, rolling under his legs. Before the stupid giant could realize where she went, she came to her feet and jumped as hard as she could. She flung her knife (she got a new one after Tartarus; sword-fighting wasn't her forte) out, and scraped a long line of tissue down his back, creating a hole in his Monster Donut (bleh) t-shirt. 

The cyclops roared, both in pain and anger. "I GOT 75% OFF ON THAT!" he screamed, mouth spitting out saliva that unfortunately managed to spray Annabeth's arm. 

"Disgusting," Annabeth muttered to herself. Looking up to the cyclops, eyes hard with steely determination, Annabeth gestured with her free hand for the brute to come at her. 

His one brown eye narrowed, filled with venom. He brought his club down on Annabeth, attempting to crush her like a bug. Annabeth dodged, and while his hand was outstretched towards the ground where Annabeth had been moments before, she chopped off its hand in one motion, using all her strength in the blow. The second it flopped on the ground disgustingly, the monster started to dissolve into dust.