The Reluctant Hero

Pizza?

The team of heroes listened entranced as the Nose God of thunder wove the epic tale of a young demigod who fought monsters, defeated titans, duelled giants and killed primordials. How the young soldier protected his friends, navigated labyrinths and completed impossible quests, how he defied the Gods and fought for his family.

They could hardly believe their ears as Thor told them of his sacrifices, his accomplishments and his downfalls. Of how he defeated hurdle after hurdle only to suffer in the end.

Suddenly, everything they were proud of felt small and insignificant in the wake of such a man, who could defeat Hell and whom had been fighting for his life each and every day since childhood.

They cried for his lost friends and his stolen childhood and laughed at his misadventures. They listened in awe as his nobility and loyalty was painted for them by the Prince of Asgard.

Then they sat in silence, as none of them could quite comprehend that the teenager in their holding cell had done so much, had lost so much and was still alive to tell the tale. Even if he was a husk of what he once was.

"Seriously!?" Of course it was Stark who broke the silence first, "You're telling me that the Greek fucking Gods are real," He raised his eyebrows at Thor, "and they force their children, who they neglect, to fight their wars for them!"

Thor looked down. When he spoke it sounded like he was reciting something he had been told many, many times.

"The Olympians are forbidden to have contact with their offspring by the Ancient Laws-"
"Bullshit!" This time it was Clint protesting. "That boy in our holding cell, that eighteen year old, has  been through literal Hell, he's been fighting for his life since before he was even a teenager, he's led multiple wars and lost everyone he loves because of who the bastard that helped conceive him happened to be!"

Thor wouldn't meet their eyes.

"Yes." He mumbled.

"And these parents, who endanger their children just by having any, hide behind these so called 'Ancient Laws' so they don't have to deal with the product of their immortal affairs!" Clint slammed his hands down on the table in front of him. "If you have a child you look after them! No matter what!" (A/n: He's such a great dad. :D)

"It is the way it is." Thor was grim, "Demigods have been fighting since the beginning of the age, it is what they are born for, it is the burden they have to bare and most bare it well," No-one wanted to think about those who couldn't bare it, "But none have done as much as Hero Perseus. And none have suffered as much, not even the heroes of old." Thor had tears in his eyes at this point, "Not even mine childhood and training as Prince of Asgard was as terrible."

"That isn't right!"
"Children, fighting in wars!" They shouted and raved until Natasha said something that silenced them all.

"He was tortured wasn't he." Her expression became determined as the others paled even more, she turned to them, "We have to help him." It was not a question.

The Avengers looked at Thor, their silent question clear.

"He needs friends, a family. He needs people." Thor looked up at them, "But he wont accept these things easily." He cautioned.

"Doesn't matter," Tony was insistent, his arrogant attitude from earlier long gone, "The universe has been shitty to him, worse than to us, we're gonna help him whether he likes it or not. But we have to do it in a way that wont freak him. Apart from the fact that his-his family died....horribly." The inventor shivered, "Do you know anything about what happened in the war against....Geae?"