Something to Fight For (Percy Jackson and the Avengers Crossover)

Chapter 1 - An Unsettling Peace

The sunlight rebounded of Percy's sword, effectively blinding one of the campers and causing him to tumbled into a ditch. Three other campers attempted to tackle Percy but miserably failed. After around 30 seconds, Percy had knocked out one camper, disarmed another, held one by the neck, and made one fall into a ditch.

"What am I going to do with you lot?" he asked in exasperation, letting go of the one unlucky camper in his grip.

Jason clapped slowly from his place on the log.

"Great job Percy, I can see that you have successfully managed to beat up the younger kids," he grinned.

"Shut up," Percy retorted as he capped Riptide and stowed it away in his pocket. Jason laughed, his eyes twinkling like stars in the night. He seemed alright at least.

"How are you coping?" Jason asked him, his voice more gentle this time.

"Better, I guess." Percy sighed, wiping the sweat off his face. Jason eyed him curiously.

"What do you mean by 'I guess?'" he queried.

Percy batted him away with a small smile. "There are still some nights where..." he trailed off helplessly, but Jason understood. Everyone understood, they all had been through it themselves after all.

"Well, it's only been 2 years," he stated casually. Percy looked at him incredulously.

"Are you trying to be helpful or sarcastic?" he asked in amusement. Jason shrugged.

"Depends on how you interpret it," he replied.

The cell phone in Percy's pocket rang lightly, its tune carrying through the trees like birdsong. Except that it was rock music.

"Hey, why's your ringtone-" Jason asked before Percy smothered him.

"Don't. Mention. It." he warned before releasing his hand and answering the call.

"Jackson, how are you?"

Percy felt his lips curve up into a smile. "Hey Rogers, I'm good," he replied. Jason watched him with a bored expression.

"Come on, hurry up Perce," he whined.

Percy cupped his hand over the phone and glared at Jason. "Shh," he ordered. Jason pouted and ran off to find Piper or someone.

"Do you want to meet at Starbucks?"

Percy considered the proposition. There really wasn't anything to do at camp anyway, everything had been calm after they defeated Gaea. All he had been doing was helping to clean up some debris and training the new kids. Occasionally, he would help find new demigods and aid the gods in whatever mess they had, but more often than not, he was out of camp.

"Sure, I'll be there at 12:00," he replied automatically before actually checking his watch for the time.

Damn, it was already 11:50.

Percy raced out of the forest towards the city as fast as he possibly could. Some kids squeaked as they saw him sprinting towards them and jumped out of his way. Annabeth saw him streaking past and called out to him.

"Hey Percy, where are you going?"

Percy turned to face her, running backwards with ease. "Rogers called me and asked if we could meet at Starbucks," he called back.

Annabeth smiled, it was a relief that Percy was back to normal after that night. "Go for it Seaweed Brain!" she laughed and waved. She was still worried, but if Percy was smiling, it was worth it. Percy waved back, blowing her a kiss, before racing off.

As Percy expertly rode his bike (he only fell off once), he soon arrived at the designated Starbucks. It had been around a week ago when he had first met Rogers. Even though the strange patriotic suit that he wore the first time they met was slightly creepy, and the fact that he was part of a secret organisation that he could 'never speak of' was weird, the man was nice enough.

After all, he wasn't even pissed when Percy spilt his chocolate frappe all over the patriotic America suit.

"Hey Rogers," Percy greeted when he saw the man sitting on the outside tables. He left the bike leaning on the fence and went over to the man.

"Percy," Steve replied, kindly pulling out a chair for the boy to sit on. "How have you been?"

"Great," Percy replied. Steve must have noticed the look in his eyes as he frowned in concern.

"What's wrong Percy?" he pressed.

Percy sighed tiredly and rested his elbows on the table. "I don't know, I'm just so bored and restless," he replied truthfully. Even now, his eyes were searching for danger, for something to do. His feet tapped the floor impatiently, hoping to dance around again in battle.

"Life isn't always exciting," Steve told him. Percy only sighed again.

"I kind of wish it was."

After saying goodbye and goodnight to Steve, Percy wandered the streets of Manhattan. His phone rested in his pocket along with Riptide. After Gaea was defeated, the monsters had decreased significantly and hardly ever attacked the demigods when they made calls.

To be honest, Percy was actually disappointed.

Everyone told him that peace was a good thing and that he should be proud of what he accomplished. But his blood called out for battle, for the thrill of a fight. The rest of his friends were perfectly content with their lives now, but he simply couldn't get used to it.

Even now, as he walked the slightly chaotic streets, his heart sung out for an adrenaline rush, for the uplifting feeling of killing a monster. Sometimes, he could forget that feeling, but when he was alone at night, the urge came back.

Percy just wanted to do something.

Anything.

He realised that he was walking in circles, and chuckled wryly when he found himself facing the direction Camp Half Blood again. He knew he would be back at the dummies again if he returned. Annabeth would worry over him again.

Tilting his head up to the sky, Percy searched for a sign, for anything that could help him out. Nothing. The only thing he saw was the endless darkness above him, like a void that was crashing down on him.

Am I happy?

After the war, despite many casualties, Percy and his friends had rejoiced. The prophecy was fulfilled. The war was over. Their lives could get back to normal.

But what was normal?

After so many years, so many years filled with adventure and (admittingly) pain, Percy didn't know normal anymore. The first year was filled with renovations and mourning, so he barely noticed the absence of the monsters.

Yet once everything settled down into a routine, almost as if it was back to school days, he realised how bored and unhappy he truly was.

He felt sorry sometimes for feeling this way, after all, everyone else was happy and content. Why couldn't he feel the same way? Deep down, he knew exactly why.

Because he had grown to enjoy fighting for the people he loved.

But now there was nothing to fight for.

Thank you for reading, I apologise for the shortness and the lack of Percy sarcasm. I will try to update every Saturday.