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

Chapter 21 - Mors Ultima Ratio

UNEDITED AND CLICHE, YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Sometimes, there are things that are just too sad to think about. 

There's a gut-wrenching pain that's not physical, yet hurts the heart in ways that are unimaginable. And sometimes, you wish that the pain was not just invisible, that it could carve scars out just so you can prove that you are hurting. 

A shoulder to lean on, a hand to hold, and a friend to talk to is all that is needed to quench the pain and to stifle it till it doesn't exist. 

He had all that.

So why, why, had he not picked up the broken pieces and built himself together again? It had been a long time before he realised the problem that was holding him back, dragging him further and further away from the peace he sorely desired. 

Himself. 

He had to come to terms with what he had done, what he had seen, and what he had lived through. To be honest, he wasn't even sure if he was capable of doing that in the first place. To accept the terrible, painful things he had experienced and to let them go was even more difficult than the trials themselves. 

It was a cliff he was standing on. A cliff with blunt rocks waiting patiently at the bottom. The sea was tumultuous, unforgiving and grey. It would calm soon - the sea is prone to mood changes. Balancing at the edge of the cliff, he had to make the final decision. 

To brave the painful and terrifying landing, or to stand in indecision forever. 

🌊 🌊🌊

It was the feeling of anticipation that sent Percy flying down the corridors, through narrowed and torn down doors to the room where Loki was being kept. There was something wrong, it felt off and unnatural, and that fear lodged deep in his mind. 

Steve had simply told him to go, and they all knew that he and Tony could handle everything without a problem. So, he had left. Instinct told him that Loki was going to try to do something, and muscle memory led him back to the room he had been in just hours before. 

His hands slammed into the door opener button, sending tingles of pain radiating up his arm, but he paid that no attention. The first thing he registered was that Loki was out, Thor was in the cage, and Phil was lying still on one side. 

Percy had no idea where to begin. He desperately wanted to run to Loki and impale him with both of his swords, whichever one worked the best. Yet, Thor needed to get out of that cage if he was going to help fight. Phil, Phil needed immediate medical attention, and even Percy wasn't sure how serious the injury was. 

Loki sent him a smirk, and Percy watched in horror as the cage holding Thor unlatched from the platform, freefalling from the ship to the ground far, far below. 

At least that eliminated some of his options. 

Ripping the pin off his shirt and unsheathing his sword, Percy lunged out to Loki's minion and slashed him in the chest. The man cried out in pain, reaching for his gun that was lying to the side. Percy kicked it away before he could reach it, leaving him to crawl desperately to recover it. 

Loki simply watched in amusement, heading towards Phil who was still not moving or speaking. 

"Get away from him," Percy growled out, as he walked slowly towards them.