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

Chapter 40 - Marathon

After the whole fiasco with SHIELD finding out about his missions with HYDRA, Percy had to be more careful around the HYDRA headquarters so they didn't suspect anything. Alex was planning this huge 'take over the world' plan as he so called it. Everyone else was a bit sceptic, but they followed him anyways. 

Percy really didn't know what he was going to do. If HYDRA attacked SHIELD, would he 'betray' SHIELD to somehow help them later, or would he blow his cover and try to save SHIELD? Either way, it wasn't a great ending. 

On a much brighter side, WHiH World News had started a 10-kilometre marathon to raise money to rebuild the city after the whole alien attack had happened. Since Percy was really bored that day, he called on the Avengers to participate with him. Thor rejected the offer because he was held up on Asgard doing Asgardian business. 

Tony didn't want to go either, but Percy managed to guilt trip him into attending because it technically was their fault that the city was destroyed. Everyone else was willing to attend because they already knew that it was partially their fault. 

The attendance cost was only two dollars, but Tony, feeling bad, donated a few million to the fundraiser. Everyone was staring when they arrived, and Percy didn't blame them. Here they were, the superheroes who saved everyone and accidentally destroyed the city in the process. 

In retrospect, he had no idea how this had happened. 

The marathon was supposed to be fun, relaxed, and definitely not competitive. Of course, he wanted to win, but it was just a fundraiser for the city. It was totally not his fault that around one-quarter of the Hudson River was sitting innocently in a hole in the ground. 

"How did this happen again?" One of the spectators from the marathon asked.

"I don't know, but I know that it's Steve's fault," Percy replied, turning around to glare at the soldier. "What do you have to say for yourself?"

"I thought that it would be a good idea," Steve protested. 

"A good idea to tell us that it was a competition and that the winner would be the best superhero in the world?" Tony asked incredulously. 

"Yes!" 

Basically, it started somewhere in the middle of the race after the 5-kilometre mark. Steve had told them that the first person who crossed the line would claim the title of best superhero. Naturally, everyone wanted to win, and the whole thing became a serious race. 

Percy, who was excited of the prospect of being the best superhero, instantly called Blackjack and had jumped on to fly over to the finish line. However, Tony had called his suit, so he was winning the race. Bruce turned into the Hulk and started moving people aside to get to the finish line. Captain, feeling incredibly outdone by the rest of them, stole a motorbike. Clint and Natasha teamed up and used grappling hooks to get around the city. 

And then it became an all-out war to cross the finish line first. 

The civilians who were at the front had absolutely no idea that they were about to be trampled by crazy superheroes, so when someone came running past them and screaming, they were all startled. 

"RUN! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!" the marathon runner screamed as he was followed closely by a tidal wave, motorbike and giant green monster. 

Everyone dispersed to the sidelines soon after. 

Realising that Blackjack probably would be fast enough to beat Tony, Percy called on the trusty Hudson River and propelled himself forwards on a wave. It was weird. The people all watched in awe as he sailed forwards on wind propelled waves. Some people even cheered. 

Tony simply boosted the engines and continued to fly towards the finish line, but Percy was prepared. Just as he was about the cross the line, a wave of ice rose up before him, and he smashed into it heavily before tumbling to the ground. 

Hulk had to do a handstand to avoid crushing a crowd of civilians, and as he landed, his foot went through the concrete and created a gigantic crater in the ground. Steve's motorbike fell into the crater, and he cartwheeled through the air still clinging to the bike. Natasha and Clint had to let go of the grappling hooks and land on the ground to avoid the bike, and they ran towards the finish line. 

Eventually, it was Clint and Natasha battling it out with Steve and dragging each other backwards so that no one could cross the finish line. Percy accidentally passed the line and had to retrace his steps to actually break the thin paper rope. 

Tony, still recovering from his fall, got out of the suit and joined in on the fight to the finish line. The spectators didn't dare to trespass on their battle and watched with their phones out in amusement as the 'superheroes' tussled on the ground. 

Percy was just about to cross the finish line when a flash of light beamed down from the sky right on top of the finish line. 

"I AM HERE!" Thor boomed loudly, stepping away from the broken rope and looking around curiously. "What is happening?" 

"You," Percy said slowly and giving the god a deathly glare, "you broke the rope. You took my finish line." 

A barrage of water slammed into the god and Percy rose into the air propelled by a massive hurricane. "I WAS SO CLOSE!" he cried in despair. Thor gulped when he saw the black water rising above his head and threatening to crash down at any second. 

"Um, sorry?" he said questioningly. 

The wave sank down, slipping down the road into the giant hole that the Hulk had created. "I give up," Percy wailed, sitting down in the middle of the street and accepting a lollipop from a nearby runner. 

"It's okay boss, you'll win next time," Blackjack reassured Percy as he walked over. 

"Ooh! A pony!" one girl cried out gleefully. 

"Shh," her mum berated quickly. 

The rest of the Avengers were still wrestling on the ground and flailing around like fish out of water. Clint glanced over quickly to assess the situation, and his expression morphed into surprise. "It's over already?" he asked. 

Everyone stopped fighting and looked over as well. 

"Aw man," Tony groaned. "So close!" 

They were literally a metre away from the finish line. 

Hey guys, I won't be uploading another chapter next week because I have six assignments and exams, so studying will be a top priority. Not sure about the week after, but hopefully I'll upload then. 

Thanks for reading!
~ѕιℓνєя