The New Trinity -- Percy Jackson Batman Crossover -- The Olympian Heroes Book 4

8. Annabeth

"Okay here's the deal" I said "Shiva came to me a couple nights ago. She told me about the deal you guys made"
Cass frowned and looked down.
"So" I said "when has a year passed?"
"April" she answered
"Cass why would you-"
"I needed it" she said "I have to help"
"But you might die" I said
"I won't" she answered "Bruce is training me"
"Cass" I said "even if you do win. It's to the death. That means you have to..."
"Kill" she murmured "no I won't"
"She'll use that against you and-"
"No" she insisted "I won't"
"Okay" I said it was obvious she wanted to change the subject "if you wont talk about that then why are you going to school now"
"Kids" she said "kids go missing. Barbara wanted me to help"
"Then why didn't she tell me and Percy?" I asked
Cass shrugged
"Any idea who's taking them?" I asked
"A couple" Cass answered "but there is no pattern"
"There's always a pattern" I said "do you have their files?"
"Barbara does" she answered opening the door and stepping out
"And does Bruce know about this?" I asked
"Know about what?" Percy asked
"Missing kids" Cass said "no. Barbara didn't tell him"
"Why not" I asked
"Don't know" Cass answered
We all fell silent for a minute.
"What's wrong Perce?" I asked when we didn't say anything
"I..I'm going to Atlantis this weekend" Percy said "my dad showed up and he-"
"Your dad showed up? Here?" I asied
in disbelief
"Yeah" Percy said frowning
"What's wrong?"
"Well Kaldur ran away or something like that" Percy said "I think Arthur wants me to help look for him"
"What about the rest of the team?" I asked
"Well I'm sure Megan and Conner know and told everyone else. I don't know if Wally knows. Or even if he'd want to get into something" Percy said
Wally and Artemis had retired in a sense at the end of last year. I think everything that happened with Tula kind of pushed them over the edge. Same with Kaldur. It had shaken up everyone pretty badly, most of us were able to move on. Kaldur couldn't it seemed.
"Anyway" Percy said "what's this missing kids thing?"
"Let's go to Barbara" Cass said "she can explain"

When we got to her apartment building something was off. We rang for her to let us in but after no response for a few minutes Cass pulled out her phone and dialed.
"Voicemail" she frowned
Percy walked around back.
"I wonder if she's alright" I asked
"Probably" Cass said but I heard the worry in her voice.
From the back I heard Percy's laugh.
"What is it?" I asked
He just kept laughing
I glanced at Cass and we walked around back together to find Percy.
"What's so funny?" I asked
"I know why she's not answering" he took a breath
"Why?" I asked
"That's Dicks car" he said
I shook my head "you're so dumb" I laughed
"I know" he said "but we should probably try back a different time. Like never?"
"We'll come back in an hour" I said rolling my eyes
"Fine" he said "what do we do in the meantime?"
"I think the library is still open" I said
Percy and Cass groaned as I walked off towards the city library.

I walked down the isles with Percy and Cass shuffling behind me.
"Can we go yet?" Percy asked
"Not yet" I said "I need to find this book first"
Percy groaned
"Okay fine" I said turning around "let's go"
"Yes!" Percy jumped up
I rolled my eyes and put on my coat. Cass wasn't far behind evidently she was excited to leave too.
The streets were quiet as we walked towards Barbara's apartment. The sun was just setting and it seemed the falling snow was keeping criminals inside tonight.
It took us maybe five minutes to get back to the apartment building where when we buzzed we were let in nearly immediately.
"Hi Mrs. Clarke" I said as we passed the old woman in the hall.
"Hello" she glared at me
"Hi" Cass added
"Oh Cassandra hi" Mrs. Clarke said before opening her door and going inside.
"I guess she likes Cass better... understandable" Percy teased
I hit his shoulder "you know you love me"
Cass had gone ahead of us and was knocking on Barbara's door.
"I'm sorry about earlier" I said "I sorta blew up at you at school. I'm just stressed and...I know I didn't come back to the manor or anything. I know I should just ignore him but Bruce just-"
"It's all good" he said "and Bruce is always a little bit like that"
"Yeah but it's worse with me" I said "and don't try to say it isn't"
"I know" he said "I thought it was getting better then everything happened with the league of Assassins"
My expression darkened and I frowned
"Yeah" I mumbled I had tried to forget about that whole ordeal. I still hadn't told anyone about exactly what happened.
"Are you guys coming in?" Barbara asked from the door
"Um....yeah" I said
"Are you okay-" she started
"I'm fine" I said quickly, too quickly
Barbara looked at Percy who shrugged.
"So Cass told us about the missing kids" I said "why haven't you told Bruce?"
She shrugged and wheeled her chair over to her computer. "He's been too busy with Justice League stuff I figured Cass could handle it"
"And you didn't tell us?" Percy asked
"Cass could investigate better. She's not known at the school and that makes it easier for her to sneak around. Besides Percy the teachers know you as a trouble maker" she said "if any of them saw you sneaking around, investigating, they would ask questions and stop you"
He opened his mouth as if to argue then closed it again. "Uh fair point"
"I still should've told you" she added
"Well you can now" I said
"That's the plan" she typed a stuff into her computer before it came up with seven files. Each of a kid, none related, almost all different ages.
"These are all the kids that have gone missing in the past three months" she said "four girls three boys: Max Anderson, Caleb Loner, Markus Loner. Those two are cousins. Then Kaylee Allred, Grace Davis, Makenzie Johns, and one last week Stephanie Brown."
"Steph was taken?" I asked "when?"
"Sometime last Monday. Her mom reported her missing when she didn't come home from school" Babs said
"Any connections?" I asked clicking through the files
"Other than the cousins? No" she said
"They don't have any of the same teachers or anything?" I asked
"Some do. But none have one common factor" Cass said
"They have to have something..." I flipped through them again not seeing anything. "Could you send these to me?"
"For sure" Barbara answered "Annabeth I think we should talk"
"Um we should probably go" Percy said pulling Cass along
Once they were gone Barbara wheeled over to the couch.
"Annabeth you've been different since-"
"Since the assassins?" I asked "I know that's what Bruce always tells me."
"Don't get mad at me" she said "something happened there. And you won't tell us. I've been thinking. Dinah could talk to you-"
"I don't need a counselor" I said "I'm fine"
"You're not" she insisted "and I don't think it's just that. It's also the situation with your dad and stepmom. I think taking to Dinah could really help"
"I'm fine" I said again
"Annabeth-"
"I don't need help!" I nearly shouted
She took a breath "alright. I won't push it. But if you want to talk here's her number"
She handed me a slip of paper and I reluctantly took it and crumpled it into my pocket.
I didn't say anything as I left.
"Annabeth are you alright-" Percy started I needed to clear my head.
I pushed past him and ran down the stairs and down the street.
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Thanks for reading let me know what you think. If you have any suggestions or Heroes you'd like to see make an appearance let me know.