Demigods Assemble (PJO/MCU)

Chapter 27

Annabeth

Annabeth was very distracted as they trained that afternoon, which her body paid for dearly in the form of many bruises when she went to bed. It was her turn for a restless night, even as Percy slept soundly beside her.

Every time she closed her eyes, the words of the prophecy swam across her mind. Her brain was working harder than it ever had before trying to make sense of it and find an answer to the problem. She would be damned before she let Percy die, not after everything they'd been through!

Annabeth almost wanted to storm Rachel's cave and demand she take back the prophecy, but, of course, that would do nothing. For one, Rachel had no control over the Oracle and didn't even remember what she said; and for another, prophecies couldn't be changed.

But just because it couldn't be changed that didn't mean it foretold what they thought it did. Prophecies always had double meanings, they were never straightforward and easy to understand. This one could have dozens of different interpretations, Percy was just fixating on the most obvious.

Two powerful forces must meet and unite, To thwart the enemy and restore the light. Good can prevail before the world is overrun, But only with the fall of Poseidon's son.

Maybe it just meant this "son of Poseidon" would trip and fall. Maybe he would fall to his knees. Maybe he would fall asleep. Maybe he would fall off a bridge—Percy already did that and survived, maybe that line had already been fulfilled!

It didn't have to mean die. It couldn't. Annabeth had already been separated from Percy enough for one lifetime, she wouldn't let it happen again.

Besides, there was still no proof that "Poseidon's son" was really Percy. As loyal as Poseidon was to Amphitrite, Percy, Tyson, and the other Cyclopes were evidence that he wasn't always completely faithful. There had to be another son of Poseidon out there that this prophecy referred to. It wouldn't be Percy. Not if Annabeth had anything to say about it.

She finally fell asleep telling the stronger part of her brain that the "fall" wouldn't be permanent.

Ω

With only three days left until Echidna wanted to fight, but four until they hoped to, they were training hard. Annabeth almost always sparred with Natasha to work on her hand-to-hand combat, and Annabeth was pleased to see how much she'd improved. Once this was over, she couldn't wait to use her new skills in the next game of Capture the Flag.

Meanwhile, Percy was left to play the role of various monsters to give Vision, Wanda, Carol, and Clint an idea of how to fight back. After the attack in Manhattan where Tony's suit had done little damage to the monsters, they decided not to risk him and Rhodey going after monsters and failing. Instead, Tony, Rhodey, Peter, Natasha, Steve, Bucky, and Sam trained like they usually did, since they would be focusing on HYDRA. By this point, Annabeth could probably take out some mortals, but since she had more experience with monsters and possessed monster-killing weapons, she was going to go after them. The rest of the Greeks and Romans would do the same.

They were in the conference room going over possible formations when Peter suddenly stood up and announced, "Someone's here."

Annabeth barely noticed as her sword appeared in her hand and everyone else in the room tensed. A second later, F.R.I.D.A.Y. spoke from the ceiling: "Boss, a Quinjet is approaching the compound."

"Relax," Fury said. "They're friendlies. It's some of those old S.H.I.E.L.D. contacts I mentioned. Let's go greet them." There was a slight twinkle in his eye that made Annabeth nervous.