Legend Of The Blue Bird-Percy Jackson Batman Crossover-The Olympian Heroes book5

6. Annabeth

Going back to Waterland almost four years later was weird. Last time I had been here it had been on my first quest with Percy and Grover. The god of war Ares had asked us to retrieve a shield for him after he had lost it in The Thrill Ride O' Love. Turns out Hephaestus, Lord of the forges had set a trap to catch Ares and Aphrodite on a date. A trap that had involved metal spiders that nearly scared me to death.
"Is this it?" Dick asked
I nodded looking up at the rusted gates and the faded sign.
"So what brought you two here?" Dick asked
"Three" I said "our friend Grover was with us."
"There were three of you on The Thrill Ride O' Love?" Jason asked
"No" I hissed "But let's stay away" I shuttered "too many spiders"
"But why did you guys come in the first place"
"We just did" I answered
"And you guys just happened to be in Denver?" Jason sounded sceptical
"Remember four years ago" I asked "when Percy got...kidnapped"
"Whoa since when?" Jason asked
"Since three summers ago" I said "Anyway I was with him" I said "we nearly escaped here" I lied climbing over the front gate and dropping down on the other side.
After our first quest the mortals spun some tale about Percy, Grover, and I being kidnapped by Ares. And then Percy somehow got a gun and helped us escape.
"What are we looking for anyway?" Jason asked looking around.
"Some clue as to why Hatter had a hat from here" Dick answered
"We should probably check the gift shop" I suggested "See where he got it from"
Without waiting for an answer I began the short walk from the front gate to the giftshop.
The building had graffiti sprayed all around the building and the front window was broken in. Someone had definitely raided the shop in the past few years. My feet crunched on jagged pieces of glass as I approached the window.
"Huh" I murmured "This is weird. The window was broken from the inside"
"Why?" Cass asked coming up behind me.
I shrugged and ducked into the building through the broken window.
Inside were racks of dirty clothes and empty hangers. Crushed soda, and beer cans lined the floor.
"Jeez. Definitely in worse shape than when we were there Wise Girl" Percy commented
"You're back from patrol early" I said "Something exciting happen?"
"I'll tell you guys later" Percy said "Any clues?"
"Not yet" I answered
I slipped past a rack of neon green shirts that no one seemed to want and towards the back.
"Someone had to have known about Waterland" Percy said suddenly "I mean our trip. It's a trap"
"We knew that already" I said "We talked about it before we left"
"Yeah but who could've known about our quest?" Percy asked "Unless they have a contact at camp"
I frowned but didn't answer. In truth someone else could've known. Talia Al Ghul and by extension The League Of Shadows. I had told them.
I still hadn't told anyone what had happened when I had gone with Ra's Al Ghul to save Percy from being taken and giving away his identity to camp (though now at least a few campers knew along with Chiron, the activities director.)
Cass had been the only one I felt comfortable about confiding in because she had grown up with them. But I still had nightmares about it.
But if they did know the only reason they had to send us here was to mess with Percy and I. What purpose would that serve them?
"If you're looking for dear old dad" A voice said "I'm afraid he's not here. Except yours Cassandra. What do you say? Up for a family reunion?"

It took all of us a minute to even move. Talia Al Ghul herself hadn't changed since last I'd seen her. She still had brown hair that had no signs of gray (likely due to the Lazarus pits) her eyes were so dark they were nearly black and I knew there was no kindness there, but a bundle squirmed in her arms. Percy broke the silence.
"Holy Hades!" He said
"Oh my gods" I whispered "It's... it's-"
"A baby" Talia finished for me with a roll of her eyes "Yes I know. Now are you going to come with me or do I need to call some friends?"
I gripped my clay bead necklace that was hidden under my cowl and Cass grabbed my wrist and gave it a squeeze. Whether she was trying to comfort me or herself, I didn't know.
"Jason," Talia continued "Good to see you again. Now come"
She walked off without waiting another second. Jason shrugged and began to follow. Dick held out an arm to stop him. "We need a plan"
"Easy" Jason said "Anything happens we kick butt"
I frowned at him. Under his helmet he was probably as terrified as the rest of us. We knew what the League of Assassins could do.
"Anything happens we get out" Dick corrected
"Be careful" Barbara said and I heard the type of a few keys as Dick led the way after her.
"Be ready for anything" Dick whispered "Jason, any sign of trouble and you get the girls out."
"I'm not leaving" I protested at the same time as Cass.
"Yes you are" Dick said "If it's too dangerous"
We didn't argue but all four of us knew neither of us would leave anyone stuck here.
Talia led us past Lost River of the Pharaohs, Dude Where's My Swimsuit?, and right in front of The Thrill Ride O'Love. A group of men and women were gathered there, all dressed in black some with half their face covered. My hands shook and Cass's grip on my wrist returned, tighter this time. This time I knew it was for her sake. I didn't see any resemblance between my friend and her father. Their hair was nearly complete opposite. His was gray, and under the mask Cassandra's was Black. His eyes were blue, hers were brown.
"Cassandra" David Cain said stepping towards her as if to hug her from the middle of the group
I stepped forward slightly and Jason did as well, half blocking us.
"Try it Cain" Dick growled hand on one escrima sick.
The assassin looked between all of us, chuckled, and retreated back. "Alright then. Just wanted to see my girl"
"I'm not your girl" Cass said quietly David tilted his head but didn't respond.
With a sigh Talia handed off the swaddled child to a hunched over, gray haired woman. Immediately the baby began to cry and reach for his mother.
"Hush Damian" Talia said softly
"This is too weird" Percy said
He was right. Seeing Talia actually being kind to something? It had to be a trick.
"Why bring us to Waterland?" I asked trying to keep my voice from quivering. It didn't work.
"We didn't bring you here" Talia said "You came here on your own"
"You know what I mean"
Something in her smug expression wavered for just one second before it returned.
"I thought you'd appreciate it" She sneered at me "Where you experienced your first adventure will be where you experience your last. And there are less people to witness any here than there would be in Los Angeles."
"So you're going to kill us?" I asked
"Perhaps. I suppose that's up to my father" Talia frowned "If it were up to me you'd already be dead"
"So what's with the baby?" Jason asked "You kidnap him or something?"
"As a matter of fact" Talia said the smug grin on her face returning "He's mine"
"Who's the lucky father?" I asked
Before she could answer the sound of another group approaching stopped her.
It was three men. All of whom I unfortunately recognized. The first was unfortunately related to me. Ra's Al Ghul hadn't aged a say since I'd last seen him. His hair, although an the sides streaked with white, was as full as ever with the rest of it being black sort of grayish. He smiled at me smugly and I hid my shaking hands and took a breath.
The second was Lawrence Crock, aka Sportsmaster. He was wearing his usual hockey like mask and by the looks of his messy blond hair and torn shirt had been involved in a fight recently.
The last man was Arthur Brown, better known as Cluemaster. The bandana he usually wore to cover his face was missing and like his comrade his blond hair was messy and cuts adorn his face. One of his green eyes was swollen shut but I could still see the resemblance to my friend, Stephanie Brown, his daughter.
I had met Steph about a year ago when her dear old dad had attempted to break out of prison, right before he was supposed to go home. Percy and I went to tell her and her mom which ended with Percy offering them a new apartment (which they desperately needed) and a job at Wayne Corp. Although she was two years younger than me, and three years younger than Cass all three of us still got along well and spent time together.
"Ah, our guests have arrived" Ra's said "Took you longer than expected"
"Yeah we decided to stop for some ice cream on the way" Jason joked
"Where's Batman?" Dick asked
"If you thought he was here then you're wrong" Ra's said "Unfortunately, I brought you here to ask for help."
"Last time you wanted my help I was nearly killed" I said
With a sigh Ra's continued "I owe Sportsmaster a favor"
I looked past him to the masked man.
"Jade is missing" Crock said
"Cheshire?" Dick asked
"What other Jade?" Sportsmaster growled
"Since when do you care about your family Crock?" I asked
"Sudden change of heart" He sneered
"She took our heist money" Arthur said
"Of course" I sighed
"Come to think of it Roy mentioned something about-" Jason started
"She's disappeared without a trace a week ago" Ra's said
"The same time Batman did" Barbara said
"How'd you get Hatter to help?" I asked
"We didn't" Talia frowned
"But the hat-"
"We sent a message to Ms. Gordon" Cain said "a day ago"
"I didn't get anything" Babs said
"I'm not helping you" Cass said pointing at her dad
"I agree with Batgirl" I said "I'm not helping you"
"Again" Ra's finished with a raised eyebrow
Talia grinned "Annabeth, I'm afraid you don't have a choice. If you don't help us Wayne Enterprises will go up in flames"
"O-or" Jason suggested
"Ready?" Tim asked over the com
"We could get the f-"
"Go!" Tim finished
"Aw c'mon you didn't even let me finish" Jason complained
All four of us lept into action. I went straight at Arthur Brown who was closest to me. On my way I threw a disk at one of the nearest assassins who Dick and Jason set out to fight. Cass made the choice to go for the furthest target and attack her dad.
"Have we met?" Brown asked as kicked at his hand that held a gun. It hurtled to the ground and he swung a punch at my head
"Once. I stopped you from breaking out of prison" I said punching his stomach. As he doubled over, I was planning on knocking him out but instead his hands slammed painfully into my back and he shoved me back. I stumbled and he took his chance to elbow me. Right in the nose. I felt the warm sticky blood begin to drip down but luckily it wasn't broken...I hoped. I reached up and wiped the blood away but more kept coming. All it did was stain my gray glove.
"Had enough?"
"You wish" I growled and grabbed my backup compacted sword from my belt. I couldn't help but smile as I flicked it out and he backed up. I swung from the left and he blocked it with the side of his hand. Luckily there was electricity running through it and he jerked his arm back and shook it out.
"Nice toy I'd love to get-" before he could finish the sentence I swept the flat of the sword under his legs and knocked him to the ground.
"That's for Steph"
He growled and began to stand up but I threw a disk and clenched my fist. His arm jerked and I swifty kicked him in the head.
"That was cheesy" Percy laughed
"Shut up Seaweed Brain" I growled
"Annabeth look-" Cass grunted and was knocked to the ground
I turned in time to see a knife hurtling towards me. I swayed easily to dodge it and realized we were surrounded, Jason's helmet had been knocked clean off and was sparking on the ground, Dick had a split lip and Cass was struggling to stand up. We had done our fair share of damage but the jig was up.
Ra's tsksed "Mother would be disappointed Annabeth. Running in without a plan?"
"W-what?" Dick stammered "You two..."
"So?" Ra's asked "Are you ready to help?"
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