Percy works with Tony Stark

6. Coffee with Steve-o

It was around 6 when I woke up and I jumped in the shower to wash off my sweat.

Since Annabeth wasn't up either I grabbed a quick change of clothes and headed out.

It was pretty chilly so I decided to take some laps around the neighborhood to warm up before I had to go to work.

After a good half an hour I found myself at a park.

"Oh, gods-"

"Hey!" aren't you that assistant of Tony's?

"Hi, yea," I offered him an awkward wave. 

Steve walked up to me. "Fancy seeing you here so early too".

"Yeah the weather was nice so I decided to go for a jog."

Steve just smiled because it was very cold.

"I also just wake up really easily," I said trying to brush it off.

Steve looked worried- I wonder why but didn't say anything else.

"Want to go get some coffee with me before heading to the Tower?" he asked.

"sure"

I didn't exactly want to go because I had no idea what we could possibly talk about, but I didn't have a good excuse to refuse.

Steve led the way and we ended at a quaint coffee shop at the end of the street.

"I used to come here a lot," he added explaining himself.

I'm guessing he meant before he got frozen. It surprisingly survived pretty long.

"Cool," I added, not really sure what to say.

We both just got a mug of coffee, and I opted out of the cream and sugar. After... I wasn't too picky about food. Food was food, besides my mom's blue cookies, of course, those are delicacies. But it was just a little... mushy?

I noticed Steve got his coffee too so I went over for the customary small talk.

"So how's work going?"

Weird. Why did I even ask that?

He still entertained me, "fine, but not much is going on."

"How's working for Tony?"

Seriously. That was becoming my only personality trait these days.

"fine too"

After some more talk about the weather and how it was getting colder or something, we went to the Tower.

"Heyy, guys!!" Tony slurred as the elevator doors opened.

"Why did you come together?" he wondered as he squinted at the unusual sight.

"We bumped into each other at the park."

I answered and left. A new day meant new work and whatever was wrong for Tony to be drunk in the morning can be resolved later. Although knowing him, he probably didn't even sleep for it to be morning for him.

I sighed. I was becoming his mother or something now.

Loki was outside my door when I arrived.

"Loki?"

"Ah there you are"

I had no idea how long he had been waiting but it seemed like a while since he was zoned out when I arrived.

"I'm touched you came, welcome in", I gestured jokily, inviting him into the room with a bow.

"hmph"

"How haughty o mighty prince."

"That's Thor"

Ouch, I might have stepped on a land mine.

Thankfully he just dismissed it and walked to the painting from yesterday.

"You didn't sign it", he commented.

"Nope, not yet"

"Why not?"

Actually, I didn't know. I didn't have a custom of signing it at the beach for something, but it just felt a little incomplete.

"Because I'm not done?" I half asked and half answered.

He didn't say anything, just stared at the painting some more.

So I also stared at the painting some more.

I walked up and picking up a detailed paintbrush and dipping it in some gold paint, I signed a trident.

"Why a trident?" Loki asked.

"It seemed fitting. Trident like the seas you know?" Poseidon would have been overkill.

"hmm"

I didn't know what that meant but I was happy. The painting was pretty good I had to admit, and it felt good to finally finish it.

"Loki, here you are!" Thor barged into the room, destroying the peaceful silence.

"I've been looking all over for you! The team is training on how to fight together and I think you should join."

"Well yes, I am powerful", Loki mused.

I was glad to see that Loki was mellowing out.

They headed out and as I was putting my paintbrush down, Loki turned back and added, "you are coming, are you not?"

"Nah, I don't fight but enjoy yourself," I replied.

"Oh I see you have met Perseus," Thor said.

"Percy," I corrected.

"Yes, looks like I underestimated Tony," he said.

Oh, no. I was really hoping Thor wouldn't say something because I didn't want my prank to end so soon.

Thankfully he went along with it, albeit a little confused.

"Goodbye," I said formally to sell my part.

"Yes." That was all Loki said as he walked towards the training grounds.