Annabeth Chase and the Avengers

Chapter 23 [2.0]

Annabeth

A wrinkled, kind face stared at her, a wide smile on his face. His crinkly face was framed by locks of matted, dirt-streaked hair, all tangled, and reaching down to his shoulders.

He still wore his blue, tattered janitor's outfit, and his broom was held in his hand, the spear tip retracted.

A small, skeletal, translucent cat sat mewling on his shoulder, paw entangled in Bob's unruly hair. Next to Bob was a giant, clothed from the skin of a drakon.

Annabeth let out a sob. "Bob? Damaesn? Small Bob?" She felt pressure building in her throat, filling her with such emotion she was unable to speak.

Tears began pouring down her already tear-streaked face. She brushed them aside, taking a layer of grime with it, and pushed her tangled, knotted blonde hair caked in blood and dirt out of her face.

"H-how are you here?" She exclaimed, grasping Percy's hand, trying to discern if this was merely a sick, twisted dream.

"That would've been me." Professor Hulk piped up, wincing as he limped towards them with his charred arm.

Annabeth spun around to look at him, tears in her eyes. "Y-you brought them back?"

He nodded, a smile spreading across his face, somewhere between grim and caring. "Nat told me- about what happened, uh, she said that when you were on the-- the Benetar.." He paused for a moment, thinking of Clint.

"She said you told her all about Bob, and, the place you were in. When I was bringing everyone back, I remembered what she'd said, and when I had the Gauntlet, and was bringing everyone back, I remembered them, and they're immortal, so they couldn't technically die. I had to try, since I couldn't bring back Clint.. I'm just really glad it worked."

Damaesn smiled down at us. "I'm glad it did. Thank you." He glanced up at the sky, where the sun was just setting into the distance, and the stars had begun to come out.

Damaesn stared listlessly at the stars for a few moments. "The stars..."

Bob looked up as well. "Hello, stars." His eyes shone, and Annabeth saw the reflection of the constellations dancing in his silvery irises. He shakily raised a hand, and pointed at the sky. "That one.. does not look familiar-"

Annabeth followed his gaze into the sky, right to where he was pointing. Percy let out a small noise. "The Huntress." She whispered softly, tears shining in her eyes.

Bob smiled. "It is beautiful. But it was not there.. before?" His tone was one of confusion.

Damaesn turned to look at it as well. "Yes.. I know the story of every constellation but that one. Do you know?"

Percy nodded shakily, staring at the night sky, where the huntress dashed across the starry plains, a bow and arrow in hand, forever to hunt peacefully in the stars. Memories flashes in his eyes as he recounted the story of his friend.

"Zoë Nightshade." He whispered.

Bob spun around, his eyes shining in recognition at the name. "Atlas.. My son- from before.."

Percy nodded. "Zoë Nightshade was the daughter of Atlas."

"One of the five Hesperides." Bob finished, more fragmented memories bubbling to the surface. He smiled softly. "I remember her. She was a lovely girl. Very kind."

"What happened to her?" Damaesn asked.

Percy swallowed. "Zoë was Artemis' lieutenant, and when Atlas kidnapped her, Zoë was a part of the quest to save her. I was a part of that quest, and we had to travel to the Garden of the Hesperides to rescue Artemis. When we got there, Zoë calmed Ladon long enough for Thalia and I to pass by, but Zoë was injured by him." He drew in a shaky breath.