Kept Behind Enemy Lines

C H A P T E R T H I R T E E N

"Yes, I was."

"Thanks. For helping me I mean." Percy then proceeded to realise the object in his forehead was the mysterious man's hand.

"What are you doing?"

"I am healing you. Without this you would be feeling all of the wounds inflicted upon you in your mind."

"Oh."

Silence stretched on for a few minutes.

"Well this is awkward." Percy commented.

"Just slightly." Percy wasn't sure if he'd detected any sarcasm in that sentence or not.

"I heard you were awake!" Clint yelled breathlessly as he barged in.

"Yeah like, two minutes ago. How'd you know?" Percy frowned.

"Freydis."

"Who?"

"Long story." Clint dismissed it.

One of the next few to arrive was Tony. Percy winced upon seeing the billionaire. Memories flooded his mind. Soldier had taken him over and hurt Tony.

"Tony I-" he began.

"Don't worry. I understand. But you owe me shawarma or something." Percy sighed in relief. Tony understood that the kid couldn't control himself.

Wait. Soldier.

"What about Soldier?" Percy asked. It felt weird saying the AI's name out loud after so long. Well he isn't so artificial now is he? Percy thought, thinking of the vicious conscience the sceptre had gifted his internal enemy.

"Who's Soldier?" Natasha asked, peering in through the doorframe. She was the last to arrive.

"Right, I haven't told anyone that. Soldier is the thing that keeps controlling me."

"Well Soldier will control you no more. I removed it." Bruce informed the dark haired teen, hint of a smile tugging at his lips.

Percy stared at the doctor in utter disbelief. Soldier... gone?

For a while he was unable to comprehend it. When it finally clicked, a large grin that nobody in the room had seen on his face before appeared. It was just like the old him. Carefree for the first time in years.

"Really gone." Percy said.

"Really gone." Bruce agreed.

"Really, really gone. Like, you're not going to turn around and say 'just kidding' are you?"

"Nope. Gone for good." It felt like all these past years Percy had been carrying the sky again and just now it had been lifted. It felt incredible.

"I could kiss you." Percy then thought about he said. "I-I-I mean, not kiss you, but I'm like, really, really happy and thankful for-"

"A hug would be fine." Bruce laughed. Everyone else was laughing too. Except Freydis, who didn't care and Loki who was quietly watching the exchange. This was the first time Percy had shown them that he was once a normal kid. He hadn't always been like this. Of course, they knew this already, but sometimes it seemed like the kid had no real childhood. Seeing him smile; truely smile, was almost endearing.

Percy stumbled upright, placing his bare feet in the ground to approach the doctor. The moment he and Loki lost contact, pain shredded through him. It wasn't as bad the first time, but it still hurt like Tartarus. Percy tripped over onto his knees, gasping through it.

"Percy?"

"I'm fine." Percy rasped, raising a hand to keep anyone from approaching him. "Not the worst I've felt." That served as a solemn reminder of what the teenager had been through. The mood dropped significantly.

But Percy still clamoured to his feet and hugged Bruce.

"Thank you." He said, voice muffled by the shirt.

Then he turned around and stared at Loki, the man he was still yet to be introduced to.

"Oh no. Definitely not. Gods do not need hugs." Loki backed away slightly. He didn't need to, for the moment he said gods Percy froze in his tracks.

"Gods." Percy's voice dropped.

"I am not one of your pompous gods if that's what you were wondering." Loki had glanced into Percy's mind, hence he knew exactly what Percy meant.

"You're religious?" Steve asked.

Percy blinked. "Am I religious, or religion?" He asked after a moment of thinking. He'd never really put in any thought to it. As the son of a god and a human, did that make him religious or religion?

"Remind me how hard you zapped him again Thor?" Clint asked.

Thor didn't have time to answer as Loki stumbled to his knees, unable to keep up the facade that he wasn't absolutely drained from steadily healing Percy these last few days.

"Wow there." Percy was hesitant to approach but figured this god was likely none to different from Thor. Nobody else was stepping forwards to help.

Up close Percy could see the lines of fatigue on the god's face.

"I guess it's your turn for some healing huh?" Percy laughed lightly.

"I suppose." Loki mumbled before slumping forwards into Percy's arms, unconscious.

~~~~
Hey! So, let's take a poll. As Percy is the offspring of a god and a human, do you think he's religious or religion?

My friends all have various answers. So lemme know what you think.

Also, feedback, ideas and criticism are welcome.

Also, I have like, four prepared chapters so I'm updating early again. I'm one of those authors that either struggle to write a chapter in a week, or I have like, a brain fart and write three chapters in a day.

Dedicated to @athlete68. If it weren't for their advice and motivational comments, this story more than likely wouldn't have ventured past three chapters for a looooooooong time. So thank you so much! Go check their stories. They be amazing.

Peace

BTSWD