Kept Behind Enemy Lines

C H A P T E R S E V E N T E E N

"Steve doesn't like that kind of talk." Natasha said, hiding the beginnings of a smile.

"You know what, Romanoff?" Steve never finished. Natasha flashed him a smirk. Percy sniggered.

"So what does he want?" Fury prompted.

"To become better. Better than us. He keeps building bodies." Steve says.

"Person bodies." Tony agreed. "The human form is inefficient. Biologically speaking, we're outmoded. But he keeps coming back to it."

Now they were thinking. Fury thought.

"So...?" Percy drawled, not quite catching on.

"When you two programmed him to protect the human race, you amazingly failed." Natasha informed them bluntly.

"They don't need to be protected. The need to evolve. Ultron's going to evolve."

"How?"

It was like a light switch suddenly turned on.

"Has anyone been in contact with Helen Cho?" Bruce asked, worry keeping up on him.

The team decided to head out, right then and there.

"Can we at least sleep first?" Percy asked. He hadn't slept properly since the fight.

"Sleep on the plane." Tony suggested, calling for his suit.

"Plane? Yeah no. I'll take my own mode of transport. Just tell me where I'm going."

"Percy, you come on the plane or you don't come at all." Fury stated. Percy didn't doubt for a moment that the man meant it. Percy sighed.

"Please don't kill me." Percy whispered under his breath to a certain god in the sky. Thunder boomed. Percy winced. He had little experience in telling what was yes and no.

On the plane, Percy did indeed sleep. But it wasn't as peaceful as he had wished.

Camp Half-Blood materialised around him. He gasped in shock. He hadn't seen the place in years. Everything was the same. The Archery Zone. The lava climbing wall. The Big House. Nobody was out. It was after dark after all. No one was particularly keen on being a Harpy snack.

The odd thing, was the nightly campfire was still blazing, emitting a warm friendly heat. It combated with the fresh night air. It was all so real, but at the same time, somehow seemingly artificial.

Once his eyes adjust he noticed an eight year old goddess tending to the flames.

"Hestia?" Percy asked. What is she doing here?

"Hello, Percy. It's been a while hasn't it?" She smiled at him and patted the ground next to her softly, indicating for him to sit.

Percy couldn't help but return the smile. She radiates warmth and comfort. Safety. Something Percy hadn't been very acquainted with as of late.

"Why Camp Half-Blood?" He asked, sitting on the ashen ground beside her.

"It is your home." She said simply. Her soft golden brown eyes bore into his. She stared at him with the gaze of a loving mother. Percy flinched when he realised he no longer had one.

Hestia knew exactly what he was thinking. She tapped his chest, right where his heart beat in its protective cage.

"She is still, and always will be here, Percy. Forever residing in your heart." A tear fell down his check. Percy hurriedly wiped it away. "You are aware of what is coming correct?"

Percy hummed. War. That's what was coming. Percy could already hear the stamping of feet and enemies marched. In his mind he could see the bodies. People once alive falling into immortal sleep. Fire. Ash. Nothing.

Gone. All gone.

A hand on his shoulder brought him back.

"Your actions for the sake of family are many. Hence I have decided to help you." Percy looked at her, surprised. "I offer a little information. Insight to a tortured soul."

Percy waited for her to continue.

"You will not be able to win this alone."

"I'm not alone. I have the Avengers. When they aren't leaving me behind in foreign battle zones that is."

"Yes, but that is not all. You need a place to come back to. A pure reason to fight." Percy felt confusion building, but Hestia refused to elaborate. Hestia continued.

"You will need Loki."

Percy blinked. Once. Twice. "You don't mean the Norse god do you?" Her silence was all he needed as confirmation. "No way. He-he killed my mother!" Percy felt the hot tears threatening to spill down his face all over again.

"It was not his intention."

"I don't care if it was his intention or whether-"

"His family ties had been long since abused and abandoned." Percy shut up. "He has a step-father like yours. Like Gabe."

Percy watched her carefully.

"The invading of Earth was not his intention. He held out as long as possible."

"What- what do you mean? What are you saying?"

"It would be easier to show you." Hestia placed her hand on Percy's forehead and plunged headfirst into memories. But they weren't his.

A palace. Perhaps not as grand as Olympus, but still held its fair share of beauty. Percy turned around and was faced with the God of Mischief.

Loki couldn't see him. In fact, Percy's hands went straight through the taller male.

Percy was hurled through Loki's memories. Not all of them, just enough to understand. He watched as Loki did. Stood beside the dark haired god as they watched Thor progress to the top.

He watched as Loki discovered his true heritage. The lies he'd been wrapped in all his life being unveiled.

He watched Loki fall. And fall. And fall. Tumbling over himself again and again until finally he hit solid ground.

He watched as Loki was interrogated. Percy winced with every crack of the jagged whip.

Percy watched as Loki's eyes changed in colour. Watched as Loki was recruited and invaded.

Percy could see the hints Loki had dropped. But not a single person picked up on it.

He understood.

Percy had watched. Percy had learned and heard. Seen and smelt. Percy had understood.

And in some ways that scared him more than he'd care to admit, Percy could relate.

"Don't leave him behind, Percy. Give him a place to call home." Hestia could see that the raven hadn't heard her, too caught up in what he was seeing. She smiled. "Let him give you a place to call home."

~~~~

This is my favourite chapter so far I think. What about you guys? Which has been your favourite?

I've decided I'm just going to update whenever I finish a chapter.

Peace

BTSWD