Shards (A Percy Jackson and Avengers Crossover)

The Idiot's Guide to Godhood / Demigod 101

Couldn't he get a break?

The raven-haired god turned to Nico, who had also sat back down.

Nico sighed. "There's more."

Of course there was more. There was always more. He was Percy-freaking-Jackson after all.

"I think Tar—he is drawing his power from somewhere," Nico started, stumbling over his words when he glanced at Percy.

Percy nodded thoughtfully. There had to be more to the story. A lot more. Hordes of monsters couldn't just crawl out of hell and run rampant in the world. And an ancient primordial sure as Hades couldn't just rise from the depths of hell on a whim. There were measures in place to keep that from happening.

Percy shuddered at the thought of Greek monsters running around uninhibited and destroying things—and people—willy-nilly.

"Do the gods know?"

Nico frowned. "That's the problem. No one can get in touch with the gods. They aren't letting anyone into Olympus. There's not even anyone at the desk of the Empire State Building."

"What about the Hunters? Is Artemis with them?"

Nico shook his head. "I contacted Thalia when I woke up. She said Artemis had been called up to Olympus a few days ago and left Thalia in charge. She hasn't been back since." Nico leaned back. "I contacted camp right after. Mr. D's not there either."

Percy drummed his hands on his knee thoughtfully. Olympus on lockdown. The gods nowhere to be seen. An evil rising from the Underworld.

And Percy stuck right in the middle of it.

This was starting to sound awfully familiar.

Percy blinked as a thought occurred to him. "Wait. I'm a god."

Everyone blinked at him, confused looks appearing on most of their faces.

"...yeah," Nico raised an eyebrow. "I thought we covered this already." The half-blood's tone seemed to question Percy's sanity.

Percy waved a hand. "I mean, I'm a god. And I'm still here." Nico seemed to realize where Percy was going. "I didn't get like a signal or beacon or anything to call me back to Olympus."

Nico cocked his head. "Do they even know you're a god?"

Percy shrugged helplessly. "They probably feel the surge of energy or somethi—"

"Wait, Percy." Nico held up a hand. "What are your domains?"

Percy blinked once. Twice. "...domains?" Nico nodded.

"Uhhhh..."

The son of Hades frowned at him. "Didn't the Fates tell you?"

"No," Percy started, panicking slightly."They were just like 'Oh you're Percy Jackson. Cool. We're gonna make you a god. Have fun.' And then boom. I was a god."

Nico crossed his arms thoughtfully, purposefully ignoring the young god's amazing summary. Now that Nico thought about it, that was the summary of most of Percy's life.

"That's weird." He looked at Percy. "And you're sure they said you were a god? Not just immortal." At Percy's nod, the son of Hades frowned deepened. "You weren't contacted by the other gods, even though all the other gods vanished to Olympus." Nico rubbed his chin. "Suspicious," he murmured. "Very suspicious."

Percy decided to ignore the goth boy's mutterings. He was too busy freaking out. Why couldn't there be a handbook for gods that were just starting out? The Idiot Guide to Godhood: Immortality In a Nutshell. It'd definitely be a bestseller.

He should write one for demigods, he mused thoughtfully. Demigod 101: How Not To Die In The First Ten Minutes Of Half-Blood Life. Nah, that was too long. Maybe just Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Short, sweet, simple, and to the point.

Either way, he definitely had the experience to write a long, detailed manual. If only he didn't have dyslexia. And ADHD. And wasn't being attacked by monsters 24/7. Or making a habit out of saving the world...or—he threw a glance at the Avengers—getting into trouble with other people who had a habit of saving the world.

The half-blood-turned-god groaned into his hands. The Fates seemed to have deliberately not given him much information, and the gods seemed to have purposefully ignored his new godhood. Maybe he was left down here to stop whatever was happening? And maybe he was made a god for that very reason.

What in Hades' underpants is going on?

Percy sighed. "Never thought I'd say this, but I'm starting to wish for a prophecy right about now."

Nico grunted in reply.

Percy rubbed his temples wearily. "I'm gonna try to contact my dad. Not sure if it'll work, but maybe since I'm a god now..." Percy ended his sentence with a shrug. It couldn't hurt.

Percy turned to Nico. "Why don't you answer some of their questions?" Percy jerked his chin towards the Avengers, who—minus Thor—looked like they were brimming with questions.

Percy was impressed with their patience, especially Tony. Natasha only had to hit him three times to quiet him down, which Percy thought might be a personal record. Honestly, Percy considered himself lucky that the Avengers hadn't jumped him and demanded answers.

Percy stood up with a nod before wondering to the kitchen. Dimly, he heard Tony ask about domains. Percy sank down in the corner between the cabinets and closed his eyes.

Err...dad? Hi, it's Percy. You know, your favorite son. And god. Though, uh, not sure if you know that or not.

Hello?

Anyone there?

Poseidon?

Uh, Barnacle Beard? Almighty Earth-Shaker? Old Seaweed? Sea Ruler? Horse Whisperer? Fish Founder? Chillest Olympian?

Percy huffed out a breath and opened his eyes. From the low murmur of voices, Percy assumed Nico was still explaining everything to the Avengers. The son of Hades was probably also explaining Tartarus to them while Percy wasn't in the room, which the god was glad about.

Percy shifted uncomfortably, the cold floor chilling his bottom. He drummed his fingers on his thigh. Perhaps he should try to access his power.

Percy closed his eyes again. He exhaled, focusing on the ball in his gut that held his power. He dove deeper, trying to find the bottom of his well of power. He frowned the deeper he went, easily bypassing his previous limits. In fact, his power seemed almost limitless.

When he was given godhood, Percy hadn't really felt that different. Sure, he felt a little stronger, a little faster, a little more powerful. But now, he felt his power thrumming in him. Buzzing, pulsing, twisting, twirling. Physically, he felt almost unstoppable. He felt like he could leap buildings, fly higher than the clouds, move faster than a cheetah. He felt invincible. He felt—

He crashed with a gasp. His power, which he been expanding endlessly, was now curling in on itself. He felt weaker then before his immortality. His power seeped away, leaving his bones cold and his limbs lifeless. The raven-haired god wasn't even sure he could stand back up.

And then it was gone. The weak feeling left as quick as it had started. Percy was back to feeling normal, not invincible but not powerless either.

What. In. Zeus'. Name.

Percy rubbed his eyes. He'd had these weird feelings for a while now. At first, he thought it was just becoming a god. His body adapting to it or something. But now he was starting to think there was more going on.

Percy exhaled loudly. Squeezing his eyes shut, he reached for a thread of his power. He envisioned his dad and focused on the mental image.

Dad? Can you—can you hear me?

Percy? His dad's familiar voice resonated in his head, making Percy almost weep.