"So Percy where have you been?" I shift anxiously in my chair, unable to find a position quite comfortable. I attempt to put the words together to tell him. But would Jason understand that in the short time I have been gone for him I've lived a lifetime. I attempt to speak again and still no words come. Steve grabs my hand in a reassuring way. I inhale deeply trying to calm my nerves. I move my eyes up to meet Jason's. "Another time please. Let's just all listen to Apollo." I hope this will change the topic of discussion but the focus is still on me. I feel the anxiety rising inside of me. The calm I felt before is gone and the anxiety washes over me once again. I start to mark all exits including windows. Leo's voice cuts through my racing thoughts. "No man we deserve to know!" The words echo in a cacophony. This causes me to wince and shrink back. Steve being the only person on Earth who even has an idea of what I went through looks Leo directly in the eye. Then turns to Jason. "A lot has happened to Percy from going through World War 2 and being captured to being trapped in his own mind forced to watch as someone used his body like a puppet to commit atrocities against the world. If he does not wish to give details, you people should understand this more than others." Everyone looks down in shame. We all feel the weight of Steve's words and they know not to question.
"You know the best part of all of this is we have a much larger issue at hand then where I sent Percy." I know that voice but from where. I turn to look in the direction the voice came from. As soon as my eyes see who it is I stand.
"Chaos. What exactly do you mean by this?"
"Well I mean you have a threat coming this way you have approximately oh I don't know five to six months to prepare. Good Luck!"
With that Chaos poofed out of the room leaving nothing but a scrap of paper at my feet. Curious, I grabbed it and looked at what it said. You me training starting tomorrow 07:00 sharp don't be late. I groan. Steve glances at me then at the note. "Well champion of chaos you are finally going to learn your powers." Steve chuckles out oblivious to all the wide eyes and slacked jaws pointed at us.
"Champion of Chaos? When did that happen?" Annabeth looks like she just saw a ghost.
"For me 80 years ago but if you want to be technical last night for you all."
"So what does that exactly mean like special powers or something? Is that how you got those wings?"
"Yes, that would be exactly it." I can see the gears turning in Annabeth's head. She is thinking long and hard about something. "What is it Annabeth?"
"Champion of chaos, hero of Olympus, son of Poseidon please Percy tell me how you managed to get captured by hydra?"
"Not right now ok later not with everyone here." she nodded her head in acknowledgement. Apollo claps his hands together to get our attention. All heads in the room spin to look in his direction, all attention dropped from me.
"So as you all know we have a new foe in our mists. We must prepare and decipher the prophecy that I have personally received." Apollo takes a deep breath then speaks again.
"Three who fell into a world unknown" Annabeth, Steve, and I all make eye contact. Knowing that line refers to us.
"Shall stand side by side once again
To fight an evil unnamed
Six stones to be gained
Or see half the world slain."
"Based on the look those three just gave each other they know the first line's meaning." Leo says with a gloomy tone to his voice.
"Yeah we definitely know what it means. Annie you up for an adventure like old times?"
"We don't know when this comes to pass and from the information chaos gave us we have six months. We should take a month to train, prepare, gather supplies, and rally people to fight. If Chaos is concerned it's a big bad."
"Good plan Annabeth I can talk to the avengers. They will help but they have a bit of an ego that is one of them does." I can't help but snort as Steve is clearly referring to Tony.
"Steve and Annabeth are correct, we need to prepare and gather many allies. Jason reach out to the romans Annabeth get the campers ready. Steve you're on avengers duties." I hold up the note left by chaos." I will unfortunately be getting my ass"
"Language"
I glare at Steve and he just shrugs.
"Handed to me by Chaos' training so if you need me you'll find me by the lake between 7:00am and 7:00pm after that I will be at the bottom of the lake contemplating life."
"And like always you fall right back into your role of leader." Apollo gives me a pointed look. "Meeting dismissed, it's late, everyone go to dinner." I get up to leave and Steve grabs my hand to keep me in place. He then motions for Apollo and Annabeth to stay. As everyone files out I feel the last remaining tension melt out of my body. After everyone else has left. The silence around us becomes deafening. I know the next question to come. All the anxiety piles right back on my shoulders. My hand is trembling. I know what they want to know. Are they going to tell me I'm unfit to lead them now? Are they going to make me sit out? Worst of all, will they no longer want me around because of what I did? My vision is blurring. My breath is short and shallow. Not good now they are seeing first hand why I'm unfit. The only thing I'm good for is fighting, that's my only use. I am a weapon of mass destruction forged to perfection. But now my blade is dull and my hilt cracked. Am I still an effective weapon or am I just kept around as memorabilia. My vision tunnels. I'm still unable to fully breath. I feel something touch my face. It's warm and calloused, big and familiar. That's Steve's hand. My breath slows and my vision starts to clear. My chair is pulled back and everyone is looking at me extremely concerned. Apollo is the first to speak. As Steve drops his hand.
"How long has that been happening?" Apollo's tone is soft like he's talking to a scared kid. I open my mouth to speak and no sound comes out. "It's ok, take your time, you're safe."
"Did you just have a panic attack?" Annabeth's tone is full of concern. I look down and just nod my head.
"I have been getting them since the attack on shield a few months back but that's not the first time either after Tartarus and the battle when I was 16." My voice barely rises above a whisper.
"We have to tell the others they need to know!" Annabeth's voice is loud and I shrink back still feeling the panic coursing through my veins.
"No, we will not tell anyone." my voice is a growl. Everyone looks at me in shock. I'm even surprised with myself. "I'm sorry Annabeth it's just no one can know about this they'll doubt my abilities to lead or make smart decisions but when I'm out there my head is the clearest it's been my entire life. Don't sideline me on this. Please I'm begging you don't sideline me. I've spent the last few months in a cage or a room while the avengers try to see if I would kill them or not. I mean they had good reason but still please don't sideline me."
"We won't as long as you talk to someone. Hell, even come up to my place on Olympus and talk to me. It will all stay between us. I'll be your godly councilor. Just get some help and stop being stubborn."
"Fine yeah fine I'll do it. Now what did you three want to talk about?"
"Hydra. How did that happen?"
"You know that's actually a really good question Annabeth brings up. How did it happen?"
"I gave up and failed at dieing. While I was unconscious they struck." my voice was low and hollow while this was 78 years ago I still struggle with this. Steve's face fell he's blaming himself. I can see it in his eyes. "Not your fault Steve you couldn't have known. I never showed how I felt. I also did it to try and stop them from getting me. Which obviously failed."
"No but I should have been better everything with Peggy and just always throwing that on you god I probably really hurt you every time I brought her up and I left you behind in enemy territory. I should have gone back. 'No man left behind' and we left you to be tortured and made into something you are not and that arm just proves that I failed you."
Apollo and Annabeth look between the two of us trying to decide whether or not to cut in. After a moment's hesitation Annabeth cuts in. "We can't change the past now; the best we can do is learn and grow from it. Now Perseus Jackson no more of that ok and if that thought crosses your mind again you come to us we are all here for you."
"Yes ma'am"
"Good Apollo, is there anything else you want to add? Steve?" She looks between the two and both nod no. "Good, let's go eat."