A/N: Here it is. The long awaited (at least for me) chapter of this story. Sorry it's been so long, but I've been so busy, it's kind of ridiculous! Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson or the Avengers, and I (sadly) do not make any money from this story.

Chapter Two

"The SHIELD Initiative?" Percy asked warily, slowly. "What's that?"

Tony blinked, then grinned. "I forget this kid probably hasn't seen all the speculations and crap about SHIELD and everything on the news like everyone else. It's like a clean slate. This'll make it tons easier to explain to him." Natasha sensed a "and get him to join SHIELD" somewhere in there.

"I was a little busy at the time," Percy said defensively.

"With training for the Olympics?" Natasha couldn't help but asking. It would be funny to watch the young teenage squirm awkwardly like everyone else his age.

Percy didn't disappoint her. He started in surprise and blushed. "R-right," he stuttered when everyone started staring at him. "Yeah, I was practicing for the Olympics twenty-four/seven. It was hard," he finished stronger than he had started.

"Uh huh," Clint deadpanned untactfully. Natasha smacked him on the arm and glared at him. He frowned and rubbed the part of his arm she had smacked.

"Why don't we talk somewhere else instead of a busy street where someone can hear and see us?" Steve suggested.

Percy took a small step back. "You guys aren't gonna drug me or something are you? Or kidnap me? Because that's happened, I'm pretty sure. Except it was a little different than what you guys are probably thinking of," he said. He frowned in thought. Natasha thought he looked like someone who could handle himself, regardless of how young he seemed. He was eighteen, but Natasha could somehow see him as someone who led a war with a bunch of other teenagers. He had this air of authority around him. He didn't demand authority, but looked like he asked for it instead.

"I don't doubt it," Bruce said. He stared knowingly at Percy.

Percy seemed reluctant to go anywhere, Natasha noticed. He probably knew instinctively this talk was going to make his already complex life that much more difficult. Despite never having met the kid, she felt a little sympathy for the kid. He must have had a tough life, just like all of them. With one exception: they usually didn't have gods or monsters to throw in the mix except for mutations.

"Let's find a quiet park or something. You know a place?" Natasha knew that giving Percy the chance to choose a place to talk would make him more comfortable than forcing him to go somewhere with them. It was one of the reasons Natasha had asked him. That, and they didn't know a place to talk. It's a win-win for everyone, Natasha thought a tad smugly.

"Uh, there's a quiet place near a pond I found?" Percy more asked than told them. "Or, you know, if you don't like water there's a small park thing I found. I mean, or there's a small part of a forest I know, or you know, if you guys want to talk somewhere different or—"

"The pond seems like a nice atmosphere," Thor interjected easily. "I believe it would be a good place to converse."

Natasha noticed some of the tension go out of Percy's shoulders. Obviously, the pond was a calming place for the kid. He probably felt right at home there where he was most powerful. However, Natasha didn't think Percy would attack them unless they provoked him. He seemed like a good kid, and Natasha always trusted her intuitions and instincts.

"It's only about a ten minute's walk from here," Percy said.

"Lead the way," Steve said.

Percy naturally took the point without any hesitations and led them to a small, grassy meadow area. It had a few oak trees shading the pond, but rays of sun managed to poke their way between the giant branches of the trees. Wild flowers sprang up in small clusters near the pond, and the grass was a little taller than her ankle. Natasha nodded in appreciation. It looked like no one ever frequented this area, and it was a soothing area to be in. It was relaxing. No wonder Percy liked it here, she thought.

"How did you find this, Percy?" Tony asked curiously.

"Oh, I was walking around a few nights ago and found it. It was a little dark when I had gone out, but I could tell it was going to be a good place to hang around," Percy said as he led them to a gently sloping area, about ten feet from the pond. The trees provided some shade so they didn't sweat through their shirts again. They all sat down, unconsciously forming a loose semi-circle around Percy, who sat straight-backed and crossed his legs.

"You guys wanted to talk?" Percy prompted. He looked like he was dreading this conversation, like he already knew it was a lost case and that his secret had already been found out.

"Why don't we just cut to the chase and not beat around the bush?" Steve asked. "We know you're the son of a Greek god."

"Wow, Steve let's not ease him into this at all," Tony said sarcastically. "What happened to going slow?"

"It's fine," Percy assured him, looking a little overwhelmed. Natasha could tell that he was quickly gathering himself again and deciding what all he was going to tell them. "I'm guessing this is why SHIELD wants me?"

"Pretty much," Clint agreed. "It's kind of more as a backup ally, though, I think. It'll be like you're an honorary member of the Avengers, but only brought in when we needed you, not always. Like, in case there's a crisis, we can bring you and you can help. That's what I got from Fury, anyway."

Percy frowned and looked at the ground with trepidation. He glanced back up at the team and Natasha with suspicion. "Fury is a person, right?"

"Nick Fury," Bruce confirmed.

"Huh," he said. "I'd have to think about it, but if it's just that, it's going to be mostly pointless. Chances are, I'm usually already on it."

"Really?" Steve asked.

"Not just me, but yeah. We do a lot more than you guys probably detect."

"I guess so," Natasha said.

"Can I ask a question?" Tony asked, raising his hand childishly. Natasha rolled her eyes.

"Shoot," Percy said, shrugging.

"Why are you in the Olympics?"

Percy chuckled, his cheeks turning bright red. "Um, the truth or the official story?"

"Truth." Natasha felt like she was at some sixth grade girls' slumber party playing Truth or Dare. Not that she'd ever gotten to experience that.

"I lost a bet," Percy said, embarrassed. Natasha permitted herself to drop her mouth slightly and watched as everyone else's did the same.

"You entered the Olympics and won an event against some of the best swimmers in the world because you lost a bet?" Tony asked in disbelief.

"That's the last time I bet against the Hermes cabin, I swear," Percy grinned, shaking his head ruefully at himself.

"So what's the whole story?" Bruce asked curiously. "What kind of bet was it?"

Percy sighed. "I won't go into detail with the Stolls since I swore on the River Styx that I wouldn't say," Percy didn't even pause at the sound of thunder coming from a cloudless sky, "but I can say it was the stupidest thing I've ever agreed to. Anyway, I lost, and so I had to try and get into the Olympics." Percy rolled his eyes. "I didn't mean to actually make the Olympics."

"You didn't mean to?" Clint questioned.

"I kind of get lost in the moment when I'm in the water," Percy explained. "I don't realize how fast or how long I've been swimming. What I thought was a slow pace actually wasn't, and I ended up winning by a landslide."

"But you won the race today," Natasha pointed out.

"Okay, I really didn't mean to win that one!" Percy protested. He leaned back on his hands and stretched his legs out, relaxing slightly. Natasha thought he was relaxing because they weren't going to kidnap him and force him to do something. "I thought I was going slow enough! I had even practiced going slow. I guess I just got caught up in the adrenaline or something because I won." Percy paused and ducked his head. "I feel like such a cheater."

"You think you cheated because you are naturally exceptional at swimming?" Thor asked, frowning in confusion.

"I don't know why I'm telling you guys any of this," Percy admitted, rubbing his face. He shook his head, like he was trying to get a hold on himself. "I mean, here I am not even trying, and the guy next to me has been practicing his life for me to just blow by him on accident." Percy leaned back on his elbows. "Just feels like cheating."

"Well, seeing as he wouldn't be here if you hadn't saved the world twice, I think it's okay," Tony said reasonably.

"I guess. What are you guys doing over here anyway, besides stalking me?" Percy asked, smiling. The smile looked easy and carefree on him. Natasha got the feeling that this kid was pretty laid back; it made him fun to be around and easy to like.

"Well, it was supposed to be a vacation." Natasha glared at Tony, who shrank back slightly. "We were supposed to be on a break, but Fury told us he had a recruiting mission for us to do."

Percy grinned bashfully. "Sorry, guys. I bet it sucks to have to recruit an annoying teenager on your break."

"It's a macation," Tony explained matter-of-factly to Percy. "A mission and vacation combined." Percy snorted, and Natasha found herself liking anyone who didn't like Tony's nickname for whatever this was.

"It could have been worse," Steve said, ignoring Tony. "We could have actually had an annoying teenager. That would have been awful."

Percy shrugged. "I'm ADHD and dyslexic. Does that count as anything?"

"You're both?" Bruce asked. "That's tough."

"All demigods are. We're hardwired for Ancient Greek, hence the dyslexia, and we've got great battle reflexes from the ADHD," Percy informed them, crossing one foot over the other at the ankles. "Terrible for school but not bad during a war. Against monsters. Which are very real, by the way." Natasha thanked her lucky stars that she didn't usually have to deal with monsters. Usually, it was just mutants. Thank God.

"Kid, I gotta thank you for not being difficult," Clint said. "I really didn't feel like chasing you down and trying to get you to listen to reason."

"I don't know, I just had this feeling that you guys were on the good side for some reason." Percy waved a hand at Natasha and the others as he lay down completely on the grass. "It was all in the body language and facial expressions. And the eyes."

He would make a good agent with intuition like that, Natasha thought, impressed. She listened in on what Percy was saying next.

"You guys wanna see something?" he asked, sitting up straight and turning toward the pond. "It'll be proof for you guys just in case you don't believe me. Not that you guys don't. But watch." Percy grinned with a tinge of shyness, Natasha noticed, and ran toward the pond, jumping straight in.

Natasha and the others sat and waited for a minute, and then another. And another. After five minutes, they were a little worried.

"Should we check on him or something?" Tony asked, his eyebrows creased.

"He's underwater, Tony, how are we supposed to do that?" Clint asked.

Natasha ignored them, squinting in suspicion at the subtly churning water. "Guys," she said over them. She nodded her head toward the water. "Look."

The team watched in silence for a few minutes before they all gasped in surprise. Where the pond had been smooth a few minutes ago was now moving in intricate shapes. Natasha's eyes stayed glued to the impromptu water show. The water manipulated itself into different sizes and impossibly ornate shapes, constantly changing and weaving through its neighbor. After a couple minutes, the water shapes began to freeze in their positions. Finally, as what Natasha assumed was the finale, the ice exploded and rained down gently on them, catching the reflection of the sun in them. Natasha thought they looked like diamonds. Strange enough, the team didn't get wet as the ice touched them.

After another minute, Percy came out of the water. He grinned mischievously as he sat down in front of them again, completely dry. Natasha found herself genuinely smiling at the kid, unable to stop with his infectious grin. "Proof enough?" he laughed as he leaned back on his hands. He looked even more relaxed after the water show. "It felt good to do that, to tell you the truth. I had a lot of pent-up energy from the race and everything, and since you guys needed proof, it was a good idea for everyone."

"I think that'll do. I'm still a little doubtful, though," Tony said drily. They all giggled at that, which would have been embarrassing if anyone had seen them. The area looked empty enough, though, so Natasha didn't have to worry about people finding out the Avengers had a soft spot for a kid they'd met less than an hour ago. She felt at ease here with people she could see herself being with for more than a few weeks like on missions. And for once, that admission didn't scare her at all.

Maybe this whole "macation" thing was actually good.

"So is that gonna be a 'yes' to SHIELD, or am I gonna have to watch Fury throw a hissy-fit?" Clint asked.

Percy looked at all of them carefully. Finally, he nodded slowly, then smiled warmly.

"You can count me in."

A/N: Ah, the start of a beautiful friendship. *wipes eyes* And, I know, it was kind of a flop to me, but I just couldn't think of this going any other way. My Muse got stuck on this, and I let it do what it will. Sorry if you're disappointed. Thanks for sticking with me on this one, and this marks the end of this two-shot. Thanks for all your awesome reviews! I love you all. :)