The Fallen Hero (Percy Jackson x Avengers Crossover)

43: The Pitbull and the Chihuahua

Percy groaned. Everything hurt. His gut, his head, his heart...

He slowly managed to open his eyes. He was lying in his own bed, his torso wrapped thickly with bandages. Someone was hovering over him, spooning warm pudding into his mouth. But it tasted like his mom's blue chocolate chip cookies...Ambrosia.

He cracked a small smile when he saw the person holding the Ambrosia. 

Annabeth.

"Hey Wise Girl," he whispered. His voice sounded horrible, all cracked and dry.

It pretty much matched how he felt; like an old pile of shist.

"Percy? Oh, Percy, thank the gods you're alright!" She sounded like she'd been crying. 

"Miss me much?" He smirked at her, then tried to sit up.

He instantly regretted that decision. His head felt like a lump of lead, and his stomach felt like it was on fire. For some reason he had a vision of Leo standing over him with flaming hands, looking like a maniac, and burning his gut. 

Weird.

Annabeth caught him as he sagged back limply. She looked worried, and her eyes were red and puffy...she had been crying!

"Ouch," Percy puffed with a pained breath.

"Percy I'm...I'm so sorry," she whispered, more tears falling.

Suddenly it all came back to him. The crash. The weeks in prison, at the Avengers Complex, the fight...

"Annabeth..." Percy's eyes widened, and his breaths came shorter and faster, "Annabeth...oh gods, Annabeth, what have I done? What have I...ah...ah..." Terror and panic overwhelmed him. He couldn't breathe. Couldn't think. 

"Percy?" Her voice sounded distant.

Guilt filled Percy. What had he done? He couldn't breathe.

"Percy! Look at me! Hey!" She had his head in her hands. 

He panted, wheezing, straining to pull air into his lungs. Then...she kissed him. 

Long and hard.

At first Percy struggled. He needed to breathe. He didn't deserve this. He needed to protect her. Then he melted into her embrace, and when she finally let go, he could breathe again. She smiled at him through her tears.

"Hold your breath. Stops the panic attack," she explained lamely. "Or you could pop an ice cube onto your tongue I guess, but I didn't have any ice, and--"

Percy kissed her again.

They broke apart when someone coughed awkwardly in the doorway. 

Will stood there, red-faced, with a grinning Leo right behind him. Leo's hand was laced through Calypso's. 

"Hate to break up the party, muchachos, but it's time for some naughty boy's doctor's visit," Leo snickered.

Annabeth blushed, and Percy was pretty sure his face was on fire too. 

"Was it at least a good party?" Leo winked in Percy's direction.

"It was a fantastic party," Percy grinned back at him.

"O-o-k-a-y..." Will said awkwardly, "Great, glad you kids are having fun, but now Percy needs some rest." He turned to Percy, wearing his best scolding doctor face, "We brought you back from the brink, but it's a lot easier to go back there than it was to get out."

Percy nodded reluctantly. He hated to admit it, but he was exhausted. No sooner had Will ushered everyone out--except for Annabeth, who refused to leave his side--than Percy's eyes slammed shut and he tumbled back into the world of dreams.