Marvel's Percy Jackson: The Avengers Initiative

Chapter 5

West Harlem, New York

Percy's knee was bouncing as he nervously looked at the run-down warehouse where he was supposed to meet with Leo Monticello one last time.

It hadn't been that long since Percy arrived back home, maybe six hours, give or take. He had immediately called up Leo when the plane touched down at JFK International, letting the crime boss know that the mission was done. Leo grasped what Percy told him and replied by telling him to meet him at the abandoned Hammer Industries warehouse in West Harlem.

Before coming straight to the abandoned warehouse, Percy made a quick pit stop at his apartment to drop off his backpack and gather up anything that he felt like he might need. Dash had been quite exhilarated to see him and Percy felt a little bad to just ditch him again.

Needless to say, Percy knew that there was going to be something going down in West Harlem. In case Leo Monticello tried anything ... well, he was in for a massive surprise. He stocked up on ammo and sheathed his knife back into his ankle before taking out his favorite pen from his pocket.

Percy held the cap and took it off, letting the magical sword extend to its full length. He took a good look at the sharp, double-edged sword, taking note of how long it had been without any use. As Percy twisted the blade, one side still gleamed in bronze light but the other side shined in classic mortal steel. It was quite a wicked thing to do with Riptide, he wasn't going to lie. But Percy would say firsthand as a witness that there were mortals so horrible, they could make worse monsters than the real monsters themselves.

He had a feeling the blade was about to be stained with red tonight.

Before he simply just left, he made sure Dash had enough to eat before ditching the taxi and hopping into his car instead, turning it on and driving off to the north of the island of Manhattan.

And so, here he was.

Percy was feeling a combination of both anticipation and nervousness as he opened his car door and stepped a foot outside. He knew there were two ways this could go, and as a demigod, he was to always anticipate danger. He was to be ready for anything. And tonight, he was. Because there were two ways this meeting could go. Leo could either be genuine about his promise, give Percy a briefcase with exactly 500 thousand in it and let him walk away to try to save his mother with payments to a piss-poor and unhelpful doctor.

Or, the most likely outcome: Leo has found out about the rats inside his circle, decides Percy could be one of them and ultimately decides he can't let Percy walk away. He decides to get rid of loose ends. And Percy ... he would fight back with hell-blazing fury to the likes that Leo would have never expected.

When one is walking into a trap, one gets that feeling in their gut that this is in fact a trap. And Percy could feel it in his gut before he even entered, he was walking straight into an ambush.

But he was ready to face it.

Percy walked until he reached the grey metallic door and opened it, letting himself inside. His footsteps resounded loudly in the empty building as he made his way to the center of it. Up on the catwalk on the sides of the massive warehouse, Percy already spotted four guys. In the center of the place, there were four SUVs parked and Leo Monticello waited for him, arms crossed, as many of his men stood behind him, semi-automatic rifles planted in their hands as they stared at Percy with no emotion whatsoever. As Percy counted 12 guys in total, strapped with AK-47s, he took a deep breath to steady himself before meeting with Leo Monticello in the very center of the building. Percy didn't even have to look, but he could sense one more guy coming out, blocking the door that Percy just came through.

He got the message, alright. No way out for him. If he bolted now, Leo's guys were ready to fire and kill him where he stood. This fact alone for any normal human being would have been nerve-wracking. It might even make one wet their pants.

But not Percy, he was actually feeling quite confident today. Leo had an army? Well, so did Percy.

Percy crossed his arms. "Quite a welcome."

"These are uh ... difficult times. I've had to improve security, hire more guns," Leo explained.

"That a fact?" Percy asked condescendingly.

Leo nodded and sighed. "So ... I presume the deed's done?"

"Yeah," Percy said bitterly. "Hunter Robertson is no more. Killed. Probably didn't deserve it, but hey ... what do I know?"

"No trouble?" Leo questioned.

Percy shook his head. "Walked in dressed up like a doll, walked out. Piece of cake."

"See, that's why I like you," Leo replied. "You're good at what you do."

"Yeah, I am," Percy said bitterly. "So you gonna pay me or what?"

Leo made a tsk sound with his teeth. "About that ... I've been thinking, about our situation ..."

"What situation?"

"We have rats, Percy," Leo stated. "I had been getting double-crossed ... by my own goddamn cousin. Disgraceful goddamn rat. Kid didn't like what he was seeing, so he went to the police. And now, there on to us. Because of that ... goddamn kid."

Percy raised his eyebrows and grimaced. "You mean Tony? I always liked that kid. He wanted to be a lawyer."

"Yeah, well he's dead," Leo stated matter-of-factly. "So, he won't be getting any lawyer degrees now. And he won't be saying another word to the cops."

Percy was stunned. "You ... you killed Tony? He was just a kid! He hadn't even completed high school"

"I will not tolerate rats!" Leo yelled. "Not even if their in my own goddamn family! I don't regret it and I would even do it all over again! Which is why I can't let you walk away, with what you know about us!"

Percy stared at Leo.

"That's right," Leo said. "I've been really thinking about this ... this deal. I'm gonna void it. Considering how you behave every time we give you an assassination, I can't take the risk and let you walk freely. You might just decide to go to the cops with what you know. I'm not taking that risk. I've got loose ends, rats and backstabbers in the circle, Percy. And loose ends need to be taken care of."

Percy looked at Leo with an expressionless face. "So, you're having me killed?"

"It's nothing personal, Percy," Leo said. "I like you, you've done us a lot of great favors over the year. You've become one of the best mercenaries I've ever met, even at your young age. But ... I will not tolerate rats. I know there's more out there, I don't know who they are, but I'll find out and they will be put down, too. Anyone who knows a thing about us will be exterminated. Including you."

Percy didn't respond, but Leo smiled nonetheless.

"It's nothing personal, Percy," Leo justified. "I just can't have you out there, with what you know about us. I can't take that chance."

Percy grimaced as he surveyed the situation. He was starting to wonder if he should call in back-up when what Leo said next made him freeze.

"Hey, if it's any consolation, you'll have your mother with you as company soon enough."

Percy scowled at Leo. "What?"

"Oh yeah, I know about your mother. I mean, there had to be a reason you were taking those jobs even if you didn't like them," Leo said with a chuckle. "It's a shame really. I mean, I almost wanted to send the money to her. But I looked into her situation and it's uh ... real precarious. She's very likely going to die within the next two weeks. It would take a miracle to save her now. So I thought 'eh, why waste all that money'. Maybe I'll have your replacement put her out of her misery after I kill you instead." Leo scoffed. "What am I talking about? Of course I will, I don't know what you've told her. She could be a rat, too. Not to worry, Percy. Your mother will be as healthy as a horse when you see her again."

Every word that Leo said felt like another hot iron pressing into his skin and the more he talked, the madder Percy got. Despite the seething anger bubbling inside his gut like hot lava, he remained dangerously composed. Angry waves splashed ferociously in his sea-green eyes as he stared Leo down with his wolf-glare.

"What, didn't expect to get replaced so soon, Jackson?" Leo said, laughing now. "Yeah, this one's got uh ... less moral ambiguity. So he'll be perfect for putting your dear old mother to pasture."

Nobody ... threatens ... my mother, was all Percy could think as he glared viciously at Leo. It was time to ruin the asshole's night.

"Ooooh, scary," Leo mocked as he saw Percy glare at him ferociously before waving to to his men and beginning to walk away. "Put him out of his misery, boys."

"Leo Monticello," Percy said in a dangerously calm and angry voice. Leo turned his head to look at him one more time. "You shoulda kept your mouth shut."
Percy tapped into his earpiece, graciously gifted to him by the Director of SHIELD. He uttered just one command.

"Now."

A massive part of the roof exploded and caved in, chunks of the cinder material falling and collapsing on two guys standing on the catwalk. Percy knew it was coming and he found himself some cover as several SHIELD tac men rappelled down from the roof, before raising their rifles and firing at the crime boss's men. Percy rolled behind some crates as Monticello's men recovered from their initial shock and started firing back. On the other side of the building, Percy could see Leo sprint up the stairs to the catwalk as he yelled into his phone.

"I need backup! Get me backup to West Harlem now!"

Percy had a look of determination on his face as he got out his cover and ran for the stairs. He'd be damned if he let Leo get away after everything he's said and done. Leo Monticello looked back to see Percy Jackson chasing after him and he yelled at the two remaining guys at the catwalk.

"Kill him!"

The two men barely even had time to properly raise their AKs before the both of them received bullets to the head, courtesy of Percy Jackson and his handgun. A guy from below spotted Percy on the catwalk and pointed his gun up towards it, firing at Percy. Percy did an acrobatic flip as some bullets ricocheted off the catwalk and the rest missed him entirely. As he twirled in mid-air, Percy fired his handgun, shooting that guy in the head and he collapsed.

As Percy glanced back, he spotted Leo taking the exit that led to the roof and he continued to chase after him. When Percy finally broke through the door to the roof entry, there was a helicopter that was slowly descending to Leo's rescue as he waved his arms at it. Percy raised his handgun, placing the sights of the gun level with his right eye for more precision and fired. The bullet nailed the pilot and the chopper span out of control, crashing into the side of the already half-destroyed warehouse.

Leo whirled around to the see the culprit who took down the pilot only for his eyes to widen to the size of plates as Percy holstered his gun. Leo drew his own gun and fired at Percy, but he was so slow from being petrified that Percy had more than enough time to uncap Riptide and deflect the bullet of the blade. Leo fired again, but the gun clicked, signaling that it was empty.

"Damnit!" Leo screamed, his voice cracking with panic.

He slammed the gun down as Percy expressionlessly raised an eyebrow at the cornered crime boss. "What's wrong, Leo? Out of ammo?"

"Percy, come on now," Leo said desperately. "We can talk this out, right? I-I'll give you millions! I'll make you rich beyond your wildest dreams! I'll even leave you and your mother alone! Come on, Percy. Be reasonable!"

"I'm beyond money now, Leonardo Monticello," Percy replied, his voice deep and threatening. "You threatened ... my mother."

"Look, I'm sorry about that okay? Just ... come on. Think!"

Percy began to walk faster, Riptide swinging threateningly in his right hand. "Oh, I am thinking. I have never thought more clearly in my life."

"Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait - ARGH!"

Percy struck, thrusting his sword right into Leo's gut, the blade impaling right through his back, staining the metal with the mortal's red blood. Blood spilled from Leo's mouth as Percy firmly kept Riptide impaled inside the crime boss.

"This is for all the innocent people you had me kill," Percy said and twisted Riptide. Leo screamed in pain. "This is for threatening my mom." Percy twisted again and Leo screamed again. "This is for trying to kill me as well." Percy twisted again, making Leo scream again. "And screw it, let's do one more. This is for Tony, who was just ... a ... KID!"

Percy twisted Riptide harder than ever, no doubt shredding and tearing his intestines to pieces before pulling Riptide back out, letting the gash in his stomach spill the blood out before planting his foot on his chest and sending him toppling over the roof, crashing onto the surface below.

Percy stood at the edge of the roof, a cold expression settling on his face before he raised Riptide, the metal tinged red with the former crime boss's blood. He dragged his hand across the metal, wiping the red stains off and flicking his hand, letting the red blood-drops fly.

If a sword piercing his body didn't kill Leo, if the guts and blood spilling out of his stomach didn't kill him, surely the 5-story fall and impact against the ground did the job. And that proved to be the case, as Percy glanced at Leo's corpse one more time before turning back to where he came from.

The sound of gunfire had long ceased and Percy figured whatever army Leo had was gone. There were still some loose ends to take care, but that was officially not Percy's business anymore. He was personally handing the reins to Fury for this one, giving him all the permission he needed to chase down the rest of the crime family.

Percy walking back to where SHIELD waited for him all but cemented and finalized his days as a mercenary. He was officially a free agent and it was time to redeem himself. The good Percy Jackson was still inside of him and he planned on lending his services to a good cause. His ledger was stained red with blood and with SHIELD's help, he could finally wipe it off. That would be soon enough, though.

Right now, it was time to make sure the Director of SHIELD made good on his promise.

Well ... that was an action-packed. Could've almost been a movie.

What an asshole, right? I'd say Leo Monticello more than deserved to be killed. And maybe I did it a bit gruesomely, I hope I don't get into too much trouble for it, but hey ... he deserved it. Especially for what he did to Tony. Poor kid, just wanted to study to become a lawyer. Yeah, screw Leo. Can I get some RIP Tony's in the reviews at least. Nah, I'm just kidding, you don't have to.

Next up, we finally get some touching scenes with Percy's mom. And Percy officially becomes an Agent of SHIELD. Not in any particular order. It's starting to gear up towards the events of The Avengers, especially considering these events happen only a month before Loki appears through the Tesseract in Nevada.

Anyways, that's all for now. RIP Tony (sorry, couldn't help myself) and see you guys in the next one.