Chapter Text
“Is this seat taken?”
Percy Jackson had been so absorbed in his enjoyment of Central Park that he hadn’t noticed the man in the red cape approaching him. He stared up at the man, who had brown hair, a neat beard, and a piercing look in his eyes. Percy wasn’t sure why this man was accosting him, but he wasn’t going to take it lying down.
“What do you want?” Percy asked, standing up from the bench.
The man cleared his throat. “Let me rephrase myself. Hello, Perseus Jackson. My name is Doctor Stephen Strange. We need to talk.”
Percy stared daggers at him. “How do you know my name?”
“Oh, I know a lot more than that,” Strange remarked. “I know that you’re a demigod - son of Poseidon, to be precise -“
Before Strange could finish speaking, Percy attempted to punch him in the face. Surprisingly to him, this attempt was thwarted by some kind of magical force field. Percy drew his fist back, still aiming it at Strange’s nose.
“Who are you?” he growled through gritted teeth. “A son of Hecate?”
“I need no such blessing, Percy,” Strange chuckled as shimmering orange circles appeared in his hands. “I am a Master of the Mystic Arts. Now, are we going to beat each other senseless, or are we going to talk?”
Percy grimaced. “What do you want?
“There is a problem,” Strange said, sitting down on the bench. Percy joined him.
“What else is new?” Percy chuckled.
Strange looked at him. “You’re familiar with the concept of a superhero, correct?”
Percy shrugged. “With all due respect, Mr. Strange -“
“It’s Doctor Strange, please,” Strange tutted. “I didn’t get a Ph.D so I could be called Mister.”
“Alright, Doctor Strange,” Percy grumbled, playing with a lock of hair. “We demigods might be kinda disconnected from the outside world, but I live in New York. I know about Iron Man; I know about the Avengers. Heck, our oracle was spouting something weird about “Earth’s mightiest heroes” a couple of days ago!”
“My point exactly,” Strange replied. “I have intercepted a communication from your King of the Gods, Zeus. The Olympians are concerned - understandably, might I add - about the issues caused by mortal superheroes. They believe that they are upsetting the balance of Earth.”
“So what, Zeus wants to smite Iron Man because of all the stuff he's messed up?” Percy asked, half-joking.
Strange’s expression was stern. “Essentially, yes. The increasing frequency of recent incidents involving the Avengers and other related parties have led to calls from the gods for their… destruction.”
“Friggin’ gods,” said Percy, cupping his face in his hands. “Always meddling with mortals. Let me guess: you want me to talk to them.”
“Yes,” Strange replied.
“Well, tough luck, buddy. Olympus is closed. Peaceful negotiation is off the damn table.”
Percy stood up and started to walk away
“Then I suppose we’ll have to resort to plan B,” Strange noted, suddenly appearing in front of Percy and making him jump. “Unless you don’t want to resort to any plans at all.”
“Look, I’m not too sure about superheroes, but I do know that I’m against the gods smiting mortals for dumb reasons. What’s this Plan B of yours?” Percy asked, glaring.
Strange smirked. “Well, I suppose it’d be “cool” for a teenager like you. How would you feel about teaming up with the Avengers?”
Percy shrugged. “What would that entail?”
“Well, I’d have to come to Camp Half-Blood, talk to your leadership -“
“I am continually impressed and terrified by how much you know about us,” Percy muttered, taking a step towards Strange. “Why should I trust you? I mean, I don’t recognise you, but you’re some kind of superhero too, right?”
Strange smiled. “What gave it away?”
“I think it was the cape,” Percy said, gesturing to the garment on Strange’s back. “Oh, and the magic, that too. Anyway, yeah, tell me why I should trust you.”
“Because if you don’t, then Earth will be in grave danger,” he remarked casually. “No Avengers, gods who think they can do as they please… not exactly a recipe for peace in our time.”
Percy sighed. “You know, I still don’t like you, but if not working with you means the world goes sour, I guess I have no choice. Come with me. There’s a few people you need to meet.”