"You might think we are similar because you think I have certain... skills but I can tell you right now we are nothing alike and your way of interrogation, pretending you are a friend, showing fake sympathy and trust might work on some people,'' Percy said, practically spitting the last few words, "but it won't work on me."
Everyone was silent. Percy had figured out Black Widow's plan right off the bat, even before she started talking. What's worse is that this was the same technique that had worked on Loki, god of trickery and lies.
"Are you saying you would prefer torture?" Fury asked. Steve stood up ready to march down there to confront Fury about torturing a kid, but it looked like he didn't need to as the kid remained calm.
"I don't think anything you can do will break me," Percy started his voice turning cold, his eyes flashed in warning.
"And what about your family?" Fury proposed. Percy lunged to the glass, standing right up in front of Fury. Both he and Natasha took a step back and guards fumbled to get their guns up.
"Let me make this very clear to you and everyone watching this little interrogation. You can do whatever you want to me, but if you even look at my family the wrong way, I will make your lives a living hell. Do I make myself clear?" Percy warned, his eyes flashing dangerously.
"That's a petty threat," Fury shot back, trying to push down his rising panic. This kid was giving off dangerous vibes. It was like all his years being 'The' spy went flying out the window.
"Oh, it was not a threat, it was a warning. I suggest you take it seriously." Percy growled, the sarcastic teenager gone. "You say you want to protect public safety, then fine. But as soon as you go after the innocent just to get to me, you are no better than the bad guys." Percy's rant seemed to calm him. The cell room was silent. Even Fury and Natasha weren't moving, everything just seemed to freeze.
"Let us out," Fury called to the man by the control panel.
"What just happened?" Scott gulped, breaking the silence in the conference room. Before anyone could answer, the door opened and in walked Fury and Black Widow.
"What was that, threatening the kid's family?!" Steve shouted. He didn't blame the kid for acting that way when he thought his family would be in danger.
"I do not need to answer to you, Rogers." Fury said condescendingly.
"Oh, but threatening to torture a 17-year-old kid and then threatening his family is okay?" Steve snapped, his eyes narrowing in anger.
"I had no intention to bring his family into this," Fury's single eye met Steve's in challenge.
"So, you did it to get a reaction," Bucky stated, frowning, not liking where the interrogation had gone either.
On the screen, they saw Percy start pacing the cell rubbing his hand through his hair and muttering to himself. Steve frowned. He didn't like this at all. "This isn't right,'' Steve said as he walked out of the room, ignoring the team calling after him.
"I understand why you are doing this but I have to agree with Steve, that was uncalled for," Tony spoke following after Steve.
A few hours later, Dr. Banner walked into the cell. He was nervous because, well, it had been designed for his alter ego. He did not understand why Percy was in this cell in the first place. He had not made any threatening moves since he was captured (with the exception of that speech about protecting his family, but that had been warranted). Fury seemed to have contradicted himself, wanting Percy in the most secure cell and then he walked right into the cell himself to talk with him. Bruce assumed it had something to do with a spy interrogation trick - get yourself close to your enemy and stand over them to intimidate them, but it clearly had not worked.
"How is your shoulder?" Dr. Banner asked Percy.
"I'm fine." He spoke turning back to face Bruce.
"Percy, it could get infected if it opened. Please let me help you." Percy looked like he wanted to fight the issue but he sighed as he took off his shirt revealing the many scars on his torso and back. Bruce cautiously moved behind Percy and removed his bandage gasping slightly.
"It's almost completely gone." Banner stated, staring at the red mark that was leaking a little blood. "I guess you don't need these stitches anymore." Percy didn't say anything just looking down at the cell floor. He could feel everyone staring at him, looking at his scars. Percy felt exposed, naked, under their gaze, but at the moment he didn't feel like he had the energy to fight it.
"All done." Bruce said, stepping back from Percy who immediately put his shirt back on.
"Do you want to talk about your scars?" Steve asked from outside the cell. Bruce hadn't even realized that the super soldier had entered the room. Percy grimaced, remembering where he got those scars. He'd got some them in Tartarus, while Annabeth wandered blindly, screaming his name. Now, she was gone. She wasn't coming back. She survived that battle, but the next one had taken her into the underworld forever. He only hoped she was in Elysium. With all that she had done, where else could she be? She was in Elysium, where Bianca is, where Luke supposedly is and she's with Beckendorf, Silena and everyone else who had died in the Second Titan and Giant wars.
Steve noticed the look Percy had given when he asked the question. He had seen that look before and he was sure Bucky, Rhodey, and Sam would've recognized it too. That look was from a soldier who had fought through the horrors of war. It was the haunting PTSD soldiers got because of the fighting. To Steve, that made no sense. He was a kid. How could you share the look of a traumatized warrior? Percy shook his head and looked back up a mask falling over his expression.
Steve wanted to stay and comfort the kid, but reluctantly he left the room. Dr. Banner followed behind, exiting the cell, the door sliding shut behind them.
'What has this kid seen? Those scars...' Steve thought as he walked away with one last glance to the kid sitting against the glass wall, his head resting against it.