45 》Animalistic

                                    

                                          
Hey guys, sorry for the long wait. But I have two very long (and final) chapters lined up for you.
                          
I hope you like this chapter. I forced myself through incredibly painful cramps to get it to you.
                          
The next chapter will be released in the next day or so after some final edits.
                          
Play music when you get to Percy's POV.
                          
《<>》
                          
Dick
                          
"Dick," Max called, resting a hand on my shoulder to get my attention.
                          
"What, Max?" I snapped.
                          
"It wasn't his fault, you know," she chided.
                          
"I know," I admitted, shrugging her off. "That doesn't change the fact it happened."
                          
Max sighed as she gently stroked the bump on her head. 'Believe me, I know' she seemed to say.
                          
"Bat dude is gonna be fine," she reassured me.
                          
"Yeah. He's survived worse."
                          
It was a while before we saw anyone else. We found the girls and Percy in a mostly fit condition - aside from a couple of bruises - accompanied by Annabeth (who was now free of mind control?).
                          
After that, we bumped into some still mind-controlled demigods. Leaving us to wonder why Annabeth and Frank seemed okay.
                          
It was when we found Nico and Will everything seemed to come together.
                          
Annabeth and Will both suffered harsh blows to the base of their skulls - seemingly knocking their mind-chips offline.
                          
Frank, well, we attributed his new-found freedom to shape-shifting. And after seeing his reunion with Hazel, I was convinced Frank could be trusted. You couldn't fake the pure relief and love they showed.
                          
We'd yet to locate the Justice League, or our mentors who'd been trapped with us.
                          
Until I heard a very familiar voice yell joyfully, "ARTEMIS!"
                          
Instantly the blonde was swooped up by the red-head in yellow and the two were locking lips. I instinctively went to cover Estelle's eyes, before I realised Percy was holding her. Eventually they came up for breath.
                          
"Wally," Artemis rasped.
                          
"Babe! You can talk!"
                          
"KF!" I exclaimed, rushing over to him.
                          
"Dick! You're okay! You're all okay...ish. That's good!"
                          
"We haven't found Batman...or Flash or GA," I frowned.
                          
"Or seen the other demigods," Annabeth added. "If they made it out without injury they'd be hunting us."
                          
The idea settled on the group for a tense moment.