Chapter Text
Jason had thought he’d heard it all. Gods, monsters, prophecies, magic, the last hour had been a crash course in insanity. And yet Chiron, sitting like some wise old professor at the head of the war council table, somehow managed to keep finding new layers of ridiculousness. “You’re saying,” Jason said slowly, “that Tim and Steph are—what—half Greek?”
“Half divine,” Chiron corrected gently. His voice was steady, like this was a conversation he’d had hundreds of times before. “And Damian is what we call a legacy. One of his grandparents, on his mother’s side, Bellona, was a Roman goddess of war.”
Bruce’s jaw tightened. “Prove it.”
“Bruce,” Dick muttered, leaning back in his chair. “We’ve seen the horse part. The horse part is real.” Jason would forever remember the way Bruce lost all color the second Chiron exited the wheelchair saying it was uncomfortable, that and the sound Duke made. He will forever cherish those memories, and forget all about what he was sure his face looked like when it happened.
“This isn’t the same as a parlor trick,” Bruce snapped.
Marley, lounging against the back wall with her arms folded, muttered, “Oh, it’s exactly the same as a parlor trick, Dad. Just with higher stakes.”
Steph sat forward, eyebrows raised. “Hold up. You mean my entire life–”
“You’ve been a monster magnet,” Percy cut in helpfully from the other side of the table. “Congrats. Not that you didn’t handle it fine, but it’s not exactly a fun club.”
Tim’s eyes narrowed. “And you’re just telling me this now?”
“Better late than never?” Marley offered, though her smirk didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Also to be fair we just found out when I came home. So we’ve only known for like a week longer than you.”
Bruce was still fixed on disbelief. “And what exactly does being a ‘legacy’ entail?”
“It means,” Annabeth said, taking over when Chiron hesitated, “that while Damian isn’t a demigod, he’s still descended from a deity. Sometimes legacies inherit abilities. Bellona’s descendants tend to have… tactical instincts, a knack for warcraft.” She shot Damian a knowing look. “Which explains a lot.” Jason did not like that implication. Like she knew their secret. So far no one had mentioned it, but who knew if Chiron knew or not.
Damian bristled. “I do not require an explanation for my skill.” He spits out harshly.
Jason couldn’t help himself. “You said gods are tempermental? Guess ‘rage issues’ are hereditary.”
Damian glared. “And yours came from where?” Low blow demon brat, he knew exactly where his rage came from. He opened his mouth to tell him exactly that—
“Gentlemen,” Chiron interrupted firmly. “The point is your family gained three members who are part of this world whether they wish to be or not. Which means you are targets.”
Tim groaned like Chiron had just ruined a perfectly organized spreadsheet. “This isn’t… I mean, come on. I’d know if I were half-god.”
“You wouldn’t,” Lou Ellen piped up, leaning back in her chair like she was watching the best soap opera of her life. “You’d just think you were weird and unlucky. Which… you are.”
Steph barked out a laugh. “Okay, but seriously if my what mom or dads not human, that means… wait, do I have powers? Can I fly? Can I smite people? Because that could be so useful in Gotham.”
Percy snorted. “Depends on the god. Personally for me, no flying unless I want my uncle to kill me for entering his domain.”
“Flying is hit or miss for me,” Marley offers, “Technically the King of the Gods has no issues with me for existing, but I have made him pretty mad since I wouldn’t shut up and may have indirectly insulted him a few times, so it depends on his mood.”
“Indirectly?” Annabeth repeats, “You called him a petty brat, and said maybe if he made his bastard children and actual children pay their child support he wouldn’t have faced a revolution.”
She shrugs, “Not my finest moment, and to be fair he did almost smite me for that.” She pauses, “That being said, do not talk to any god like that, that time was an exception since camp just saved them all from a revolution which would have destroyed them and brought us back to the Golden Age.”
Bruce had his hands steepled, staring at Chiron like the centaur had just confessed to masterminding Gotham’s crime rate. “Ok, concerning information from them aside. You’re telling me my children are apart of this… pantheon mess, and I’m supposed to take that on faith?”
Cass spoke up for the first time. “Makes sense,” she said simply, leaning back in her chair. “They’re… them. Fits.”
Steph frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?” She demands, staring at her friend in shock.
Cass just smiles. Duke groaned, dragging a hand down his face. “Great. Just when I thought you people couldn’t get more complicated.”
Lou Ellen grinned. “Complication is kind of the common brand.”
“Your brand,” Jason muttered under his breath. “Our brand is punching clowns.”
Bruce still hadn’t moved his gaze from Chiron. “Once again. I’ll need proof,” he said coldly. “Something more than just your word.”
Percy raised a brow. “What, you want Zeus to show up with a paternity test?”
Jason almost choked on a laugh at the way Bruce’s jaw clenched. "Easy way to settle this," Lou Ellen said, swirling her fingers and making a small vial of amber liquid appear. Jason sucked in a breath at the blatant show of power. "Nectar. The drink of the gods. If you're mortal, it'll burn you alive from the inside out. Bones into dust and all that lovely stuff. If you're a demigod… it just tastes like your favorite food. Want me to grab some spoons?"
Tim recoiled. "That is not—"
"—how science works," Duke cut in, nodding furiously.
Marley propped her chin on her hand, the picture of nonchalance. "Not science. Divine Magic. And anyways, Damian already had some a few days ago. Didn’t even know it. He’s fine." Dick sits up straight staring at Damian in concern.
"What?" Damian’s eyes snapped to her. "When—"
"The mall." Marley didn’t elaborate, but she didn’t need to. Belladonna. That woman fed Damian Nectar, which is why her so-called poison didn’t work. If what they were saying was true, then it wouldn’t have worked on him because he had divine blood, and Marley knew which was why she gave him the poison vial not the goon. "You didn’t die, so congratulations. You pass the test."
Bruce still looked unconvinced, his jaw tight, even as the rest of them seemed to come to the same horrifying conclusion as Jason understanding slowly showing on their faces. "You expect me to believe in divine parentage because Damian allegedly consumed honey?"
"It’s nectar," Percy muttered, looking offended on nectar’s behalf.
Annabeth sighed, clearly reaching the end of her patience. She stood walking around the others and up to Bruce, "For Hera’s sake. Fine. Let’s make it simple. Celestial bronze.” She drew the dagger at her hip in one fluid motion and, before anyone could react, drove it straight into Bruce’s chest. The collective shout was deafening. Jason had his gun halfway out, Tim had a bo staff in hand, and Dick practically vaulted the table… until Bruce blinked in mild surprise, looking down at the blade sticking harmlessly through his shirt. “Celestial bronze only hurts anything with divine presence, a demigod or monster, never mortal." Annabeth explains yanking the knife out, “See? Not a scratch.”
“You could have explained it to them before stabbing their dad, Wise Girl.” Percy says in a bemused tone staring at her with a grin.
“And where’s the fun in that Seaweed Brain?” Annabeth returns.
Marley took the knife next, eyes glinting in that way that made Jason suspect she enjoyed this far too much. Without hesitation, she drew it across her palm, just enough to open the skin. A line of blood welled up. "Demigod.” She says in a sing-song voice, “Hurts like Hades, by the way." Lou handed her the vial of Nectar and she took a small sip, “Nectar and Ambrosia heal demigods wounds.” She explains, and they watch the cut stitch itself back together, leaving a thin scab, "This will be gone by tommorow."
Bruce’s frown deepened, but his gaze sharpened as Marley handed the knife to Steph.
Steph hesitated, then muttered, "Ok lets do this," and pressed the blade to her forearm. She flinched. A bead of blood appeared.
Tim swore under his breath but moved fast enough to catch the knife Percy grabbed from her, and tossed it at him. "Your turn, Sherlock."
He shot him a glare worthy of Damian, but dragged the edge lightly against his thumb. He hissed and yanked his hand back.
Jason leaned back in his chair, watching Bruce struggle to process it all. "Hey, B," he drawled. "You wanted proof." Marley snorts and stands up, passing them each a vial of nectar Lou Ellen had summoned, and after a brief pause they both knock it back.
Bruce said nothing, just stared at the small cuts on Steph and Tim’s skin that were slowly stitching back up like they were the most convincing evidence in the world. “Alright.” Chiron stands up. “Now that that’s been covered, Percy, Annabeth, Lou Ellen, and Marley, why don’t you go head to the cabins and get ready for the war council meeting, along with finding someone to finish the Wayne family tour since the meeting will be a long one knowing the council, plus you will be discussing meeting the heroes tomorrow.”
Percy shifts slightly, “I don’t know how I feel about a ton of upstart ‘heroes’ knowing camp's location and our identities Chiron. Seems risky.”
“That is the point of the meeting, Percy, to discuss the risks. The Mist will cover location and identity issues, all of the Hecate cabin and any other mist users agreed to handle it,” Chiron explains, “Now off you lot go, you’re going to be late.”
Annabeth nods, “Of course Chiron.” She nodded to the man, “Come on.” She pulls her boyfriend, because there was no way the two weren’t dating, and gestures for them to follow. Lou Ellen and Marley jump up and quickly move to follow, but the rest of them stay in place.
“Hold on.” Bruce says firmly, “Can we attend this ‘war meeting’ with the others?” He asks, doing air quotes around war meetings. Jason frowns.
“No need for air quotes, it is a war meeting Mr. Wayne.” Chiron says goodnaturally before his voice hardens, “As for you attending? No. You don’t have nearly enough clearance for that.” And with that Marley gestures for them to drop it behind his back.
“Wait.” Jason says, as they slowly start getting up, “What if Steph and Tim and Damian just go?” He offers. “They are campers afterall.”
“New campers.” Chiron corrects, “With no level of authority here. Damian is the youngest of his siblings, and the other two aren’t yet claimed, so unfortunately, no they can’t.” The Waynes glare at him as they exit. Chiron had gained no favor from them, though it didn’t seem like the man was actively trying to gain it.
“Come on.” Annabeth repeats and they follow reluctantly out of the room.
Once they exit the Big House Percy turns with a grin. “Hi. Percy Jackson, I'm a son of Poseidon.” He introduces himself, “Didn’t get to properly introduce myself earlier. This wonderful lady behind me is my incredible girlfriend Annabeth Chase, a daughter of Athena.” The girl smiles thinly at him, and Jason was sure it’d be an outright grin, if she didn’t have an audience. But she did so instead, she held her head high and walked a little further.
“Alright. Go change. All of you.” She commands. “The meeting starts in twenty minutes.”
“Thought we didn’t have clearance.” Tim huffs, sounding way too annoyed.
Annabeth grins at them. “The Waynes don’t, but Gotham vigilantes are allies of the Justice League, and are therefore welcome as ambassadors to state why exactly you should be allowed at tomorrow's larger meeting.”
Duke misses a step, “You know?” he asks.
Percy cracks a smile, giving a lighthearted laugh, “Your identities are the worst kept secret in our friend group.”
“Marley, you told them?” Bruce asks his daughter, betrayal leaking in his tone.
Annabeth snorts, “Nah. Each cabin has an initiation of sorts. Athena Cabin is a week-long trial. How many superheroes can you unmask? I focused on you guys. At the end of the week, you present showing how you came across the idea that they are who you guessed. We confirm the truth, then go back and cover the way we found out so no one else can. Your welcome. I figured out the rest of you as you started parading around, but it wasn't that hard.”
Tim nods slowly, “Sounds fun I guess.” He mutters.
Marley nudges him with her shoulder, a giant grin on her face, “Good because I’m like 90% positive that you’re Athena’s kid.”
Annabeth’s eyes widen and she looks at Tim with a different look in her eye, as if searching for something, “Makes sense,” She says casually.
“So this is where we split ways.” Marley huffs as they approach the cabins. “Your stuff has been taken to Cabin One, which is where the heroes will be staying if they come tomorrow. Tim, Dami, and Steph are with me at my cabin where we’ll get y’all the camp uniform, and explain some finer points, your stuff is in the cabin next door until you get claimed.”
“Claimed?”
“Claimed. It’s how we find out who your godly parent is.” Annabeth explains in answer to Tim. “Each Cabin belongs to a god, so even though guys and girls room together we’re siblings. We don’t acknowledge godly blood beyond siblings, since they don’t have DNA.”
“For instance, Percy and Annabeth don’t like to think about how technically they are second cousins.” Lou Ellen snickers.
Percy looked appalled, “We are?”
“Don’t think too hard about it, Perce.” Annabeth says fondly, "Remember no DNA.”
He nods, “Right.” He huffs, “I hate godly stuff.”
Marley grins, “Makes all of us. Alright meet back here at ten. Go!” She grabs Steph's wrist and pulls her to her cabin, the others trailing behind. Lou Ellen smirks and waves her hand making a rock appear in Marley's path. Marley trips over it, going down hard, but twisted into a roll and stood right back up without missing a beat. Lou Ellen turned to them, and Jason tried not to flinch, because there was a dull glow in the iris of her eyes. Her eyes were already green, and he was reminded of the Lazurus pits.
“Oh, my eyes can be unnerving sometimes I suppose. Sorry, they glow when I do magic. Green during the day, purple at night. Anyways, good luck, have fun.” She grins and runs after the other ones sprinting the short way to catch up to them.
Percy grins casually at them. “I’ll take you to the Cabin.” He offers, “I stay in Cabin Three so they are right by each other."
Bruce nods, “Why are the cabins so different?”
“Yeah.” Duke agrees, “I’m pretty sure that one was like a haunted house.”
Percy laughs, shoving his hands into his pockets, “Yeah, it’s based on your godly parent. Three is Poseidon. Thirteen is where Nico stays, Hades, which explains the haunted look.”
“You said you are a son of Poseidon?” Jason asks curiously.
Percy nods, “One of two, Tyson doesn’t stay at camp though, he’s a cyclops so he stays in the underwater forges.”
“Lonely.” Cass says quietly.
Percy shrugs, “Yeah sometimes. But, camp is a place where everyone is family. It’s been rough recently, especially after losing Jason, but we are making it through.”
“I’m a little lost.” Jason mutters.
He laughs bitterly, “Jason was a son of Zeus, so my cousin even if not by DNA. He died last year, uh, it was pretty bad, no one was expecting it, a lot of us hadn’t even seen him in a while. Jay was one of two children of Zeus, and Thalia isn’t around much, she’s a Hunter.”
“What about Wonder Woman and Troia and Wonder Girl, aren’t they demigods?” Bruce asks, prying for information.
The teens eyes darken, looking like a raging storm, “Yeah, Diana isn’t around at all. Too busy with Man’s World to stop by and say hi.” He shrugs forcefully, “We get it. Uh Donna and Cassandra though… our best guess is they were never informed about camp.”
“Huh.” Dick mutters. “That’s a lot.”
“Yeah, well anyways usually visitors and unclaimed stay in Hestia’s cabin, but you guys are staying in Cabin One for the day.”
Dick frowns in confusion, “Why though?”
Percy grins, “You’re friends of Diana and it’s technically her cabin, even if she’s never seen it. Figured it should be put to some use, Thalia never stays in there. Plus less questions will be asked, and we already have three people in Hestia’s cabin. You'll be gone so just don't advertise staying in there if you want your identities on the DL if you know what I mean."
“Right makes sense I suppose.” Dick mutters.
Percy actually laughs at that, “Dick, if there is one thing you’ll learn about this world, it is that absolutely nothing makes sense.”
“Reassuring.” Duke winces.
Percy just hums, “Percy!” Someone screams at him jogging up, “Dude! Haven’t seen you in forever.”
Percy laughs, “Hey Grover.” He says, doing a handshake. “Glad to see you back at camp.”
“Yeah figured the Wild needs a representative in this meeting. I think even Magnus and Sadie will be here as representatives. It’s a big deal, we all come hand in hand, so revealing one–”
“Reveals us all.” Percy finishes, his face darkening slightly, “I know.”
Grover smiles knowingly, “You aren’t a fan of it then?”
Percy looks over at them, then back at Grover, “No not really. It’s just, camp has been through a lot, another big hit and we might not make it. I don’t think we are ready for a fight against the League if things go south.”
“We can take it, Perc.” Grover assures, “It’ll be rough, but I have a feeling things will go alright.”
Bruce interrupted, “I don’t think the Justice League would fight a group of kids anyways.” He probably meant for it to be reassuring but both boys frowned.
“I wouldn’t underestimate us.” Grover warns. “Um. You’re Marley’s family right?”
“Thats us.” Jason mutters, thinking about just how this meeting would go.
Grover smiles, “Then you really should know better than to underestimate us. We are all tough and more importantly, most of us are not going to be willing to just give up our secrets that have been kept for millennia."
“So,” Annabeth grins, “Tell me about your parents. It’s a guessing game who your godly parent is, but I do love puzzles.”
Steph gave Tim a look and he huffs but starts. “Archeologists. Not much to say. Janet was brilliant, Jack listened to her.” Tim says with a shrug. Steph knew that his family was a sensitive subject and was beyond grateful that the other blond seemed to clock that as well.
“My mother is a nurse, and my dad is Cluemaster. Arthur and Chrystal Brown.” She says with a small shrug, “Nothing extraordinary.”
“Well anyways,” Annabeth says with a shrug, “There really isn’t a point in trying to guess, the only one who can truly tell you is your parent.”
Tim frowns, “They are dead so–”
“Not your mortal parent.” Marley corrects, “Godly.”
“Right, except both of us knew both of our parents.” Steph says, “Mine are still both alive for that matter.”
Lou Ellen shrugs, “Lots of kids thought they knew both their parents. Chances are some lies were involved.”
“I mean,” Marley adds, “Look at Jason. He isn’t even a demigod, and he thought Catherine was his mom till he was fifteen when he found out about Sheila. People lie all the time, and gods are the biggest liars out there.” The sky rumbled with thunder even though there wasn’t a cloud in sight. Marley rolls her eyes and stares up at the cloudless sky.
“Don’t be a sore brat old man.” She screams at the sky which once again thundered. She ushers them into her cabin but stops staring out at the other cabins.
A new girl was coming up grinning, her blue eyes that were circled in black eyeliner were glittering with mirth as she approached, “You keep yelling at my old man and you are going to get blasted with lightning on day Marley.” She was a little taller than Steph and had a very distinct aesthetic. Her classic Green Day shirt was tucked into some ripped black jeans, paired with army boots, and skull shaped earrings. The only thing that set the whole thing off was the fact that she was wearing a stunning silver circlet in her spiky black hair.
Marley shrugs casually, not seeming bothered, “Wouldn’t be the first time Thals.”
“Your dad?” Damian questions.
Thalia wrinkles her nose, “Yeah, good ole Zeus, dad of the year huh? I’m Thalia Grace, Daughter of Zeus.”
Tim nods slowly, “Oh fun, we have a few friends that are children of Zeus. Do you know them?”
Her eyes darken, “Yeah I’ve heard of them.” She hisses out.
“Not a fan?” Steph asks uncertainly.
Thalia laughs coldly, “Donna’s alright. Cassie doesn’t know better. But Diana? She can rot in the Underworld for all I care.” She seethes.
Tim bristles. “Why don’t you like Wonder Woman?” He asks. “She’s the founder of the Justice League and one of the greatest heroes out there!”
“Ha.” Thalia scoffs, "Greatest hero. Yeah we’ll see about that. If she dares to show up to this meeting tomorrow she’ll meet the rough end of my spear.” She spits out storming off.
“What was that about?” Steph asks the remaining campers.
Marley very carefully stared at them, “Barely any of the campers are fans of Wonder Woman.” She finally admits, “In fact they passionately despise her. She is not someone who the campers look up to. In fact I don’t look up to her anymore.” She slips into the bathroom, leaving them with her siblings.
“Why not?” Tim demands, “I mean, she’s a fierce warrior who has survived through a lot and still has morals. Seems like a great leader for you.” Marley exits holding a brush and quickly weaves her hair into a braid, only her bangs hanging out.
Annabeth scoffs, “A leader steps up and helps those in need. She didn’t.” Tim and the other two Bats quickly grabbed out their suits and Steph went behind a small changing stand unfolded, Lou Ellen was already behind the other one.
“She literally left her home place to protect those in need!” Tim exclaims. Lou Ellen pops out and Damian firmly walks forward.
“Then where was she when we were hurting? Where was she when we were being absolutely crushed by the weight of everyone's life in our hands? Where was she when we were being forced to fight in a war, where the oldest of us was nineteen? Where was she when we were out there dying?” Marley spits out, her words louder with each word. “Wonder Woman is no hero. She just is a coward who preaches about morals but won’t step in, because it’s not her problem. Diana left children to die, all under the pretense that it was no longer her world to protect. No, she is a Man’s World defender now. Two faced b-” Marley pauses in her words, takes a deep breath and pulls open a drawer pulling out some pants and a shirt. “Sorry.” She mutters, “I know you work with her, that was unfair of me to put on you.”
“Now seems a bad time to tell you Father invited the Kents and Prince over for breakfast tomorrow before the meeting to see you.” Damian says, emerging. “Although I’d like to hear more of your feud with the Amazon and I would not oppose to, say, messing with her at dinner.”
Marley grins sharply. “Oh let me tell you what she did.”