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Chapter Text

Were they the normal sort of people to be found wandering NYC. Absolutely not. They were the seven after all. But they needed a break. A big one. So of course they, along with Will and Nico had gone along with a stupid plan of Leo's to see if they could meet Tony Stark. Or something. No one had quite got what he had been rambling about. So there they were. Just wandering. You know. Having a nice time. But then of course there just had to be another threat... Seriously, why did a Gorgon have to track them all down. It kinda was their fault though. Big groups of demigods bring big monsters.

They had dispatched the monster with ease. With all the trauma they had, and all the fights they had been through, they had worse really. But of course the fight had popped up on a certain group of superhero's radar. The avengers, in their compound. So Nick Fury had dispatched Iron man (Tony Stark), Captain America (Steve Rodgers), Spiderman (Peter Parker), Black widow (Natasha Romanoff) and Bucky Barnes had gone along as well. They didn't really like taking the order. But they had to. So like a dysfunctional family field trip, they headed off to find the disturbance. The seven had heard them coming, well, Leo had gasped hearing something that sounded a lot like to him 'the iron man suites boosters'. He really wanted to stay, meet his hero, but of course if they had been dispatched there, there was only really one reason for it.

Now Annabeth was hiding in some godsdamned stupid back alley, praying they didn't find her. It was just her luck that the avengers seemed to be able to see through the mist as well. Or maybe they were just slightly more clear sighted. It would be an experiment worth learning from. Unfortunately, at that moment, she heard a shout from Tony Stark, and a very Leo like shout in return which pretty much went:
"SHIZZLE"
To which, rather perplexingly to the poor avengers, who of course had just realised they had stumbled on what was a group of teenagers, was replied to by Percy saying
"I thought you were McShizzle"
Slowly Annabeth climbed out of the alleyway, shaking her head at disappointment at her friends. They had survived so much. And now they get caught out by the avengers and all her stupid, annoying, oh so brilliant and adorable boyfriend could do was make jokes. Not that it wasn't funny. It kind of was. But now she had yet another situation on her hands that she had to get them out of. She watched silently, as Tony Stark stepped out of his iron man suit, not alerting them to her presence yet, she would watch and learn first. That was more important than wading in straight away in the world of strategy.
"What the Hell was that you were fighting. You're a group of teenagers"
Percy sniggered. Oh no, she could feel what he was going to say.
"what in Tartarus? Does he mean instead?"
Annabeth couldn't stop herself from flashing back at that. It had been so dark. Her breathing quickened. No no no. She had to settle it. Don't think about it. No. It hurt too much
"Listen okay we mean no harm" Piper started to say, from her position next to Leo and Jason. How in the name of the gods had they managed to be subdued so quickly. Annabeth knew the avengers were obviously highly trained superheros, but they were as well, the seven. Then again if they showed how well they did in those situations... Well it would be even more suspicious to the avengers.
"No you listen here kid. This is some dangerous shit-"
"Language" Captain America muttered
Tony Stark glared at him. Annabeth knew there was always a bit of tension between the two of them, she had seen them enough times to spot it, even on the news. "this is some dangerous stuff you are in. You better tell us what the hell is happening right now"

A small smile flickered on Annabeth's face. She didn't miss the was Stark's eyes flickered to Spiderman, the masked teenage vigilante. There was fatherly care in his look, it was like he was thinking of what he would do if Spiderman was in this amount of trouble. Watch and learn. And now she knew the weak points in the team. Not that she would hurt a teenager like her. She couldn't do that...
Suddenly she felt a hand on her back. Dam it... She'd forgotten about black widow.

Chapter Text

Annabeth looked black widow in the eyes. Her own eyes narrowing.

"Tony" The female assassin called out "we have another one"

Tony Stark looked up, but Annabeth didn't meet his eyes, she met Percy's. And damn, she could see how quickly he tuned into her emotions. She could practically feel, from his look of worry, that he knew she had heard his Tartarus joke, how many bad memories that brought back for her. He instantly seemed to look guilty. It wasn't his fault. It was never his fault. He couldn't help what he had to do down there.

"Who the hell are you lot? You're kids for god's sake" There it was, in Tony Stark's eyes as he spoke. The worry for them, for the fact that they were teenagers. He obviously wasn't Spiderman's father. That would have been figured out. But he must be a father figure to him, or at least a mentor.

Annabeth's brain was racing a mile a second to make the little connections. To find their escape route so they could get back to camp, warn Chiron that not only are the avengers certainly "earth's mightiest heroes", but also that they are clear sighted mortals... That would be news to him. They would have even more of a chance of being found out. Camp half-blood didn't need that. The kids who needed camp half-blood didn't need that.

Annabeth looked to Percy, giving him the slightest nod. If they introduced themselves they would gain Stark's trust. Hopefully anyway.

"Percy Jackson" Percy grinned tilting his head.

"Leo Valdez. Bad boy supreme" Leo joked. Unable to keep himself serious, or even still, bouncing around on his heels, much to the confusion of Tony, Steve, Natasha, Bucky, and the mysterious Spiderman kid.

"Hazel Levesque" Hazel said softly.

"Frank Zhang" Frank added, his hand on Hazel's.

"Piper McLean" Piper said, half focused, half staring at Natasha. Ever since Piper and Jason had broken up, well ever since they got past that awkward only just ex stage, Piper hadn't really been worried about broadcasting the fact that she was part of the LGBTQ+ community. And honestly, Annabeth could see why she would be staring at Natasha, though she didn't really feel it herself. It wasn't the most obvious though, to those who didn't know Piper, that she was watching Natasha for a reason other than wariness.

"Jason Grace" Jason introduced himself, his face half serious, half filled with wonder. This was part of the avengers after all, but also he had been trained by Lupa to be serious, to be on his guard all the time

Nico simply glared at them. Standing as close to his boyfriend as possible.

Will sighed "Will Solace. And this is my boyfriend, Nico."

Annabeth watched their reactions to that. But there was nothing. Not even suprise really. That was good. There was already too much hate in the world.

"Annabeth Chase" She finally introduced herself.

Stark stared at them for a few seconds.

"Wait a second..." he mused "Percy Jackson... Why do I recognise that name"

Annabeth cringed internally. Of course they would know about the incident in St Louis. With the gateway arch. Or maybe it was the beach "gunfight". As the mortals saw. But whatever it was, Percy's claim to fame in the mortal world would always be being accused of being a terrorist at twelve.

"Yeah..." She replied. "The boy who was accused of blowing up the gateway arch. The whole manhunt, kidnapper incident... With the gunfight on the beach" 

Percy grinned. As though that was a great thing to be telling the avengers.

"You were that kid!" Captain America exclaimed. Looking shocked and horrified at the same time.

"Woops" Percy muttered, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "Listen okay. I thought it was closer. When I fell from the top"

"YOU FELL FROM THE TOP!" Stark and Captain exclaimed at the same time, before giving eachother slightly annoyed looks.

Bucky Barnes was standing in silence, warily watching. When he spoke his voice was slightly hoarse "What was that thing you were fighting"

Instantly they all looked to Annabeth for help, a daughter of Athena always had a plan after all, but right now, she didn't.

"We... Can't tell you" She finally settled on. Looking for their reaction.

"Listen kid,  I don't want to have to do this" Stark said calmly "But if you truly can't tell us, then I'm going to have to bring you back to the compound. Just to talk. But you're gonna have to stay there for a bit till we figure out what to do with you"

Annabeth looked at her friends. "Do you need all of us to go with you?" She asked, an idea clicking into her mind.

"Technically yes kid..." He replied.

"What if some of us got away?" She asked softly, trying to appeal to the fatherly side of him.

She watched him fight to make the decision. Let some of them go or make them all go back.

"Fine" He said finally, after a tense minute, instantly Captain America glared at him, but Stark's word appeared to be final.

Leo instantly interjected, even being about to be practically arrested, he was still practically hero worshipping Tony, "I'll stay"

Piper nodded, obviously offering to stay too, for a second, it looked like Will wanted to stay, probably just to see the medical ward in the compound, but he obviously knew that Nico was the best way to get out quickly, so obviously he would go with his boyfriend. They could get back anyway. If Will would let Nico shadow travel. So probably not considering Will's very strong opinions on what is good for him and what he shouldn't do, he was, after all, a very good medic. Percy nodded too.

"Me, Leo, Perce and Pipes will stay then" Annabeth said, "The rest of them will go" She gave Captain America an assessing look "Deal with it."

With that she lead the group of them that were leaving a bit away from the group "You can go back to each of the camps. But warn Chiron, and Frank, Hazel, since you guys are preators, just... Be ready I guess. We don't know what could happen if the avengers actually see the truth, hell could break loose on the camps. Stay safe" she whispered.

She stepped back, watching as they disappeared into the shadows. She really hoped Nico would be okay after the shadow travel, she knew how tired he could get sometimes. Eventually she brought her eyes back to the avengers, their matching expressions of shock.

"I can't explain." She said simply.

"Well then kid" Captain America replied, "Looks like you're coming with us"

Chapter Text

They sat in a large room in the compound, with sofa's and a large flat screen TV, obviously provided by Stark. Stark, who was speaking to them, "You have said you can't tell us anything. Are you sure absolutely sure there is nothing. Listen kids, I just don't want you to get in trouble"

Leo was being uncharacteristically silent. Probably because he was surrounded by a load of shiny tech, and his hero, Piper was supporting Annabeth, her hand on the latter's hand, Percy's arm was around her waist. She needed it, really needed it, the closeness with her friends, with her boyfriend, the support they offered her. The support that when they were kids, no one really recognised they needed.

"Listen" Annabeth started, before looking to Percy. She couldn't do it. She didn't know what to say.

"All we can say is, it's to do with one half of our family." He supplied for her. "Each of our families"

Leo suddenly spoke up. "This place is so cool. Oh my gods." He bounced up from the chair, before being glared at by Captain America, who didn't really seem happy with Stark's choice of bringing them there still. The avengers, well the ones that were left in the room, so only Stark and Captain America, Spiderman had to go off to "do homework" and Bucky Barnes and Natasha Romanoff had just walked off, looked confused as well, at the fact that Leo said gods not god. 

"Is it true" Leo continued "that you have like a really high tech AI that like, helps look after the compound or something cause oh my gods. That is awesome and like-"

Leo was cut off by Stark "yeah kid. That's true." He gave a half smile, watching Leo, a curious expression on his face, as though he wondered where all his boundless energy came from. "Hey Fri" Stark called out.

A disembodied female voice rang out from the ceiling "Yes sir?"

Leo gasped in joy, and Piper laughed slightly at his expression as he bounced back down onto the chair, pushing him to the side slightly. Leo gasped dramatically, falling off the side of the chair, onto the floor.

All Annabeth could think was: the poor avengers. Not only did they have to now deal with some random teenagers who weren't telling them what they wanted to know, they were also discovering quite how hyper those teenagers were.

"Introduce yourselves to our guests Fri" Stark said, looking halfway between laughter and a full on crisis about why the teens weren't stressed about this and how they acted like it was normal day to day occurrence to be practically kidnapped by a group of superheroes. Even though they had allowed themselves to be taken.

"Hello. I am F.R.I.D.A.Y. You were right" the ai, Friday, or Fri, as Stark called her, obviously was searching for a name "Leo, is it? I am the compound's artificial intelligence."

Leo gasped in wonder at hearing the ai speak to him using his name. "Whoah how does it know my name?" He turned to Stark, his eyes filled with childish glee.

Stark's expression mimicked Leo's, it was funny, to see a genius billionaire so happy about a random teenager asking about his technology. "Fri has access to the cameras in my iron man suit. It means she can use facial recognition to tell who is who"

At Captain America's nudge, Tony stopped speaking, looking vaguely surprised at himself, that he'd told Leo. It was funny, the reactions of everyone in the room were different, Captain America looked annoyed that they weren't getting on with things, Tony looked like he'd discovered something wonderful in Leo's love of technology, Percy looked confused, with that cute faraway look he got in his eyes when he didn't get what was being talked about, Piper was quite obviously daydreaming, and Annabeth, she just wanted to know about Friday, strengths of the incredible ai, but also weaknesses. In case they needed it.

"Anyway" Tony grumbled slightly at the interruption "it's getting late. I suppose I could give you rooms. Just for the night, if you won't tell us what is going on"

Captain America instantly interjected "Why not holding cells. We don't know what they could do"

"They're kids for god's sake cap"

Percy coughed "the gods"

He gave Annabeth a grin, and she rolled her eyes affectionately. Honestly.

"Right...?" Tony continued, perplexed. "Anyway. They're kids. We can't just throw them in a cell, what would the public think. If word got out"

"Word wouldn't 'get out' Tony. With due respect-"

"No capsicle. This isn't respect. I payed for the compound, I get to chose where the kids stay here. My word is final. I'm giving them rooms."

Captain America grumbled slightly, but didn't put up too much more of an argument.

•~•~•~•~•~• Three hours later •~•~•~•~•~•

Tony hadn't been able to sleep. Who were those teens really, that one kid, one of the ones who left, the one with the boyfriend... Nico, he had just disappeared into shadows. How? It was too late to be thinking about them now, he had gotten them all settled into their separate rooms anyway. Two of them though... Percy and Annabeth, the boy who claimed he had fallen of the gateway arch and the girl who seemed to do all the talking, who always watched with those slate grey eyes of her's, they didn't seem to want to be separated. Tony could have sworn he heard the boy say 'you'll be fine. I promise you. Okay. I'm here. Until the end, remember.'

"Boss" came Fri's voice from the ceiling.

"Yeah?" Tony asked, not looking up.

"One of the girls is having a nightmare it appears. Annabeth" 

Tony's head jolted up, and he cursed. Damn it. Maybe he shouldn't have separated them. What did he do. What should he do? It's not like he could just leave her.

Quickly he strode out of his room, going to see if he could help... Somehow.

•~•~•~•~•~•A few minutes earlier in Annabeth's dreams•~•~•~•~•~•~

It was dark. Then there was light. Her mother. Athena. Goddess of wisdom.

"You need help my daughter. Considering this mess your boyfriend got you into"

Annabeth wanted to protest. But she couldn't speak.

"Tell them. The Tony Stark man at least. You may not see it now, but it is vital. In the future you will need all the help you can get. Do not tell them the locations of the camps. Trust me. This is the future the fates have woven for you"

Her mother disappeared. Annabeth hated the last thing she said. Why were the fates so hard on her?

And then she was there again.

Blind.

Percy had left her.

All alone.

Darkness.

No no no.

Then there were hands, shaking her awake. Her breath racing out of control. A man in her room. Tony.

She was safe. She was fine. But she couldn't breathe.

"Shh kid. Hey it's okay. Just breathe okay. I know it feels hard. Trust me kid I understand. In and out. You can start of staying fast. Come on kid. Just slow it down a bit more. Come on. I'm here kid"

He didn't question the panic. Didn't touch her, he was respecting her boundaries. Respecting her.

"It's okay. I promise you. Whatever it was it was just a nightmare. That's it. Just keep your breathing slowing down. Wanna hug?"

Annabeth nodded the slightest bit, she felt warm arms wrap around her. The comfort she needed. She hated it. Being weak in front of someone who didn't know her. She'd tried so hard. To hide her pain. 

She had succeeded for so long. Everyone had thought she was fine because she was smart. She must be doing well. She must like school because she was good at it. But... It hurt sometimes. She cried and she could only talk to Percy and sometimes he didn't understand. But... He tried his best to. She loved him for that. She broke down in her school then hid it. Broke down in front of Percy and all he could do was hold her. Because he didn't understand it. He understood the pain. He understood their shared trauma. But he didn't understand the other stuff. The school stuff. The pressure she had to be so smart.

At least he tried.

Tony was still talking, but it was all white noise. She just tried to focus on the warmth. Just slow her breathing. Just focus. Focus.

"There you go. You're fine. Well not fine. No one is fine are they. But your getting closer. You can do this okay. We all have bad days kid. You have people here for you okay. You're doing good kid." Tony pulled back away from her. Giving her space again. "What happened? Fri told me you were having a nightmare. It's okay... If you can't tell me."

Annabeth shook her head slightly. She couldn't tell him. She would wait 'till morning. Then she could tell him it all. With Percy next to her. With Leo joking and Piper being there too, to look after her, just like Annabeth had done for her so long ago it felt.

"Please" She said rawly "Just wait until morning. I'll tell you... With my friends there. With Percy there."

Tony looked worried. "Only if you're sure kiddo" he said softly.

"I'll tell you in the morning. I'll be fine for the rest of the night"

He nodded. "Fri will be there. If you need to talk to someone in the night instead of sleeping. And if the nightmare comes back, whatever the hell it was kid, she'll tell me okay."

Annabeth wanted to cry. How come this man, who had known her for so little time, cared this much? How?

But she just smiled weakly. And watched as he left.

•~•~•~•The next morning in Tony's room•~•~•~•

Tony woke with a start. He didn't even know when he had dozed off. There was a cup of coffee next to his hand. When had he even gotten that? He couldn't remember. There had been too little sleep for him recently. He had spent half his time avoiding yet another argument with Steve, and the other half of his time down in his lab.

"Fri" he said to the ceiling.

"Yes sir?" She replied instantly.

"Tell those kids to get to the common room. Guide them there if they need it. And... Did the Annabeth kid have another nightmare... Was she okay?"

Friday stayed silent for a few seconds, alerting the teens. "Annabeth was fine sir. She slept well for the rest of the night and didn't need to talk."

She paused for another few moments "They have all arrived. The Leo boy is currently saying he is either going to put something on the TV, or take it apart and see if you have 'made any special changes' I would suggest for you to get down as fast as possible before you lose a TV. Also cap will be arriving soon. And I am not sure what his reaction would be."

Tony instantly stood up and hurried to the common room, arriving at the exact time that Steve did, before walking in.

He instantly turned to look at Annabeth.

"You said you could explain now."

She paused, looked at Percy, who started speaking "Listen. We've been through a lot. All of us. We told you it was to do with half each of our families. That's because it actually is"

Annabeth nodded the slightest bit at him. Mouthed something that looked like 'my mother said it was necessary'.

"The thing is" Percy continued "we're demigods. Children of the greek gods"

Tony looked at him. Eyes wide. He gasped

"What?" 

Chapter Text

On with the story:

Percy calmly walked over to a tap, ignoring the shocked look on Tony's face, and the half disbelieving look on Captain America's face. He turned it on, raising his hands, and the water shot out at the two of them. It looked the plumbing had broken almost. Tony continued watching, looking shellshocked.

"Have you just broken my tap?" He muttered. Looking completely out of it. He couldn't see how it was possible. "What have you done to my plumbing?"

Annabeth chuckled under her breath "oh trust me, he can do worse with a toilet"

Tony groaned out loud. While Captain America just looked like he was trying to deny it. "No. Nope. Could just be... He did something last night... Yes. Yes"

Annabeth shook her head, before gesturing at Leo. She, obviously, had nothing physical to demonstrate, with only her brains. But Leo could set himself on fire. And Piper. Well she had her charmspeak.

Leo instantly smirked. His entire body setting on fire. Tony groaned faintly. He slumped back on the sofa. His eyes closed

Had he genuinely fainted...?

Annabeth was pretty sure she heard the squeak of a half scream out of Captain America's mouth. She snorted under her breath. Showing mortals this, mortals who appeared to be clear sighted at that, well it was quite funny, especially from earth's mightiest heroes.

Black widow wandered into the room, and paused on the sight. Leo still on fire. Tony passes out. Captain America looking horrified, Piper laughing her head off as Percy tried to douse Leo with his powers.

What the genuine fuck? She mouthed to herself, or something similar, slowly backing out I do not get payed to deal with this shit.

That was pretty much the tipping point for Annabeth. She burst into her own laughter, instantly pressing her hand over her mouth. But then Piper had to go and pull a stupid face at her and she was laughing all over again.

Captain America shook Tony's shoulder, waking the billionaire up.

"Oi" he grumbled "I was actually getting a good sleep"

"Tony..." Captain America replied "THE BOY IS STILL ON FIRE"

Leo instantly cut off the fire. Leaving Tony blinking in surprise.

"So you can spontaneously combust?" He squeaked out.

"Pretty much" Leo nodded, his eyes shining as his idol addressed him, "I also have this massive dragon called Festus!"

Tony instantly went back into crisis mode at that, before Leo added.

"He's a robotic dragon. One that I fixed." Leo's arms flew out wide as he explained, leaving Tony looking shellshocked, and impressed at the teenagers incredible understanding of robotics and machinery.

"Stand up" Piper said softly, her voice laced with the power of her charmspeak, as she looked at Captain America. 

He instantly stood. Then looked down at his own body, his body betraying him and following her orders. He couldn't deny it anymore surely. 

Tony looked to Annabeth, expectant.

"Yeah about that" she said awkwardly. She hated it slightly. She couldn't do anything as awe-inspiring as Percy or Leo, couldn't convince anyone to follow her words. All she had were her brains. She shouldn't feel jealous. She had her own path to follow. But by the gods... She wished it could be just a bit cooler "I can't do anything like that. I'm just really... Smart"

Tony shrugged, instantly turning supportive, seemingly over the shock. But almost certainly having just shoved it deep down in his mind to panic over later, "Brains are important. Without them our world wouldn't be anywhere near as advanced. I'm sure Peter-"

He stopped speaking. Realising he was about to say someone's name, someone's name who he obviously didn't want people, who were technically currently strangers, knowing.

Annabeth's mind wirred. The main avenger who people didn't know. Spiderman. His first name was... Peter?

But wait. There was a really smart kid who went to a school nearby. Midtown tech. Who she was pretty sure had connections to Tony.

"Peter Parker?" She asked.

Tony gasped. Then chuckled slightly. "Told you the brains can be a superpower in itself. But how kiddo?"

"Peter. I know that name. From somewhere. And I know he goes to midtown tech near here. And I remember a connection between him and you" She replied evenly.

Tony chuckled, as Percy gaped.

"This is why you're my wise girl"

"Love you too, seaweed brain"

~•~•~•~•~• Right outside the room •~•~•~•~•~•

Bucky Barnes had walked past Nat in the corridor up to the common room. He had given her a confused look as she walked briskly past. They never exchanged many words. Just the occasional conversation. She had given him a look. One that said don't even ask. 

So instead of asking. He just kept going. To the common room. He could hear excited chatter, Tony's voice talking with one of the girls. A boy chiming in. An affectionate nickname. Another.

He walked in. Closed off to anyone. Instantly he focused in on Steve. He used to think Steve was one of the most handsome men he'd ever seen. He was... Over that now. He sat at the opposite side of the room. His voice gravely as he spoke.

"What happened? I saw Nat on my way in"

The brown haired girl, the one with the kaleidescope eyes, spoke up "We're the kids of Greek demigods"

What? How?

Bucky's eyes flew wide. He knew a lot about greek mythology. He remembered reading it on long days when he was younger.

"Which... Which gods?"

The shortest of the kids, the black haired elf like mischievous looking boy instantly spoke up... Leo? That was his name. "Hephaestus"

The girl with kaleidescope eyes spoke up. Piper? "Aphrodite"

The tall boy, with black hair, that feel over his eyes. Eyes as deep blue-green as the depths of the darkest sea, as mysterious and sad as them too. Percy? "Poseidon. Technically I was never supposed to be born. Cause of a promise my dad, Zeus and Hades made."

That explained the eyes. But not the sadness in them. But then what he said afterwards. That must have been part of an explanation. He had the look... The one that Bucky knew so well... Soldiers in the war. The look of a boy who had seen far too much for his age. 

The final girl spoke up. The harsh eyed blonde girl, the girl with the eyes the same colour as steel, as sad as the boys. Those two were close. The sort made to walk the same path, twin soldiers marching along, keeping each other standing. Twin soldiers who, when unable to walk, crawled. And if they couldn't walk or crawl they would still fight their way out. Knives drawn. Because it was who they were. 

Annabeth?

"Athena" she said calmly. Her eyes flashing sharply.

Bucky flinched slightly at the tone. But he could see the tiredness in her eyes.

He remembered being unable to sleep the last night. The nightmares had been bad again. But he had told Tony that when he had them, that he didn't need help. Tony had looked regretful at that. They had their differences, but after their... Problems... They had both tried to make it up. Which was why Bucky didn't want Tony to feel like he had to support him. The nightmares had been bad. So he had decided to go for a wander, through the compound. And he'd heard Tony in Annabeth's room. Supporting her. 

He'd seen Tony walk out a bit later. When he passed by again. The inventor looked worried. But Bucky just couldn't talk to him.

"So yeah" Annabeth spoke, turning back to Tony. "That's us... The most we can tell you..."

"What do you mean?" He asked Annabeth carefully.

Percy interjected, his eyes twinkling mischievously "That would be telling"

Suddenly the shadows seemed to condense in the corner of the room, and the blonde boy from yesterday, and the dark haired emo boy tumbled out.

"Annie." The blonde haired boy spoke. "Some kid is looking for you at camp. Says he's your dead cousin. Magnus Chase?"

Dead cousin?

"Great" The daughter of Athena muttered "Let's see what Maggie beantown has gotten himself into this time" she groaned.

Chapter Text

Nico attempted to stand, but collapsed into Will's arms. His boyfriend watched him worriedly, cradling him gently.

"Wh-what?" Captain America stuttered. "How did you get in here? You- you're the kids from yesterday. How? What?"

Annabeth instantly went over, supporting the younger boy, Tony started forwards too, but then paused. Wondering whether he should or not, not wanting to intrude.

"Is he... Okay?" Tony asked Will softly.

"Yep. My boyfriend is just an idiot, who doesn't seem to have any sense of what is smart." Will replied.

Bucky took a slight intake of breath. Right after Will said boyfriend. He hadn't done that the first time he had met Will and Nico... But maybe this time he actually fully registered it... But what was it that was registering.

Piper instantly turned on the offensive for Nico "why are you reacting like that?" She scowled at Bucky.

"Sorry" the ex-assassin muttered. Muttered. An ex-assassin, ex-soldier. "It's just. Well I grew up in a time very different from this one. It was... Seen as negative to be gay then"

Nico looked up blearily, through half lidded eyes "Same" He said.

And you know what, it was the first time Annabeth ever saw him connect with a person quickly. Through a shared pain.

"Kid. You're way younger than me"

Nico gave him a sarcastic smile "we were both stuck in time"

The supersoldier gaped for a second, before schooling his expression into neutrality.

"Does he need to go to the medical ward kid?" Tony asked worriedly.

Will's eyes brightened for a split second, before he shook his head "Neeks will be fine. But I wouldn't mind seeing your medical ward at some point, I've heard great things."

Tony nodded. Then turned to Annabeth. "I can't let you leave... Fury will want to know what you are... Now that we know."

Annabeth shook her head, frustrated. She just wanted to talk to her cousin. To help him in whatever way it was he needed.

"Also I'm sorry but, dead cousin???" He exclaimed.

"Listen. If I could I would explain it all. But that's a whole other pantheon" Annabeth muttered. Trying to think.

"A whole other what?!"

Leo sprung over to Annabeth, pressing something into her hand. "I'm not sure if it will work, or if it'll be just as bad as usual and a load of monsters will come and find us but-" he rambled.

"Wait what?" Tony and Annabeth both exclaimed, Tony confused about the mention of monsters finding them, Annabeth confused about what it was.

She looked at the object in her hand, what appeared to be a black phone. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, but if Leo was suggesting what she thought-

"You think monsters won't be able to find us with this?" She questioned.

"Yup. Hopefully. You said Alex is usually with Magnus right? When you were chatting with Percy and I was bored and totally not listening in-"

"You were listening in on mine and Annabeth's conversations!" Percy exclaimed.

Leo's eyes twinkled. "Anyway. I happen to know you also said Alex had a phone. I don't know how obviously..." He grinned. "But tada. Hope you know the number"

Annabeth rolled her eyes, but opened up the phone anyway, as Percy pulled out his pen.

"What's a pen gonna do exactly kid" Captain America grumbled.

He rolled his eyes, until of course, Percy uncapped the pen. 

It was Riptide. Of course.

Captain America jumped back, and Percy laughed "don't worry, if I stabbed you with it, it would go straight through, you wouldn't die"

"That's supposed to not be worrying!?" He hissed.

"Well yeah?" Percy said, not quite understanding. Annabeth chuckled, shaking her head. "Whattt. It's how I met a very good friend" he groaned.

Annabeth laughed at that mention of Rachel. Their relationship had started off... Rocky to say the least. But now they were partners in crime.

Quickly she typed in the phone number she knew was Alex's, watching as the phone rang.

"Hey better Chase"Came the voice through the phone, Alex.

"OI!" Came a voice, obviously somewhere in the background.

"Hey Alex. Waddya need?" Annabeth asked.

"Can't you come? It's important"

"gimme the phone I wanna speak with my cousin"

"Not a chance sunshine. So Chase?"

"Basically" Annabeth started to explain. "We're kinda in some sort of arrest"

She heard Tony protest slightly, he obviously felt uncomfortable with that.

"But in the avengers tower instead"

"Awwssommmmee" She could practically feel Alex's grin through the phone. "Dang it I wish we were there. But nooo. We get sent on another stupid quest just cause we drew the short straw and also saved the world that one time"

Percy spoke up instantly "We've done it more" He smirked.

"Enough of that seaweed brain." Alex joked "I am obviously much better being gender fluid and just an icon" 

"Alex, you said you had something to say?" Annabeth prompted.

"Oh yeah. Number one: I'm a she/ her today. Address me as that or fear my wrath. Number two: basically so apparently Loki got free of his nut."

"Loki isn't in a nut. He's dead?" Tony spoke up, but he sounded unsure.

"Nah my dad isn't dead. Upsettingly. He's supposed to be trapped in a nut."

Tony groaned "I can't with you people" he muttered under his breath.

Suddenly a large blonde figure entered the room, booming out "Ah Avengers my good friends. And some new children"

"What the hell?! That sounds like Thor but different!" Came Magnus' voice.

"I am Thor little Midgardian" he laughed loudly.

"Not our Thor."

The demigod alien turned and actually looked at the assembled teenagers. He paused, missing for a second.

"I do believe, I know what is going on"

Tony snorted "that would be a first"

"Variants" the alien demigod boomed.

From the other side of the phone, Alex groaned overdramatically "you mean we have to deal with two farting gods. And two of my mum"

"Wait mum?" Tony spoke up again. "I thought you said dad."

"Well I was born to him with him being my mum"

"Remind me to never ask again" he grumbled.

Bucky on the other hand, looked incredibly interested, his eyes bouncing from person to person to the phone, but his eyes lingered on Nico for the longest. Obviously feeling their likeness. 

Will had Nico in his lap, and was trying to feed him a KitKat, which of course the poor boy was refusing. Eventually, leaving the rest of the group to their conversations, Bucky went over.

"You need to eat you know kid" he said, his voice coming out in a low rumble.

Will looked at him, "He's too stubborn to admit it. But using his power takes a lot out of him"

"Trust me" Bucky said, glancing at Steve "I knew someone like that"

"oh. Oh" Will looked at Bucky "you and him?"

Bucky shook his head. Though he had always thought Steve looked like a prince plucked out of a fairytale, that was never something made to be. And Steve could never love him the same way either.

The rest of the rooms conversation filtered back in.

"I suppose it was strange our Thor" Came Magnus' voice, much closer to the phone now, Alex must have given it up, "Described Loki as having golden horns. But we all assumed it was him deciding to make a statement or something"

Alex's laugh could be heard "should've learnt lessons from me on making statements"

Annabeth shook her head. "Look. I'm gonna hang up now. I've got stuff to sort out."

"Got it wise girl." Alex replied instantly.

"And cuz" Magnus added. "Remember. Don't be a stranger"

Annabeth hung up the phone, signing in relief, but also sadness. It was hard knowing Magnus and Alex would never grow older along with her. She viewed Alex as family, and Magnus was, of course, true family.

"Hey kid." Tony said softly "I'll find a way for you to be able to see them"

Friday's voice echoed down from the ceiling "Sir. Nick Fury is requesting entry"

"Let him in I suppose. It would be no help waiting"

Chapter Text

Tony had walked off, obviously to go and find Fury. Annabeth really didn't know what he was going to say... Was he going to tell Fury the truth?

Had she failed the Gods by telling Tony, and therefore giving him a chance to tell Fury... Her mum was telling the truth when she said it was a good idea to tell Tony what they were... Right?

She started pacing, wringing her hands with worry, staring at the phone in her hands. It was so rare for demigods to be able to communicate by anything other than Iris Message, or face to face, but what if it all went wrong? What if-?

"hey wise girl" Percy said, enveloping her in his arms. Comforting her as they had done for each other, so many times. Through so many things. They were each other's rocks. Anchors in a storm. The jess on a falconry glove. But not in a way that left them feeling trapped... "It's okay. Okay? I got you. I'm here. Remember"

She nodded the slightest bit, allowing herself to be pulled into his arms. Her hands shook. But he was there. He was keeping her safe.

She felt the phone buzz in her hand, and a message popped up, obviously a message from Alex's number: 

Listen wise girl, either you come to us, or we find a way to you. A cute big doggo has just popped up. Mrs O Leary?

The phone spoke out the message, and Percy's head shot up, grinning as he heard the mention of his dog.

"How is she supposed to get in here?" Piper mused, turning to Annabeth "if she's never been inside the tower before... In fact." She turned to Nico and Will, raising an eyebrow "How did you guys get in here?"

Will chuckled sheepishly, looking at Nico for a couple of seconds, who grumbled "not one word glow stick boy"

Annabeth could have sworn he glanced at Bucky Barnes and blushed.

Piper smirked to herself, nodding at bit at Annabeth, she'd seen it too. Of course she had.

"Okay" Will grumbled, but he had a slight smile on his face.

"we just went on a virtual tour of the compound once okay?" Nico muttered "apparently that is enough for me to be able to shadow travel to here. And we'll take what we get okay"

"No, Leo" He added on, seeing the impish look on the boy's face

Annabeth sighed, breathing in the salty smell of Percy's hair. They would be fine. They would get through this. Everything would be okay. As long as they were together.

"There are more of you" Captain America said, a mix between a statement and a question.

Percy snorted "A camp full of Greek." For a second his face became drawn. He had suffered the losses of campers in wars which he felt were his fault. No matter what Annabeth said to try to convince him otherwise, he always seemed to blame himself.

A half-blood of the eldest gods, Shall reach sixteen against all odds, And see the world in endless sleep, The hero's soul, cursed blade shall reap.

He blamed himself. For being born. For being a son of Poseidon. Annabeth had tried to tell him, prophecies always happen. No matter what. If it hadn't been Percy, it would have been Nico or perhaps Thalia wouldn't have joined the huntresses. Maybe she wouldn't be back though. The fates worked in mysterious ways. But Percy just couldn't wouldn't accept it could have happened anyway.

And Annabeth knew he only took the burden of the prophecy to save Nico from it. He could have hidden from the prophecy. But he didn't. Because he always blamed himself for what Nico had lost that he hadn't been able to stop. He had promised. And he had failed. And Nico was 11.  At least Annabeth was pretty sure he was eleven, she found it hard to keep track anymore. All of them had grown up too fast, sometimes she forgot how old she herself was. He was 11 and had lost his sister so he had blamed Percy. And Annabeth knew ever since, that memory lay in Percy's mind. She heard him mumbling about it in his sleep. She hated it for him. But... She couldn't help.

Leo interjected, twitchy in the silence "There's the Romans. Where our lovely blonde superman came from. Jason" He grinned.

"There are Nomes of Egyptian magicians, right?" Piper asked Annabeth, who nodded in return, only her and Percy had talked to two magicians out of that group, Sadie and Carter Kane. "You know I'm pretty sure two of my siblings know them. Drew and Lacy." she rolled her eyes when she said Drew's name, they had bad blood between them ever since Piper's first day at camp, and since Piper challenged her to be the head counsellor of the Aphrodite cabin.

"And finally, there's Hotel Valhalla. Norse Gods' children, the dead ones of course, like my cousin and Alex. They don't get a place until they are dead... And even then, they don't necessarily get a place in Valhalla." Annabeth added, her voice slightly mournful.

"Isn't Valhalla only for those who died a heroes death?" Bucky asked roughly.

"yep. Magnus almost didn't get in. Idiot. Not entirely his fault but still. I had to go to his funeral. When I first saw him again, I... Thought he had faked his own death..."

"That's rough kid"

"Why are you commiserating Barnes?" Captain America interjected. "They're obviously dangerous! So many of them, they could destroy the city"

"After saving Manhattan, and having to fix that up. Not a chance. Too much work" Percy grumbled.

"I think we would know if you had saved Manhattan."

"Not if no one could get in without passing out"

Percy grinned widely as Nico muttered something "Mrs O Leary was in the same place as us when we did the tour"

Piper smirked at Captain America, "Well then, looks like you are going to have to deal with more of us after all"

A loud shout of surprise came from another room in the tower, Nat Romanoff.

"Knowing Alex, that would be them" Percy grinned.

Annabeth nodded as she heard footsteps, and skittering dog claws approaching. And then Mrs O leary, Alex and Magnus burst into the room, Mrs O Leary instantly racing over to Percy, knocking him over, and licking all over his face, leaving him covered in dog slobber, before going over to Nico, and curling up her massive body next to him.

"That is" Captain America gaped, looking shellshocked "A big... Dog..."

"You should see Beantown's eight legged horse. The one that isn't my half sibling, but like... well I don't know how to describe the relation"

"How the hell did more kids appear in my room" Natasha raised an eyebrow, as he continued to gape, and Bucky attempted to figure out the mythology. At this point Annabeth pretty much had it figured he was a massive mythology fan.

Magnus looked pretty pale, staggering over to a bin, as Will looked over with a raised eyebrow at his fellow blonde haired healer "Honestly it is torture the first time" He commiserated.

Magnus straightened up as much as he could "Yeah..."

Meanwhile, Alex strode over to Nico, passing him a small pin badge "sucks to be you, I finally made the glowstick boyfriends badges, and you get the hot pink one"

Nico grumbled, rolling his eyes, but taking the badge anyway, and pinning it on his aviators jacket, next to a patch in the colours of the Italian flag. Across the room, the avengers had retreated to talk to each other in lowered voices, minus Tony obviously, who was still in his meeting. Or who was still in his meeting until that moment.

"I leave you guys" He sighed over dramatically, "For maybe an hour, probably less. And not only do the teenagers somehow manage to multiply, I get three alerts from FRIDAY, one from you shouting Nat, which by the way I think Fury heard, but also two from the new kids."

He turned to Magus "Give me back the tablet kid"

Magnus handed it over sheepishly, Annabeth knew his habits of thievery, he always did it, so that he could buy a meal when he was still living on the streets, that's what he had told Annabeth.

"Sorry" He muttered "Old habits die hard"

Tony raised an eyebrow at that. "What do you mean?"

"He had a stupid Robin Hood act going on when he lived on the streets" Alex replied for her boyfriend.

Tony took in that information for a few seconds "I... think I've learnt not to ask about anything to do with you kids anymore. Its... Way too concerning"

"Good choice" Leo spoke up, from... Upside down on the sofa. Of course.

"Right. Not asking... Anyway. Fury said we can let you go out... As long as we go with you... He said he had experience?" 

"Damn it" Annabeth muttered.

Percy gave her a crooked grin "Dam indeed"

Chapter Text

Annabeth looked at Tony, meeting his eyes with hers. Could they really bring mortals to the camp, what would Chiron think?

But also a lone other thought rattled around her head. How did Fury have experience with them? How was he alive?  She felt like she was three steps behind, and unfamiliar feeling, since she was always three steps ahead, but now, now it had changed. Everything was changing.

"And I've got to ask" Tony added on, attempting to lift the tension in the room "How is your dog so big?"

"Hellhound" Nico replied, leaving Tony, as was a common theme it seemed, stuttering and panicking.

"She doesn't bite" Percy grinned "unless your a training dummy, or an enemy"

Tony forced a half chuckle out of his mouth, but his eyes flickered from side to side, as though he were trying to figure out a method of escape from the group he had somehow found himself in association with, and honestly, Annabeth got it, when she first joined camp... Well everything felt so much bigger.

"I can contact Chiron," Percy volunteered.

Annabeth nodded, it would be best to warn him first, about what was to come. He probably didn't really need a group of superheroes in camp, looking at the kids they had tried so hard to protect, and connecting them with the mutants, that the whole world was so prejudiced towards, because half bloods had been mistaken for mutants in the past. And it had never gone well.

"Wait." Bucky suddenly said "Chiron as in-"

"Chiron" Piper nodded.

"So how are you even planning to contact him," Bucky tilted his head to the side slightly, a move that Mrs O Leary, who seemed incredibly interested in the supersoldier, instantly duplicated, summoning a snort of laughter from Tony, "I thought you couldn't use phones"

At that, Annabeth smiled slightly, "We have other ways of passing messages, if we know exactly where the person should be, so we can contact them."

She turned to Percy, "Have you even got any drachmas?"

"Nope. But I still have Fleecy's direct number"

Annabeth's eyebrows raised at the mention of the cloud nymph, she found it quite funny how Percy had managed to get a nymph that wouldn't charge him for sending a message to his friends "Go on then" She nodded.

Percy headed off, quite obviously not wanting to have a discussion with Chiron in front of the assembled avengers.

Then it happened, footsteps approached the room, followed by the same sense of dread she kept feeling, a constant cloud that hung over her, wrapped her in its depths.

It was only Percy, arriving back. But there was a look on his face... One Annabeth couldn't quite decipher. And there was someone behind him...

"Mother" Annabeth greeted the Goddess coldly, gazing up at her impassive face, as cool as marble. "What brings you here?"

"Fate, my daughter. You must take them to camp" Athena glared at Percy, the obvious hatred between them still brewing, threatening to bubble over out of the top of the boiling pot. To flood the whole room. "Unfortunately there have been a few... Unforeseen problems. The prophecy will come to you my daughter, the fates decreed it."

Annabeth shuddered. It was not supposed to be up to her to hear prophecies.

From the ashes of Olympus, a fellowship unbound, Thirteen heroes rise, where fewer were found. Demigods and Avengers, a force unforeseen, To quell Loki's chaos, a battle keen. But know this truth, a twist of cruel design, unseen, unspoken. Seek Camp Half-Blood, where shadows play, A Loki waits, to mislead your way. Then journey north, to Alaska's frozen land, Where a greater darkness, a power unbound, Awaits to unleash its wrath and cruel might, Before the true battle, comes to the light.

The ghostly voice echoed through the room, calling out to them, what was the twist. What was it.

"Thirteen heroes rise, where fewer were found" Piper mused to herself, "Twelve instead of the typical three for quests?"

Annabeth nodded slightly in agreement. That must be it. But who would the thirteenth be, her, Percy, Nico, Will, Piper and Leo, along with Magnus and Alex, with Tony Stark, Natasha Romanoff, Bucky and unfortunately Captain America made twelve, but twelve is one less than thirteen. There would be another. Someone else would have to be dragged into the god's games, forced with an incredible burden upon them. Someone Annabeth didn't even know yet. She couldn't bear the idea of someone else having to suffer.

Athena gave a knowing smirk, before disappearing, leaving Percy grumbling in obvious annoyance. 

"Why did she have to warn us herself. She just wanted to see us squirm," He grumbled under his breath, his annoyance at the Goddess clear as day. 

"Did she just- what just- how- Was that?" Tony stuttered, like he had forgotten how to even use words anymore.

"Was that Athena?" Bucky asked for him, his voice trembling in awe

"Yep. That was my mother unfortunately. And if the gods are getting properly involved, that means everything is going to go to Tartarus."

"Helheim" Alex agreed.

"Hell?" Tony questioned. 

"Looks like we have to find our way to camp" Nico muttered under his breath "And if we are going to end up being thirteen instead of twelve, well I'm not entirely sure I could manage twelve, not now."

Annabeth nodded "We'll have to come up with a plan"

Percy smiled, the tension unravelling from his body "That's my wise girl"

"Seaweed brain" She hit him gently.

"Oi"

Suddenly a different feeling rolled over her body, the sort she got at the approach of spiders. The feeling of something tickling the hair on the back of her neck, a feeling of impending dread.

Chapter Text

Annabeth's eyes widened as the person headed into the room. A teenager. But, the aura he carried with him, it spoke so heavily of spiders. The back of her neck crawled uncomfortably. He was the same age as them.

He was the one Annabeth had managed to figure out. Spiderman. Peter Parker.

Ew.

Spiders.

They still haunted her, still. Ever since Arachne... 

The boy bounced up to Tony, like a very over excited dog on caffeine, causing Mrs O Leary's head to perk up, as she instantly rushed over to the boy, causing him to gasp in joy, still not entirely having noticed everyone else

"big doggo" His voice was filled with awe "Mr Stark, sir, where did the big doggo come from?" 

Peter dropped to his knees, instantly fussing with Mrs O Leary, who licked his face, causing the boy to laugh louder, while everyone else looked upon the scene with confusion.  How had he not even noticed them yet?

Finally, the kid looked up "whoah" he said, his voice filled with awe "You're the guys from the other day. And two strangers"

Percy snorted under his breath "hey," he stuck out his hand towards Peter, who shook it enthusiastically.

"caffeine check" Tony said, his voice light as he talked to the kid, "How many cups of coffee and how did you get your hands on them"

"ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm" Somehow, Peter managed to draw out the umm for a long while, leaving Tony staring at him, waiting for an answer, like a disapproving parent, "Maybe 4 or 5, 6? Eh."

Tony shook his head "someday kid... You're gonna turn out worse than me"

"I think we have our thirteenth" Annabeth murmured quietly to Percy, as he rested his hand on her shoulder, pulling her tight against him.

"wait. No. This is dangerous. You can't randomly drag Pete into this" Tony's head shot up as he spoke, his eyes filled with worry for his teen intern.

"The fates... Well they've spoken" Piper shrugged, "and when they've made there decision there's no going back"

"no going back" Leo echoed. "trust us on that."

"Prophecies are misleading. Beantown knows from experience" Alex shrugged, cackling at the look on Magnus' face, cutting through the tension in the room "Wrongly chosen wrongly slain, a hero valhalla cannot contain or whatever it was" she laughed some more, shoving her boyfriend to the side.

"Everyone thought Beantown was all evil and stuff cause of it. But nope. Wrongly chosen by my mum" Alex smirked once more.

"So..." Bucky mused, "its just up to interpretation then?"

"Yup" Leo agreed. "How're we getting to camp Annabeth? Considering I think Will will," he paused for a moment to laugh at that "brutally murder us if we use his boyfriend as a very emo travel option"

Nico glared at Leo, his eyebrows furrowing in annoyance as he stared the other boy down. Will raised his eyebrows slightly at Leo, the look on his face being one of a very disappointed school teacher, as he smoothed down some of Nico's hair absentmindedly. Annabeth paused, trying to figure out the logistics. Would Mrs O Leary be able to take all of them... No... probably not. So then... How did they sort this-

"We could fly you there" Tony volunteered, and Annabeth watched as her boyfriend's eyes narrowed.

"no. Nuh uh. Not air travel"

Annabeth squinted in thought. How were they supposed to do this. In a way that worked for everyone.

"Why not?-"

"You don't need to know" Annabeth interjected, before Percy could say anything, "But how about this, Mrs O Leary takes me and Percy-"

Percy made a dramatic gasping noise "me and Percy wise girl, don't you mean Percy and I" He raised his hand to his forehead, as though he felt faint from the horrors of her grammatical mistake "You're always the one who corrects me about this stuff. Oh how the tables have turned"

Annabeth rolled her eyes lovingly, half shoving Percy to the side "As I was saying. Percy and I will be taken by Mrs O Leary, and, if the rest of you guys are okay with it, you can go with Tony."

She turned to the rest of their group, raising her eyebrows, as they nodded in agreement. All the demigods know why Percy had an aversion to air travel, the Avengers however, did not.

~•~•~•~A few hours later~•~•~•~

Percy and Annabeth had been waiting for a few minutes by the time that everyone else arrived, just sitting on a rock, right outside camp, in each others arms. It was really a sight to behold for Tony, the two of them, laughing at something quietly. As soon as Tony approached, Annabeth stood, nodding in welcome at them all.

"We've talked to Clarisse" Percy grimaced slightly as he spoke to Alex and Magnus. "This Loki, not your one, we think, is on the beach apparently. The rest of the camp is on lockdown. We don't know how he got through the borders"

"Borders?" Steve asked, "it doesn't look like there's borders"

"what. Wanna try walking into it without permission and find out" Nico snapped at him sarcastically "Cause I will happily laugh at you when you fall onto your butt."

Annabeth rolled her eyes, but secretly, she wanted to see it too, and honestly, so did Tony. Just because it was Steve. "I give you all permission to pass the border into camp" She said in a vaguely monotone voice, that sort of... Scared Tony.

Peter was, as usual, the first to walk forwards. Towards the camp. For a second, Tony reached out to pull him away, in case whatever they had done to allow them in hadn't worked, but Peter managed to continue walking onwards, with no problems. Tony let out a small sigh of relief. He didn't know what he would do if Peter had actually gotten himself hurt. Other than hate himself, a lot more than usual.

The group walked onwards, Percy and Annabeth at the front, with an air of grace to their walk, the demonstration of how they just were so obviously natural born leaders. Bucky and Nat took up the rear.

It had been hard to convince Nat to come, she had wanted to stay behind, and 'not get involved in any of that freaky shit', but unfortunately, Tony maybe had slightly the tiniest bit bribed her. Honestly, he had never known before that Nat liked knitting and reading classical literature. He was pretty sure that her and Bucky were discussing setting up a book club from the back of their line. Who would have guessed that two ex assassins liked sitting down and discussing things like The War Of The Worlds... On second thoughts... Maybe it did make a bit of sense after all. They were still weird for that. 

Unfortunately for Tony, he was stuck with Leo on one side of him, and Peter on the other, the two of them had quickly hit off. Tony wouldn't be surprised if they were currently planning world domination together. The scariest part was, he was pretty sure if they both put their minds to it, they would succeed in their plan.

Suddenly, Tony heard a familiar voice "Loki" He breathed softly.

"jeez. That dude is most certainly not my mum." Alex said from behind him, before she promptly transformed into a flamingo-

Wait what?

Tony's jaw dropped as the flamingo landed in front of Loki, instantly transforming back into Alex, who rushed the false God, as the rest of the demigods ran forwards to help, leaving the avengers just staring in surprise at the chaos unfolding, that was somehow overpowering Loki. Nico suddenly appeared besides Tony, with his boyfriend, and an unimpressed look on his face, as Tony's heart leapt out of his chest. So they hadn't joined the scuffle then.

"I yield" Came Loki's voice, from under the pile of demigods??? "Let me go you mortals"

"incorrect. Not mortals" Magnus said, with a... Sword floating next to him?

"You know Magnus, this means you have more of my great deeds to record for that poem you promised me" THE SWORD SPOKE?!

"shoot I forgo- I mean. Of course Jack" The boy nodded at his sword.

As the teens all pulled back, Tony spotted Alex with Loki's goat horns adorning their head as they smirked at the god "thanks"

"We know you aren't actually Loki" Annabeth said, levelling her dagger with Loki's chest, "So what are you? And how did you get in our camp?" She spat

Chapter Text

They sat in the dining pavillion of camp, in relative silence. Relative, because, well: Loki was being harassed a lot by Jack, after Magnus pretty much gave the sword free reign. Currently he was singing shake it off. Incorrectly. As per usual.

"I yield" The alien god said dramatically, raising a hand to his forehead like a damsel in distress. "Can I please have my horns back now."

"Nope" Alex replied, adjusting Loki's hat on her head. "We need to speak to you apparently. A matter of great importance, and all that jazz"

"Talking to Will too much" Nico grumbled under his breath.

"You've got to admit it's a good musical" Alex shrugged nonchalantly, while Piper nodded in agreement, although Annabeth was pretty sure she was just agreeing cause when they were watching it, Piper had the biggest crush on one of the women in it.

"..." Loki stared at them all iridiculously, before turning his gaze upon the avengers.

Even with the tension present, all Tony could do was summon a helpless shrug and say "Don't even. We've dealt with them for a day. And that's enough"

Suddenly, a kid ran up to Will, looking around 14. Their hair was short and black, and their eyes were a sort of crystal clear colour, like... What was the gemstone, Persian turquoise. They even had centralised heterochromia, leaving the centre of their eye around their pupil a golden colour, leading further to the comparison to a beautiful gem. 

"Will" they grinned, before thrusting a piece of paper into his hand "I did it"

"Oh" the older demigod smiled down at the kid, affection clear on his face, "Thanks Isa. You been following the rules"

"Yeah yeah. Holy chicken cheese nuggets Will, you know I will. I don't want to like damage my ribs or anything."

Will chuckled fondly once more, ruffling their hair, as Nico looked upon the scene with a small smile (although if you asked him later, he would deny liking Isa, and claim they were too loud and annoying.)

Annabeth didn't question what the rules were. She knew whatever it was, it was something between the two demigods. Not something to be questioned or poked at.

"Whoah is this the weird alien dude. He isn't as cool as I expected. I expected scary. But this was the guy who made Clarisse all grumpy at me when I left my cabin. And oh my gods you guys are the avengers. That makes up for it"

Loki grumbled under his breath. Cursing the teen quite colourfully.

Bucky nodded awkwardly, along with Natasha. In contrast, Peter broke out in a beaming smile and happily spoke up "Hi" he grinned.

The other teen grinned back at him, before turning to the floating sword like this was a usual everyday occurrence.

"Bug my brother to show you the paper. Or he could perform it. Whatever you want"

With those words, they promptly skipped off, back to their friends, far away in the dining pavilion.

Will turned to look at Magnus, and slid the paper over to him, causing Magnus to smile "lifesaver" he beamed (of course he didn't literally start glowing, not that it's impossible of course).

"Right..." Captain America said. His tone filled with obvious, blinding annoyance "Are we actually going to get down to business. Or are you kids just gonna keep messing around"

"This is very important business" Alex replied in a  snarky manner, before anyone could smack- reply themselves.

"We saved the world a few times. That was part of something from one of those" They continued

"We have too"

"Not at this age mother fu-" Nico was silenced by a glare from Will.

"What was the next line of the prophecy Annie" Percy asked, quietly in Annabeth's ear.

"Fricking Alaska" Annabeth replied. Not quite the line of the prophecy of course. But... That was the unfortunate truth.

Alaska, the land beyond the gods. How was that going to go...

Bucky was watching the camp, with wide, awe-filled eyes. Everything about it... It seemed so perfect. Despite the fact that the Hermes cabin were currently bullying the nemesis cabin by running after them with fake eyeballs asking if they could trade their eye for one of the nemesis camper's eyes. It was... Strange to say the least.

The Hermes cabin were weird when they figured out new pranks they could do. And this one, well it was probably due to the whole: an eye for an eye phrase.

"We aren't wanted here are we?" Tony asked Annabeth quietly. "I can tell, I mean, some of the kids are looking at us like we are heroes, but the older kids. They quite obviously don't want us here."

"Camp has lost a lot. To lots of different enemy forces. People we thought were friends, and people who we didn't know existed until recently. We've been through a lot as a camp... And well, after some of those betrayals, we don't exactly trust easy. But yeah... Maybe not"

Tony nodded slightly "We've got a cell waiting for Loki in the compound. I'm assuming since you had that prophecy, you'll want to... Question him about it?"

Annabeth nodded in return. Agreeing with his assumption. "But I want to talk to Chiron before we go"

"As in-" Bucky started to ask

"Yep. The centaur who trained all the heroes"

Annabeth stood, leaving the group. It was a couple of minutes before she returned, but when she did, she gave Bucky an odd look. Like she knew something new about him.

"We'd better get back now." She said, her voice tight.

Tony nodded his head "yep. Time to go"

Chapter Text

Annabeth had been staring intently at Bucky since they left camp, and returned to the compound, since they put Loki in the cells. If he was being honest, it freaked Bucky out a bit. The intensity of the stare. There was something so calculating behind that gaze of Annabeth's. But she also looked the most concerned Bucky had seen her, ever.

Steve and Nat were down in the cells, interrogating Loki, the Piper girl was talking softly to Magnus and Nico somewhere in one of the rooms, and Leo had headed off on a grand tour of Tony's labs with Peter (an idea that did not seem the smartest. Those two seemed chaos incarnate together), Will had been taken on a grand tour of the med-bay by Tony, and now... Well it was just Percy, Annabeth and Bucky. All staring at each other, Percy and Annabeth sharing a couch, Bucky directly opposite, sitting straight backed and awkward.

"Have you-" Annabeth started, then stopped, and shook her head. Changing her mind "Nope. Don't mind me"

Bucky looked at her, concern written on his face. There was something in her mannerisms, the way she tried to seemingly merge into Percy's side, that made Bucky think she was just trying to make herself disappear. Become inconsequential. He knew that look well. When there was such a sense of detachment from his body, that although he knew things to be true, he just couldn't accept they were life. And instead ended up just sitting outside his body. Looking at his true hand, and doubting that it was his, thinking that perhaps he had lost that arm too, and just no one had dared to point it out to him. For fear of him breaking. That sort of disassociation. From your own body. Your own mind. The sort of disassociation that he sometimes wanted. Because then it wasn't him. Who was the problem. It wasn't him that was crying, but rather a random vessel. One he had no control over, so of course it wouldn't, couldn't matter. Because that vessel wasn't him anymore not if he denied it. He wanted to be lost in that sea of nothingness. But he feared the sea at the same time. Because maybe if he knew all the truths of what caused his problems, then the next time, that nothingness would be a something. A something with claws and teeth. And then he would want to cry again. But he couldn't. Because he was the Winter soldier. Or perhaps the White Wolf. But whatever happened... He was only one of them. Never James Buchanan Barnes, never Bucky. Never anyone more complicated than just two feelings. Just a black and white figure. One or another. Never anything more. Never.

"You can speak kid" he said roughly, shaking away the thoughts.

"Have you ever thought you could be a legacy of a Greek god" she spat out quickly

He tilted his head to the side, a quizzical expression on his face, "a legacy?"

"someone who isn't directly the child of God, but is related to them" Percy explained

"No?"

"Well... Chiron told md something. He said he wasn't quite sure, but a while back... He believes relative of yours was at camp. A child of Nemesis."

"An eye for an eye" Bucky whispered "vengeance goddess?"

"Or maybe an arm for an arm..."

Chapter Text

Peter and Leo had gone off by themselves. Of course they had. Peter was super excited to show Leo the labs, and Leo wanted to see them fully, especially with his new friend. So off they went, not quite skipping off hand in hand, but they very much had the energy of two people who were doing that.

"Tony will probably murder me if I break anything" Peter informed Leo sagely, nodding his head as though he were a wise man of old.

"I'm assuming you aren't allowed in without supervision?"

"Yes, but alas, I've been known to believe that fact is a suggestion, and that FRIDAY is supervision enough. She would never rat on me, we do scrapbooking together"

Leo snorted as they walked into the large, clean lab, and his eyes widened at the sight, so much technology. All laid out just waiting for someone to come and explore.

To press some buttons that should not be pressed.

He walked over to a table, with a gauntlet that looked very shiny. Interesting...

Suddenly he heard a crash behind him, and turned around to see Peter on the floor, with a fake model dalek next to him.

"... I fell"

"Oh my gods. A dalek. Awesome."

Peter laughed slightly "I'm stuck"

"Under a dalek" Leo laughed, pulling out one of the phones he had made, and taking a picture of the other teen before reaching out his hand to pull him up.

"No" Peter groaned.

"Oh yes. You said FRIDAY liked scrapbooking with you. Well, this can be another photo to add to those scrap books."

"No no no"

"Yes yes"

Leo danced away from him, phone in hand, before leaping onto a nearby table.

"Le gasp. Vents" He said, his eyes going wide as he spotted them.

"I've been banned from vent crawling when there are interns in the labs" Peter said sadly, hanging his head "apparently leaping out screaming: they're here! They're out to get me! They've swarmed the vents! Is too much"

"Honestly, I don't think that's enough. You need" Leo did jazz hands "sound affects"

"Perfect" Peter rubbed his hands together with glee "there are no interns now... Practice?"

"You bet"

They climbed into the vents, crawling around in the small space fake screaming in different tones.

Until Leo did actually scream.

As he fell out of the vent, and onto a table.

Fire blazed around him in a loud explosion, as Peter gaped from above.

"Awe-some" Leo exclaimed, dusting himself off, as though he wasn't bleeding from a couple of cuts from the shrapnel.

"Dude. My bro, you just got exploded"

Leo shrugged "not my first time"

Peter paled slightly at that, and at another realisation "Mr Stark is going to kill me for this"

Leo patted his back consolingly "don't worry. I'll pretend I was in another room"

Peter groaned, his head in his hands. So much for fun...

Chapter Text

I promise I haven't been bitten by the ao3 writers curse
Hi it's me
I'm not back to write just yet
I know I've been gone for a bit, but I lost motivation
And
Well I still love marvel and pjo
But I have a different current obsession right now, and my creativity has been mainly transferred too art for my new obsession (hermitcraft and the life series)
So I do love the things I write fanfics of still
But also, I just need to take a moment and step back, think about things, and soon I'll be back.
Maybe just with short chapters. But I will be back
(Insert evil villain laugh)