Chapter Text
Percy slings his backpack off his shoulder and roots through the front pocket to try and find his key. He's stood outside of his apartment door, having just finished school. You wouldn't say he particularly enjoys it, but he has to complete his senior year with acceptable attendance or else he won't be able to graduate. And not graduating means no college with Annabeth. They have it all planned out, they'll both attend New Rome University in California. Percy will study marine biology, and Annabeth architecture. It'll be amazing.
He just has to get through this year.
Luckily, Fall break begins in a few days, and Percy is going to spend the entire week relaxing at home by himself. Paul and his mom are headed to Maine for two weeks to visit Paul's parents.
He turns the key in the keyhole, unlocks the door, and swings it open. Percy loves this apartment. He's been in mansions belonging to Piper's dad, or Rachel's parents, he's walked past lavish houses in the Upper East Side. But not once has he wished to live somewhere like that. It's small by some standards, but it's filled with years of memories. Stuff as obvious as photos of him and his mom on the wall, to seemingly insignificant things like chipped wood on the doorframes from when Percy ran a bit too fast as a kid and crashed. This is his home.
"It's complicated, Tony."
His mother's voice can be heard from inside. Percy frowns, walking in and placing his bag on the floor by the door.
"I just don't see why you didn't reach out. You've known where I am, what I'm up to, and I didn't even know if you were alive! Then it turns out you never left New York, you've been here the whole time! I've been living in the same city as you for nearly a year now. I would come here at least weekly before that, how did I not know!?"
"There are 8 million people in New York."
Percy approaches the voices. He subconsciously reaches his hand in his pocket, gripping Riptide. Who is Tony? And why does he sound so.. Hurt?
He peeks past the wall of the hallway to see his mother sitting at the table, holding a cup of coffee between her hands. Sitting across from her, with his back to Percy, is the man he assumes to be 'Tony'.
His mom looks up sharply, smiling when she sees him. "Percy! How was school?"
"Great," he says slowly, an eyebrow slightly raised. She hums, gesturing to the chair beside her, "Sit down, there's someone I want you to meet."
He cautiously takes his hand out of his pocket and walks toward the table, taking a seat. He has a good view of the man now sitting across from him. He's got brown hair and a goatee to match it. He's wearing a watch that looks like it costs more than this apartment and their car combined, and his clothes seem to be just as luxurious. He also has an extremely familiar looking face, but Percy can't quite put his finger on where he may have seen this man before.
His mom breathes in, "Percy, this is Tony. Your uncle."
He snaps his head towards her, eyebrows shot up. Never, in his seventeen years of life, has she ever mentioned having a brother. And he has to be her brother, right? Because there's no way it's Poseidon's side of the family. He's pretty sure he's met all the uncles on that side, and most interactions haven't been particularly pleasant.
Tony holds out a hand. "Hi kid, I'm Tony Stark."
"Wait - like, that billionaire Tony Stark?"
He smirks, "That's the one."
Percy knows vaguely of him. He knows he's rich. Beyond rich. He also knows that he is Iron Man, a self-invented superhero who goes around stopping alien invasions with other individuals. Leo loves the man, always talking about how great his inventions are, how futuristic. He's nearly certain there's a replica of an Iron Man suit somewhere in Cabin 9.
He looks at his mom, then back at Tony Stark, then back at his mom again. "You've had a brother, and you never told me?"
She frowns. "We both know I kept many secrets from you when you were a kid. Tony's my half-brother. We haven't spoken in decades. That is.. until I received a message on Facebook three weeks ago.
"I wasn't supposed to be here. One drunken night, my mother cheated on her husband, Howard Stark. She decided to keep the baby, which Howard was not pleased about. I spent most of my childhood with my father, though on the occasional weekend, I'd stay with my mother, and, well, Tony."
Tony sighed. "That is until you disappeared. I haven't seen you since the funeral."
"Right, well," begins Sally, "There's no point dwelling. You're here now, in my apartment, drinking my coffee."
Tony nods, before turning to Percy. His brown eyes have a sort of harshness in them, which is likely unsettling for some. "Me and your mother were actually just discussing you."
"Uh, were you?"
He nods again. "With her and your stepfather, Paul, gone for a fortnight, I offered to let you stay with me. At the Avengers' tower."
Percy blinks. Everyone in New York is aware of the gigantic tower in Manhattan, sometimes it feels like it's become more of a tourist attraction than the Empire State Building. Which is actually helpful for Percy, it means he doesn't have to wait to get to the 600th floor. It's extremely awkward waiting for the crowds to exit the elevator so you can insert a key to bring you to Mount Olympus.
"You don't have to," clarifies Sally. "I just thought you might want to get closer with some of your extended family. Tony and I grew apart, and I know you don't have many trustworthy relatives, but I'd like you to."
His mom's previously bickering tone from earlier has disappeared, and been replaced with an honest, soft way of talking. He can tell this is important to her.
He'd have to travel to school from the Tower for a week. He supposes it wouldn't be too much of an extra journey. And hey, he made his way through Tartarus. The streets of New York are no match for him.
"Yeah, sure, why not."
Tony smiles, clapping his hands together. "Brilliant! Here's my contact info," he slides a small business card over the table, "I'll text you some details. Unfortunately, I can't stay for any longer, but I look forward to seeing you, kid."
He stands up, shoots a grin at Sally, before turning and walking towards the door.
Once it shuts behind him, Percy turns to his mom. "You said no more secrets," he frowns, "You hid who my father was for my protection, I understand that. But why never mention this?"
"My childhood was difficult," she starts, "My father could never hold a job. We were barely getting by. Then, when my mother remembered I exist, I'd be whisked off to this world I knew I didn't belong in. Tony was part of that world, he was born for it. We were close when we were very young, but as we became teenagers, we began going our separate ways. I did cut him off after the funeral, and parts of me always regretted it. He never caused me harm, and had no negative impact on how I was raised. I thought it'd be easier to pretend he didn't exist. But then he messaged me, asking to meet for coffee. I panicked, to be honest, but I thought about it, and realised this was my chance to reconnect with a brother I lost.
Things are awkward between us, and probably will be for a while. He wants explanations for everything, and I'm not necessarily ready to give them just yet. But you, he wanted to meet you. You have none of the same history we do, and I think it'd be a chance to have another figure in your life. Tony's a good man, behind all of his jokes and masks he puts on."
Percy stares at her for a few moments, before wrapping her in a hug. "I'm sorry, I see why you didn't say anything."
She shakes her head, "No, you were right. I did say no more secrets. I'm sorry."
The sound of the front door unlocking makes Percy's gaze snap to the entrance.
Paul walks in, raising an eyebrow. "Have I missed something?"
Later that evening, Percy is Iris messaging Annabeth. Leo invented phones that work without monster interference, and made one for each of them, and while Percy loves their little groupchat, he'll always prefer being able to see people's faces as they talk to each other.
"Wait, so you're telling me, Tony Stark, the billionaire, is your uncle. And you're going to be staying with him, along with the rest of his superhero friends?"
Her blonde curls are tied in a messy bun on top of her head. She's resting on her bed against the wall in her dorm at school, and there is previously discarded homework left on the covers, ready to be finished later.
He nods. "Yep."
"Okay. Wow. Right. Yeah. So, this is certainly news."
Percy shrugs.
"And you're okay with staying with him, for two weeks. This man you've met once."
"I dunno. It seemed important to Mom, and this whole thing seems to be flipping her world upside down. If she thinks it's a good idea, then I trust that."
Annabeth smiles, tilting her head.
"What?" he asks, laughing.
"Nothing! You're just... Well, anyway. Enjoy it, maybe steal some of his blueprints for the Hephaestus cabin."
He mimes a salute. "Of course."
"I hear my roommate outside. Got to go. Goodnight, Seaweed Brain."
"Night, Wise Girl."