Chapter 8
Tony
“What the hell was that about? What did you mean by knowing their history, and why are they so upset about it?” He was torn between chasing after his daughter and getting answers from Nat, but he figured knowing what just transpired before he went after Annabeth was necessary. Talking to her without all the information would likely just make things worse. But Nat just shook her head, regret flashing across her face for a split second before she tucked the emotion away like she was putting down a book. After a few seconds of tense silence, she met his gaze again.
“I saw them training the other day. It was the middle of the night, and they were going after each other like they were fighting invisible demons. The look in their eyes was the look of people who had looked death in the eyes and survived. It comes from watching friends die, fighting for your freedom, and years of merely surviving. I wake up every morning with the same look, same as every other girl that has come out of the Red Room. So, I went to see if Fury had any information on what happened to them. Turns out he has spies from every type of background, and many of them can see what most people are unable to wrap their minds around. Those kids have been through literal hell, and I can see now that what I did was too far. I shouldn't have looked through their lives like that.”
He nodded, not knowing how to respond. Tony had never heard her be so sincere before. Any and all apologies that were weaseled out of her always came from behind her mask of cool indifference. Natasha melted into the shadows before he could come up with a proper response to those revelations.
“FRIDAY, my darling, where did Annabeth and Percy go off to?” Tony asked the room.
“Currently they are on the roof,” FRIDAY responded, sending him into a heart attack.
“Why are they on the roof? Why did you let them up there?”
“I have no protocols for restrictions on their whereabouts, sir.”
Peter noticed his distress and got a handle on the situation. “How about you go to the lab and set up the protocols you need, and I’ll go up and talk to them.”
“I need to be the one to talk to them, Pete.”
“If you go talk to them, all they are going to see is another adult who thinks they know what's best for them butting into their business. Let me go talk to them.”
He ceded to Peter’s idea, knowing he didn't want to alienate his daughter any more. Peter was friends with Annabeth anyway, having known her through school before they’d discovered she was his daughter. It would be better for him to calm them down.
Annabeth
The wind whistled in her ears as she and Percy stared idly out at the city. Tucked into Percy’s side because of the chill, they sat together on the edge, chins resting on the railing. It was a long way down, and the people walking below them were barely visible.
She knew they didn't have long before someone came to get them.
“I’m so sick of people going through our lives and making decisions for us. We haven't had a year of peace since we were twelve, Perce. While I’m glad we’ve saved so many people, I just wish we didn't have to clean up after the gods every time they screw up. So many of our friends have died and we were powerless to help them. I’m so tired of fighting battles that could have been avoided.”
A single tear slipped down her cheek.
Percy wiped it away before responding, his mouth set in a grim line that was highly unusual for him out of battle.
“The gods could have prevented many of our friends' deaths, and we will never forget that, but they’re the best of many bad options. And they’ve granted us peace. No more quests will be requested of us unless there is another major war or we want a favor. Those were our terms. We aren't under their control anymore, Annie, you gotta hold onto that. No more will we follow their every whim. And if they try to force you to go along with another quest, I’ll fight them.”
“Perce, you can’t take on the gods by yourself.”
“What do you mean I can't! I beat Ares when we were twelve! And besides,” he said, knocking his shoulder against hers, “ I wouldn't be alone.”
She smiled up at him and went to tuck herself into his side again, but the door to the roof opened and Peter walked out towards them. He looked apprehensive, like he didn't know what was going to come of this conversation.
Peter hadn't done anything wrong though. Other than almost getting himself killed the other week. He was a good guy, a trustworthy guy, and she was tired of lying to him. It made her mildly uncomfortable that he had some kind of spider mutation but she knew he wouldn't hurt her.
“Hey guys,” Peter said weakly. “Are you ok?”
She nodded, turning around so her back was against the railing. Percy mimicked her movement so they were both facing Peter. He seemed to know where she was going to take the conversation.
“Are there any microphones up here? Could Tony find out what we are saying if he wanted?”
“Nah, the wind is too strong up here. Even if he put the best quality mics up here they couldn't pick up anything.” Peter and Percy's hair was evidence enough of that, the wind was whipping it every which way. Annabeth's hair was mostly safe in twin dutch braids, but there was still some frizz whipping around.
Her shoulders sagged in relief; finally she could talk freely. Looking up, she locked eyes with Peter. He was a hero in his own right, same as her and Percy. Though he was untrained, he was brave, and he always stood up for everyday people when they needed help. No one was below him; he saved and helped as many people as he could. He deserved the truth.
“Peter, We haven't been completely honest with you,” she began, and one of his eyebrows slowly raised in suspicion. “And I don’t really know how to explain our history to you, as you don’t have any prior knowledge of what we’re about to tell you. You’ll be like Percy when he first found out.”
“Wise girl, that is not a good comparison. I didn't get a straight answer from anyone in the first three years I knew you! Whenever I asked a question all I would get was some cryptic riddle that made no sense!”
“Oh you were fine, I knew what was going on.”
Percy rolled his eyes and laughed before they refocused on Peter.
“Do you know much about Greek gods and goddesses?” She asked, and Peter nodded.
“MJ’s really into stuff like that.”
“So, uh, Percy and I aren't fully human. We’re demigods. My mom and his dad are immortal and we go to a place called Camp Half Blood to train. I used to live there full time until I moved in with Percy.”
Peter looked taken aback, and rightfully so, but he reigned in his shock.
“So you know who your mom is? I don’t think Tony even knows that.”
“My mom is Athena, goddess of wisdom and war. Percy’s Dad is Poseidon, god of the seas.”
“And horses!”
She didn't even bother to respond to Percy, she knew he was just being obnoxious to lighten the conversation, especially with what they were about to get into.
“We have fought in two wars, one of which we fought right in Manhattan and the other…The other was fought both in the states and the mediterranean. But things we saw, the people we lost, the things we went through, it was a lot. Too much. All we want is to live our lives in peace, not fear. Natasha rifling through our past will only bring old fights back to the forefront of our lives. We are done fighting other people's battles. Just because Natasha thinks SHIELD is the right cause, doesn't mean it’s a good cause.”
Peter’s face was somber; he looked to be processing these revelations before he spoke.
“I, too, have fought in a war. Did I ever tell you how I came to know Tony?” He paused, and when they shook their heads, he continued. “He guilted me into fighting for him against the other Avengers who wouldn't sign the accords. I was fourteen. We moved past it, and we get along really well now, but that was way above my abilities at the time. So I understand where you're coming from when you say you’ve been used to fight in another person's war. Definitely not to the extent of what you two went through, but I understand.”
Peter paused again before continuing. It was only seconds, but the time seemed to stretch on forever in the cold air.
“I won’t say anything to Tony about this, I understand it’s your secret to share, same as how Spiderman is mine. Thank you for trusting me with this,” he said solemnly.
The rest of the story of their lives came out then, and she was only occasionally interrupted by Percy clarifying if she hadn't been present for something and Peter asking a few questions.
Needless to say, they were on the roof for a long time. It wasn't just her talking either, Peter told them of what he’d been through as both Spiderman and Peter Parker. After they had talked themselves out, they sat in silence for a few moments before Peter spoke again.
“We should probably be getting back downstairs, Tony’s probably worried.”
They all got up and stretched out a little–they’d been sitting up in the cold for a while. Percy perked up and dug his phone out of his pocket.
“Peter, we are definitely adding you to the group chat!”
PJ added (718) 504-8534 to the conversation
PJ changed (718) 504-8534 to PP
PJ: look! Annie and I made a new friend!
JG: you are aware what this gc is for, are you not?
LV: new friend! does new friend like to build?
PP: yes! I love building things!
AC: Leo, chill. He’s not a child of Hephaestus. New friend is Spiderman, the vigilante that runs around Queens.
AC: Percy and I informed him of the godly world
JG: Are you sure that was safe?
LV: I’ve seen some of the videos of Spiderman. He can take care of himself.
LV: PERCY OMG ME AND JASON ARE GOING ON A QUEST AND YOU SHOULD TOTALLY COME!!!!!
PJ: Leo, I’m trying to not do more quests.
LV: but we’re going to a place that's literally called Camp Green LAKE. nothing sounds more Percy-like. Plus it's like super low risk. Just retrieving a kid because the satyrs are all busy. It’ll be fun! Just the three of us on a quest.
AC: Percy and I will talk about it.
Back inside the tower, Percy seemed to take a special interest in the fruit bowl on the counter. While she and Peter went to sit on the couch, he walked over and grabbed something out of the bowl and threw it to her. It was an apple. She caught it on instinct and promptly moved to whack him with it.
“Percy! You can’t keep doing that! The younger campers always think you're serious”
He only smiled slyly before responding.
“In a couple years, I will be.”