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MJ was not nosy, okay? It’s not her fault that Peter was terrible at pretending he wasn’t Spider-Man. “Secret” identity. Right.
So just because she figured out the worst kept secret this side of the Atlantic didn’t mean she’s nosy. She just kept her eyes and ears open and paid attention when something made her extra curious.
Or in this case, someone. Rather, two someones.
New kids aren’t unheard of for Midtown, even for senior year. But when one of the new kids had been kicked out of six schools in as many years? And was transferring to Midtown of all places? She’s heard that he’s the new teacher’s kid, Mr. Blofis. But no average history teacher had pull like that.
And considering he came to school with the other new kid, it made her interesting by association.
MJ had a few classes with her, Annabeth. She took notes diligently but didn’t participate, didn’t chat with the other students who introduced themselves to her. She’d caught on after their first class together that MJ didn’t talk much—just read—and went to sit by her in the subsequent classes they had together to get some margin of peace.
MJ didn’t have any classes with the other new kid and neither did Peter nor Ned. By the time the last bell rang, she hadn’t learned much about them. But that was okay—it was only the first day, after all.
--
"Welcome to the first meeting of academic decathlon!” Mr. Harrington greeted. “It’s good to see some old faces, and some new ones, too! Let’s go around the table to introduce ourselves, and tell us something interesting that you did this summer.”
The first meeting was short, just getting to know each other and to start to get a feel for what categories people should specialize in. As team captain, MJ had to speak more than she’s had to this entire first week of school, which was exhausting. She was relieved once the meeting was over, and it was just their core group left at the table in the library.
“Okay,” she started. “This year’s special category is Greek heroes. We’ve got people who can lead the practices on the other categories, but we need to see who’s proficient for this one and determine any backups. Anyone?”
Most people shook their head but she saw Peter looking thoughtful, making a “more or less” gesture with his hand. “Kind of?” he offered. “I used to play this game that was based on Greek mythology, though I probably remember more about the attack stats than the myths themselves.”
“Mythomagic?” Ned asked.
Peter brightened. “Yeah! You know it?”
Ned shook his head. “I’ve heard of it, but never really got into it.” Peter dimmed a bit in response.
“Let’s try a few questions,” MJ said, trying to get back on track. She took out a sheet of random trivia questions she found last night and printed off. As she did, she noticed Annabeth out of the corner of her eye, looking through nearby bookshelves.
“First question: what animals did Heracles kill when he was a baby?”
“Isn’t it Hercules?” Abe asked.
“Hercules is the Roman name, I think,” Peter said. “Heracles is the original Greek name.”
“Oh I know this one!” Ned exclaimed. “Snakes, right? At least, that’s what was in the Disney movie.”
This other vigorously nodded in understanding, suddenly on the same page. Cindy started humming “I Can Go the Distance.”
“Correct. How many labors did he do?”
“Twelve.”
“And why?”
“To repent, sort of? For killing his wife and kids.”
“Wait, where was that in the movie?” Cindy asked.
“Technically he married Megara and had kids, then killed them, then did the twelve labors,” Peter explained.
Ned gasped. “He killed Meg? Why?”
“If I remember correctly, Hera drove him crazy.”
Flash whistled. “What a bitch.”
MJ heard a soft snort, coming from Annabeth. The others didn’t hear, too busy agreeing and decrying Hera.
She continued. “What were the twelve labors?”
Betty scrunched her face in thought. “There was a hydra in the movie, so that’s got to be one, right?”
“I think I remember a lion? And a boar?” Cindy chimed in. “From the ‘Zero to Hero’ montage after the Hydra.” The others murmured in agreement.
“Anything else?”
Everyone shook their heads. There was nothing else from the montage they could recall. They mostly remembered the merch.
“Let’s move on,” MJ decided. “Remember Odysseus?”
“From the Odyssey,” Abe said.
She nodded. “Who was his godly parent?”
Peter frowned. “I don’t think he had one.”
“Wasn’t there Athena?” Abe recalled.
Peter shook his head. “She favored him, but I don’t think she was his parent. Besides, I’m pretty sure she’s a maiden goddess.”
MJ saw Annabeth shook her head slightly while looking at a book she’d pulled off the shelf, out of sight of the others. Though, MJ was only 90% sure Annabeth was disagreeing with Peter’s statement, rather than the contents of Atlas of Brutalist Architecture. Brutalist architecture could be pretty disagreeable.
“That’s right, he had no godly parent.”
“Just a regular dude, my kind of man,” Flash praised.
MJ rolled her eyes and continued. “How long did it take for him to get home?”
“Ten years, right?” Abe said, clearly remembering their assigned sophomore summer reading better than the rest of them.
MJ nodded. “From the Trojan War, yes. But the war took ten years, so it took twenty years total.”
Cindy shook her head. “That sucks.”
“His poor wife,” Betty commiserated.
“What was the name of the cyclops that he faced?”
“Nobody?” But Peter sounded unsure.
“How could it be nobody?” Flash said. “She just said it was a cyclops.”
“No, I mean the name ‘Nobody,’”
“What kind of name is that?”
Before MJ could interrupt to prevent this from devolving any further, another voice spoke.
“Polyphemus. Odysseus used the ‘Nobody’ name to trick him.”
The others turned to the voice who was standing near their table, directly across from MJ. Annabeth was looking at them—looking at her. MJ met her gaze.
MJ raised an eyebrow at Annabeth and MJ could practically see a gleam in the other girl’s eyes, ready for the challenge. “What did Circe turn his men into?”
“Pigs.”
“And how did Odysseus escape her magic?”
“He used moly.”
“What sacred animal did his men eat, and who did they belong to?”
“Cattle, and Helios.”
“What was the name of Calypso’s island?”
“Ogygia.”
“OG-what?” Flash asked. The others shushed him immediately, vested in this tête-à-tête.
MJ gestured at the chair Annabeth gravitated towards during their exchange. She took it, sitting down at the other head of the table.
“Do you just know the Odyssey really well?” Abe asked her.
Annabeth shook her head. “No, I know pretty much all the Greek heroes. And then some.”
“How come you know so much Greek mythology?” Ned asked.
“Let’s just say I have a…personal investment in it,” she replied, with a small smile like it was some sort of inside joke.
MJ took out another sheet of paper from her folder, with the acadec schedule of the practices and events they had for the year that they passed out to the members during the meeting. She slid it across the table. Annabeth picked it up and examined it.
Eventually, she said, “Some of these events conflict with the school’s swim meets.”
“I thought we only had a men’s swim team,” Cindy said, confused.
“We do. My boyfriend’s on the team.”
Betty looked skeptical. “Umm, they haven’t posted the team yet? Tryouts are literally going on right now.”
Annabeth glanced up at the schedule and turned her piercing gaze on Betty. MJ’s pretty sure she heard her friend gulp. Annabeth just smirked. “Trust me. He’s on the swim team.”
“He’s the other new senior student, right?” Peter enquired, breaking the little bit of tension. Annabeth nodded in confirmation.
Huh. So not only did the two new kids know each other, they were dating. It wasn’t clear from the few times she saw them together but looking back on her observations, she could see signs of their intimacy. But MJ was a little disappointed that someone as obviously intelligent as Annabeth was willing to put aside her own interests in favor of her boyfriend’s swim meets. But no one was perfect, she supposed.
“Quick lightning round before we decide backups?” MJ prompted.
Annabeth didn’t protest the implication that she would be joining the team and be on point for the category. She merely put the sheet down to turn her attention on MJ. The others sat forward in their seats, interested to see the breadth and depth of Annabeth’s knowledge.
“Who slayed the Minotaur?”
“Theseus.”
“Where was it?”
“In the labyrinth.”
“Designed by who?”
“Daedalus.” There was a surprising wistfulness in the other girl’s voice.
“What was Jason’s quest?”
The sudden switch between myths didn’t even faze Annabeth. “To retrieve the Golden Fleece.”
“Married to?”
“Medea.”
“What was her godly connection?”
“She was the granddaughter of Helios.”
“How was Achilles made mostly invulnerable?”
“Dipped in the river Styx by his mother, Thetis.”
“Who was his love?”
“Patroclus.”
MJ blinked. “No.” The others reeled back a bit, surprised.
Annabeth raised her brow. “No?”
“Briseis,” another voice called out. Everyone turned to see who it was.
It was the other new kid, strolling towards their table—towards Annabeth. MJ heard more than a few of the others sigh dreamily. She had to admit, he was undeniably handsome.
“Always assume a heteronormative answer, Wise Girl,” he said when he reached Annabeth, grinning at her and kissing her cheek.
Annabeth wiped away some flecks of water that got on her from his wet hair. She was scowling. “It’s Ancient Greece, for gods’ sake.” Did MJ hear an extra “s” in there? “And how do you know the word ‘heteronormative?’”
He preened at her. “Will taught me.”
“You mean Will was teaching Nico and you overheard.”
He shrugged. “Same thing.”
MJ cleared her throat, trying to get everyone’s attention from the distractingly attractive couple. It took a few seconds for some of the others. “He’s right, the answer is Briseis.”
He looked thoughtful. “I think the real answer is both. I’ll have to get Nico to ask.”
“Wait,” Betty interrupted, pointing at her watch. “Aren’t swim tryouts still going on? What are you doing here?”
He looked surprised. “How did you know I was going to be in swim tryouts?”
Betty gestured at Annabeth. He looked back at his girlfriend—heart eyes clear—but also had a playful smile on his lips. “Aww, you can’t help but talk about me, huh?”
Annabeth rolled her eyes so hard MJ was concerned they’d pop right out. However, she saw a faint blush on the other girl’s cheeks. “Shut up, Seaweed Brain.”
He turned back to them, satisfied. “I was in swim tryouts, but the coach let me on the team after I beat last season’s best times for the two-hundred butterfly and freestyle,” he answered.
Flash gaped. “You beat our best swimmers? But we’re near top of the state!”
The other boy sighed, a little annoyed. “I know. I was hoping for some decent competition, but oh, well. And that’s best times for the state, not just our team.” Flash sputtered in response.
“By the way,” Peter cut in. “I don’t think you’re in any of our classes, so I’m Peter.”
The table went around introducing themselves.
“Nice to meet you guys, I’m Percy.” He looked down at his girlfriend. “What were you all doing before I came?”
“This is the academic decathlon team,” Annabeth replied. “The special category for it this year is Greek heroes.” She smiled up at him, that same little inside joke smile.
Percy tipped his head back and laughed, way too loud for the library. The others shot each other confused glances and when Percy was done laughing, he noticed. “My name,” he explained, still chuckling a bit, “is short for Perseus.”
“The dude who killed Medusa?” Peter asked.
Percy grinned at him, and Peter blushed so hard from the direct smile that MJ swore he was going to faint from it. “That’s me,” Percy confirmed, with an unusual amount of glee.
The personal investment? MJ wondered, recalling Annabeth’s earlier words. But a name was a pretty flimsy investment. It probably didn’t even warrant an investment, honestly.
“Interested in joining?” MJ asked him, saving that investigation for another day.
Annabeth moved the paper with the acadec calendar on it so Percy could see it better. “Some of the events conflict with your swim meets.”
“We can alternate,” he said easily, peering down at the paper. It surprised MJ—the attitude being so unlike what she’d seen from the couples in school and in media. Maybe she had no reason to be disappointed, after all.
“We’re not exactly the most reliable people, though,” he said regretfully, looking up at MJ. “We tend to get roped into…emergencies.”
“Emergencies?” Ned asked, a little alarmed.
Percy and Annabeth exchanged a quick glance before Annabeth turned back to Ned. “We’re part of a place that’s sort of like a camp during the summer, and a group home the rest of the year.”
“Group home? Like in foster care?” Abe clarified.
Percy nodded. “Most kids have one parent they can go back to after the summer. But some don’t have a home, or just choose to stay at the camp the rest of the year.”
“We’ve been going for a good part of our lives and as the older kids, we’re counselors,” Annabeth added.
“We’re not all technically related, but…” Percy drifted off.
“You’re still family,” Peter said. “Chosen family.”
Percy smiled again at him, softer this time. “Chosen family,” he agreed. “So sometimes we have to help out with family emergencies.”
MJ nodded, writing their names down in her chart of who would take point in the different categories. “We’ll have some more backups then, with some practices to get them up to speed. Let’s do you, Peter, because of your magical myth or whatever knowledge—”
“It’s Mythomagic!” he exclaimed.
Percy brightened. “Nico loves that game!”
“—and Ned as your back up because you’re flaky as hell.” Peter pouted at her but didn’t argue because he knew it was true. “Plus, it’s weird that you and Ned aren’t on the on the same page about something as nerdy as a card game—”
“How do you know it’s a card game?” Peter challenged.
She tried to barrel on, but she could see Annabeth’s amused glance at her. Dammit. “—and we need to make sure the physics of the universe remains intact.”
She closed her folder. “Okay, the rest of you can go. We’ll start on the extra training, if you guys are free?” She directed at Annabeth and Percy, who nodded.
“You’ll need to find somewhere else to do it,” Betty told them. “The library is closing soon, something about renovations they couldn’t finish over the summer.”
They all gathered their things and started heading out. The group of five began to discuss where they should go instead.
“Coffee shop?” MJ prompted.
“Can we do somewhere less busy?” Percy asked. “My ADHD gets way harder to handle in those kinds of environments.”
“We’d offer our place, but we’re kind of far,” Annabeth said.
Open and unashamed about a learning disability? And they live together? Interesting. “Same with our places.”
They reached the front of the school, lingering there before they determined which direction to go. The rest of the group bid their goodbyes.
“We can try a public library?” Peter suggested.
“Or we could go to Stark Tower,” Ned pitched. Peter’s eyes went wide.
Annabeth looked at him quizzically. “I wasn’t aware that Stark Tower had spaces available for the public.”
“Oh, it doesn’t. But Peter interns there so we could just use his lab or something,” Ned explained as Peter elbowed him to try to get him to shut up. But in a very Ned fashion, he powered through it, determined to brag about his best friend.
“Are you sure we’d be allowed to? That’s a lot of visitors to check in for an intern. And you said he has his own lab?”
“He’s Mr. Stark’s personal intern!” Ned excitedly burst out before Peter managed to slap a hand over his mouth, which Ned dodged anyways. “So Peter gets a bunch of cool perks!”
Percy just shrugged. “Well if you won’t get in trouble, that works for us.” Annabeth was looking at Peter critically, the boy too mortified to notice her attention on him.
Ned cheered and Peter sighed in defeat. Nonetheless, he started leading them in the right direction.
“You don’t think he’s lying? About the internship?” MJ asked them, just to play devil’s advocate. She’s also curious why they accepted something that was, honestly, pretty unbelievable.
Percy furrowed his brow. “Why would he lie about that?”
Peter sent him a bitter smile over his shoulder. “People think I’m doing it for attention.”
Annabeth shook her head. “You don’t seek attention, Peter. Even though you’re clearly top of several classes, you never offer answers unless asked. And why would you lie? Technically, why would the three of you lie, since you both are going along with it,” she waved a hand at MJ and Ned at the last statement. “No, I don’t think you’re lying about this.”
And though she didn’t say it, MJ could hear the but there’s something else you’re not telling us.
“Though I do question your taste in employer,” Annabeth continued. MJ noticed Peter’s shoulders draw up, getting ready to defend Tony Stark. “I mean, who designs a tower that ugly?”
The tension in Peter melted and he chuckled. “Don’t let Ms. Potts hear you say that. I’m pretty sure she did the tower redesign after the Battle of Manhattan. Mr. Stark only had, like, twelve percent say in it.”
Now it was Annabeth and Percy’s turn to suddenly get defensive, though it was so subtle that MJ would have missed it if not for the hard edge in their eyes. “Battle of Manhattan?” Percy asked, faux casually.
Ned looked at him like he grew another head. “Uh, yeah? When a wormhole opened up in the sky and aliens attacked?”
“Oh, that one,” Percy muttered under his breath, causing Annabeth to shoot him a quick glare. They nodded their understanding at Ned, who’d missed the exchange because he was busy trading incredulous looks with Peter.
“I thought for sure you were about to insult Mr. Stark,” Ned said. “Which would be a huge problem because he’s, like, basically Peter’s dad.”
“He is not!” Peter protested shrilly, face red. Ned and MJ snorted. “He’s just a mentor, okay? Nothing inherently fatherly about that.”
“Dude, he’s on your emergency contact list,” Ned argued.
“That’s just sensible! May can’t always get out of her shifts.”
Ned rolled his eyes. “Sure, keep telling yourself that.” He stage-whispered to Annabeth and Percy, “They’re like this.” He held up two fingers entwined.
“We’ve got nothing against Mr. Stark,” Annabeth assured.
“If anything, we appreciate him,” Percy said. “He has the power to help people and does. Not everyone does. So definitely cool with anyone like that.”
Annabeth murmured her agreement. MJ noted they seem to have a personal stake in that statement.
“Like that Spider-Man guy!” Percy added.
MJ saw the back of Peter’s neck and tips of his ears go red. She thought no one else saw it, but noticed that Annabeth was looking at Peter. The other girl’s head tilted in curiosity, grey eyes studying Peter.
Peter didn’t notice her suspicion, leading them through an alleyway shortcut towards the tower. They reached an intersection of another alley. MJ checked both ways instinctually, even though there would be nothing but foot traffic. What she saw in what was supposed to be a quick glance caused her to double-take, then to shout in alarm.
At the dead end of the intersecting alley, MJ saw three giants. One was holding up a kid, about ten, by her neck. She was struggling against its hold, clawing at its grip and trying to kick at it, short legs missing the mark.
MJ’s shout caused the others to turn and see what was going on. “Cover me,” Peter said quietly to her and Ned, already in battle mode. They formed a barrier that he ducked behind and she heard a thwip as he habitually webbed his bag to a nearby dumpster.
But she processed all of that absently, because Annabeth and Percy were already stalking towards the giants. Percy called out, “Hey! Pick on someone your own size!”
MJ saw him take out a pen but when he uncapped it, a sword burst out. She saw that Annabeth took out a freaking dagger from her bag.
Not waiting for a response the two attacked. In tandem they slashed and stabbed at the first giant that met their challenge, turning it into a cloud of golden dust.
The second giant that wasn’t holding the kid gave out a yell. This one was somehow even bigger and uglier, waving an iron club around. He swung it at Annabeth who ducked and rolled out of the way.
“Do you mind if I join the party?” Spider-Man called out, swinging into the fray. “I was getting major FOMO watching you all having fun without me!”
“You two get the kid!” Percy ordered as he baited the second giant.
Annabeth immediately went to slash at the third giant’s stomach, careful to avoid the kid’s still kicking legs. Spider-Man webbed it in the face and swung to catch the girl as the giant dropped her in favor of removing the webbing from its eyes. Annabeth stabbed at it more forcefully while it was occupied and it also exploded in a cloud of dust.
Meanwhile, Percy was parrying and dodging the second giant’s strong blows. There was a bleeding cut on his arm from a lucky hit. Now free to do so, Annabeth swiped at the second giant from behind. It got distracted enough that Percy found an opening and slashed the monster down, gold glittering around him.
Spider-Man landed on the ground near them along with the kid. MJ and Ned rushed over to meet them. Up close, MJ could see the kid’s neck was ringed with angry bruises from the giant’s hold.
“What just happened?!” Ned demanded. “Who were those guys? How did they just disappear?”
“Uh, what?” MJ exclaimed. “They weren’t just some guys, they were giants! And Annabeth and Percy just turned them to dust. Literally.” She noticed that the two gave her a sharp look, then turned to each other to communicate with their eyes.
“At first I thought the same as Ned, just some taller-than-average guys,” Spider-Man chimed in. “But when I got closer—they were at least eight feet tall. And they barely looked human.”
“All of you, shut up,” Annabeth ordered. Their mouths snapped closed, responding instinctually to such a commanding voice.
Annabeth knelt in front of the girl while tucking her dagger back into her bag. “Are you okay?” She asked her softly. Percy seemed to stand guard, looking out warily.
The girl, eyes watering, tried to speak, but her damaged throat prevented her. Annabeth held up her hand to stay her. She dug around in her backpack for something and began to ask the girl questions.
“Were you able to see that they were giants?” The girl nodded.
“Have you seen anything else like them? Monsters?” The girl looked at her with wide eyes, as if she finally found someone who understood. She nodded again.
“Do they usually go after you?” The girl nodded, tears escaping.
“Okay, last question. Do you know who your parents are?” What? MJ thought.
The girl held up one finger, then nodded. She held up a second and shook her head. So she knew one but not the other.
This seemed to confirm something for Annabeth. She took out a bag of—something. Lemon bars, maybe? She broke off a piece of whatever it was and offered it to the girl. “You should be safe to eat this. Go slowly first.”
The girl looked wary but took it and nibbled on it. Her eyes widened at the taste and she scarfed the rest of it down. The bruises on her neck began to fade.
“What’s your name?” Annabeth asked.
“Amelia,” the girl answered.
“Hi, Amelia. I’m Annabeth, and this is Percy.” She gestured at Percy.
“What did you mean, ‘safe’ for her to eat?” MJ interrupted. “Who would it be unsafe for?”
Annabeth sighed. She glanced at Percy, who shrugged at her. She looked back at MJ. “It’s unsafe for mortals.”
MJ raised an eyebrow. “Are you saying you guys aren’t mortals?”
Annabeth shook her head but not as a negative response. “It’s…a long explanation. One that will have to wait for now. We don’t know if there are more of these Laistrygonians—they tend to appear in bigger groups than this.”
“Those are giants, right? Like from the Odyssey?” Spider-man asked.
Annabeth nodded at him. She faced Amelia. “Amelia, were you traveling with anyone?”
Amelia started to tear up again. “We were being lead to New York by Greg, but he and James—” She cut herself off, crying.
Annabeth put a comforting hand on her shoulder and met Percy’s tight look. They seemed to mourn as they looked at each other. She turned her focus back to Amelia. “I’m going to call a friend, okay? He’ll take you to where Greg was leading you and James.”
She took out a cellphone. It was a smartphone, though it was at least twice as clunky and heavy because of the case. She called a number that picked up immediately.
“Nico,” she greeted. “I need you to transfer a kid.” A pause. “She was being led by Greg with another kid but they—they didn’t make it.” Some talking on the other end. She pulled the phone away from her.
“What cross-streets are we closest to?” Annabeth asked the three of them.
“Why not just send them your location?” Ned asked.
Annabeth blinked up at him from her knelt position. “Show me.”
He took the phone from her and demonstrated how to share their exact location via text. He handed the phone back and she pulled it back up to her ear.
“Did you get my location?” A response. “Okay. Tell Will to get ready for her, we had a run in with some Laistrygonians. See you soon.”
Annabeth got up to her feet and smiled down at Amelia. “You’re safe now,” she reassured the girl. Amelia relaxed at Annabeth’s confidence, but still seemed nervous.
“Wanna see something cool?” Percy asked her, grinning, intent on distracting her from the traumatizing event that just occurred. She nodded tentatively, sniffling a bit.
He took out a pen cap and touched it to the end of his sword. It turned back into the pen MJ saw earlier.
“Whoa,” Ned breathed out. Amelia’s expression held the same amazement.
“Now check this out,” Percy said, putting the pen away and getting his water bottle from his bag’s side pocket. Annabeth rolled her eyes, muttering about him being a show off, but her face was fond.
He unscrewed the top of the bottle and with some movements with his hand, coaxed out a bubble of water. He directed it to the cut on his arm and they all watched as the wound closed up. He tossed the water aside with a gesture.
“You’re a waterbender!” Amelia said excitedly.
Percy’s brow furrowed. “A what?”
“You know, like Katara!” Ned explained, Amelia nodding her agreement.
Percy shook his head and looked at them with a confused expression, still not understanding.
“C’mon, man! From Avatar?” Spider-Man prompted.
“Peter, I have no idea what you guys are talking about,” Percy confessed. Annabeth looked to be on the same boat.
“How do you not know Avatar The Last Airbender?” Peter—Spider-Man—exclaimed. “It’s one of the greatest—” He cut himself off and froze, realizing something. “Um, w-why’d you call me Peter? Nice name and all, but I—I’m Spider-Man.”
This dork, MJ thought, shaking her head.
Annabeth raised an eyebrow at him over Amelia’s head. “I mean, I can’t go through all the reasons why we know you’re Peter right now. But for starters, you didn’t even bother to disguise your voice. And we saw you changing behind MJ and Ned."
“How?” Peter whined. “You were busy charging at giants!”
Percy shrugged. “The ADHD makes us notice everything in a battle. We’d be killed otherwise.”
He said it so casually, however it made Amelia flinch, reminding her of the friends she’d lost. Ned noticed.
“Peter is Spider-Man, Spider-Man is Peter, blah blah blah,” Ned interrupted, causing Peter to sputter and Amelia to giggle. “Not news! What we really want to know is how you don’t know Avatar! I mean what’s next, you guys never saw Star Wars?”
“Ugh.” MJ heard behind her. “He sounds just like Will.”
Her, Ned, and Peter spun around to see a guy dressed head to toe in black, wearing a grim expression. Or maybe that was just his face.
“Dude,” Ned said accusingly at Peter, hitting him in the arm. “What happened to the tingle?”
“There was nothing to tingle about!” Peter defended. “It’s like he appeared out of thin air!”
The guy smirked. “Out from the shadows, actually.” He looked past them, seeing Amelia, and walked to her.
He and the three of them faced Amelia, the boy standing next to Annabeth. “Nico,” he introduced, offering his hand to her.
Amelia shook it in a daze. “Amelia.” Suddenly, she grinned. “You came from the shadows? That’s way cooler than Percy’s water thing!”
Nico choked out a surprised laugh and Annabeth outright laughed. Percy protested, faux indignant, but even he couldn’t help but smile.
“It’s called shadowtravel,” Nico explained. “We’ll be doing it to get to camp.”
“Camp.” MJ looked at Annabeth and Percy. “The one with the family emergencies?”
Percy nodded. “The emergencies look a lot like this one.”
A million questions sat on the tip of her tongue. Who were they? What were they? Was it related to the parent question Amelia was asked? What did the camp have to do with it? Was it a refuge for people like them? She could see that Peter and Ned were also brimming with curiosity.
But like Annabeth said, the explanations would have to wait. MJ could be patient.
“How much have you told them?” Nico asked, eyeing the three of them.
“Barely anything,” Percy said. “Mostly demonstrative. MJ here is at least clearsighted, though. She was the one to spot the giants.”
“You trust them?”
“Not like we have a choice,” Percy said bluntly. “But they’re already keeping at least one secret, what’s another?”
Nico accepted this for now. He looked Spider-Man up and down. “Is this the one secret? Or does this guy just dress like this? Is this what people wear nowadays?”
Though she couldn’t see it, MJ was sure Peter was gaping at Nico. “No!” he exclaimed. “I—This is—I’m Spider-Man!”
Nico tilted his head. “Who?”
Peter threw his hands up in defeat. “Oh, come on! I’m practically an Avenger now! I held Cap’s shield! I’ve gone to space! I mean, Mr. Stark doesn’t even use the general babysitting protocol anymore—” he stopped, eye lenses going wide. “Oh no.”
MJ and Ned knew that tone. It was the Peter-is-being-melodramatic tone. However, to the others, it just sounded like distress. Immediately, they were on edge.
“What’s wrong?” Annabeth demanded.
“Oh, no no no,” Peter chanted, making a break for the dumpster he previously webbed his bag to. But before he could, matching his inhuman speed, Percy grabbed his arm and held him fast.
“Tell us what’s going on,” Percy ordered.
“I—Mr. Stark put in a protocol,” Peter explained as quickly as he could, desperate to get to his bag. “That if I webbed my bag on a moveable object, he would get notified. If I get it before he gets the message and comes here, I might not get in trouble—”
“What?” Nico growled out, irritated at the false urgency. Annabeth and Percy relaxed and Percy let Peter go.
Peter started towards his bag but they all heard the sound of thrusters. Iron Man appeared above them and landed by the dumpster. He grabbed Peter’s bag and started marching towards Peter, who managed to get only a tad bit away from them. They had all turned to watch the interaction.
“Underoos, what did May and I say about losing your backpack?” Tony Stark began.
“Um, well—not to?” Peter squeaked out.
MJ rolled her eyes at the mention of May. “It’s a miracle the whole of New York doesn’t know who you are already.”
Starks attention snapped to her, as if noticing her—and the rest of them—for the first time. Stark stepped out of the armor and made his way to them, Peter following.
“Peter, they all know who you are?” Stark accused, incredulous.
“To be fair, I didn’t know his name ‘til you just said it,” Nico offered.
Stark grimaced and turned to Peter. “Okay, Spider-baby. We need to have a talk.”
Percy raised his brow. “I thought you said Mr. Stark wasn’t your dad.”
Stark sputtered and MJ captured his flushed face in her mind. Definitely going in her sketchbook.
“I’m not his dad!” Stark cried.
“You literally just called him baby,” Percy pointed out.
“But not my baby,” Stark protested, while Peter exclaimed at the same time, “I’m not, like, his baby!”
Percy held up his hands in surrender. “Hey, I get it. No need to be ashamed. Chosen family, right?” Percy directed the last sentence at Peter and winked at him.
“Do I need to be here?” Nico asked, already bored. Annabeth waved him off.
“Come on, Amelia,” Nico said, holding out his hand.
The young girl grinned excitedly, taking it. They stepped into a nearby shadow, melting into it and disappearing.
Stark’s expression became uncomprehending, jaw dropping and eyebrows shooting up. It certainly didn’t look like Doctor Strange’s magic, from what Peter described to MJ and Ned and from the snippets that they had seen in the news.
“So cool,” Ned squealed. MJ was inclined to agree that it was way cooler than Percy’s water thing. Looked like she was right to be extra curious about the new kids.
“Okay,” Tony said decidedly, finally snapping out of it. “Now we really need to talk.”