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Hydra was less of a mythical beast whose heads grew back and more a small pest nowadays, but they still stuck around much like a particularly stubborn cockroach. Hence the current mission, which was destroying a base in Queens. Well, not really a base but rather an appropriated abandoned warehouse.
Steve was accompanied by Tony for any information retrieval, Bucky as back up, and Peter—Spider-Man—by virtue that this was his territory. The situation probably didn’t even warrant back up, but he figured that every opportunity to beat up some Hydra grunts was a form of therapy for Bucky. (And for him.)
“Seemed to be mostly a research facility,” Iron Man reported, as Bucky threw the last Hydra scientist into the room they were in. Spider-Man webbed her to the existing group of web-bound agents. “A little more up Bruce’s and your alley, Spidey. Effects of radiation on living subjects.”
“How far had they gotten?” Spider-Man asked worriedly. Understandably, since a Hydra-led Hulk or Spider-Man would be a not insignificant threat.
“Not far, considering their Bing searches of ‘where to buy uranium’ and ‘how to change Bing to Google’,” Iron Man snorted disdainfully.
Spider-Man let out a sigh of relief. “What should we do with these guys?” He gestured to the group of agents that Steve and Bucky beat into unconsciousness.
“Notify Coulson,” Steve directed to Bucky, who nodded in acknowledgement and did so. “Let S.H.I.E.L.D. or S.W.O.R.D. deal with this. Where are you on destroying the files, Stark?”
“Data procured, erased, and—” The man sent several repulsor blasts into the machines. “Irretrievable. Can you believe they stored everything on disk? No backups to the cloud or anything.”
“Coulson’s team will be here in two minutes,” Bucky reported back.
Steve nodded. “OK. Let’s do a final sweep of the facility—”
Just then, someone dropped down from the vents into the middle of the room.
“Kinda tacky lab coat, dude,” Spider-Man remarked, unfazed.
The man—a Hydra agent, according to the giant Hydra symbol emblazoned on the back of his lab coat (tacky indeed, Steve thought)—spun around to face Spider-Man.
“Oh, yeah? Bet you don’t think this is tacky,” the agent yelled as he whipped off the coat to reveal a bomb vest.
“FRIDAY, Chrysalis protocol,” Iron Man ordered immediately, extending his arm so his armor could instead encase the Hydra scientist.
“Boss, detecting high levels of radiation that even the armor can’t completely repress. I recommend getting out of the vicinity immediately,” FRIDAY warned.
“I don’t think so,” the agent cackled as sheets of metal enclosed the room.
“Spidey?”
Spider-Man punched the nearest wall, but it barely made a dent.
“Vibranium,” he called back worriedly.
Iron Man tilted his head at the scientist. “You guys can somehow procure radioactive material and vibranium, install this panic room, and make a bomb, but don’t know how to change your default search engine? And you were still using IE! At least upgrade to Edge—”
“Stark, can you disable the bomb?” Steve asked, trying to get the man back on task.
“Well depends on when this goes off, but even so, the exposure alone—”
“You have about ten seconds,” the Hydra said with a feral grin, unthinkably helpful.
“Karen! Send our location to Nico with code ‘Icarus’!” Spider-Man yelled, gathering the four of them together.
Steve threw a glance at Bucky, both of them jolting at the sound of a familiar name. “What—”
Suddenly, there was someone else amongst them in the impenetrable room. “Everyone hold onto each other,” the newly appeared teenager commanded, and they instinctively obeyed.
As they dissolved into the shadows, Steve saw dark eyes widen at the sight of him and Bucky. Eyes he hadn’t seen in over eighty years.
--
In the same breath in which they disappeared from the world, they reappeared in a field. The air smelled of strawberries.
The group stumbled a bit, disoriented, but immediately there were people—teenagers, Steve’s mind absently supplied—steadying them. “Will,” one of them warned.
A blond boy caught Nico as he crumpled, and lowered him to lay on the ground. The boy, Will, took out a first aid kit from his satchel. He opened it and retrieved—chocolate?
“Eat this,” Will ordered, unwrapping the bar. Nico grumbled but did as told, resting his eyes.
“Boss, the bomb detonated. Blast radius is minimal because of the vibranium room, but there is still some residual radiation seeping through,” FRIDAY reported.
“Notify Coulson so his team is prepared, and call the right groups,” Stark directed, helmet retracting. “What are our levels?”
“The enhanced individuals have already metabolized the radiation. I detect trace amounts for you, sir.”
Tony sighed. “OK. Call Dr. Cho—”
“Mr. Stark,” the young woman interrupted. “I think Will can help with that.”
Will rolled his eyes in exasperation. “You need to stop telling everyone I can cure anything, Annabeth.”
Annabeth smirked. “I haven’t been wrong yet.”
“I mean, you’ve already cured Nico of his bad disposition,” the last teenager joked, his sea-green eyes sparkling with mirth.
“Don’t push it, Percy,” Nico growled, still eating the chocolate.
Will held out his hands towards Tony from where he was kneeling next to Nico. Hesitantly, Tony retracted his armor fully and put his arm into Will’s hands. Will closed his eyes and his brow furrowed in concentration.
“Levels are going down,” FRIDAY’s voice rung out. After a few moments, “Sir, it’s gone.”
Will opened his eyes and let go of Tony. He rocked back, looking a little worn out. From his position lying down and eyes still closed, Nico fished through the first aid kit and held out some chocolate for Will.
“We have comms on us, are we within the border?” Tony asked, now that the most immediate danger was resolved and before Steve could grasp exactly what just happened.
“Close enough,” Annabeth confirmed.
“Oh, good,” Spider-Man sighed. “I really didn’t want to have to fight a giant scorpion right now.”
“Actually we’ve been having more drakons lately,” Percy said.
So many questions.
“How giant is a giant scorpion?” Bucky asks, apparently more curious about that than anything else.
“It was just a small one.” Percy waved off the concern.
“You keep saying that, but I saw three people ride it at once,” Spider-Man protested.
“Exactly,” Percy argued back. “The regular ones can fit at least six.”
“I’m sorry,” Steve interrupted, finally finding his tongue. “But where are we, who are you guys, and how do you all know each other?”
Annabeth tilted her head, eyeing him and Bucky. “Peter, Mr. Stark,” she started. Steve couldn’t contain his surprise. They knew Peter’s identity? “How much do you trust these two?”
“You-know-who owes my dad a favor, we can definitely wipe their memories,” Will offered. Bucky flinched at the suggestion, looking pale. He threw a desperate look at Steve.
Peter took off his mask to answer, and from his expression, to defend them. But before he could, Nico spoke instead, his words surprising everyone.
“I can vouch for them.” Those dark eyes opened, looking directly at Steve and Bucky. They were distinctly lacking that innocence that won their hearts over in the first place.
“Annabeth, Will, Percy,” the boy introduced. “Meet Steve Rogers and Bucky Barnes. Also known as—” His mouth turned into a smile that spelled trouble. “—the worst babysitters in Brooklyn.”
Most everyone was stunned into silence. Partly at the revelation that the three of them knew each other, and partly because the smile seemed unfamiliar to the others.
Bucky just chuckled. “It’s because you were such a little shit, squirt.”
“Language,” Steve said, a habit that was first formed because of Nico.
Nico just rolled his eyes, but his lips stayed quirked up. “Right, because it was totally my idea to steal Mr. Johnston’s tomatoes.”
“Hey,” Steve protested, because it was his idea. And by the transitive property, that meant he was the little shit. “He was racist to your family first, so he deserved it. Besides, the lasagna your mother made that night completely justified it.”
Bucky groaned in longing. “That lasagna. Even better than yours, Stark.”
Tony snapped out of his surprise to quip back, “Tread carefully, Barnes. That’s my nonna’s recipe you’re insulting.”
“Cook off!” Peter declared, also recovered.
Nico’s expression turned more shy. “I think I’ve got it almost just like hers.”
“Great.” Tony clapped his hands together. “This Saturday. You’re going down.” He pointed faux-menacingly at Nico, who cheekily raised an eyebrow challengingly.
“You should all come,” Steve invited the other three teenagers. Then, back at Nico. “Bring your mom and Bianca?”
Nico’s good humor vanished, and he looked away from them. He sat up, and his voice was thick. “They can’t. They’re—they’re gone.”
He met Steve’s and Bucky’s shocked gazes, anguish in his eyes. “I should explain. We—” He looked around at his group. “—should explain.”
“You know the Greek gods?” Annabeth asked. He and Bucky hesitantly nodded. “Well, they’re real. And still around. We’re their children. I’m a child of Athena.”
“Poseidon,” Percy offered.
“Apollo,” said Will.
“And I’m a child of Hades,” Nico rounded out. “Bianca and I both were.” Steve’s head spun. He looked over at Bucky, and he looked just as unmoored.
“Zeus had a grudge against all of Hades’ children,” Nico continued, barreling through their confusion. “Especially during the second world war. So our mother got us out of Italy, and what best place to hide?”
“Right under his nose,” Annabeth guessed, correctly.
Nico nodded. “Or as close as. In Brooklyn, right near these two.” He gestured towards the super soldiers. “To blend in, we couldn’t live beyond whatever means we could get ourselves. So Steve and Bucky babysat Bianca and I while mamma worked, the rest of the neighborhood refusing to because of the prejudices from the war. They helped out mamma when they could, helped teach us English, and occasionally endorsed our thievery.”
“It was only ever food,” Bucky joked, but his voice betrayed the fear of knowing what came next.
Nico smiled at Bucky’s response, but it quickly faded. His eyes grew distant, looking back to the past. “My father slipped up. He wanted to see mamma again, so they met at a hotel. Being the god of riches, he wanted to spare no expense. But that got them discovered.”
Nico hugged his knees to his chest, and Will put a comforting hand on his back. “Zeus struck down the hotel with lightning, killing everyone in it. Just to kill mamma, and hurt my father.”
He glanced back up at them. “This happened after you both left. Afterwards, our father took us to Nevada to hide again.”
Steve swallowed hard. If only he and Bucky hadn’t left. If only he didn’t take the serum. If only there wasn’t a war. “And Bianca? Was she in the hotel too?”
Nico shook his head. “She died only a few years ago.”
“How were you two still alive ‘til now?” Tony asked. “Perks of being a child of the god of death?”
“God of the underworld, not death,” Nico corrected. “If only not-dying was actually one of our powers.” He shook his head to free it from thoughts of the possibility. “We were put into a hotel casino in Vegas, where time passed differently. Instead of spending a month there like we thought, seventy years had passed.”
“Oh, naturally,” Tony said, sounding a little hysterical. “FRIDAY, remind me to not stay there when I go to that conference in August.”
That made Nico huff a laugh. “Only a few years ago were we taken out, put into a boarding school, and brought here by these guys and two others.” He gestured at Annabeth and Percy.
Steve blinked. “To a strawberry field?”
“It’s a front,” Percy explained. “We have a camp here for others like us. Other demigods.”
“And occasionally we have to do the gods’ bidding by sending us out on quests,” Nico said bitterly. The others didn’t seem to disagree. “It’s on one of these that Bianca—” His voice caught. He didn’t finish or elaborate, and instead stared down at the ground. Steve noticed Percy looking guilty.
Steve knelt down to Nico, and Bucky followed suit. Will stood and backed up to give the three space. Steve put his hand on Nico’s shoulder, but the boy kept his gaze on the ground.
“We’re sad that they’re gone. And sorry that you’ve lost them. But Nico, we’re so glad you’re here.”
“Yeah, squirt. Do you know what a pain it was just having this guy around?” Bucky pointed his thumb at Steve, who shoved him.
“Jerk,” he muttered, smiling.
“Punk,” Bucky tossed back.
Nico laughed wetly at their familiar exchange, and finally met their gazes, eyes shiny with tears.
“We’ve missed you.”
Nico launched himself at them, and they held him tight. Steve never thought he’d see another person from his past, regretting that he couldn’t say goodbye to those he loved. He’s sure Bucky felt the same if not worse, because he still had his mother and sisters waiting for him back home.
But here Nico was. A short period in their lives, but undoubtedly some of their best times were with the di Angelo siblings. And not only did they now have the chance to say goodbye, but they got to live again with him.
After a few moments of clinging desperately to each other, sharing the trauma of having outlived their time and people, they separated. They all sniffed and scrubbed at their eyes, but still maintained physical contact with each other. Holding on as if letting go would mean letting go forever.
“I missed you guys too,” Nico said quietly. “I tried looking for your souls in the underworld. When I couldn’t find you guys, I had assumed you both chose to be reincarnated.”
That—that was a lot at once. “Underworld,” Steve stated, to start with.
“Yeah, my father’s domain,” Nico explained slowly. As if he and Bucky didn’t just learn that Nico was still alive and the Greek gods were real.
“And you looked for us?” Bucky asked, touched.
Nico nodded. “Wandered as much as I was able to in the different domains. Tried asking around when I couldn’t detect you myself. Came across some guys who said they were part of the Howlin’ Commandos with you two, but hadn’t seen you.”
Steve shared a shocked look with Bucky, and swallowed hard. “Yeah, we met them during the war. How—how were they?”
Nico gave them a reassuring smile, understanding. “Doing well in Elysium. All of them.” He and Bucky breathed a sigh of relief.
“People in the Fields of Asphodel don’t really remember anything, and those in Tartarus are too busy being tortured, so I couldn’t really ask around there,” Nico continued. “I tried looking at the records—my brother smuggled me in—but sorting through all the dead people of all of human history is not really feasible.”
“Wait, you have a brother now, too?” Percy interrupted. “First Hazel, now this guy?”
Nico shrugged. “Apparently. I don’t see him much though, since he’s usually out testing the underworld’s security.”
Percy snorted. “It’s not very good, if two twelve year olds and a satyr can get in.”
Nico raised an eyebrow. “His work is not to keep from people getting in. It’s to keep beings from getting out.” He tilted his head in thought. “Except for that whole Doors of Death thing.”
Now it was Annabeth’s turn to raise an eyebrow. “You mean that thing that nearly ended the world?” she asked rhetorically.
Nico chuckled. “Yeah. I still give him so much sh—” He glanced at Steve. “—crap for it.”
“Do you go to the underworld often?” Peter asked, brimming with curiosity.
“Not as much anymore.” He threw a quick look to his left, in Will’s direction.
“So you regularly go through the underworld and teleport—”
“Shadow travel.”
“—and you can heal people,” Bucky pointed to Will. “What about you two?” He looked at Percy and Annabeth.
“Biggest thing is I can control water, I guess,” Percy said.
“Biggest thing?”
“Well, I can do other things. But so can Nico and Will, yet you only listed their biggest things.” He turned contemplative. “Although I don’t know if shadow travel is technically Nico’s biggest thing. The whole ‘raising the dead’ thing can get pretty freaky.”
The non-demigods of the group were gobsmacked, and a little terrified. Before they could ask more, though—
“Who takes you to the aquarium every month, Percy?” Nico challenged.
Percy’s shoulders slumped and he pouted. “Jules-Albert.” Nico looked triumphant.
“Jules-Albert is Nico’s zombie chauffeur,” Will explained.
The four Avengers nodded slowly. Right. Of course.
“And you?” Steve prompted Annabeth, deciding to let that particular conversation go.
“I can think.” She didn’t elaborate.
Steve furrowed his brow. “Erm, no offense, but can’t everyone?”
She let out a long-suffering sigh. “They really can’t.”
Percy nodded furiously, determined to prove her right. “Just last week, Hazel found this buried antique glass bottle with liquid in it. And I was arguing with Leo and Jason about whether it was alcohol or perfume. So of course I drank it—”
“Buried,” Tony repeated faintly, disbelieving.
“It was perfume,” Annabeth said, defeated.
“But in all seriousness,” Nico interrupted. “Annabeth is one of the smartest demigods I’ve ever met, dead or alive.”
The tips of Annabeth’s ears turned pink. She nodded at Nico, appreciative.
“Smarter than a few gods I can think of, too,” Percy joked. Thunder rumbled in the distance, despite it being a clear day.
Percy rolled his eyes. “I’m not even a blink of an eye in their eternal existence, yet they’re always listening just in case I talk shit about them.”
“Language,” Steve admonished distractedly, eyeing the sky. Maybe that put him on their good side.
Just then, Peter’s watch beeped, and he checked it.
“Coulson wants to bring me in to evaluate some materials that changed with the radiation,” he reported.
Tony’s expression was bewildered. “Why’s he asking you? Shouldn’t they be consulting an expert?” Like me, goes unsaid.
“I guess Dr. Banner was busy,” Peter said cheekily.
Tony shook his head, but they all saw his smile, proud of his protégé’s expertise and sarcasm. He ruffled Peter’s hair. “Alright, let’s head over.”
Nico shakily got up. Steve and Bucky did as well, making sure the boy didn’t fall over. “I can take you guys.”
“No, thanks, Casper,” Tony said, suit starting to enclose him. Peter put his mask back on. “I heard of the ghostly side effects and I don’t want to make your radiation-curing boyfriend mad.” His helmet covered his head. “Let’s go, Underoos.”
They took off, and the last bit of what Tony said finally sunk in.
“Boyfriend?” Steve questioned, looking at Nico and Will.
Nico drew back from them for the first time, looking nervous. Will moved closer to Nico. And though they still kept their causal stances, Steve noticed an alertness to Annabeth and Percy, sharper than their initial wariness to him and Bucky.
“Well, young man?” Bucky started. Nico flinched. “Aren’t you going to properly introduce us?”
The group turned from wary and defensive to baffled. Percy recovered quickest. He nudged Nico, who looked at him incredulously.
“Introduce Will to them!” Percy stage-whispered.
“Uh.” Nico took a step towards them, bringing Will with him. “Bucky. Steve. This is Will. My—my boyfriend.”
“Nice to meet you, Will,” Steve said, playing along. “Does he treat you well, Nico?”
“Erm, yes?” At Bucky’s eyebrow raise, he explained further. “He gives me chocolate when I overextend myself, and makes sure I eat.” He glanced at Will fondly. “He’s willing to literally go to Tartarus and back with me.”
Will cleared his throat. Nico rolled his eyes and shook his head in exasperation. “And he’s always calling me out on my shit.”
“Language.” Steve smiled, and Nico tentatively matched it.
“But just so you know,” Bucky warned Will, only somewhat jokingly. “You’d have us to deal with if you hurt Nico.”
“Get in line,” Percy quipped.
“You all are so embarrassing.” Nico was bright red, but his voice was trusting and fond.
“Believe me,” Will declared. “Whatever you’re thinking up couldn’t compare to what I’d do to myself if that happened.”
Steve and Bucky nodded approvingly, even throwing a thumbs up. Nico, somehow redder and fonder, muttered, “Sap.” Will grinned at him in response, brushing his hand against Nico’s.
Steve pulled Nico in for a quick hug with him and Bucky. “We’re so happy you found someone, squirt,” he whispered. “And overjoyed that you found people so willing to protect you and love you. Glad to see that we’re not alone.”
When they parted, Nico’s eyes were glassy. He wiped away the moisture and composed himself.
“Well,” Annabeth said, pulling baskets seemingly out of nowhere. “Since Stark has abandoned you here for the time being, you might as well help us pick strawberries.”
“I’ll get Jules-Albert to take you guys back,” Nico reassured them, while Will grabbed a basket for himself and Nico.
“You guys can stick around, though,” Percy invited. He then got a wicked gleam in his eye. “Actually, you should stay. We’re playing capture the flag tonight.”