Disclaimer: I don't own anything but the plot.
Tony
I furiously typed and scrolled through my computer, searching through Leo's past. Bruce sat next to me, going through Leo's online SHIELD file, while Natasha and Clint searched for any matches on Leo's friends, with Jarvis' help.
I had been scouring the internet for over an hour now, and I had found some things that were interesting. Mostly things about Esperanza's death. As far as I could tell, there was no hard proof that Leo had set the fire. Once again, I cursed myself for believing Fury.
Not wanting to read another newspaper article, I glanced over at Bruce. His eyebrows were scrunched together in confusion and concentration.
"Find anything?" I asked, desperate for any bit of information about Leo. After a few moments, Bruce realized I was talking to him and snapped himself awake.
"I've just been analyzing Leo's DNA." Bruce replied. Widow and Clint looked over in interest. "Mother is Esperanza Valdez, grandparents, Sammy Valdez Jr. and Maria Stark."
I nodded, relieved. My earlier fears were wrong. Leo was really my nephew.
"What about the father?" Natasha asked.
Bruce hesitated. "Well… That's the weird thing. There isn't a father."
We all paused. "Excuse me?" I asked. "You do know how babies are made, right?"
Bruce scowled at me. "I'm serious. If you sort through the DNA, Leo is missing half. He literally has zero from the father, whoever he is."
"So… alien?" Clint concluded.
I nodded. "Cap and I thought he was Asgardian."
"And his friends?" Tasha asked, gesturing at her work. "Singing the Hulk to sleep? I don't recall any Asgardian character matching that description. Besides, wasn't Thor one of the first Asgardians to come to Earth?"
I threw my hands up in the air. "Well, what else could this be?! I'm open to ideas!" We all exchanged looks.
"Fury." Clint said. "He knows something." Natasha nodded and Bruce shrugged.
"What else is new?" He muttered.
Though I agreed, I didn't say anything. Instead, I said, very helpfully, "What are we supposed to do, waltz up to him and ask what all his secrets are? Yeah, that'll go well."
Clint sighed and shrugged. "I'm just saying. The way he looked at Leo… it was weird."
"Well, I'm already digging-"
CRASH, "OW!"
We all jumped up at the sudden noise.
"Jarvis?" I questioned.
"It seems that Master Leo and Mr. Rogers have landed on the roof, sir."
One second passed before we all bolted towards the elevator.
Leo
Steve was obviously very uncomfortable with Festus. He kept shifting and throwing off my concentration. "Oi, Cappy. I'm not gonna let you fall. Or are you afraid of heights or something?"
I felt his glare and chuckled.
Leaning forward, I closed my eyes and relaxed against Festus. I missed flying on him. With all the new campers, Chiron said it might be "A little much" to come swooping on randomly on a giant metal dragon. It wasn't like Peleus was petite!
"Uhh… Leo?"
"Yep?"
"LEO!"
Did his voice sound fainter?
I bolted up and turned around the best I could, reaching into my tool belt.
A car like thing with the African American pirate from earlier on it was right beside Festus's tail. Steve was sat firmly behind the pirate so that his arms were pinned. His expression screamed, "RUN!"
Pfft. Cause I run.
"Valdez! We need to talk!" The pirate yelled. I rolled my eyes. Cliché much?
"Do we now?" I yelled back. "Can we at least land first?"
Without waiting for an answer, I steered Festus towards Uncle T's tower. We had just landed when Uncle T, Scarylady, Arrowdude, and Dr. Banner raced up to the roof. I frowned, realizing Aunt Pepper wasn't there, and slipped off Festus.
I watched in amusement as Uncle Tony's jaw dropped as he took in Festus. The dragon sniffed the newcomers cautiously, accidently snuffing some smoke in they're faces.
I snorted and called Festus back. Scarylady, I never got her name, was eyeing him up and I would rather not have to put him back together again.
I quirked my eyebrows at them and turned to Mr. Pirate. "That was so rude. Apologize to the Captain, Eyepatch."
He looked at me dryly as Steve wiggled free.
"I meant we needed to talk alone." Pirate growled.
"Whatever about, matey?"
He sighed. "Your parents."
I froze. Parents. S. I eyed him up again. Demigod?
I slowly nodded and walked over towards him, ignoring Uncle T's calls. Steve shot me a questioning look before moving to the others, and earning a well-earned slap from Arrowdude.
"I respect you, Valdez. You saved the world. As a demigod, I can see why you'd deserve to be free."
I raised my eyebrows. Okay, demigod. But where the heck was this going?
"But as the director of SHIELD, my duty is to the mortals. Even the super ones." Pirate continued, gesturing to the Avengers.
"What are you getting at, Pirate?"
"Before you had any clue of your father, you committed quite a few crimes. Including murder."
I tightened. "You don't even know what really happened."
He ignored me. "At that point, you were just a regular mortal. The recent stuff, I can pardon. But you'll have to be punished for earlier crimes-"
"Let me stop you right there." I said putting my hands up. I hated getting this agitated, but it was getting more and more difficult to keep it positive. "The worst I've ever done was steal. Yes, my fire burnt down the warehouse the night my mom died. But it was Gaia who provoked me. I was eight. And either way, I have enough problems right now. Camp is in danger. So I'll make you a deal. We both survive, then we can discuss my punishment. Alright?"
I watched him think it over. Finally he pointed stiffly at me and said, "This isn't over." Then he marched firmly over to the Avengers, who were petting Festus.
"I thought I told you all I didn't want you involved." Pirate continued. I was really getting tired of calling him that.
Scarylady raised an eyebrow. "Sounds personal." Really need to learn her name too.
Pirate simply glared a response. I grinned at her.
"Why yes, lady-who's-name-I-don't-know. It's quite personal. You see, pirate here is…" I turned to him. "Who's your parent?"
He rubbed his eye and sighed. "Nike."
"So that would make you my…" I pulled a bunch of Greek names from my head, trying to find how we were related. "Uh, let's just call us cousins."
Uncle T's eyes widened. "You're related?! But wouldn't that make Fury and I related?"
I snorted. "Your name is Fury?"
"No Stark. We're not related." Fury said.
"So you're a demigod?" Steve asked.
"A what?" Arrowdude cut in.
I threw my hands up in the air. "Do I really have to explain this again?!"
"Oh you'll have to explain something, Valdez." A cold voice cut in.
I froze.
I did it! Whew! Who knew school could be so school-like. I'm sorry it's late. I'm gonna try to have updates at least every other week, and pick it up a bit while I get used to school. Love you lots! Thanks for the support! It's what keeps me going! Until next time.
