So....

It's my birthday. I'm officially old. So that's a thing.

As for the one shot:

I used to be obsessed with Percy Jackson and Avengers crossovers. Not really sure why, anyway years later and my obsession has subsided, but I randomly got the idea to write this? And then it took me forever to actually write it but finally it appears.

Also this takes place sometimes before Civil War.

-Jaz

~~~~

He had seen too much.

He hadn't meant to, he hadn't even meant to be there in the first place, but apparently shadow traveling- even though Will had forbade it- had its consequences.

Nico wasn't exactly sure where he was, or how exactly he got there, but either way he found himself standing in the shadow of some trees. The sun shone brightly indicating it was still day and that he could most places in the world, great. Curses ran through Nico's mind as he looked out into a field and spied through the edge of the trees to see a large white building, it looked sort of fancy and Nico assumed he had been spit out on to some rich person's property.

The sound of voices came closer, and Nico shrunk back into the trees wishing he had some unicorn draught to deal with the throbbing in his skull and the dizziness.
B
"It's not possible Tony."

"With everything you've seen can you say it's not?"on

Two people came into view and Nico was certainly surprised by their appearance. The first was a man wearing a full suit of red and gold armor. The second was another man who had metal wings on his back.

While Nico didn't personally keep up with the news as he found it annoying and depressing, but he had heard about the infamous Avengers from the other campers and learned bits about each even if he hadn't wanted to. And judging by the metal wings and metal suit, these two were Iron Man, and Falcon. He already knew he had seen too much, he needed to get out of here.

Nico glanced back at a large patch of shadow, considering running back to it and hoping he'd end up somewhere else, but the way the shadows nearly seemed like a fog which was licking at his feet trying to pull him in and turn him into a shadow too. The very thought made the dizziness increase and he swayed. He reached out and grabbed a tree as he felt himself losing consciousness. The small movement seemed to draw the attention of the two Avengers.

A high pitched sound reached Nico's ears and a voice called with it.

"Come out now or I'll shoot."

Nico swallowed and forced himself to stand up straight deciding whatever the two would do to him would be better than becoming a shadow. He took a shaky step forward then another, until he stood in the field a few feet from the two men who looked on high alert.

"How'd you get in here?" Falcon demanded.

Nico opened his mouth and his words slurred, "I'd tell you if I knew."

Both glanced at each other and that was the last thing Nico remembered.

~~~~

Nico woke up on a couch.

An unfamiliar couch.

He slowly sat up and surveyed the room he was in- and the people sitting in it. As the infamous Avengers stared him down, Nico suddenly wished he had jumped into that shadow. He opened and closed his mouth unsure of what to say or do.

"How are you feeling?"

Nico's attention turned to the speaker, the bright blue suit gave away that he was Captain America. When the man shifted in his chair slightly Nico realized he hadn't answered so he just said, "Okay."

The man nodded once and his eyes flickered to the others around them, "How'd you get here son?"

"I'm not sure," Nico answered quickly- too quickly he chided himself.

None of them looked convinced, but at least it wasn't a total lie. Nico had stepped into a shadow hoping to just go across a room to test out how his powers were doing, he hadn't intended to end up here.

"According to security camera's you popped out of nowhere," another man said. Nico frowned both at his statement and trying to place who he was.

"It kinda looked like you walked out a shadow," another put in, and as Nico had seen Falcon before it was easy to say that was him. "How does that make sense?"

Nico gave an unconvincing shrug, "Last time things made sense I was in my room looking for a sweatshirt."

"I doubt that," the man Nico didn't know said. He must've hit a button or something because a holographic screen popped up in front of Nico. Depicting a video of Nico walking out of a shadow,

"Godsdamnit not again."

Nico silently cursed himself, Of course there was audio.

The video Nico looked around a bit before he moved closer to the tree line, but the screen vanished before it could show the two Avengers show up.

"What were you trying to do?"

This came from the red headed woman who sat across the room nursing a mug of something, she must be Black Widow.

"Just tell us the truth," Captain America told him. "If you do, we can clear everything up and send you home."

Nico began to twist at his skull ring nervously, as he thought. He couldn't tell them the whole truth that much was obvious (he was also lucky the Asgardian wasn't here, that would have been a mess), and even if he told them a lie he would most likely be watched by them afterward which would be a horrible as well.

"It's okay," Captain America tried.

Nico's mind raced with lies before he finally settled on one, "I don't know why I can do this but I can." He started slowly. "I-I can transport myself through shadows, and sometime I have a bit of uh... trouble with it. Sometimes I can't always control where I go- I ended up in China once- but today I accidentally ended up here rather than across my room. And it takes a lot out of me so I passed out."

"Can you show us?" Falcon asked him.

"He just said he faints and ends up in random places," a young woman with long brown hair and European accent interjected, Scarlet Witch he assumed. "He shouldn't."

"I agree, though it is curious," the man beside her said- well man was one way to put it. His skin looked bright red and metallic, and there was something glowing in his head?

Nico tore his eyes away from the man trying to stay focused on the conversation. He briefly considered using this as an opportunity to shadow travel home, but without any ambrosia or unicorn draught he doubted he would survive the journey. "It's not the best of ideas for me to," Nico admitted. "I've been having more issues than usual. It seems there are worse side effects than fainting."

"Like what?" Captain America asked him.

"Well uh, according to my friends sometimes I become intangible and start to become a shadow myself. And they think I will turn into a shadow forever if I keep using this power..." Nico watched their faces looking for a sign that they were believing his words, but their faces were masks.

"I wanna run tests on him," the unknown man declared and Nico felt his heart drop.

"You can't just run tests on him, Tony," Captain America disagreed.

"Calm down Capsicle," the man- Tony (Stark?- Iron Man? Nico silently cursed himself not recognizing the most public one of the group) "I just wanna figure out if I can see what gives him in the power and then maybe I can keep him from turning into a shadow, come on I was bored anyway."

Captain America rolled his eyes at Tony before he looked to Nico, "What's your name kid?"

"Nico di Angelo," Nico answered before he internally kicked himself for not giving them a false name.

"Steve," Captain America nodded. "That's Natasha, Wanda, Tony, Sam, and Vision. So why don't you tell us where you live so we can talk to you parents?"

"Well uh... my family is dead," Nico told them but to add some credibility to his story he quickly added, "So I kinda moved in with a friend..."

~~~~

Nico was more than relieved.

He had a feeling he'd be looked up and wouldn't exist, but thankfully Sally Jackson went along with everything they threw at her. 

She answered questions with ease and even Percy had tossed in some details like short funny stories about times he and Nico had shared. Either way it seemed the Jackson's were lying to the government like they were professionals.

"Is there anything else you need from me?" Sally asked politely. "I can certainly provide you the name and number of Nico's social worker if you like. I already called him on our way here... I do hope Mr. Brunner answers."

Nico blinked at the name trying to recall before he recalled Percy mentioning it had been Chiron's alias in the past. Nico was partially relieved, and also worried that he would lose his dessert privileges for over a month.

It was then that Sally was led off by an agent so she could make the call leaving Percy and Nico alone with the Avengers.

"So... what do you think of what Nico can do Perseus?" Tony Stark asked to break the ice.

"Percy," Percy corrected before he gave a Nico a frown. "I think he should be trying to avoid turning into a shadow."

Nico crossed his arms, but didn't reply.

"You know what I meant kid, come on give me something."

"You already got a sample of the kid's DNA what more do you want?"

"What?" Nico asked him confused. When had that happened?

"Shit," Sam said as Tony glared at him.

"You were unknown and unconscious on the premises," Tony explained. "I took DNA to see if I could identify you."

"Tony," Captain America warned.

"Ah yes because probing minors is totally legal," Percy nodded before Tony could reply.

"He was an intruder," the man defended.

"But he's still a child," Captain America frowned.

"It's fine," Nico told him.

"See it's fine," Tony nodded. "Isn't not like I went through his pockets for change."

"I'm pretty sure taking blood is more invasive than stealing coins," Percy stated.

"It's fine Percy," Nico assured him, he didn't want to give the group more reasons to keep him there longer than he already had.

Percy visibly relaxed, but he didn't seem happy about it.

"Did your family have any abilities?" Wanda asked curiously.

Nico shook his head, "Just as normal as everyone else... So it's just me."

"Sorry," she apologized, "I just can't help wonder where your ability care from."

Nico only gave her a simple shrug in reply.

"Do you know anyone else who has them?" Tony Stark questioned.

"Just me," Nico told him. "I don't know how or why, but I can."

"But you shouldn't," Percy put in.

Nico gave a forced sigh, "But I shouldn't."

It was clear more questions were to be asked, but it was then Sally was lead back in the room announcing that Mr. Brunner was indeed close, his assistant Mr. Dion in tow.

The conversation had shifted to the woman at the announcement, and honestly that was just fine with Nico. And honestly he let the topics blur together- until Chiron and Mr. D arrived.

The first thing Nico realized was Mr. D's appearance. The usual bloodshot eyes were gone as was the wild Hawaiian shirts and the bright purple shoes. Rather he looked like- like a normal human being, dressed in casual business clothes. Nico found it kind of wrong looking to be honest.

But then again what was this day if not strange?

"I am very sorry about this," Chiron was saying. "It seems Mr. Di Angelo was not all that forthcoming about the issues with uh his-"

"Nicky has always been a bit special," Mr. D interjected and Nico frowned at the name. "So we are thankful for you entertaining this different situation."

Chiron nodded and waved his hand as he spoke as if doing so in conversation, but Nico could see the effect that the Mist had had. "Well not that you have gotten all the information out of us we will be going. You have no need to worry about it, it will all be handled."

"Of course," Captain America nodded. "I wish you all luck. And I don't go turning into shadows anytime soon son."

Nico nodded shortly as he stood, "I'll try not to."

~~~~

"I do not understand."

"Understand what?" Wanda asked him.

Vision looked the way their guests had left before he spoke, "Why you suddenly just let them go. It seemed none of you were willing to until a moment ago when the man in wheelchair waved his hand."

Tony frowned to himself, "What are you talking? F.R.I.D.A.Y. play the footage."

The TV clicked on suddenly and on the screen the scene which had played out moments before- and sure enough the moment the wheelchair bound man had waved his hand you could see the demeanor of everyone change.

"Show the footage of them driving off," Steve stated and the footage switched to the group pulling in cars which drove out of the compound. "And on the cameras leading up the compound?"

"There is no footage."

"No footage?"

"I'm sorry boss," the AI replied. "Somewhere in the 5 meter gap between the two cameras the car vanished. But I've already run the license plate."

"And?"

"It's registered to a van for Delphi's Strawberry Service."

"Well that car is definitely not a strawberry van," Natasha commented.

"It's a company located on the Long Island Sound, 3.141 Farm Road."

"Why would a social worker steal tags from strawberry van? Unless of course they aren't social workers," Sam put in. "But weren't there checks on everyone?"

"While checks were done and files were made," F.R.I.D.A.Y. started in reply, "I cannot find anything on any of today's visitors except for Mrs. Jackson and a note she has a son."

"Maybe it's time we check out Delphi's," Steve stated. "Covertly, same with the Jackson's... I'll head to the Jackson's with Tony, and we'll call in Rhodes. Wanda, Nat, Vision, and Sam head to the Delphi. Stay alert, we don't know what they've got there. Also Tony keep trying to find anything you can on these people."

Tony nodded without looking up from his phone, "Already doing it."

Steve nodded once as he stood, "Then let's go."