Dirty Little Secrets

Awkward Duet-Dodie Clarke and Jon Cozart

Percy POV

Annabeth seemed really nervous when I went over to her house. She wouldn't look me straight in the eye sometimes, and she avoided looking at my stump.

I guess that's to be expected, it is rather weird, but something about her mannerisms was off.

"Annabeth, is something wrong?" I asked.

She flinched at my voice. We had been working in silence for a while, knowing what we had to do and doing it without talking.

"Uh, no. Nothing's wrong."

"Are you sure? You seem nervous."

Annabeth turned to me, smiling. I could tell it was strained. "No, I'm fine. Let's get this done, I think Malcolm is having friends come over in a little while and then it'll be impossible to concentrate on anything."

I nodded and went back to my work, frowning a little. 

"How's this?" I shoved the posterboard I was working on over to Annabeth so she could inspect it.

"You spelled 'magnificent' wrong." She pointed out.

"Well good thing I did it in pencil." I replied, laughing.

"Yeah, good thing."

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Annabeth POV

I avoided looking at Percy at all costs. He had kept this secret from us for so long, why?

He had noticed my nervousness, but after I told him it was nothing, he dropped it.

At least I think he did.

Finally, seven o'clock rolled around and I heard Malcolm shouting that he'd get the door as the bell rang.

"I guess that's my cue." Percy stood and I followed his lead.

"Yeah, I guess." I muttered awkwardly.

Percy gestured to all the things on the floor. "You want me to take any of this?"

I shook my head. "It's fine, I'll keep it and bring it to school so we can work on it in class."

"Sweet. See you later." Percy headed out, calling goodbye to Malcolm and my parents. I could hear Bobby and Matthew shouting that he needed to stay and play with them for a little bit, and Percy telling them he had to go home and help his mom with something.

His mom.

Tony Stark's sister.

I dug in my backpack and pulled out my phone, opening my camera.

Scrolling through the previous pictures, I stopped on the screenshot of Percy with his metal arm.

Hitting the export button, I started a group chat with everyone except Percy and typed, 'Did anyone know about this?'

My finger hovered over the send button, but I faltered.

Would Percy want this getting out? He'd worked hard to keep it from us for a reason.

I bit my lip and canceled the message, but didn't delete the picture.

That could come in handy.

Again my mind pulled up the similarities between Percy and SeaBird as I looked at the picture.

Pulling up the search engine on my phone, I typed in 'SeaBird' and hit search.

Thousands of hits. I pulled open an article and began to read.

'SeaBird, a new contender in the Avengers team, is a complete mystery to all of us.

None of us know where this elusive figure came from, or where he even is when he's not working with his team. Sometimes it seems that not even his team knows him. His style is always obvious, centered around water, and his costuming is focused on blue hues. Is there a reason for this or does he just like blue?

SeaBird first showed up five years ago. He was seen flying with Tony Stark, seeming to practice getting used to his wings. This has brought up questions about whether these wings are something he has naturally, like some sort of mutant, or if, like Doctor Banner, who is the Hulk's calmer half, he was experimented on or genetically changed.

Since his first appearance, SeaBird has always shown up with the Avengers. He's never close enough for anyone in the media to speak with him, and he has never actually been heard speaking on film. When questioned about their teammate, the Avengers are decidedly tight-lipped.

"He's a hero just like the rest of us. He works his feathers off and fights for what he believes in." Tony Stark announced in a press conference. "He's a smart guy, and extremely capable."

That's the extent anyone has ever heard one of the Avengers speak about him. Who is this mysterious flight fighter? Is he a former criminal, that Stark feels the need to make sure that everyone knows he's a hero? Is he even human at all? No one knows for sure, except the Avengers, it would seem.

This reporter theorizes that this SeaBird is younger than we think he is. When he first appeared, he was significantly smaller than he is now, even his wingspan has grown quite a bit. Could it be that the Blue Boy Wonder is just that? A boy? We may never know.'

Annabeth sat back, taking the information in. Five years ago, Percy would have been twelve. The first time he had dyed his hair had been freshman year of high school. It had always been blue. Speaking of blue, she knew Percy was obsessed with the color.

Could Percy really be SeaBird?

[A/N yay chapter! I've been listening to Pentatonix and writing all weekend, that is the extent of my life XD]