Dirty Little Secrets

Secrets-OneRepublic

Percy POV

Now that I was back to talking to most of the gang, I decided that I needed to tell Emmy for sure. The only problem I was having was finding a good time to tell her when nobody was around.

"Emmy!"

"Sorry, Percy, gotta get home!" She was using a "traditional British" accent today. At least that's what she always called it. Emmy had gotten into the habit of using one accent a day, telling me she was trying to broaden her horizons.

"Let me walk you then!"

"You don't need to." She waved me off with a smile.

"But I want to. Besides, I have to talk to you and I need somewhere that we won't be bothered. I figure two teenagers walking home from school would be left alone for the most part."

"Alright then, come on." Emmy turned left at the stoplight. I had a moment of mental reluctance, my brain so conditioned to going straight and heading for Avengers tower, but I followed her, reminding myself I was walking to her house, not mine.

"So what did you want to talk to me about?"

"I need to tell you something."

She glanced up at me and frowned. "That doesn't sound good. You aren't sick, are you?"

"Sick? No, not at all."

"Okay. So what are you talking about?" 

"You already know one of my secrets," I started. "I want to tell you my other one."

"Okay..." Emmy said slowly.

"You're not going to freak out, right?" I asked her.

"Depends how big the secret is."

Taking a deep breath, I glanced around and pulled her into an alley.

"I'm an Avenger. I'm SeaBird. And Tony Stark is my uncle."

At first I thought she had stopped breathing. On closer inspection I realized that she was just in shock and not moving.

"Emmy?" She didn't answer, so I shook her softly. "Emmy, are you okay?"

"Bloody hell, Percy." She finally breathed out. "I wasn't expecting that."

"What were you expecting?" I asked her.

She shook herself, then shrugged. "I don't know, something that normal people try to hide from their friends."

I chuckled. "You thought I was normal? That's cute, Emmy. Come on, I'm a demigod. How normal can my life be?"

"Alright, no need to rub it in." She pushed me playfully.

"So you're not going to freak out?"

"I had a little  bit of shock, but it's not super surprising once I think about it. You're a son of Poseidon, SeaBird controls water. You like blue, that's SeaBird's favorite color, so it would seem. But what about your arm?"

"Bionic one. I'll show you sometime." I promised. "Let's get you home."

Emmy laughed. "You're such a gentleman, walking the transfer student home through these unfamiliar streets."

"You've been here for how long?" I teased her.

She punched my good shoulder. "A week. Don't make fun of me."

"I make fun of everyone. Don't expect to be counted out." I waved a finger at her.

Emmy laughed. "Don't I know it."

We turned right and she led me down another two blocks before stopping in front of a rather run down apartment.

"Home sweet home." Emmy smiled.

"You live here?" I asked, glancing up and down the street. There were a couple of kids with their pants hanging around their knees that were watching us, but they didn't seem to be paying much attention to us.

"Yep. Not much, but I'm okay with it."

Emmy pushed the door open and I followed her inside, shooting one last glance at the street before the door closed.

"This way. The elevator isn't working right now." Emmy headed for the stairs.

Three flights up we entered a hallway that was surprisingly more clean than I'd expected.

"Your stupid dog been keepin' me up all night with her stupid barkin'!" A man shouted up ahead. I could tell he was drunk just from the way he was speaking.

Emmy moved faster.

"That's a lie, Mr. Ugliano." A woman's voice said calmly. "Mitzy doesn't bark. He's trained to be quiet."

We came upon the two arguing, a red faced pig of a man who was overweight and smelled of alcohol and a slim woman with bright green eyes and dark hair.

"Hi Mom." Emmy greeted. Her face held a barely restrained sneer when she turned to the man. "Mr. Ugliano."

"Brat." The overweight specimen sneered before turning and lumbering down the hall to the door next to theirs.

"Mom, this is Percy." Emmy introduced with a smile.

"Oh, hello Percy!" Emmy's mom said. "Do come in!"

"I don't want to inconvenience anyone-"

"Nonsense, kiddo! Come right on in!"

I was ushered into the run down but homey apartment. "Sit down! Do you want anything to eat?"

A huge black dog that looked like a German Shepherd was sitting right inside the door. It began to follow Emmy's mom around. I assumed this was Mitzy.

"It's fine, you don't have to make anything." I tried to insist.

"I know, I've got some cookies you can have! Would you like milk?" Emmy's mom bustled into the kitchen. 

"Just say yes and let her spoil you." Emmy giggled.

"Yes, please!" I called into the kitchen, shaking my head. "Milk would be nice."

Mitzy stood in the doorway of the kitchen, watching the woman.

"Mitz, come here!" Emmy called, snapping her fingers.

The big dog turned and bounded towards us, tail wagging.

"Percy, this is Mitzy." 

The first thing I received was a slobbery kiss from a rough pink tongue.

"Mitzy!" Emmy laughed.

[A/N Yep. Gabe lives next door. I'll be using him later on as a plot device]