Percy Jackson AU

~~~

Tony was the newcomer to Camp Half-Blood, but unlike most newbies, he knew who his godly parent was. He just didn't like to say.

Hades. God of the dead. But, because he didn't say anything, he was put in with the Hermes kids.

One day, he was walking around camp when he saw Stephen, the son of Hecate, meditating. Or, supposedly; he was actually practicing asteral projection, so nobody could see... Except Tony.

Stephen saw Tony looking at his asteral form rather than just his physical one, and tilted his head. "You can see me." He concluded, to which Tony nods.
"You're not Hermes' kid, are you, Anthony?" Stephen asks, but it was rhetorical. He floated closer to Tony, examining him. "No.. You're Hades' kid.." he continued. "That's why you can see me right now."

Tony stayed quiet, partly because he's generally self kept, but also because he gets shy around Stephen. He likes him. "Yeah," Stephen says, nodding. "You look like him, too."
".. Wanna see something?" Tony eventually asks. Stephen tilts his head, watching Tony walk up to his physical form. Tony put his fingers to the side of Stephen's head, and before he knew what happened, Stephen jolts slightly, catching himself with his hand.

"... You knocked my soul back to my body- pretty neat trick there, Anthony." Stephen says, regaining his composure rather quickly, which is something Tony noticed he seems to be good at.
"You know you can call me Tony, right?" Tony asks, sitting in front of Stephen. "Is that what you prefer?" Stephen asks, looking at him. Tony nods. "Okay then, Tony."

~~~

"Yknow, Tony, you're a quiet one." says one of the Hermes kids, Scott. Tony looks at him. "I mean, you hardly ever say anything- I've only heard your voice like, twice. You a mute or something?" Scott continues.

"No." Tony answered simply. "Oooookayyyyy... ... You know we have capture the flag tomorrow?" Scott says. "I'm aware." Tony says, laying down in his bed.
"... One day I'll find out why you're so quiet and mysterious. That can't be who you are- I think you're hiding something- and I'll find it-" Scott says.

"Good luck with that."

~~~

Tony was out walking again when he sees Bruce (one of Athena's kids) crouching down and looking at something. Curious, Tony walked up to him.

"Whatchya looking at, Banner?" he asks. Bruce sighs. "Poor little bird here.. I think it's dead.." he says. He has a soft spot for animals, which is why he was confused as Pan's child at first.
Tony looked at the bird. ".. It's not dead, but it is dying." he says, carefully picking the bird up. He pets it gently, his fingers subtlety glowing an orange color. The bird suddenly flailed a little, struggling but eventually managing to get up on its feet.

Bruce looked at Tony, figuring it out; he's not an idiot, afterall. Tony says nothing, setting the bird on Bruce's shoulder, offering a thin smile. "There, see? He's fine."
".. Sure your dad's not gonna be mad about that?" Bruce asks. Tony took a moment, realizing Bruce figured out who his real god parent was, then shrugged. "If he does, he can bring it up with me. I'm not afraid of him."

"He's the god of souls, Tony, I-i kinda would be afraid."
"He's my father, besides, worst he could do is torture my soul in the underworld. How's that any different from this world?"
"Uh-"
"I mean, this world's emotional pain, that world is physical; it's a pick-your-poison kinda thing."

~

Later that day, Tony was laying against a tree, watching the clouds.

'Anthony.'

Tony jumped slightly, a little startled. He looked around, but no one was there. "Okayyyy... I'm either going insane or being talked to, and for the sake of my mental health, I really hope it's the latter."

'I sent you a gift.'

"A gift? For what?... Shit, wait, it's my birthday tomorrow, innit?" Tony scoffs a laugh. "Forgot."

'How do you forget that?'

"Well, nobody really cared before. Howard especially. Dick of a step-dad anyway. Especially after mom died, so.. And, well, running away to this little camp, I'm.. I guess I could have told people my birthday, but I didn't want to seem self centered." Tony mumbles, playing with his jacket.

'Yes, being forgotten about and pushed aside stings a tad, doesn't it?'

Tony's eyes flicked up from his sleeve, with the sudden realization of who he was talking to. His dad. ".. Right.. But you can't really come out of hell, right? So how-"

'I got Hermes to give it to one of his kids at camp. Messenger god, Anthony, remember?'

"I'm not an idiot. .... Thank you, dad.."

~~~

"Ey, Tony, my dad gave this to me yesterday but I couldn't find you- here." Scott says, handing Tony a small box. Tony took it and opened it; inside was a crystal necklace that seemed to be able to turn. And with it, a simple note that said,

'Have fun'.

Tony took the necklace curiously, putting it on. He twists it to one side, and notices how his friend's face turns to shock. He twisted it the other way and looked at Scott.
"Dude where the hell did you get that-?! I thought only the helm could turn someone invisible-!"

'invisible? Thats what this does?... Neat.' Tony thought, smiling a little and shrugging. "I dunno. Mystery gift." he lied, admiring the necklace.

~~~

A few months go by, and one day, Stephen and a group of people who went with him came back from their mission. Problem was that Stephen was severely injured.

Tony was sitting by Stephen in the treating room; it was night time, and almost nobody was around.
Tony looked at Stephen. 'he's not getting any better...' he thought. '... Dad, I'm sorry, but he can't go yet..'

Tony put his hand on Stephen's chest, healing him. Stephen coughed a little, opening his eyes and looking at Tony.
"Tony..? ... Did you..?" he asks, his voice a little groggy. He'd been unconscious for a couple days.

"I did... Here." Tony says, handing him a cup of nectar. Stephen took it, taking a drink. ".. Feels nice.." he mumbles.
"It's supposed to. It is a healing drink, you know." Tony says. "I know, it's still odd to me though.." Stephen responds. "Odd why?" Tony asks.

"Well, before I learned I was the son of a goddess, I was studying to be a neurosurgeon. You know, science. Finding out that mythology isn't really myths.. It was a lot to swallow. You, though, you've never seem phased.." Stephen explained.

"I learned at a pretty young age who my real father was." Tony says. "How so?" Stephen asks. "During a temper tantrum, I stomped my foot on the ground, and it created about a five foot opening to the underworld." Tony says, playing with his necklace.
"Oh- how old were you?" Stephen asks. "About four. Maybe five. I don't remember." Tony responds. "Hm.. When did you find out you could heal people?"

"Any living thing with a soul, actually. And I found out because I looked up what my dad was said to be able to do." Tony says.
"Interesting... Why did you heal me?" Stephen asks. "Are you serious? Because I-" Tony stopped when he heard the door open, quickly turning his necklace.

A camp nurse walks in. "Oh my, Stephen, you've recovered-! That's good, we were all starting to worry!" she says, making sure he didn't have a fever or anything.

"Oh, but Tony..." Stephen realized Tony wasn't there, or at least, was invisible now. The nurse tilts her head. "... Nothing, nevermind it."

"Alright, dear."