Percabeth at Stark Tower

17. Truth

Steve's POV

"What's going on?" I turn to look at Bucky in surprise.

"What do you mean?"

"Well something's going on with Tony, and the rest of them as well but he seems to be at the center of it. I've poked around a bit but they're being really secretive so I was curious if you knew."

I shake my head. "No, whatever is going on I don't know about. Maybe it's a special day" I shake my head, "that doesn't make sense, we don't have one coming up that soon and if it was someone else's we'd be helping to plan. Do you have any ideas?"

Bucky sighs. "I was hoping you knew, but  the most likely answer then is that it's about Nico's secret."

"You really think so?"

"How long did you think we could keep it in this tower?" he says fatalistically. "We were lucky that they didn't question it while Nico was gone, and with everyone who's been here there was no chance it would remain a secret."

"Well then what should we do?" I say because this is more along the lines of his experience than mine.

"Let's go down and talk to them, follow my lead."

"Okay." I say.

He smirks. "Dressed like that?" I almost yelp as I grab my shirt. He laughs as I fumble with it until it's on and I storm out, my face redder than ketchup. Tony had a meeting earlier with a girl, but she left, so we shouldn't be interrupting anything too important if we go in now.

I'm about to say hello when I feel Bucky's hand on my shoulder, warning me to stay quiet. I step back and follow behind as we inch closer. Someone left the door open, so we can just barely make out what they're saying. It seems a bit odd that they'd talk with the door open, but JARVIS will tell them if someone unauthorized enters, and they're far enough away that even we can barely hear them.

"The parents are definitely working together." Natasha continues, obviously wrapping up her thoughts on whatever they were talking about. "And Rachel was prepared, unlike Piper. Or she's just a lot worse at acting, but that doesn't seem right. I'm starting to think we should just ask them."

"That could make them clam up," Clint warns

"Maybe, but they already know we know, and if we asked they might just tell us."

"Or they'll stop talking to us and we'll lose contact, again."

"Last time was different, and we gave Nico the space he wanted. Besides, he was working with the twins." Tony points out.

"And it is true that people in dangerous situations will often answer questions, but won't volunteer the same information." Bruce adds on.

"You guys sure?" Clint asks.

"Yep." Tony says, "sorry birdbrain, but the people who know the purpose of air vents have decided."

"Hey!" Clint protests and the next thing we hear is them play-fighting.

"What are you doing?" Natasha asks and I jump guiltily.

"Um..." I know it isn't right, but sometimes I wish I was better at lying.

"We wanted to know what you were hiding from us." Bucky says calmly, like Natasha didn't just find us spying on them.

"Why didn't you just ask?" she asks and he just raises an eyebrow. "Fair enough."

"Were they hiding your noise and distracting us?" Bucky nods towards the open doorway.

"Clever."