Aquaman? Whoops, Wrong Universe: A Percy Jackson Marvel Crossover

Chapter 1: Peter

Peter thought his head was going to explode from boredom. Physics class, as always, wasn't the most interesting thing in the world. Not because Peter didn't like physics—he loved it. He really did. But after spending most of his afternoons and evenings running around Queens, slinging webs through an artificial machine that he created, he kinda knew everything there was to know. Getting the correct trajectory, the angles, the force, everything... it was a complex process. Peter knew that first hand. He had had his fair share of going splat onto multiple buildings when he was still getting the hang of his technique.

In fact, Peter was miles ahead of everyone else in his class. He was the biggest nerd in the whole place, which was saying a lot, since he literally went to a nerd school. He and Mr. Stark did this kind of stuff for fun. 

Mr. Harrington, the physics teacher, was getting into an avid lecture on all the components of velocity, and Peter had to resist the urge to add in his two cents. He wasn't the best secret-keeper, and it felt like his biggest one was on the verge of slipping out without a moment's notice. Peter had decided long ago that lying low (AKA: shutting up for once in his life) was the key.

Ned sat on one side of him, and Percy on the other. He wasn't super close with the teen, but Percy didn't have any other friends since he had transferred to Peter's school that year. He claimed that this school had been his last option that his mom could send him to. Peter thought that it was strange that there wasn't anywhere else for him to go—especially since he came all the way from Manhattan everyday just to get to school—but he never mentioned it. It felt rude to even think about it.

Percy had sea green eyes and ink black hair, except for a streak of grey that always caught Peter's, and everyone else's, attention. Peter had told him that it looked really cool when they first met, and Percy gave a small smile in response, although a glimmer of pain had flashed through his eyes. Peter never asked him about it like so many other things, but he did wonder sometimes. Was it an extension? Did he dye it? It looked surreally natural, which just perplexed Peter more.  

Another odd thing about his appearance was the black tattoo on his forearm. It read "SPQR", with what looked like a trident and a single line under it. Percy had never divulged the secret of what it meant, and usually tried to cover it up. A couple of careless classmates had asked him what it was about, but he just left the conversation by any means necessary any time it was brought up.

Peter had heard distant whispers about him. Some had multiple in-depth conspiracy theories about their very own Percy Jackson—a convoluted and mysterious history surrounded the kid. It put Peter on edge, just a little, even though Peter really had no reason to distrust the guy anymore. Percy was athletic, someone you wouldn't want to mess around with. It had been hardwired into Peter's brain to be careful around guys that were bigger than you—they usually turned out to be bullies. As the year continued, however, Peter had gotten to know Percy. He was actually a sweetheart. Funny, sarcastic, kind, loyal—overall a pretty great guy. Hard on the outside, soft on the inside.

But something about him felt... off. Unnatural. If Peter ever asked him if he had any friends back home, he would start to say something but then would proceed to cut himself off. Spider-Man's "Peter-tingle" seemed to always be on alert when he was around Percy. Peter kept putting it off as nothing, and he just couldn't bring himself to share his Spider-Man secret with Percy. He simply didn't know him well enough, nor trust him completely. Ned was a different case—he hadn't even meant to reveal his secret, and he had been his best friend for years.

Percy was staring blankly ahead at the crowded whiteboard, completely zoned out, but Ned was scribbling down notes a little too excitedly. Percy was snapped out of his daze when Mr. Harrington came around with a two-page worksheet.