PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO || Thalyna || The Aftermath || Pipabeth || PJatO || Frazeleo || PJatO
Title: Blood of Olympus: The Aftermath – After the War, into the Love
Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus; post both series
Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Rick Riordan for he created the awesomeness that is Nico di Angelo. And everything else related to Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus. Aside from the Gods, they belong to the old Greeks. This fanfiction and its OCs on the other hand are entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.
Warnings: shounen-ai, jealousy-issues, fluff, hurt/comfort, slow-build every-ship, matchmaker!Nico (Nico ships Thalyna), many feels, character study-esque, shoujo-ai, threesome, hetero
Main Pairing: Nico/Percy, Frank/Hazel/Leo, Thalia/Reyna, Piper/Annabeth
Side Pairings: Percy/Annabeth (to be broken up), Jake/Will, Tempest/Blackjack, Paul/Sally
Percy Jackson Characters: Perseus Jackson, Nico di Angelo, Leo Valdez, Hazel Levesque, Frank Zhang, Calypso, Jason Grace, Annabeth Chase, Piper McLean, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, Hylla Ramírez-Arellano, Thalia Grace, Will Solace, Jake Mason, Nyssa Black, Lou Ellen, Sally Blofis, Paul Blofis, Blackjack, Arion, Guido, Tempest
Summary: Taking EVERYTHING – aside from that very last chapter with Leo's POV – into account. Take it as my sequel or epilogue to Blood of Olympus. So, obviously, heavy spoiler-alert.
Percy is trying to cope with Nico's blunt confession, Nico is trying to get over Percy with Will's help, Reyna is still trying to figure out how she is going to find love but not with a demigod. And Leo has a promise to fulfill (though this is where I take liberties with canon, so let's start with Leo). Everything changes now that the war is over and things calm down. They change.
Also, this story is dedicated to Goddess of the Multiverses, because damn it, thanks, without our little conversations about it, I wouldn't have managed to get through with the book before the end of the year. Also, said conversations inspired me to write this to begin with. ;)
Blood of Olympus: The Aftermath
After the War, into the Love
Chapter 1: The Direct Aftermath
/Frank&Hazel&Leo\
Hazel was a child of the underworld and everyone who ever encountered a child of the underworld would agree on one thing: They were stubborn as can be. She could not accept Leo's death. Even though she had shaken her brother off when he had told her that something about Leo's death had been strange, that had been more her inner will not to try and cling onto hope. But she desperately wanted to cling to hope. She couldn't believe that he had sacrificed everything for them all. He had died to save the world. But that couldn't be the end. Not after everything they had been through.
The Fates had brought them together – Leo's words, but also Hazel's thoughts.
Throughout this quest, this war, Hazel and Frank had spend most of their time together with the tinkering Latino. Whenever they paired up in groups, somehow it had drawn the three of them together. When Leo was ready to face death, it had not been his closest and oldest friends he confided in, it had been them. It had always, all along, been them.
Frank and Hazel and Leo.
Something felt empty and shallow without the and Leo. Something was missing. He was missing.
They were back in New Rome – Frank, Hazel, Reyna and the other Romans. While everyone was trying to sort themselves out, Frank and Hazel had moving plans. The praetors didn't live with the regular Cohorts and Hazel would be damned if she'd let herself be separated from Frank.
"Reyna?", asked Hazel softly as she and Frank were carrying their things.
The daughter of Bellona seemed distracted. Had been ever since they had been reunited. She was lighter, like years of agony had been taken off her shoulders. Hazel knew it had something to do with her brother and with what the two of them had shared on their own quest. It made Hazel happy, to know two people she valued so much had formed such a strong friendship. And yet, even with her new lightness, there seemed to be a darkness around here, like something was bothering her.
"Yes?", acknowledged Reyna after a long moment, while patting Guido's flank in passing.
The trusty pegasus was standing in the front-yard of the house, pushing his face against her arm.
"Are you... really okay?", wanted Hazel to know.
"I believe I will be", nodded Reyna with the faintest hint of a smile. "I believe we all will be."
"Did you all go mushy while I was gone? Seriously, I go and die once and everybody turns sappy."
The three Romans, upon entering the praetors' quarters, were startled so much, they actually dropped the boxes they were carrying. There, on the couch, sat a mildly annoyed looking Nico and next to him the one who had spoken – a happily grinning Leo.
"Special delivery from Camp Half-Blood. Sorry it's so late, but I was on three days of bed-rest commissioned by my doctor", stated Nico casually, looking faintly amused.
"W—What... H—How...?", stammered Frank stunned.
"I told you I had a plan, Zhang", grinned Leo impishly. "What? You thought I'd go up and die just like that? You're not getting rid of me that easily, dude."
"Appeared at camp shortly after you left. Or rather, fell out of the sky with Festus. Will and his cabin had to practically tie him to the bed – damn that Solace and his threats – to keep him from running off right away. After we both were released from the infirmary, he asked me for a favor. I figured after he died for us all, I could do that", explained Nico before yawning. "And while he explains everything else, I'll just be taking a nap, yeah guys?"
Reyna passed him and patted his hair with a fond smile. Hazel had to smile herself when she noticed that he didn't even flinch at the contact. While her brother was drifting off to sleep and Reyna was continuing their intended task, she found herself wrapped into a bear-hug by Frank, together with a quite squished looking Latino.
"Never do that again", ordered the son of Mars relieved, hugging them even tighter.
"No more dying. Gonna try it", nodded Leo. "Now, if you'd stop suffocating me..."
"But... what are you doing here? Just to tell us you're alright?", asked Hazel confused.
"That and requesting your help. One more time", grinned the son of Hephaestus.
"What can we do?", came the prompt question from Frank.
"One more quest", whispered Leo softly. "I... have a promise to fulfill, but without Festus... I'd need a strong flyer. Preferably a dragon, actually. I have to pick up a... friend."
"A friend, mh?", asked Hazel cautiously.
"Dying puts things into perspective", shrugged Leo as he carefully handled the construct with the crystal. "She stole my first kiss. That was like the first positive reaction I ever got out of a girl. My brain short-circuited into lala-land, picturing the perfect future with her and all. But dying... I don't love her, not like that. I realized that. Should have beforehand, probably. After all, it's her curse. Not just the being stuck on an island thing, but that the guys send to her, well, that she falls in love with them and they don't fall in love with her. That they rather return to... the love they had left on the shore. She's still my friend though and I want to keep my promise. Can't keep it alone."
Frank smiled and clasped one hand down onto Leo's shoulder. "You're not alone."
"Besides, quests should be taken by three people", smiled Hazel gently. "Let's get going."
/Nico&Reyna\
By the time Nico woke up, the three others were long gone. But Reyna was there, sitting on the couch next to him. When he sat up, he noticed a blanket thrown over him. He frowned a little.
"Please don't do that", muttered the son of Hades. "I've been mother-hened by Will Solace for three days now. I'm glad I got away. I start feeling suffocated by all the attention."
"Will Solace, mh?", repeated Reyna, with a nearly teasing note to her voice.
"And please also don't do that", groaned Nico irritated. "Because I've been getting enough of that by Jason. He calls us... Solangelo. I think I'm offended by that alone, to be honest. Also, I think he's spending too much time at Aphrodite Cabin. Will's a friend, nothing more."
"You say that with quite a lot of certainty", stated Reyna curiously.
"He has a boyfriend. Name's Jake Mason", replied Nico, rolling his eyes. "He wasn't so concerned because he had some kind of crush on me, Reyna, but because he's... like me. And he remembered how it felt for him when he came to terms with... being gay."
Reyna couldn't suppress the intake of breath. She had seen Nico's pain and memories, his feelings for Percy. He had admitted those feelings to Percy, but he had never used the word 'gay' before, like he was trying to avoid it. It made her smile proudly that he seemed to have settled.
"So he tried to befriend you because he wanted to help you through everything? And it appears, his efforts weren't futile", said Reyna, leaning back some.
"Not sure about that", muttered Nico and shook his head. "I just know that it's overwhelming to have all those people around me at all times. People who aren't bothered by my presence."
"That's why you decided to bring Leo here? To flee?", asked Reyna, once again teasing.
"Kind of", shrugged Nico and averted his eyes. "It's not like I don't appreciate Will's motherly way or caring, or Jason's urge to bond, but... You're more appreciated. You're calmer. I feel..."
"Like we're connected?", ended Reyna with a small nod. "We did. During our quest. We shared things we never shared with anyone else. I am proud to call you my friend, Nico."
"And I am honored to call you my friend, Reyna", replied Nico with a faint smile. "Which is why I'm here. To help you. When we... spoke about... those things, you said that love would wait for me somewhere, but that you were uncertain, because no demigod could ever make you happy, according to Aphrodite. The last few days of being stuck in the infirmary gave me a lot of time to think. And I... Just come with me, I have a surprise for you."
"You only just shadow-traveled from one end of the US to the other", objected Reyna.
"Oh, we can take the horses", dismissed Nico as he stood.
"Horses?", repeated Reyna confused. "Plural?"
"Well, Blackjack came here with you, didn't he?", asked Nico with a wicked grin. "I know he wouldn't mind helping. I even brought him doughnuts. You, take Guido and follow my lead."
It had been a bit of a surprise to Reyna, but apparently Horse Friend didn't just apply to her and Guido. Percy's best horse buddy was more than just grateful to her for saving his life. When the two friends got outside to the garden, there were three horses standing. Guido, Blackjack and Arion.
"Oh come on, be a good, little mare, BJ", urged Arion, nudging Blackjack.
"Don't call me 'BJ' and do not ever call me a mare!", growled Blackjack, stepping away.
Guido whined and stepped between them. "Knock it off, dude. Blacks got a mate already."
"Can... Can I tell you something, Nico?", asked Reyna softly, staring at the horses.
"Isn't that our thing? Sharing?", grinned Nico playfully. "What's up?"
A playful Nico, that had seemed so impossible only months ago. Reyna guessed that what friends he had made at Camp Half-Blood over the past days must already be quite helpful.
"I can hear... voices", started Reyna unsure. "Not in a crazy way, okay? I think it's this Horse Friend thing from Pegasus. I think I can... understand horses. It already started during the battle, at first I thought I hallucinated it, hearing Blackjack ask for doughnuts. It was hazy at first, but with the time it settled and now I can truly understand what they're saying."
"Percy is going to love that", was the first thing out of Nico's mouth before cursing himself.
"Still trying not to love Percy Jackson?", asked Reyna as she climbed onto Guido.
"Did you tell anyone else about this? The horse-voices?", asked Nico instead of answering.
Reyna heaved a sigh. Nico gave her a very stern look, so she dropped it. It was a sensitive topic.
"No. Not sure how, to be honest", sighed Reyna, shaking her head. "I'm still trying to adjust to it myself. It's very unsettling. Especially when Arion is around. That horse has a foul mouth. Also, apparently Blackjack and Tempest are... dating. Do you think Percy and Jason know?"
"We're not dating, we're mates", complained Blackjack annoyed. "That's more serious."
"Of course. Excuse me", nodded Reyna, earning a weird look from Nico. "Blackjack insists on them being mates. Apparently, that means more than just being boyfriends."
"Mating is for lifetime with most magical creatures", shrugged Nico, this time him getting a weird look from Reyna. "The underworld has magical creatures too. Percy is not the only one who inherited the understanding of certain animals. Zerberus likes rambling."
Reyna smiled, for one because Nico had once again led their conversation to Percy and also because she tried to imagine Nico having a conversation with a three-headed dog.
/Annabeth&Percy&Sally&Paul\
Annabeth was going to finish school in New York. Not with Percy though, since he obviously had to retake the last school year after having been missing for half a year. Seeing as staying at camp and going there every day would have been kind of complicated, Sally and Paul had more than welcomed her into their home. She was smiling a little as she looked around her new room.
"And you're sure this is alright?", asked Annabeth a bit concerned.
"We wouldn't have offered if we wouldn't want you here, Annabeth", replied Paul warmly. "You're a kid, you should live in a proper home, go to school, get home-cooked meals. Not live in a summer camp. I think it's a nice thing, for all of us. Especially in the past months, the house had been awfully empty and silent... You brought Percy back to us, this is the least we could do."
Annabeth nodded, albeit a little stiffly. The truth was, as much as it hurt her to admit it, Percy was the main reason why she had decided to come here. And not in the way others may believe. Tartarus had changed them – had changed him. He had, for the very first time in her life, scared her when he had attempted to kill a goddess. She was worried for him. Being alone for months, without memories, the time with the wolves and then Tartarus... She knew that no one, regardless of how strong, came out of such ordeals unscratched. Especially not considering that two major wars had happened, on top of everything else. She feared that Percy was broken, but like always, he didn't want to burden those he loved, so he bottled it all up. Not to say that she was completely fine after Tartarus – she had her fair share of nightmares about the place too, but Percy had been the one taking the brunt force of it. And Annabeth had Piper. She had confided in the native American girl about Tartarus, about her fears and doubts concerning Percy. While Percy, as far as Annabeth could tell, had not yet shared anything with anyone. Not wanting to burden them.
Annabeth had decided to attend school there and to move to New York so she could watch over him and try to help the boy she loved so very much. Another painful jolt was going through her being. She loved him, but perhaps not the way she used to. Not anymore. Ever since they had been reunited, something seemed so very off. All the things that had changed him, that had been wearing him down, they had also caused a raft between them. And Annabeth's close bond with Piper wasn't helping any. During the months before the Argo II launched, she had already spend a lot of time bonding with Piper, but by now, it felt like what they had was the most intimate relationship she had ever had. And they weren't even romantically involved. But they knew exactly what the other was thinking and wanted to say, they communicated without words, something they had perfected during this mission. Something she had once been able to with Percy too, to an extend. Never as brilliantly simple as with Piper though. And not anymore either. Since Tartarus, Annabeth knew that she had no idea anymore what Percy was thinking. What once used to be an open book to her now held seven seals – one from the Titan War, one from the abduction by Hera, one from the memory loss, one from the wolves, one from the Romans, one from Tartarus, one from the Giant War.
Which didn't mean she was going to give up on him. He was still her best friend, even though her feelings may have changed. She would always love him, one way or another.
"Where is Percy anyway?", asked Annabeth and stood.
"Downstairs", chuckled Paul, shaking his head fondly. "You know he and Sally had been attached by the hip ever since you two came home this morning..."
Annabeth shared his fond expression as they climbed down the stairs to find the two Jacksons curled together on the couch. Percy had his legs pulled up against his chest, his mother's one arm around him, caressing his side as he practically melted into hers. He looks so small and fragile right there that Annabeth had no hard time imagining what Percy must have been like as a kid. She didn't judge. On the contrary, she wished she could have that too. A family that loved her and could be there for her, cared for her in that extend. She knew Percy needed the comfort – she was grateful Sally could provide it. It was what she had hoped for, actually. That being back home would give Percy the chance to let go. During the quest, she assumed, he just knew it had been the wrong time to have a mental melt-down. He stayed strong and firm, was the leader and hero others expected him to be, even though she could only guess that deep down all he wanted to do was curl together in his mom's lap and hide from the world. The last war had already torn at him, but so soon after another one right away? It didn't help that he was probably feeling guilty for having put his mother through all that pain over the last eight months of his disappearance.
He needed someone who could be strong for him now, after everything he had been through. And Annabeth knew she wasn't the one. Because she couldn't be strong any longer either.
/Jason&Piper\
Jason knew what was to come the moment Piper entered the Zeus Cabin. He had anticipated that ever since they had recreated their fake-memory kiss. The kiss itself had been amazing, the scenery had been perfect. But they weren't. The reminder of how they had gotten together in the first place was lingering between them ever since. They had barely spoken a word since then – Piper mostly spending her time with Annabeth while Jason kept watch-duty at Nico's bedside (because it was either that or Will would tie the son of Hades down there to make sure he rested and given that choice, Nico rather preferred the Roman babysitter, thank you very much).
Their relationship was based on false memories. Without those, would they have ever gotten together to begin with? Jason had witnessed it during the war – the special connection Piper shared with Annabeth. It ran deeper than what they had. He knew that. He was just biding his time by now.
"Jason, I... think we should talk", whispered the daughter of Aphrodite and sat down next to him.
He just offered her a smile as he put his glasses down to polish them. "It's alright, Pipes."
"Mh?", inquired Piper confused, observing how Jason seemed focused on his glasses.
He was decidedly not looking at her. "I know. And it's alright. But... we're still friends, right?"
A small half-smile came to her lips as she nodded and leaned over to engulf him in a tight hug. "I... Yes. I just... I think I'm in love with Annabeth. And that's not fair to you."
"But you know there's a little obstacle called Percy Jackson in the way, right?", asked Jason.
"Well, you jumped ships once. Would you jump them again?", asked Piper with a nearly mischievous gleam in her eyes. "Will's dating Jake – come on, how do you not know that? You can't push him and Nico. But maybe... You and me, combining forces..."
"Sounds like we're plotting world-domination and not the dating life of our friends", laughed Jason.
Author's note: I wanted to wait with posting this until I have all three chapters - it's a three-parter - written. Buuut I'm currently also working on three different oneshots that take the post-BoO-turn, so I wanted the biiig one out first before any oneshots.
As just mentioned, three chapters. Next one will have the rescue of Calypso, Nico's matchmaking skills for Reyna and Thalia and Percy and Annabeth having some serious discussions.