A/N: DO NOT READ THIS WITHOUT READING MY STORY 'One Fell Swoop' BEFORE! you have been warned.

Misunderstood

Chapter One

The thing about Peter Nerucci, is that people always underestimated him. It was what he relied on: that people saw a dumb blonde with an accent in a weird mix of Italian and American and obnoxious fashion sense. But he was much more than that. Which is partly why, when Nico's friend had turned up, Peter wasn't in the bit surprised when he looked up and saw the son of Poseidon standing over them.

Peter knew that Percy Jackson would be good-looking; he could tell that much from the way Nico's pulse reacted every time anything even remotely to do with the sea came up in conversation. But, until now, Peter hadn't known if Nico's infatuation with Percy would ever be returned, but he knew now. Oh, he knew. It was rolling off Percy in waves as he looked at Nico. You didn't have to be the son of the god of lust to be able to tell that.

"Sure. Whatever. Why will nobody share anymore? What's happened to generosity? Caring for your fellow man and his needs or whatever. I have needs! God, I just hate people who make out with their smoking hot boyfriends in front of me, don't you, 'Ren?" Peter had stood, scooping up Wren and Keith, and ambled away from the demigods.

He had always been a background player in the modern day mythological world: he was good friends with his da, but Himeros was often too busy deflowering maidens and laughing at the spurned lovers, while his brother, Anteros, hit him over the head with his quiver for mocking the broken-hearted. But the one of the three brothers who Peter really liked was Eros, merely because Eros was his god. The god of sex and beauty and homosexuality. Not that Peter always went for guys, despite the way he acted, but he liked that there was a god looking out for at one half of him at least. Eros himself was fairly cool too, and he always visited Peter when his nephew was at home.

Peter didn't see himself as vain, sure he knew he was good-looking, but he wasn't obsessed by his looks. They were there, and he appreciated them. Simple as.

"Hey, Peter, wait up!"

Peter turned to see Nico jogging towards him. It was the end of their school term, and Peter was all set for a summer back home with his ma and step-dad in Florence.

"Hello, m'dear." Peter smiled, despite himself. Nico had become positively glowing over the last couple of months, and it had done wonders for his looks.

Nico slung an arm around the taller boy's waist, and pulled him into a half-hug. Peter put his arm over Nico's shoulders, and wonders vaguely what his Hades thinks of his son befriending someone like Peter.

"Want some help with the bags?"

"Na, I'm ok, ta. Doing anything fun, besides Percy, over this summer?"

Nico was far too cool to blush, but laughed and stuck his tongue out at Peter. Something he would never have done at the beginning of term. "Not much. I'll probably just hang out with Percy."

Liar, liar. He'd be at Camp Half-Blood with all the others. Peter wasn't the child of the right person to be allowed into the Camp. He didn't care, though. Ok, so he did a bit, but he loved his summers at home, in Florence: the tawny-orange light that lay over the city every sunset, the boutiques, the architecture. He'd lost his virginity in a field of long grass, when light had been golden, and brushed everything in yellow.

"You're going back home, right? To Italy?"

"Of course."

"Have a good time." Hades' son hugged him tightly. "See you."

Peter couldn't help but laugh at that. "You know you will! Can't forget me that easily! Don't worry, lover, I'll Iris message you or something, so stop worrying." He was ruffling Nico's hair when he realised what he'd said. So, naturally, he bolted.

He'd lasted for four months! Four whole months without revealing to Nico that he knew all about the Gods, and who his parents were, and then he goes and ruins it!

Peter was hailing a taxi, when he felt a cold wet nose press into the back of a neck. He sighed, and let the hell hound shepherd him into an alley.

Nico was leaning on a wall. He dismissed the mutt with a wave of his hand which he then rubbed over his eyes. "So. I'm guessing you said what I thought you said before, judging from how you can see through the Mist."

Peter shrugged.

"Which god or goddess is it then?"

"Himeros."

"Who?" Peter shot the boy a dark look. "Sorry! So a minor one..."

"Aphrodite's son."

"Isn't that Eros...?"

"Eros' brother, then!"

"Ok, ok. So. Um. Wow. This is unexpected."

"I've got to be at the airport in about an hour, so unless you feel like shadow travel or whatever it is you spawn of Voldemort do." Nico stared at him, looking gobsmacked. "What?"

"Did you just call my dad Voldemort?"

"Unless my twin suddenly took my place without you noticing, then yes, I suppose I did."

"Why hasn't the ground swallowed you, or something?"

"Oh, the Gods never pay any attention to little old me! There are thousands of kids like me – children of the Erotes. In case you didn't realise, devilishly handsome, winged demi-gods of love and lust etc, tend to get around a bit. Anyhoo, I've really got be going now, and since it looks unlikely you're going to help me, toodiloo! See you in September!"

Nico, however, appeared to have recovered from his shock. "No. You're not going anywhere. Come on, we're going to my flat."

Peter narrowed his eyes at Nico. "As tempting as being in a small enclosed space with your delectable boyf would be, I'm leaving." His hand wrapped around Peter's arm. The blond stared at it incredulously for a few seconds. "Do you not know who my da is?"

"Um, no, sorry, haven't we already been over this?"

"He controls lust, unrequited love, that sort of thing."

"And..."

"I've inherited some of his abilities, along with a stunning IQ from my mother's side of the family. And I know your deepest, darkest fear." Peter's voice was instantly more serious, so Nico knew he wasn't joking around. Nico's face drained of colour. "I could make it happen, too."

Nico looked like he really wanted to punch him, so Peter slipped away quickly, out of fear for his face. His da would never forgive him if his favourite son's nose was marred forever. Nico didn't try to stop him.

Peter was soon in Rome. He loved the city, which is why he usually spent a few days there, before returning home, but not this time it seemed.

Himeros was waiting for me, along with Anteros, both attracting a fair amount of longing gazes. Peter got his hair and eyes from his ma, but everything else from his da, which Peter was pleased about. His da was tall and handsome, and very obviously not Italian with his white-blond hair that contrasted starkly with his deeply tanned skin. Anteros looked similar, but was dressed more smartly, in an expensive suit, while Himeros lounged elegantly against his brother in jeans and a half-open white shirt. But what none of the humans could see were the feathery wings sprouting from both of their backs, fluttering lightly in the draft from outside.

"Peter!" Himeros swung him into a close embrace, as did Anteros, though he held his nephew for longer, smiling into the blond curls. "How was school? Himeros asked, reverting to Italian.

"It was ok. Got Hades' kid for a roommate."

"Yes, I'd heard. Him and that son of Poseidon make such a cute couple. No doubt you had something to do with that?"

"No doubt." Peter said. Anteros smiled, as approving as ever of two people in love. "Where's Eros?"

"Calming down Mama. She had one of her episodes last week."

"Oh."

"You've been getting attention, boy." Himeros remarked as they strolled out into the sunlight, after Anteros had offered to help Peter with his bags. He was too nice for his own good. "People high up are noticing you."

Peter couldn't help but smile, and wind a golden curl around his index finger, thinking of the story of Ganymede. He had been pretty, like Peter was, and had been made the cup bearer to the Gods for it. Not that Peter would settle for something so mediocre as being a cup bearer, but becoming immortal was Peter's aim in life, and one he intended to fulfil.

"Has my grandma recognized me?"

"You mean your other one? No, of course not."

"Oh."

Himeros shot his son an odd look as they paused, waiting for Anteros to catch them up. "Don't tell me that you want to be able to go to Camp Wannabe-Hero? Stay here with us. You'll get laid much more often. Speaking off," His da tilted his head towards a cluster of girls chattering in loud Australian accents. "Now they all want you." Sure enough, they were suddenly silent, and staring at Peter with hungry expressions. "Call it my welcome home present."

"Thanks, Da."

"Let them done easy after, won't you? I mean, it's just basic lust, I'm not Mama, after all, but in case your charming personality has any lasting effects, be nice. Anteros would have my head otherwise."

Peter smiled, not taking his eyes off the girls. "I'll meet you at the villa in a couple of days. I've got money to last me until then."

"Enjoy yourself, boy." His da patted his shoulder then left in a powerful flap of his wings. Anteros followed shortly.

Soon the girls were all around him, touching him teasingly, grazing their fingertips over his skin, as if unable to believe their luck. Peter smiled.