"Hey."
Turning, Percy saw Annabeth walking toward him. He didn't really want to talk to her, but it was better than being lonely. "Hey." he said back when she was next to him. He bent down and started unlacing his shoes.
"You've been weird all summer." Annabeth said, skipping straight to the point.
"Yeah. Sorry." Percy tossed his shoes and socks toward the cabin and started walking toward the water.
Annabeth let Percy dip his toes in the water before saying, "This is the part where you tell me what's wrong with you."
Percy kicked his foot in the water, "It's nothing. I've just been thinking about a lot of stuff."
"Maybe you should stop hanging around Nico. You probably caught his attitude problem."
"He doesn't have an attitude problem." Percy said sternly, turning to Annabeth. At her shocked look he felt remorse, "Sorry. I just get tired of people talking shit about him."
Annabeth tossed a rock into the water, "Well, I guess I'm sorry for saying that. Seriously though, what's wrong? You can tell me, you know you can."
Percy kicked at the water again, watching the reflection of the moon scatter, "It's stupid."
"Do I have to come in there and make you tell me?"
"I'd like to see you try." Percy said, making the water rise just enough to make his point. Now tired of averting things he started walking out of the water. "Come on." he said and started toward his cabin. Annabeth followed and Percy sat back in his chair, offering her the one next to it.
"Do you like college?" He asked awkwardly.
Annabeth stared, "Um yeah... why? Do you think you want to go now?"
"I don't know. It's just that... I feel like I can do something else."
"Rather than?"
"This." Percy gestured all around him, "Camp, and monsters, and creatures, and just all of the stuff that goes with it. I mean, is this really all there is for demigods?"
"Percy, lots of demigods go on to live 'normal' lives. What's different for you?"
Percy sighed, "I don't know. I guess I feel a sort of obligation to it all or something. I'm not going to kid myself. I know I'll never have a normal life. I'm just tired of this camp and everything associated with it."
"Everyone too?"
"No. I still like you and some others. Don't worry."
Annabeth sat back, seeming relieved, "You know what I think, seaweed brain?"
"What?"
"I think you need a vacation. I know you'll have to deal with monsters and stuff wherever you go, but I think you just need to get away from here. I mean, you spend 90% of your time here. Of course you're sick of it. You don't have to feel bad because you need a change of scenery."
"But what about training the newcomers and stuff?"
"We have others who can help. It's about time they were useful anyway."
"Hmm. Maybe I will then."
Annabeth rolled her eyes, "You're not going anywhere, are you?"
Percy turned red because she was right, "I didn't say that."
"Workaholic."
"Bridesmaid."
Annabeth laughed, "Screw you. Just because I don't want to be married at 21 doesn't mean I never will be."
"I still have to tease you about it."
"Whatever, fish boy. At least I can get married."
This time Percy rolled his eyes, "I've only been dating Nico for like seven months. Besides, it's not like I even care about marriage."
"I know you too well, Percy. It's useless to lie to me."
"I wanna blow bubbles." Percy said, starting to feel uncomfortable. He liked to keep his private life private.
Annabeth sighed, knowing how protective her friend was about his relationship with Nico, "I'll grab them." She said and stepped into Percy's cabin.
They just sat there blowing bubbles toward the lake. Occasionally Percy would try to manipulate one, but wasn't very successful. They weren't made of enough water and popped easily. He really did feel better after talking to Annabeth, but it didn't fix anything that he was feeling. He did start to consider where he would go if he ever let himself go anywhere. Eventually both grew tired and Annabeth left to go to bed, leaving Percy to his thoughts.
x.x.x
Something was in Percy's bed. He could feel it walking across his ankles. He laid still, hoping that whatever it was would lose interest and move enough so that Percy could use Riptide on it without taking off his own legs. The creature moved up his legs, pinning Percy down with the blanket, until finally it licked the side of his face.
"Wow Doris. You've... grown." Percy said, gently pushing the 3-headed dog backwards so that he could sit up. Doris just looked at him in response and hopped off of the bed. Her shoulders stood above the bed now, and Percy had a feeling that he should obey whatever wishes this 3 headed canine had. She was now sniffing around his room, circling near his closet.
"Hey boss."
Percy jumped at the sound of his Pegasus' voice, "Uh hey Blackjack."
A black horse head peeked into his open window, "Get dressed. I've got somewhere to take ya'."
"Um... ok." Percy got up and Doris started wagging her tail. 'The animals have all gone crazy.' he thought as he opened his closet, wondering what he should wear for this unknown occasion. When he had grabbed what he wanted he started to close the closet when Doris growled.
"You're gonna need more clothes than that, boss." Blackjack said from the window.
"What's going on?" Percy finally thought to ask.
"It's a surprise." Blackjack said, nodding toward Doris.
"Nico?"
"Duh, boss."
Now feeling more enthusiastic, Percy got his duffle bag out and started packing more things in. When he finished packing he ran over to the bathrooms for a quick shower. Blackjack was waiting for him outside, but Doris was nowhere to be seen.
"She went to go let Nico know you were on your way." Blackjack said, tamping the ground with his foot in readiness.
"You speak 3 headed dog?"
"Eh, I dabble."
"Percy." Annabeth said, jogging over with his duffle bag, "Don't forget this."
He took the duffle bag and when he looked at Annabeth something clicked in his head, "Did you-?"
Annabeth shrugged, "If you're gonna act moody then you may as well do it with Nico."
"Well uh... thanks." he hugged her awkwardly and then got up on Blackjack, "I guess I'll see you later." He held on tight as Blackjack took off and watched as Annabeth got smaller and smaller.
x.x.x
"Are we there yet?" Percy whined to the dog that he couldn't see, but could feel in front of him every time her wagging tail smacked him in the front of his thighs. They had been walking in this darkness for ages. If Doris gave any reaction to his question he couldn't tell. Finally he could make out a dim red light up ahead. Percy thought he could hear music, but he thought that maybe the darkness was just making him crazy. As the red light got bigger, he could make out details in the cave walls. The light was hanging above a large door stuck into the cave wall on Percy's left, and he could tell that the music was coming from inside.
Doris barked with all three heads and the door started to open. She walked in like it was nothing, but Percy found himself a little bit afraid. As he walked in he found that his feelings weren't unfounded. A skeleton dressed in 1910's fashion was closing the door behind him. Percy tried to be nice and look it in what would have been the eyes, but the fact that he couldn't tell if the skeleton smiled back or not creeped him out and he quickly moved back next to Doris. The music was louder now, but still muffled. They walked through an area where water was running across the floor. Percy stepped in it because Doris did, but he was paranoid that the water was coming from one of the rivers of the underworld, even though nothing happened to him. Finally Doris led him to another door and nudged the door handle with one of her noses. Percy was wary of the double doors; they were covered in sculptures of people falling, old bodies, a man and his children and at the top were three men. Doris nudged his hand earnestly, so Percy inhaled deeply, grabbed his pen just in case, and opened the doors.
His ears were assaulted by some of the scariest music he had ever heard. Some guy was growling about winter coming too soon and all the flowers dying. Percy was surprised that he could even understand what was being said, er sung, er growled...whatever. He was pleased to find that the room was lit well, so he felt that he didn't have to worry so much about boogey men in the corners. The doors closed behind him and he watched Doris jump up onto a bed centered on a large slab above the floor. So this was Nico's room? Percy looked for the source of music first. He found the stereo on a shelf near Nico's bed and turned the music down so that he could think. He sat down on the bed and pet the dog on her back as he looked around. The floor was onyx he guessed, and the walls were natural, as if the room had been carved into the rock. Surprisingly it wasn't cold in the room. The temperature was about perfect, really. There was a fireplace built into the wall, just in case, and Percy wondered where the smoke went. He then got up and went over to a shelf, where Nico's Mythomagic figures and cards were on display. Underneath the shelf was a desk covered in papers. Some had drawings and some had writing. Nico had tiny writing, and it was in cursive, so Percy didn't even bother trying to read it. To the left of the desk was a shelf full of music. Vinyl, tapes, cds, everything. To the right of the desk was what appeared to be the beginning of a sculpture. Percy couldn't tell what it was just yet.
The other side of the room was a polar opposite. Colorful magazine pages were taped to the walls as well as strange colorful designs for what might have been jewelry if Percy had to guess. Pieces of bright wire were strewn on a table with beads and jewels. There was some kind of large mechanical contraption in the corner and Percy also noted that the light seemed directed more to this side of the room than the other. He then spotted a door next to the table. Was he supposed to continue through that door? One turn of the locked handle told him no. If Doris weren't so calm Percy would have started to be afraid that he had been trapped somehow. Not knowing how long he would be stuck in here he flopped down on the large plush bed. He found himself surrounded in that earthy dirt smell that was trademark Nico. He kicked off his shoes and curled up. He didn't know what time it was, but he had traveled a long ways and soon found himself falling asleep.
x.x.x
Percy woke up to the familiar sound of a spoon or fork scraping against a bowl. The light was bright in his eyes as he blinked them open.
"Doris made you walk, didn't she?"
At the familiar voice Percy sat up. Nico was perched on top of his desk, cross-legged, eating from a huge glass bowl of fruit.
"Uh yeah." Percy said, finding himself moving off of the bed, tripping over the ledge the bed was on, and standing in front of Nico. Nico put his fork down with a smirk, set the bowl aside, and pulled Percy in for a kiss. Percy could pick out strawberry and cantaloupe among the fruit flavors now invading his mouth. It created an interesting sensation when coupled with inhaling Nico's signature scent. When the kiss was over Percy took a moment to look Nico over. He was shirtless, and Percy noted that his skin wasn't such a ghostly white. His hair was just long enough to show some curl and his eyes were the same black to match it.
"Want some fruit?" Nico asked, putting the bowl back in his lap.
"Umm, sure." Percy felt like he was spinning. Maybe it was because things were just so... normal.
Nico stabbed a strawberry in the bowl and put it up to Percy's lips. Percy ate it quickly and Nico laughed wickedly, "Now you shall be my prisoner!"
Percy shrugged, "Doesn't sound so bad." he fished a grape from the bowl.
"Way to take the fun right out of it." Nico pouted.
"I just know it's your favorite joke." Percy kissed the pout away. Nico set the bowl down again and stood up, layers of black fabric falling to the floor like shadows. Percy watched him walk over to the stereo, "Um... Nice skirt."
The younger one rolled his eyes as he took a CD out of the stereo, "My dad prefers traditional dress during judgement." His voice got quiet as he said the last part. He didn't really want to talk about it. Percy noted Nico's demeanor and even though he wanted to know more, he let Nico keep to himself for now. The younger one turned, fiddling with a ring on his hand, "I'm glad you're here." He looked up at Percy and smiled before turning back around, putting a different CD in the stereo.
Percy walked up behind Nico and put his arms around the smaller body. Nico started to sway to the music and the older one took a step back to watch. He noted that Nico's strange attire actually looked really good on him. The material started at his slim waist, contrasting nicely with his light skin, and then clung to his backside in a most flattering manner. The bottom seemed to melt into shadow, not really having a hem, but through it he could just see Nico's slim ankles. It was now that Percy noticed that the younger one was barefoot. "Where are your shoes?" he asked.
Nico turned around, "I don't really like wearing them down here. Too claustrophobic or something." he pushed Percy backward until he was sitting on the bed. The older grabbed one of the cold hands on his chest.
"New ring?"
Nico fiddled with the ring as he had before and then took it off, placing it in Percy's hand. It was shaped like a crown with skulls surrounding it and at the tips were black crystals. The bottom was encircled in black crystals as well, 13 to be exact. "Sinister." Percy said as he gave it back,
"Rex corruptus." Nico whispered. Absolute power corrupts.
"Did you make it?"
Nico shook his head, "No. I made this one, though." he took a ring off of his other hand. It was a silver skull with a crystal in the forehead.
"Neat. What's with the bling-bling? I never really pegged you for a sparkly type."
"Jewels come from Hades' domain. It's a good reminder that something beautiful can come from a place associated with death."
"Why not put something more valuable in your rings?"
Nico shrugged, "I don't like the idea of wearing expensive stuff that I didn't pay for."
Percy kissed the boy in front of him, "You're so cool."
"Sarcasm?"
"No. I mean it." He reached up and ran his hand through Nico's curls. The younger one leaned into the touch affectionately. It had been so long since he'd felt such a warm touch, when Percy started to pull it away Nico held the hand against his face. Percy placed his other hand on the other side of Nico's face and pulled him close for a kiss. Nico eagerly kissed him back, grabbing his shoulders to hold him close. Percy took in the cemetery smell and the taste of the fruit on Nico's tongue. In that moment he felt peaceful, like he did listening to the waves as he laid in his cabin. Nico started moving down, kissing at his neck, making it blush. With a nip at Percy's collarbone Nico pulled back.
"I'm happy now." Nico whispered, resting his forehead against Percy's.
Percy ran his hand through Nico's hair again, "Have you been unhappy lately?"
"Duh." Black eyes looked at him in punctuation as Nico moved his head. The dark eyes softened as did the younger one's tone, "I just mean that this isn't exactly Disneyland." He moved to sit next to the older one on his bed. Percy circled his arm around the smaller body. His skin was cold to the touch as usual, but Percy offered his jacket anyway. Nico shook his head and just rested his head on Percy's shoulder. "I bet you want to get out of this room, huh?"
Percy shrugged, "It looked pretty scary out there. Besides, if I could spend all my time in bed with *you* I certainly wouldn't complain."
Nico rolled his eyes and stood up, going over to his dresser. He threw some things on his bed and then came back over to start changing. Percy watched him and took in a sharp breath when Nico undid the belt holding his long skirt on and let them both drop to the floor. The younger one smirked, "Nothing you haven't seen before, dork."
"I know. I'm still just not as comfortable with naked people as you are." Percy pouted.
Nico kissed the pout away, "I love how you're still so innocent after everything."
The older one blushed, "I'm not innocent."
"I know you're not. I just love it when your vulnerabilities show." The younger one grabbed Percy's hands.
Green eyes appraised the young man in front of him, "You're still naked."
"Well," Nico started pushing Percy's jacket off of his shoulders, "You mentioned something about spending time in bed with me," he threw the jacket on the floor, "And as much as I want to show you some things, I think that this sounds like more fun right now."
The older one was quick to remove his shirt and used it to pull Nico closer, "Yeah it does."
Nico laughed and crawled onto the bed, throwing the covers over to lay on the sheets. Percy unzipped, unbuttoned, and de-pantsed before crawling on top of the smaller body, going straight for the kill and biting that slender neck.
"Mmnn fuck I missed you." Nico moaned out, gyrating against his lover and lightly trailing his nails down Percy's spine.
"I missed you too." he answered and kissed Nico passionately. He felt Nico's hand move down and when it didn't grip his erection he sat up to investigate. Nico was already busy preparing himself for Percy, who found himself blushing deeply from the erotic display. "Wow. Someone's horny."
"You have no fucking idea."
"Do you have umm...?" he asked, blush fading as his own hormones started taking hold.
Nico flopped his arm over to his right, "In there."
Percy looked over and saw the bedside table. Before opening the drawer he noticed that there was what looked like school work on top of it. He got distracted from investigating it further when he opened the drawer. Inside he found the giant headphones Nico had worn that first fateful night, and he found the lube he'd been looking for. There were also other things inside... colorful, vibrating things. He licked his lips at the thought of Nico using them on himself. Then something dawned on him and he looked at Nico.
"So Nico, what was the extent of what you were doing when I caught you in your cabin?"
Nico giggled, "More than I was going to let you know about. I'm just glad I was using my jelly one so I could just hide it in the covers when I grabbed my boxers without having to turn anything off."
Percy looked through the drawer, "This one?" he pulled out a green one and squeezed it.
"Yeah." Nico said with a note of wanting in his voice.
"Why's it green?"
"It's turquoise. My favorite color."
"Nerd." Percy placed the toy back in the drawer and grabbed the lube to come back over to Nico. He kissed the younger one, who wrapped his legs around and pushed against Percy sensually. Percy sat up again and opened the bottle of lube.
"I wanna do it." Nico said, also sitting up, putting his hand out. Percy happily put some of the liquid onto those slender fingers and watched them return to that spot between Nico's legs. He then put some on his own hand before wrapping it around Nico's erection. As he pumped he noted that his hand started feeling warmer. He picked the bottle up from the bed and read it.
"Warming, eh?"
Nico bit his lip, "Yeah. I love it."
"I can tell." Percy kissed the younger one before he bit too hard on that perfect lip, "I have something you love more, though."
Nico smiled and removed his fingers, "Yay."
Percy quickly put some more of the warming lubricant on and positioned himself, pushing in quickly, ripping a delicious whimper from the younger man beneath him. He kissed Nico and then licked his ear, whispering, "Does that feel good?"
Goosebumps appeared across that pale skin, "It feels amazing."
Percy just snickered and slowly pulled out of the smaller body, listening to the adorable sounds of appreciation Nico was making. He pushed in quickly and Nico whimpered again. When he started to pull out slowly again he noted frustration in Nico's sigh. Feeling cheeky he continued to torture his lover for just a few more thrusts. He felt the fingers on his hips start to grip tighter and when he felt fingernails he finally relented and picked up the pace of pulling out, matching it with the pace he was thrusting in. The fingernails came out of his skin and Nico instead used his arms to hold onto Percy's back. Without warning Nico's left leg moved between their bodies and crossed. Percy stopped to watch as Nico carefully turned himself around so that he was lying on his stomach. This was new.
"So that's how you want it?" Percy whispered, pulling Nico's ass up against his hips.
Nico just whimpered and nodded, pressing back and sinking Percy deeper inside of him. Percy started to move again and the younger man practically shouted.
"Oh fuck! Percy!"
Percy giggled, not used to this side of Nico, but loving it anyway. He drove in fast and hard, increasing Nico's volume as he increased his speed. He leaned forward and kissed the back of his lover's neck, making the other one shudder. He continued placing kisses across Nico's shoulders, then traced the constellation of freckles on his back, before licking his way back up. He needed to kiss those lips, but wasn't sure of how to make it happen from their current position. He licked at Nico's ear and was delighted when the younger one turned his head enough to kiss Percy, just for a moment. Nico then pushed back on all fours and the momentum caught Percy off guard, making his knees bend so that he was squatting with Nico sitting on top of him. He himself had to bite back a moan as the smaller body continued to ride up and down on him, doing all of the work.
"Turn around, baby." Percy said hoarsely. He had to see the faces Nico was making.
Nico lifted off and Percy whined with loss. Turning around Nico had a smirk on his face. He wanted to tease Percy by taking his time, but at this point his body's desire overrode anything else and he quickly sat himself down on Percy again. Percy pushed up hard and Nico gasped vocally. They set into a fast pace and when Nico's legs got tired Percy flipped them over and continued to drive in hard, loving Nico's shouts right against his ear. He put his hand between them and started pumping Nico in time with his thrusts.
Nico felt that familiar panic as he edged toward orgasm. The warrior in him still didn't like Percy seeing him so completely strung-out, but he needed release and needed it now. He caught Percy's lips in a fevered kiss, dug his nails into the older one's back, and finally fell over the edge. Percy felt his lover finish and kissed him soothingly as he continued pushing in. Nico made a pained noise and Percy realized that his body was oversensitive, so he pulled out and Nico wrapped his hand around and pumped Percy to completion.
Percy stayed frozen in his position while he caught his breath, keeping his eyes locked with Nico's. Nico recovered first and slowly pulled Percy down for a kiss, then he just held him there, hugging the taller man to his body. Percy relaxed into the embrace, resting his head on Nico's chest.
"We need to do that more often." Nico thought out loud.
"I agree a zillion percent."
"Nerd." Nico said and pet Percy's hair.
8.8.8
Ok, this is going to be a two-chapter deal, and is a continuation of sorts from The Blackness. I even have quite a bit of chapter two finished. This is my attempt at getting a little more detailed for the sexy bits because I luff naked Percy x Nico, but I have this habit of needing plot too. Thanks to everyone who supported my first story and I hope you like this one, too.