Nico wouldn't admit it aloud but he liked it out at sea. The air that filled his lungs alone, the crispy, sharp and salty air was enough to make him feel completely awake. He could feel the sun's morning light on his olive skin, the heat catching in the black of his clothes. Nico shifted in his position, perched in the Crow's Nest. He dug out his spyglass from one of the many pockets of his belt and pressed it to his eye. Nico could see land just on the horizon, across the clear azure sea, white foamy waves breaking on the edge of a small coastal island, maybe a trading port. Either way, Nico was running short on supplies and would have to make port soon. He didn't know these waters well enough to sail pass it. Nico stood and stretched, his body was stiff from staying in the same position for hours on end, bones cracked as he rolled his shoulders.

Sliding down the main mast, Nico unsheathed his sword, and touched it to the deck.
"Keep her steady and make speed!" Nico ordered.
The ship came to life, in the oddest sense of the phrase. From the charcoal surface of the deck, skeletons rose. Personally, Nico thought that after you got over the initial panic that they were moving dead things, they weren't all that scary. The skeletons had transparent grey skin, their bones underneath pearl white, and where their eyes would have been was a dim yellow glow. Some of them had articles of clothing, trousers, coats, some of them ever wore armour. Nico had no clue why they had armour but to be honest, he didn't care.
They hobbled to their posts, hoisting the full canvas of the ship, the wind catching and dragging the ship along the sea at a faster pace. Nico headed downstairs to retrieve his coat and quickly scribe a Captain Log entry. By the time he had calculated his co-ordinates and taken stock of what he needed to get on this trip, they had made land.

Nico stepped onto the dock, the ropes securing the ship by themselves. Two fully covered skeletons followed him down the docking plank, one carrying a small chest. Nico didn't want to draw any attention to himself and having two exposed skeleton following him would make it hard for him to find business anywhere. Besides, he didn't want to creep out any kids that happened across his path. Nico glanced at the sky, noting the time. He had learnt that the skeletons would not last long ashore, two hours at the most. Nico would have to be sure not to dawdle. As he walked, Nico noticed the people quiet. Some of the braver ones risked staring at him, even tried to see under the hats of his skeletons. The other, wiser ones became very interested with their boots. The stories of the pirate captain who sailed a ship with a charred black hull and commanded a crew of skeletons has reached even these coast dwellers.

Nico's first stop was the traders, where he managed to barter away most of the spoils of his last- erm, endeavour away for a fair amount of coin. He found his way to the Butcher's easily enough, sending the skeleton that had picked up the meat back to the ship to put it in the cool of the storage. But despite warning himself not to, he did end up wandering around the market for a short amount of time. Partly because he was lost, and partly because he'd stumbled across a shop that had sold books. Finally, after finding a suitably interesting book in his home tongue and finding his way, Nico made it to the Grocer's. The Grocer was an elderly man who reeked of rum and didn't suit a beard. He smiled a yellow smile missing a few teeth as Nico enter the shop.
"Aye there, lads," The grocer greeted, looking between Nico and his skeleton. "What do ye fancy?"
"Merry day, good sir, I'd be in the market for fresh supplies," Nico handed the man a list, "The one's not crossed off are what I'm looking for."

The Grocer rubbed his beard, squint at the list with such intensity Nico wondered if the man could read. Or it was his writing.
"What be these- these pomy-gran-ates? I've not heard of them." The Grocer asked the skeleton.
Nico frowned. He didn't like being reminded that he still looked too young, too small, to be in control.
"You won't get much from him, he's mute." Nico lied smoothly, "That's why his face is covered up, the accident that took his tongue took his face as well."
The Grocer hastily adjusted his focus to Nico.
"Pomegranates," Nico persisted, "They're these red apple-like things, but instead of apple under the skin, there are juicy seedlike things." Nico wasn't very good at describing things, but that was a particularly bad description, "I've a carving for them." He finished lamely.
The Grocer shrugged, "That's an odd sounding thing, lad, you wouldn't find it here, but everything else you'll find around. Take a crate, and pick what you want. We'll negotiate the coin in a moment." The Grocer disappeared into the back. Nico shrugged, scuffing his hand through his shaggy hair.

The skeleton picked up a crate and followed Nico as he picked out everything he wanted that didn't look likely to give him food poisoning.

The Grocer emerged from the back just as Nico finished picking out his groceries. The Grocer smiled again as he eyed Nico's choices. "Good to see a young lad eating right. None of this sugar stuff that those British are raving about."
Nico nodded passively, "What would be fair price for this lot?"
"Three bits of gold," The Grocer stated, "And before you think that's not proper, I'll remind you that getting me hands on such fresh produce ain't easy."
Nico nodded. He didn't care much for money, he had plenty of it back on his ship.
"No, that sounds fine," Nico dug out his pouch and dug out three pieces of gold. "Thank you."

The door burst open so forcefully, Nico had half drawn his sword. Two men staggered in, broad chested and work worn men donned in dirty, ragged clothing with sword at their sides. Nico could tell they were from a pirate crew by the way they held themselves. One had a misshapen jawline, as if he'd been hit by an angry barmaid and a lump had swollen where she'd stuck him. Only this lump was about the size of Nico's fist. The other wasn't much to look at either, but his face looked normal enough. It was his fingers Nico noticed, were made of wood. They stood proud, like they could use those sword to solve any problems they encountered. Nico wondered if that was how the man had lost his fingers.

Jaw Line and Wooden Finger sauntered forward, eying the Grocer's stock.
"Is the young 'un on offer? We could use another cabin boy." Jaw Line grinned. He raised a hand, maybe to clamp on Nico's shoulder. Regardless, Nico slipped away and Jaw Line hand fell through the air.
"Just a jest, boy," Jaw Line said, "But we do need another cabin boy. You wouldn't be inter-"
"We'll be returning our ship now," Nico nodded at the grocer, "Good day, sir,"
"Ain't you a small lad to be giving order?" Jaw Line guffawed, "Would ye let a child tell your heading, gentleman?"
Predictably, the skeleton ignored him, following Nico towards the door. Wooden Finger blocked the door, crossing his arms and sneering. Nico's glare didn't convince him to move.
"You're must be a blind man if you can't tell he's a mute." Nico turned, his hand going to the hilt of his sword. "But I see you're not blind. So you must be daft."
Jaw Line followed his movements, but he laughed, "Is ye sword made of wood, lad? Care to take a gander at a real pirate?"
"I don't see any others around." Nico could help it. He smirked.
"I'll let out your evil soul by incision of steel!" Jaw Line shouted, raising his sword.
"Whoa, gents!" The Grocer cried in alarm, his greying eyebrows raised, "There's no need for violence here. Put the swords away or take them outside."
"Don't worry you old blighter, we don't need swords to take care of this little pup." Wooden Finger scoffed.
"Funny, I was just about to say something the same." Nico said. "Now if you'd please move."
Wooden Finger moved to swat Nico across the head. He wasn't expecting Nico to catch his arm.
"I said to move." Nico repeated. Wooden Finger opened his mouth, probably to say something smart but Nico squeezed and instead the man cry of pain "By Davy Jones, the boy has the grip of a kraken!"

Jaw Line rushed forward and grabbed Nico by the scuff of his coat. Nico repaid him by planting his boot in his stomach. Hard. He dropped to the floor as Jaw Line struggled to get breath back in his lungs. Wooden Finger had raised his sword and rushed Nico. Nico huffed a fleeting laugh as he sprung to the side. Nico's sword sang as it clattered against the Wooden Finger's and with a flick of his wrist Nico sent it to the floor. Nico followed through with a left hook. He advanced on the first man, raising his sword to his throat, his sword glinted wicked black in the window's light. Immediately, the man tried to step away from Nico but only succeeded in backing himself into a wall.
"I'll be on my way."
The man had gone cross-eyed looking down the blade of Nico's sword. Nico turned and with the skeleton in tow he began to the docks. He only needed to be outside to see the smoke billowing in pillars into the sky, dissipating into wind. Something was on fire.
It was coming from the docks.

_

A/N: Hey, all! Cass here. I can blame the birth of this monstrosity on Viria's pirate art, my own Nico feels and my two amazing Percy Jackson friends. Now I know you might have noticed a few things off and lemme just explain one thing here. This isn't just normal Nico. This is Cocky!Nico. This Nico is slight cockier than average Nico and may do a few things out of his brooding moody character now and then. Don't worry, it's only a slight adjustment, I doubt you'll notice it. Also, I do intend to draw a lot from canon and incorporate the Greek and Roman Gods and Goddess in here, myths and the demigods and the rest of the Seven but let a girl breathe and figure it all out. Cool? Alright.