Disclaimer: Any rights that may be questioned within this story do belong to Mr Rick Riordan of the Percy Jackson name. So, as much as I may wish it wasn't true, I do not own any of those said rights.
Chapter 2
Nico's POV:
It was warm when I woke up. I felt so relaxed, and comforted that I didn't want to move. To just forget everything and snuggle back down into these's person's arms that held me. I was beginning to doze again...'Wait, arms?' Sneaking a glance down, I saw lean, tanned swimmers arms loosely wrapped around, me holding me close. Drawing my gaze upwards, there was a delicious eight-pack to die for, still gorgeously tanned. 'This looks familiar...' my half-asleep brain thought. Finally, my eyes settled on his face and I tried to launch myself out of the bed. However, all that succeeded in doing was making Percy's – yes, PERCY'S – arms tighten around me, pulling me even closer. 'Dammit!' I thought, as my body started heating up. I could feel his skin on mine, our bodies plastered together...'Think of something else, think of something else!' I furiously repeated to myself. From here, I could practically count the lashes that framed Percy's green eyes, now closed in sleep. His skin was so soft and tanned, with a straight nose, and waves of curly black hair that tumbled adoringly around his face, framing his strong features, and high cheekbones. His lips were soft and well-sculptured, lips that were just dying to be kissed...'Ok, wrong train of thought', I scolded myself. Shifting slightly, I tried to see if there was any way that I could escape out of his arms, not that I really wanted to, but it was a necessity before I lost control. Gently trying to loosen the grip of one of his arms, Percy groaned a little and shifted, causing me to freeze. One eye opened slightly, and he smiled that adorable crooked grin of his, "Trying to escape huh?" he asked.
Of course, I immediately blushed beetroot red at the thought of Percy keeping me captive anywhere. "N-no," I stuttered, "I was just going to see whether it was time for some food or not."
"Sounds like a plan," Percy answered, letting go of me and stretching his arms, so I could see his chiselled chests in all its glory. I was sure I was practically drooling. Sitting up, he ran his hand through his hair, before standing up to pull off his t-shirt. I was too busy staring at him to realise that Percy had begun to walk towards the door like that. "Whoa, wait!" I yelled, running in front of him. "You can't go out like that."
"Why not?" Percy looked confused. How the hell am I meant to explain to the guy that is completely oblivious to the effect that he has that if he goes around SHIRTLESS he's gonna get mobbed? Cause excessive nosebleeds within the camp? Most likely fire off a series of accidents on the way to his cabin? "Erm...no time? If you go get changed, then we'll miss lunch."
"Yeah, but I still need to change my shirt. It's dirty, and I can't turn up in it. Not since Chiron made that new rule, after that Ares camper turned up covered in blood." True, Percy would have to change.
"Here, you can wear one of my t-shirts then." I said rifling through my clothes, looking for one that would hopefully be big enough for him. It was just that Percy was so muscled that he had trouble finding shirts that would fit him properly, as they were usually too small or too baggy. Finally I dug out a black shirt with silver wings on the front that Bianca had bought for me to 'grow into'. If she thought I was ever going to fit into in, she'd been seriously overestimating my growing abilities. Of course, Percy fit in just right, with the black making his tanned skin and green eyes even more pronounced. I could just see the outline of his chest muscles if I looked close enough...stop. 'Dangerous territory there', I told myself, digging out a shirt for myself. When I was ready, we left walking to the hall side by side. If I could just ignore the stares of delusional campers, then I could get used to this.
Percy's POV:
I don't know when I started to notice it, but something's been up with Nico lately. He's always meeting me at my cabin in the morning, and he seems jumpy whenever we walk around camp. It wasn't until we got to breakfast, that I realised that everyone seemed to be acting differently around him. I didn't realise that we had reached the dining hall until Nico separated himself from me to go and sit at his own table. Immediately I felt like something was missing. I'd gotten so used to having Nico around me over the last week or so since I came to camp, that I felt lonely without him. I mused on this, as I sacrificed the best slice of bacon to my dad, Poseidon, and caught a whiff of the smoke that sustained them. The scent of freshly baked bread, oranges and roasted tomatoes smelled absolutely divine, and I could feel myself taking ain a deeper breath. Smiling slightly, I made my way back to the Poseidon table, already feeling a little better. As I was eating, I kept sneaking glances over at Nico, seated alone at the Hades table, and I couldn't help noticing that he didn't seem like usual. 'Maybe something's bothering him?' I thought, and immediately my mind flashed back to this morning. Nico had seemed awfully eager to stop me from leaving his side. Finishing off the last of my breakfast, I stretched a little, and heard some small gasps behind me. Looking around, I saw that most of the people on the table behind me had flushed faces. One of the boys had dropped his plate, looking at me, his face red and nervous looking. 'Ah,' I thought, 'he must have dropped his plate, he must be embarrassed.' I flashed him a smile to show him that it was ok, and his face seemed to get redder, if that was possible. Stumbling, he made his way to the Demeter table, where all his siblings converged on him in furious whispers of excitement.
'Probably comforting him,' I thought, getting up. I made my way over to the Hades table, and frowned. People were looking that way, looking at Nico again. I felt a flash of anger and paused...'Why was I angry?' As I came closer to the table, I saw that Nico was just playing with his food, glaring at it as though it had offended him somehow. "Hey, you done?" I said, my brow creasing a little at his answer.
Yeah, I'm not hungry anyway."
That didn't sound like Nico. He usually didn't eat much anyway, but he always made sure to eat something. Shadow travelling took a lot out of him, so he always ate to make sure he had enough energy.
"You sure? You haven't been eating much lately." I didn't want to pressurise him, but I had to make sure that he was taking care of himself. The thought of him ill sent a pang of something through me that vanished before I could guess what it was.
Nico sighed, "I know it's just...WAIT, what?" He looked surprised here. Oh gods, he's gonna think I've been watching him, like some sort of crazed stalker or something. I could practically feel him thinking that.
"Well," I began awkwardly fiddling, "you used to eat a lot more, but lately, it's like you just aren't interested in it..." I trailed off, mumbling a little, my hand absentmindedly rubbing my neck as I prayed to Zeus that I wasn't creeping him out or something. I mean, friends notice stuff like that about their friends' right? Abruptly he stood up, his face relaxing a little, "I'm good, it's just that I haven't been sleeping too well lately".
I let out a sigh of relief, and looked closer at him. Now that I knew what to look for, I could see the faint shadows of darkness on his delicate face, and the faint haze of tiredness in his deep black eyes. 'He looks like he could do with some sleep, must be something big to keep him up at night.' I thought. Pursing my lips, I suggested to him, "In that case, why don't we head back to your cabin for a bit? I don't have to teach a class till after lunch" indicating my head towards the door. I could let him sleep for a bit, if it would take his mind off things to have someone there with him. Usually people avoided the Hades cabin, so he'd be bound to get some peace there. 'Maybe that was what was bothering him...'
"Sure", Nico said, a small smile on his face. As we walked back towards his cabin, I noticed people looking at him again. 'Wonder what is up with that...' I was completely confused.
Nico's POV:
After lunch, Percy and I headed out to the practice arena, where he was meant to be teaching a sword class. I was just gonna head back to my cabin, when he asked me if I wanted to join in. "We can demonstrate moves for the class" he said, but all I could think of was that Percy wanted me with him! He could've said he wanted to use me as a practice dummy and I would've said yes! 'You're a complete masochist.' I told myself as I followed him, where the class was already assembled, nervously fingering their weapons. The moment they caught sight of Percy, still in the tight black t-shirt, they all gained a sudden interest in their feet, and their faces flushed. I sneaked a sideways peek at Percy; still completely oblivious to the effect he was having.
"Ok, everyone!" Percy yelled to get their attention. 'Yeah, like he didn't already have it', Percy though sourly, seeing the girls in the back giggling flirtatiously as Percy asked their names, and even the boys trying to impress with their 'maturity'. Seriously, I was just itching to smack them all in the head and announce to the world to back off from HIS Percy. In fact, I was so engrossed in my little torture plans for all the idiots that surrounded Percy, that I didn't know he was addressing me. "Nico...Nico!"
"Uh, yeah?"
"I was just saying that Nico and I are going to demonstrate the disarming technique a few times, then I'll pair you up with someone of a similar ability level, and you can practice."
He got out his pen/sword, 'Riptide' and I could see this eliciting a few sniggered from the class. Evidently, they thought I would be disarmed with a pen. It wasn't until Percy uncapped it, that it grew into the two foot long shimmering blade of celestial bronze, that had brought an end to many a monster over the past few years. A few gasps from the group, and more than a few admiring glances, then it was my turn. My sword, 'κλέπτης ψυχή' or 'Soul Stealer', had originally hung on my hip until I'd managed to get Hephaestus to do some tinkering with it in return for a favour. Now, it hung on a simple black chain from my jeans, an obsidian blade, until I pressed the stone engraved on it. It grew into the blade of Stygian iron, which drank in my enemies' essence, so that they could never return to Tartarus and reform. Even though my performance didn't tempt any sounds of admiration, I could see in their eyes that they were impressed. I dropped into my fighting stance and waited for Percy to begin the demonstration. However, just as he was about to lunge forward at me, we heard a threatening growl form the forest behind me.
Turning slowly, I saw a huge drakon, its eyes glinting red in the gloom of the trees. Huge, vicious teeth were visible as the drakon began to edge forward; slowly I moved back a little, readying my sword, for when the drakon attacked. I could just see out of the corner of my eye, Percy moving forward equally slowly, motioning the class to back off with one hand, the other tightly gripping Riptide. I had no idea how a drakon managed to get inside the camp borders, but I'd have to deal with that later. Right now, we'd have one heck of a right on our hands.
The silence began to stretch out unceasingly. I thought that all the class had managed to get away, but just then one girl slipped and landed against a pile of armour that campers could borrow. The clatter of bronze captured the drakon's attention instantly, and its tail flew out of the trees, barrelling towards the girl, and her friend, who was trying to pull her up in time. My instincts took over, and I could feel myself barrelling across the arena, and flinging myself at them. They were out of the way not a moment too soon, as I felt the barbs on its armoured tail strike along my back and shoulder, throwing me across to collide with the wall. Dizzy with pain, I looked up to see the face of the drakon rushing towards me, lunging at the wounded one, the smell of blood heavy in its nostrils. Suddenly, there was a shadow in front of me; its attack was halted, as it snapped at my rescuers body. With a strained grunt, my hero managed to turn its face away; their sword flew down in a deadly arch and caught its eye, with burning blood splattering everywhere. Bellowing an agonised cry, it moved away, roaring challenge at its enemy.
Now that the shadow of the drakon's head was gone, I saw it was Percy bending over me, with his eyebrows scrunched together, the way they always were whenever he was seriously worried. "Don't worry Nico, I'll get you to Chiron." Part of my brain registered him saying. The other half was caught up in how hot he looked with his t-shirt ripped, showing all the right muscles. There was drakon's blood smeared across his front, all the way down to...I gulped. Part of his jeans had been ripped away too, revealing his underwear and a smooth hip. I could feel my face was flushed, even with the blood loss, and a assortment of images rushed through my mind. 'Not now' I vainly prayed. Then my blood ran cold, the drakon was slowly making its way past the pain, and was eyeing Percy again. I felt a flash of jealousy and groaned, though Percy immediately started fussing, thinking it was the pain. The drakon wanted to eat Percy for god's sake! Admittedly, I did sometimes have dreams of how yummy Percy was, but not in that way! I was jealous of a damn monster, gods I had it worse than I thought. "Perce..." I whispered, trying to warn him.
"What is it?" Percy asked, eyes filled with worry.
"B-Behind..." I tried to warn him, but I was slowly losing control of my body. And the drakon lunged. Summoning all my strength, I pulled Percy towards me, and he narrowly missed losing his head. With his weight pushing against me, the pain flared into life with new vigour. I screamed, and Percy pulled back, horror etched on his face. My blood was all over him, and I could see understanding dawning as the drakon detangled itself from the wall of the arena, one eye still weeping blood.
Suddenly, his face hardened, and he stood swiftly, clenching Riptide in one hand and Soul Stealer in the other. Facing the drakon once again, he charged, avoiding the first swipe, and chopped at the claw, bringing another furious cry from the monster. Jumping, dodging, he was magnificent; his eyes focused, his skin glistening with sweat and blood, as he avoided yet another deathly blow. Using the creature's tail to gain height, he leapt into the air, coming down with a terrifying cry, both swords plunging into the monster's eyes, going in so deep they struck its brain. With an earth-shattering shriek, the drakon began to thrash about in its dying moments, with Percy vainly driving the blades in further. Finally with a last tremor, the drakon slumped to one side, and Percy leaped off its muzzle calmly. At that moment, a crowd of armoured campers forced its way in through the door, and froze when they saw the carcass of the beast, with Percy standing beside it, two blades in hand. Capping Riptide, he walked over to me without a word, reattached my sword to its chain, and then gathered me up in his arms. Just the feel of his instantaneously made me feel better, and I felt myself melt into his strong chest, as his arms slightly tightened around me. Gently carrying me, Percy strode through the gobsmacked warriors and down towards the infirmary. I could feel as smile on my lips, as the whispering broke out on the way there, with campers stopping to gawk at the sight of Percy covered in blood, and me in his arms. 'Ha, point one for the son of Hades...' was my last though before I slipped into the void, with the scent of the sea surrounding me.
CHAPTER END
So? What did you think? Should I write more from Percy's point of view? Or just keep it as Nico...Anyway, review, review, review! A review a day keeps the blues away! I'll have the next chapter up within a week *fingers crossed* :D
