PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO || In a Hundred Years (I'll Still Love You) || PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO
Title: In a Hundred Years (I'll Still Love You) – This Life and Any Life Following
Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus
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, fluff, character death and rebirth, rebirth-fic, genderbed, threesome, hetero
Main Pairing: Nico/Percy
Side Pairings: Reyn/Annabeth, Frank/Hazel/Leo, Jamie/Gwen, Tom/Cal/Eli, Sander/Donny (mentioned)
Percy Jackson Characters: Perseus Jackson (reborn as Perseus Jackson Raser), Nico di Angelo (reborn as Nicolay Iliov), Annabeth Chase (reborn as Annalene Raser), Leo Valdez (reborn as Leo Alduino), Hazel Levesque (reborn as Duncan Bishop), Frank Zhang (reborn as Frankie Yumi), Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano (reborn as Regina Gatti), Chuck Hedge, Festus
Own Characters of the Next Generations: Bianca Maria di Angelo, Hades Poseidon di Angelo, Theseus Paul di Angelo, James Charles di Angelo, Laura Silena di Angelo, Jackson Tyson di Angelo, Calogero di Angelo, Tomazius Grace, Samuel Elijah James Raser IV, Samuel Elijah James Raser V, Arwen Yates, Samuel Elijah James Ignatius Raser
Own Pegasi: Tsunami, Twister
Summary: Percy lived to celebrate his hundredth birthday and in the circle of his children, he takes his last breath without regrets, because he knows that Nico is waiting for him in their next lives.
A year after his death, his great-great-grandson is born and to honor the great hero, the boy with the remarkable sea-green eyes is named Perseus Jackson. Or PJ, for short. PJ lives a happy and content life until he turns fourteen and gets the quest to bring a Russian demigod son of Pluto to camp.
This one is for my most dedicated fans only, because if you haven't read at the very least "Chasing Fireflies" and "Prom Queen", this one will confuse the Hades out of you.
In a Hundred Years (I'll Still Love You)
This Life and Any Life Following
Chapter 2: The Rebirth of Nico di Angelo
"Okay, so where do we go?", asked Leo, putting his flying goggles on. "What's the details?"
"We're looking for Nicolay Iliov, son of Pluto, born on the sixth December 2092 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Mother Marya Iliova died when he was ten. Two years later, his powers manifested and got the attention of the European DPS. When Heldenheim failed, they contacted New Rome and New Athens for support after a few years. Seeing as the boy is now sixteen, he's attracting more and more monsters these days, so they're sending out a quest", replied Annalene. "Last seen near Rome. Maybe he's trying to find his demigodly roots? Best we go there and ask around. Nymphs are always hot for gossip, I'm sure a child of death catches their attention."
"Off to Italy. Ah, home-advance", announced Leo with a broad grin.
He was straddling Festus' neck, ready to program the coordinates that Annalene was about to give him. Their supplies and snacks were placed in the hidden trunk of the metal drank. Annalene and PJ mounted their respective pegasus, both checking their weapons. Annalene's was a sword of Celestial bronze and Imperial gold called Polemikh Kaphdia – the Heart of War. Its mist-form was a storm-lighter which did come in handy at times of quests. It used to belong to Sam Raser the Third and since it had always belonged to children and legacies of either Aphrodite or Ares, her parents saw it fit that the Heart of War would go to Annalene, the legacy of Venus. PJ ran his thumb over the skull-ring mist-form of his own sword – Skotelnos Thalassa, the Dark Sea. PJ liked the history of the sword. While the Heart of War had always belonged to star-crossed lovers and tragedies, the Dark Sea had specifically been forged by Hades himself, a sword of Stygian iron but with a handle so non-children of Hades could wield it too. A wedding present for Percy Jackson the day he became Percy di Angelo. But Percy Jackson rarely found the need for a weapon again after marriage and even then, Riptide was his well-trusted sword (now in the possession of Seji). So Percy had given it to his oldest son, Donny di Angelo. PJ liked to think that it was good fortune for lovers. His father Jamie had owned the sword before him and had used it to slay the Hydra on the day he met Arwen, saving her like a knight in shining armor and conquering her heart.
Festus chirped in agreement, looking at Leo questioningly. Leo just grinned broader and nodded, signaling his metal-friend that it was time to leave. Twister and Tsunami whined as both winged horses followed their metal-dragon navigational system. PJ was eager and antsy.
/break\
PJ was not eager and antsy anymore. A week into their quest and he was bored out of his mind. He knew why he preferred to leave the heroing up to their praetors and other such kids. Not just because of the fighting – PJ was a decent fighter, maybe a catastrophe with a bow, but really a natural with his sword – but because of the wait. The finding-out-what-to-do-where aspect.
"Please tell me you got anything", moaned PJ as he laid sprawled out on the ground.
They had a camp-side in... some corner of Italy. Honestly. PJ had lost track of where they were ever since they were away from the water. Flying over the ocean had been fun, because it was as though the sea had mapped itself out beneath him, telling him their exact coordinates. But he wasn't doing so well on the land. All he could do was follow Annalene's instructions and Leo's lead.
"Yes. A dryad said she heard from a ventus who saw someone shady who felt like death in Venice."
"Wait. We have a lead?", asked PJ wide-eyed and sat up. "Really now?"
"Apparently", nodded Annalene with a frown. "Now, we need a plan-"
"We're pretty close to Venice", pointed Leo out as he too sat up.
"Great. Let's go and find him then!", yelped PJ eagerly and jumped up.
"No. No, no, no. It's like the middle of the night and we have our camp-side here and we don't have a plan-", started Annalene displeased. "-and you're not listening to me at all, are you?"
"Well, it's best if we split up, right? That way we can cover more ground!", declared PJ.
"Oh yeah, let's split up. Because they always do that in horror movies and no one ever gets killed in those!", countered Leo with a glare as he helped PJ packing their camp again.
"Don't be such a wuss, Alduino", chided PJ and rolled his eyes. "It's an adventure!"
"I'd rather be home and watch Duncan and Frankie be cute", muttered Leo beneath his breath.
"No idea what about them is supposed to be cute", snorted PJ and cocked one eyebrow. "I mean, Duncan is kinda hot with all his chocolate-god appearance and the strength and all. But he can easily kick your butt, man. Especially when he hears you call his girlfriend cute."
"Not that Frankie wouldn't put an arrow through the head of any guy who'd think he could try something with her. That daughter of Apollo is fierce", added Annalene. "Oh, don't change the topic, boys! We're not storming into Venice without a plan – get off that pegasus, Perseus Jackson!"
PJ just grinned at her in that apologetic way Annalene knew, the one that came right before PJ and Leo would pull come possibly dangerous prank. He leaned down and whispered into Twister's ear.
"Sure I can bring us there, bro!", exclaimed the black pegasus and flapped his wings.
Annalene cursed beneath her breath as her brother once again stormed sword-first in without a plan.
/break\
Nicolay Iliov had no one. He was used to having no one. For too many years, it had only been him.
His mother had died after long sickness when he was ten and he went into foster-care. After being bounced around foster parents and Russian social service for a while, his powers started manifesting. He had always been able to 'hear voices'. He could see ghosts, talk to the dead. But when he turned twelve, things got more extreme. He could raise and control the dead, travel through shadows. Something he had first noticed when trying to hide from an abusive foster mother, who only kept the kids around for money. He had tried to hide in a dark corner in the closet, closed his eyes tightly and wished to be somewhere else. At first he had thought he could simply travel by will, which had caused him to be stuck in New York for a couple of weeks before noticing that he needed darkness to travel. This brightened his days some. No more foster homes. Whenever authorities tried to approach the homeless boy, he'd use the shadows for a fast escape and relocate.
He had already lived in so many places, so many more than others would see in their whole lives.
That was all he had in his life. Traveling, solitude and faint memories of his mother.
He didn't allow himself to get attached to people, didn't let anyone close. At first, he had tried. In the foster homes, but then they'd be separated again and Nicolay was left missing them. Later on, it became harder too. On the run on the streets. Whenever he'd have to leave again, he'd leave the country, knowing he'd never see the kids again that he had befriended on the streets. Seeing as he relocated to another country, he was mostly unfamiliar with the language so it was hard to make connections to begin with. And these days, it was dangerous. Even though his language-skills had improved and his English was fluent by now so he could communicate with the majority of people he encountered, there was something else stopping him. Monsters were real. And they seemed to want to eat him. So when he wasn't running from the social services, he was running from monsters.
At any rate, he was running. Always running and always alone. That was his life.
Now, he was a sixteen years old boy. He had certain urges and desires and his total lack of a social circle and human contact made those cravings only worse. These days, he mostly found himself something nice to warm his bed for the duration of his stay somewhere. Mostly pretty boys that were easily charmed by his foreign accent and bad boy attitude. Those kind of boys who liked to piss off their parents by bringing home a punk like him. It was a good way of staying in an actual house for at least a couple nights and an even better relief for other urges. He'd have his way with the pretty boys and leave when either the danger was too immediate or he lost interest in the current fling. He knew this wasn't exactly the most desirable life-style, but for the last year or so, it had worked out well for him. Because he really enjoyed sex and he liked bending a cute boy to his will, only with the power of his charms. He liked the control he could have over them.
Casually walking through the streets of Venice, he looked around. He had only arrived two nights ago in Venice and spend the first two nights in some fancy villa. Breaking in somewhere was easy with his shadow-traveling. He had also gotten good at seeing if a house stood empty due to a family vacation or something along those lines. Sadly, the family had returned early, so he already found himself out on the streets again. Too bad, he liked the Italian countryside. So he was looking for something else. Some other place, to stay at least a couple days longer.
That was when something caught his eye. Not a place to live, or a fast dinner to grab and run. A pretty boy, looking completely lost. He wasn't particularly tall, but rather lithe. Seemingly muscular, but not overly so, more on the athletic side. He was wearing a red hoodie and black skinny-jeans that showed off that the boy had nice, long legs and a heart-shaped, firm-looking butt. Black, messy hair peeked out from beneath the hood, a cute button-nose and the most captivating eyes Nicolay had ever seen. Like a clash of green and blue, but due to the complimentary red of his clothes, those eyes looked even brighter. Pink, bow-shaped lips tempted Nicolay. They looked kissable and they would look even better wrapped around his hard cock while Nicolay would fuck the boy's throat. All in all, this pretty boy was probably the prettiest he had ever encountered.
"Ty takoi krasivij, dorogoij", said Nicolay with a charming smile as he approached the boy. [trans: You're beautiful, darling]
"Posso aiutarti?", asked the boy, looking a little surprised. [trans: Can I help you?]
"Scusi", started Nicolay, looking sheepish at that. "Sto c—cercando... eh..." [trans: Excuse me. I'm looking for...]
Okay, so Italian wasn't his strong suit. He knew that before, but when the pretty boy started laughing at him, he felt mildly humiliated. Then again, the boy's laugh was such a bright, beautiful sound that it warmed his heart and made up for the humiliating feeling.
"Do you speak English?", asked the boy amused. "Maybe I can help you."
"Yes. English is good", confirmed Nicolay relieved. "Are you a... native? From around here?"
"No, I'm actually a tourist myself", admitted the beautiful stranger sheepishly.
"Well, maybe we can... fight our way through this maze together then", offered Nicolay, returning the cute smile on the boy's lips. "I'm Colya, it's a pleasure to meet you. What's your name?"
"PJ", replied the other, shaking his hand.
"No", grunted Nicolay and raised one eyebrow. "That's not a name. That's two letters."
"Arguably, all names are just a bunch of letters", huffed PJ and rolled his impressive eyes.
"Point taken", agreed Nicolay, amused by the sassy teen. "So you won't tell me your name?"
"PJ is short for my first and middle-name. Perseus Jackson", muttered PJ embarrassed.
"Per-se-us? What a strange name", laughed Nicolay delighted. "Per-se. Percy. Ah. That sounds better. Better than Perseus or that horrifying two-letter-thing you have going on, da?"
"Percy?", repeated PJ and made a face. "No! No one is allowed to call me that! And besides, you're one to make fun of my name! What kind of name is Cola anyway?"
"Colya. And it is short for Nicolay. A strong, powerful name", huffed Nicolay offended.
"In what world is 'Colya' short for 'Nicolay'?", snorted PJ ridiculed.
"In Russia, if you must know", grunted Nicolay with the slightest pout. "It's better than PJ."
"Oh, now he's being a pouty child!", teased PJ with a grin. "Don't be a baby, Nico."
"W—What did you just call me?", gaped Nicolay wide-eyed.
"Nico. You know, the sensible and logical nickname for 'Nicolay'. Not some weird-ass rearrangement of the letters!", huffed PJ and stuck his tongue out.
"No", protested Nicolay with a glare. "No one ever called me that before and no one will."
"Well, too bad for you, Nico. Because I will", chimed PJ with a bright grin, before he froze. "Wait. Your name is Nicolay and you're Russian? Are you Nicolay Iliov?"
Now it was Nico's turn to freeze. "How do you know my name, Percy? Who are you?"
"No! No, don't run!", exclaimed PJ hastily and grabbed Nico by his upper arms. "Please. Listen."
Nico wanted to shake the other boy off, but PJ was clingy like a baby monkey. "Why should I?"
"Because I want to help", replied PJ, his sea-green eyes large and pleading. "Please."
Years of being on the run had schooled Nico to distrust everyone. But something in Percy's eyes seemed so familiar and warm and felt like home. A feeling he hadn't felt in too many years.
"I'll listen to you, but know that I can be gone way before you can pull any stunts."
"Okay", nodded Percy, smiling brightly at the small victory. "Then how about we do this at a semi-public place? So you can be sure I don't do something silly and I can be sure you don't run?"
Nico frowned and scanned their surroundings. "The café. I'm hungry anyway."
"Yes! I want gelato!", exclaimed Percy, looking excited.
He grabbed Nico's hand like it was the most natural thing to do and pulled the other boy along. Who would have thought that this quest would solve itself? Granted, PJ had felt a flutter of his heart when the stranger had made him that compliment – he didn't need to know Russian to know that it had been a compliment, because there was just that quirk of the mouth, that spark in the eyes that always accompanied such an action. A handsome guy flirting with him? That didn't happen every day. After all, he was bully-bait at home. Even though he wasn't a total loner anymore, he and Leo still were kind of the little nerds that big, bulky kids of Mars or Bellona liked picking on (not all kids of Mars, because their praetor and friend Duncan always protected them). So this was quite flattering. Especially since Nico was totally his type. The dark, gloomy bad boy. Nico was about a head taller than Percy, with black curls and the darkest eyes possible. He was extremely pale, but not in a sickly way, more in a glowing way. He wore black leather pants, a ratty shirt with a skull print on the front, a long, black leather coat and equally black boots. Honestly, the only thing missing was a neon-sign claiming SON OF PLUTO. But that would have been too flashy.
"Okay, you take a seat and I'll order!", declared Percy, staring very seriously at Nico. "No running away! I'll track you down again. Now, tell me what I should get you."
"A coke and a sandwich", shrugged Nico and sat down.
His eyes were glued to Percy's backside. Why didn't he run? The stranger had his back turned to Nico, so Nico could easily slip away through the shadows. Next minute and he'd be in Tokyo, eating sushi, or walk over the Chinese wall. Yet here he was, sitting in the café, watching Percy order their food. There was a childish smile on Percy's lips as he returned to Nico. Childish in the way of his innocence, the way only a kid would be happy about something. In an endearingly naive way.
"Here you go", chimed Percy and placed the coke and the plate with a sandwich in front of Nico.
"What... is that?", asked Nico skeptical as he looked at Percy's half of the table.
Percy looked totally proud. He had three scoops of deeply-red ice, whipped cream on top of it, decorated with red sprinkles and only red Smarties. There were also about eight half strawberries.
"Raspberry-ice with strawberries", replied Percy and dug in.
"Okay, but... it seems unnaturally... red", pointed Nico out, raising one eyebrow.
"It's my thing", shrugged Percy with a small frown. "I like red food. Or, well, red in general."
"Then why does your skull-ring have sapphire-eyes and not ruby-eyes?", asked Nico.
"Dunno", shrugged Percy and frowned as he looked down at his sword's mist-form. "It wasn't always mine. I mean, it's a family heirloom. I guess the one it had been made for liked blue?"
"Family heirloom, mh?", whispered Nico, sounding sad. "Must be nice to have such a thing..."
"I'm sorry. I guess... family is something difficult for you", said Percy softly.
Nico's head snapped up. That Percy had understood he wasn't talking about the heirloom, but the family. And the way Percy said it, it sounded so sincere and compassionate.
"What do you want from me?", asked Nico sharply as he bit into his sandwich.
"I want to help you", replied Percy with a small smile. "What do you know about your father? Your powers? I'm sure you're aware of them. Did you ever wonder about the monsters?"
"Okay. I'm listening", nodded Nico slowly, staring at Percy intrigued.
"What's your theory?", inquired Percy curiously. "I mean, you've been on the run for years. You must have found your own way of figuring out why things are the way they are. I guess it's easier to explain if I know what kind of misunderstandings I have to clarify."
"I'm a mutant. Or alien. One of those two. Currently leaning toward alien. That's why I don't know my father, because my mother had been abducted by aliens", answered Nico, completely honest. "That's why I have these powers too. Like Clark Kent when he came to Earth and was exposed to our sun. I'm guessing those monsters, well, only I can see them because I'm like them – an alien. And the guys hunting me must be special agents, maybe something like the MIB. Other theory; mutants. They're... failed experiments, I was a success. Those people hunting me are from whatever lab I had been created in and want to bring me back there."
He was being serious. The only ways he could explain his life. But he had never really voiced them out loud. He had already spend his fair share of time in asylums – always ran through the shadows as soon as he managed to wear off the drugs they gave him. Of course they'd think he was crazy when saying things like those. But somehow here, with Percy, he didn't feel crazy. The way Percy was listening to him, it was as though he believed him. Maybe not that it was true, but that it was what Nico thought was true. And Nico started to really like that smile.
"Cool", grinned Percy and tilted his head. "So, you read a lot of comics, then?"
"It's how I learned English, when I was first staying in New York", nodded Nico, leaning back some and looking at Percy. "I taught myself, with comics. Now... Can you... really tell me the truth? About my father? My heritage? Are you... part of it? Are you like me?"
"Bad news first", said Percy in mock-seriousness, a grin shining through. "I'm not with the X-Men and I didn't come to recruit you. So, no mutants. You're also not the result of an alien-abduction, though I really like that theory. Never heard it before. And yet the truth is no less crazy."
"Tell me. I thought for the last five years that I'm an alien, I think I can handle the truth."
"Point taken", nodded Percy, eyes sparkling with amusement. "You're a demigod."
"Demigod? Like, half god?", asked Nico slowly. "Well, beats being half alien, I guess..."
"I guess", laughed Percy. "The godly half is Roman. You know about Greek and Roman gods?"
"Zeus and his pals?", asked Nico and nodded. "Sure. And then came the Romans and played name-adaption with them. I'm Russian, I'm familiar with other countries adapting names."
"Jupiter and his pals", nodded Percy, tilting his head. "They're real. They exist. And they sire kids. Don't ask about the Big Guy Religions, you know those Christian-Muslim-Jewish-religions. Never really understood how that incorporates with the gods being real, but it apparently somehow does."
"Okay. Gods are real. And I'm half god", whispered Nico amazed. "So... that's why I never met my father or anyone from his side of the family, because they're gods?"
"Exactly", confirmed Percy. "And the gods live on Olympus. They don't raise their demigodly children themselves. They leave that to the mortal half of the family. You doing okay so far?"
"Well, I thought I'm half-alien, so yeah, so far I'm doing great", grunted Nico seriously. "Tell me more. Who's my father? And... don't the gods care at all? I mean, my mortal family has been gone for years. Don't the gods at least try to make sure their kids are safe...?"
"One at a time!", interrupted Percy and held up his hands in defense. "Your dad's Pluto, the-"
"God of death", finished Nico, eyes wide as saucers. "That's why I can hear voices, see ghosts, raise zombies. Wow. Okay, that is definitely better than being an alien."
"Good", grinned Percy amused. "To answer your other question, demigods are... protected. Or can be. There are cities where we live in safety with out own kind. Child protective services that track down orphaned demigods and bring them to those cities so they can live a better and safe life. But you with your shadow-traveling slipped away from those agents time and time again."
"Oh. So my... Men in Black chasing me were real after all, but not because they wanted to lock me away...", concluded Nico stunned, staring at Percy. "Okay, wait. What exactly are you then?"
"Well, the agents I just mentioned, they thought you may open up to someone your own age, that me and my friends may have a better chance at explaining things to you before you run again. Apparently, they were right. I'm not a demigod. I'm a legacy – like, my mom is a demigod and there are various other demigods further up my family tree too. So I have powers passed down through blood and generations, but I'm not a direct kid of a god like you are."
"Whose... powers do you have, then?", asked Nico intrigued.
"Poseidon, on my father's side, and a little bit of Venus from my mom – they like to attribute my looks to being a legacy of Venus, but the only thing I see that I may have from her is my ability to charmspeak. That is, to manipulate people into doing what I want", replied Percy with a smile. "You see, I'm only possible because of those cities. They're a safe place, there are schools and shops and restaurants and everyone there is either a demigod or a legacy, so you don't need to hide your powers and what you see, because they all can see the monsters too, unlike the mortals. That's what we call the normal people who aren't related to the gods. They can't see the monsters."
"So, you're telling me there are others like me, there's a safe haven for people like us...", drawled Nico skeptically. "That sounds a little bit too good to be true."
"I know", sighed Percy. "I figured you'd say that. I mean, I guess life hasn't dealt you the best cards so far, so I doubt you'd take all of this to be... real. But it is! I promise. Look, if I were a monster in disguise, like you probably already encountered too, wouldn't I have eaten you already? Please. Please, give me a chance to show you that there is a place where you belong, where you can be safe. No more running, no more hiding, no more living on the streets. Just give me a chance. Come with me and take a look. If you don't like it, you can still just... run."
Nico frowned annoyed, glaring at the cute boy. It was downright impossible to say no to that face and that really annoyed the Russian. And deep down, he had hoped for such a thing for so long. For the X-Men to invite him to Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. For a police box to come down to Earth and take him back home. For something. Someone to search for him, to want him around. Had he finally found that? Was Percy the one who had come to end his solitude?
But before he could answer, he saw the beast he had encountered yesterday. A giant bull with rotating horns. It caused enough of a commotion to interrupt their conversation. The monster was chasing two teenagers – a busty, strawberry-blonde girl and an impish boy. Percy yelped.
"W—What?", asked Nico confused, turning to look at Percy a little startled.
"That's my sister! And my best friend!", exclaimed Percy and stumbled out of the café. "Come!"
Nico frowned. Yet again, there was the perfect chance to slip away. And just like the last time, he found himself obeying the green-eyed beauty and following him out of the establishment. He made a mental note not to start anything with this boy, because Nico liked to hold all the strings, but Percy already had him wrapped around his little finger. Nico could clearly picture himself carrying out the trash, doing the laundry, making Percy breakfast in bed, all to get that incredibly adorable smile in return. He'd be whipped in that relationship. And yet – what frightened him the most – he still wanted it. Wanted it more than he had wanted anything in far too long. Something about being with Percy felt like being home – a feeling that was so faint in Nico's memories, he had nearly forgotten what it felt like. Like this was where he belonged, with Percy.
"Annie! Leo!", called Percy out and twisted the ring around his finger.
"PJ?!", exclaimed Leo and Annalene as they whirled around.
Nico all the while kept to the sidelines and observed. Somehow, Percy's ring had transformed into a black sword. The one bull was joined by more, probably its herd. But that didn't make Percy nervous at all. If anything, it seemed to make him more precise. Nico was mildly aware of the other two also fighting against bulls, but his attention was on Percy. The boy, as hyperactive and jumpy as he may have seemed earlier, was completely focused now. Precise. Like a tiger zooming in on its prey, completely set on making the kill. And as elegant and graceful as one too. A shudder went down Nico's spine as he watched Percy wield his sword and slash away at his opponents, slicing bull by bull. It was easily the hottest and most amazing thing Nico had ever seen.
"You're mesmerizing, tigryonak", whispered Nico in awe as the last bull turned to dust.
"Tig... tig... what?", asked Percy confused and suspicious. "Is that an insult?"
"It means 'little tiger'", replied Nico, quirking his lips in amusement. "You fight like a tiger."
"Oh", nodded Percy and flushed a little. "Well, you look like a panther, lurking on the tree-tops and just observing everything. Also, all in black, you know?"
"Yeah, little lion cub over here and I'd suggest we move this zoo somewhere else because there's the policia coming for us thanks to the commotion!", interrupted Leo loudly. "Also, who is that?"
"Oh, yeah. That's Nico, by the way", grinned Percy as the four teens started running.
"Nico? As in Nicolay? As in the guy we've been searching for for like over a week?", asked Leo.
"Guilty as charged", nodded Nico with a frown. "Are you demigods too?"
"Leo's a son of Mercury and Annalene is my sister – legacy of Venus", replied Percy. "Move!"
"Where to?", inquired Nico confused.
"I parked Festus somewhere around... ah! There he is!", exclaimed Leo.
They rounded a corner into a back-yard and Nico came to such a sudden halt, Percy running into his back. Not that Nico minded, because he was too busy staring wide-eyed at the gray, winged horse and the giant metal dragon. This day qualified as the weirdest day in his life.
"What are... those...? What...", asked Nico slowly, pointing at them.
And then he jumped because Percy whistled very loudly and right next to his ear. When Nico turned to glare at him, Percy had the decency to look sheepish. Apparently, doing things before thinking about them was his thing. It would be easier if Percy wouldn't look so irresistible and adorable when being sorry. Wow, he was a complete goner.
"That's Tsunami, my trusted pegasus", smiled Annalene and patted the gray mare.
"With an unreliable brother, she needs someone reliable", replied Tsunami, leaning into the patting.
"Stop always being mean to me", huffed Percy with a pout.
"Why was she mean?", asked Nico confused. "She just introduced her winged horse."
"No, not Annalene. Tsunami", corrected Percy and rolled his eyes.
"...The horse?", asked Nico, looking at Percy like he lost his mind.
"Legacy of Poseidon. HeÄs the god and father of horses. I speak horse", answered Percy shortly.
"Impressive, also a little weird", nodded Nico slowly. "Like a Golden Age Disney Princess?"
"Oh. You're a fan of the classics!", exclaimed Percy with sparkling eyes.
The Golden Age was what the 2D animation movies were generally called, while the Silver Age covered the 3D period that followed. Generally speaking, they were currently in the Bronze Age.
"Some movies are timeless", replied Nico with a shrug.
"Right. Because movies that are like a hundred and fifty years old are so cool", snorted Leo.
"For your information, movies are art. And if you still have fun looking at the Mona Lisa, why should you not enjoy Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs?", countered Percy.
"You did not just compare the Mona Lisa to Snow White!", yelped Leo scandalized.
"I so did", challenged Percy, cocking one eyebrow.
"Enough with the bickering, girls! We should get a move on!", interrupted Annalene annoyed.
"Yes, I agree with Anna...bell?", asked Nico with a frown. "Annabeth?"
"Annalene!", exclaimed the strawberry-blonde with a fierce glare.
"Okay, let's move. It's best if Nico sticks with me, I have the most space on Festus", offered Leo.
"Do. Not. Call. Me. Nico", spat Nico with a fierce glare. "My name is Nicolay."
"B—But PJ called you that!", yelped Leo a little (lot) intimidated.
"That's different", grunted Nico a little awkwardly.
Because somehow it was. He had never taken nicknames from anyone. People called him Nicolay, at times he went by Colya to be safe. But no one had ever chosen a nickname for him, because he never let anyone close enough to allow them such a thing. Somehow, Percy had just decided that Nicolay was part of his life now and that 'Nicolay' was too complicated and weird a name so he should be called 'Nico'. And somehow, Nico couldn't find it in himself to deny the boy. If Percy would ask him to walk from Italy to Greece, he'd probably do it. Even with someone as annoying as this Leo-character. Something about Percy intrigued Nico, made him want to learn more, see more.
"Maybe you should ride with PJ then, Nicolay", stated Annalene unimpressed.
"But he smells like death, bro!", complained Twister and shuddered, flipping his wings.
"Sh, don't be mean", chided PJ with a glare before turning to Nico. "Come on. It's alright."
Nico disliked the idea a lot and he found it anything but alright. He would be so much faster with his shadow-traveling, but he didn't know the destination and something told him that Percy wouldn't let him out of his sight for a longer period of time because apparently, Percy was set on showing Nico this safe haven place. Percy and Annalene climbed onto their respective pegasi. Nico hated the idea of flying. He didn't feel comfortable in the air. But then Percy turned to look at him with those sparkling, sea-green eyes and that charming smile on his kissable lips and Nico found himself climbing onto the bewinged beast. Wrapping his arms around Percy's waist, he pressed himself against the smaller boy's back, chin resting on top of Percy's head. His hands rested on what felt through the shirt like a nicely defined sixpack. He could hear how Percy's breath hitched at their close proximity and he couldn't fight the smirk at that.
"Bring me to your safe haven", whispered Nico into Percy's ear.
"Leo, take the lead!", called Percy loudly, cheeks heating up.
His heart was pounding in his chest. Nico was unnaturally cold and so nicely firm against his back. The strong arms wound around his waist felt oddly safe and comfortable, as though they belonged just there. He was a little annoyed that the older boy was that much taller than him though.
The things his heart did also started to freak him out. Something about Nico was different from anyone he had ever seen – and he doubted it was just because this was only the second kid of one of the Big Three he had ever met (he had met Thalia Grace, head of the hunters of Artemis, already).
"Tell me more about this place we're going", ordered Nico, his firm voice sending shudders down Percy's spine. "Tell me something that'll make me actually want to stay there."
"I'm there", offered Percy with a broad, cheeky grin.
"One point for that supposedly safe haven then. Anything more?", chuckled Nico amused.
Percy felt himself blushing at Nico's reply yet again. "New Rome – that's the place we're going – is great, really. The Demigod Protective Service, that's the agency responsible for the safety of orphaned demigods, they have those social apartments and kids like you can live there rent-free. You get an own social agent who will regularly check on you. If you're lucky, you may get adopted. Well, you may be a little too old, I guess, I mean, you're nearly seventeen so chances are that you probably get to live rent-free in an apartment until you're done with school and get a job. There are plenty of shops, it's just a regular city, you know. Well, aside from the fact that everyone there has kind of... superpowers and is in the know about gods and monsters."
"Okay... it does sound... interesting", nodded Nico casually, nose buried in Percy's neck. "Tell me about others. Others like us. And those two over there. What kind of demigods are there?"
"Well, we have this... training-camp, you could say, where you learn about your powers and how to fight monsters", replied Percy. "There are two teens in charge. Regina, a daughter of Trivia, and Duncan, a son of Mars. They're really grate. Don't worry, you'll like them when you meet them."
Author's note: Next chapter will introduce Reyna/Regina, Hazel/Duncan and Frank/Frankie! Also, Nico meets Percy's family. And it's already the last chap, since all of this had been supposed to be a oneshot but decided to... grow. xD
Also! If you check out my DeviantArt account (link on my profile), I posted a family tree that reaches down to PJ and Annalene!