Yehey! I finally have the most awaited chapter up! Gods, this chapter was hard and easy to write. But it was worth it and I also had fun writing it. This is probably the longest chapter I ever had...yet. So if you hate long chapters, forgive me but plenty of important things happens in this chapter. If Nico is OOC, again forgive me, I just don't know him that well. Anyways, just enjoy!
I would like to thank my friend, not only here but also in real life, SilverXStars698. She helped me with this story and urged me to publish it. I also like to thank those who added this story to their favorites and to people who often review my story. They really made my day.
Disclaimer: Let's re-check shall we? Nah, I don't think so.
Song for this chapter: When You're Looking Like That by Westlife. (go search it! it's a pretty good song and it describes Percy so much in this chapter.)
After flattening his hair one more time, he checked his reflection for the millionth time just to make sure he looked good. That's not even the weird part yet. The weird part was he didn't even know why he was so cautious of how he looked. He had done so many formal meetings before and he didn't even cared of what he wears. Since the incident where Xandra kept complimenting him how good he looked, he always tried not to be. So why was he like this?
"Man, you're going to break the mirror! Jeez, I already said you look great in the tux. Now put on your tie for the last time before you rip it." Nico whined from his bed.
Fixing his tie again he said, "Yeah, I know. But I just have this feeling that I have to look nice even though you say I do. I just don't know. I look like a teenager, nervous for his first date. And guess what, I feel exactly like that. Weird."
Nico shrugged. "Maybe you are."
Percy turned around to face his cousin. "What?"
"Maybe you are a teenager, nervous for his first date. But let me correct the statement that will fit in this situation. Maybe you are a teenager, nervous to meet his first date." he explained.
Percy scrunched his eyebrows at confusion. "What? That doesn't even make sense. Oh wait, you yourself doesn't even make any sense."
Nico rolled his eyes. "Who's your first date?"
Percy didn't hesitate. "Technically, it's Rachel but officially it's Annabeth." Nico could see the regret that passed through Percy's eyes.
"Then let's go with the official."
Percy scrunched his eyebrows more, if that was possible. "I still don't get it."
Nico sighed. "Do I have to do all the explaining? Look at the sentence from a different point of view. You are going to meet your first date, which is Annabeth. Get it?"
Percy's eyes widened. "Nico you didn't-"
Nico's hands went up. "I promise I didn't do it. The fates did. Annabeth is Xandra's boss."
"Holy cow." he whispered as he sat on his recliner. "Nico if you're lying-"
Nico chuckled. "I'm not, Percy. Thalia informed me about this."
Percy relaxed then stiffened again. "So Annabeth will be at the meeting?"
"Duh."
Then at the speed of light, Percy went back to fixing himself again.
"Percy, relax kay? Just chill. You might explode at your excitement."
"It's more of nervous than excited." he lied. Percy can't help but to grin.
"You can do this, Annabeth. Just remember to breath." Thalia joked. They were standing outside at the parking lot.
Annabeth nodded. "I'll try. You know, I look like a lovesick girl that can't believe she was dating the hottest guy on the planet."
"True."
She glared at her. "Not helping, Thalia."
Thalia laughed. "You'll be fine. Now go inside and I'll stay at your house. When you get home, promise me you'll tell me everything."
"You sound like a daughter of Aphrodite."
"I did promise that I'll be one for this day."
With one final glare, Annabeth headed for the back door of the conference room. Annabeth took a deep breath. She reached for the door knob. "Athena help me." she mumbled. She opened the door...to see four people seated. Annabeth relaxed and thanked the gods Percy wasn't one of them...yet.
"Welcome, Annabeth." Big Frank greeted, patting a seat between him and Lelaine.
She smiled at the other two employees sat across them before seating down.
"What took you so long?" Lel whispered.
"Y'know, the usual. Traffic. Bills. Stuff. Clothes." and talk about calming your heart from jumping off your chest, she mentally added.
"I thought Big Frank said plenty employees. There just two of them."
Annabeth shrugged. "Wrangler hasn't came in," Gulp. "-with her husband yet."
Lel's gaze went behind Annabeth's shoulder. "Speaking of which, there she is. And I gotta say, she did a good pick for her husband." she said, nodding her head to the main door of the room.
Oh how she dreaded for this moment. She can't hear anything but the pounding of her heart. She felt cold. Slowly, she turned her head, ready to face her greatest fear, except for spiders of course. Xandra stood by the door, looking absolutely gorgeous and sexy at the same time. Behind her stood Percy who was looking straight at her. She gulped. He still looked the same since the last time she saw him. Just more handsome. He was wearing a black tux that gave him a devilish look. His tie was simple, blue with grey stripes. She wonders if that has to mean something. What really caught Annabeth's attention was his piercing sea-green eyes, making her fall in love with him all over again. But that wasn't the point, his eyes seemed darker, duller. It didn't shine the way it used to whenever they kiss or exchange their "I love you"'s. It's usual sparkle was missing. But all in all, it was still her Seaweed Brain. When she thought that, things slowed down. Her breath was going back to its usual rhythm. Her heart was soaring. And she did the most ridiculous thing, she smiled at him.
Kronos seemed to do Percy a favor. Time froze, making Percy to take in everything. Percy stared at nothing but at Annabeth. She was wearing a knee-length, strapless, green dress. Green. It made Percy grin. Her golden hair flowing down her shoulders, making Percy long just to touch her. She didn't wear make up, which made Percy's grin wider. He pinned her grey eyes with his green ones. Percy noticed that she was smiling at him and it felt like they were the only people on Earth. She was so beautiful, it made his heart clench. He wanted to tell her so. He wanted to beg at her feet to tell her how sorry he was. But he won't be pessimistic. This was the only oppurtunity to see Annabeth again and he will make the most of it.
Percy was still grinning as they sat beside two other employees.
Big Frank coughed. "Now we're complete let's get started. Lucas you go first."
The guy that sat across Annabeth stood, mumbling his thanks to Big Frank. He has shaggy autumn hair, you know the color which you don't know if it's reddish-brown or brownish-red. Deep black orbs. He was wearing a tux similar to what Percy was wearing but with a red tie. Annabeth could almost sense Lelaine checking him out, she had to cover her mouth with her hand to keep herself from laughing.
"I'm Lucas Caige. An author before coming here."
Big Frank nodded. "Then why did you stop?"
His expression saddened. "Well, my mother is very ill and the money I get as an author wasn't enough for hospital bills and for medicine."
Annabeth felt sorry for him. She has a ton of slots full of money and she doesn't even know what to do with it since her happiness never came from cash. Maybe she could help him...
"Any hobbies?" This time Lelaine was the one who asked it.
Lucas's sarcastic smile came back. "I can sing very well and act also. My brother told me that I should audition for something so I can be discovered and bring more money than enough. But I don't want the celebrity life."
Lelaine seemed impressed.
"Any girlfriends?" Annabeth asked. She smirked at Percy's expression.
"No. Still single." he replied, but looking straight at Lelaine.
Lelaine seemed more impressed.
Lucas sat as the next employee stood. He was James Carl. He has mushy blond hair. Amazing brown eyes. He said he applied a job here because his girlfriend said so. Everyone laughed at that point. He also said that he was having an intention to marry her but he doesn't have the ring yet, so he also applied to save some money.
"Xandra you're next." Big Frank bitterly said.
"I will be suprised if you don't know me yet. I'm Xandra Patricia Wrangler, youngest daughter of Charles Anthony Wrangler and Kathleen Ana Miranda. I—" she was cut off by...
"Honey, you're too famous. I'm sure everyone does know you." Percy interrupted her.
"What's your name, son?" Big Frank curiously asked. Something about his aura sent him a feeling that he should hate him or something.
Percy smiled and stood up. "I'm Percy Jackson. Dolphin trainer by day and a marine biologist by night."
"Hobbies?"
"I like to swim, sir." he answered. Big Frank nodded and gestured him to seat.
He lowered his head and whispered at Annabeth's ear. "The Percy Jackson? Son of Poseidon?"
If she didn't know Big Frank any better, she would be suprised at his question. When she first came here, Big Frank sensed that she was a half-blood and he asked her if she was. At that day, Annabeth learned that her boss was her half-brother.
Annabeth nodded. "And my ex-boyfriend."
His eyes widened. "You dated a son of Poseidon? Mother hates him and you dated one of his spawns?"
Annabeth nodded again. "Mom approved us before he broke up with me."
Big Frank glared at Percy. "Why hasn't Mother blowed up his head in pieces yet?"
Annabeth smirked. "He's invincible, Big Frank. Took a dip at the Styx."
"So the rumors were true. Oh well, he did save Olympus."
Minutes later, Lucas had to go because the hospital was calling him much to Lel's dissapointment. Then, James too had to go, he said something at his home had gone wrong.
Xandra spoke up, "Oh, I have good news to tell you all. I'm pregnant! Isn't it great?" she said, kissing Percy's cheek. While Xandra loked away, Percy wiped off the spot where Xandra kissed him.
None of them was happy about Xandra's pregnacy, not even Percy. He just had a blank expression on his face and looked so distant. Lelaine was annoyed, it means because of her baby mood swings she will go more cranky than ever. She hated Annabeth for once, for making Xandra her accountant. Big Frank just stared, he didn't even know what to feel about his least favorite employee's pregnancy. The color on Annabeth's face drained. Her eyes started stinging and she realized it was tears. She stopped them quickly, not wanting to cry in front of everyone especially in front of Percy. Not just because they did it but they will have a baby on their own when it could be hers and his. Percy will soon have a baby and she wasn't the mother. Percy will have a family and she wasn't a part of it. She was crumbling in to pieces. Her misery became her anger. The first thing she will do when she gets home was to destroy that painting on her wall. She will use every tool that was needed to be brought to pieces. She hated him.
To stop the awkwardness that was flowing through them she was the first one to spoke. "Congratulations, Xandra. I hope you and your husband will be happy with this blessing." she said wtih fake enthusiasm.
"Thank you, Miss Chase."
Her gaze landed on Percy. His silence fustrated her more, making her more confused. It was his baby, right? Why hasn't he congratulated her already? Why wasn't he happy? As Annabeth continued to stare at Percy, she noticed his eyes was darker than even before, so dark it almost looked black. Her confusion taking her sanity piece by piece.
Suddenly, they heard a boom outside. They all ran to the back door to see what was going on.
"My car!" Xandra shrieked before fainting. All of them smirked.
"That isn't going to be good for the baby." Lelaine stated.
Percy snorted. "Who cares?"
Annabeth was even more confused. It looked like he didn't even cared for his child and Percy was one of the guys that cares deeply for their loved ones. He didn't even knelt beside Xandra when she fainted. Something was wrong...
"Lelaine, bring her to the hospital just near here. Tell them she fainted because of hunger." Big Frank instructed her. She did what she was told to.
She probably saw a "truck" hit her car. But not the half-bloods and Lelaine, who can see through the mist. They saw a hydra blew fire at Xandra's car.
"I thought monsters weren't suppose to exist after we defeated Kronos." Percy said, reaching for Riptide. Secretly, he was grateful for the hydra for making his wife faint.
Annabeth reached for her dagger under her dress. She thought she wasn't going to use it for a long long time. It's a good thing, Thalia has a very good intuition. "It will be just like old times right, Seaweed Brain?" she said, trying to sound bitter but his nickname just slipped out of old habit. She was supposed to be mad at him but there she was, talking to him like nothing happened at all.
He stared at her for a moment. Did he hear her right? Did she just say Seaweed Brain? He thought he won't hear those two words ever again. And she was talking to him but that doesn't mean that she isn't angry at him but still, she was talking to him! He was happy for the first time since the last four years.
"I guess so, Wise Girl." he gleefully replied.
Wise Girl. She missed that. She smiled. Maybe they could still be friends. Or even as best friends. She just wanted to be with him, even though she hated him and loved him. Gods, she was becoming bi-polar.
After uncapping Riptide, they charged for the monster. The two was dodging fire and was trying to hit the body of the hydra rather than the heads. From afar, Big Frank was shooting arrows at it.
Percy heard groans of pain at his left and saw Annabeth on the ground, clutching her left leg. The hydra's claw slashed at Annabeth, ripping her dress at the end of it and wounding her leg. Fury built inside Percy. No one or nothing hurts Annabeth, he had done enough of that already. He closed his eyes, concentrating very hard. He could hear the fountain at the entrance. He could hear the water moving inside the pipes of the drinking fountains. He raised his hand up. The noise in his ear was getting louder as he gets more ready to fire. The hand in the air became a fist. Almost there. He released his fist, showing his palm and water started flowing to the parking lot. Pipes bursted, making more water flow. He focused on all the energy to the monster, making the water surround it. He clenched his hand to a fist again. The water started to freeze until the monster inside was frozen. He pounded his fist on his other palm, making the ice shatter and the monster into pieces. He smiled as he relaxed. He heard Annabeth's groan and became alert again. He ran to her, kneeling beside her.
"Are you okay?" he asked, totally concerned.
"Yeah, I'm fine." she replied, trying to sit up but failing.
"Here let me help you." he offered, putting his hand on her back and his other hand was clutching her arm.
"No, I can handle myself." she argued, trying to move away from Percy as far as possible.
"She just needs some nectar and ambrosia." A deep voice said beside him. He moved to Percy's place and helped Annabeth get up. Percy was a little hurt that Annabeth let herself be helped by her boss but not by him. He just shrugged it off, he deserved it anyway. Percy watched as he put her arm over his shoulders and his other arm around her waist. He looked at the man's face and he immediately knew who he was.
"You're a son of Athena, aren't you?" Percy bluntly asked.
"Nice observation, son of Poseidon." he said.
"Guys, sorry!" Someone shouted behind him. They watched as a dark figure approaced them. "I was talking to Alecto and the other two sneaked up this hydra. Damn those Furies." It wasn't actually nice to curse at a Fury but what the heck, he was the son of Hades, they won't dare touch them.
As Nico came closer, Percy replied, "Apology not accepted, di Angelo."
"Percy, I'm really sorry." he said again and he really was. He knew how important night this is to his cousin and the hydra just ruined it.
"S'okay. Just to make sure you'll make up for it." he joked but had a serious expression. "Seriously, it wounded Annabeth." he whispered.
Nico looked over his cousin's shoulder and saw Annabeth clinging to a man. He walked closer to them.
"Hey, Annabeth." he said, smiling.
"Nico? Is that you? You've grown." Annabeth said, trying to smile despite the pain in her leg.
He chuckled. "Yeah it is. I have some nectar in my car."
The man shook his head. "It's okay. I have some in my office." He took out his free hand. "I'm Franklin Crooke but you can call me Big Frank, son of Athena."
Nico nodded, shaking his hand firmly. "Nico di Angelo, son of Hades."
Big Frank raised an eyebrow. "Hades?"
Nico chuckled. "Hard to believe, isn't it?"
Big Frank smiled. "Very."
Annabeth groaned again from pain.
"I better rest her already. Nice to meet you, son of Poseidon, son of Hades." he said, bowing his head to each of them before walking away with Annabeth.
Nico turned to face his cousin. "Why do I have a feeling that you had a rough night?"
Percy groaned. "You don't know the half of it."
They walked to Nico's black convertible in silence. Nico was driving them to their favorite place if Percy was miserable like this. They went to the most famous bar in the middle of the city.
"Where's Xandra?" Nico asked.
Percy laughed. "She fainted because she saw a truck crashed in to her BMW which was actually a hydra that burned it."
"See? The hydra wasn't that bad. It burned her BMW and it made her faint." Percy shook his head at his cousin's childishness.
When they're already half way there, Nico spoke up again. "Oh by the way, Chase looked hot."
Percy punched his cousin in the arm. "Shut up."
Nico smirked. "How was your night?"
Percy looked at his cousin like he was the craziest man on the planet. "You seriously have to ask that?"
"Yes."
Percy rolled his eyes. "I got to see Annabeth."
"And?"
"And Xandra's pregnant."
"What?" he screamed and stared at Percy.
"Nico the road!" Percy reminded him.
Nico swerved the wheel to the right. They were almost hit by a truck, literally.
"Xandra's pregnant?" Nico asked again.
Percy had a disgusted look on his face. "I told you once, don't make me say it again."
Ignoring his reply, Nico asked again, "Xandra's pregnant?"
Percy glared at him. "Didn't you just hear me?"
"So Xandra's pregnant, that's why I feel like there's more than one soul in Xandra's body." he said.
"Fuck the baby for all I care!" Percy shouted.
"What nice words, Mr. Jackson." Nico said sarcastically. "Why are you angry at the baby anyway? Is it because you're not the father?"
Percy's face looked like he just ate slugs. "No! It's the fact that I have to pretend that I'm the father, which certainly was not. And I have to raise the child with her. And ew, I don't want to have a baby with Xandra. I want a child that will grow up as an original swimmer and..."
"...and the smartest kid in her class." Nico finished for him. "How do you even know that you're not the father, Percy?"
Percy glared at him. "You know, Nico! Look at its soul, it isn't my child. We didn't even do it!"
"Yes I know, Percy. Now just relax. You'll be drunk just in a few minutes."
Percy rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Please hurry. I just want to get the fuck out of this shit."
Percy was just gulping his first cups of shots and he's already a little bit tipsy. Nico probably had more but not feeling the slightest of dizziness. You might ask why's that even possible. Well, it's a power he had discovered as a son of Hades. When you drink, the alcohol mixes with your blood. Drinking makes you dizzy then it makes you do things on impulse without thinking through about it. In summary, it makes you half-way crazy, not full but still half-way. All he has to do was focus on the sanity of his soul. He should be calm and at peace. When he got a hold of a piece of his sanity, he is free to drink how much he liked. He just had to make sure, that sanity was still in his hold because if he releases that small piece, without the assurance of the alcohol was rid from his blood, not just he would be a drunk man but a totally permanent madman. It was risky but he had mastered this technique a long time ago.
He noticed that Percy was starting to dance like a gay person. Gods, he thought. He had to get Percy home before anything terrible happens like in the "Drunken Days."
The drive to Percy's penthouse was silent but that doesn't mean Percy wasn't drunk. Because he was. It wasn't his usual behavior when he's drunk but the last time Percy was drunk and he stayed silent, it was a day Nico never wanted to remember. He learned from experience that when Percy was drunk, never ever let your guard down.
He mostly dragged Percy to his room. He made Percy sat down on his bed. Percy looked...weird. Heck, Percy was unpredictable whenever he was drunk. The "Drunken Days", as Nico liked to call it, was the moments Percy was drunk and "terrible" things happen. Nico was always there to bear it with him but they weren't really Kodak moments. Nico braced himself for what will happen tonight. Drunken Days were the most horrible, disgusting and heart breaking scenes Nico had ever experienced. He wondered what would happen now.
Percy looked up at Nico. He looked confused. "Is this my apartment?" he asked. Nico considered that normal, compared to the other times.
"This is your penthouse, Percy." Nico explained.
Percy nodded. "So where is Annabeth?"
Okay, that took him off guard. "Huh?"
"Annabeth. Where is Annabeth? I mean, if this my penthouse shouldn't Annabeth be here? She is my wife, isn't she? She's also pregnant, right?" he innocently asked. He looked like any ordinary man, looking for his pregnant wife but Nico knew better than that. He pitied him in many ways. He felt sorry for him. For the torture he gets every single day.
"Percy," he started with a softer voice. "You're drunk. Annabeth isn't your wife. Xandra Wrangler is."
Percy looked at him with wide eyes. "I didn't propese to Annabeth? But to a Wrangler that I don't even like? Well, that was stupid."
"I agree." Nico said and he did agree. Percy may be crazy when he's drunk or even disgusting but sometimes he comes to his full senses when he's drunk.
When Nico was sure Percy wasn't going to say anything else, he headed for the door but before his fingertips touched the door knob, Percy spoke up behind him. "I wish Annabeth knows how sorry I am."
Nico considered it a success if his face showed no confusion at all, as he turned around to face his cousin. "I know I just said you were drunk just seconds ago. But are you really drunk?"
Percy shrugged. "I don't know the difference of drunk and sane anymore. When I drink, it isn't the one that takes away my sanity by every second but the life I have, Nico. I probably did the biggest mistake of my life. I know I should move on but how can I when I have Xandra there to remind me everyday. And when I saw Annabeth, it drove me crazy, in the good and the bad way. It also shove all the guilt into my face. It's the guilt that I can't live with. Not Xandra. I don't care if I have to put up with her everyday, I'll understand that. Nico, it's the guilt." he said, tears forming in his eyes. Nico looked away, he hated this part. The part where Percy made himself weak. It didn't annoy him but it just made him...sad. Percy was probably the bravest and the most courageous friend he had ever had. Heck, he was the only friend he had in the real world. And seeing the hero of Olympus like this just makes him pity him more. Some say Percy was a like big brother to Nico. Percy was denying the idea and not from modesty but because it was the truth. Nico was the one who helps him stand up whenever he falls to pieces. He's the punching bag when he needed it. When he wanted to shout, Nico lets him shout at his face just to let it all out. Nico was the one he could count on everytime he would feel miserable. When he felt like the whole world was angry at him for leaving Annabeth, he was the one that stayed with him. Nico is more than his cousin. More than his friend. He was a brother to him. The brother that really helped, not those abusive boys that take their siblings for granted. Even when Percy's was drunk, he knew Nico was there and he was grateful for it.
"You should sleep." Nico finally said.
"Yeah." Percy agreed. "Maybe I'll feel better in the morning. But can you get me a glass of water, please?"
Nico nodded. "Sure thing." He got out of the room and headed for the kitchen.
While he was pouring water in his glass, he concentrated on Percy's soul. He almost dropped the glass at how much it was wounded. It was more in pain than the last time he checked it. Trauma was going to be the death of Percy, he was sure of it.
There you have it! I really feel sorry for Percy. 'Guilty Percy' wasn't actually hard to write because I just have to reflect myself and there I have it! Just kidding but seriously I'm feeling some guilt here, of course I won't tell you what it is!
Enough about me, now tell me what you think about this chap! I also welcome suggestions. If you didn't like the action scene of this chap, I'm sorry but I ain't good with action...
~Tammy Boomerang
