Author's Note: Hey Guys! So I know I haven't updated in a while so this chapter is a little longer than usual. It starts a little choppy but smooths out a bit. I'm just slightly sleep deprived so cut me a little slack. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Must I? Fine... I don't feel like doing a proper disclaimer so...I own nothing. It all belongs to Rick Riordan. I make no profit. ZZZZzzzzzzz.

Will woke up alone and very cold. Only one of the lamps had been lit and a small note was sitting on the bedside table along with a small bowl of seemingly fresh strawberries.

Will,

Me and the Stolls will be at the market today. You will be leaving at about eleven with Piper in order to go shopping. She says, and I quote, "I will not have anyone, prisoner or no, dressed in rags." Really it's less of a fashion thing and more of a "treat everyone equal" thing. Ask her about it if you're curious. I would not advise trying to run. The slave market will be in town today and she will not hesitate to sell or trade you first opportunity. Follow orders and roll with it and the crew is really pretty nice. I'll meet up with you later today.

-Nico di Angelo

First Mate

Son of Hades

Will stared at the note in his hands, and then at the strawberries and the signature. 'Son of Hades?' he thought. There had once been many children of Hades, but then a popular myth had started floating around that the gods weren't real, and that all "children of Hades" were really just demons, for their mothers had consorted with the "devil." They had been killed in riots, their families killed and villages burned. Will picked up a small silver pocket watch and checked the time. It read 7:14 a.m. Will sat up and grabbed the bowl and a small glass of juice. He couldn't tell what kind of juice exactly due to the light but it tasted like a strange mix between orange and pineapple, possibly mixed with kiwi. As he ate the strawberries he wondered, offhandedly, how Nico had known that he had a weakness for fruits and citrus in general. He slipped out of Nico's bed and shivered when his bare feet made contact with the cold floorboards. The ship had been warm enough yesterday for him not to have noticed his bare-footed state but now he definitely did. He slipped Nico's watch into his pocket, vowing of course to return it, and slipped out of the cabin. He was making his way to what he hoped was the Hold where his friends were but was drawn from his path by a loud banging. He peeked into a room and was surprised to find that it was filled with bright firelight. The entire room seemed to be a kind of forge, though how the wood had been fireproofed, or even how so many rooms fit on the dam ship.

"Well come in if you're coming in." said a voice. The boy, about 18 like Will himself, was banging on a piece of Celestial bronze in a glowing fire. Will was just about to point out that his sleeve was on fire but the guy (Leo was it?) beat him to it.

"Don't worry about it. Leo Valdez son of Hephaestus, fire-proof, super-sized McShizzle. Your that Will kid right? Nico isn't here." he said this all very fast. Will blinked once, twice before it registered.

"No actually I was-"

"Down the hall. Be quieter. Whether you're Nico's fuck toy or not, if you wake up Hazel the whole crew, Neeks included will have you swabbing the deck till your fingers fall off." he still hadn't looked up. "And don't tell him I called him Neeks." The guys was very immersed in his work but now Will was curious. How had such a talented demigod ended up a pirate? Children of Hephaestus often made good livings. He asked Leo as much. Leo pulled his hand from the fire and watched as it burned without blackening.

"Some crazy lady burned down my mom's forge. I lost control, it was burned to the ground. Percy found me while I was on the run from the local law enforcement for supposedly burning down a stable. He offered and I took it. We all ended up here one way or another, and all because Percy thought we deserved a chance. The crew here is good, or as good as a bunch of pirates can get. You should go see your friends. Beauty Queen likes to leave early." he said. Will nodded and left the little forge, thoughts swirling. So this was really just a band of powerful misfits who needed a second chance? Octavian would kill for that kind of information. But then another pressing thought struck him. Leo had called him Nico's fuck toy and Will did not even bother to deny it. His face went scarlet. When he reached the Hold he paused at the door before peaking in. Piper and Jason were having some kind of discussion and, whatever it was, had Jason blushing almost a scarlet as Will. Will decided that maybe he should leave them alone for now, no matter how much he missed his friends. He made his way up onto the deck, his bare feet protesting the chill of the slightly wet, slick boards. He went over to the railing and stared at the water as it lapped against the hull. They weren't docked yet but there were very close to the shore. So close in fact that Will could see the people of the small town already up and moving in the grey morning. The air breezed past him softly, coolly, and Will finally felt at ease.

"Beautiful morning huh?" said a voice and Will jumped. Percy came forward and stood beside him, a content smile on his face. Will nodded. "Crew giving you a hard time over Neeks huh?" he asked. Will didn't answer this time, just turned back to the horizon. "Neeks is a good kid ya know. He wouldn't just play you like they say."

"Really? From what I gather he's quite the little man-whore." Will replied curtly. Percy laughed.

"The only bed partners Nico has had have been hired. And less than the rest of the crew at that. Nico isn't very fond of touch, or even human interaction. But you...with you he seems more at ease. Nico won't play you. Just know that he doesn't share very well." Will sighed.

"Why does everyone assume that me and him are together? I just met him and only because he kidnapped me. I didn't have any clue who he was until yesterday and everyone assumes that we're going to get married or something!" Percy laughed.

"Never bet against Piper." he said. And with that he turned and left, leaving Will with a very jumbled train of thought.

Will and his crewmates were taken into town a few hours later, escorted by the crew of the Argo II. Soon however they were left with only Piper. They visited stall after stall in the open-air market. The others got away with plain comfortable clothing before they were handed off to Hazel. Frank had blushed madly before departing.

"Alright Dr. Freckles. Let's go!" she said. Will soon found himself outfitted with a bright blue button-up shirt, a pair of soft white trousers, a set of sturdy brown boots, a gold chain necklace, and several gold bracelets. Then she drug him to a small stall where a woman was getting her ears pierced. Despite his arguing when he saw the cost of the small hoops she was buying him, he left the stall with two newly pierced ears,two solid gold hoops dangling from his lobes.

"How did Nico do that to his whole face?" grumbled Will.

"Ha! That was nothing. Nico has tattoos too. Kid is crazy for body art." Piper said. "Last stop before the sun sets." she said and turned him towards what seemed to be an auction. Will suddenly became very aware that it was a slave auction. "Stop fidgeting! We're buying not selling!" Will sighed and then caught sight of a very familiar face.

"Nico!" he shouted. Nico looked over at him as Will ran towards him, Piper in hot pursuit. Nico's eyes widened as he took in Will's new appearance. Will had meant to stop in front of him but Nico had other ideas. He pulled Will close. With the heel and soles of the black boots he was taller than Will. In fact Nico was a good two inches taller than him now and hadn't been much shorter than him before.

He felt a tug at his new piercing and it took him a moment to realize that Nico couldn't have done that with his hands because those were firmly around his waist. No, Nico had tugged at his hoops with his teeth.

"Nico!" he hissed. Nico chuckled.

"Piper's gone, amore. Relax." he said. "They'll be here a while. Let's go to the tavern."

Author's Note: Another will be done tomorrow seeing as I'm starting it right after I post this. So tired...ZZZZzzzzz...