Percy didn't want to go to the wedding. That should have been obvious to everyone. He even told Nico as such weeks ago.
But here he is.
"You promised, Percy! Now the ceremony will be uneven!" Will had said. And he did feel bad about it when he brought up that fact. He wanted to be Nico's best man. The kid has been like a brother to him for years. Romance just wasn't something Percy wanted to deal with. Not after Rachel cheated on him. That was a month ago. And this is the first or second time he left his apartment since.
With a sigh Percy entered the church. He could feel everyone's eyes on him. And how could he blame them for staring? He stood out in stark contrast to everyone with his baby blue tux and black carnation pinned to his lapel. Despite the awkward situation he had to laugh to himself when remembered how much Will begged him to dye his hair back to black. "The blue in your hair won't match your suit!" Will was the most chill person Percy knew until Nico put a ring on his finger.
Finally everyone turned their attention elsewhere which Percy was infinitely relieved by. One person was still looking at him. He could tell they recognized him, or thought they did at least.
So, Percy walked up to them. When he got closer he knew who the beautiful girl was. "Bianca," he said with his arms held out and a smile on his face. Bianca's face lit up when she saw him. "Percy! I almost didn't recognize you," she cried as she returned his hug.
Bianca is Nico's older sister. If he could remember right she was two years older than him at 25 and four older than Nico and Will. The two hadn't seen each other since Bianca was 14. Her and Nico's father sent her off to an all girl's school to 'teach her discipline' after her and her best friend Thalia were caught up in a pretty nasty fight their freshman year. The stories from that really weren't pretty.
Either way, Percy's breath hitched when he took in the older girl's appearance. She was absolutely beautiful in her silver dress. Her hair was done up and held in place with a silver clip. She had her onyx skull pendant around her neck, the same necklace that matched her brother's ring.
Percy almost forgot about his ex for a moment there. Almost.
"I didn't know you were coming. " Percy stated. Which confused him. If she was coming Nico never would have shut up about it. "Yeah, when Nico sent me the invitation I was dying to come back. I didn't want to miss my little brother's wedding, but, I didn't want to cause a scene if my dad was here too, ya know? But, I didn't just come back, I moved back. New job and everything."
Percy understood completely. Hades and Bianca fought all the time, often they would curse each other out, only getting louder and more vulgar as the argument went on. He was definitely happy she moved back though. Nico was going to freak out.
Soon conversation turned to how life has been for him and all of the friends she left behind. Percy was a little vague on the details. He didn't know how much his friends would want shared. Would they see Bianca the same way after all these years? She left on good terms with them, but time changes people. He especially didn't want to tell her about Rachel and him breaking up.
"Seeing anyone?" She eventually asked, which, Percy should have been prepared for. Of course that's a perfectly normal question to ask. Percy shut down all the same.
Bianca gave him a funny look, it seemed like she didn't know whether to be worried or laugh at him. "Are you okay?" Percy closed his eyes and shook his head as if shaking the thoughts from his head. "I'm good," he managed, "Just wasn't prepared for that question. Uhm..."
He didn't really know how to answer. He was still reeling over the relationship. Six years. Just gone. How would he define it now? Honestly, it seems like wasted time at this point.
Luckily for him, he was interupted before he had to give the very pretty girl in front of him an answer. Reyna, who is easily his best friend (along with her girlfriend Annabeth), came rushing up to him. "It's Nico." She simply stated as she tried to drag Percy away. He stumbled after her, looking back towards Bianca as he spoke. "Do you want to come with?" "No," she waved him off, "I'll surprise him later, don't worry."
;;
"What's wrong with Nico?" Percy asked as the two made their way into the back area. Reyna's jaw was set, her tone even when she spoke, "You'll see." Percy couldn't infer much from that, but he was worried none the less. He didn't want anything bad to happen to his friend, especially not today of all days.
Finally they made it into the right room where Nico was waiting. He was sat in a chair with his head held in his hands and his shoulders slumped. And his pants were around his ankles. And he is more of a briefs guy than boxers which Percy did not need to know.
"Okay, we should have knocked." Percy whispered to Reyna. Though the room was so small that Nico heard him. "The button came off on my pants, we need help putting it back on." "Can you do it?" Reyna asked him, "I went and got a needle and thread but I couldn't get the string in the stupid needle." Reyna wasn't one to admit she couldn't do something, so that's why she seemed so upset when she came to get him.
Percy knew how to sew a button back on. He was in a similar situation back in high school when he was on a date with Rachel. "Lucky for you guys, I can save the day." Percy took a smug tone when he spoke, hoping to make his friends laugh. It's a distraction, really. "Just fix the button, Kelp Head!" Nico cried. "Will's gonna kill me if I walk out there in my underwear." Percy sighed and got to work on his pants, "At least you weren't wearing heart boxers in an Outback restroom."
Reyna tried to hide her laughter at that, but Percy turned back and glared. "Annabeth told you that story, didn't she?" Reyna broke and answered with a nod through open laughter. I'm gonna kill that girl, even if she's home sick with the flu...
;;
Once Nico's pants were taken care of, the ceremony was about to start. The couple didn't really pick a best man for their wedding, but they did ask for Reyna and Percy to stand for them during the ceremony. Which leaves Nico's step-sister Hazel and her boyfriend Frank sitting in the front row. There were a few empty seats next to her, however.
Nico's dad and his wife, Hazel's mother, were nowhere to be seen, unfortunately. But the most important seat for Nico to see filled was taken by his sister Bianca. Nico didn't smile often, though he's gotten more happy over the recent years, they were definitely going to see a smile out of him today.
But, Nico still isn't alone. He's found a parental bond with Will's parents. The two had taken Nico into their family the minute Will brought him home. They, along with Will's older brothers Michael and Lee and his younger sister Kayla, were sitting on the other side of the aisle. Nico found a family, and Percy couldn't be happier.
Reyna and Percy made their way down the aisle set to the wedding song played on a guitar that was prerecorded by Will, who was already waiting at the altar for his soon-to-be husband. "Was that Nico's sister you were talking to earlier?" Reyna whispered to Percy as they walked. Percy nodded his head in response, "Yeah. None of us have seen her in years at this point." Reyna wasn't in the friend group when everyone was in school, so she had no idea who Bianca was. Percy and Annabeth ran into her during college. Like, literally ran into her. Annabeth spilled her iced coffee on her and everything. "So, you're flirting with Nico's sister now?" Reyna asked, mocking her friend.
And Percy's face is definitely red now. Of course.
Ignoring Reyna, Percy pulled Will into a hug when he reached the altar. "How's it going, man?" He asked the blonde man. When he pulled away he could see happy tears pricking at Will's eyes. "Well, I'm getting married, so it's pretty good, Percy." Will said with a laugh. Reyna rolled her eyes, though she was smiling all the same, "I knew you were a crier." Will sighed, pretending (and failing) to sound annoyed. "Oh, fuck off, Reyna."
Before either of them could respond, Nico began walking down the aisle and everyone rose to their feet to watch. Nico was dressed in an all black tux with a baby blue carnation, the exact opposite to Will and Percy's outfit. Reyna and Percy took their positions on either side of the altar while Nico and Will were able to see each other up close for the first time today.
"I love you." Nico told Will, barely loud enough for Percy to hear. Will responded with a wide, toothy grin and simply said, "I know you do." And with that, the ceremony began.
;;
After the wedding, everyone left the church and made their way to the venue for the reception. There wasn't a formal dinner like at most weddings, but there was a table lined with food and drinks for everyone.
The majority of the attendees were standing in small groups talking amongst themselves as music played from speakers spread throughout the room. Percy, however, stayed in the back watching. He was glad people were happy, even he was to an extent, but there's always nagging thoughts in the back of his head. It's always been hard to distract himself from the bad things going on in his life.
Percy took a drink from his cup as he felt his phone vibrate from his pocket. Without looking at the caller I.D. he answered with a simple hello. "Hello," Annabeth called from the other end of the call. She sounded miserable. So, Percy told her so.
"Thanks for reminding me, Seaweed Brain." Percy laughed at that, though he did feel bad for his friend. "You missed Bianca, by the way." "She showed up?!" Annabeth asked, clearly shocked the older girl made it to the wedding. "Fuck, I wish I wasn't sick!" Annabeth 'yelled.' It wasn't much of a scream with her sore throat. "I'll tell her you said hi."
Reyna walked up to Percy while he was talking and gave him a questioning look, so he showed her his phone screen before putting it on speaker so she could join the conversation. Reyna wasn't very romantic in front of anyone when it comes to Annabeth, but sometimes she lets her feelings slip through her stoic expression. Percy always made a point to make fun of her for it later, even if she'd hit him for it. But, he wouldn't get the chance this time, as Bianca left her brother, and brother-in-law, to find him.
They made thier way outside where the could talk privately. Percy had no idea what was going on, but he didn't mind. "What's up?" He asked when they sat down on a bench. Bianca sighed, something was clearly bothering her. "I'm just going to be honest with you, Percy. We're too old for childishness." Percy was even more confused at this point, so he stayed quiet. "Were you flirting with me before the wedding?"
Percy didn't know what to say. Bianca was always the cooler older girl when they were younger. And he had to admit, he always thought she was pretty, but he never thought he'd pursue her romantically. "Uhm," Percy started, clearing his throat into his fist, "I wasn't really trying to do anything of the sort, Bianca. I just got out of a relationship. But, er, I do find you attractive?" He said that last bit as a question, he was clearly growing nervous the more he spoke.
Bianca, for her part, was confused just as much as Percy. " I only asked because I saw you talking with that girl with the braid and thought you were with her." Percy busted out in laughter at that. She thought he and Reyna were dating?
"Don't laugh at me, what the fuck?" Bianca asked, though she was laughing along with the raven haired man, mostly out of nervousness though. "Reyna is dating Annabeth. So, ya know, I think she's into someone a bit different than me, yeah?"
"I'm so stupid." Bianca sighed, leaning her head on Percy's shoulder. "Well, you seem to be into me, so yeah. You're pretty stupid." "I'll take the pretty part."
"I think Nico would try to kill me if we went on a date." "If?" She asked, looking up at him. "This can be our first." "Then what are we waiting for?" Percy asked as he stood up. He held out his hand for Bianca to take. And she did with a smile that made her eyes shine in the summer's sunlight.
"I didn't really expect this to happen when I moved back." Percy was smiling now as well. He didn't expect anything like this either. "Expect the unexpected with me, I guess."
Percy and Bianca entered the building just as a slow song began to play. Multiple couples were dancing. Including Nico and Will, even though Nico had never danced before. The new couple joined in.
Maybe this is how I find my new happiness, Percy thought to himself. As long as Nico doesn't kill me, of course.
A/N: I'm writing an original story! I'll be uploading the first chapter to my wattpad ( user/WilburShoelace) tomorrow which is Friday April 19th! Please check it out!
