A/N: this is awful i love writing angst the pjo series has so much potential for it,.. ugh ugh dont get me wrong i cry over these characters i LOVE them all so much i just also like writing them miserable for some...reason

sorry for the wait heres another chapter; im trying to keep them as blurbs this is p much just guilty pleasure writing, ah well this is a nice compromise i think between pure pwp and plot... haha i should percico up this shit ill have to change the summary

hope its enjoyable for you all ! :}! review if youd like to take the time!

Nico had his arms crossed over his chest, cigarette between chapped lips as he sat looking out over the wreckage of the city. Freezing, but numb enough to dismiss the feeling- almost as if he deserved it, sitting on the roof of that building with nothing to warm him but the comfort of smoke.

Even that didn't help.

He wasn't sorry for himself either, in reality felt shitty over blatantly lying to him.

Manipulating him.

Percy...

Feeling guilt from that first awful experience, Nico had convinced Luke to let him visit Percy every other night or so, sneaking into the boy's apartment at night after he was sure the demigod was asleep. Watch him, make sure the boy was alright. Or at least alive. Kiss Percy once or twice, and although was sure Luke knew, and didn't approve... He did so anyways.

But that in comparison was a lighter note- even worse he couldn't bear to think about was what Percy had thought, felt, done after waking up the next morning without him- after Nico had been missing for near four months, and had suddenly appeared back in the other's life, had disappeared again.

He hated himself for it.

What if Percy had believed it all was a dream, which left him even worse off wallowing in depression and loneliness, getting even less sleep than before? Or debatably worse, giving up on absolutely everything now that his last connection was gone- refusing to leave that room in a desperate, irrational attempt to wait for someone to return to him. Confused. Sobbing. Alone.

Nico took a long drag just thinking about it. Taking the cigarette roughly from his mouth, gritting his teeth in disgust at his own actions, he wished the smoke would kill him faster. Maybe smoking like this on the verge of addiction would give him some sort of satisfaction, that he was getting what he deserved after treating Percy like a piece of meat. Though he was the son of Hades; he had an inkling suspicion that his method wouldn't be all that successful.

"You shouldn't smoke, you're what... ten?"

A voice from behind him, one he knew was there all along.

"Thirteen."

Despite his defiant reply, Nico dropped the cigarette to the pavement and stood to put it out underneath his heel. Turned to look at the taller, stronger boy with more authority than he did.

"In any case, you really shouldn't-"

"I hate you."

He said it softly, still knowing the other could hear but wouldn't do anything about it. He was too important as a child of the Big Three to get rid of, or even reprimand that harshly- in some ways he was closer to Luke than his right hand kids were. Ethan, for example, had been on Luke's side for so long- but was only at the same rank Nico was, if you thought of ranks in subjective terms.

"Don't act like you've got some golden heart, Nico," Luke responded coldly. "You know I'm doing the right thing."

He did, though. And although Luke wasn't directly trying to make Nico feel even worse, he did, as if Nico succumbing to contacting Percy would hurt him even more than what they were doing now. The boy sniffed, suppressing any emotion that could suggest he was weak.

But despite being in line with him, he wouldn't admit it out loud, ever, wouldn't say "you're right Luke" or anything along the lines of such.

Even if they were cooperating that didn't in any way mean they got along.

They both thought they were doing the right thing, in some remote way... Nico believing that he would be there for Percy when the demigod needed him most, despite being somewhat in the role of a younger brother he felt quite differently. He would always be on Percy's side, always would protect him. Even if that meant working with... him. And said blonde half-blood felt similarly, but in a more twisted manner; knowing he actually was the only person there for Percy at the moment, he knew he could exploit it to his advantage, despite genuinely caring for the buy. He had two initiatives with this plan, and if things went his way, he would get both Percy on his side and for himself.

Nico wasn't exactly apart of that plan in its original creation, but had worked his way in so that he too felt the same objectives applied to him.

They both wanted him for themselves. It was that simple.

"...Whatever you say," Nico responded dully after that long stretch of silence, taking another moment to turn his foot so that the ash of the dead cigarette was completely grounded into the cement beneath his heel. As if it was Luke's face. "You're the boss, right?"

"Nico..." The name was forced out in pain, Luke wanting anything but having to deal with this kid. "You know I'm right. This is for the best, you and I both know-"

"And you know I don't care. I'm only doing this because I don't have any other options, do I?"

"I want what's best for him too."

"Ever think that you're just doing the opposite?"

"Look," Luke hissed now, "Everyone knows you aren't all with us- just keep it to your shitty narrow opinion to yourself, alright?" He was fed up with the bullshit that was arguing with a child. A child who had a god complex in that he was the good guy, the hero, that he knew everything. What Luke didn't know was that the boy thought quite the opposite of himself.

He just did a decent job at hiding it.

Nico's glare was focused on point with the ground, refusing to look up t the other demigod who was exempting his unspoken authority. He couldn't argue anymore, couldn't keep up the friction. But in spite of that he couldn't hold off from a final jab, childish in a tit-for-tat nature, yet couldn't resist.

"He loves me more, you know."

Making eye contact for a split second before shadow traveling away, a cold sensation washing over him as he did so- but was drowned out by the heat of victory he felt upon seeing Luke's face as he disappeared. He was pisses off to put it lightly; and Nico was proud of the emotion he'd made the demigod express so vividly among otherwise dull expressions of unrivaled power.

He'd made Luke Castellan jealous.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Percy couldn't do it anymore.

If he didn't care before, this was a new low never reached until now- slumped against the wall of that same room, the skin beneath his eyes itchy with evidence of salt, red and devoid of any life...

I hate this. I hate this.

He needed someone here with him, even if just for a little while, hoping Nico could be that- but he was gone. He'd left before he'd woken that morning, in fact he could have left at any time. Percy was alone again. It'd been like this often now, but those couple minutes of relief from the absence of emotion had reset him- now it was worse. It was so much worse now that he'd had a taste.

He couldn't move from this spot. He'd missed his job hours, or at least he assumed as much, instead had pulled at his hair for being so compliant with accepting company before it was snatched away- he knew this would happen, and now only negative repercussions came from it as he couldn't bring himself to leave the room.

"Please..." he moaned to no one, burying his head into his arms situated on his knees. As if it would help. Maybe asking, even if no one was there, would help him more than doing nothing... he wished. "Come on, someone..."

If Nico came back he would have done something between slapping him and hugging him senseless, maybe both, despite whatever he'd done in betraying him to leave him. Same with Luke, probably, even in light of everything they'd gone through. After how he'd left him in a similar fashion. Annabeth? Grover? Rachel? Everyone else... The thought of seeing them again hadn't come across his mind as possible in forever now. He'd probably start sobbing if he ever saw them again- but didn't count on it anyways. He wasn't even sure if they were alive.

He didn't want to do this anymore.

In any case Percy had been forced to get another job, both because of lack of enthusiasm and attendance, plus because a naga had rampaged through his workplace in the form of a pissed off bull-sized man. The mists fault, and Percy had killed it in a few minutes before running off- he couldn't have an apparent murder to his name, even if the "man" had really ben a snake-lady with nothing better to do than try and kill him.

He'd gotten another job after a day or two of absolutely nothing, no motivation, anything- it had been the cold weather of sleeping outdoors that had driven him to another job, this time in a nicely heated pharmacy, small and remote so he didn't have to worry about many customers either. Plus it was right next to a cheap complex, that he planned to stay in for the next couple nights at least; this was the best set up he'd been in a while.

It was a powerful feeling to be in control of what little he had. It was almost as if Percy had started over on a clean slate, after breaking down the couple days beforehand to the point of no return- it seemed he'd wiped that away to start new. Fresh. He had been working a stable job at least for a week, housing... he'd be fine.

Until he'd been slammed into the wall right outside his apartment door.

Face first with no warning, a forearm against his back and a hand on his shoulder to press him roughly against wallpaper. So sudden that he hadn't been able brace himself for impact at all, so when his head made contact with a heavy thud his vision swam and thoughts fogged over in lightheaded confusion. His knees buckled.

"Ow..." was the only phrase he could form, too stunned to reason if it was worth resisting or to just resign.

"Ow, don't..." was a step up from before, as he felt his wrists gripped tightly and pressed against the wall beside his head. "Don't..." That hurts. Hurts... His head was swimming, making trying to think properly a foreignly difficult task.

He didn't care enough to put effort into protesting, though; what was the point?

"Percy..." the fingers of whoever was there loosened to drift down the length of his arms, making him shiver...

The son of Poseidon could guess now who, and in a sharp inhale knew who it was, despite still being dazed.

"Why are you here..?" Percy asked, who sensed the other tense up and took advantage of it to break from the hold, turning around to face Luke head on.

His legs nearly gave out from seeing him, it's him he's here why-

Luke seemed to be having the same problem, trying to take in the sight of who he'd been craving but dropping himself from seeing for near a month... Green eyes duller than he remembered, expectedly so and he knew it was his fault. Standing with his hands against the wall to cage Percy in, the two merely stood there watching each other for a long moment, listening to the other breathe. He'd come here to get back at Nico, in some aspect, gone against everything he'd been working for to find Percy and prove that little whore wrong- Percy was his, and he could prove it. Like this.

Finally snapping out of it, Luke had to break eye contact to fumble for his sword in his belt, pulling it out to swipe an arc to his right. Practiced in form yet distracted enough to have cut it straight into the wall, though he could care less- stepping back to give Percy room.

"...Coming?"

Percy didn't answer, sucking his teeth in a grimace before following the firm suggestion to cooperate. And walked through the portal into-

Somewhere new. Completely new.

He'd never seen this place before; on no previous occasion had Luke taken him here, and it gave him an uneasy feeling of insecurity. He almost liked heading back to that one smokey apartment, with light brown walls and beat up couches- at least something that held some familiarity.

But this place was dark, and lived in- blocked window, a bed, a messily used dresser seemingly bolted to the wall. The room was smaller than average, especially compared to the other places he'd been taken for similar scenarios; but Luke had brought him here over other, better locations. He most probably lived here. This was where Luke really lived, not a stolen apartment, or unpaid for hotel room... and from the salty smell he could detect, he guessed it was the Andromeda. It had to be. Where else would it make sense Luke physically lived?

Percy could hardly take in the atmosphere properly before he was pushed back, wellbeing in the other's hands as he didn't have the will to catch himself if he fell- thankfully landing on a soft yet simple bed that smelled like Luke. As his eyes were still adjusting to the dim light, Luke jumped on top of him to settle between Percy's thighs, slow but purposeful in leaning in on his elbows to become level with the others face.

It was still dark, but Percy could make out the brilliantly familiar blue- and in turn Luke could only hardly see Percy's face besides recognizable dark hair and green eyes. And a scared, confused expression- one that wanted answers, but wasn't sure how to even start.

Luke spared him the difficulty by replacing doubt with heat, leaning down to open his mouth against the others lips...

But didn't expect him to reach up and grab the back of his neck, forcefully pulling him closer and- this is new-

Percy moaned outright, letting Luke know his state, and lifted his hips up in a fashion he'd never been so forward about. He was usually the one holding back and hesitant, while Luke couldn't stand the tease even though it turned him on- now their dynamic was completely turned around. It was kind of exciting.

"Mm- L-" the younger demigod started, cut off by tongue and lips.

They broke off clumsily at the attempt at words, the son of Hermes reluctantly and roughly pulling away with one well placed bite at the corner of the others mouth.

"What-"

"Give me everything," Percy whimpered, rather crude in asking, but couldn't think of anything else despite his previous precautions on anything concerning the topic of intimacy past what he was comfortable with. "Please please-"

"I'd fucking love to," Luke nearly choked out the words, breathing heavier now in forcing the other onto his back. The two struggled for a minute, clothes and limbs getting in the way of their desperate movements as if they could possibly get any closer. Grinding his hips harshly into him, making up for all the times that he'd held back, ravaging the other's neck in bites and rough kisses as he listened to the sounds the other produced. Bit harder at the realization that Percy was holding his voice back some, in an attempt to keep quiet-

"Let me." Bite- "Hear you."

"Don't leave me again," Percy retorted, gritting his teeth, as if he had leverage and that the two concepts were even in importance. His fingernails bit into Luke's forearms and shook his head, conveying his urgency ever further. "Ever, don't ever leave me again-"

"I'll never leave you again," Luke reiterated, genuine at the time but who knew whether he would keep such a promise- though it would do for now, as Percy needed some sort of reconciliation before he gave in completely. That promise was it, that's all he needed to let go.

Practically going limp, Percy let the older half-blood strip him quickly, ratty shirts off as soon as permission was given; on his word, he let his vocals free without much restraint, little sounds and sultry moans from every touch and action now. Unceremonious to the point they didn't care, they both needed this they were turned on and needy after all this time- the son of Poseidon made this known, doing his best to kiss well and move correctly. Provocatively. Moving his hips with the other demigod's, however embarrassing it was- his need outweighed anything else.

Luke took advantage of this newfound confidence to proceed, fumbling with buttons of jeans- both his own and Percy's, curses thrown as the material caused a slow in their actions, the blond having to roll off of him in order to shuffle them all the way off. The younger took the time of freedom to do the same, flushing dark as he realized what he was doing and what it implied, but deep enough in this shit scheme that he realized he couldn't go back now even if he had wanted to.

Percy let out another high-esque sound as Luke jumped back on top of him, holding his wrists which seemed to be a habit of sorts of his; pressing his lips into the other's, rough and hungry. Adjusting so he was again in between Percy's legs, one arm crooked over the other's head to support himself, the other sliding down to cup Percy's thigh to drag him even closer. Pulling him up against him, smirking into kisses as he felt the other moan in the form of a vibration through their mouths, the feeling only spurring him on to produce more sounds from him. And that hand moved inside his thigh, up his boxers, making Percy moan out his gratitude despite the unfamiliarity of what they were doing...

The idea that it was wrong to almost certainly resign yourself to sleeping with an apparent enemy didn't cross his mind any longer. Even if he was drawing blood in some bite marks, bruising him with nails and rough movements- he didn't care, it felt nice, he liked it, he wanted more- all of the above. This was more than satisfactory for both of them, and although Luke's fantasies were much darker than Percy's thoughts had been, they were both getting what they craved right now.

A click, unheard by both, followed by a barely registered creak from the door.

They were too enraptured with the other, Percy's arms wrapped around the other's neck and gods he's desperate, Luke thought with a shiver, lips open and close with a rhythm that matched their hips, almost describable as therapeutic to their needs. No doubt they'd be dead to the rest of the world, resulting in neither demigod was able to process the suggestion the noises gave early enough.

"Luke, I need to talk to you a-"

Now it was actual words that snapped them out of their daze, tensing against the other as both the voice reached their ears as well as the light from the door opening. Neither had considered the possibility.

Luke reacted faster, snapping his head up from Percy's mouth to look to the door, anxious but also at the same time fuming from the idea of being interrupted. On instinct he pushed his forearm against Percy's chest, making him cough, in meaning wanted to irrationally push him out of sight. Percy curled into a ball anyways- embarrassed they'd been caught, unsure why Luke was reacting so harshly in seconds.

It was only a couple demigods he could think of who would dare to actually enter without knocking out of passive disrespect- one being Nico, who was of course the one in the doorway.

Who had come to terms with the situation, and didn't know how to deal with seeing the person he cared about most underneath the demigod he hated so much he could throw up.

Nico couldn't move.

He couldn't breathe.

"What are you- get the hell out of here!" Luke hissed, gritting his teeth- "Go. Get out."

Percy flinched, trying to strain his head to look at whoever was causing so much strife.

"Luke, wh-"

"No, no no no..." Nico made a choking noise, trying to get out words but with nothing to say- instead only could moan pathetically, as if about to be sick, shaking his head in denial. He stepped back, hands against his mouth. This was gross. He was going to throw up.

"...Nico? Nico-" Percy struggled to turn around, see if it really was him, the voice he recognized. "Oh gods, oh-"

Luke bit the inside of his cheek, frustrated; he didn't want Percy to say his name, wanted to shout at the boy in the doorway he's not yours you don't deserve him- don't look at him don't even think about him-

"Get out of here," was what that equated to in a short, concisely shot command.

"Nico-?" Percy said, tone high with worry and confusion, but too fazed to act besides turn his gaze to the doorway, shocked into only being able to voice a name. "What are you- doing here..?"

The youngest in the vicinity was breathing shallow, uncontrolled and uneven; no no this can't be happening Percy would never agree to this-

His Percy. He loved him the most.

Nico couldn't take it, couldn't look with wide eyes any longer at the scene- he let out another involuntary whimper before stumbling back again, grabbing the knob of the door to slam it shut and collapse against the opposite wall. He focused what was left of his strength not to shout out his anger, instead harnessing it to disappear into shadow. He didn't know where. Just off of this ship, away from him, away from everything.

He couldn't accept it. Even though he knew what Luke wanted from Percy, he had pushed it to the back of his mind, as if it weren't true. It wasn't happening, this hadn't ever conspired... and had hoped it never would, that it was all talk and nothing to back it. But now- denial was out of the question, he'd seen them, he'd seen Luke on top of the demigod he would do anything for, kissing, grinding into each other like that... now he could only vividly picture all the times they'd done something similar before now.

He'd wished to the gods they hadn't been on such terms. That if he prayed enough, it would become true.

Nico had been so wrong; but the nauseating idea was that he knew he had been in the first place.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.