Percy was rubbing his stomach like he was hungry, but Nico knew it would be because of a different, more external reason.
Fighting the butterflies he got every time he saw Percy, Nico walked calmly over to the table and took his former seat. Percy froze once he realised who was sitting in front of him, then green eyes were hurriedly lifted from his lap to meet Nico's chocolate ones.
"Hey," Percy managed, sitting up straight.
"Hi," Nico said, then there was silence.
"Frank talked to you?" Nico nodded.
"He was getting pretty fed up with us." The two shared a small smile. Okay, now it was awkward.
"You okay?" Nico asked quietly. Percy realised he was still rubbing his newest wounds. His hand flew away to be pinched between his knees.
"Yeah, yeah— not too bad." Nico just nodded. More silence. God, Nico really should have thought through what he was going to say.
"…Y'know, if I was your boyfriend, I wouldn't let them hurt you like that." Two pairs of eyes widened simultaneously.
"Wh-what?" Percy laughed. Nico wanted the earth to split open and zombies to drag him to the underworld.
"I… I mean…" Nico lost his words again, and Percy could see he wasn't exactly joking. More silence.
"I'm sorry, Nico. It wasn't right of me to lead you on like that. It's just… I was really craving company, other than Frank, of course, but you know how he can be sometimes," Nico nodded but internally frowned. He actually hadn't seen any weird action from Frank in his time here. "So… I just wasn't expecting you to catch on, never mind act on it. I was just poking fun, y'know?" Percy offered a weak smile, but his words made Nico's voice turn cold.
"So taunt the emo kid until he breaks, is that it?" Percy's eyes widened.
"No! No, Nico, oh gods, I didn't mean make fun, I just—" Percy hung his head and took a deep breath. "I just had a pretty strong feeling you didn't like me the same way so I figured once I try to put the moves on you you'd get weirded out and realise I really like you and it would be funny and awkward and really something to joke abo—" His words were a blur but Nico heard enough.
"Wait, you… You do like me? That way, I mean?" Nico's pulse was pounding in his ears. Percy gingerly looked up from where he'd been rambling to his lap to meet Nico's gaze.
"Well, yeah. Nico, I've never met anyone like you. You're sweet, and strong, and independent… But I just want to take care of you and make you happy." Percy finished by looking back to his lap, with a wistful smile. "Gosh, I feel like such a cheese-ball." Percy didn't see the tears welling up in Nico's eyes.
"Then… If you're not with Luke," Percy looked back up at him again once he heard how shaky Nico's voice was. "And you do like me, why didn't you want to kiss me? Why'd you avoid me?"
Percy would've stood up and hit the table out of passion for his next words, if only it didn't hurt so much.
"Like Hell I didn't want to kiss you, Nico! Do you know how hard it was for me to do that?!" Percy exclaimed, his voice full of concern. "I didn't kiss you because you were crying, and I thought you'd think I was taking advantage of you… Believe me, Nico, I wanted to ravish you right there more than anything." With that comment, Nico looked up at Percy, tears making their way down his cheeks.
"Wh—…What?"
"I said," Percy stated, making his way around the table to slide himself in alongside Nico, "I want to ravish you, Nico."
Percy lay one steady hand on Nico's shoulder, the other one reaching out to hold Nico's hand. The Italian could see where this was going, and it filled him with farfalle.
"I want to be with you, in every sense. I want—" He paused to place a chaste kiss on Nico's hand, "—to make you feel so good—" He leaned up and pushed his lips softly to Nico's neck, "—that you'll forget about all the shit in life—" He moved up to Nico's jaw, and the Italian suppressed a shudder. "—and just see how much you deserve to be loved, and how much I…"
Percy broke the next kiss to lean up and look deeply into Nico's fearful eyes. "How much I love you."
Nico was about to launch into his usual 'I Don't Deserve To Be Loved' speech, but Percy silenced him with a kiss, their first, real, but certainly not last, kiss.
~ Hey guys, tell me if you want smut with (more) detail, rather than these sucky cutscenes, k? ~
"Where's Frank?" Nico asked the next morning as he slid into the vacant spot that was usually filled by the confusing mass that was Frank. Percy looked up, and Nico hid his flinch at the black eye.
"Oh, he's… Heaving some time alone." Percy said, and though Nico felt his words were laced with unhappiness, Percy smiled as Nico settled next to him.
"What've you been up to?" Percy asked, casually pulling Nico in for a chaste kiss.
"Oh, I— Um, I finished the book," He managed, ignoring how Percy changed the subject so swiftly.
"Hmm, The Odyssey, right? Classic," Percy returned to his cereal, and Nico dug into his own soggy flakes. A small voice from behind made both of them jump.
"Hazel!" Percy addressed, twisting around to look at her, and Nico catching the groan of pain he let out under his breath.
"Hey, Hazel," Nico said in the quiet, gentle voice he'd learned to use around her. Hazel was like a lady from the 1920's. She didn't really make eye contact, and her language was quite formal, and she was certainly at a loss when she realised Percy and Nico were together. She mumbled something.
"Sorry Hazel, what did you say?" Percy let Nico take the lead, knowing he had talked to the bronze-haired girl more.
"They all want to talk to you, but they don't want to talk to you." She said, her eyes flitting nervously everywhere. The two boys exchanged confused looks.
"Who?"
"You."
"Who wants to talk to me?"
"Not you."
"Percy?"
"Yes."
"Well, who wants to talk to Percy?"
"Not Percy."
"… Yes, Hazel, not Percy, but who wants to talk to him?" It seemed both Nico and Hazel were becoming bored and irritated by the slow conversation, so Percy laid his hand on Nico's— his boyfriend's shoulder to get his attention.
"I think she means someone wants to talk to both of us. Plural you, Nico." He whispered in the Italian's ear. With a small 'ah' Nico turned back to their informant.
"Hazel, who wants to talk to us?" The petite girl smiled a little, glad someone had understood her indirect riddle.
"They."
"Who's 'they'?"
"Them," Just as Nico was about to do that really cute Italian groan of infuriation that Percy loved so much, Hazel said, "The people. All."
Percy thanked Hazel, and she left, keeping an eye on the two of them the whole time.
The two boys turned toward each other. As their eyes met, Nico was reminded of the afternoon before, when Percy was confronted by Nico about what exactly was going on between them. The two cleared things up, and by the blush that painted both their cheeks, anyone could see they'd done more than just that.
"What do you make of that?" Nico asked, turning back to his abandoned cereal and trying to look casual.
"I wouldn't know," Percy said, biting back a bashful smile. They shared a minute of silence, partially thinking about Hazel's message, partially about… Other things. Nico was the first to speak his mind.
"Hey Perce, are you… Okay?" Percy gave Nico a mildly surprised look. "Yeah, Nico, I'm fine," His expression grew to a cheeky smile, and Nico could see the smutty comment coming from a mile away.
"What about you? With all the noise you were making, you'd think an ax—" Nico cut him off with a slap to the arm, but Percy caught his elbow and pulled him in for another kiss. Nico didn't pull away as quickly this time, but when they did, Nico's attention was not swayed.
"So what did Hazel mean?"
"Didn't you just ask me that?"
"Yes, but you've been here for ages and I know you know more than you're letting on." Nico stated, and Percy's expression fell for a moment. He opened his mouth to answer Nico's question, but instead turned back to his breakfast.
"Percy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean you being here for ages as an insult, I just…" Nico trailed off, knowing it was only normal for him to hurt those closest to him. Percy looked back up at him.
"What? No, Nico, I'm not offended, I'm just… Confused— but in a good way! As to how you can see through me like that." He offered Nico a small smile to indicate his honesty. At Nico's untroubled silence, Percy gave in.
"You… You're right, when you say I've been here for ages. I mean, I have." Nico saw Percy's shoulders slump, just a little bit, but it changed his whole happy-go-lucky demeanour. "Basically, Pipes and Jason—"
"'Pipes'?"
"I call her that to make her less scary." Nico just nodded.
"When I got here, those two were picking on the older patients, like, really hurting them. I just… I couldn't let it happen. Just, stand there, and know that it's happening. So, I made myself their target. Details aren't important, but, that's just what happened. Later, Luke shows up, and it was kind of just expected that when he starts messing with others, I take the…" Percy's face scrunched up like he was concentrating, trying to find better words. "I make sure he doesn't."
Nico gingerly moved his hand over Percy's, and squeezed gently. He responded with weak smile, then a humourless laugh. "Yeah, I guess 'Percy gets hurt so no one else does' just become our motto around here."
Nico tried to hide his horrified expression.
"So…" He tried, "Now that you've showed up—" He punctuated his words by squeezing Nico's hand, "— and I'm hopelessly, undeniably addicted to you, and therefore left Luke…" Percy started rubbing Nico's knuckles with his other hand. "Well, it's kind of a given that some people would be a little pissed." He looked up at his boyfriend, an almost apologetic expression on his face. It didn't take Nico long to figure out why.
Geez, the politics of this place are fucked up. What Percy was saying was, because he made Percy break up with Luke, that means Luke will go back to preying on others, rather than Percy taking the shit for them. Effectively, it was Nico's fault, and now everyone hated the new guy even more.
"It's okay, Perce." He said with a sigh. "I'm not really worried about them." Percy looked up.
"But… I am. I'm not saying you're wrong, Nico, and yes, protecting them from Luke sucked, but it's just something that I feel I have to do."
"Present tense?"
"I'm asking you if you're okay with me still… Doing that. With Luke."
"Percy…"
"I know, I know it hurts you as much as it hurts me, but…"
"Perce, you know my answer."
Percy lowered his head in defeat.
They sat there for the next few hours, just holding hands, and thinking.
~ O ~
Nico was actually feeling good. Perhaps it was the meds kicking in (it had taken a month, though), or maybe it was the fact that he had a gorgeous boyfriend, but Nico was happy. He'd survived his first few weeks at Lake's Meeting, was openly gay for the first time, had a good friend in Frank (even if he did have to sometimes be locked up for a few days), and a confidante in Hazel. Of course, he wasn't keen on sharing these things with Dr. Valdez, because one day Nico realised the point of him being at Lake's Meeting was for him to eventually leave.
"I wouldn't leave here without you." He'd said the night before, when Percy had asked him about what he wanted to do when he got out. They were lying on Nico's bed, and Nico felt like they were prison mates, talking about their sentence times. They hadn't had sex very much since the first time, but Nico wasn't in a hurry, though Percy asking him this question made his heart beat a little faster.
"Oh come on," Percy had chided, "as if I'd let you stay here when you could be out there."
"I wouldn't, I swear—"
"I wouldn't want you to swear it to me, Neeks, I'd want you to go."
"… You'd…"
"Not like that! Of course not like that! I just mean, you have to get a job, and an apartment f—"
"You want me to be grownup." Nico pouted, which Percy was quick to cover with a kiss.
"Let me finish. I was going to say, an apartment for us, and then I'd do my best to appear sane, which would be hard when I don't have you with me, and then I'd join you." Nico's giggle at Percy's compliment was utterly childlike, and it made Percy laugh as well. They lay back down, heads touching. "The outside world…" Percy mused.
Now, on his month-versary of being at Lake's Meeting, Frank had said that he and Percy (but mainly Percy) had arranged a little celebration. Nico walked into the dining hall, and saw no one at his usual table. With a slight frown, he collected his food, and walked to Percy's room. No one. He didn't know where Hazel's room was, though he even went so far as to check Frank's quarters.
With a slightly despondent sigh, Nico went back to his own room, and nearly shrieked when he saw what Frank and Percy had done; though he should've seen it coming.
Black and blue ribbons were wrapped around Nico's bed, and posters of Nico's favourite video game characters and bands spattered the previously dull walls, posters that Nico thought were in his room, back in his childhood home. Their presence was soon explained.
Nearly dropping his food tray, but settling for tossing it on a nearby chair, Nico rushed into Maria di Angelo's open arms.
"Ma," He whispered. She tightened her grip on him and Nico could feel her grinning into his unkept hair. Then, she proceeded to give him an Italian greeting.
"Ma—… Mama!" She wouldn't stop kissing him, and Nico could hear everybody laughing. Eventually Maria released her son, and Nico instantly felt Percy's arms wrap around him from behind. It was just the five of them in the small room; Nico, Percy, Frank, Hazel and Maria. Nico's attention was drawn back to his boyfriend when he felt Percy nuzzling into his hair. Nico squirmed around to thank Percy with a kiss, but then remembered who was there and frantically dug his way out of Percy's grasp.
"Va tutto bene, tesoro," Maria chimed, idly finger-combing her hair back, "Percy told me everything. I'm just glad you're happier, bambino."
With a grin, Nico hugged his mother again, then forced himself back into Percy's waiting embrace.
"I can't believe you guys did all this!" Percy quickly kissed the top of his head.
"We knew it'd mean a lot to you." Was all he said. Still grinning, Nico even hugged Hazel and Frank (he noticed Frank was standing closer than usual to Hazel), both of which were suitably shocked.
"Thank you, everyone." He kept saying.
"Slow down, Neeks, we haven't even got to the good parts yet!" Frank called, taking an unbidden step closer to Hazel, but also to reach behind her and pick up some packages from Nico's bed. Even though he was unusually excited, Nico couldn't help but frown a little. Usually he hated receiving presents, the whole having-to-pretend-to-be-grateful fiasco, but Nico had a feeling that his enthusiasm wouldn't have to be faked this time.
"Did you guys seriously get me presents?" The looks everyone gave Nico were enough for him to back off and accept the freaking gifts. Percy pulled Nico onto the bed to sit next to him, and the others crowded around them.
"Now, you a—" Frank began, but Maria made a noise at him (one Nico recognised as what she'd do when Nico was naughty), and Frank shut up.
"Mama è il primo." She said, stepping forward with a small wrapped box in her hands.
"True Mama, but English, please." Nico said quietly, but everyone laughed easily nonetheless.
Nico slowly unwrapped the box, and a cobalt blue iPod stared back at him. Percy and Frank cheered and expressed their teenage jealousy, and Nico stood to hug and thank his mother.
Next, Hazel approached the two with a small smile, and passed Nico another box. Inside were two even smaller boxes, and as Nico opened one of them, the first thing he saw was a mess of silver chain. Then, tucked in the corner of the box was a small charm, N, with a small black gem where each of the lines bent. The room was silent in anticipation of the unvieling, and Nico's awestruck gasp was audible. Upon opening the other box, Percy chuckled at Nico's reaction. The Italian thought one beautiful necklace was beyond enough, but when he saw the silver P with teal gems inlaid, he just about fainted.
Even Frank gave a little 'Wow' and Maria cooed in admiration. Percy moved to fix the N around Nico's neck, but Hazel made a noise that he'd guessed incorrectly. With a small smile, Nico took the N necklace form Percy's gentle fingers and clasped it around the taller boy's neck. It fell gently, and beautifully against the white shirt Percy was wearing. When Percy had put Nico's necklace on, the Italian couldn't stop fingering it, even when Frank stepped up after Hazel.
"Oh Frank, you didn't need to get me anything—"
"Good, 'cos I didn't." He huffed, and trailed after Hazel.
"So, tesoro, how are you?" Maria sat down next to Nico and took his hand into her own.
"Good, Mama, the doctors are nice. The food could be better, but I guess everything is good." Nico offered a weak smile. He'd always hated sharing how he was feeling, especially with his mother.
"And, have you… Tried to hurt yourself lately?" She ventured, and Nico hid his cringe well.
"No, Ma, not lately. Percy's been helping me." Nico squeezed the hand that was lightly wrapped around his middle, and Maria smiled at Percy with newfound adoration.
"Well," Percy called, "I hate to break us up, but Nico and I have an appointment." He stated, and nearly pulled Nico out of the room before he could say goodbye to Maria.
"Perce, what are you— we doing?!" The two of them walked briskly, almost jogging, down the hall.
"Calm down, she'll still be here when we come back!" Percy called offhandedly, and continued with Nico trailing behind. Nico soon saw they were headed in the direction of the glass corridor that looked down over Lake's Meeting, the boys' special place they'd frequented since becoming a couple.
Nico was slightly out of breath by the time he and Percy sat down, with their backs against the warm glass of the passageway.
"So, why'd we come here?" Nico asked, and Percy grinned delightedly. Picking something up from behind him, Percy leaned in close to Nico and placed a small box wrapped in plain brown paper in his hands. Nico could tell it was a book, he just could.
"Please tell me you didn't keep this in your pants." Nico said, and Percy's eye roll was all the answer he needed.
"Just open it!" Percy implored, and with a begrudging smile, Nico did.
"Inferno?" Nico asked with a raised brow, but still smiling.
"Well, I figured since you were on a bit of a classics poetry role, I'd give you another of my favourites." Percy said, flashing his ever-charming smile, but Nico's fell.
"Oh, Percy! I haven't even given you back The Odyssey yet! I totally for—"
"It was a gift Nico, not a loan."
"… Hmm, two gifts in one day, got any more surprises for me?" Nico asked, and couldn't help but laugh at how quickly Percy caught on to his hints and kissed him. Then Percy pulled away.
"Well, technically if the book was a gift and I gave it to you weeks ago, then it's not r—"
'Shut up, you nerd, and kiss me!" Nico yelled, and pulled Percy to the ground with him, both of them laughing with delight.
**Ok, you guys have waited way long enough, sorry about that, I had some family issues to deal with….
Conscience: But instead of dealing with those, you wrote this.
Me: … Bitch.
C: Jerk.
After writing this I was all like: Ahh, cuteness! Sooo I think I'll be a little eviler is le next one :D
I don't own any characters from PJO, they belong to Rick Riordan.
Me loves you long time, ciao
- TJ**
