Chapter VI~ Love Triangles and a Gentleman's Party

Disclaimer~ I do not own Percy Jackson or the Heroes of Olympus. *sobs*

((A/N: Nico got a cellphone, and by cell phone I mean he went shopping with Percy. And by that I mean Percy told him he should have one at all times for emergencies. Nico couldn't say no to his puppy-face either. I might write a fanfic about it… should I?))

"Do I have to wear this?" Nico groaned deeply as he attempted to tie his tie. He had never worn a suit before, and thought it wasn't necessary. He'd seen celebrities wear them on the television. But this experience was ultimately foreign to him and noticeably uncomfortable.

"Yes, you do." Hazel replied. The two resided in the Hades Cabin which was usually vacant. Nico could tell Hazel was on edge as well, after Percy asked her to help plan the entire Graduation Party. Every question Nico complained about had no compromise when she answered. She seemed as stressed as ever if you tried speaking to her.

Although, even Nico had to admit she looked beautiful in her golden gown that reached the floor. She refused to wear anything too short which made sense if you considered the fact that she lived in the 1930's. With her dark brown curls in an up-do, and with a rose in her hair, Nico knew she was trying to impress someone.

Nico sighed and gave up on trying. He let his tie fall to the floor, a tangled mess. He jumped onto his mattress. Hazel paused organizing the events and food orders and glared at Nico's idle laziness. She crossed her arms.

"What are you doing?"

"I give up," he whined.

"Should I call some Aphrodite kids to help you then?" Hazel threatened and Nico shot up.

"No, no need." He said as he looked around for his tie. "I-I don't even want to go to this party." He grumbled. Hazel smiled tenderly and picked up the silver tie.

"It's his last day," Nico knew who she was referring to: Percy. "Arriving is the least you could do."

He gritted his teeth. The last thing he wanted to do was go to the goddamn party.

"Fine." He complied. "I'll go. I already promised anyways." Hazel drew the silver tie around his neck and effortlessly tied it. "Ah, it's a little too tight!" He warned. It was choking him, denying him of air.

"Ack! Sorry! Um…" Before she could fix the problem, Frank slammed the door in, wearing his black suit. His face was red from running all the way across camp. That must've meant this was urgent.

"Hazel!" He hyperventilated. "We have a problem," Frank notified.

"What is it?" She clenched her hands, forgetting to help Nico who was dramatically on his knees, tugging at the the tie that was determined to mimic a python constricting around his neck. He staggered for a while having trouble getting up. Which meant that his leg still needed healing from that incident a week ago. 'I could've sworn I drank enough Nectar,' He noted.

"Leo said, he was going to be the "main event" at the party."

"What main event? Some Apollo kids from the 70's are coming to play. I forgot the band's name… um..."

"He sent them away."

"He what?" Frank cringed as Hazel hissed. Nico glared at the two for ignoring his grunts of help. Frank subsided and brought Nico to his feet as Hazel untied the entire knot he was making. Relief overflowed and shown on his face. "Sorry Nico! Are you-"

"I'm okay," He rubbed his neck, conflicted. "What's this main event Leo's talking about?"

"He won't say, but what he did say was that Hazel was going to love it." Frank mentioned grudgingly. She face palmed.

"Anything else?" She asked.

"Actually, yes." Frank scratched his neck, eyeing Nico for a bit.

"What?" Nico said dead-panned.

"I was going to ask Hazel something." Frank asked politely. Hinting that they needed a little bit of privacy. Unfortunately, for the son of Mars, Nico wasn't as polite.

"Go ahead." Nico glared.

"I meant alone…" Frank said timidly, reluctant to deal with a son of Hades with a well-known past. Even, Hazel secretly wished he would leave for a bit. Though, she couldn't kick him out because she was too kind on her part.

"Anything you have to say, you can say in front of me." He replied. Hazel never had an elder brother before. Sammy would be the closest she had to one. But even he wasn't this overly protective over her.

"Nico, please don't be… difficult." She caressed his arm, motioning him to the door.

"So, I really have to go outside?" He questioned, wide-eyed.

"Just for a minute or so. It won't take long." She smiled kindly, sympathetically.

Rolling his eyes, he went outside and leaned against the door. "You know, I can still hear every word you're saying out here." He yelled.

Frank had asked Hazel if she wanted to be her date to the party and she laughed.

"W-what?" Frank turned crimson red.

"I thought you didn't need to ask." She answered and they hugged each other.

While Nico thought, 'So this is what it feels like to be a third wheel…?' He observed his surroundings carefully and noticed that everyone was putting up banners and setting up tables and decorations. It made him wonder exactly how long he'd been in the solitary confinement comfort of his cabin.

He spotted Jason and Leo talking behind his back, at the side of his cabin. A blind side, he would note. Hidden from everyone's sight.

"So, what do you think of this?" Leo asked Jason as he plopped a chili hot pepper into his mouth and breathed out fire nearing his cabin. Nico freaked and approached the two while Leo kept talking. "I figured it out while doing the Chili Hot Pepper challenge and ah- ah- I-I need water!" Leo stole Jason's water bottle from his hand and spilled it all over his face with little to no satisfaction.

"Can you not try to burn my cabin down?" Nico scowled, trying not to smirk at Leo's pain.

Jason laughed. "Join us."

"I'd rather not."

.oO0Oo.

A few hours later, Hazel sighed in relief; the entire fiasco had settled down. Chiron had announced the graduates and the party had begun with no trouble. Her curls fell down, touching her shoulders and she made sure not to apply too much makeup. The only thing that worried her at the moment was Nico clinging on to her for dear life. Not literal but she felt the pressure. At the same time, she didn't want to leave him alone either.

Nico, on the other hand, felt a twinge of guilt. He didn't want Hazel to feel the way Bianca did and felt suddenly unwanted. He knew she wanted to be with someone else now. Not him. He'd be just a burden. 'How useless,' he thought before his cellphone started to ring. He glared at the ringtone Percy must've set up for him. Why? It was "Sexy and I Know It."

He answered it.

"Cheer up." Said a daughter of Aphrodite. It was Blaire. "You're giving off this depressing aura." Nico turned around and caught sight of her far faaar away, hiding behind a tree to be exact.

"What are you doing? Wait, no why are on a tree? Just come down and talk to me like a normal person!" He asked, quick to the point. She faltered, nervous and anxious.

"I came to apologize… it seems like what I did, did more harm than good. I'm sorry and I didn't want you to explode when I told you. Therefore, Im on the tree when you initiate the end of the world-." She paused at his confused expression. "Aaand you have no idea what Im talking about, do you?" She concluded.

"No, I don't." He gritted his teeth, growing more and more agitated every passing second. "Mind telling me exactly what you came to apologize for?" He grew anxious to know. Through the powers of deduction, he could already tell it had something to do with his love life (if he had one).

"So, how did your date go? You have to tell me! The cashier wouldn't let me in without a reservation!" She perked. Nico wasn't surprised if she tried to get into the restaurant through the heating ducts. Nevertheless his answer was...

"No."

"Please?"

"No."

"Please!"

"No."

"'Please!"

"...fine."

"Really?"

"No."

"I think Jason likes you." Blushing at the comment, Nico felt something snap. As if he were about to explode in the moment.

"Blaire."

"I saw him glance at you in a suit. There's no mistaken it. I also think Travis is secretly dating Katie according to my sources…"

She frowned, glaring back and then her eyes widened and she made arm gestures that resembled one of a bird.

"What the hell…?"

"Just remember Jason likes you! Don't forget!" Nico was more worried about Jason hearing that. What if he didn't hang out with him anymore because of such a stupid, stupid rumor?

"Listen. I swear to the river styx, if you dare tell anyone- and I mean anyone about that notion you have, you'll going to wish you that you were never bor-"

"Actually, it might be too late for that right now but hey- MERMAN ALERT! MERMAN ALERT! There's no time to threaten me, Nico. Also don't hang up, I want to hear it all! MERMAN ALERT!" Blaire screamed into her phone, waving her hands rapidly. So much that she lost balance and fell down.

"Are you okay?"

Nico was about to think she had finally gone insane. Or perhaps he was about to go insane. 'Too late?' He remembered Blaire mentioning earlier. What the fuck did she mean? What if Jason heard? It was then when he heard a twig crack behind him and turned around to find Percy with a sheepish smile. Nico didn't say anything, he was mortified and wished he didn't talk so goddamn loud as he pushed the 'end call' button on his phone.

Another thing to note was that even before Nico realized Percy probably heard most of the conversation, Percy was also wearing a suit. Which was very distracting to say at the least. His sea-green tie matched his eyes, Annabeth must've picked it out. Percy wasn't a fashion expert, especially when it came to dressing for a party.

"Uh- hi Percy. How much did you hear?" He asked cautiously, simultaneously putting his phone in his pocket. Now, he understood what Blaire meant by screaming, 'Merman Alert'. If he wasn't so tense at the moment, he would've found it hilarious and laughed in Percy's face. All he could do right now, was stifle his laugh. Of all names, why did Blaire have to choose that one?

"Nothing much… I guess. Just you threatening the life of someone which is, of course, none of my concern." He laughed weakly.

"Heh… yeah, she's my…" He tried looking for a word that would describe her but only found, "...friend. But she's really nosy, so… well never mind."

"I wasn't eavesdropping either, you know. I wanted to talk to you."

This dreaded Nico since he wasn't mentally prepared at all. He bet Blaire was having the time of her life, trying to read his lips.

"About?"

"Well… first off, I spoke to Chiron and he said okay for your leave of absence to highs chool with us! Aren't you excited?" Percy cheered. Unfortunately, what Blaire said was the only thing on his mind now. "Another thing… I know it's not of my business, but I just wanted confirmation. There's this rumor about you going around that you-"

"There's nothing going on between Jason and me!" Why did that- of all words come out? He groaned and tried to conceal the blush. If only he wasn't so pale. "I-I mean never mind." He hated to think of what was going on in Percy's mind. This was all Blaire's fault. She was the one who planted the idea in his head so firmly. Now, Jason was all he could think about. "What is it, you were saying?" He tried to change the subject immediately.

"Actually now I'm more interested in that Jason thing you were talking about?" He voice sound more stern, it was slight but it was definitely there.

"I told you it was nothing." Nico explained, he couldn't Percy's eyes. How could he under this much pressure? He glanced sideways behind Percy to find the person he wanted to kill. It was the last person on earth, he'd wanted to see.

Cupid.

'What the hades is he doing here?' Nico thought, distraught and for a moment forgetting that Percy was right in front of him.

"It wasn't nothing, Nico? Why do you keep shutting me out again and again?"

"I-I'm not!" Nico gasped slightly, Cupid was looking at him.

Now, Nico had a fair amount of knowledge of gods and goddesses. Hades owned a huge library in the Underworld that Nico resided in often. He found a pattern with Cupid as well. Not only, was he irresponsible but also incredibly childish and mischievous when it comes to his bow and arrows.

Love was a game to him.

And if you were smart, it'd be best to avoid him at all costs. That included shunning Percy off. He backed away slowly and ready to run off into the forest, concealed and hidden. Unfortunately, Percy noticed this earlier than expected.

"Nico, don't-!"

Nico tried to shadow travel away but Percy instead grabbed his wrist tightly and pinned him up against a tree; the bark digging into his back. The hair on his neck started sticking up in not only fright but the embarrassing realization that this wasn't exactly as appealing as he dreamt it would be. Then again, reality never was.

"Let me go." He muttered with his arms trembling. He bit his lip.

"You're running away again. You promised you'd stay, remember?" Percy grip on Nico was as firm as iron. There was only one way Percy would let him go.

"B-but you're hurting me." He whimpered. Percy loosened his grip immediately. "Ow..." Nico lied as he rubbed his arm.

"Ah sorry Nico. I didn't notice..." Nico glared at him and at Cupid who... who wasn't there anymore?

'Thank the gods...' Nico thought. Cupid had left. Percy looking guilt-stricken asked, "Can you stay, please?"

"Okay." Was all Nico could say. He could've said other words but that "please" Percy had said made Nico's 'no' an unacceptable answer. Percy smiled and left back to the party, mentioning that there will be cake soon. Nico decided to stay beside the tree for a while in solitary. But as it turns out…

"Aw, isn't that just precious?"

He wasn't alone as he thought he was because up and above is where he dreaded to find Cupid, sitting on a branch, twirling his arrows carelessly.

"You sound like Blaire." He growled.

"Now, that's insulting. I just came by to say hi." Cupid stopped twirling his arrows and flew down to Nico's height.

"Goodbye." Nico spat back at him. Nico, disappointed, felt himself being carried up to the branch effortlessly. "Hey!-" He started to yell loudly before Cupid cupped his mouth tightly and pet down his hair like he needed comforting. The entire gesture of kindness was incredibly vexing for Nico.

"Shhh… I came to apologize for upsetting you. After that whole incident after the dinner, Mom was really on my nerves and demanded me to compensate to you."

"Mmmhphhhh!? Mmmph!" Cupid noticed Nico was unable to talk and removed his hand.

"I'm sorry I didn't quite catch that."

"FUCK YOU."

"That's impolite. But I'm sure after I offer you some help with your relationship, then you'll be grateful to me."

"What?" Nico hissed as if Cupid were a nuisance. No, wait… he was. Cupid positioned Nico in a sitting position as the audience. Behind him, Cupid drew out his majestic bow and arrows that looked like it was hand-crafted from Hephaestus himself.

Nico, however, wasn't paying attention to that. He was too busy striking fierce stares at the God of Love. He was also not paying attention when Cupid laced Nico's hands around the bow and golden arrow and adjusting the angle perfectly to aim down at… at Percy. Once, Nico realized exactly what Cupid planned to do, his hands trembled again.

"Steady! This is the only arrow specially designed for you."

"What are you doing?" Nico barked.

"Isn't it obvious? Nico, I thought you were at least intelligent. I caused that whole explosion after you and Percy had dinner a while ago and to make up for it, you're going to shoot Percy with your arrow to have him fall in love with you. It's that simple." He explained like it was no problem. Except… it was a problem. Would Percy really be in love with him this way?

He didn't think so. Not if he was the one who made it happen. That wasn't what was destined.

"No." Nico said. He felt a sudden relief.

"Huh?" Cupid, befuddled looked at Nico in utter confusion.

"I said no!" He said defiantly.

"What do you mean 'no'?

"As in: I. don't. want. this." He enunciated slowly and carefully as if Cupid were a child who needed to hear this as clearly as possible.

"Why not? He'll fall in love with you instantly. Isn't that what you want?"

"No!"

"I don't understand then, why go through all the pain of unrequited lov- Ohhh... wait, you're a masochist, aren't you?"

" I said no!" He shrieked, as he dropped his hands down, away from the accursed bow and arrow.

"Well, I didn't go through all this trouble for nothing." Cupid said, taking matters into his own hands. He propped the bow and arrow up, aiming at Percy with one eye open for accuracy. Nico's eyes widened in shock, Cupid could ruin everything. Yeah, sure Percy would fall in love with him. That would be bliss.

But who's to say it's real if he's the one who made it happen. There was only one solution. Nico jumped as he flung himself at Cupid and his bow and arrows away in the air. The two toppled and then fell, crashing into the earth. It was painful, but Nico thought it was definitely worth it. They both groaned in pain.

"Ugh… get off of me! You're heavy!" Nico complained in an uncomfortable position. Hazel was going to kill him for getting his suit dirty. Cupid dazed got up, "It's your fault! Wait... where are my arrows?"

Nico shrugged, not really caring. He brushed off the dirt from his sleeves. Cupid's crafted bow was on the floor and so were most of his arrows but a few were missing. "No, I'm serious Nico. Where are they? Mom will kill me if I lost-"

And like a meteorite heading towards earth, an arrow pinned itself on Cupid's leg. His eye twitched simultaneously as he and Nico stared at each other with both mouths agape. Cupid's stare seemed to be more intense than usual which slightly shook Nico.

"I'm just going to assume that love gods aren't affected by their own arrows annnd I'm going to leave now… bye." Nico jumped up and ran back to the party where he'd be protected.

Cupid clenched his fists watching Nico run away. Away from him. Out of his reach. And then he understood despair again. He disappeared up into the sky before the words:

"CONGRATULATIONS TO CAMP HALF BLOOD'S CLASS OF 2014!"

(( Thank you so much for being patient, I've managed to be productive again after an existential crisis. ^^ I hope this chapter makes up for it. First, I'd like to thank my Beta and my friend Noelle who's helped me through this. Much love to both of you. - Cupid is a momma's boy c,: Sorry if I made him a tad OOC, that was intentional. I've been obsessed with Cupid for years after reading his myth and I've always imagined him childlike, mischievous, and manipulative. He's a troublemaker in most myths. Ie: Daphne and Apollo Myth.))