Coffee or Tea?
Chapter Eight: Percy's POV
Percy Jackson was feeling especially off today. Not just a little bit… not just a smidgen but especially. His head was blasting him with its favorite headache and everything seemed weird.
Everything and everyone.
Annabeth had been weird lately. She was also asking for him. Always wanting him near. It was starting to suffocate the boy. Did she not trust him to be alone for a few moments? Did she not want him to live in peace for a few minutes as he discussed normal teenage things with Jason or Leo?
"Are you okay?" Annabeth asked, looking at Percy oddly. She has also been doing that quite frequently as well.
"Um yeah… fine I guess. Actually my head is killing me. I'm going to go ahead and lay down." Percy said while getting up from the meeting he was supposed to be leading with Jason who had decided not to show up. That wasn't like him.
"We can continue this later. Would you like me to walk you to your bunker?"
"I think I can handle the walk." He tried to give her a smile but his lips could barely move up to form one.
Annabeth gave him a quick peck on the cheek before he could walk off.
Annabeth is okay and everything. She is his best friend. She is a great fighter and by gods she's an excellent strategist. A brainiac and a beauty. Perhaps a little too smart for Percy. Perhaps a little too clingy lately as well.
Ugh. He did not want to think about this right now.
"Every love is real."
Percy stopped in his tracks just before he turned the corner that led to the bunks. It sounded like someone was in Nico's room.
He peered around the corner to see that the Italian's door was cracked. He attempted to tip toe closer so that he could try to make out the other figure.
"Not mine." That was Nico responding. He could barely see the boy sneering up at someone.
"You 1930's boys are so naïve. There is no such thing as loving someone for their gender. Or well… not really. It's okay to feel the way you do."
"It's disgusting." Nico hissed.
"It is not. Dammit Nico I have been trying my darnest to get you to come out. You've done so twice. You've accepted your feelings and you've shown true bravery for the ones you care about. You've admitted it in those scenarios. These feelings are real. Just use them. Just show them for the love of love."
Why were they arguing over love? Who was in Nico's room?
Percy tried to get a closer look.
"I didn't peg you as a peeping Tom, Jacks-"Percy quickly grabbed Jason aside and covered his hand with his mouth. He took them around the corner, away from ear shot of Nico's bunk.
"Someone is in Nico's room." Percy whispered.
"So you were just listening in on their conversation?" Jason questioned, whispering for Percy's sake.
Percy frowned. Why had he only just listened? Was he curious? Like Hades he was curious. They were talking about Nico's love. And something he couldn't quite understand.
"I…uh…" He had no excuse as to why he had been standing around, gazing at Nico's topless body and his ruffled up bedhead. By gods that boy was cute.
Wait. What?
Jason's lips turned into a frown as he crossed his arms at Percy, like he was going to scold him.
"JUST LEAVE ME ALONE! I DIDN'T ASK FOR THIS!"
Percy jumped in his skin, his hand automatically retrieving his pen as he rushed to Nico's room and busting into the place.
"P-percy." Nico stuttered, looking at him with wild eyes, his face was red and his fists coiled up like he was going to sock someone square in the face.
Percy looked around with his fingers reaching for the cap of his pen, finding that the person from before was no longer there.
"Are you okay?" He asked. "I heard you yelling and I… are you okay?"
Nico nodded and crossed his arms against his chest.
The skinny boy Percy was used to looking at was not before him. Since when did the boy have such a nice… body? His arms and stomach showed off a bit of muscle that the Italian was so obviously trying to cover up. He shouldn't. It was nice.
Percy felt his face warm as he backed up to the door.
"I'm fine." Nico growled while taking a few steps back. "Now if you'd excuse me, I have to get dressed. Or would you like to stand here all day and gawk at me?"
Percy nodded his head. "I…sorry. No I'll leave. I didn't mean to barge in on you here." The boy quickly escaped the room only to run face first into Jason.
"Is he okay?" The blond asked.
Percy nodded his head. "It was a false alarm." He was grasping for composure. Why was his heart beating so fast? Oh gods did he actually think that another guy was attractive?
Jason peering in through the door and then back to Jackson. "Are you okay?"
Percy nodded his head. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Your face is red and you seem to be out of breath… you didn't do anything dumb did you?"
"Me? Dumb?" Percy laughed.
Jason shrugged and let Percy be on his way.
What was that all about?
Things around here have certainly been quite strange lately.
Percy Jackson certainly did not think that he was going to see a god sitting on his bed when he finally made it to his room. Well, he assumed he was a god. Only gods seemed to appear out of thin air and take over your rooms.
"Percy Jackson."
"Yes, that's me. Am I in trouble?" He questioned, raising his eyebrow. All he wanted was to lay down and get rid of this god forsaken headache.
"Not exactly." The god stood up. "Do you know who I am? Ah don't answer that. You probably don't. I'm Cupid."
"Like Eros?" Percy automatically questioned.
The god took his head into his hand. "Please don't do that. I'm just Cupid."
He nodded his head. "As to what pleasure do I have for meeting you?" He muttered.
"Let's talk about Nico."
A/N: So I wrote another chapter. Hollah. I did a Percy chapter because patterns. It wouldn't look right if it was three Nico then Percy and then four Nico so yeah... hope you guys enjoy!
