Percy's New Brother chapter 8
Ncalkins does not own anything but the thought, ooc, au, not betaed
As it turned out Bianca didn't come with them to Percy's home. She decided to stay at Camp Half-Blood to "get the feel" of her new demigod life, Nico felt that was a load of bull. However, it was okay because he gets to spend time with Percy and Sally, two of the best people in the world. Percy would hang out with him no matter how busy he was or what time it was. Therefore, in return Nico tried to be considerate and only bother Percy when it looked like he wasn't busy. Sally to Nico's delight adored him and fed him great food, even though it was a little weird that it was blue.
Things were magnificent; the only bad thing is Sally insisted that Nico go to school. Luckily the school system messed up and placed Nico in Percy's grade, however because he spent a lot of time in the Lotus Hotel and Casino he needed loads of help. The other thing that bothered Nico was Percy's new friend, he was big and smelly. Percy said to be nice that they were his only friends, because of that; they were roped into fights with bullies practically every day.
'And we'll probably get roped into another one today.' Nico thought with a yawn as he got up from the couch, Sally had replaced the old one with a nice plush soft one so it wasn't a pain to sleep on. The nice blanket and soft pillow insured him a good night sleep and refreshed him for a new day of fighting the masses.
Nico's black pajamas with grey skulls moved with every stretch he made. Taking a deep breath Nico could smell chocolate chip pancakes coming from the kitchen, Sally's cooking was the best. Just think of it makes him hungry even if he has a full stomach.
"Good your awake can you wake up Percy for me?" Sally asked as she poked her head out of the kitchen.
"Sure." Nico smiled as he made his way to Percy bedroom, he opened the door and stopped short. A dark figure was forming on the fire escape, solidifying the shadows made by the moring sun and the nearby buildings. Dark brown eyes flitted from Percy who looked like he was having a nightmare and the shadow, which was getting more human like with each passing second.
Nico rushed to Percy's side table and pulled out the knife Chiron had given him. It was the only blade the felt even slightly comfortable in his hands. He gave a snarl as he rushed to the window and slammed it open. By now the shadow was gaining color, Percy let out a moan of fear behind him and Nico had an awful thought.
'This monster is trying to steal Percy's life force to….Well, I don't know what it wants to do, but it's probably bad.'
Without a second though Nico plunged his knife into what would be the shadow's stomach, there was a gasp and the shadow decomposed leaving no trace of the opponent. Nico panted and leaned out the window trying to make sure it was gone. Birds flew overhead, cats yowled below and a fat neighbor was doing jumping jacks without a shirt on.
Nico gave a shutter as he closed the window and the blinds. "What are you doing?" Percy asked as he sat up in his bed, black hair looking like a bird's nest.
"Percy are you alright?!" Nico shouted with glee and jumped onto Percy's bed giving him a hug.
"Well, I'm sweaty and hungry but besides that, yeah." Percy said hugging back wondering what had gotten into Nico.
"I came in to tell you Sally has breakfast ready." Nico began and Percy brightened about to tell him lets go when Nico continued. "Then I saw this shadow outside your window and it started turning human and you were tossing, turning, moaning, and having a nightmare. I think it was trying to steal your life's essence!"
Percy tried not to laugh at Nico who was talking so fast, because he really was relived that Percy was okay but he needed to learn not to wave his arms around like a headless chicken when rambling.
"Then I stabbed it and it died…..Oh and I saw a fat guy doing jumping jacks next door."
"Gary's here?" Percy asked as he got up and walked to the window, he pulled back the blinds and opened the wind to see Gary doing the hula.
"Hey, Gary! How's it going?" Gary saw Percy and opened the window.
"Hey Percy, I'm still working on that diet. You eat right and stay in school okay?"
"I'll do my best, how's the job?"
"It's great, the people there are really nice."
Nico peeked over Percy's shoulder at Gray. Then Percy grabbed him by the scruff of the neck and pushed him into view of Gary.
"This is my friend Nico, sorry to cut this short but we have to go eat."
"Hello Nico, have a good breakfast and day guys."
With that, Gary went back to his work out; Percy closed the window and curtains talking to Nico as the left his room.
"He's not the only one who lives there. The tenants switch out ever other week or day depending on when they can call dibs on it. There's some like Gary who are okay and others…Not so much."
"What do you mean?" Nico asked as they walk down the hall.
"Well there's an old couple their okay but they like to walk around their apartment either naked as the day they were born or in their underwear."
"Ew." Nico wrinkled his nose walking long side Percy. Black and blue green pajamas colliding with each step.
"Then there's a family that comes down for a visit. The parents are nice but the kids I swear their going to grow up to be murderers. They like to cut up their toys and the little girl like to sew different body parts of their toys together like some kind of fluffy Frankenstein. Their little boy really scares me, he once wondered out loud what I would look like as one of their stuffed animals."
Both boys shivered and Nico asked, "Do the parents do anything."
"No they think it's just a faze. Then there's this guy that dresses in a tutu and dances the salsa, he's nice if a little weird." Percy said as they slid into their seats at the kitchen table.
"Telling Nico about our more colorful neighbor?" Sally asked putting the blue cocolate chip pancakes onto their plates.
"Yeah."
They sat down and ate their breakfast when Nico asked Percy about his dream. Sally straitened in her chair looking at Percy with interest, she knew demigod dreams more often then not held significance.
"I can't really explain it. It's all a blur, I think I saw Thalia's tree but it was dying. Then I saw blue eyes and a whispered voice saying, "Help me. It hurts." and there was lightning flashing."
"Weird, well we know nothing like that is happening and going to camp tomorrow will prove it." Nico said with a certain tone in his voice as he and Percy stood up and went to get dress, neither saw the way Sally fidgeted in her seat a guilty look on her face.
Once the two boys got dressed and were ready to leave Sally suggested, "Percy, how about after school. You, Tyson, Nico and I go to Rockefeller Center to celebrate the end of the school year. I'll take you to the skateboard shop you like and Nico to the game shop you enjoy."
Nico's and Percy's faces brightened with joy, since money was tight, treats like this came rarely. The Percy's joy deflated and he adopted a suspicious look.
"Mom, I thought you were helping us pack for camp?" Nico heard Percy's question and took on Percy's look. The two boys eyed the sweating mother, "Yeah, we need to get ready." Nico's young voice backed up Percy's question.
"I'm afraid we will be postponing going to Camp Half-Blood." The boys gave noises of outrage which Sally spoke over. "Chiron thinks it would be safer if you two stayed here."
"Safe, mom we're Half Bloods there's no safer place then Camp!" Percy exclaimed throwing his arm out, gesturing to Nico and himself.
"I know sweetie, however something happened. Something that I cannot full explained. I don't even think Chiron can say what happened, it all happened so fast."
Percy was about to push some more when Sally interrupted. "It's seven thirty you two need to get to the subway and get to school." She started pushing them to the door. "Don't dilly dally you know Tyson gets scared when you take too long."
Percy grudgingly agreed and grabbed a scowling Nico before the door closed he turned to his mom.
"When we get back, we will talk about this right?"
She tiredly agreed and after they left, got ready for work. However, Nico and Percy wouldn't be returning that afternoon.
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