PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO || Percy and the Ghost King of Summers High || PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO

Title: Percy and the Ghost King of Summers High – The Little Merboy and the Vampire Lord

Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus; supernatural high school AU

Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Rick Riordan for he created the awesomeness that is Nico di Angelo. And everything else related to Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus. Aside from the Gods, they belong to the old Greeks. This fanfiction and its OCs on the other hand are entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.

Warnings: shounen-ai, supernatural, magic, wolves/vampires, mates/bonding, heat, D/s, spanking, explicit intercourse, anal, oral, sex toys, domestic abuse, self-harm, shoujo-ai, hetero, threesomes

Main Pairing: Nico/Percy

Side Pairings: Thanatos/Triton, Octavian/Luke, Ethan/Alabaster, Jake/Will, Frank/Hazel/Leo, Chris/Clarisse/Piper, Thalia/Bianca, Reyna/Annabeth, Lou/Miranda, Charles/Silena, Jason/Calypso, Malcolm/Katie, Grover/Juniper, Dakota/Leila, Nathan/Gwen, Shane/Lacy, Bryce/Drew, Howard/Hecate, Chiron/Lupa, Hades/Persephone, Poseidon/Amphitrite, Paul/Sally, Gabe/Sally (to be past), Poseidon/Sally (past)

Percy Jackson Characters:

Water Nymphs/Sirens/Merpeople: Perseus Jackson, Tyson, Silena Beauregard, Gwendolyn Ryder, Drew Tanaka, Michael Kahale, Piper McLean, Mitchell Logan, Lacy Hunnigan

Vampires: Bianca di Angelo, Nico di Angelo, Hazel Levesque, Ethan Nakamura

Valkyries: Annabeth Chase, Malcolm Cage

Witches: Alabaster C. Torrington, Lou Ellen, Clovis Daver, Butch Walker, Bryce Lawrence

Seers: Octavian Simmons, Ella, Rachel Elizabeth Dare

Storm Spirits: Thalia Grace, Jason Grace

Nature Spirits/Nymphs: Katie Gardner, Miranda Gardner, Leila Fischer, Juniper, Grover Underwood, Dakota Elle, Castor Liber, Pollux Liber

Werewolves/Shapeshifters: Luke Castellan, Nathan McIntosh, Travis Stoll, Connor Stoll, Chris Rodriguez, Cecil Rogers, Frank Zhang (also a hunter)

Dragons: Charles Beckendorf, Jake Mason, Nyssa Black, Leo Valdez, Shane McNabb

Light Elves: Lee Fletcher, Michael Yew, Will Solace, Austin Barton, Kayla Hein

Dark Elves: Zoe Nightshade, Phoebe Burge, Naomi Walters, Celyn Richards, Kinzie Cohen

Hunters: Howard Claymore, Hylla Ramírez-Arellano, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, Frank Zhang (also a shifter), Clarisse la Rue, Sherman Potter, Mark Meyer

Humans: Sally Jackson, Paul Blofis, Gabe Ugliano, Nancy Bobofit

Animals: Small Bob, Mrs. O'Leary, Argentum, Aurum, Blackjack, Arion, Tempest, Scipio, Festus

Godly Characters: Poseidon, Amphitrite, Proteus, Kymopoleia, Benthesikyme, Rhode, Triton, Hades, Persephone, Thanatos, Olethros, Makaria, Melinoe, Hecate, Demeter, Chiron, Lupa, Calypso, Hydrus, Pontus, Thalassa, Phorkys, Keto, Nereus, Doris, Oceanus, Thethys

Summary: Percy is just a normal boy, living with his hard-working mother and abusive stepfather, keeping his head low at school. Normally, Percy only spend the obligatory one weekend a month with his dad. But that had been because of Poseidon's secret. Poseidon is a merman and he tried to shield his son from the supernatural world – until it becomes apparent that Percy shares his heritage.

Poseidon fights for custody, with the help of his vampire lord lawyer friend Hades, so Percy would move to them and join their supernatural community. Now Percy has to deal with only seeing his mom on weekends, adjusting to his stepmother and half-siblings and being a submissive merboy.

Percy and the Ghost King of Summers High

The Little Merboy and the Vampire Lord

Chapter 8: Dinner and a Surprise

Percy had fallen asleep somewhere during Big Hero 6, by the time he woke up, they were already halfway into Lilo & Stitch. Yawning softly and blinking blearily, Percy instinctively snuggled up to the safe, warm embrace. Humming contently, Percy rubbed his nose against the firm pillow.

"You drool in your sleep", noted a dark voice fondly and tenderly. "It's endearing."

Blinking again, Percy slowly woke up properly and sat up like he got bitten by something. Blushing, he stared at the stain on Nico's shirt. "It's not endearing, it's gross. I'm so sorry."

"It's alright", chuckled Nico as he sat up and pulled his shirt off.

Percy made a small noise in the back of his throat as he watched Nico's muscles flex and be revealed. The vampire was hot. Percy couldn't help but let his eyes follow from the sixpack to the happy trail that disappeared in Nico's pants. He was only pulled out of his thoughts by Piper.

"You should get changed too, you know?", pointed the mermaid out. "Isn't it uncomfortable in the jeans and all? No idea how you could sleep in jeans..."

Percy blinked sleepily and looked around. Somehow, Nico had ended up on the floor, right next to Percy, which must have been how Percy had fallen asleep with the vampire as his pillow. The others were cuddled up, not just in their mated pairs but also just among friends, watching the movie and still eating the pizza Alabaster and Ethan had brought along. So Percy couldn't have been out for too long. Chancing a glance at the clock, he realized it was only shortly past ten. Which meant they must have moved on to Lilo & Stitch right after Big Hero 6 and he hadn't missed too much.

"Right. Yeah, I'll... uhm... where's the bathroom?", asked Percy as he got up and grabbed his bag.

"Right down the hall", replied Jason, waving one careless hand into the general direction.

Percy passed the kitchen and a study with the door open, before finding the bathroom. It was a nice, large piece of paradise with an actual yakuzi in the center of the room. Gaping, Percy started to strip down. He paused before getting dressed again, because there was a giant mirror on one wall and Percy found himself forced to see his image. He bit his lips as he went to cover up the scars on his thighs, putting on loose dark-blue jogging-pants and a worn-out soft-blue Captain America shirt. The moment he stepped out of the bathroom, he nearly had a heart-attack because Piper was standing right in front of the door, grinning. He frowned and stepped aside so she could enter.

"Oh no. I just, I wanted to show you around the house, since you already missed half the movie anyway and you're the only one who's never been to our place", explained Piper excitedly.

Percy nodded slowly and wet his lips. She grinned at him and took his hand, pulling him along and upstairs. Piper pointed out the bedrooms of her parents, Thalia and Jason, before entering her own bedroom. It was plastered with K-pop band posters and movie posters from both Tristan and Beryl, as well as photos of Piper and her friends. There was a large vanity, though on its mirror were mainly said photos pinned and on it were various art-supplies and a laptop instead of make-up. The bed was gigantic and round, formed like a shell that stood open, the lid against the wall and having silken drapes handing down its sides. Piper grinned as she sat down on her bed.

"So, you... asked about how it is to be a submissive. But not how it is to be a dominant", observed Piper and hugged a pillow to her chest. "You wanna talk about that, Perce?"

"What's there to talk about?", shrugged Percy embarrassed and sat down opposite her on the bed.

"Well...", drawled Piper. "You learned about secondary genders before you know yours. That's a bit rare. Most who attend Summers High are brought there after they come into their heritage. I was already a submissive mermaid by the time I got taught about mates and all. So, I'm curious, since for you it's still... open, you have the possibility of being either, what is it you'd wish for?"

"What good is it to wish for anything? In the end, it may turn out to be the opposite and I'd end up disappointed", replied Percy with another shrug as he got more comfortable. "I mean, sure it... sounds the best to be a submissive. Having... someone to take care of you, to... protect you. Is it... good? Because... as good as it sounds, it also sounds so... helpless and weak."

Piper smiled compassionately. "I know what you mean. When I was first told that I was a submissive, I threw a tantrum too. Because I thought it meant inferior, weak, vulnerable... But it doesn't, believe me. It's actually pretty empowering. To have a dominant mate, knowing you have someone willing to tear other's apart at your account. You get a lot of respect from the society, because we submissives are... more fertile. Can bear more children, stronger and healthier children. That's something the leaders want, strong and healthy subjects, many younglings. It's kind of what I never understood about human society, how women were seen as worth so much less for so long, even though the human race would easily survive on many women and few men, because you don't really need too many of those, since it's the women carrying the kids, right? So, yeah, that's what I like more about the supernatural society, because those who carry life and give birth are valued."

"That... sounds nice", admitted Percy and tilted his head. "And they really do that? The dominant mates, I mean. What Nico said before. All the... cherishing and valuing and stuff."

"Yeah, they do", laughed Piper with a soft smile. "I mean, Clarisse in particular tends to be a bit overbearing, but she knows better than to mark the big, bad girlfriend. She occasionally tries to put Drew into her place when she's being too much of a bitch toward me, but I repeatedly tell Clarisse that I'm more than capable of fighting my own bullies. It's... still kind of nice, knowing what she's willing to do for me. Knowing that in a pinch, I can always count on my mates to have my back."

Percy nodded, more than intrigued. Before he could say anything more, there was a soft knocking at the door and seconds later, Jason poked his head in, one eyebrow raised as he looked at them.

"You guys going to come back and join us again? Lilo & Stitch just ended and we're debating on the next movie", stated Jason, looking from Piper to Percy. "You two coming, or not?"

"Yeah, sure", nodded Percy and got off the bed to follow Jason together with Piper.

When they returned to the living room, Nico was staring very intensely and amused at Percy, making him a bit uncomfortable. "What... are you staring at, Nico...?"

Grinning, Nico got up and stretched, pointing at his own shirt, the shirt he had changed into after Percy had drooled onto his other shirt. It was black, with an artsy version of the Winter Soldier movie poster on it, Bucky in half-profile with his hair hanging into his face, intense, dark eyes staring out of the shirt. Percy's eyes slowly wandered to his own shirt, with Steve's shield on his chest. At the realization, Percy grinned a bit and found himself blushing a little as he climbed over the couch to sit down on the pillows on the ground. Piper came to sit next to him and Clarisse and Chris instantly scooted over to sit with their mate. Percy sat rigid for a little while, while they discussed the next movie choice, no one really agreeing on anything.

"What do you want to watch?", asked Nico, looking straight at Percy while adjusting himself.

"...The Little Mermaid?", requested Percy a little bit embarrassed.

"Seconded!", exclaimed Piper excited. "Haven't seen it in ages!"

"If my siren wants to see it, so be it", grunted Clarisse, daring anyone to object to her.

Nico smirked amused while Jason went to put the movie in. He lounged comfortably, one arm draped over the heap of pillows behind him. The one Percy sat in front of, with his back straight.

"You could relax a little", offered Nico amused, patting the pillows. "You already slept half on top of me today. I don't mind, you know. Those sleep-overs always turn into cuddle-fests."

Percy took another moment before cautiously laying down, not too much against Nico. Within moments, Piper was attached to him, resting her head on his shoulder and grinning at him. He returned his friend's grin reluctantly before relaxing. Somehow, Piper put him at ease. Not in a way that he felt romantically inclined to her, but more as though she was trying to show him the path. The more Percy relaxed, the more he also snuggled up to Nico, arching against his body and enjoying the rest of the movie and the next movie and the movie after until he fell asleep again.

/break\

When Percy woke up the next morning, he had slept better than in a long time, with Nico's arm around him and his own head resting on Nico's firm chest. He was woken up to the smell of bacon and eggs and the sound of laughter and chatter. He spend a comfortable and nice breakfast with his new friends, afterward they watched two more movies together before getting changed and ready to leave. After all, Percy wasn't the only one who had to attend tonight's impromptu dinner. After a lot of goodbye hugs, Percy was escorted to the di Angelo mansion by Nico, Ethan, Alabaster, Calypso, Jason, Thalia, Frank, Hazel and Leo. Apparently, vampire mates were also seen as part of the coven even when they weren't vampires, so they were very much welcomed too.

"So... you had fun last night?", asked Nico casually as they walked.

"Yeah", nodded Percy, offering Nico the brightest smile the vampire had ever seen. "I... never... I never had friends before, to hang out with. This was kind of... my first sleep-over?"

"We're gonna change that", declared Leo with a broad grin, wrapping one arm around his shoulder.

"Yeah. There are plenty of sleep-overs with our tribe", snorted Alabaster amused.

"That... sounds nice", admitted Percy with a small grin.

They continued their way with light chatter, mostly about school. Alabaster had a lot to complain about, seeing as both his parents were teachers at school. Percy hadn't known that.

"Hecate and Howard Claymore", sighed Alabaster forlorn. "It's a horrible fate. Lou and I suffer."

"But... I thought your name was... Torrington, was it?", asked Percy confused.

"Alabaster C. Torrington. The C stands for Claymore", answered Alabaster and shrugged. "I prefer to go by mom's maiden name, because I don't want the whole school to know..."

"Understandable", agreed Percy, feeling oddly honored to be in the know.

"There we are. The di Angelo Mansion", announced Nico proudly. "Come on in."

"...That's a castle", argued Percy doubtfully. "Looks like Xavier's School for Gifted Youths..."

Alabaster and Ethan snorted amused by that as the group walked inside. Percy's mouth hung open a little as he gaped at everything they passed. The fine, beautiful carvings on the doors and doorways and stair-rail. The paintings on the wall looked like originals – probably were, from all the big names throughout history. Percy was intimidated and somehow, he was glad that his father, even though he was a king, lived in a normal family-house. He would have run away and not returned if someone had tried to make him live in a palace like this. His nerves eased only the slightest bit when they reached the dining hall, where his family was already waiting. With them was the rest of Nico's coven – Hades and Persephone, the heads of the coven, Thanatos, Olethros, Makaria and Melinoe, the four oldest sire-children of Lord Hades, and Nico's big sister Bianca.

"It's so nice to finally meet you, Perseus", smiled Persephone kindly, hugging him.

"Uh, thank you, ma'am", nodded Percy unsure. "But I prefer Percy."

"Percy?", echoed Persephone amused. "Very well. Now sit, sit down children."

Hades and Persephone sat at one head of the table, opposite of Poseidon and Amphitrite. All others – merpeople, vampires and their mates – sat somewhere in between. Percy smiled gratefully as Nico sat down next to him, Tyson occupying Percy's other side. The beginning of dinner was actually really nice and comfortable. Percy spend most his time just listening to them though. Apparently, Thalia was Bianca's mate, which was why Jason's big sister had tagged along. Half-way through the main course, Percy started feeling incredibly hot. His stomach was turning and twisting. Groaning softly, he put his fork down and pressed a hand against his abdomen. The others around him slowly paused eating one by one, attention drawn to the sweating boy with the pained expression. And then, all of a sudden, a wave of pheromones hit them all. Overwhelmed by the sweet, spicy scent, other forks and knives clattered down onto the dining table, the eyes of the dominants present narrowing as they zoomed in on the source of the ripe smell – the scent of a submissive in need. Poseidon looked stunned and mildly horrified when he realized Percy had just come into his heritage, in the middle of dinner with the local vampire lord and his coven. What timing. That moment, Poseidon wished Percy would get along with Amphitrite, because normally she took care of the kids when they went through heat or post-heat symptoms, or had some cute dominant they were fawning over. As things stood, Poseidon didn't quite know who should approach Percy right now, but before he could put anymore mind to it, Nico already had Percy gathered in his arms. Frowning, Poseidon stood to approach them and take over. Nico was sitting on the ground, Percy on his lap, arms protectively around him. As Poseidon approached them, Nico looked up and hissed at him, fangs not just bared but also extended, eyes pitch-black and not just the iris either. Poseidon paused, not even moving a single finger. He had never seen a vampire that agitated before.

"Niccoló, cease the nonsense and hand Poseidon his son", demanded Hades irritated, getting up.

The whole room froze when Nico flat-out growled at his sire as Hades approached. The mated vampires pushed their mates behind them protectively, while those closest to Nico slowly retreated.

"What... What's gotten into him?", asked Jason concerned, hand on Calypso's shoulder.

"Percy just came into his heritage. It's not as strong to smell for you since your species doesn't have submissives and dominants, to top it off you're also mated, but his scent is very intense", replied Ethan cautiously. "I can only guess, but seeing as Nico is an unmated dominant, the overdose of sudden pheromones from Percy must have kicked his primal instincts into overdrive."

"Uhm... Put that in terms that someone without secondary gender gets it?", asked Jason confused.

Percy whimpered and curled together tightly in Nico's embrace, making the vampire turn to look at him and coo softly, soothingly. Alabaster snorted in amusement, the sound catching Nico's attention and the vampire once more bared his fangs and hissed viciously.

"Percy smells like unmated, distressed submissive. Very much and very suddenly so. Nico is an unmated dominant, the most primal urge of any dominant is to protect their submissive", answered Hazel slowly. "Overwhelmed with Percy's scent, Nico's mind is currently clogged with the urge to protect Percy. The rational part of his brain is turned off, or otherwise he'd know we don't pose a threat. To the primal part of his mind, we're some random dominants who are too close to his distressed submissive, so he tries to fight us off. I fear approaching him may end deadly."

"But that's crazy. It's not like Percy and Nico are mates. Heck, until last night, Percy didn't even know what mates are", argued Frank next to her, watching Nico with sharp eyes.

"You don't have to be mated to a submissive to view them as your mate", pointed Thanatos out, shielding Triton behind his body. "Sometimes, the protectiveness can be even stronger when the mate-bond isn't completed, because the dominant doesn't know that the submissive is his. So, uncertainty plays into it too. If Nico chose Percy as his mate beforehand and is now being dosed in a sudden wave of Percy's pheromones, the effect may be even more intense."

"We're going to have a conversation about this", muttered Poseidon with a pointed glare.

It was unclear if he was talking to Thanatos about the implication, to Hades about the fact that his uncontrollable son was currently hogging Poseidon's son, or to Nico. It was however clear that whoever would be on the receiving end of this conversation was not going to have fun.

"Anyway!", interrupted Persephone loudly. "We need to get Percy away from Nico and have him checked out, to make sure the boy is alright and so Nico can clear his head again."

"And how do you propose we do that, my love?", asked Hades, pointing over at Nico.

The mere movement of his hand toward Nico send the crouched vampire into another hissing fit. Leo let his eyes wander over the table, noting the fact that everyone present was either a dominant, secondary gender-less or they were part of Percy's family. Grinning, Leo stepped forward.

"Leo, what are you doing? Stay here!", hissed Hazel displeased, grabbing for him.

"No can do", shrugged the dragon with a cheeky grin. "As previously mentioned, he feels threatened by all the dominants in the room. So how about we slowly and calmly remove said dominants and let the mated submissive handle the situation, huh?"

Before either of his mates could protest any more, Leo moved closer to Nico. Nico was still growling, though the sound grew softer. He looked confused and intrigued as the non-threatening little dragon approached him. Nico sniffed the air and deemed him harmless. He was watching Leo with sharp eyes though and there was no doubt that if Leo made a wrong move, Nico would hurt him.

"Percy needs help", whispered Leo very softly, reaching out. "See? He's in pain. Needs help."

Nico's eyes were drawn down Percy and he tilted his head. "...Pain. Mine's in pain. Help mine."

"Really?", snorted Alabaster, trying hard not to laugh. "He's just gonna refer to Percy as his?"

"Yes. Yes, yes. I will help yours", nodded Leo eagerly, slowly reaching out for Percy. "Just... give him to me. We're going to take good care of him, you just have to give him to me..."

The vampires all the while were doing as Leo had suggested and slowly retreating from the room. On her way out, Persephone was calling up her mother. Now that ten vampires had left the room, Nico seemed to relax a little. The merpeople slowly approached to also help. As soon as they eased Percy out of Nico's grip, they hurried to get him out of the room, Triton carrying him bridal style. Nico was not a fan of them taking Percy out of his sight, but before he could lung after Triton, the vampires and others stepped back in and blocked his path.

/break\

By the time Nico came back to himself, he was a bit fuzzy and very confused. "What... happened?"

Ethan, Alabaster, Hazel and Frank, who had been put up as his guards, looked at him pointedly before his sister started explaining. "In the middle of dinner, Percy came into his heritage. We assume it was triggered by the big ratio of dominants present. So far, Percy had never been in enclosed space with that many dominants before. Classes are always relatively evened out between dominants, submissives and designationless. So, since he is a submissive, the presence of so many dominants triggered him. Oh, by the way, he's a submissive."

"...H—He is?", asked Nico with large, hopeful eyes.

"Oh, don't give us that look", snorted Alabaster. "You really don't remember, do you?"

"...What happened?", asked Nico again, this time with a dreadful expression.

"You went full on primal caveman on Percy's ass", pointed Frank out. "You were a hissing, growling, fang-baring mess that referred to Percy as 'mine'."

"And yes, that did happen", confirmed Hazel with a compassionate look on her face. "You mentioned that you like Percy, I wasn't aware that your like was quite that... deep. You chose him as your mate. And now the entire coven as well as Percy's entire family knows that."

"...Including Percy?", asked Nico with horror written all over his face.

"Excluding Percy", corrected Ethan. "He was as overwhelmed by this as you were. He was too busy doubling over in pain and breaking a fever to care about your weird behavior, Nico."

"Fever? Pain? Is Percy alright?", asked Nico concerned, his own mortification forgotten in the face of worry for Percy. "Where is he? Is he better? Show me to him."

"Okay. Someone is still pretty high on pheromones", chimed Alabaster teasingly.

When Nico turned black eyes on him, he flinched though and Hazel held her hands up cautiously. "It's alright, Nico. We're going to take you to him, so you can see he's alright."

/break\

When Percy came to it again, there was a roundish, friendly looking woman with intense green eyes leaning over him. There was also his entire family squeezed into this unfamiliar room with the very large and comfy bed. Tyson was nestled against his side, looking worried even in his sleep and Piper and Leo were sitting on Percy's other side. Percy frowned confused. He distantly remembered that he had been at a dinner with vampires. Piper hadn't been there.

"What's going on?", asked Percy, holding his head. "And who spilled the perfumery? It stinks."

"It doesn't", chuckled the woman, Miss Demeter the nature spirit biology teacher. "Hello. I'm Persephone's mother. No one spilled anything, everything still smells the same. Your senses are just enhanced. Congratulations, you came into your heritage as a submissive merboy."

"...Oh", muttered Percy and nodded. "So, that's where the pain comes from. And this is... what everything smells like to you? It's so... intense... Makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up."

"It's going to settle a bit", assured Leo with a grin. "First few days are more intense. I called Piper, I figured another friendly face would help you. And us submissives do like to... stick together when distressed. First coming into your heritage is very distressing."

"I made a total fool of myself by fainting in front of everyone, didn't I?", groaned Percy.

He hid his face as realization dawned on him. Curling together, he leaned toward Piper and Leo. Leo laughed as he started running his fingers through Percy's hair. All of them as a group had agreed not to tell Percy about what had happened to Nico during all of this; both deserved the start of courting to be more dignified than that. And Poseidon still wanted to have 'words' about this.

"None of that nonsense", chided Demeter and put a cooling rag on Percy's forehead. "This wasn't your fault, Perseus. It's a natural process for any mermaid and merboy. You can be glad it didn't happen at school during class, you know? That is what's generally considered embarrassing."

"Percy! Percy, are you alright? Are you feeling better?", asked Nico panicked.

The young vampire came running into the room, pushing past all the vampires outside and the merpeople inside, until he stood in front of the bed and could see with his own eyes that Percy was awake and physically okay. His primal side was still very raw, not taking over his mind, but it still demanded for him to make sure his Percy was fine. Percy. Not his. Shaking his head, Nico took a deep breath to calm himself. Big mistake. The entire room was flooded with Percy's scent and now Nico got to inhale it and progress it in peace. It was intoxicating. Very sweet, but not sickeningly sweet or sugary like some submissives, no, Percy was sweet like strawberries. Refreshing. There was also a salty note, like the ocean, a very typical smell for merpeople. And something else, something Nico couldn't quite pinpoint, something that simply smelt as though it was his.

"Nico!", yelped Percy and stared wide eyed at him. "Yeah. Uh. I mean, you must have seen my great performance of the fainting merboy. I'm told I have talent."

Nico snorted, obviously relieved that Percy was up to joking again, which indicated that he was feeling better again. Percy grinned sheepishly at Nico, embarrassed that the vampire – and everyone else, apparently – seemed to be so worried about him. His father and stepmother were sitting on a couch opposite of him and they both looked like they had just woken up. Turning a little, Percy noticed that is was the middle of the night. Everyone had stayed here for hours, at his bedside. The thought was oddly heartwarming. Blushing a bit, Percy heaved a sigh. When breathing in, his senses were flooded with the most amazing scent ever. Like dark chocolate, the earth after a thunderstorm and somehow also darkness, if darkness had a scent to it. The scent hadn't been there before, only now that Nico had entered the room. Which meant it must be Nico's scent.

"I think it's due time to turn in for the night", sighed Poseidon as he stretched some.

"It's gotten very late, why don't you and your family stay here tonight?", offered Hades.

"I'm staying too!", chimed Leo just to get scolded by Hades. "N—Not in Hazel's room. Here."

"Me too. I'll just send my parents a text", agreed Piper excited.

Within minutes, the room was cleared aside from Tyson (still asleep), Leo and Piper. Poseidon had actually kissed Percy's forehead before leaving. Percy was still drained from the ordeal, so he just accepted it and curled together in a nest with Tyson, Leo and Piper, feeling comforted by them.


Author's note: Next chapter is going to be filled with Nico/Percy moments and comfort, because right now, Percy is very vulnerable and he hates that feeling. It's a good thing Nico is there to make him feel safe and assure him that the feeling will pass.

Next update is going to be "Like Cats and Dogs" on Wednesday!