Warnings: This is Nico/Percy so if you do not like slash you will not like this.

Some chapters may contain descriptions of graphic content (i.e. physical abuse, torture etc.).

Some chapters may contain canon character death.

Some chapters may contain adult situations.

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters unless otherwise specified. This story is not for monetary gain.

Enjoy!

~o-o-o~

Nico immediately showered after he returned the Oracle to the attic. He hated the smell of the place and he felt grimy from dust. Admittedly, the Oracle freaked him out a great deal as well which was no fault of his. She was a mummified corpse who still gave him nightmares. The ghost king sighed and toweled his hair dry after changing. He made his way out of the cabin.

"We need to talk." Nico jumped and looked at Annabeth. The daughter of Athena frowned at him and beckoned him to go back inside. Nico sighed. He and Annabeth got along because they had to. They didn't have the best relationship. When they first met she was brash towards him and it resulted in a lot of conflict. They cared about each other, but they weren't close. If the son of Hades had to label their relationship, he'd call them colleagues. Annabeth looked around cabin thirteen with a critical eye.

"Yeah?" Nico asked impatiently.

"He's too unstable." Annabeth set her hands on her hips. She looked every bit a pompous princess at the moment who was whining about not getting her way. "He'll hinder you if he goes."

"He's not unstable." Nico gritted in annoyance.

"I've been talking with Reyna-"

"Are you two boning yet?" The ghost king interrupted.

"That's pretty hypocritical coming from you." Annabeth snorted. "Listen Nico, if Percy can't get his head together he can't go."

"Why are you so against him?" Nico snapped.

"I'm not-but, you'd have to be blind or naïve not to see…" Annabeth pressed her lips together, "Which I know you are neither."

"I'm not stupid." The Italian defended himself. Her implication offended him.

"Then why are you wasting your time on him? Because he's got a nice ass?"

"No." Nico gritted. "I'm not wasting my time; I'm doing this because he deserves a chance. Should Luke have abandoned you back-"

"Don't Nico. Not him." She snapped. Her eyes were hurt. The ghost king knew it was a low blow. Annabeth had loved Luke. He didn't feel bad about it though, he had to put his situation into some sort of perspective she could relate to. Annabeth was stubborn to a fault sometimes. The daughter of Athena swallowed thickly and lowered her gaze. Her grey eyes seemed to hold understanding; the male knew his comparison would work. "Fine. Just…if he snaps he'll end up killing us all."

"Percy's skills are undeveloped. He can't beat us in a fight."

"Then explain that wound on your shoulder." Nico grunted.

"I wasn't trying to hurt him."

"Could you?" Nico frowned. "If he loses it, he's not going to listen to reason. You'd have to fight him; you'd probably have to hurt him. Could you do it?"

"Yeah." Nico muttered. The blond laughed. She was mocking him; her stormy eyes looked down on him and his situation. The son of Hades gritted his teeth. "I know I won't have to."

"You can't think like that Nico! You have to see-"

"I do see! I see it, alright? I see how dark he is, how damaged he is. For fucks sake Annabeth, I know." Annabeth blinked in shock. "I'm just not apprehensive enough to turn him away, because he needs help." They stared at each other in silence. Nico was breathing somewhat heavily through his nose, she was riling him up and it was causing the son of Hades a headache. The blond meanwhile was stupefied by his outburst, if her raised eyebrows and gaping jaw were any indication.

"You're in love with him and you barely know him." Nico went rigid. His fury at her vanished, replaced with bewilderment. The Italian wasn't sure why but he assumed it was because the daughter of Athena had the audacity to make such a proclamation. He turned his gaze away.

"I'm not in love with him." He grumbled. Annabeth's expression softened.

"Look me in the eyes and say it." The ghost king met her gaze slowly. He opened his mouth to speak, but no words would come out. His throat felt dry. This was too fast. He couldn't-not with-gods-they formally met only a few weeks ago. Nico backed away from Annabeth and looked around the cabin, hoping there was some sort of answer somewhere. He felt so lost. Nico flinched when Annabeth touched his shoulder. "It's ok."

"Don't touch me." Nico snapped and jerked away. Annabeth smiled softly.

"I'll give you the benefit of the doubt." Annabeth murmured. "I hope for your sake, this works."

"Can you go?"

"I'm on your side."

"No, you're not." Annabeth sighed. "We both know you want to go to Greece."

"I'm going anyway. I have to." She chewed her lip. The wary look in her eyes told Nico she was hiding something. "I…I like Percy. He's…weird, but nice. Really weird…" Annabeth laughed to herself at some untold joke. "Maybe if things had been different, I would be the one falling in love with him." She laughed again. Nico glared. "Relax, ok? Whether you believe me or not…I…I'll agree with you on this. But only if it serves to benefit the seven of you."

"Sure. Whatever."

"I'm not the only one with doubts." Annabeth added lowly, a warning, and then she left the cabin. Nico gripped his fists. Normally when he was angry, he'd shadow travel to the Underworld and kill a bunch of monsters until he ran out his rage, but with Percy unconscious in the infirmary, he couldn't leave. Nico faltered and leaned against one of the bedframes. He gripped the metal tightly until his knuckles turned white. He wasn't in love. Annabeth was just messing with his head. Sure, Nico liked Percy, he was attracted to the son of Poseidon, but he wasn't in love. It was too soon for that. The ghost king shook his head.

"I'm not in love." Nico muttered. "I'm not." He ignored the fact that his stomach dropped to his feet when he heard Percy screaming. The son of Hades had never sprinted so fast in his life as he left the cabin.

~o-o-o~

Percy hummed and groaned softly when he woke. He blearily looked around and saw he was in the infirmary. It smelt of antiseptic and sickness. It wasn't a pleasant scent. As his eyes adjusted he saw a basic room with half a dozen beds lined up along two walls and numerous cupboards likely stocked with medicinal supplies. He was alone at the moment. Percy sat up slowly. He had a splitting headache, the bed he was on was uncomfortable and the teen's neck and back were stiff as a result.

"You're up." Percy turned. Will, the son of Apollo and head of the infirmary, greeted. He'd come in from the back office. The blond wasn't smiling, wasn't excessively or overly peppy like most of the people here. It made him seem more real. That's probably part of the reason why the son of Poseidon was drawn to Nico too. The son of Hades wasn't overly happy. Sure, he was gentle with Percy, but he was still real.

"What happened?" Percy asked, ignoring the blonde's statement of the obvious.

"The Oracle asked you to bring the next host." Will put in the ear buds of a stethoscope in his ears and checked Percy's heart. "Take a deep breath." The son of Poseidon obeyed.

"I don't know any virgin girls." Percy muttered. The healer smiled.

"I'm sure you do, you just don't know it." Will draped the stethoscope across his neck. "I changed the bandages on your back."

"How-"

"I do inventory. Nico stole quite a bit of supplies. I don't know where the wounds came from or why you had them, but…as an aspiring doctor…if you ever have anything you need looked at that you don't want anyone to know about…I won't ask questions." Will smiled again. Percy gripped his knees.

"You mean that?"

"Doctors aren't judges or juries, only healers." The son of Apollo replied. The green eyed teen let out a heavy breath. He hadn't expected so much kindness from this strange cluster of people. They were all so different and yet so devoted…it was beautiful.

"That…I really appreciate it." Percy got off the bed slowly. He couldn't begin to describe how much that meant.

"Drink this." Will handed a glass to the teen. "And then head up to the attic. You need to speak with her again. She might…tell you more." Percy downed the drink. It tasted like lemonade.

"Here." The son of Poseidon handed the glass back. "Thanks…" He slipped out of the infirmary before Will could speak again. His feet carried him up to the attic. He tugged the string and the ladder came down. Percy climbed the dusty wood carefully and coughed upon getting to the top. The attic was a bit like an uncared for museum, full of old knickknacks covered in a layer of dust, all labelled with what they were, where they came from and who collected them. The green eyed demigod was tempted to examine some of the things, the monster parts in jars looked really freaky, but he refrained. He could do without being chewed out by Chiron for breaking something. The Oracle was seated on a chair at the back, hunched over like the corpse she was, motionless, lifeless. Percy had seen many bodies, but none as rotted as this. She didn't smell…particularly bad, though she didn't smell good either: just dusty and a bit stale, like the attic. The teen approached slowly. "You asked me to bring your next host." Percy spoke softly. His voice echoed along the wooden walls. He didn't know if this would work but it was his only option. "I don't know anyone who fits your description. I…all the girls I know are whores."

"You know." The Oracle's voice echoed in Percy's head. That mist poured from her mouth again. The son of Poseidon tensed but didn't run.

"No, I don't. It can't be my mom, and I-" It hit him so suddenly Percy staggered back. He wasn't sure if he thought of it or if that green mist, that was seriously starting to terrify the teen, brought realization to the demigod. Rachel's face came to his mind. His awesome, amazing best friend, only friend, (did Nico count? He was more like a stalker…) it couldn't be…

"You know." Percy fled from the attic. Rachel meant the world to him. She was his lifeline to normalcy, the only hint of a proper life Percy had. He knocked over furniture as he left in search of the ghost king…

"Percy! Stop shouting!" His shoulders were grabbed and the yell on Percy's lips was cut short. Nico had stopped him. Percy gripped the taller male's shirt and clung to the clothes. He hadn't realized he'd been shouting. The ghost king's eyes were silently asking what was wrong.

"Rachel. She wants Rachel!" Percy screamed. "She's all I have!" His heart was racing wildly.

"It's ok! It's ok…just take deep breaths." Nico rubbed his arms. Percy did as he was told and breathed.

"I…won't…I won't let her…Rachel…" Percy pushed Nico off. His fear was rapidly replaced by wrath. "Why did you have to bring me here? It's all…" The teen shoved the ghost king to the ground. Nico stared up at him, dark orbs questioning. "I hate you!" Percy roared. The son of Poseidon fled camp. He stumbled over his feet some until he got to the highway. Percy's speed was fuelled by anger and agitation. Why did Nico have to make him act so spontaneously? The teen always kept composure until that Italian forced his way into Percy's life. He'd felt this sort of confliction before, many times, but he never did this. He remained rational and thought things through.

A feral growl tore from his throat and he forced his thoughts away from the other demigod. His head was spinning, now he couldn't stop thinking about Rachel and that thing in the attic…he couldn't let that happen to Rachel. His best friend deserved so much better. She was too sweet, too good. Percy tripped and fell hard on his arm.

Snap!

Percy winced and remained lying on the road. His eyes were clamped shut. He stayed still, just breathing as his arm throbbed with pain for a few minutes. Finally, Percy opened his eyes slowly. His left arm wasn't supposed to bend like that. The teen groaned and closed his eyes again. His chest heaved as he breathed heavily, gulping down air.

"I need to stop smoking." The son of Poseidon muttered to himself.

"You do." Percy opened his eyes. Nico stood over him. At least the smaller teen knew the trick to Nico's miraculous appearances, another strange, magical quirk. The ghost king knelt and started examining Percy's arm. His gaze was soft and patient. The green eyed demigod's irritation at the other male was forgotten, his mind focused instead on the pain in his arm and worry for his friend.

"She's a corpse."

"Is that what you're worried about? Percy, the Oracle is a corpse because she was cursed. My…" Nico sighed. "My father did that to her. He said…the Oracle would never be freed until his children were accepted. But we are now, at both camps."

"So…Rachel isn't going to become some sort of mummy?"

"No. She would simply host the spirit. Everything about her would remain the same." Percy let Nico help him sit up. "You were…the ground was shaking…did you feel that?" Percy shook his head. "Gods, you are…" Nico's eyes were shining with awe. The son of Poseidon blushed under the stare. He wasn't sure what it meant but that sort of attention…

"Should we head back?" Percy asked. A blush dusted Percy's cheeks when Nico kissed him on the cheek.

"Whenever you're ready." They remained sitting on the side of the highway. Percy tried to sort his thoughts. Nico didn't say anything, and the smaller teen was glad. So much had happened in such a short time. This place was so overwhelming. He had learnt about the gods in school, but he never considered them more than just stories used to explain the natural world. After arriving here he found out he wasn't entirely human, gods were real, his dad was a god…Percy closed his eyes and tried to wrap his head around it, but it just…didn't make sense. Yet, here he was, sitting on the pavement after he ran from a camp that held impossible things: Flying horses, magical weapons, spirits; it was so surreal and all visible proof that it existed. Despite the best intentions of the camp, the orientation video hadn't helped much. Percy knew the myths, which was the easy part, but for them to be real…the gods weren't supposed to be real, and Percy certainly wasn't supposed to be descended from one. Percy gritted his teeth and forced the thoughts away, focusing instead on Nico.

"Does…does believing in this get easier?" Percy asked. His voice cracked, probably because he'd been screaming.

"No, not really." Percy laughed. It was sharp, short, unexpected. The ghost king smiled softly.

"Brutal in your honesty, aren't you?" The green eyed demigod was blushing. Nico always looked at him with such intensity whenever he laughed or smiled; his attention was solely focused on the son of Poseidon.

"I try."

"I'm glad." The smaller teen admitted and turned away. He furrowed his brow when something shifted. It must have been an animal; it couldn't be what he thought it was. Percy stood. Uneasiness settled in his belly, he felt like he was being watched and scrutinized. "Let's head back." The demigod tore his gaze away and tried to forget his paranoia. Nico didn't notice; Percy took it as a stroke of good luck and clung to it.

~o-o-o~

Sally stuffed her keys into her purse as she started home. It had been a late night, later than usual. She'd normally pay a cab, save herself the lengthy walk in high heels but she wasn't entirely eager to get home. She was so worried about Percy…

"Listen bitch." Sally jumped when a man grabbed for her, a knife in his hand. He smelt of sour milk and beer. "Scream and I'll gut you. Now, I saw your pretty face but I was turned down a touch so…I think I'll have one now…AHHHHHHHH!" Sally sprayed pepper spray in the guy's face. She started running, but that wasn't easy in heels. "Get back here whore!" The man stumbled after her, he had been drinking and now he was blinded, but that didn't reassure the woman too much.

"Help!" Sally screamed as she ran. Someone answered her cries. A man appeared and kicked the knife out of the slob's hands. Then a fist connected with his jaw and the guy went down, groaning and holding his head.

"Are you alright, Miss?" The man had salt and pepper hair and warm brown eyes. Sally blushed. He was rather handsome.

"Yes. Thank you. Goodness, I don't know what I would have done…"

"Let me walk you home. I'm Paul." The man introduced.

"Sally." She accepted his offered hand and they shook. It was quiet for a block or two as they walked. Paul kept a comfortable distance from Sally. The woman was impressed with his chivalry. "What brought you out on the streets so late? Work?" Sally asked.

"Grading papers. I'm a teacher at Goode." Sally arched a brow.

"My son attends Goode." Paul smiled faintly.

"What's your son's name?"

"Percy."

"Percy Jackson?" Sally nodded. "Yes! He's one of my best students. Very dedicated to his work." Paul and Sally were soon chatting casually, first about Percy, writing in general, then about other things. Sally hadn't felt so good in a long time.

"This is me." Sally stopped outside her building. "I really appreciate what you did for me."

"Perhaps…I could have your number? Maybe we could get coffee sometime." Paul suggested. Sally was nodding before she realized. She dug into her purse and wrote out her number. Paul accepted the sheet of paper with a smile. "Take care Sally. I'll see you soon."

"I look forward to it. Bye." Sally walked up to her apartment, a girlish grin on her face.

~o-o-o~

AN: I had to throw in some Sally/Paul fluff. I think the idea of him being her knight is so sweet and something she deserves.

Doctors are not judges or juries: I got that from Grey's Anatomy.

HM