Note: Posted with Permission

Warning: This is rated 'M' for a reason, I don't make light of the rating system, and it gets progressively more mature as these go on.

Summary: Nico never allowed himself to touch, only to be touched, it was better that way. Percy/Nico

Contains: Underage drinking/ consensual homosexual contact/general angst

Chapter Ten: Drinking, Dulled Senses

Grover's house was in Queens, and it was just that, a house; not an apartment, and it wasn't even rented. Technically it had started off as a duplex, but his parents had bought both floors after the woman had passed away so now they had a full house. His mother was out of town doing whatever eco-activists did in other countries, giving water, helping provide food, clothe children; it was something she had done with her husband when he was still alive and she kept doing it even after his death to sort of honor his memory, and the boys were setting up the house for a house party. Grover felt a pang of guilt about the whole situation because he knew his mom was doing good work, but then again he felt like he deserved this kind of thing. He was graduating that weekend.

They placed coolers all around the designated party rooms, and they locked the doors that shouldn't have been opened, like Grover's mother's room and Grover's room, but they left the guest room open for those couples who would have preferred a little privacy, and by couples he meant Percy and Nico as they had told him about their mutual meeting the night before, and plans for continuing it tonight. They left out the detail of course, Grover had asked to be left ignorant of who did what to whom. The kissing didn't bother him so much as make him wish that Juniper was there so he could have room in which to need privacy as well.

Speaking of his girlfriend his phone began to ring, "Hello?" He asked.

"Hey Gro-Gro," He shuddered at the nickname. "Annabeth kicked us out, but she doesn't entirely hate Percy anymore, just kind of resents that he didn't wait for them to be officially broken-up, she says Nico didn't even give her body time to cool before he tried to replace her."

"Well, if she wanted to be in his place I think she probably should have listened to Percy then she wouldn't have had to worry about cooling bodies…"

"Oh grow up," Juniper said and he could picture her rolling her eyes. "Anyway, me and Rachel are on the way over to your house, take that food I have warming up in your stove out and when we get there I'll set it up."

"Juni, baby, these kids are going to be drunk off their asses, they're not going to care how the food is laid out." He laughed when she contested him otherwise and he said, "Alright, alright. I'll get your snacks out of the oven."

"Thank you," She said. "I love you."

"Love you too, beautiful." Then he hung up the phone. "I swear I'm going to marry that girl."

"I call best man," Percy laughed.

"Ring bearer!" Nico smiled.

"I'm pretty sure Juniper'll be making all the plans, but I'll be pulling for both of you," Grover chuckled. "I better go get that food out." Percy made a whipping noise and Grover rolled his eyes. Then he slipped into the kitchen, and Percy smiled.

"I thought he'd never leave," Percy laughed and handed Nico a wine cooler. "You've never come and drank with us."

"I was afraid I might get drunk and try to rape you," Nico said, a smile on his face, but his seriousness was hardly lost on Percy. "I don't guess I'll have to worry about that now," Percy kissed him and opened the wine cooler for him.

"No worries. Drink."

"I've never—"

"You'll like it," Percy said with his patented grin.

"Is this what peer pressure feels like?"

"It'd only be peer pressure if you didn't want to," Nico rolled his eyes but put the alcohol to his lips. Opening his mouth he let it fill his throat and he was surprised at the fizzing taste, but as soon as he swallowed it burnt going down. His eyes watered and Percy laughed at him. "Taste good?" He asked, but before Nico could answer he pushed their lips together and passed his tongue between Nico's teeth. The muscle in his mouth took him by surprise, Nico had been kissed a consecutive of ten different times in his life now on the lips, and Percy seemed intent on making that number increase tenfold every few hours. "Yup," Percy laughed. "It tastes fine."

"You're horrible," Nico said, there was something odd going on inside of him and he thought he should probably blame the alcohol as his head began to swoon.

"You like it," Percy countered and he pushed his tongue in Nico's mouth again, pulling the boy down onto the couch. He ran his hands up Nico's shirt, they had changed the moment they'd come to Grover's house, and Nico took a struggling breath, trying to suck in air around Percy's tongue. Reluctantly he pulled back and straddled Percy's hips.

"You're trying to get me drunk," Nico accused.

"You'll never know unless you keep drinking." Percy raked his fingers against Nico's shoulders. "Take another drink." The younger teen did as was instructed and drained the glass in his hand. "Now kiss me," Laughing a giggling laugh Nico leaned down and smashed his mouth against Percy's.

"I was gone for five minutes!" Grover yelled upon retry to the living room.

"That's five minutes too long, man." Percy laughed as Nico began attack his neck. "He's a lightweight, one Mike's Hard and he's buzzed."

"I'm buzzed?" Nico asked, swaying on Percy's hips and launching another assault. "I don't think I'm buzzed," He pulled back and gave the teen underneath him a look that said he wouldn't believe such scandalous lies.

"You're right, you're not buzzed," Percy said with a chuckle. "Grover, get Nico another Mike's." Grover sighed and walked forward, grasping Nico by the arm and pulling him off of Percy.

"Like hell I will, we're getting you something to eat so you don't get drunk before the girls get here, let alone everyone else." Then he dragged a pouting Nico behind him into the kitchen, Percy was unable to stop laughing from his position on the couch at the look on his lover's face, complete and utter confusion.

"Wait…wait, my favorite lips are in there," Nico yelled, pointing towards the couches.

"Maybe some coffee too," Grover thought aloud. "You shouldn't let Percy get you drunk, not that he could take advantage of you I guess."

"Damn straight!" Nico giggled. Grover handed him a small plate of food, a couple of hot wings and enchiladas. "I'm not hungry,"

"Just nibble on it for a while, I'll put some coffee on for you."

"I'm not thirsty either!" Nico laughed and Grover shook his head, he hadn't been expecting to deal with drunk people until well after he was inebriated himself.

"Take that back in there, Percy might feed you." Nico perked up at the sound of Percy's name and he turned around, walking back into the living room. Grover shook his head and quickly set up a pot of coffee, it was probably best for him to be doing this now instead of later on. Back in the reclining room Nico seated himself beside Percy, who had turned the television on, truthfully he was glad to be distracted from his Annabeth worries, everything had been going fine in their break-up, he didn't think she had very much right to be upset with him, it wasn't as if he'd cheated on her with the continuation of their relationship in mind.

But Nico sat down again and Percy sat up. "Welcome back," He smiled and handed Nico another wine cooler.

"Here," Nico said and gave Percy the food. "Grover said something about you feeding yourself or something." Percy smiled because he knew that that was not what Grover had given Nico the food for, but truthfully he just wanted to see what kind of drunk the boy was, he wouldn't be too far behind him. Nico twisted the lid to the alcoholic beverage off and immediately began to chug it.

"Whoa—whoa, no, slow down babe." Percy laughed, helping him to tip the bottle back down. "It's better if you nurse it." Nico did as he was told, and he leaned against Percy, slipping under his arm. They settled in on the couch, Nico getting slowly more drunk but the warm distraction of Percy's right side made him quiet, if not a bit lusty. When the taller brunet began watching basketball Nico decided that he wanted to make-out and grabbed Percy's face.

"I wanna a kiss," He said, but it sounded like: eye wunna kees. Percy's eyes tarried back over to the television momentarily, the Cavaliers were on and he hadn't gotten to watching this particular game. "Percy!"

"Sorry, sorry." Percy laughed and Nico moved over into his lap.

"You like sports more than you like me," Nico pouted.

"No way," Percy smirked and Nico stole a kiss, inexpertly working his tongue into Percy's mouth, trying, and failing, to imitate the way Percy had kissed him earlier. Percy smiled into the kiss and gingerly tongued Nico back, wrapping the muscle around the other boy's and eliciting a moan from the slim Italian.

"We need a spray bottle to keep those two apart." Rachel's laughing voice broke through the intimate air of the room. "Sports and sex, I bet you're in heaven right now Perce."

"More than heaven," Percy said and he had trouble pulling Nico off of him.

"Horny," Nico whispered in his ear.

"Rachel's here," Percy laughed. "And so is Juniper." Turning around as if he hadn't just heard Rachel speak it was as if he were seeing them for the first time and a brilliant smile took over Nico's features.

"Oh shit," said Rachel. "he's drunk."

"Already?" Juniper asked with a look of concern.

"Hey babe," Grover said coming into the room with a mug. "Hey Rach,"

"Why does everyone call me that?" Rachel sighed. "Also, why is he drunk already?"

"Percy's taking advantage of our youngest friend," Grover supplied handing Nico the cup of coffee. "Here, drink this." Taking a seat on the couch beside the embracing couple he pulled Juniper to his own lap. "I've been missing you,"

"I missed you too Gro-Gro," Juniper pressed her lips lightly against Grover's. "I'll go set up the food, come help me in the kitchen, baby." The lanky teen's eyebrows waggled and Juniper laughed at his antics, then she grabbed his hand and pulled him off towards the kitchen.

"Well damn, I'm making-out with the first person who walks through that just so I have something to do while all my friends suck face with each other." Rachel sighed and crossed her arms, and they waited for the first few guests to arrive. Hilariously the first person to walk through the door was Mina Beauregard, Selena's slightly younger sister, and Percy laughed because, although beautiful, Mina was notoriously frigid when it came to the boyfriends she had had; Percy was sure she'd never even kissed with any of them.

"Good luck with that," Percy smiled, elbowing Rachel lightly.

"Challenge accepted," Rachel smirked back, she pulled her hair into a ponytail, making sure it was out of her face, and then she grabbed two wine coolers and sauntered her way towards the white-blonde haired girl. Percy laughed again and waved to Selena and Charles Beckendorf followed closely behind Rachel's newest conquest. They smiled back at him, and when Charles motioned to Nico he mouthed 'Annabeth' and Percy shook his head. Charles shrugged and continued on into the party, at some point Grover had switched the speaker systems on and radio play music was streaming all over the house.

More and more people began to show up and eventually it starting looking like a dressed down version of prom. Thankful of the locked doors that blocked people from messing up too much stuff Grover went around greeting people and making sure they were nice and un-sober, and he was generally being a good host. After some point Percy had misplaced Nico, the younger man had said he was going to the bathroom, but that had been a good twenty minutes ago. "Have you seen Nico?" He asked Chris Rodriguez, who was holding hands with the not stocky but muscular girl Clarisse.

"Go away, Jackson." Clarisse said, trying to look like she and Chris hadn't been going at it like rabbits, but her angular face was flushed rather red.

"I think he's downstairs, they set up Rock Band down there." Chris said, forever the redeeming factor for Clarisse's unbridled grouchiness. How he dealt with her no one was sure.

"Christ," Percy said and then thanked Chris and Clarisse and was moving towards the stairs all in the same moment. True to Chris' word Rock Band had been set up downstairs on their, and standing between a couple of guitar players and in front of a drummer was Nico di Angelo, swaying back and forth as he sang. Percy had always thought Nico had a good voice, and even in his slightly drunken stupor he was still true to his word, even if he was singing Paramore. What Percy found comical about the situation was that in one hand was a microphone which was pressed to his lips, and in the other was an open can of Miller Light. There was absolutely no telling how much Nico had had to drink in the time Percy had been unable to find him.

When the song ended Percy grabbed the microphone out of Nico's hand quickly and apologized to the rest of the "band" as he stole their protesting singer. "Having fun?" Percy asked, feeling a buzz himself, but unlike Nico he was more of an experienced drinker than he let on. He and Grover had been getting alcohol from Grover's cousin since said relative had turned of age. Nico didn't say anything else as he noticed whose arms he had been captured by, instead he let Percy drag him up the stairs, then in a quick and lucid motion he had him pinned down against the wall. "Ni—"

Nico forced his mouth down on Percy's before he could say anything; there was a small gasp from the people around who weren't exactly clued into their situation. Word had travelled around school that Nico was gay, but what had transpired between him and the more popular jockish brunet hadn't yet gained any gossipmongers. "Percy," Nico said, his eyes drooping a little. "I've never been this drunk."

"You've never been drunk at all before, buddy." Percy reminded him.

"Oh yeah," Then Nico smiled and kissed him again. "You wanna do it?" For the first time in their history as friends and then more Percy founding himself blushing; it wasn't from the question itself, but the fact that it had been asked so loudly. Everyone that could hear them over the music was staring as if they were waiting on Percy's response. Now, embarrassment aside, Percy was still a teenage boy with a newly unleashed libido. He swallowed thickly and nodded his head, and Nico grinned even wider.

"What happened to that coffee you were supposed to drink?"

"It was disgusting! I only drink Premium Colombian Roasted coffee!" Percy just shook his head with a smile and let Nico lead him to the room that had been reserved for them. When they opened the door they were presented two very white skinned girls who were down to their bras and panties, embracing deeply. One girl with beautiful straight hair so fair it was almost white, and the other with hair the color of burning coals. Mina's bright baby blue eyes widened at seeing Percy and Nico emerging into the room, but then Rachel bit into her collarbone and she stifled a moan.

"This room's occupied, Perce," Rachel informed him as if she didn't have time to stop, her fingers leaving angry red marks along Mina's beautiful milk white skin. Percy's mouth fell open, and Nico huffed, upset they had to find somewhere else. "You just going to stand there and watch?" This time her voice was angry and Percy blinked, then he closed the door as quickly as he opened it.

"That was so hot." Was all Percy could say and Nico was pulling him along to another room. They stood outside of Grover's room, but this time Percy knocked on the door. It took about fifteen seconds for a shirtless Grover to answer the door, his pants unbuckled.

"What's up?" He asked, his lips puffed up and his eyes slightly glazed over.

"Rachel took the guest room," Percy said. "You mind if we use your mom's?" Grover looked like he was going to protest, but Juniper called his name and he bit his lips.

"Yeah, sure, whatever, just—uh—clean it back up, okay?" Percy smiled and clasped hands with Grover.

"Get it, G-man."

"I'd say you too, but Nico's already coming out of his shirt so I think it's a sure thing." Percy turned around and sure enough his normally very conservative friend turned lover was halfway out of his clothing. He didn't have time to admire Nico's flawless and smooth body, he might have if the boy hadn't begun to unbutton his pants.

"Yeah, okay. I'm sure Charlie'll keep everyone in line,"

"Yeah," Juniper called his name again and Grover looked like someone had given him the key to the city. "I gotta go." The door was closed in their faces and Percy stopped Nico before he could completely come out of his pants.

"Come on babe, one more room to go," They made it to Nico's parent's room and Percy ran his hand along the door frame and grabbed the hidden key, he opened the door. "After you," He smiled as Nico walked into the nondescript bedroom and they landed on the enormous bed in the middle of it, Percy closing and locking the door behind him.

When they were done Nico felt a mix of pain and pleasure, pain mainly because he still wasn't exactly used to being penetrated, and pleasure because being penetrated was quite possibly one of the best experiences of his life. His mind was slowly losing the boozy fog that had worked its way over his thoughts in no small thanks to Percy. He didn't have a hangover, but then again he wasn't sure that he would be so lucky in the morning. "Why do I ever leave the bed if you're in it" Percy asked, his chest heaving.

"That's a good question, I think I'll petition your mom to just give you all day bed passes," Nico laughed and Percy kissed him. "Wanna go again?"

"Nico," Percy laughed this time. "We have to get back to the party," Nico's brow drew together in annoyance and Percy laughed again, kissing the small wrinkle off of his—was Nico his boyfriend? Yes. Off of his boyfriend's forehead. "You know, Paul wants us to go college."

"I can't afford…" Nico started, and then he stopped himself. "I mean maybe I can now; where?"\

"The university he works at, says he'll get us in, probably for free, and that if we don' know what we want to do we can just work on general education."

"That—what do you think? We don't have anything else to do, and it would be nice to have a college degree. Plus, it's free, who can argue with free?"

"I know, I told him I was going to go, but that I wasn't sure if you would want to come." Nico snuggled closer to Percy.

"I want to be wherever you are."

"God this is so much better," Percy let his head hit the pillow. "This relationship. Do you know what it's like to have someone agree with you? It's like the best thing ever."

"You're the best thing ever," Nico said.

"You're still drunk, and I have an easily inflated ego, just so you know I won't stop comments like that anymore." He kissed Nico again and Nico rolled on top of him, pushing their naked bodies together. "Nico…"

"Just one more time?" Nico begged.

"Damn it, I think you're turning into a nympho." Then they were kissing again. "Just one more time, then we really should go have fun with our friends." Nico didn't answer, instead he surrendered under Percy's touch all too happily, smiling that he had gotten his way. He'd gone so long without ever getting his way and it felt good.

When they finally emerged the party was still in relatively full swing. A few people had left, but mostly everyone was still there. When they thought that Juniper and Grover weren't watching Percy and Grover exchanged high fives and fist bumps, and perhaps half an hour later a disheveled Mina Beauregard stepped her way out of the guest room. Her eyes were wide and her knees were weak, but she was smiling from ear to ear as she leaned against Rachel.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" Mina asked.

"Sure, sweetpea." Rachel laughed and for the show of Percy and Grover and anyone else who might have been interested she grabbed the girl to her and kissed her deeply, theatrically. It was a movie kiss, the kind that was seen but few people had ever actually had as she leaned the girl back, testing her flexibility and her years of ballet. God, Rachel loved ballet now, it made the body so limber.

"Mina, we have to go," Selena said, not amused. "Thank you Rachel for deflowering my sister."

"It's my specialty," Rachel smiled, and Charles shook his head behind his fuming girlfriend, trying desperately to hide a smile. Secretly he thought Rachel was hilarious, but if he let his girlfriend know that she would have his head. He waved good-bye to them and took the Beauregard girls back home. "I love blondes,"

"I prefer brunets," Percy and Grover said at the same time and they laughed together, high fiving.

"That might have been sweet," Juniper said.

"If you two didn't hang out way too much," Nico finished for her. They spent the rest of the night mingling amongst other people, setting system in every room that had a television (all but Grover's room and his mom's room of course) and hooking games. Most of the girls opted not to play, instead talking amongst each other and or trying to persuade her sweet heart to pay attention to her instead of that silly old game. Rachel on the other hand grabbed the first player controller and dared anyone to take it from her.

It was around three thirty when the party finally dispersed completely. Nico, Percy, Rachel, and Juniper stuck around to help Grover get everything back in order and Juniper decided she was spending the night, so that just left Percy and Nico and Rachel. Percy gave Nico a fist bump and one of those so often seen "bro" hugs, and Nico just opted for the worn out fist bump. He waited for Percy to get done, then he turned to Juniper and hugged her, and when Rachel was done with her good-byes they headed out the door.

To Percy's surprise Rachel's car was outside the house. "How did you—"

"We took a cab to the restaurant and I got my car, Juniper drove Grover's here," She pointed over to Grover's car.

"I'll be damned," Percy laughed, Nico leaning against him sleepily.

"You okay to drive?" Rachel asked. "If not give me your keys now and I'll take you both home."

"Nah, I'm cool, I didn't have nearly enough to drink, this guy had enough for both of us." She looked at him, then examined him more closely.

"Alright, goodnight boys." She hugged them and they hugged her back then they parted ways and Percy drove them to Nico's apartments without any difficulty. He smiled as he had to drag Nico up the stairs and he reached in the younger boy's pockets to get his keys.

"Mmmm…" Nico said, trying to kiss Percy.

"No, just grabbing your keys, Neeks." Percy said with a low laugh then he very quietly opened the door. With one movement Percy swept Nico's feet out from underneath him and picked him up bridal style, feeling a sort of repeating pattern as he brought Nico inside. He felt lucky not to encounter Hades, but remembered Persephone most likely had him detained to the bedroom. Then he opened Nico's door and placed the boy on his bed, closing the door behind him. He had their tuxes in the car and he'd take them back as soon as he had them dry cleaned.

"You're staying the night, right?"

"I can if you want me to," Percy said kneeling down and placing a kiss on Nico's forehead.

"Then get your ass in bed."

"Let me finish undressing you first, then I will." The taller of the two teens pulled Nico's shoes off, then next came his pants. He quickly pulled off his own clothes, leaving only a pair of cotton boxers on as he normally only slept in so much. Soon they were nodding off, Nico before Percy, and that left only him awake.

Suddenly his phone rang and he got up out of the bed to get it. He stared at the screen and his heart jumped into his throat. Slowly he put the speaker up to his ear and said, "Dad?"

"Hey Perseus, I'm glad you're still up." Poseidon's voice was strong, not an ounce of sleep in his speech. "How was prom?"

"It was…good." Percy said, sure that his father wasn't calling to ask him how prom had gone at three o'clock in the morning.

"Good. I remember my senior prom, I got drunk off my ass and fell in love with your mother." Poseidon laughed and Percy felt a lick of sudden anger leap inside his chest. After everything his father had done he was calling and talking about drunkenly falling in love with his mother? "You've probably guessed this isn't a social call." Poseidon said.

"I figured as much." Percy replied.

"Your mother called me," Poseidon said. "I've been sitting at home for the past nine hours trying to think of how to have this conversation."

Percy sighed, he wanted to say, "What conversation Dad? This is the first time we've spoken in almost ten years, Mom told you I was with a guy and now you're showing an interest in my life?" But instead he remained quiet, silent anger like a fire in his chest.

"You're not…you're not gay are you, son?"

"What makes you ask that?" Percy asked, keeping his voice in check. He had to remember that he had just had one of the most fun nights of his life in a long time, good friends, good booze, good food, and a good lay, he couldn't let this ruin that.

"Sally, she said you were with that di Angelo kid, I didn't think you guys would even still be friends with that kid,"

"Well," Percy said, his words measured and calculated. "I don't know what to tell you Dad, I am with that di Angelo kid, he's my boyfriend." Poseidon cursed and he sighed, and then he cursed again.

"Percy," He said. "You don't have to be…you know, that way. The way I understand it that kid messed with your head, you're not thinking straight."

"Well obviously," Percy said, smiling ironically and without humor, it was almost a sneer. "Did you call just to see if I was gay or not"

"I—what's that supposed to mean?" Poseidon asked, and Percy could see his big bearded face looking hurt and confused, trying to make Percy think he had been in the wrong for asking the question.

"I haven't seen you Dad, haven't heard from you in all this time, I don't even know where the hell you are." Percy's anger slipped through into his speech, peppering his words.

"You have my number Percy, you could always have called me." Poseidon said as if he were talking to a child. "Don't try to play the blame game on me, this is about your new found attraction to men."

"My attraction to—I'll have you know that I'm still attracted to women, assmunch." Percy spat into the phone. "Just because I can like both, I have a hard enough time coping with it, I don't need you trying to make me feel any less good about myself. I feel great. Nico is a great kid, you don't know him at all. Hell you don't know me."

"Perseus Jackson, I am your father, watch your tone when you speak to me." Poseidon's voice was venomous. "And watch how you talk to me, you will show me some respect."

"You're my genetic contributor," Percy said angrily. "My Dad's name is Paul Blofish, you might've heard of him, he's married to my mother, and he's never cheated on her, and he never will." Then in his furious state of mind he slammed the phone closed. He sat down on the bed, , he hadn't realized how tightly he had been gripping his hands into fist and he unclenched them, letting the blood flow back into them. Tears streamed out of his eyes unbidden and he ran a hand through his hair.

A pair of arms wrapped around Percy's shoulders then, and pulled him down onto the bed. Percy curled into Nico and cried while the presumed sleeping boy stroked his hair and shushed him. Slowly but surely they both fell back into a fitful sleep, Percy's dreamless and fatigue draining and Nico's relatively the same, just with a protective arm wrapped around his lover and friend, around the young man who had taken all his senses and turned them inside out. "I love you, Nico." Percy whispered in his sleep, and more tears fell out of his eyes.

"I love you too," Nico said and then they were lost to their tiredness.