Percy was standing in his room on the Argo, reading over all of Wills notes. The only light came from the hallway. He picked up a bottle of oxycodones. A piece of tape covered the lid saying, "For extreme pain only." He heard of these before, from television and health class. They're addictive, and if you take too much, they can kill you. Percy thought for a moment. It would be so much easier than trying to live.

Behind Percy the floor creaked. He looked over his shoulder to see the most handsome and beautiful man in the world. Nico. He was leaning against the door phrame. Percy noticed his eyes drift down to the bottle of pills. Percy quickly put them back in their place.

"Leo's finding some where to eat, outside of New York," Nico spoke softly. Percy nodded, facing the medicines again. "Are you okay? You seemed a little mad back there."

Percy shrugged. "I'm fine, just tired."

Nico walked over to Percy with a frown. "He's not getting to you, is he?"

Percy knew who he was talking about. "I can handle it."

"You need to tell me these things," Nico said.

Finally Percy looked at Nico. Nico tried not to gasp at how broken he truly looked. The skin around Percy's eyes was dark, almost purple. His cheekbones were so pronounced it gave off eerie shadows. Percy's crazy thick hair looked disproportionate to his new thin and small frame.

Percy found himself leaning down to kiss Nico. He pressed his blue-ish lips against Nico's soft and plump ones. Their eyes fluttered shut as Percy deepened the kiss. Nico let his hands rest on Percy's hips.

"I want you," Percy breathed. He ducked his head under Nico's jaw, and tugged at the end of his shirt.

Nico hesitated, afraid he would hurt Percy somehow.

"Please," Percy whined, "I need you."

Percy led Nicos hand to feel his slowly growing bulge. Nico bit his lip, then squeezed the hardness under his fingers. Percy moaned quietly and kissed Nico's neck sloppily. The younger boy kneaded Percy's crotch, lost in the sounds he was making.

"Bed," Percy groaned out.

Nico agreed. He lead the two of them to the edge of the bed. Percy sat down first, never taking his gaze off Nico. With confidence, Nico shut the door and turned back to his boyfriend. The room was dark now. Percy reached out only to find Nico standing in front of him. Percy leaned forward and pushed Nico's shirt up. Cool air brushed against Nico's skin, he shuddered. Percy wet his lips and pressed them against the hard abs. Slowly, he licked around his naval. With a low moan, Nico burried his hand in Percy's hair.

They were both hard now, waiting for someone to touch the other. Percy made the move, he tugged at Nico's pants. Nico kicked off his shoes and shoved his pants down, along with his boxers. Percy sighed at the familiar feeling of his hand wrapped around Nico's dick. Nico shut his eyes as Percy rubbed his thumb in circles just under the head. With a steady tongue, Percy swirled his tongue around the tip. Percy held Nico's cock up and tilted his head to suck along the side. Nico took the chance to look down, all he saw was Percy's hair and the slurping of his mouth. Nico moaned loudly.

Percy flattened his tongue under Nico's head, looking up innocently. Nico's eye brows were knit together and his mouth hung open slightly. Even in the dark, Percy could tell his eyes were full of lust. Percy swallowed the head of Nico's dick, he ran his tongue in circles which drove Nico impatient.

The heat of the moment was broken when a fist banged against the door.

"Guys?" It was Jason. "Come on." His shadow under the door disappeared.

Frustrated, Percy sighed and leaned back a little. His hands slid down Nico's toned legs.

"Do we have to?" Percy mumbled.

Nico considered staying for a moment. "We need a better plan," he said, pulling up his pants. Percy sighed again.

"But I miss you," Percy whispered. He stood up, he moved his hands behind Nico to squeeze his ass. Nico let his head rest against Percy's chest.

"Tonight." Nico conformed.

"Promise," Percy breathed in Nico's hair. Their embrace warmed each other.

"I promise," Nico smirked. He pressed his leg against Percy's crotch. Immediately Percy moaned and thrusted his hips forward. "I'll make you feel so good."

"Baby, please," Percy bit his lip, still grinding against Nicos leg. The small amount of friction made him crazy and frantic.

"Guys!" Jason yelled from down the hall.

Nico chuckled and returned to the door, waiting for Percy. Percy was annoyed. He shrugged on an oversized black Camp Halfblood hoodie from the dressers. It hung loosely on him and covered up his noticeable hard on, only slightly.

The Argo was hovering over a small outside mall. There were plenty of people walking around below, none seemed to notice the giant war ship. Leo threw the rope ladder over the edge. He begun the steady climb down to a parking lot. Jason followed. But Percy stood behind Nico, chewing his lip nervously. He didn't want to waste most of his energy. At least he brought a bag of ambrosia with him in the hoodie pocket.

"I can shadow travel us," Nico said, taking Percy's hand into his own.

"It's okay," Percy said with a small smile, "down is easier than up, right?"

"Right," Nico squeezed his hand before he flung himself over the edge and quickly climbed down.

Percy took a step back to hide himself from the others. He popped a whole square of ambrosia into his mouth. A small strength surged through him.

Carefully, he swung one leg over the edge and feeled for the ladder with his foot. Once that was secure, he gripped the edge with both hands and swung his other leg around. He slowly climbed down, taking half a minute for each step. Sweat made his palms sweaty and hair damp. Eventually he touched the pavement. Percy panted heavily.

"You okay?" Jason asked.

Percy clenched his jaw. "Fine," he said through clenched teeth.

"There's a pizza place over there," Leo pointed across the driveway to a busy pizza joint. Even the tables outside were full.

Nico was scamming the area for any potential threats. There seemed to be none. They walked over, Jason and Leo leading the way. Nico hung back with Percy. He staggered every now and then but seemed to be doing okay. Despite the hammering in his head and aching of his legs.

A young man showed us to a booth in the back corner. Percy was surprised they got a table so quickly. The smell of pizza made his stomach rumble. As the four of them walked, people turned their heads to look. Most just looked at Percy, who was even creepier than Nico at the moment. He was a dead man walking, a zombie to the little kids.

Jason and Leo took one side, Percy took the inside seat and Nico positioned himself next to him. Percy rested his head on the cool wooden wall. He wiped the sweat off his face with the sleeve. Leo glanced nervously at the sick boy as he seemed to be falling asleep. Jason ordered them all four Cokes and a large pepperoni pizza. The waiter nodded with a friendly smile and returned a minute later with the drinks.

"Percy," Nico said. Percy looked up startled. "Drink something," he pushed the glass towards his boyfriend.

Percy leaned forward, putting his forearms on the table. He sipped the Coke with a straw. Jason stirred the ice in his cup.

"So, what's the plan, kiddos?" Leo asked. "As much as I like hanging out with you all. I want to get this over with." He drummed against the table with his fingers, bouncing in his seat.

Jason pushed his glasses up. "I've thought about what you said, Percy. About the hole you fell in with Annabeth." Percy stared at him with a blank expression. "And I was thinking, that if I went down there with you, we would be fine. I can safely land us, and even bring us back up, if that was possible."

Nico nodded. "I don't see why it couldn't work. Leo and I will wait for you both. And if nothing happened for what, twenty four hours? We could all meet at the doors."

"Who would stay down there?" Leo asked.

"There has to be someone that can help us," Jason asked. "Maybe the one from that swamp, right Nico?" It seemed like him and Nico talked about it already.

Nico shrugged, "I'm not sure. There's a chance."

The waiter brought the pizza over. He placed it in the center of the table. Jason thanked him. Three of the boys pulled a slice onto their table. Percy didn't, he stared numbly at his empty plate.

"Perce?" Jason said.

"I don't like this plan," he said finally. "Going down there is what made this mess in the first place."

Nico said, "Its the best plan we have."

"Sure," Percy said, his words laced with criticism. "Jason and I go down there, great. But what if this happens to Jason, hm?" He made eye contact with all three of them. "What if we get lost, if we're stuck? Then what? Tartarus gets what he wanted. Two demigods dead in his realm."

Jason shook his head, "We won't die. You know your way around-"

"I know?" Percy interrupted him. He was getting mad now. "I don't know anything Jason!"

"Calm down, dude," Leo said with hands raised. "We're just thinking it through."

"No, you're not thinking at all," Percy yelled at them. A woman behind Leo peaked over the booth to see who yelled. "Sorry," Percy grumbled, leaning back.

Nico placed a slice of pizza on Percy's plate. Percy sighed and picked at a pepperoni with his fingers.

"I don't want this to happen to anyone else," Percy told them. "If I die, I don't care. But if one of you-" his voice broke. Percy clenched his jaw and looked down to gain some control over himself. He slouched, hiding his face

The other boys were uncomfortable. They didn't know what to say. At some point in time, they have all felt this way. But it never seemed as real as it did now. Usually, there is always a way out, a forgotten prophecy, a minor god to help them, or at least a sense of hope. But Percy didn't feel this way. There was nothing. Fate was preparing to cut his string.

Leo cleared his throat before speaking, "We will all go down there if we have to." He raised his hand to stop Percy from disagreeing. "I can't count how many times you saved our asses, or the world for that matter. And I think we can all agree that we would put down our lives for you. Do you understand?"

Percy wiped at his teary eyes with the back of his hand. It surprised him, how certain Leo spoke.

"I agree," Jason nodded. "The four of us would be a lot better off than just two."

"One and a half," Leo said under his breath. Jason harshly elbowed him.

Nico put his arm around Percy and squeezed. Percy looked at him and then at the other two.

"If something happens to me," Percy spoke softly. "Swear you'll leave me and get yourselves out." Nico took a sharp breath.

"Percy-" Jason started.

"Swear on the River Of Styx," Percy said sternly.

"I swear on the River of Styx," Jason said, Leo repeated him. Outside there was a deep thunder that lasted longer than usual. Perhaps Zeus was paying attention.

Nico was tense, he had a death lock around Percy. Percy understood, they'd have another discussion about this later.

"We should finish then get going," Jason said.

They ate the pizza in silence. Jason had the most, compared to Percy who ate half a slice.

Back at the Argo, Nico insisted he shadow travel Percy on board. They argued for a moment before deciding it was better than trying to climb back up. It wasn't late in the afternoon, but Jason didn't want to wait any longer. Leo already had the Argo on the correct path. A few minutes later they were sailing high above the clouds. Percy sat in the crows nest between Nico's legs. He leaned his head onto Nico's shoulder.

"How are you feeling?" Nico whispered. Percy brought the other boys hand up to his lips and kissed each knuckle.

"Stop worrying," Percy smiled. Nico grunted which made Percy roll his eyes. "I'm fine, really. Just a little tired."

"Are you lying?" Nico pressed. Percy turned around so he was sitting in Nico's lap.

Percy looked down at Nico before kissing him, softly. Nico returned the gentle kiss and dropped his arms around Percy to hold him steady.

"I'll take that as a yes," Nico mumbled against Percy's lips.

"I need you to promise me," Percy said after a few moments.

"Anything," Nico said. He traced along Percy's jaw with his fingertips.

"Promise you'll leave me." Percy watched for a reaction. Nico dropped his hand.

"Anything but that."

"Don't be stupid," Percy glared down at him. In his condition he didn't look very menacing.

Nico leaned his head back against the mast and looked up to avoid eye contact. "If I make that promise, then you won't fight to stay alive," Nico said.

"That's not true," Percy spat out. "The only reason I'm doing all of this is because I want to be with you. I'm not giving up on that."

Nico stared intensely in Percy's green eyes. Ever since he got sick the color looked duller. "Then promise me," Nico said.

Percy rolled his eyes. "What?"

"That you won't give up."

Percy leaned down, he pressed his lips against the corner of Nico's mouth, then his cheek, his cheekbone, and finally under his ear. "I promise," Percy whispered.

Nico turned his head for a forceful kiss, one that probably left a bruise on Percy's lips. It was more frantic than any kiss they shared before. Nico tried his best to push all of his emotions into it. He wanted Percy to know that love wasn't a strong enough word to describe their relationship. That it was more than just being boyfriends, they were companions in life, soulmates. And that Nico would do anything to keep them together.

"Attention passengers," Leo's voice boomed through a speaker the two couldn't see. Percy groaned and covered his ears. "This is Captain Leo speaking. Please go below deck, it's about to get a little windy. We'll be there in maybe two days-"

"Leo!" Jason's voice was softer and distant in the speaker. "Turn that off!"

"What? It's new!" Leo yelled back. Nico now covered his ears.

There was a loud bang and shuffling, the speaker shut off.

"I think Jason just killed him," Percy said.

Nico smirked. "Let's go to bed," he winked.

"Thank gods," Percy sighed and pulled him into a kiss. The two were enveloped in the shadows.