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 knocked softly on cabin three's door. It was getting late, the sun was low on the horizon and coloured the sky pink and orange. The campfire was going to begin soon but the Italian doubted he would show. He straightened when he heard shuffling before the heavy door opened. Percy looked at him with a blank expression, void of any emotions. The ghost king swallowed thickly and smiled. The son of Poseidon's gaze remained stony.
"Hey, can I come in?" The teen tried to keep his voice level as he spoke. He didn't want the other male to know his gaze unnerved him.
"Mm." Percy stepped aside and let the son of Hades into the cabin. Nico looked around at the pale walls. One wall was lined with boating gear, most of which was covered in dust. Light reflected off the walls like the surface of the ocean. The illusion of the cabin appearing underwater was impressively realistic. The teen felt a bit claustrophobic but kept composed.
"So…whatever Will said-"
"Why did you bring me here?" Nico faced Percy. The son of Poseidon lifted a cigarette to his lips and drew on it. Nico internally cringed at the sight as the tobacco turned red hot and burnt to ash. It was a disgusting addiction. Percy's eyes were elsewhere, not really focused on anything in particular; they looked more contemplative. Percy blew out smoke as he spoke. "You…you saw all of…and…I don't belong here." He took a long drag and he seemed to relax.
"Of course-"
"Don't use that fucking demigod excuse again." The smaller teen snapped sharply. His anger subsided some and he hunched his shoulders. "This is all for the prophecy."
"Some of it." Nico admitted.
"Can you take me home?"
"Sure. Do you want me to stop by tomorrow to get the next job?"
"No. I can handle it."
"You don't have to come back here."
"I just need some time away." Nico furrowed his brow. Will said something bad, apparently.
"Whatever Will said, just ignore it." The ghost king requested. Percy snorted. He snuffed out the butt of his cigarette in a small ashtray. The teen must have brought the glass dish with him. The son of Poseidon didn't face Nico, which annoyed the Italian but he didn't press for eye contact.
"It's not about that, alright? I just want to go home. I want some space." The words went unsaid, but Nico caught the undertone. I want some space away from you.
"Did I do something?" The son of Hades asked. He was minutely offended. Percy shook his head.
"Is it really so hard for you to believe that I want to go home? For Christ's sake Nico, if it's too much trouble I'll call a fucking cab. This-my being here doesn't revolve around you. Where I want to go is none of your business." Percy straightened the sheets that were slightly wrinkled on a bed. Nico scanned the cabin; it was exceedingly neat besides the dust. "Did you need something else?" Percy asked. His tone was borderline sarcastic. The ghost king flinched and met the son of Poseidon's hard eyes.
"I'm sorry-"
"Get out." Percy opened the cabin door. Nico shook his head.
"I'll take you back to your place."
"I don't need your charity. And don't apologize either, it's pathetic." Percy snapped. He beckoned Nico out and slammed the door closed. The Italian heard the lock click. He refrained from snarling like a crazed animal, but by the gods he was enraged. It may have been at Percy, at least some part, but rather than confront the stubborn teen he opted to speak with someone else. Nico was a wall of death and darkness as he approached the infirmary. He threw the door open with a bang and kicked it shut behind him. Will jumped and looked at the son of Hades.
"What. Did. You. Say?" Nico bit out. Will looked around, blue eyes narrowed.
"None of-" Nico grabbed Will's shirt and slammed the son of Apollo against a cupboard. Supplies clattered to the floor and rattled on the shelves. Will grunted and arched away as a handle was digging into his side.
"Answer me. Right now."
"I already told you what we talked-" Nico grabbed Will's pinky finger on his left hand and snapped it. "OW FUCK!" Will shook and stared at his broken finger. "What-"
"Answer me."
"No! I'm not going to-AH!" Will twisted and whimpered when Nico broke another finger with a swift motion. "I told him he'd have to win the Romans over because he's the son of the sea god." The blond gritted his teeth. "And I said I wasn't surprised you want to fuck him. I said he was a prize you were looking to win."
"You're an asshole." Nico shoved Will to the ground. He grabbed Will's injured hand and bent the fingers back in place to set them. Will glared at the ghost king. Tears stung the corners of his azure eyes but went unshed. The teen wanted to punch the blond but he held back. That was going too far. The broken fingers might have been as well, but Nico didn't have any patience reserved for the son of Apollo at the moment. "Don't pull a stunt like this ever again. We need Percy to cooperate and he won't if he doesn't trust us."
"Don't invest too much, Nico." Will spoke lowly in warning. The Italian looked at the older teen. "He'll hurt you if you give too much to him."
"No, he won't."
"Attack me again and I'll curse you. I make a bad enemy."
"That's cute Will." Nico laughed. He looked down on the teen, dark eyes lit with amusement. "Considering whom I am, that's really cute." Will turned away, blushing, and Nico left the room. The son of Hades made his way to cabin three. He knocked lightly.
"Go away Nico." Percy ordered. The teen took it as a good sign, Percy was speaking with him.
"It's not charity. I expect something in return."
"Yeah? What?"
"Some of your time." Nico offered. He stood close to the door and waited, listening, hoping Percy didn't take offense. He breathed out in relief when he heard the lock click. The green eyed teen opened the door, wary as he eyed Nico. He didn't let the son of Hades in but that didn't deter the taller demigod.
"…Like a date?"
"Preferably."
"No."
"Why not?"
"Where would we go?"
"Wherever you want. I can bring you anywhere." Percy looked thoughtful. He turned his gaze to the ground and shook his head. "Please?"
"I-I…" Percy looked at Nico. The son of Hades felt his breath leave him. Percy was stunning. The pale blue light coming from the cabin highlighted Percy's attributes and hid his flaws. He looked like a troublemaker; his eyes held a gleam that even Percy's stoicism couldn't hide-one of defiance. Even with a black eye he looked magnificent. The Italian took a step closer-and the door was closed in his face, again. Nico hit his forehead against the wood.
"Why not?" Nico whined. He hadn't meant to and he was a little embarrassed by it.
"You're too good for me." Percy murmured from the other side of the door.
"I'm not as good as you think." The door opened again. The son of Poseidon watched him and Nico figured he was looking for a sniff of untruth. Percy sighed and let Nico back into the cabin.
"You're better than me."
"You kill to protect your mother. I…I did it and they call me a hero."
"Who?"
"His name was Luke." Nico admitted. "Things happened and he ended up on the side of the Titan Lord…"
Nico ran at Kronos, his sword drawn. The Titan Lord countered fluidly with Luke's blade and disarmed the son of Hades. Nico held Luke's shoulders as Backbiter went in. It should have hurt, but Nico's mind was so preoccupied, adrenaline had flooded his veins, he didn't register the pain. He could have dodged but the Italian knew there wasn't much time. Taking the blade was the only option if they hoped to succeed in stopping Kronos.
"You promised, Luke." Annabeth gasped. The Titan Lord's gaze wavered, and those frightening gold eyes shifted to a familiar blue. Luke looked down at his sword piercing Nico through and through. He didn't dare remove it. Annabeth threw her knife to the ghost king who only just managed to catch it with his slowly numbing fingers. Tears streamed down her cheeks, she was bleeding from her head and her hair was matted with sweat and blood. She had dirt and dust stuck to her clothes and face. The son of Hades knew he looked just as bad.
"I can't…he's…" Luke stared at Nico.
"I can see it." Nico wheezed. Luke trembled as he removed the clasps on his armour. "I'm sorry."
"Me too." Nico gripped Annabeth's knife and stabbed Luke under his left arm. The son of Hermes gasped airily. Nico let go and stumbled back. He was bleeding badly. The Italian dropped to his knees and his vision blurred. It was worth it, he supposed. The pain hit him them, hot and sharp, surging from his right side. Nico lied down carefully on his left side. The demigod felt so cold. He couldn't see clearly anymore, but he sensed Luke was dying and Kronos was fading. His existence would be swallowed by the pits of Tartarus and gods Nico hoped he never reformed a consciousness again. Annabeth was kneeling over him, talking, but he couldn't hear her; only a dull buzzing filled his ears.
"Wish…wish for…acknowledgement…like Ethan asked…" Nico breathed. He was too weak to say anything more. He felt something wet around him. Whatever it was, it was warm. It felt nice against his cooling skin. Was he bleeding that badly? The son of Hades felt tired. His eyes drooped. He earned the right to nap, didn't he? The edges of his vision were spotted and darkening. He heard whispering then. It was warm, he was warm. The enclosing darkness retreated, and the ghost king took in a haggard breath. He glanced around, bewildered. Annabeth was sobbing and holding his head. Apollo was smiling down at him.
"Lucky you!" The sun god chimed. "I got here just in time. You almost died."
"The Titan Lord, had it been him, that would have made it easy but…it was Luke. He'd been a good friend. He just had some anger and temptation got the best of him." Nico held his right side. He should have died. He didn't but he should have and he still didn't know why. Percy was watching his hand.
"Why would you help gods who forced you into that situation?" The smaller male asked lightly.
"I don't do it for the gods. That's merely a consequence." Nico affirmed. "I don't care about the gods. Their petty games…sometimes I wish I was mortal." Percy contemplated Nico's words with a thoughtful gaze.
"Can I get back to you?" The ghost king focused on Percy. "I need to sort some things out and…and then I'll have an answer." Nico nodded softly. He didn't want to press for anything, lest he lose his chance entirely. "Ok, I'm almost ready." Percy stood from the bed. Nico did as well. The Italian stepped back when Percy snatched his shirt and lifted it. The son of Poseidon laid his hand over the scar and the touch sent chills down Nico's back. Percy's hand was warm, so much warmer than he was and he feathered his fingers over the skin which made the ghost king's skin tingle with goose flesh. "I never could have done what you did." His hand left him and Nico felt a swell of disappointment settle in his belly.
"I'm sure you would have been brilliant." Nico stated. The smaller teen smiled gently, though it never reached his eyes.
"Let's go."
~o-o-o~
Despite the drama at camp, Percy welcomed it. He was more conflicted than he let on about returning home. He persistently asked Nico why the son of Hades brought him here because he wanted to know what made Nico tick. Although the stares from campers were unnerving and the gossip prominent, camp was pretty cool. His only real purpose in returning was seeing his mother. She was an angel and Percy would do anything for her. Nico dropped him off in his room and left soon after. When he left his room he saw his mom…dressed up.
"Percy!" Sally embraced her son. "How was camp?"
"Hey mom." Percy returned the hug. "It was nice. So…why are you dressed up? Are you working?"
"No." Sally smiled shyly. "I met someone."
"Oh." Percy frowned.
"Don't be like that." She touched his nose before she turned to a mirror so she could put a pair of earrings in. "He's good. He…saved me, actually, from a pervert." Sally smiled. "I've been on a few outings…I like him, Percy. He makes me really happy. Do you mind?" Sally handed Percy a necklace. He clasped it around her neck.
"What is he?"
"A school teacher. He teaches at Goode, actually. Paul Blofis?"
"Mr. Blowfish is your boyfriend?!" Percy gaped. "But he-well, he's kind of cool but-" Percy stumbled over his words.
"Honey." Sally set her hand on Percy's shoulder. "He's good. Not like Gabe."
"Gabe was a smelly loser." Percy grunted. Who also managed to ruin their lives, he thought. Sally combed her fingers through her son's hair. She traced her thumb under her son's eye; the darkened skin was soft under her touch. He didn't flinch away, didn't turn his head in shame. She knew about the other wounds he held and about the scars too, the ones Percy hid, but she didn't ask about them.
She never did.
Deep down, Sally knew Percy was involved in things he shouldn't be. She turned her head away because that's what her son wanted. It hurt her, seeing him with these injuries, but she didn't know how to approach it, how to tell him it was ok and that the world wasn't inherently evil like it seems. There was good and there was beauty if they looked for it.
"Be careful, ok?"
"I always am."
"Percy." Sally scolded lightly. "You're the most beautiful thing, the best thing that ever happened to me." Sally kissed her son's head. "Don't let anyone convince you otherwise."
"Thanks mom. Have…a good date. And if he's good to you and he makes you happy…you deserve that too." She beamed at him.
"Thank you." It wasn't long before she left. Percy slumped on the couch. He should study but he just didn't feel like it. He was tired. Percy lied down on the couch and closed his eyes.
~o-o-o~
AN: And now for something completely different. Yes, I am very fond of A Day To Remember. Thumbs up to any other fans! They are delightful to listen to. I am rather passionate about music; it inspires a lot of my writing, which isn't such a good thing sometimes because I listen to some rather disturbing songs. Anyway, I am looking forward to Common Courtesy. As for songs by them, Casablanca Sucked Anyways. is my favourite. It's beautiful. Every time I hear it I want to cry and laugh at the same time.
Italics are a flashback.
HM
