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), Briareos/Kymopoleia, Enalos/Benthesikyme, Proteus/Psamatheia, Nereus/Doris, Oceanus/Thethys, Phorkys/Keto, Aegeon/Percy, Tiberinus/Percy, Asopos/Percy
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, Tristan McLean, Beryl Grace, 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, Thanatos, Olethros, Makaria, Melinoe, Hades, Persephone, Demeter, Hecate, Chiron, Lupa, Calypso, Briareos, Enalos, Aegeon, Hydrus, Pontus, Thalassa, Phorkys, Keto, Tiberinus, Asopos, Oceanus, Thethys, Psamatheia, Nereus, Doris
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 19: First Date, Not as Planned
He hadn't done this in weeks, was the thought passing through Percy's head as his nails dug in deep and sharp into his thighs. He was stupid for doing it now, was the thought following that as he slowly dragged his nails down his thighs. The too-tight knot in his chest, the one that felt like he was suffocating from the inside even though there was plenty of air all around him, seemed to ease off as the pleasantly burning pain of bleeding scratches on his thighs distracted his mind.
It was just too much. Everything was just way too much. He had never had people with expectations in him. Now there were so many people expecting so much of him. He had brought home the first test of the school year and it had been a D+, which was kind of really good for him, but Poseidon had acted all worried and if Percy was really able to keep up with classes or if he might need some more tutoring since there were so many subjects he has never had before. Then there were his friends, instantly fussing too. It wasn't like they meant it in a bad way, they did it because they believed in him and thought he could do better. It was just... It was a passing grade and he was fine as long as it was a passing grade. But now he had all of this well-intended pressure of people expecting more than just passing from him. Not to mention the swim-team. Their first competition was up soon and he was on the starter-lineup and he knew that Poseidon and the entire family expected him to become the star of the swim-team, but he was already having such a hard time keeping up with the team as it was. The others were so much better at controlling their tails and using it to speed up. But Percy had at least managed to kick Drew's butt at the entrance race that determined the lineup for the official race. Which, of course, did not sit right with Drew.
And what didn't sit right with Drew didn't sit right with Bryce. Hands shaking as he raked his nails up his thighs one last time, he reached up to touch the tender bruise on his stomach. At least he could control the pain he inflicted on himself, unlike the pain inflicted on him by others.
The pressure of tonight's first date was also not helping his emotional state any. Nico was going to take him out on a date tonight. Their first actual date. And Percy was so afraid of screwing up. What if he was being really stupid and Nico changed his mind about dating him? It was a ridiculous fear, he knew that deep down, but the fear was still there. He blinked slowly and looked down at the bloody scratches on his thighs. Taking a shaky breath, he got up to get changed for the date.
/break\
"Nico di Angelo."
"...King Poseidon, it's a pleasure to see you again, sir", nodded Nico slowly and awkwardly.
Poseidon was posturing, arms crossed and serious frown on his face. Nico felt very small and very insignificant and also kind of weak. He knew it was very ridiculous and stupid and that Poseidon would never do it, but this man could take Percy permanently away from him. Legally, Percy was a minor and under his father's care so Poseidon could easily move Percy to Atlantis. Heck, theoretically Poseidon could arrange a 'good match' for Percy and mate him off. Not that Poseidon would ever do that, because he knew he would be permanently chasing Percy off with such a move.
"I know you, Nico, but I feel like I should still at least mention it", stated Poseidon very firmly as he grasped Nico's shoulder tightly. "Percy is my son and he has been through too much pain as it is. So if you add any more pain to that, I will personally rip your little leather wings off. Understood?"
"Of course, sir, that's only fair", nodded Nico seriously. "I'd never hurt him."
"Pe—erce!", called Benthesikyme very loudly. "Hurry up before dad buries your boyfriend!"
She threw a mischievous look at Poseidon and Nico as Percy came running down the stairs. Nico's face lit up as he saw Percy. He was so beautiful, wearing skin-tight jeans and a light-blue button-down shirt, his hair as neatly combed as humanly possible. Which wasn't much, considering his hair had a bit of a life of its own. Poseidon's grip on Nico's shoulder loosened when he saw the genuine expression on Nico's face. Now that was a look Poseidon wanted to see on the face of Percy's future mate when looking at Percy. Total amazement, adoration and love. All the things Percy deserved.
"Percy, you look amazing", smiled Nico happily as he pulled Percy into a hug.
"Have fun, you two. But not too much fun", warned Poseidon.
"Da—ad", groaned Percy embarrassed. "Nico. Let's go. Fast and far away."
Nico chuckled amused, but when Rhode, Kymopoleia and even Proteus crowded in on them, Rhode cooing and Benthesikyme holding a camera to take pictures, Nico decided that Percy was right. Outside, Nico got Percy a helmet and then climbed onto his bike. Percy grinned brightly as he climbed on behind Nico, clinging onto the vampire. Nico's dead heart was racing in excitement at getting to have the perfect first date with his beloved future mate.
"So, this is your favorite restaurant?", asked Percy curiously as they got off the machine.
"It is. I do hope you like it too. Because if you don't, that might just be a deal breaker", teased Nico.
Percy knew it was a joke. He knew Nico wouldn't put such a silly thing as an actual deal breaker, but part of him still panicked for just a second at those words, because he was so afraid of screwing up. One of his hands rubbed hard over his thigh, where he felt the scratches burn for a second, calming him down. Nico took his free hand, linking their fingers.
"Come on. We'll share an antipasti plate and then we'll share pizza and dessert?", asked Nico.
"Sounds... perfect", smiled Percy softly.
And it was, for about half of dinner. Then, while making a sneaky comment, Nico elbowed Percy playfully, hitting him straight on the bruise. Percy hissed and flinched and with that, the mood was ruined. Nico looked suspicious right away, slowly pushing the plate of pizza out of the way to have a little more room. Then he tugged on Percy's shirt, pulling it up enough to see the bruise.
"Percy", growled Nico upset. "You promised you would tell me if something like this happened again. You promised me. I trusted you to tell me if something like this happened again."
Percy averted his eyes in guilt. He had promised to talk to Nico if something like this happened again, though if he was being honest he hadn't really meant that. He wasn't used to talking to others about his problems. Nico grasped Percy's chin, serious expression on his face.
"Whatever internal conversation you're having right now, share it with me", requested Nico.
"I'm not... used to burdening others with my problems", sighed Percy. "And I kind of didn't want to ruin our first date with this stuff. It was stupid. It doesn't matter. Just forget about it."
"It matters, because someone hurt you", said Nico very slowly and very seriously. "Percy, please. I want this relationship to work out and for that we need to talk. Talk to me, Percy."
"...What... do you want to talk about?", sighed Percy in defeat, looking down at his hands.
"Who did it? Who's hurting you? Who's making this school that is supposed to be a safe and inclusive space for all of us unsafe for you?", asked Nico, voice soft and gentle.
Taking a shaky sigh, Percy clawed his fingers into his jeans. "It... was Drew's boyfriend, Bryce. Because I got her spot on the official rooster for the next race."
"I'll k-", started Nico with a growl before freezing when he saw Percy. "I'll confront him in an orderly fashion. And we have to talk to your father about this. No, Percy, really. He's the coach. He needs to know if a member of his team is making another team-member feel unsafe."
"Nico, please, stop intervening", sighed Percy in frustration.
"No. Percy, you don't understand. I care about you, it's why I want you to stop hurting", stated Nico firmly, grasping both of Percy's hands in his own. "I know you want to fight your own battles yourself, because you're strong and independent and you've dealt with your problems all on your own so far, but you're not alone anymore. Remember when your dad took you away from your mom and you were so angry with him for doing it? But... are you still angry with him?"
"Well, no...", drawled Percy with a frown. "I get that he did it because he... Oh, come on."
"No", chuckled Nico mischievously. "Go on. Finish that thought."
"He did it to protect me because he loves me and doesn't want to see me hurt", grunted Percy.
"And how do you feel now?", asked Nico. "How did you feel, until Bryce started pushing you around? How do you feel at home and with the friends you've made?"
"...Happy. Safe. Good", whispered Percy, staring down at his hands.
"And you deserve to feel that way. Always", stated Nico very firmly. "Please, please don't fall back into a pattern of letting someone else take that feeling away from you. You're so strong. Show that not by surviving the abuse but by speaking up and ending it."
"Nico...", muttered Percy, eyebrows drawn together.
"Percy, kitten, doll, please", pleaded Nico nearly desperately, lifting Percy's hands up to kiss his knuckles gently. "Please, Percy, let's go home and talk to your dad about this. Please."
Percy faltered as he saw the pained expression on Nico's face and how much this seemingly meant to the vampire. And Percy kind of hated that Nico did have a good point about how much Percy had been against the change of scenery just to have it actually help him in the end. And Nico was really convinced that letting his dad handle things would also fix this problem. Percy hated this idea. He hated asking his dad for help, he hated looking weak. He wanted to take care of his own problems. But the problem was... he didn't really know how. How was he supposed to take care of Drew and Bryce on his own? So far, all it had gotten him were even more bruises because he provoked them.
"...Fine...", muttered Percy as he held his bruised side.
What a great way to end their first date early.
/break\
Poseidon and Amphitrite shared a concerned and confused frown as Percy and Nico returned home early and asked to sit down with them. A million strange things went through their heads, wondering what could have gone wrong on that first date for them to be here now so serious.
"What's going on, boys?", asked Amphitrite gently.
"Percy. Please?", whispered Nico softly, nudging his boyfriend.
Percy heaved a frustrated sigh, rubbing his face. "I... I have some kind of... trouble. At school."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble?", asked Poseidon anxiously.
"Love, calm down and let the boys talk?", requested Amphitrite, squeezing Poseidon's knee.
"Drew's been hard on me from day one", started Percy softly. "And... And when she got more... annoyed by me, she... started asking her boyfriend to... talk to me. To beat me up."
"W—What?", asked Poseidon surprised, eyes wide.
Chewing on his lower lip, Percy slowly pulled his shirt up some, making Amphitrite hiss and Poseidon swear. For the next half hour, it was mainly screaming and cussing and fussing. Amphitrite put a cooling balm on the bruises and dressed them, while Poseidon called Chiron and set up a meeting with the principal first thing in the morning. When Amphitrite was done wrapping Percy's bruise, she ushered him and Nico upstairs, telling them to give Poseidon the chance to cool off. Not without hugging Percy and kissing his forehead though.
"So... that went...", drawled Nico slowly.
"You should go", whispered Percy softly as he opened the window. "Please."
"Percy, don't-", requested Nico with a frown, reaching out for his boyfriend.
Percy took a shaky breath and looked up at Nico with a firm look on his face. "Nico, please. You pushed me to do something I didn't want to. So I'm asking you to respect that I need some time to myself right now, okay? Because I have a meeting with the principal first thing in the morning."
There was a certain edge to his voice and Nico looked like a kicked puppy, but the vampire nodded in understanding before he turned into a bat and flew out of the window. Percy stared after him for a long moment before he closed the window and shifted into his cat-form. Meowing softly, he climbed into his closet and curled together in his nest, face buried in one of Nico's hoodies.
/break\
Leo was pacing like a caged animal and Frank and Hazel could only stand by and watch. Clarisse was more practical than that; she had stopped her submissive from pacing by simply pulling Piper down into her lap where the mermaid was now comfortably seated, being kept in place by Clarisse's possessive arms around her waist. Clarisse had her chin resting on Piper's shoulder. Chris was sitting next to them, resting a hand on Piper's leg to squeeze.
"I can't believe this happened under my nose", growled Luke with a glare.
He was sitting on Chris' other side and Chris reached his other hand out to pat Luke's knee too. Octavian had a hand resting in Luke's neck, squeezing gently to calm his submissive down. Reyna, Annabeth, Connor and Travis were there too. Ethan and Alabaster rounded the corner, Nico stuck between them. He had his eyes averted, glare on his face as Bianca, Thalia and Jason pushed from behind. He didn't want to come. It was bad enough that word about the meeting between the Jacksons and the principal had spread like a wildfire. Mostly so since Silena was the team captain and she had been called into this meeting too and she had panicked. Nico was feeling guilty about all of this fuss and he was also feeling guilty about having pushed Percy.
"What's wrong, Nico?", asked Annabeth, the moment he was forced to sit down next to her.
"...I made Percy talk to his parents last night", sighed Nico, rubbing his face slowly.
"You knew?", asked Piper – and not even Clarisse's strong hold could keep her down anymore. "You knew and you didn't tell anyone?! How long have you known?! How dare you-"
"Piper!", barked Reyna in warning. "Give him a chance to answer."
"I've known for a few weeks. But we had a really big fight about it", admitted Nico, rubbing his face even harder. "I just wanted him to not be angry at me anymore and I made him promise to tell me if it happened again, but he didn't. When I noticed yesterday that he broke the promise, that it's still happening, I made him talk to his parents. And now... he's mad at me again."
Luke heaved a deep sigh. "Don't be angry at yourself. You did the right thing. He'll come around."
When the door opened, Poseidon, Amphitrite and Percy were the first ones to exist. Percy stared at them all in surprise for a second before he zoomed in on Nico and glared in utter betrayal. When Piper, Leo and Connor walked over to him to hug and coddle him, Percy ducked right out of Leo's arms and went to walk on Amphitrite's other side. The mermaid queen was surprised for a moment, unused to being the one sought out, but she wrapped a protective arm around him nonetheless.
"Maybe give him some time, children?", requested Amphitrite gently. "Percy will go back home with us for today and he might be staying home for a few days."
The others looked put out, but judging by the way Percy was practically hiding with Amphitrite, none of them wanted to push it. After the Jacksons left, Silena emerged from the office, looking drained and devastated. Beckendorf stepped up right away and pulled her into a soothing hug.
"What's wrong? What's happening? What's going on?", asked Leo and Piper eagerly.
"Drew got benched for now and Bryce is suspended for the next week while Chiron will sort this matter out, but the way it stands right now, we're expecting him to be expelled", sighed Silena.
"Okay. Good. That sounds very good", nodded Luke, running his fingers through his hair.
"And how is Percy?", asked Nico, looking at her pleadingly like a kicked little baby bat.
"Uncomfortable. Angry. Frustrated", supplied Silena. "Which is understandable. But... give it time."
"...You think my relationship is over before it even really began?", asked Nico softly.
"Oh, don't be a drama queen, brother", chided Bianca and rolled her eyes. "Give the poor kid some time. He's angry and he needs some time to get over it. But you did the right thing."
"I just hope I did", sighed Nico frustrated, rubbing his forehead.
/break\
"Are you alright, big brother?"
Percy blinked surprised when his little brother stared up at him with large, worried eyes. "Yeah?"
"You've been home for three days. So you must be sick, right?", asked Tyson.
Seeing as Percy was staying home for the week, Amphitrite had asked Percy to babysit Tyson so she could get some me time too. And considering that Percy had only been sitting in his nest, moping, it was a great and welcomed distraction. The two youngest Jacksons were sitting in a pillow-fort watching a Voltron: Legendary Defender marathon. Sighing, Percy kissed Tyson's cheek.
"I'm not... not sick. I'm just... kind of... upset", explained Percy slowly. "Something upsetting happened and I... I needed some time to digest it, you know?"
"But you're better now?", asked Tyson with a worried frown.
Percy paused for a long moment before he nodded. "Yeah... I... I think I am."
With that realization, Percy smiled gently and kissed the top of his brother's head before settling in more comfortably and eating another cookie. Tyson hummed and snuggled up closer to him.
/break\
Nico was pretty miserable, even with his coven trying to cheer him up. Hazel, Bianca and Ethan had taken him out for ice-cream. Percy had been gone from school the entire week and it was Friday now and Nico hadn't seen or spoken to Percy since then. Nico had tried texting Percy a few times. Not too often and he had kind of surrendered his phone to Hazel two days ago to keep him from turning into one of those crazy guys who kept sending a million texts. When his siblings parted ways with him upstairs, all Nico wanted to do was crawl into his bed and continue moping.
"Okay. So. I... didn't get a dessert because I figured the ice-cream would melt until we're done with the rest, but... I got the antipasti and a giant pizza to go and I hope that's the right ones."
Nico blinked very slowly as he looked up at the fidgeting Percy standing in front of Nico's table, where a pizza box from Nico's favorite restaurant stood, together with another take-out box with most likely the antipasti. Two glasses of cola were set out too and Percy looked nervous.
"I'm sorry, but what is this?", asked Nico slowly, confused.
The next moment, he had Percy wrapped around him, face buried in Nico's chest. "I'm sorry I ignored you this past week. I... I know you had good intentions. I know you did what you did because you care about me. A—And... I know that... on the long run... I probably am going to be grateful or whatever. But I'm still angry and frustrated right now. But... I also don't want that to ruin our relationship, because I really like you. So... can we... can we put that all aside for now and continue our first date, maybe? Unless... you changed your mind because I ignored you."
"Of... Of course not", whispered Nico as he wrapped his arms around Percy and pulled him in close. "I... I know I was asking a lot of you and I know that it was too much when the others all piled in on you because they were worried about you. I would understand if you needed more time."
"I will need some more time", grunted Percy. "But I... want to not think about any of that right now. I want to think about how much I missed you in the past week and how much I enjoy spending time with you and that I would never want to lose our relationship before it even got a chance to start and like I said, I do know that your intentions were good. So, please? Winter Soldier and pizza?"
"Winter Soldier and pizza sounds absolutely perfect", smiled Nico happily.
Percy smiled pleased as the two of them curled together on the couch in front of the TV and finally got to finish that meal that got ruined by the bruises. Percy absentmindedly ran a hand up and down his thigh to sooth the scratches he had left there last night. The last week had been extremely rough on him. He had been avoiding all of his friends and his boyfriend for the past week because he was afraid of their pity. He had been pampered by his siblings and treated like a delicate flower and it just made him feel even more awful. He just fell down a really deep hole there. Which was kind of why he allowed Tyson's comment from Wednesday to push him here, even though deep down he was still in the angry-bitter phase about Nico pushing him into talking to his parents and then talking to the principal and Drew's and Bryce's families. It had been an awfully awkward and uncomfortable conversation that Monday morning, but Percy suspected that in the end, it would help him. The thought of going to practice without the fear of Drew's sneers and getting out of the changing room without having to brace himself for a punch to the stomach was... nice.
On the other hand, it was absolutely mortifying to him that everyone was going to look at him like some kind of victim and was going to coddle him about the whole experience again. He had barely gotten over the whole mess of being a poor, abused child. He was just so tired of being a victim. Survivor. Sure, but... did that label really change how others saw him? How they looked at him with pity in their eyes, with this need to protect him? When was that going to stop?
"I... know you didn't want to talk about stuff right now, but can I say something? I talked to the others about it, Percy", whispered Nico softly. "About... About dropping the matter. I saw the way you were hiding with Amphitrite. Everyone saw the way you were hiding with Amphitrite and... no one liked that. No one wants for you to pull away from us, because we all care about you and we want to support you in whatever way you want. You just... You just have to talk to us. If you want for us to drop it, we will. If you want a movie marathon weekend to take your mind off stuff, you know I could call everyone right now and they would be over in twenty minutes."
Percy bit his lips, burying his face in Nico's neck. "I... I wouldn't mind a Lord of the Rings marathon tomorrow, maybe? But nothing tonight. Tonight is supposed to be our second first date."
"I love that idea", nodded Nico with a smile, kissing the top of Percy's head. "I just... I just need you to know that I'm here for you, for whatever you need."
"I... know. That's why I'm here", whispered Percy, voice a little shaky. "But please, can we stop talking about this now and focus on the movie and maybe something... fun?"
"Of course, kitten", assured Nico relieved. "You know, Carter called."
"He did?", asked Percy and perked up a little. "How is he doing? What did he want?"
"Well, he wanted to check in on Alabaster, actually. Apparently, he has forgiven Horus for tricking him into the whole chaperone-thing, but Horus had to do a lot of grovelling for it", chuckled Nico amused. "Carter really has the guy whipped."
"I should totally get lessons on how to whip an unruly dominant into shape", grinned Percy teasingly, poking Nico in the ribs until the vampire chuckled.
"You don't need any lessons on that. You already got me at your beck and call, Perce", stated Nico softly, leaning in to kiss Percy's lips. "You're amazing and I would do pretty much anything for you. I care so much about you, I just want you happy."
"Urgh. You're so... cheesy", snorted Percy teasingly, cheeks dark-red.
"You like it", accused Nico with sparkling eyes.
Percy ducked his head as he snuggled up to the warm safety of Nico's embrace. And yes, he did like it, he liked it a lot, really. And for the first time in the past week, Percy felt at ease, because he knew that Nico got his back. He knew that, being here and having Nico so willing to accept him back even though they kind of had a sort of outfall there? Percy had been so worried that him pushing Nico and Nico's attempt at help away like this would have been too much. But apparently, Nico was serious about wanting to help him and accepting all that would entail. Sighing softly, Percy snuggled up some more to Nico as they enjoyed their pizza and their movie.
Author's note: I've been asked a lot about Percy's self-harm and if it was a one-time-thing. No, it wasn't. Self-harm doesn't have to be a daily routine, somethings things are good for weeks or even months before they become too much again. And yes, Nico is, at one point, going to learn about that habit of Percy's too. But one disaster at a time; for now we have Bryce and Drew removed from Percy's life, so yay!
In the next chapter, things are going to, ah, get heated... if you know what I mean :DDD
Also, you might notice that I changed the chapter-count from 25 to 30. For one, because I suck at math and hadn't included that this story started with a prologue and not a chapter and that it thus should also include an epilogue, so my original math should have led to 27 parts already. And then I figured some other stuff out that I want to include in the story. Like more Sally. We definitely need more Sally.