PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO || Nicercy || The Prince of Pluto || Nicercy || PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO
Title: The Prince of Pluto – A Journey to the Stars
Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus
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: m/m, scifi AU, aliens, alpha/beta/omega dynamics, hurt/comfort, fluff, pining, explicit intercourse, oral, anal, knotting, f/f, m/f, polyamory (m/m/f)
Main Pairing: Nico/Percy
Side Pairings: Reyna/Annabeth, Nyssa/Piper, Octavian/Luke, Ethan/Alabaster, Jake/Will, Frank/Hazel/Leo, Jason/Calypso, Grover/Juniper, Charles/Silena, Chris/Clarisse, Malcolm/Katie, Bryce/Drew, Paul/Sally, Tristan/Beryl, Maria/Marie, Hades/Persephone, Poseidon/Amphitrite, Thanatos/Triton
Percy Jackson Characters: (by planet/asteroid of origin)
Sun: Will Solace, Octavian Simmons, Austin Lake, Kayla Knowles
Mercury: Luke Castellan, Chris Rodriguez, Travis Stoll, Connor Stoll, Cecil Markowitz
Venus: Piper McLean, Silena Beauregard, Michael Kahale, Drew Tanaka, Mitchell, Lacy
Earth: Perseus Jackson, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Ella, Ethan Nakamura, Tyson, Sally Jackson, Paul Blofis, Tristan McLean, Beryl Grace, Maria di Angelo, Marie Levesque
Moon: Calypso Nightshade, Zoe Nightshade, Phoebe
Mars: Clarisse la Rue, Frank Zhang
Vesta: Charles Beckendorf, Leo Valdez, Jake Mason, Nyssa Barrera
Pallas: Annabeth Chase, Malcolm Pace
Bellona: Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, Hylla Ramírez-Arellano
Ceres: Katie Gardner, Miranda Gardner, Juniper
Jupiter: Jason Grace, Thalia Grace
Saturn: Kronos (King)
Chiron: Chiron, Grover Underwood, Gleeson Hedge
Uranus: Gaia (Queen), the Giants
Neptune: Poseidon (King), Amphitrite (Queen), Triton, Proteus, Kymopoleia, Benthesikyme, Rhode
Orcus: Bryce Lawrence
Pluto: Nico di Angelo, Bianca di Angelo, Hazel Levesque, Mrs. O'Leary, Small Bob, Hades (King), Persephone (Queen), Thanatos, Olethros, Makaria, Melinoe
Eris: Alabaster C. Torrington, Lou Ellen Blackstone
Summary: The moon-landing had changed the course of history when human made first contact. It opened Earth up to space-travel, exploring the solar system and their now allied planets. Chiron Academy is the leading high school training future space explorers.
Percy Jackson grew up dreaming of one day traveling the stars. When he gets into the academy, he makes a lot of new friends, among them his new crush the half-Plutonian Nico.
Things change when Nico confides in his friends that he is actually the prince of Pluto – and that Pluto is in the middle of a horrible war. Together, the group of their close friends, they decide to ditch school, steal a space-ship and go out into space alone and unsupervised to help.
The Prince of Pluto
A Journey to the Stars
Chapter 11: The New First Years
"I've been at this school for two years now and no one found out my real identity. You've been here for a year and now you... you have managed to spill our secret to three people."
Bianca was glowering as she paced in front of Nico. They were in Nico and Jason's room. Nico, Jason, Percy and Annabeth were sitting together in front of her like children being chastised by their mother. Ducking his head, Nico tried to hide behind his boyfriend. Percy just smiled and linked their fingers, leaning into Nico some more to comfort the embarrassed alpha.
"It's not like I told them", grunted Nico, pouting a little.
"Exactly!", exclaimed Jason, nodding widely. "We figured it out all on our own."
"Also, in all fairness, when you were here alone, you... were here alone. One Plutonian named Bianca – and your name-translation really differs the most from the history textbook versions. But now? With the both of you, and your sister's visited campus before too. It... becomes easier to figure out, you know", argued Annabeth with one eyebrow raised.
Bianca stared at her, blinking a couple of times. "...Okay, perhaps that's true. But still. You guys, you can't tell anyone. Not your best friends, or partners, or parents."
"Will you... tell us more?", asked Percy softly. "About how you got here? What you're doing here?"
"What's there to tell?", sighed Bianca as she sat down. "The capitol was under attack. Our parents, they... they sent us with our nannies off-planet. We traveled as far as we could, until we reached Earth. We... took on new identities, as just... refugees from Pluto."
"And you plan on going back", stated Percy, looking at her.
"Nico", sighed Bianca, glaring pointedly at her brother.
"He wanted to date me! I had to tell him there's an expiration date to that!", exclaimed Nico.
"Wait, date?", echoed Jason excitedly. "Does that mean you two finally-"
"Getting off-topic, Grace", huffed Nico immediately, cheeks flushing.
Bianca was still glowering at her brother, shaking her head. "Yes. We – Nico and I – are going to return to Pluto, to help our people. After we went through training here."
Bianca left no room for argument to it, arms crossed as she continued pacing. They just watched her. No one could say anything to that. They had no idea what the Plutonians had been through, what the war must have been like for the kids, what the responsibility of the crown felt like, the desire to help their people. Percy turned to rest his head against Nico's shoulder.
"So—o. Back to the actual news here", drawled Jason after a moment. "You two? Really?"
"Happened during the camping trip last week", shrugged Nico, avoiding Jason's gaze. "We were swimming late and it just... kind of... happened. He's very persistent."
"Yeah, this one tried to argue that I wouldn't want to date him because he'll have to leave again", huffed Percy with an eye-roll. "Well. That's not getting him out of this relationship."
He smiled brightly and tucked Nico close enough to kiss his cheek.
/break\
"Welcome to your second year at Chiron Academy. I'm happy so see how many of you made it through the first year", announced Chiron as he pranced on the stage. "We'll start the year off by announcing the official teams you were supposed to form and file for. The first we have are the... Andronauts. Captain Percy Jackson, First Mate Annabeth Chase, Pilot Chris Rodriguez, Jason Grace, Nico di Angelo, Grover Underwood, Juniper Chios, Rachel Dare, Reyna Ramírez-Arellano, Piper McLean, Nyssa Barrera, Will Solace and Jake Mason."
One by one their crew came up on stage, Percy flushing at the title of captain, but in the democracy of things, he had been outvoted. They cut it close, with around a dozen members allowed, they could be eleven or thirteen and they had reached the exact limit. Percy liked their name though, it was a bit of a dorky pun. Like the Argonauts, the sailors of the Argo. But for Andromeda, the Andronauts. Because that was the ship-name they had voted for. The Princess Andromeda, because their captain's name was Perseus. And, well, Percy was weak for a dumb pun.
From up on the stage, they watched the other teams gather. There were twelve teams. Which was startling, because they had started off with 200 students just a year ago. And now over fifty had dropped out already. It made Percy puff out his chest just a little bit that he was still here.
/break\
"I love her", whispered Percy softly. "Look a her, she's beautiful. So gorgeous."
"...Percy, I'm starting to feel jealous of a ship, please stop", grunted Nico with a pout.
Blinking, Percy stepped back from their ship and turned toward his boyfriend with a sheepish look. The Princess Andromeda. After the introductory ceremony, they were all led toward the hangars, where every team was assigned a ship. This year, they would not just train as a team, they would also have to learn how to maintain a ship. The state of the ship factored into their grade too at the end, because a good team had to know how to keep it not just running but in good condition.
"Ni—ico. Look at her!", exclaimed Percy. "She's perfect and she's ours!"
"At least he finally accepted his role as the captain", muttered Chris amused.
"Listen, as much fun as it is to have my boyfriend wax poetry at a spaceship, I'll... go and help Hazel settle in", sighed Nico with a look at the clock. "It's moving time for the newbies."
"Hazel's first day! I'm gonna help you help her!", exclaimed Percy, letting go of the ship.
"It's okay, you can stay here, drool over the ship, amore", chuckled Nico gently.
He kissed Percy's cheek before leaving the hangar. Having a boyfriend was still very weird. He got to kiss Percy, hold hands with him, be so close to his omega. Percy had started stealing Nico's hoodies, seemingly enjoying his scent as much as Nico enjoyed Percy's scent. Which was mutually beneficial because Nico got his hoodies back smelling like Percy. Like right now. His Star Wars hoodie smelt like strawberries and the ocean, making him smile.
"Nico, sweetie! It's so nice of you to help us with Hazel's things."
Nico smiled as he was being pulled into a hug by Maria, peppering his face with kisses. Marie was rolling her eyes fondly, though as soon as Maria let go of him, she also pulled him into a hug. Hazel lingered about, waiting for them to get going. Not like Nico was gonna let her get away without a hug though. Okay, so maybe hugging ran in the family and so did acting annoyed by it.
"Nervous, Haze?", asked Nico teasingly, smiling to himself.
"Yeah, sure. I mean, this is huge", huffed Hazel, straightening up. "But I am ready for this."
Nico opted not to comment on that one. she was so young – unfair, sure, because he was only a year older than her, but still, she was his baby sister. All he wanted was to protect her. He thought it'd be enough, if him and Bianca returned to save their home planet. Why couldn't Hazel simply... be here, be safe, lead a normal life? Not that he didn't know the answer to that one. It was the same reason why Bianca and Nico were doing this, because at her heart, Hazel too was a royal of Pluto. That didn't make it easier for Nico though. He had already lost at least two – maybe three – siblings to the war. Not that he had definite word on it, but... last he had seen of his sisters, Makaria and Melinoe, he doubted they had made it out alive. Word from Pluto hadn't reached Earth in years.
"Thi—is should be my room", stated Hazel as they reached the dorms. "1313. Lucky numbers."
Marie knocked, until a redhead with large, red wings opened the door. She smiled brightly at them.
"Hey, I'm Hazel, your new roommate. Nice to meet you!"
"Ella Dare. You can have the right bed", nodded the redhead. "Nice wings!"
Hazel smiled at that, spreading her black wings. "Yours are beautiful too. Solarian?"
Ella nodded enthusiastically at that, spreading her own wings. Most Solarians were snake-like – or generally reptilian, bit like dragons – but some were what humans would consider phoenixes. Fire-red wings, literally fire-proof. Though they were relatively rarer.
"If you have problems in any class, you come talk to me or Bianca", instructed Nico. "And always... be careful, okay? Also, form a study-group. It... really helps."
"Please tell me you won't always be like this", sighed Hazel. "Hovering and overbearing."
Nico huffed offended and put Hazel's things down on her bed. "You know what. I can spend my time better than with my ungrateful baby sister. I have a-... a Percy to be with."
"You have a Percy?", echoed Maria intrigued. "It's your Percy now, yes?"
"Percy, that was the cute Neptunian, right?", wondered Marie for a moment. "I liked him."
"Seems like Nico li—ikes likes him", teased Hazel with a grin.
"I have just decided that I am an only child and an orphan. Goodbye", declared Nico.
/break\
Nico smiled to himself as he watched the shining blue beneath the surface. It was late in the evening, technically after curfew, but Percy had a special permission from Rhode, because he still had to learn the full potential of his powers, that included night-vision hunting in the water. Nico? He didn't have one, he was supposed to be in his room, preferably asleep considering tomorrow the new semester officially started with classes. But Percy, in the water, in his blue kitten form? How could Nico possibly stay in his room when there was a swimming Percy to be watched?
"Stalker."
Nico jumped slightly at the accusatory voice. When he turned around, Rhode stood behind him with a teasing smile on her lips. She approached him and sat down next to him on the hill, watching.
"Relax, I am just... teasing", assured Rhode with a small smile. "You seem to like him a lot, mh."
"I... I mean, he's my boyfriend now", mumbled Nico a bit flushed.
"Dating a prince. Must be exciting", laughed Rhode. "Though knowing Percy, he'll probably not even be fazed by it, mh? He's not the type to be hung up on status."
"...Does anyone on campus not know who we are?", sighed Nico frustrated.
"In all fairness, I am literally the princess of your neighboring planet", chuckled Rhode. "And, I admit, I didn't notice at first. I've been in more contact with my father lately and we talked about your, well, about your father. You know our fathers used to be close. He sent me an adorable picture of the two of them and King Zeus, all around your age. You look just like your father."
"I hear that more often than I care to", sighed Nico, eyes becoming more sad.
"For... For what it's worth, my father says they're alright", whispered Rhode softly, searching Nico's face. "Your family, I mean. Though... until recently, I had assumed you and your two sisters were dead. You're the ones said to have... died."
"M... Mel and Kari are... alive?", asked Nico, voice wavering a little.
"Melinoe and Makaria are very much alive. They've sought refuge on Neptune, after the forces of King Kronos took Parthenope", assured Rhode, wrapping an arm around Nico's shoulders.
Parthenope, the asteroid that Melinoe and Makaria used to rule. When it had been taken by Kronos, that was... that was why Nico thought his sisters had died. He sacked in relief, a sob wrecking his body. He wasn't a crier. He was tough. This wasn't something to be tough about. Rhode made a soft noise as she pulled him into a full hug, gently patting his back as he sobbed into her shoulder.
"I miss them", admitted Nico in a small voice.
He was so strong. Rhode had seen him at training, not just physically but mentally strong. Sometimes, seeing these young cadets train, it was easy to forget that they were still children. He was sixteen now, that time where one wasn't a real adult yet but wasn't fully a child anymore either. Right now, in her arms, sobbing, he looked very much like a child to her.
/break\
School was a little less cool when everyone only looked at you as 'the little sister of x'. Wherever Hazel went, she was either 'Bianca's little sister', or 'Nico's little sister'. This was the wrong path to make her own name, because here, she stood in their shadows. Sometimes, she imagined what it'd be like had she gotten to grow up at the palace. She'd probably still be in the shadow of Bianca and Nico, but also... Zagraeus, Melinoe and Makaria. Hazel had only been four years old when they left Pluto, she only had a shady shadow of a memory of her other older siblings. She wished she remembered them. Not that Bianca and Nico remembered them too well either, Nico was a year and a half older than her, Bianca over a year older than Nico. It summed up. Bianca had the most memories of them still. Stories from her and from Maria and Marie were the only way she even had a notion of her older siblings. Nico had told them the other day that apparently, their sisters were safe on Neptune (and, apparently, Rhode knew who they were too).
"You are very enthusiastic", stated Ella with a smile.
The two roommates were in the library. Nico had advised her to form a study-group and, after the first week of very overwhelming classes, Hazel had to admit he may be right. There were just so many classes that wanted so much from them – not just regular school-classes, all the planets' history, the various biology courses, physical training. It was so much. Hazel and Ella had asked the two girls from the room opposite theirs to join them – Miranda Gardner, from Ceres, and Lou Ellen Blackstone, from Eris. The four of them were studying together for Neptunian 101.
"I wanna learn. It's... fun", shrugged Hazel, tilting her head a bit. "I wanna prove myself."
"Ah, yes. You share the suffering of having an older sibling already here", sighed Miranda.
Her older sister Katie Gardner was in the same year as Nico. It was nice, having someone who understood the annoyance of being 'the little sister'. They were here to become strong, not to be little siblings. Their older siblings weren't on the same team though. Teams. Nico had also advised her to start early on recruiting members for that. In the second year, they would have to fight as a team – and that would go decidedly better if they already knew each other. There was so much to prepare for and she suddenly felt oddly overwhelmed.
"Hey. Uh. You guys, you have like a study-group right?"
Hazel blinked and looked up. Two boys stood in front of her. One clearly from Vesta, with the large, leathery dragon-like wings, while the other was chubby, taller and had ruby-red skin; from Mars.
"We... do", offered Lou Ellen. "Wait, I've seen you guys in Neptunian too, right?"
"Yeah. Leo Valdez, my roommate Frank Zhang. We're kind of totally overwhelmed with the whole universe stuff, because we grew up here on Earth and uh not to overshare but not really in touch with the alien-heritage", explained the Vestan with a sheepish grin.
He was cute, with the curls and the grin. Hazel smiled at him and at the Martian – Frank.
"Sure! Sit down. The more, the... well, more we can help each other", offered Hazel. "I'm Hazel."
"Miranda, Lou Ellen, Ella", tagged Miranda on with a smile.
Well, so far it wasn't going too badly, right? She was gathering her own study-group. She'd make it, even without her big sister and big brother constantly trying to protect her or help her out. When they would return to Pluto, she would be useful, she would not hold them back.
/break\
"That looks just so awesome", whispered Percy in awe. "Rach, you're a genius."
"Wouldn't go that far, but... definitely a good artist", noted Annabeth, nodding in approval.
Their whole team was gathered in the hangar, taking in the new look of their Princess Andromeda. Its name was now painted on the side of it in large, stylistic letters. Blues, greens and purples.
"Tha—anks. Me and Nys spent all morning on it", grinned Rachel.
"Yeah we did and we did good", declared Nyssa, high-fiving Rachel.
Percy smiled broadly as he leaned against Nico, wrapping his an arm around his boyfriend's waist. Grover and Juniper were holding hands, standing on one side of them, Chris and Jason were inside inspecting it again. The first week had eased them into normal classes, but next week, they were actually going to start their team-specific training. Reyna, Piper, Will and Jake stood behind them, arguing about how to stock their ship best. Which was one of the problems. Limited space and everyone had their very own priorities on what to take along. This was going to be fun.
"Okay. Everyone, make a list of what you want to bring along for next week's first flight. Drop it by me by Wednesday and I'll review, because you all decided I should be captain", sighed Percy.
"I love the martyrdom he has going on", huffed Nyssa and rolled her eyes.
"I don't wanna be the leader and make the final decisions", pouted Percy, arms crossed.
The others made various degrees of fond faces at that. Next Friday, they were supposed to leave Earth for the first time. Fly up to a space-station orbiting Earth. Just to see how well they could do. They had a probationary flier's license for now, not enough to be allowed to fly to other planets, but the space-station was allowed. This year, they would get their license. Well, not all of them, the pilots. Chris, Percy too because having two pilots was better than one. Because by the end of the year, they would have to travel all the way to the moon for the final exam.
"Why the fretting anyway?", asked Chris with a frown. "I mean, it's not like we... have to stay there, right? We're just supposed to fly up to the station and then return by the evening."
"They'll check our provisions", replied Annabeth. "It's entirely up to us to decide what food, how much food, what weapons, utensils, what else we need. No guidance given. That's the challenge. They test how well we balance this ourselves. We'll be taught what we actually need and how to calculate up on the station, but they want to see how good we'd do without tips."
"So we get bonus points for calculating this ourselves", hummed Jake. "Guessing, basically."
"More or less", shrugged Reyna. "Once we graduate and actually work, we will have to figure these things out. It'll be a good first test to see how well we do."
Nico reached out to lay his arm around Percy's waist too, pulling him closer and running his thumb in circles around Percy's hipbone. He knew Percy didn't like the idea of being leader, of making the final decisions. However, Nico also knew that Percy was very capable of doing that. He was a leader, even if he didn't see himself as one. Because everyone followed him, willingly. Looked at him for guidance, advise, he had gathered them together. What other quality would they need in a leader, really? He led them. That was it, that was all it needed. All they needed.
"Do... you have some time?", whispered Nico softly. "Wanna... go grab lunch?"
"Wow, you two are adorable", grinned Jason teasingly.
"Yes. Definitely. Before there will be more teasing. You guys, lists until Wednesday. No test drives, Chris, I see you eyeing it", warned Percy, slipping his hand down to take Nico's hand.
He pulled his boyfriend along out of the hanger and toward the cafeteria. It was silly, they had barely been boyfriends for a bit over a week, but still. It felt so good, just to think 'his boyfriend'. It was reassuring, to know that Nico had his back – which he did. Nico supported him, had been so reassuring about the whole leadership thing that Percy had caved in the end and accepted. Because Nico believed in him. The two made their way and got a couple sandwiches before sitting down outside beneath a tree. It was September now, slowly getting chilly and windy outside, but today was surprisingly warm still. Percy smiled and kissed Nico softly before they unwrapped their sandwiches and started eating. Percy's smile grew as he leaned against Nico.
Author's note: Next chapter, they'll go on their three day team mission trip!