"PERCY!" a voiced yelled outside Percy's cabin door.
Apollo smiled at Percy, "I have to go now."
Percy nodded and turned around when Apollo started to glow. He walked to the door and opened it to find Nico on the other side.
"Nico?" Percy questioned, "What are you doing here?"
"I asked Dad to let me spend at least a week at Camp before you leave for college," Nico explained.
"That's awesome, Nico... wait, how did you know I was going to college?"
Nico blushed. "Um, I may or may not overheard Apollo speaking to the Dean while I was visiting Hazel yesterday."
"Overheard?" Percy questioned with a knowing smirk on his face.
"Ok! I felt Apollo enter New Rome, and I listened in to the conversation.
Percy moved away from the door and motioned Nico to come inside. This conversation is best in private.
Nico nodded his head and walked inside and immediately laid out on Percy's bed. Percy laid done next to him.
"I used my power over the shadows so he wouldn't notice I was there. I heard him tell the Dean, you were looking into colleges, and he wanted to see about getting you into New Rome University. The Dean was shocked that Apollo was coming personally but knew better than to question a god. He wrote up your acceptance letter on the spot and was going to have it delivered to you. Still, Apollo insisted on taking it himself."
Percy sighed. "Yeah, Apollo brought it to me last night."
Nico hummed, "What is going on between you and Apollo?"
"Nothing! We are just friends." Percy said
Nico sat up and looked down at Percy. "Right because Apollo goes around getting college acceptance letters for every demigod."
Percy's face started glowing red in embarrassment. "I asked him to help me get the application, not an actual acceptance."
Nico smiled. "He is blonde."
"Nico!" Percy yelled
Nico smiled and leaned down to kiss Percy on the lips. Percy smiled into the kiss and wrapped his arms around Nico. Nico fell on-top of Percy gently and ran his fingers through his hair as they made out on the bed. After five minutes of making out, Nico pushed up on his elbows and looked at Percy.
"You have a thing for Apollo."
Percy looked away from Nico. "I don't; we are just friends. I can't fall in love with a god Nico. Especially Apollo, all his lovers got turned into plants."
Nico sighed. "That's true, well, there are other blonde demigods. Maybe Octavian?" Nico joked
Percy pushed Nico off him, "Not in a million years!"
Nico started laughing with tears in his eyes. "Yeah, I wouldn't go for his roman equivalent of an oracle either."Percy smiled and kissed Nico's cheek. "I have you, and that's enough."
Nico smiled, "want to go spar?" he asked.
Percy nodded. They both got off the bed and headed for the sparring arena. Once there, Percy pulled out Riptide and Nico, his Stygian iron sword.
Percy made the first move, and Nico blocked his attack quickly. The spar went on for at least 30 minutes. Neither Nico and Percy looked to be slowing down but halfway through the spar. Percy had taken his shirt off to show his lean swimmers' stomach and golden skin. Suddenly, Percy didn't dodge Nico's attack in time and got cut across his stomach.
"Percy!" Nico yelled in concern and dropped his sword, which, upon release, transformed back into the little sword on the chain around his jeans.
Percy dropped Riptide and kneeled on the ground with a hand covering the wound.
"Let me see." Nico urged while pulling Percy's hand away.
"I'm okay, Nico, nothing a little ambrosia won't fix."
"Percy," Nico said in warning.
Percy sighed and moved his hand away. "see, it's okay, it's not deep at all.
Nico looked at the wound and was relieved to find it wasn't bleeding too bad until he noticed something strange. He reached out and swiped two fingers through the blood and brought it up closer to his eyes.
Percy looked at Nico in question. Nico rubbed his fingers together and then gasped in surprise.
"What is it, Nico?"
Nico shook his head. "Maybe we should take you to see Chiron or Mr. D instead. Nico said, trying to keep his voice calm.
"Why?" Percy questioned, "The infirmary is closer."
"Percy," Nico said in a strained voice, "Your blood has gold flakes in it.
Percy looked at Nico in confusion "it has what?"
"Get up, Percy, we are going to the big house." Nico urged
Percy nodded and grabbed his shirt; Nico put it on so he wouldn't make his wound worse and lead the way to the big house while holding Percy's hand. Nico was on alert for anyone walking by and making sure they didn't notice Percy's wound. Once they arrived at the big house with no interruptions, they quickly stepped in and called for Chiron.
"Chiron!" They both yelled out
No one answered, so they called again.
"Will you brats shut up! Chiron isn't here." Mr.D grumbled as he walked into the room.
Mr.D looked at them both but then focused on Percy. "If you are injured got get fixed up. I do not heal bratty children."
"Mr.D, Nico spoke up. We have something to show you."
Dionysus raised an eyebrow. "What?"
Nico turned to Percy and took his shirt off... "I do not want to see Peter naked," Dionysus said blandly.
Nico shook his head "look at his blood, Mr.D," Nico urged.
Dionysus moved closer and got a swipe of Percy's blood on his hands and brought it towards his face.
Dionysus sighed, "sit down, both of you. Looks like I am going to need to get Uncle Posidon here sooner than expected.
"You know what's going on?" Percy asked as he and Nico went to sit on the couch.
"Yes, but I am not explaining it to either of you."
"But Mr.D," Nico complained.
"No, be quiet." Dionysus said sternly.
Nico shut his mouth while Dionysys left the room.
Percy leaned his head on Nico's shoulder. "I'm sure it's no big deal, Nico."
"Percy, your blood has gold in it! That's not normal for a demigod."
Percy sighed, "You have Ichor running through your veins now, and you are worried about a little gold in my blood."
Nico sucked in a breath and let it out. "Yes, Percy, because need I remind you, just yesterday, your blood was still wholly red. No gold in it."
"Nico,"... Percy started.
"Percy," a voice said from the doorway.
"Dad!" Percy jumped up to greet him but quickly regretted it when it pulled on his wound.
Posiedon smiled "Sit down son."
Percy nodded and sat back down next to Nico. Posiedon walked over and handed Percy a vial filled with seawater.
"Seawater, not nectar?" Percy questioned
"Drink that, and I will explain everything."
Percy nodded and downed the vial. He looked down and watched his skin knit back together.
Poseidon sat down across from the boys and smiled at them both. "where should I begin. Well, let's just get the most important news out of the way. "You are becoming a true child of the sea, Percy. Congratulation!"
"WHAT?!" Both Percy and Nico yelled and questioned.