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 10: The Truth About Love
"You're excited", grunted Grover amused as he packed his stuff.
"I'm going camping. Silena has asked me if I would want to tag along", replied Percy.
A couple of the hunters were going into the woods for some intense training and camping during the summer break and considering that Percy's dad was going to be busy holding summer courses – introductory courses in preparation for the new upcoming first years – there wouldn't be a summer vacation for them anyway. Not at all, now that his mom was working on the campus too. Usually, Percy and Sally would so some mother-son bonding and go on a trip to Montauk together. She had been so apologetic about it, but then he had gotten this offer from Silena and while it didn't make up for not being with his mom, it would still be a great summer and a vacation.
"Who else is going?", asked Grover curiously, tilting his head.
"Uh, Silena, Piper, Clarisse, Luke, Hylla, Zoe, Bianca, Thalia and Phoebe... I think that Bianca also asked Nico to come. And Jason, Calypso and Reyna, of course, because younger siblings."
"Tha—at's a big line-up", grunted Grover surprised, eyebrows raised. "Sounds like you're gonna spend your summer really bonding with the upperclassmen. So far, you're mainly spending time with Luke and Silena, right? And Clarisse a bit, but – wait, Chris isn't going to come along even though his girlfriend is coming?"
"Oh no. Chris is super looking forward to seeing his mom this summer. Moving here for school was really exciting but he misses her", replied Percy with a small smile. "What about you?"
"Oh no. I mean, love nature, love the woods, but camping? Not my thing. Actually... I am... taking Juni with me to meet my folks", shrugged Grover, cheeks dark-red.
"Wo—ow. That's a big step", whistled Percy impressed, eyebrows raised.
"I... I know we've only been dating for like half a year, but actually that's a really long time? For me anyway? And... I am totally taking this relationship seriously", stated Grover determined.
Biting his lips, Percy smiled at his best friend. He really was looking forward to this summer.
/break\
There were sixteen of them, hiking up the mountains behind the school. Zoe had the plans, she was in charge here. She knew exactly where to go, high up and on the other side of the mountain there was another lake – larger than the one at their school ground and without any house or city close by. Because the hike down was dangerous and hard, so it wasn't really easy to get to that valley, like a dip in the middle of the mountain range really. It was breathtaking, was the first thing Percy thought as they finally paused on a cliff overseeing the lake. They had been hiking for a full day, up the mountain and down the other side. It had been exhausting, straining. But worth it.
"We're going to set up camp here", declared Zoe. "It's where we camped last year too."
"It's the second place we camped at last year, after the first one got flooded because we were too close to the lake and the water rises easily when the rain is heavy", tagged Phoebe on gruffly.
"You guys did this last year already?", asked Percy curiously.
"Well, not all of us. Zoe, Phoebe, Bianca and me", replied Thalia. "But it was fun."
"Still don't know why we hiked", panted Nico, glaring at his sister. "We can fly."
"We can, but this is about the shared experience", pointed Bianca out and rolled her eyes.
Nico's glare intensified as he wiped his face. "Great. Can we like... just dive into the lake?"
"No", chuckled Hylla, a nearly sadistic look on her face. "First, we st up shop."
"We do what now?", asked Jason, leaning heavily against Piper. "I need to breath first, please."
"Why did we take the children with us?", asked Clarisse with an eye-roll.
"Hey, don't lump me in with those", huffed Piper offended. "We're going to put up the tents."
"Okay, great. So—o, where do we put our tent, Cally?", asked Jason, perking up.
"No—ope", grunted Zoe sternly and stepped between her little sister and Jason. "Silena worked out a rooming arrangement. You two are most definitely not sharing a tent though."
"We have seven tents and are going to pair up in them", announced Silena loudly. "Piper with me, Clarisse and Hylla, Zoe and Phoebe, Bianca and Thalia, Reyna and Calypso, Jason and Nico, Percy and Luke. No couple-y shenanigans. If I can't have my Charlie, no one gets some."
"Where is Beckendorf?", asked Percy confused. "This sounds like a Beckendorf-friendly thing."
"Charlie is on a camping trip at a volcano, with Nyssa, Jake and some other Vestans."
"And Will", tagged Nico on. "Will said him, Lee, Michael and a couple other Apolloneans are also going. Not many really hot places to be at around here."
Luke heaved a soft sigh as he got out a tent. "Tav couldn't get out of his family visit."
"Couldn't get out?", asked Percy curiously when joining his temporary tent-mate.
"Tav... and his family aren't really... close", whispered Luke softly while the two unpacked all the parts of the tent to start putting them together. "His dad and grandpa and uncles are all high-ranking generals and colonels, his mom is a captain. There... is a lot of pressure on him to join the academy, to do good, to hold up the family legacy. He hates spending time with them. He'd literally rather be out here 'in the wild' than in London with them."
Percy had not known that. Admittedly, he didn't spend a lot of time with Octavian in general and found the guy mildly unpleasant, but there had to be something that Luke found appealing. Instead of continuing on with the conversation, he focused on the tent. His eyes drifted over to look at Nico every now and again. Admittedly, a part of him had hoped to maybe get to share a tent with Nico. Then again, for the next three weeks, he was going to be spending a lot of time with Nico even if he didn't sleep right next to Nico in the same tent. They set their tents up in a half-circle, with a safe distance to the cliff and facing toward the woods.
"Okay. Can we now please? Water? I feel gross", grunted Nico displeased.
"You're such a pampered princess, di Angelo", sighed Clarisse, rolling her eyes once again.
"If you finished your tent, you can. That tent is not finished", pointed Hylla out, frowning. "That thing will be blown away at the lightest breeze. Heck, Clarisse sneezes and it'll be gone."
Jason and Nico groaned annoyed, both going back to their tent. After Luke and Percy finished theirs, Percy walked over to go and help his two classmates. They were really bad at this.
"Okay, but seriously, why are you two here?", asked Percy amused as he undid their mistakes. "You complained nearly the entire hike and you have no idea how to do this."
"We are here under duress, not willingly", stated Jason dryly.
"Our sisters found this a very good additional training last year so they decided we ought to tag along this year", grunted Nico with a glare. "Camping is... not... my thing."
"C'mon. The worst is over. This will be fun", chuckled Percy softly.
"We will be forced to sleep on the ground", pointed Jason out, looking unimpressed. "There is no running water here, no hot water, no kitchen, no washing machine, no-"
"Okay, okay, I get it, you're both spoiled, pampered princesses!", interrupted Percy.
"What I said", grunted Clarisse with a nod. "That's why the girls suggested to take em."
"Yeah, what do you expect this job to be like? When your ship is stranded on a foreign planet, when a planetary mission takes longer than anticipated and you can't make it to the ship? Camping is a basic survival skill. You're going to have to do this, actually. It's part of the second year courses."
"It is?", asked Calypso with a face rivaling Jason and Nico. "What? This, camping with you for fun, could be... fun. I am a hunter. But... doing this for a grade, in a class...? No, thank you."
"Well, you won't get around it, unless you drop out", shrugged Zoe unimpressed.
"Okay. All done. How about we go and enjoy the water now? Together?", suggested Percy.
"...How did you do this so fast?", whispered Nico in awe, staring at Percy wide-eyed.
"It really isn't rocket science", shrugged Percy amused. "Besides, dad and I used to go camping for bonding, after him and mom got married. It was a good way for us to spend time without mom."
"Yeah, that checks out", grunted Jason with a solemn nod. "You are an outdoorsy type who like slept under the stars and can navigate based on what direction the daisies point or whatever."
"Wow, you are so going to die on your own in the wild", whispered Percy startled.
"Tha—at's why I brought him", called Thalia out. "Useless little LA rich boy who got so pampered by our stepdad, who was only well-meaning but... yeah, this one turned out spoiled."
"What? You'd prefer me raised by wolves in the wild?", huffed Jason offended.
"Wouldn't hurt", shrugged Thalia, heading toward the cliff.
She offered her brother a teasing smirk before running up to the cliff and jumping into the water. One by one, the others followed Thalia over the cliff, fully clothed because after the last twelve hours of hiking, their clothes could definitely use the wash.
/break\
Percy was proud that he could provide something for the group. After their swim together, Percy shifted and dove deeper into lake, catching them a couple of fishes. The archery club part of their outing had gone and caught them a deer. So between the fourteen of them, they got their fair share. They also smoked left-overs to make them durable for breakfast in the morning. They had a fire-place set up at the center of their camping grounds, secured with stones around it. It was nice, sitting together after they ate, just talking. Mostly about the past school year. This also proved to be a very good insight into the upcoming school year, considering the older students had just wrapped their second year while Percy and his classmates were looking forward to it.
"Okay. I'd say we should call it a night for today. We have a busy day ahead of us", declared Zoe.
"...I dread the answer, but why?", asked Jason slowly.
"We will be going on early morning runs together, every day. Then, we will have to prepare breakfast and of course also prepare for the day – gather firewood, best wash clothes and prepare foods for lunch or dinner, because it'll save us time", replied Zoe casually.
"The afternoon is reserved for hand to hand combat training and hunting for dinner", tagged Clarisse on. "We will also alternate some other training exercises – the lake offers swimming, we will be doing climbs and more hiking too. Don't worry, you will not be bored."
"By Aidoneus, do I want be bored", whispered Nico horrified.
/break\
"So, Percy, not to be a total cliche, but how's your dating life?", whispered Luke as him and Percy settled into their sleeping bags in their tent in the dark. "I know Mike's been giving you looks, been seeing it during races of the swim-team. He your type?"
"Tall, dark, handsome guys with washboard abs?", questioned Percy rhetorically. "Nah."
"Hey, heterosexuals exist. Or so I hear", laughed Luke softly.
"Not it", hummed Percy with a small smile. "I'm just pantastic."
"Oh, a puny gay. Love those", chuckled Luke. "So, there any humanoid being you're interested in?"
Furrowing his brows, Percy rolled over to look at Luke. "I... don't wanna talk about it."
"Okay, that's fair", nodded Luke with a reassuring smile. "Sometimes, you gotta figure out your own feelings for yourself before you wanna talk about it. Still, camping feels like the proper lovey-dovey gossip atmosphere, especially since all but Calypso had to leave their partners behind."
"I mean, it doesn't look like Cally plans on using her boyfriend during this trip", offered Percy. "She is really taking this seriously, which is kind of a surprise."
"Well, she's a Nightshade. They're serious and real born hunters", shrugged Luke amused. "How are things coming together for you? You take your personal training very seriously and learned a lot about your Neptunian heritage. I... I had trouble with it too. My dad, he bailed when I was a baby, my mom is human and... she... never got over the breakup. She kind of lost her mind... so she wasn't much of a help. It's why I signed up for this school, to get away, start anew. It's where I first got any kind of guidance and support too."
For a moment, Percy remained silent. Luke was always very bright and supportive, rarely talking about his own past. This explained that. But Percy knew firsthand that pity was annoying.
"It's going well. Miss Rhode offered to help me look for my biological father. I still haven't decided it I want to take her up on that offer though...", drawled Percy, yawning. "I... I think I'm tired. The hike really was very exhausting. I'd like to sleep?"
In truth was he just really tired of talking about this. His mom, his dad, Grover, Annabeth, everyone constantly asked him about this and honestly, Percy didn't have an answer yet, he hadn't really thought on it. Part of him really wanted to know, was so curious, but the other part didn't want to intrude on his biological father's life and didn't want it to mess with his family either.
/break\
As murderous and exhausting as the camping was, Nico had to admit that he also enjoyed it. The barbecues, hunts, fishing, the training, being out here with his sister and his best friends. Whenever they were granted some free time, he got to hang out with Jason, Reyna and Percy (well, and Calypso and Piper, but for Nico, his best friends took priority). Tonight, about ten days into their camping trip, he got to be all alone with Percy. He had noticed two nights ago that Percy sneaked out of the camp for a midnight swim after everyone had fallen asleep (it had nearly given Nico a heart-attack when he went out to take a piss the other night). And, finally wanting some one on one time with Percy, Nico had stayed awake. Forced himself to stay awake, because the days were very exhausting so staying awake was ridiculously hard these nights. It was dumb, probably, because he didn't want a relationship with Percy – couldn't, shouldn't want a relationship with Percy. Yet he still craved the omega's attention and time and closeness. And for the past ten days, privacy had really not existed. Not even when he wanted to go to the bathroom – not that they had a bathroom. But for safety reasons, when one had to go, they had to take a buddy with them to stand guard.
"I'm... sorry if I'm intruding. You're probably enjoying your moment all alone. I shouldn't bother you. You know what, it's stupid, I'll just go back to bed."
"Nico. You can stay, if you want. I don't own the lake", laughed Percy amused.
Nico nodded stiffly, staring at Percy. Even though it had been months now, he still wasn't over just how gorgeous Percy's Neptunian form was. So gorgeous. Shaking himself out of his awe, Nico quickly walked into the water to join Percy. The amazing thing (the thing that had nearly given him a heart-attack the other night) was that Percy's markings were luminescent. Blue glowing in the dark. Nico kept staring in awe, watching Percy swim circles around him a couple times.
"You're doing great", offered Percy after a few moments. "I mean, for how much you and Jay died after the hike here, you're surviving training really well, you know."
"I'm... adaptable", muttered Nico frustrated. "It's still... urgh."
"Well, missions aren't going to be all rainbow, sunshine and diplomatic conversations over a nice, exotic dinner", argued Percy amused. "Some are going to be hard, especially if you're going to become an explorer. I mean... we never really talked about this, I guess."
"This?", echoed Nico confused, floating around in the water and watching the moon.
"Your chosen career path. I mean. We're only going to enter our second year, so I guess many haven't decided yet. But... what are you going to the school for?", asked Percy curiously.
"I... uh... explorer. I want to... travel the... worlds... and stuff", shrugged Nico vaguely.
"Uhu", grunted Percy, very unconvinced. "So—o... you came to join me just... for fun?"
"I... yeah. Midnight swims. Totally my thing", nodded Nico, just as unconvincing as before.
"You didn't join me so... we could be... alone... and... talk about... stuff?", prodded Percy, swimming very, very close to Nico. "Talk about... I don't know... feelings? Maybe?"
"F... Feelings? No feelings. No", grunted Nico, shaking his head wildly.
"Man, you're the worst liar possible", sighed Percy pointedly. "Look. If you don't want a relationship with me, then say so. But... I know you like me. I can literally smell it by now, ever since we both presented, you know. Why don't you want a relationship with me? You like me, I like you? We're... a pretty good team, aren't we? We work well together, we... Just, why?"
They were only a breath apart from each other now. Nico could feel Percy's breath on his cheek, could feel the warmth and smell the omega's sweet, tempting scent. He gulped hard.
"I... I just... We can't. Shouldn't. I need to focus on... on my studies", offered Nico awkwardly.
"Again, you're such a bad liar", sighed Percy frustrated. "It's okay if I'm not... playing in your league, just say so. I guess an Earthly peasant isn't a good match for a Plutonian prince."
Nico froze, for a moment also forgetting how to actually breath or blink. "W... What...?"
"Like I keep saying, you're a bad liar", stated Percy, tilting his head. "And I met both your sister Hazel and your sister Bianca. And while the pictures in our history course were ten years old, especially seeing all three of you lined up together... And okay, the translations for your names was a bit different, but... Bianca is Princess Blanche. You're Prince Nicodemos. I figured it out months ago. Guessed you're in like... witness protection or whatever, for your own safety."
Nico simply continued staring at Percy. Admittedly, when actually knowing all three siblings and having taken Plutonian History 101 one may perhaps be able to piece one and one together, yet still he had hoped no one would. He averted his eyes, unsure what to do now.
"No one can know", whispered Nico urgently. "No one else is allowed to know. Who-"
"I think Annabeth figured it out, because come on, it's Annabeth", offered Percy. "Most others just... buy it. That you're who you said you are and considering all pictures are outdated..."
"It's not that I'm out of your league", stated Nico firmly, looking at Percy with all the sincerity he could muster. "I don't wanna start a relationship with a lie, I couldn't just... tell you that I liked you and then... then date you while not even telling you who I am."
"Ah. So... What I hear here is that... we can date now?", concluded Percy thoughtfully.
"...What?", asked Nico, blinking blankly.
"I mean, if your only reason for not dating me was that you didn't wanna lie to me about who you are but couldn't tell me the truth yourself either because of... reasons, then I don't really see a problem here considering that I figured it out all on my own", offered Percy with a shrug.
Nico continued staring at Percy dumbly. That... was technically true. It was also an option Nico had never really considered before. No one was supposed to find out, he had never calculated for the chances that anyone would actually figure out his real identity. Which, after what Percy had just said, seemed admittedly... naive. Being completely lost, Nico simply continued staring.
"May I suggest a kiss...?", asked Percy fondly. "I mean, if that was really your only reason."
"The job. I'm going to... to join the army. To fight my war. I'll leave you-", argued Nico.
"Sounds like a bridge we'll cross when we get to it?", suggested Percy. "Right now, I just see the boy I like in front of me and I'd really like to kiss him. What about you? What do you want now?"
"Kiss you", whispered Nico back, instinctively leaning in closer.
"Good. That's what I'd hoped your answer would be", grinned Percy pleased.
Now both of them leaned in at the same time, until their lips met. Percy's ears twitched eagerly as they kissed under the moonlight for the very first time.
Author's note: THEY KISSED! The ship is sailing! ;D And next chapter, we will start year 2 - or rather, year 1 for Hazel, Frank and Leo, letting them join the plot too!
that one anon "person": I'm glad you're enjoying it, but I am very confused by why you thought this was abandoned. The last update had literally been less than a month ago when you reviewed. That is not long. ^^°
And - not just for you but for others as a reminder too - I have an updating schedule. All my multi-chapter fics are updated in rotation, there's an update every fourth Saturday. You can check it on my profile for the exact date. ;)
That being said, there will be no update next month. August is Writer's Month, a 31 day prompt event I am hosting with two friends and that I also plan on participating in, for all 31 prompts. Due to my severe condition of only being human with two hands to type, I simply can't write 31 oneshots and five chapters total for my ongoing stories, so updates will be suspended. The schedule will resume in September and the next update for this fic will be September 26th.
