PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO || Nicercy || A God Among Men || Nicercy || PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO

Title: A God Among Men – Life in the Kingdom of Demetria

Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus; ancient Greece 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, gods, magic, fluff, kink for powers, worship, explicit intercourse, anal, oral, bondage, shoujo-ai, hetero, threesome

Main Pairing: Nico/Percy

Side Pairings: Reyna/Annabeth, Octavian/Luke, Ethan/Alabaster, Jake/Will, Frank/Hazel/Leo, Grover/Juniper, Malcolm/Katie, Chris/Clarisse, Charles/Silena, Jason/Calypso, Poseidon/Amphitrite | Poseidon/Sally, Zeus/Hera, Hades/Persephone, Ares/Aphrodite, Hephaestus/Aglaia, Nico/Drew (one-sided)

Percy Jackson Characters:

Thieves: Perseus Jackson, Luke Castellan, Cecil Rogers, Chris Rodriguez, Travis Stoll, Connor Stoll

Royals: Nico di Angelo, Bianca di Angelo, Hazel Levesque, Maria di Angelo, Drew Tanaka

Royal Advisers & Palace Servants: Jason Grace, Reyna Avila Ramírez-Arellano, Annabeth Chase, Malcolm Cage, Ethan Nakamura, Will Solace, Katie Gardner, Grover Underwood, Juniper

Palace Guards: Frank Zhang, Clarisse la Rue, Thalia Grace, Hylla Ramírez-Arellano, Kinzie Cohen, Zoe Nightshade, Phoebe Burge

Priests: Alabaster C. Torrington, Lou Ellen, Piper McLean, Silena Beauregard, Ella, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Octavian Simmons

Blacksmiths: Charles Beckendorf, Leo Valdez, Jake Mason, Nyssa Black, Tyson

Godly Characters: Poseidon, Amphitrite, Triton, Demeter, Persephone, Hades, Hestia, Hera, Zeus, Hermes, Apollo, Artemis, Dionysus, Athena, Enyo, Ares, Aphrodite, Hephaestus, Aglaia, Feronia, Furrina, Laverna, Calypso

Summary: Perseus is a minor Sea God, son of Neptune and prince of the sea. And utterly bored. Gods, is he bored. Instead of staying bored under the sea, he decides to pose as a mortal and walk the Earth. Throughout ancient Greece, one small island kingdom in particular took to worshiping him, the Demetria Isles. So that's where Percy goes, to see what kind of people worship him.

He runs into interesting people. Lives with thieves, learns from priests and falls for the prince...

A God Among Men

Life in the Kingdom of Demetria

Chapter 8: The Royal Family of the Demetria Isles

Percy chimed happily as he cleaned up the lair a little. Chris observed him cautiously. Percy had been insanely chipper all morning. Sure, Percy was a very happy and carefree person by nature, but this was ridiculous. Chris half expected the birds to chime in and fly around him as they broke into song or something. Raising one eyebrow, he turned to look at Connor and Travis. The two of them were also observing Percy. In the end it was Luke who approached him.

"Percy? You're... in a good mood today", drawled Luke. "Did something good happen?"

"Ye—es!", chimed Percy with a bright smile. "Nico wants to introduce me to his parents!"

"...Nico? Like Prince Nicodemos?", grunted Leo doe-eyed.

"I think that now that we kissed, I really am allowed to just call him Nico", mused Percy.

"You kissed the prince?", asked Cecil, falling out of the hammock. "Seriously?!"

"Yes. When I visited him in the palace yesterday", grinned Percy. "He told me his parents want to meet me because he's been talking about me because he likes me. So I kissed him."

"...Damn, kid", muttered Luke amused and shook his head. "For someone who's trying to lay low, you really suck at that, you know that, right?"

"Yu—up", grinned Percy delighted. "But I don't care. I like Nico. A lot."

"You'll be the death of me", sighed Leo and shook his head.

"Says the one having a princess wrapped around his little finger", muttered Cecil lowly.

Leo frowned confused, completely oblivious to what his friend was talking about. The older boys smiled at Leo in a patronizing way and patted his head while Percy continued cleaning.

/break\

Persephone frowned concerned as she stared out of the window of their palace, watching the high waves crash into the island. The weather had grown unbearable. Ships had a hard time coming through. Most crashed, few survived. The number of ships even attempting to come had gone down considerably in the past weeks. They were running low on many things, the merchants from the market had come before the king and queen repeatedly now, worried.

"This storm needs to end", whispered Persephone.

Hades grunted in agreement, a parchment of paper in his hands. "Yes. We lost another shipment of corn and dried meat from the main land. Desponia is running low on medication and the ship we sent... it crashed in the cliffs, the doctor on board died. Cerelia too is running low on corn. At least one ship came through to Demetria, though I'm unclear on the intentions of a ship from Venia"

Persephone heaved a sigh and leaned back against her husband's strong chest. Hades wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed the top of her head. They loved their islands, their little kingdom. Yet they could not use magic on everything, not if they wanted for it to remain theirs. A secret from the gods. But if food and supplies ran any lower, there was no other way to keep their people healthy and alive if they didn't use their godly magic. All they could do was hope that Poseidon would soon find his son – not that they didn't hope so anyway, Perseus was a precious boy, after all.

"For now, let us look forward to tonight and to meeting our son's beloved", suggested Persephone.

Hades chuckled fondly at that. He was truly curious about this boy that had captured his son's heart.

/break\

Nico frowned displeased, rubbing his temples as he was being escorted along by Zoe, Phoebe, Bianca and Thalia. Apparently, a ship from Venia had arrived and since his parents were 'very busy planning tonight's banquet', his mother had sent him to greet the guests and see what their intentions were. Bianca kept giving him intense and curious looks that made him uncomfortable.

"Mother formally invited me to a 'small gathering by the beach' tonight. For the family", stated Bianca after Nico ignored her for too long. "Hazel went to buy a new pair of earrings for the occasion. She's been spending a lot of her money on jewelry lately. Anyway, do you want to tell me what this is about? Because I have a feeling you already know."

"It's...", started Nico before pausing.

His words and brain came to a full-stop as they reached the harbor and he saw just who was exiting the ship from Venia. His eyes widened and his heart slowed down so much that he was pretty sure it stopped completely and he died. Which would be a mercy compared to the utter mess he had maneuvered himself into. How did one human being screw up that badly on his own...?

"Nikki, dearie! I came as fast as I could!"

Nico's stomach knotted as the princess of Venia jumped him in what was a romantic move where he was supposed to whirl her around. He barely managed to catch her – and with her, the full impact of his own stupidity. How could he forget that he got engaged?!

"P—Princess Drusilla", whispered Nico, swallowing hard.

"Please, call me Drew", replied the princess of Venia with a smile.

She was truly beautiful. It had been a few years since Nico last saw her. But it had only been a few months since he had last written to her. In a desperate attempt to better his public image. He was seen as a playboy, other kingdoms had started whispering rumors about him because he had not yet chosen a bride. And back then, the tensions between Demetria and Venia had still been thick enough to cut. It had been a very drunk night that was mostly a haze and part of Nico had hoped it had only been a drunk nightmare when he had written that letter to Venia, proposing a political alliance between their kingdoms. Princess Drusilla of Venia – Drew, apparently, or rather his fiance, to be a bit more precise – had gladly kept in touch with the prince over the years. After all, she herself was not next in line of succession in her own kingdom, so marrying into another royal family would be her best move. Nico would be her best move. And she would be his, he knew that.

For the prince of the Demetria Islands to marry the princess of Venia – the biggest harbor kingdom on the main land that was easiest reached for Demetria – it was a perfect match. To ease years of tension between their kingdoms and secure better trading between them. Demetria mainly took it upon themselves to take different routes, to harbors farther away and thus delaying every delivery for weeks at a time, just because they had those age-old tensions.

They had started back when the king of Venia thought himself entitled to Desponia, the island farthest away from Demetria and closest to not just the main land but also Venia. But Nico's father had claimed both Cerelia and Desponia and turned Demetria into an archipelago of three islands.

"It's... wonderful that you could make it, princess", replied Nico stiffly. "Zoe, Phoebe. Do show the princess and her entourage to their rooms in the castle. I'm sure the princess wishes to rest after the long journey. Have the cook prepare a meal for them."

Drew smiled, clearly pleased by how Nico took charge and seemed to worry about her. This was a mess. An utter mess. Nico felt ready for the Earth to open up and swallow him whole as he watched Zoe and Phoebe escort the princess toward the castle. Bianca and Thalia were staring at him with serious and confused looks. Really, if the Earth wanted to swallow him, now was the time.

"What just happened?", asked Thalia, cocking her hip a little and arching her eyebrows.

"I... I might have... proposed... to the princess...", whispered Nico horrified.

"Oh. So that's what dinner's about?", inquired Bianca curiously, tilting her head.

"No!", exclaimed Nico, panic slipping into his voice as he turned toward Bianca and grasped her by the upper arms. "I swear I will figure this mess out, but whatever you do, please, please don't bring this up tonight during dinner. Please, Bianca, I beg you."

"...Nico?", whispered Bianca concerned. "I promise, but... what's going on?"

Heaving a shaky sigh, Nico buried his face in his hands. "I... I like boys. Not girls. And I might have a... male lover, that I cherish very much. Tonight... Tonight is about mother and father meeting him. Because we had a long conversation about my... preferences and they want... they want to reassure me that they love me, despite my... choices. So they told me they want to meet this boy I like so much. And I was planning on telling you and Hazel tonight, about... him."

Bianca hugged him tightly all of a sudden, burying her face in his neck. "Nico, I'm so proud of you. I've been so worried about you, but I didn't want to push you. I knew mother and father would understand. But... Wait... What about Princess Drusilla?"

"I wrote to her weeks before Percy entered my life, when I was... deeply desperate to bury who I am and what I like, when I thought that my responsibility laid with the kingdom and that I had to pick a bride to be a good king to our people one day and I thought she was a good political decision", rambled Nico a little panicky as he clung onto his older sister. "I messed up, Bia."

"I... can see that", chuckled Bianca dryly as she gently caressed her younger brother's back. "It'll be alright, Nico. I promise not to mention the princess. I'll even do you one better, have my guards occupy her and keep her away from our parents and from dinner. But after dinner, you have to confront this situation with our parents, do you hear me?"

"I love you, Bia", mumbled Nico with a small smile.

/break\

While her siblings were hugging at the harbor, Hazel had made her way to the jewelry store. She was supposed to meet Frank here, but she could not find him anywhere outside or inside.

"May I help you with something, princess?", asked Nyssa with a smile.

"Yes. Has... my fiance arrived yet? And... is Leo in today?", asked Hazel softly.

"Both in the back", nodded Nyssa amused. "Your fiance came in earlier and asked for Leo too. I sent him to the back and he... didn't return. So I'm assuming Leo has him occupied. It's hard to make Leo shut up once you get him started on a topic, so they're most likely talking. Go ahead."

Hazel nodded gratefully and made her way to the backroom, wondering what the boys might be talking about. Only that when she found them, they were not talking. Frank sat on the floor next to the fireplace, with Leo's head in his lap. The little tinkerer was peacefully asleep, smiling as Frank carefully ran his fingers through Leo's hair. The picture was far too endearing.

"Frank...", whispered Hazel fondly as she approached.

"Hello, love", smiled Frank happily. "I came here to talk to him, but I saw him curled together in front of the fireplace like a sleeping cat. So I took the blanket, to cover him. And when I sat down to tuck him in... he just immediately claimed me as his pillow. Like he was a magnet for the nearest source of warmth. And I... couldn't bring myself to push him off. Look at that happy face!"

Hazel laughed softly as she sat down next to Frank and looked at the content smile on Leo's lips. The little tinkerer truly was too adorable for words. Smiling softly, Hazel brushed his curls out of his face and settled down more comfortably against her fiance.

"But I do have to be on the beach in time for dinner", warned Hazel amused.

/break\

Nico was fretting. He had been straightening the tablecloth ten times already. Resetting the silverware. A long table had been brought out to the beach, Hylla and Kinzie standing not far away as guards. The table was set for six and Nico and his family were already there. The king and the queen sat at one side of the table and Nico and Percy were supposed to sit opposite them. Hazel and Bianca each sat at the heads of the table, curious to see where this was going.

"Nico, sweetie", started his mother gently. "Don't you want to say a few words to your sisters first?"

"...Did Nico do something?", asked Hazel suspiciously.

"Kind of", offered Nico with a nervous smile, his fingers playing with the tablecloth. "I... You know I... don't... like women, in the way other men do. And... I told our parents. They... said that I don't have to chose a queen if I can not love a woman. That... That if it's where my heart lays, I can... chose a male consort. That... it only matters who I love not who they are."

Hazel jumped off her chair to hug him tightly and he smiled and buried his face in her wild curls before they parted again. "So did we come here together to celebrate the news?"

"No. We're, uhm...", drawled Nico out, just to be interrupted by someone grabbing his hand.

Turning to his side, he saw Percy smiling up at him in that bright, heart-warming way of his. Nico just stared into Percy's eyes and got lost in them. All words were lost on him, because here he was, the first person who made Nico feel fully understood and supported and dare he say it cherished. Without even consciously making the decision, Nico instinctively leaned in to kiss Percy very briefly on the lips. The smile he got for it when they parted was worth the gasps from his sisters.

"Percy?!", squealed Hazel happily. "Oh, that's amazing! I approve!"

"...Percy?", echoed their mother curiously.

"Ah, yes. Persephonus. But we call him Percy", nodded Nico and took a deep breath as he and Percy turned toward the family. "Family, I would like for you to meet my... my Percy. He's a priest at the temple of Lord Perseus. Percy, this is my family. King Plutonius, Queen Maria, my parents. And my older sister Bianca. You already met Hazel."

"Perse... phonus?", echoed his mother once more, her eyes on Percy.

"Yes! I'm named after... af...", started Percy with a chipper voice before breaking off.

His eyes had locked with the queen's and the two of them stared at each other with stunned expressions. There was a long, awkward stretch of silence in which the two just stared at each other and Nico felt panic rise in him. What was happening here? Helplessly, he looked at Bianca.

"After Lady Persephone, I'm sure", offered Bianca with a gentle smile. "We have a beautiful temple dedicated to Lady Persephone, right next to that of Lord Hades. But I'm sure you visited them both already considering your status as a priest. How is that going for you?"

The spell was broken and Percy turned with an easy smile toward Bianca, engaging in conversation with her. Nico pulled the chair back for Percy and they all sat down to eat. But things still weren't the way Nico had pictured it. There was tension. And neither his mother nor his father spoke to Percy at all. In fact, the king even kept glaring thoughtfully at Percy. Nico's stomach was in knots. Did they disapprove after all? Was this about Percy being a boy? Was this about Percy being a priest? Or was it just generally about Percy? Nico grew more anxious the longer dinner lasted and it only got worse when he noticed that Percy decidedly avoided as much as looking at the king and queen. He only engaged with Hazel and Bianca, both more than eager to talk to him.

/break\

Hades tried to ease the glare off his face as he watched Percy. That utter brat. Persephonus? Hah. Perseus. He hadn't even bothered altering his physical appearance much – granted, he was missing the blue hue to his skin and the scales, but it was still their Percy.

Pardon him, Nico's Percy. Had Percy known? Had he sought their kingdom out knowing Hades and Persephone were here? What were his intentions toward Nico? This was risky. Percy was not exactly good at keeping secrets and this – all of it – needed to be a secret.

Not to mention. Poseidon's son, here, at Hades' court. If this would be public knowledge, it would be a disaster. Poseidon could wage war, thinking his son had been kidnapped by Hades just like Zeus had accused him all those years ago about Persephone. And if Poseidon stayed calm, then Zeus could perceive it as a threat. Both, Hades' hidden children as well as the fact that Poseidon's son was with Hades. The fact that their two sons were currently secretly holding hands under the table was not helpful either. There, right in front of Hades, set a reason for Zeus to rain death and destruction upon them all because his little brother could act irrational when feeling cornered.

As dinner ended, Bianca kicked Nico under the table, glaring decidedly at her brother. Great, that looked like even more trouble on top of everything. Bianca and Hazel smiled pleasantly as they hugged Percy goodbye while Nico awkwardly approached his parents, opening his mouth.

"Why don't you go ahead to the palace with your sisters?", suggested Hades before Nico could say anything. "Your mother and I would like to talk to your lover for a minute."

Nico looked frightened by the prospect, but Persephone kissed his forehead and Bianca and Hazel grabbed him by the hands to pull him along. Leaving Hades and Persephone alone with Percy, after the queen dismissed the guards to go and escort the princesses and the prince back to the castle.

"Oh, Percy, I'm so glad you're safe", sighed Persephone as she pulled Percy into a tight hug as soon as everyone was out of sight. "We are all so worried for you, little cousin."

"I... I have no idea what's going on here", grunted Percy as he returned the hug. "Phone? Hades?"

"Yes, nephew", drawled Hades with a pointed glare. "What are you doing here?"

"I... came here because, uh, well, I wanted to see the human world", admitted Percy, shifting like a guilty child knowing he was going receive a chiding. "And I knew this place worshiped me. So it made me curious. I swear I wasn't abducted or anything. I just... I just wanted to breath. You have to understand that. Of all the gods, you have to, Phone! Please don't rattle me out!"

Persephone's eyes softened as she ran her fingers through Percy's hair. "Sweetie, I... I think I do. It's why I ran away all those years ago too, to explore the underworld. But, oh, Percy. Your parents..."

"I know", interrupted Percy and averted his eyes, playing with his hands. "I know. I don't... mean to hurt them. But they don't let me do anything on my own. I... I'll come home again. I just want some freedom. I want the chance to... to... fall in love... I..."

"And... you did?", asked Persephone, eyebrows raised. "With... my son?"

"Oh my us, he is your son", blurted Percy out mortified, eyes wide. "I mean, he really is? What... What is going on here? I don't understand. You're Hades and Persephone. I thought you just... pretended to be Plutonius and Maria. B—But if Nico and... Oh my us, Nico's a god."

"Sh!", interrupted Hades firmly. "Not another word, Perseus. It is... all of this is our secret. This is mine and Persephone's happy spot. This is where we keep our children safe and away from the dangers of the godly world. They can not know what we are. What they are."

"...Nico... doesn't even know he's a god?", asked Percy stunned.

"I know it's a lot to take in, Percy, sweetie", sighed Persephone and cupped his face. "But please. You need to promise us to keep this a secret. From everyone, including our children. Please."

"We will not tell your parents where you are", added Hades with a sigh of his own.

"...I don't like lies", muttered Percy with a crestfallen look. "I... I don't like lying myself and I don't like making you lie. But yes. I just... want to stay here. With Nico. For longer."

"...You truly do love our son, don't you?", asked Persephone gently, tilting Percy's head up.

Percy's cheeks were aflame as he stared at his cousin/aunt. "Yes. I think. Maybe. I don't know. He makes me feel like... no one else ever did. I feel valued, like my opinion doesn't just matter but actually impact him. I feel... needed by him, like I am supporting him and he's valuing that. I feel respected and... happy, when I'm with him. I want to explore this feeling, this... thing between us."

"Then stay", nodded Hades slowly. "Stay and... explore. But... a relationship based on lies..."

Percy averted his eyes once more and Hades felt for the boy. Not only was Percy hiding who and what he really was, now he also had to hide what Nico truly was. It was a heavy burden for someone so young. But the way Percy spoke of Nico and Nico spoke of Percy... they would prevail.

Author's note: Sooo, I already teased a little about this chapter a couple days ago on my tumblr (takaraphoenix). I hope that you enjoyed the dinner and that the "new" turn (one-sided Nico/Drew has been listed as a side-pairing from chapter one, sooo not really a surprise, actually) doesn't freak you out too much ;D

Next chapter will introduce Triton and Tyson to the plot!