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 13: The God of Lost Souls

Percy sighed pleased as he hung in the blue silken bonds. They were rather comfortable, though they did prevent him from touching the hot underworld god in front of him. Nico lifted his head just then, smirking knowingly at Percy before diving right back in. Nico had spent the past two hours kissing every single inch of Percy's body. Thoroughly nibbling and biting and kissing and licking every part of Percy's body. Percy took a shaky breath, writhing beneath Nico.

"A—are you quite done worshiping me yet?", grunted Percy impatiently.

"You're the only altar I'll worship at", whispered Nico lowly. "Now, don't interrupt my service."

Percy huffed frustrated, bucking his hips up, his straining and leaking erection brushing against Nico's sixpack. Nico made a chiding sound and pinned Percy by the waist, continuing with the kisses. He thoroughly traced Percy's sixpack, kissing and licking along it.

"So gorgeous and perfect and beautiful. My gorgeous, beloved god", whispered Nico lowly.

Percy made a soft choking noise. "Ple—ease, Nico. I'm horny. Be nice to me."

Nico laughed, but he found it impossible to disobey Percy, so he finally allowed his lips to wander down to Percy's cock. Percy gasped relieved as the warmth engulfed him and his lover started sucking him off with as much gusto as he was used to. Over the past decades of dating, Nico had truly perfected the art of sucking Percy off. Fighting his bonds, Percy arched his back and came down his lover's throat. Breathlessly, Percy collapsed back against the bed, knowing this wasn't over. Nico was very thorough and he loved having his mouth all over Percy. Slowly, Nico licked Percy clean of all the spilled cum. That tongue was so thorough and tender as it once again made its way all over Percy's body, tracing Percy's muscles with hunger and awe.

"Love you", mumbled Percy sleepily as Nico untied him.

"I love you too, my beautiful consort", whispered Nico pleased, kissing Percy on the mouth.

"You taste like my cum", complained Percy and wiggled his nose.

"We need to get washed up so we can get ready for dinner", suggested Nico gently.

"Ye—eah. No", grunted Percy and snuggled up to his lover. "You know how exhausting it is to just lay there and let you praise all of me and kiss all of me and lick all of me? Very, I tell you."

"Love. Please. Bianca is visiting", pleaded Nico, nosing Percy's hair. "Please?"

"Always with the blackmailing puppy-eyes", huffed Percy, swatting Nico's face.

"Come o—on. I don't get to see her often", continued Nico, peppering Percy's face with kisses. "And you are the most understanding and loving consort imaginable and you wouldn't want me to miss her now that she's actually back in the underworld for a visit, right my love?"

"You're so cheap, I wonder why I love you", huffed Percy, elbowing Nico.

"I don't know. Sixty-four years ago, a beautiful stranger appeared on my island and stole my heart, shortly thereafter his father stole me and six years later, I married the beautiful stranger", hummed Nico, stealing a gentle kiss from Percy. "Must have done something right there."

"Ye—eah, you must have. Was the ceremony nice?", asked Percy teasingly.

"Beautiful. Under the sea, coral reefs decorated with valuable gems. All of Olympus and the underworld visiting to see the union between the sea and underworld. And it felt not the least bit like we were trying to save our asses from Zeus' wrath", snickered Nico.

And yes, it might have been part of the reason they got married. Because the strong union between Hades and Poseidon – strengthened by marriage between their children – was a far better protection for Nico and his siblings as they were revealed to the godly world, but still, it had mainly happened out of pure, true love. Over the six years Nico had lived with Percy down in the underwater palace, their love had blossomed and flourished. Percy had helped Nico learn to navigate the sea.

But decades later, as Hazel moved to the underworld, so did Nico. And with Nico, his husband. Though Nico and Percy did make it a point to visit both places and live in the sea as much as in the underworld. Both were their homes by now and belonged to both realms. It had Hazel, who as fake-aging grew too tiresome and it started to be suspicious – as she had already buried both of her lovers – she decided to abandon the mortal world. And Nico and Percy came to comfort her.

"Okay, okay, okay. Let's get cleaned up", sighed Percy in defeat. "But you owe me. The Thing."

"I owe you the thing. Fair enough", chuckled Nico pleased.

The two of them washed up together and headed downstairs to the dining hall, where Hades, Persephone, Hazel and Bianca were already sitting. Percy smiled softly as he watched Nico and Bianca hug. The whole godhood thing, Bianca hadn't taken to it as well as Nico and Hazel. As the opportunity arose, she joined Artemis' hunt, taking two of her fellow guards – Zoe and Phoebe – with her. She regularly did visit the underworld, but the distance definitely helped her get a grasp on things. Hazel all the while was fully dedicated to her new role as the goddess of the riches of the Earth. A part of Hades' duties that the king had never fully prioritized for himself; he was quite a busy god, after all, so he was glad to hand over the responsibility to his daughter. Hazel smiled at them, looking absolutely stunning in her purple robes. She still wore the pendant that Frank had given her all those years ago, the one made by Leo through which they had met him. Her fingers also often touched it, when there would be a longing look in her eyes.

"Good to see you, Bia", grinned Percy as he sat down next to Hazel.

"You too, Percy", smiled Bianca gently. "So, tell me, how are things down here?"

"Good, good", nodded Percy innocently.

"Inviting a trickster god to live in my realm was the worst idea I ever had", sighed Hades.

Percy smiled sharply, yet still with an edge of innocence. Yes, decades ago he had realized that he was the god of lost travelers, ocean and otherwise. He was also a minor trickster god though – something that Hermes in particular had called since Percy was four. The trickster of the sea, was what they called him. Percy really enjoyed it. The leader of sirens. After all, they tricked humans, made them lose their paths – and lost paths, well, that had become Percy's realm.

Percy smiled gently as he linked fingers with his husband. It was beautifully poetic that Nico had become the god of lost souls, helping the souls that chose rebirth to find their new lives, guiding them into their new bodies. Together, they were a total power-couple, if Percy may say so himself.

/break\

"The world is changing", whispered Percy as he stared up at his old temple.

The color of the marble statue had long since faced, one arm had broken off. Everything laid in ruins around them, the kingdom once prosperous and beautiful had turned into ruins to attract archaeologists. Archaeologists and curious gods missing their pasts.

"That is quite a weird thing to say", chuckled the leader of the expedition. "But true nonetheless."

"I just... I'm sorry, Doctor Kane", laughed Percy sheepishly. "Seeing ruins of old civilizations always makes me nostalgic, wondering what the people back then were like. Acted like."

"I understand the sentiment", chuckled Doctor Kane thoughtfully. "It is why archaeology became my calling too. The secrets of the past. Oh, what its witnesses would have to tell us if we could speak to them no. Reading the imprints they left on our worlds is the only way we'll ever know."

Percy offered a thin smile at that and nodded. If the good doctor only knew that he was speaking to a witness of those times. Oh, Percy hadn't even meant to return to Demetria. Not like this. Then again, he hadn't meant to get involved with an archaeologist either. Percy and Nico had run into Doctor Kane by pure coincident in 1888 in London. The two gods had gone there together to investigate a series of cruel murders – due to Nico's duties, the two of them often entangled with humans because they couldn't keep out of it. And when a series of lost souls started to reach the underworlds, the lost souls of young women who had previously lost their paths in life, Percy couldn't sit still. The two of them left for London to find the man they called Jack. And during their investigations, they met Doctor Kane and befriended him. Doctor Kane was particularly interested in the former Demetria Kingdom for it was the only cult of Lord Perseus and the good doctor wanted to investigate, to learn more. Percy and Nico couldn't stay back.

"It's beautiful", mused Nico as he stepped up behind Doctor Kane and Percy.

He looked good in his black suit and with the high hat. Though Percy wasn't too attached to this new modern hair-style with the sideburns. It looked odd, in Percy's personal opinion. Sure, better than that odd phase of white-powdered wigs, but still strange. Humans were so amusing.

"Can you tell us more about the kingdom, Doctor Kane?", inquired Percy curiously.

Percy and Nico had offered their 'wealth' to support the doctor's next expedition and the doctor had gladly agreed to let them tag along. Doctor Kane smiled and straightened his jacket.

"The last historically noted royals were Emperor Nicodemos Antonius the Third, better known as Nicodemos the Mighty, and his wife Andromeda Drusilla of the Venia Kingdom. Under them, the kingdom reached its peak", started Doctor Kane enthusiastically. "It was how the king became an emperor. Formally, he used to be king, but as he united Demetria and Venia, he grew greedy and became an emperor, soon too power-hungry for his own good. They had nine children together. All of them were slaughtered, together with the queen, as the empire fell. Legend has it that the emperor died of grief and insanity. Supposedly, the name is cursed, you see."

"The name?", asked Nico with a frown, one eyebrow raised. "How come?"

"Nicodemos", nodded Doctor Kane solemnly. "Prince Nicodemos the First died, though the causes are unknown. The legends woven around his death tell of the god Poseidon rising from the ocean and striking him down for an undocumented offense to the gods. Right at the day of his wedding to the princess of Venia – the first attempt to unite the two kingdoms. As the only son of King Plutonius – the first documented king and supposed founder of the Demetria Kingdom – he left the throne vacant. His sister Queen Hazelina Makaria and King Franciscus took over the throne, followed in succession by their daughter Queen Sperantia Nike, the mother of King Nicodemos Franciscus. And after King Nicodemos Franciscus came, well, Nicodemos the Third and with him, the end of the Demetria Kingdom. According to myth, the sea rose and angry storms didn't allow for people to return to the ashes that remained of the kingdom after the emperor fell."

Percy grasped Nico's hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. Queen Hazel and King Frank had ruled side by side, strong and brave. And as Frank had died and Hazel couldn't bear staying in the mortal world, their mortal daughter Sperantia Nike took over. The gods kept watching their family, the mortal tragedy unfold. It had taken Hazel long to overcome said tragedy.

"Truly a fascinating subject of history", whispered Nico, voice strained with emotions.

/break\

The history that followed was so much worse though. Only two decades later and Percy was mortified to watch the Great War unfold. It was really hard to keep out of that one. Triton, Proteus and Tyson kept Percy occupied under the sea during that phase, because the gods could not intervene. There was a lot of sparring and a lot of trying not to get in touch with the mortal world.

Not even his immortal brothers were enough to distract him from the Second World War.

That one took Nico – because Nico too needed to distract himself. He was just so angry at his mortal half-brothers and the mess they were causing in the mortal world. And while the Big Three were fighting and quarreling, Nico and Percy were essentially fucking throughout the underworld.

"Pe—ercy", growled Nico angrily.

"No—ope", chimed Percy wickedly.

He had Nico restrained with the water of their oversized salt-water pool. The underworld god growled again, disliking the feeling of being restrained and not in power. Percy smirked at him.

"You promised me to do the Thing if I stayed out of the United States", drawled Percy.

Huffing, Nico relaxed in the bonds. He naturally disliked being surrounded by another god's realm. There was a certain appeal to it too though, having Percy's water surround him like this. Percy ran greedy hands down Nico's chest, until he used his control of the water to lay Nico down flat on the ground. Percy greedily climbed on top of Nico, straddling his waist. Nico groaned hoarsely as Percy sank down on him, the tightness of his lover embracing Nico's cock. Nico tried to pry his hands free from the water that held him as though it was made of plastic. There was a certain appeal to Percy displaying just how powerful he was. Percy's fingers were greedy as they traced Nico's sixpack.

"Gorgeous husband of mine", whispered Percy lowly, kissing Nico deeply.

Percy was riding Nico for all Nico was worth, hard and fast, but as Percy came close to his orgasm, he suddenly let go of Nico – even with his powers. Percy leaned back on his husband, eyebrows raised. Smirking darkly, Nico snapped his fingers. The shadows behind them snaked up around Percy's arms, tying them above his head while Nico's hands finally got to explore Percy. Percy knew how much Nico loved touching his husband all over, worshiping every patch of perfect skin. His fingers dug in, eager to leave bruises, to mark his territory. The shadows tied Percy as the water had tied Nico before. In their relationship, Percy was the one who had always preferred being restrained, but he also enjoyed using his powers on Nico. Which was why this was their special thing – it featured things both of them only partially liked while the other loved them. A weird combination, but they thoroughly enjoyed it (even though it had once before wrecked the palace, much to Hades' dismay). Nico smirked as the shadows pulled Percy up into a standing position, leaving him helplessly dangling from his bounds. Tied-up was a look that thoroughly suited Percy, in Nico's humble opinion. Grasping Percy's thighs, Nico spread them and wrapped Percy's legs around his waist before gently easing back into his lover. Percy moaned, a broken sound as Nico hit his prostate for the first time. Encouraged by that, Nico started thrusting hard and sharp into his lover.

"My beauty", whispered Nico darkly, kissing along Percy's collarbone. "My salvation. My lord."

"Still the only altar you worship at", chuckled Percy fondly.

"Always", promised Nico before capturing Percy's lips in a siring kiss.

"Always", agreed Percy, rolling his hips. "Now get on with it."

Chuckling amused, Nico picked up the pace. He knew his consort preferred a rougher, merciless fucking over gentle, sweet love-making – and that suited Nico just fine too. He fucked Percy hard against the wall, the shadows caressing Percy and holding him in place.

"Ni—ico", moaned Percy, rolling his hips. "C'mon. Make me come, please?"

Nico smirked against Percy's neck as he kissed and marked that. "You can do that better, love."

"I'm your lord", huffed Percy offended. "How dare you deny your lord like that! That much for me being the only altar you worship at. Huff. I miss my cult, they were far better at worship—oh."

Nico silenced him with a firm grasp on his dick, jerking him off with firm, cunning motions while kissing Percy very hungrily to stop him from complaining. Percy hung boneless in his bonds, allowing Nico to thoroughly fuck him and jerk him off until Percy came all over his husband's stomach. Nico grunted amused, pushing deeper and harder until he also orgasmed, deep inside of Percy. He kissed Percy once more, though this time a lazy dragging of their lips.

"My beautiful lord", whispered Nico lowly. "The one I will always worship."

"O—Of course", hummed Percy pleased. "Now call back your shadows and carry me to bed."

"As you wish, my lord", smirked Nico and snapped his fingers.

His hands grasped Percy's firm bubble-butt tightly, squeezing it as he held onto it to carry him out of their bathroom and over to their bedroom. Percy looked absolutely ravished and wrecked as Nico spread him out on the bed. Truly, even now that Nico had known all of those gods for so long, Percy would always be the perfect picture of a true god to him.

"Ye—eah. We need to go another two rounds at least", drawled Percy with a frown. "Still thinking about the shit-fest going on upstairs. I can't believe..."

"I know, my love", sighed Nico, gently brushing his lips against Percy's forehead.

"Human wars are definitely what I hate most about being a god", sighed Percy.

With a pout in place did Percy snuggle up to Nico. Nico smiled faintly and ran his fingers through Percy's hair in a soothing manner. The two of them laid in silence, simply staring up at the ceiling.

"The next time", promised Nico lowly, barely a whisper breathed into the shell of Percy's ear. "This is the second Great War within fifty years. This can not stand. If the quarrel between the Big Three rises to such a level again, I will not hold you back and I will not allow anyone from holding us back. I'm tired of those useless fights endangering the lives of mortals. I'm tired of greeting the lost souls of innocent victims in a fight that is not theirs. I'm... tired."

"I know, my love. I know", murmured Percy soothingly, kissing Nico. "But I'm sure things will calm down now, right? Once this war ends, there will be peace for centuries to come."

/break\

Percy was unnecessarily optimistic and he was aware of that. The middle of the 1980s smelt like war – and over the centuries, Percy had learned what an upcoming war smelt like. It was a very distinguished scent. So he could be found perched up behind Nico as Nico sorted through the souls. They were beautiful to look at – shiny, shimmering orbs, all in various shades, kept on the shelves lining the high tower where Percy and Nico lived. Lining all of the tower. And the tower was high.

"May Castellan", whispered Nico thoughtfully, browsing the shelves. "She... had the potential to become the oracle of Delphi, but... Well, she's Hermes' lover. Come on, little trickster. Help me pick a soul worthy of the big trickster. This one's special. Feels special."

"How about...", whispered Percy lowly, reaching for a turquoise glowing orb. "This one?"

He cradled it carefully, gently. It glowed brighter as Percy held it. Nico stared at him in surprise.

"Are you... Are you serious?", asked Nico stunned. "But those... they are... we... we didn't..."

"We've been saving them for a good third run", hummed Percy amused. "I think it's time."

The shelf housed their friends from Demetria. Once before, Nico and Percy had tried to give them a second run, hopeful that they would rise to become heroes and earn themselves godhood. Yet that one, well, it had been a bit of a mess. They had promised themselves to wait.

"The circumstances are special. The... shift, in the air", mused Percy softly. "Something is bound to happen. Something big. Potentially bigger than the last two wars this century had. And you and I, we agreed. Next time and we'll meddle. So... let's meddle, my love."

"By putting our friends in harm's way?", argued Nico with a friend.

"By giving our friends the chance to become heroes", disagreed Percy.

The smile on his lips looked scary as it was illuminated by the glow of the globe. Nico frowned as he took the container holding Lukos' soul. The orb reacted to him too, glowing a darker green.

"Lukos Castellan, son of Hermes", mused Nico thoughtfully.

"Too old-fashioned. Lucas, how about that?", suggested Percy with an impish grin.

"More hung-up on that second part, my love", pointed Nico out unimpressed.

"Oh come on, Luke's soul is the perfect fit for a son of Hermes", declared Percy with a broad grin. "He was a thief, a trickster and he took in the strays who needed help."

"Mh", grunted Nico softly. "Demigods, then. Perhaps that will help make them heroes."

"They will be glorious", grinned Percy wickedly, eyeing the shelf. "All of them. And so will we. You know, I heard rumors that Chiron is in dire need of a bit assistance at Camp Half-Blood... What do you say, my love? One more round? Let's be gods among men."

Author's note: Well then! Only the epilogue to go and this story is actually over. Wow. ôô