Title: Only so Long
Author: CS_Nacht
Pairing: Percy/Nico, Percy/Annabeth (past)
Rating: R
Summary: Nico has loved the hero of Olympus from afar for as long as he remembers (well, as far as the other bed at least). However, it isn't until Percy breaks up with Annabeth that Nico does something about his attraction. It doesn't go as he would have liked.
Notes: Dedicated to the lovely Amethyst Grey. I hope everyone enjoys the new installment though it has been a long time in coming. Also, as much as I appreciate the favourites - and I do thank you for it, I'd like some reviews to let me know how I'm doing. If the boys are in character, if the writing style seems off...if you hate my guts. So, this is the author's plea for both review and inspiration seeing as my muse has left me.
Part Two
The next time they do this, Percy's not drunk.
He doesn't even whisper Annabeth's name as he comes.
He doesn't do much of anything except lie on Nico's silk sheets and moan, tossing his head this way and that as Nico skilfully works him.
Nico can't decide if this is better or worse after Percy falls prey to Morpheus' touch.
The third time's a little bit different – in that Percy invited Nico to his house for dinner.
And Sally fawns over the two, plying Nico with blue food, asking them about their jobs at Camp Half-Blood, and the like.
They didn't touch that night and Percy avoids him for the two weeks after.
Nico can't fathom why, but he accepts it all the same when he learns from the Stoll brothers that Percy took the week off from combat training to visit Tyson.
It is exactly one month after the break-up when Nico finds Percy in his bed again, not quite drunk but getting there.
That night, it's almost a relief when Percy falls asleep right after.
It's another two months after – and eight more times that Nico gave Percy what he thinks is empty pleasure – that Annabeth comes to visit.
Nico picks a fight with Demeter that day and wins; kicking her out of his father's castle momentarily (no doubt off to complain to the other gods about his ghastly behaviour). Even Hades takes one look at his stony countenance and doesn't mention how much better Bianca would have taken this.
It's at times like this when Nico misses his sister the most. They could talk about generally everything – they have talked about boys on occasion while stuck in the Lotus hotel – until their attention was otherwise captured, at least. (And he's had to let her go too.)
Only Mrs. O'Leary doesn't flee from Nico, she licks his face lightly before settling down and resting at his feet, dozing. Nico can't help but bury his face into the hellhound's neck and sobbing like the child that he hasn't been for sixty plus years – and wouldn't be still if his father hadn't hidden both him and Bianca.
Fat lot of good that did.
Nico can't stop the hysterical laughter that bubbles out of him as he contemplates being old – or dead, his mind supplies helpfully – instead of being alive, a scant few years separating him from Percy. (Physically at least; Nico hasn't quite aged as much emotionally as he'd have liked.)
He wonders if that would hurt less, not having known about Percy instead of this pattern, or whatever it was that they've fallen into.
Screw this, he thinks, shaking his head angrily. He's no longer twelve years old and harbouring a silly crush over the hero of Olympus; he's sixteen and he's the Ghost King – he has dominion over the dead and can command the countless masses to do his biding. One demi-god son of Poseidon should not be able to reduce him to tears, much less push him around like this - especially unintentionally.
Tomorrow, he thinks, tomorrow, Nico will give Percy what's coming to him and make him acknowledge what's happening between them.
Resolutions only last ever so long.
And only Percy's able to throw Nico into such confusion and turmoil.
"You have to want something from this," Percy restates softly.
"It doesn't matter what I want," Nico replies hotly, furiously even. Damn the son of Poseidon for doing this to him.
"Yes, it does," answers Percy, imploringly. "You're my friend – my best friend – and I know I'm hurting you. I just don't know why."
Nico clams up, and then in a dream-like sequence, he flies forward to punch Percy Jackson in the jaw, sending him reeling. "You arrogant fuck," he hisses before he shadows out of the apartment. He never should have returned in the first place. So much for wanting more out of "this."
Nico swings his feet lightly from his perch in the tree as he watches the otters frolic below him. He knows that he has to head back sometime, but for now, he's content to just laze about and forget. Despite how adorable the Oriental small-clawed Otters are, Nico envies them for their freedom. (He wishes that he could be like that; with no concerns in the world whatsoever.)
The National Zoo has only changed in that there are more animals here than the last time he visited – and more variety too. The "Asia Trail," among others, had not been here then.
Nico watches the tiny things some more before teleporting to the Oak Hill Cemetery; a location much more familiar to him. (He doesn't think about how familiar his own bedroom would be. Not in the least.)
It was a gorgeous little place, the atmosphere heavy and the history rich. Mostly though, it was silent; the dead weren't great conversationalists unless he summoned them. Even then, they mostly liked to kvetch about their problems – something Nico wasn't very fond of. Especially when he had his own to deal with. (Stupid, stupid unpredictable son of the Earthshaker.)
It's here, outside a chapel in Washington DC, atop the highest hill, that Percy finds Nico, lamenting over his own problems.