Hello, my lovelies! Another chapter for you, sorry it took so long. I was watching a combination of Supernatural and my favorite David Tennant in Doctor Who. This one's another filler, I feel. Sorry for that. I'm open to ideas... PM me anytime.
coralie14, as an answer to your fabulous question Yes, I suppose Sally would make a better guardian for Nico, but that wouldn't make nearly as good of a story, love.
Have fun, my darlings!
Nico awoke to the smell of breakfast cooking. He couldn't tell exactly what was cooking, but it smelled like ham and eggs. The raven haired boy had just sat up in his borrowed bed, when there was a soft tap on the door.
"Nico?" came a muffled voice through the door. "Are you up?"
As an answer, Nico got up and opened the door, where he was greeted by his aunt's warm smile and bright eyes.
"Good!" Sally Jackson exclaimed. "You are awake." She pointed down the hall. "The bathroom's down that hall. Shouldn't be too hard to find if you want to shower, brush your teeth, whatever your morning routine is. Make yourself at home, Nico, we're so glad you're here!" Sally hugged her nephew tightly.
"Thanks, Mrs. Blofis," Nico replied, giving her a small half smile.
He looks like Percy, Sally thought, just before correcting Nico. "Sally, call me Sally. Or Aunt Sally, whichever your more comfortable with."
"Thanks," Nico hesitated, "...Sally."
"You're welcome, Nico," Sally said, smiling again. Nico now understood where Percy got all his enthusiasm and smiles. Sally turned to leave then turned back. "Oh! Before I forget- we'll talk about sleeping arrangements at breakfast, so don't go unpacking just yet." A smile broke out onto Sally's face. "And you're in luck! Percy's cooking."
**************LINE BREAK***************
Nico walked into the kitchen more than a little nervous. He knew from experience that Sally's cooking was amazing, but he'd never had Percy's cooking. Nico hoped desperately that Percy's cooking was better than his archery.
The sight that greeted him in the kitchen was surprising.
Blue pancakes, blue omelets, blue ham, and even toast with blue butter was displayed upon the table. There was even blue gravy for blue biscuits, still hot and steaming. And Paul, Sally, and Percy sat around the table, laughing.
Nico's mouth was watering. If the food tasted nearly as good as it looked, he was in heaven. Percy spotted him. "Nico!" Nico moved into the kitchen, taking the last seat.
Percy grinned at him. "Help yourself, man," he laughed, tossing Nico a paper plate he caught with ease. Paul, Sally, and Percy watched in amusement as Nico loaded his plate and took a hesitant bite. The smiles became bigger as Nico's eyes rounded in surprise and he took a larger bite, shoveling in food as fast as he could.
"Slow down, kiddo," Percy said, smirking. "You'll get sick." Nico stopped and swallowed. He looked at Percy seriously, his face straight.
"You cooked this," Nico stated. Percy nodded.
"Yup. Like it?" Nico looked thoughtful.
"Well, it's better than your archery." Percy laughed. Nico took another bite of omelet then said, "Seriously, though. Does Annabeth know you can cook like this?" Paul and Sally joined in Percy's laughter. At the sound of their laughter, Nico could feel his own lips pull up in a responding smile.
It felt good.
Percy caught Nico's eye and winked, still laughing. This coaxed a small laugh from his own throat. Soon, they were all laughing and talking, eating their way through mounds of blue food.
Like a family, Nico thought randomly.
It felt good.
****************LINE BREAK*****************
After breakfast, Sally and Paul left to do some shopping, leaving Percy and Nico to clean up. Nico cleared the table, while Percy easily washed and dried the dishes. After a few minutes of easy chatting, Percy grew serious.
"So, Nico," the hero of Olympus said, turning to face his new charge. "What are we going to do with you?" Nico shrugged and Percy frowned. "Don't shrug, Nico, your opinion really matters here." The son of Poseidon tapped his foot thoughtfully. "I suppose we need to find a place for you." Nico nodded, opening his mouth to say something, but Percy plowed right ahead.
"Here's what Mom, Paul, and I decided earlier: Paul and my mom have been thinking about giving me the apartment and buying one for themselves. They found an apartment they really like and they're going to go close on it today. So that leaves you and I here." Percy moved to a couch and sat. "I'll keep my room and you can have Mom and Paul's. You can decorate however you'd like." Percy looked to Nico for approval. "Sound good?"
Nico nodded. "What about bills?"
Percy smiled. "I actually thought about that. Mom and Paul are going to cover that until I graduate, then I'll probably go off to Naval training and that's pretty much just free. And your dad is paying my for keeping you and he's covering the expenses on you until you graduate from high school and maybe college, I really don't know." Percy beamed, looking excited.
"Okay," Nico said, slowly. "But do I have to-"
"Yes, Nico, you have to got to school," Percy said, smirking at Nico's disappointed look. "It won't be that bad, Nico. 'School Rules', according to Annabeth... speaking of which, that reminds me: rules. We need some for you." Percy got that serious look on his face again, scrunching up his eyebrows like he did when he was thinking. "Now, usually, I'm not a big fan of rules," Nico smirked, "but I think that they'll help keep us both sane here. So, here are my rules:
"1) I get to know when you leave this apartment or the general area I'm in. I don't need to know why you're leaving, but I'd like to always know where you're going and an estimate for how long you'll be gone. If you don't want to tell me, that's cool. I trust you.
"2) I"ll get you a phone if you promise three things; never to uses it except for in emergencies, I'm speed dial one, and you always call me in a monster attack. I figure that if a monster is attacking you, the "No Electronics" rule, it really doesn't apply.
"And 3) I trust you, Nico. Completely and fully. If you want to some one, talk to me. If you want to know something, I'm probably not the best person to ask, but you can always come to me. I trust what you do and why you do them. So please trust me. When I tell you to do something that I make sound important, please do it and trust me. I operate by trust, and I can usually tell when someone is trustworthy or not. And it's something I'm hardly ever wrong about. So stay on the trusted side, okay?"
Nico nodded. Percy smiled. "Good. Oh! And I'm pretty good at playing the guilt card, FYI." He got up from the couch, stretching. "I've got to go meet Annabeth at camp. Wanna come?"
Nico shook his head. "I'll stay here."
"Okay, don't burn the place down while I'm gone. My number's on the fridge with my mom and Paul's. Don't hesitate to call." Percy grabbed his keys. "When I get back I'll cook us all something nice. Maybe I'll even teach you the secret to my cooking." Percy smirked and ruffled Nico's raven black hair as he passed the chouch on the way to the door. "See ya around, little brother."
Nico smiled as Percy left, turning on the TV and kicking up his feet.
It was nice to be the little brother again.
****************LINE BREAK********************
Paul and Sally moved out two weeks later.
To be honest, Sally was a little worried about the two cousins. Paul did his best to soothe her fears.
"Percy's a responsible kid, Sally," Paul said, "He'll be fine. And Nico's pretty level-headed. They'll both be fine as long as they're together. They've faced worse." But Sally still worried. This was her baby and her nephew she was leaving all alone, after all. After many consoling statements and promises from the boys and Paul, many "We're not so far from them, Sally, we'll check up on them"s and "Camp is super close, Mom, we'll be fine"s, Sally finally started to leave after Paul finally exclaimed in exasperation, "They have Annabeth, Sally!"
Nico snickered at the indignant look on Percy's face. Sally kissed Percy's cheeks and asked him the same anxious questions over and over while Percy simultaneously tried to soothe her and push her away. Nico easily tuned them out and opened a Dr. Pepper. By the time Sally had finished with Percy, Percy's cheeks were red, his voice was hoarse, Sally had tears in her eyes, and Nico was half way through his second Dr. Pepper. The Ghost King hastily set it down when Sally turned to him, expression tearful. He let himself be enveloped in a bone crushing hug.
"Be good, Nico," Sally said, tears leaking out of her blue eyes. "Don't let Percy boss you around, and don't be afraid to say 'no' to any of his ideas-"
"Hey!"
"-and always listen to Annabeth if she tells you to do something-"
"Why do I feel like I'm about to be babysat by Annabeth?" Nico muttered to Paul and Percy.
"-and I'm going to miss you so much!" Sally sobbed, reaching out and dragging Percy into the hug. "Both of you!" They stood there like that for a few minutes before Paul finally took pity on them and gently pried Sally off of them. The raven haired boys sighed in relief as feeling once again returned to their limbs. Sally Blofis-Jackson sniffed and wiped tears from her eyes. "Just...be good, alright?"
Nico grinned. "Don't worry, Aunt Sally, I'll look out for him." Paul, Percy, and Sally stared at him for a few long moments before Sally burst into tears again and a very confused Nico was roped into another hug. The Italian rubbed his aunt's back hesitantly, looking at Percy and mouthing What'd I do? Percy smiled and mouthed I'll tell you later right back.
Finally, Nico muttered, "Please get off me, Aunt Sally." She squeezed him one last time then let go. Nico sighed in relief as blood flow returned once more to his arms. After another long round of good-byes, Paul and Sally finally left. Nico turned to Percy, about to demand and answer to his question when he spotted Percy on the couch, head back. He looked exhausted.
"What's up, Perce, you look tired," Nico remarked.
"My mother," Percy said, sounding tired, "Is exhausting." His sea-green eyes snapped shut. "And we're moving all your stuff in today, and we have to set it up, and it's so early-"
"Dude, it's, like, 11:30," Nico said, glancing at a clock. "Nearly lunch time."
"And," Percy continued as though Nico hadn't spoken, "We have to register you for school."
Nico groaned, flopping into an armchair. "Don't remind me." Percy stretched out and kicked Nico's leg playfully.
"C'mon, man, let's move your stuff."
****************LINE BREAK*******************
After about five hours (breaks included), all of Nico's things had been set up and moved into Sally and Paul's old room. Percy had also decided to be productive in life and multitask by forcing Nico to choose a school to enroll in. After about an hour of listening to Percy talk about all the schools he'd been to (and kicked out of), Nico finally snapped, "Goode! I'll go to Goode! It's sounds like it's the only school that won't kick me out because we're related!" So Paul had been called and he had registered one Nico di Angelo for freshman year at Goode High.
Now the raven haired boys lay on Nico's new black bed. In fact, everything in Nico's room was black. From the bed to the dressers to the rugs on the floor, it was black.
All but the walls, that is. Percy and Nico had decided, by way of laziness, that they were not going to paint the walls. So the walls remained the cream white they were.
"I feel like I walked into a zebra," Nico said, surveying the room. This earned a small chuckle from Percy, who lay on the black sheets, eyes closed and a content look on his face.
"Or like a penguin came in and threw up," he supplied. The two lay in a contented silence for about one minute.
"Perce?"
"Yeah?"
"Why'd your mom cry when I told her I'd look out for you?"
"It wasn't that, Nico."
"What was it then?"
The son of the sea god sighed and opened his sea colored eyes into the black orbs of the Ghost King.
"Because," he said slowly, "You called her 'Aunt Sally'." At Nico's confused look, Percy sighed an elaborated. "It means a lot for you to call her that, Nico. Neither of us really ever had any family until all of...this started." Percy sighed again, rolling to face the ceiling, his eyes closing. "We only ever had each other, Mom and I. And I don't think any other demigod truly understands that. All the other demigods come in groups, children of Ares, Apollo, Aphrodite, Athena, Hephaestus, Hermes, all the gods; they only go a short time alone then they have their half-brothers and -sisters. Even Thalia had Jason, then Luke and Annabeth for awhile. Now she has the Hunters. And everyone has a Roman counterpart (well, minus the Athena kids, but they all have each other any way). Only you came close to understanding, Nico, and even you had Bianca and now Hazel. Only Poseidon's cabin remains empty when I'm not there." Percy heaved another great sigh.
Nico remained quiet. He didn't think Percy realized what he was saying. Percy Jackson wasn't the type to bother you with his worries or how he felt. He was the rock, the mountain. The strong shoulder to go to and cry on. And somehow they all seemed to forget that the hero of Olympus, the great Percy Jackson needed a shoulder, too. So Nico stayed silent.
"Must be nice, having someone to share powers with," the son of the sea god mused, sadly. "To not have everything solely on your shoulders..." Percy trailed off, lost in thought.
Nico waited. Percy suddenly came back to Earth. "Anyway," he sat up," She cried because you calling her 'Aunt Sally' meant you excepted her into your family, that you excepted her as one of you. It means a lot to one of us; to an orphan." Percy stood, walking to the door. He paused just before exiting, turning back to face the Ghost King. "Family's important, Nico. Especially as a demigod. Not all demigods do good things and not all the gods show that they are the best role models. Sometimes they just make mistakes and are still good people. And other times, they're just bad people."
"You're talking about Luke," Nico said.
Percy shook his head. "I'm not talking about anyone. I'm proud to call Luke family. He did the right thing. He just made mistakes. I'm always proud of all the demigods, all my family. But you have to always be careful who you call family. Who you call family defines who you are," Percy said, looking the most serious Nico had ever seen him.
Then he left.
Nico lay in his room, thinking hard about what Percy had said. He had never thought about family much, since Bianca had died he'd felt he was all alone family-wise, but what the defender of Olympus said hit home hard. Distantly he heard Percy in the kitchen, fumbling around for pots and pans, assembling food for dinner. Nico made an executive decision and quickly left the room. Nico arrived in the kitchen just in time to see Percy drop on of the many things in his hands.
Percy cursed loudly, then, mumbling in Ancient Greek, shifted the things in his arms, trying to reach the pot on the ground. Nico surged forward and wrapped his fingers around the handle at the same time as Percy.
Surprised green eyes rose to meet the shining obsidian eyes of the son of Hades, whose pale fingers were easing his strong tan ones off the handle.
"Let me help," he said, lifting the pan, rising slowly with Percy. "Cousin."
The word was just barely stressed, said so casually that any passerby wouldn't have given it a second thought. But to two nearly identical boys standing in a small apartment kitchen, eyes locked, it meant the world.
It meant that they had finally excepted who they were. They were cousins.
They were family.
Percy gave Nico an award-winning smile, white teeth flashing and sea green eyes reflecting Nico's own like a mirror. Nico smiled, a true smile, right back.
"So," he said smirking at they irony of an Italian turning to an American on advice on- "Cooking. Teach me everything you know." They shared another smile.
"Cousin."
Oh. My gosh. I am so fricking glad I finally have that done! I had it all written out AGES ago, but a combo of laziness, busy-ness (I just moved), and huge Doctor Who/Supernatural marathons. In my defense, David Tennant is quite possibly the hottest Brit EVER, and who can seriously argue the HHHH (Holy Heck He's HOT) Factor of Sam and Dean and their awesome brotherly-ness?
Anyway, R&R please, and I'm open to suggestions. But if you don't tell me what you want, how on Earth can I fulfill your every wish, lovers? Threw some Percy fluff in there for y'all, hope you liked. I think the next chapter might have a little teensy fight in it. Nico can be hot headed, despite Paul's reassurances. ;)))
Quick Question- What do y'all think of Nico's love life? I mean, everyone obviously agrees on Perce and Annabeth (Percabeth Forever!), but I don't think any one ever agrees on safe Nico love ground. To all the Aphrodite children out there, please reply, it's important. For Nico di Angelo, son of Hades, do we want-
a) existing character
b) my own character, which if that's the case, then 1) demigod or 2) non-demigod
or c) he's adorable just they way he is. Forever Alone!
Author's Warning: All opinions are subject to severe ridicule and mocking and not one rates higher than the others. Please note that whilst I AM interested in what you have to say, I don't particularly CARE. Majority vote WILL NOT win. I will not so carefully consider what you say and make a final decision. You have been warned. Reply with caution.
Toodles!
Silva