**Oh my gods, you guys have waited a stupid amount of time for this chapter, and I deserve a kick in the podex, but I really hope you enjoy. Chapter three is well underway, but I couldn't post it tonight- I'll polish it off tomorrow.
If you'd like to know the reason for no updating for so long, feel free to message me!

Song for this chapter: Above The Water by Art Of Sleeping.

TW: Homophobic comments **

~2~

The next morning, Percy woke up before Nico.

And Percy, like every other morning, took a few minutes to simply admire Nico's sleeping form. Nico was still skinny, but not dangerously. Percy looked at the curves of Nico's legs, all the way from toe to buttocks. Percy refrained from doing something cute, but naughty; he didn't want Nico to wake up just yet. Percy loved the way Nico stretched out while he slept, how his breathing was so much more regular than when the boy was awake. Percy's eyes traced up Nico's chest, and even though the boy didn't have much muscle, his obvious Italian build was just delicious. Percy admired Nico's face— his sharp cheekbones, met by dark lashes. Dark, full lips quivered slightly as he slept. Nico was so damn beautiful, but the physical feature Percy loved best was simply Nico's hair. Looking at it now, Percy really couldn't resist. The son of Poseidon's hand snaked out, the fingers threading themselves into Nico's dark locks. Sally Jackson had always remarked about how dark Percy's hair was, and that it was totally unique. Percy couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging as he stroked Nico's hair, which was easily as dark as his.

The younger boy opened his eyes at Percy's petting.

"Hey," He whispered, relishing that early-morning, just-woke-up feeling. Percy grinned as he watched Nico writhe and stretch in the sheets, his meagre muscles flexing.

"Ready to work for some Romans?" Nico just groaned in response, to which Percy laughed.

Gods, Nico was beautiful.

~ O ~

Gods, Percy was beautiful.

Nico had made his way up the coliseum of New Rome, finally climbing up to the very top and sitting on the high stone wall. He had a clear view of the work on the aqueduct that lead through New Rome, and a clear view of his boyfriend. Percy was obviously the specialist in this type of work, having a natural inclination for architecture when it came to water. Percy was standing where the main path of the aqueduct had broken off, holding back a huge wave of water while other workers finished the newest segment of the aqueduct they were fixing. One by one, the Greeks and Romans called out to Percy that they were done, and climbed up the slope of the aqueduct to stand on the sides. Once the path was clear, Percy released the water, letting it flow over the remainder of the aqueduct's path and fall into the trench they'd previously dug that lead to the lake near New Rome.

Nico nearly had a heart attack the first time he saw Percy simply drop his arms and stand there. Nico couldn't see how the water barely even touched Percy, simply splashing onto his shirt, at most. The wave of water subsided, and the process began again: Percy called out orders for the workers to remove certain parts of the stone foundations that made up the pillars under the huge aqueduct.

"Percy!" One of the Roman workers called out, "Is this pillar alright?"

Nico's boyfriend sloshed through the water rushing past his knees, making it all the way to the edge of the newest segment. He looked down at the jagged rock of the pillar the aqueduct would soon meet.

"No!" He called back, then began to make his way to the scaffolding beside where they were working. "The internal foundation is okay, but the stone has to be replaced past the twelfth segment!"

As Percy climbed down, Romans hoisted each other up on ropes and harnesses to the broken pillar, and began to break apart the remaining thirteenth and fourteenth segments. Percy knew it would take the rest of the day, and made his way to Temple Hill; where Nico said he'd be earlier.

Nico intercepted Percy as he passed the coliseum, running out the front doors to grapple his boyfriend in a hug.

"You were so great!" Nico kissed Percy, who was pleasantly surprised at the ambush. Nico wasn't lying— it was late in the afternoon, and Percy had been using his powers for most of the day.

Percy laughed in appreciation of the comment once they split. Of course Nico was watching him work.

"How's the Pluto Temple?" Percy asked, Nico scoffed in response.

"Ruins. Octavian obviously directed the work everywhere except there to get at me." Percy laughed.

"He does know you're Hades's kid, right?" Nico just joined his laughter and said he didn't know. Nico's laughter was cut short as the nausea returned, along with a shadow at the edge of his vision. Nico wasn't scared of ghosts, but something made him spin around, determined to see what was haunting him.

"Nico?" Percy's voice rang in Nico's ears, "What is it?"

Nico's panicked eyes scanned the bricks and stucco that made the walls of the Roman buildings and the dark alleyways between them. Nothing.

"Just… Lares." Nico said, looking up at Percy with a barely reassuring smile. Percy leaned down and kissed Nico, whose clothes were now slightly damp from Percy's hugging.

"I'm sorry," Percy whispered in Nico's ear, holding him close. Nico didn't return the hug, instead concentrating on the nausea and trying to pinpoint the spirit, like tracing a shadow signature. Still nothing. Nico sighed and let himself relax in Percy's grip.

Percy wasn't apologising for getting Nico's clothes slightly wet— he wasn't even apologising for something he'd done. Nico had so many shadows from his past, Percy felt like all he could do was apologise for them still haunting him. He could understand how much it scared Nico when the boy was caught off guard like just now— even Percy had moments when someone across the street looked like Zoë, or someone talking sounded like Annabeth.

Percy held Nico even tighter.

"C'mon, let's go," He whispered. They made their way back to the cabin, Nico mute the whole way.

The younger boy finally lightened up when Percy told him to get dressed for dinner. Percy told Nico to meet him outside the barracks in a few minutes.

Nico finally decided what to wear and headed outside. It was warm, but not unbearably so. The sun had disappeared over the horizon, and pale blue light flooded the valley. Nico spotted Percy standing beside Via Praetoria and went to join him. Percy just grinned and wrapped an arm around Nico's shoulder when they were standing side by side.

"Y'know," Nico mumbled, "Like, a month ago, I would've killed for this to be happening."

They both simply stood there, looking over Via Praetoria and the sunflower fields that encompassed it. Pollen drifted lazily into the air to be swept over to the Field of Mars by the breeze.

"I had something sp—" Nico began as Percy said, "I know last—" They chuckled quietly.

"You first, Sea Prince."

At that, Percy lost the confidence he'd obviously been saving up for the last few minutes. His eyes darted to the barracks, then down the path before them.

"I know last night was our first night in New Rome, but Reyna only wrangled us a reservation at this restaurant for tonight." Percy just smiled at Nico's expression.

"Which is fine… Because tonight's our one-month!" Nico finished. He couldn't help but leap into Percy's embrace and the two laughed at the announcement.

"We survived a whole month!" They laughed again, and Percy couldn't help but feel that Nico's chortle was the sweetest thing he'd ever heard.

~ O ~

And he heard it all through the night. By the time the back-up Greeks had arrived at New Rome, most of the work had been done— just the big infrastructure projects remained. So, Percy and Nico made their way toward the citadel of New Rome, where they had dinner at a restaurant. Nico was struck with gratitude, but his high dropped when Percy whispered to him Reyna had shouted them their dinner. Nico hated being indebted to people. Percy caught the expression and told him not to worry— this was his payment for overseeing the aqueduct works. Nico couldn't have been more flattered and relaxed for the remainder of the night. The food was delicious, everyone was friendly. It was a good night, and by Nico's standards, the best night of his life.

Into the hours of the morning, the Greeks finally left. They barely made it into a nearby alleyway before Nico's arms were around Percy's neck, the older boy hugging him close. They kissed, but eventually drew back to simply look into each others' eyes.

"How did I end up with you?" Nico whispered. Percy just grinned, and continued to ravish his boyfriend.

A snort interrupted them. The two looked back in the direction of the street to see a Lare standing there. Percy shot Nico a look, but Nico's expression said he didn't recognise the ghost either.

"Filthy Greeks, doing your heretic deeds in our streets," The spectre spat. With that, Percy's arms ripped themselves from Nico, instead going for Riptide. Nico tried to grab at Percy's arm, but the older boy continued the stride toward the ghost.

"What did you say?" Nico rarely saw Percy angry, but at that moment, he was furious.

"I said you should take your impure actions out of our city, or preferably stop doing them all together. But of course, knowing you Greeks that probably won't happen. Your Anteros damned you all, Percy Jackson. Only makes sense since he's your bro—" Percy raised his sword, but his arm was caught again.

"Come on, Percy. He's not worth our time." Percy was struck, how could Nico not take offence at this douchebag? Percy capped his sword and let his arm fall around Nico's shoulders, where it seemed to be so much these days. They walked away, but not before Percy caught the Lare's satisfied smirk.

They walked in the direction of the barracks, and didn't speak until Nico felt the aggression coming from Percy die down.

"I'm sorry, Nico,"

"'T'sokay," Nico mumbled. Usually it was Percy pulling Nico from hostile situations, but he'd obviously taught Nico too well. Still, it was meant to be their night, and it had been interrupted.

But where he was angry, Nico was sad.

Percy stopped them halfway into the sunflower fields.

"It is, Nico. Tonight's still our night. No jerk wad can change that, okay?" Nico nodded and Percy kissed him again, gently. Nico returned it, and they shared that moment. The sway of the sunflowers letting them know there was nothing else in the world except the two of them in that second.

~ O ~

The two made it back to their cabin, thankful the Lares of the camp didn't really like the sunflower fields. They slipped between buildings, not caring about looking suspicious, and ducked into their cabin. Percy was quietly closing the door but spun around when he heard Nico burst out laughing. Percy soon joined him.

There, on the small coffee table that complemented the room, was a plate of blue cupcakes. Half were sea blue, and the others were almost navy. Percy didn't hesitate to scoop one up while Nico read the card tucked in between two.

"Percy and Nico," He began, and Percy turned his attention to Nico. "Congrats on one month and thanks for helping out this week in New Rome. Regards, Reyna and Jason. But mostly Jason."

Percy laughed and called him out for the last comment. Nico laughed in return and showed where Jason had, actually, written the last bit in brackets. Percy laughed again, and Nico grabbed a light blue cupcake when he saw Percy had one of the darker ones. They shared a smile, sat down on the couch in the room, with Percy's arm around Nico and enjoyed their dessert.

"Hey Nico?"

"Yeah?"

Nico was struck with déjà vu, and realised this was the bus all over again.

"I didn't get an answer for my question." Was all Percy said. He didn't need to point out what he was talking about, and Nico leaned into his embrace and defeat.

"Well… It mainly just… Happened." Percy let him go on.

"Kids of Hades are never accepted or welcomed. I didn't know what to do, or what I wanted, but I knew I didn't want to be there. I'd only ever been happy with Bianca, so I went to the Underworld." Percy already knew all of this, but chose to let Nico go at his own pace.

"But we know how that song and dance goes. No Bianca, Hades rarely talked to me, instead letting Persephone do the interacting. I was helping out there, with souls and stuff. She and I got closer, but I still wasn't happy. I got sick of that, and came back up here." Percy couldn't see Nico's face as he spoke, but could feel the room darken.

"But the mentality I'd been hiding from in the Underworld came back, and I was alone again. So I helped out you guys with the whole Gaia thing… But it wouldn't go away." Percy wrapped his other arm around Nico and gently nuzzled into the boy's hair. Nico relaxed in Percy's arms and kept speaking.

"I hadn't been happy for a long time. Being in the Underworld didn't help that. I felt useless, with everything. I had no idea what to do, or what I was meant to do, especially after the war. Helping out others with the dead was good, but reminded me of the Underworld. I just… Wasn't wanted and knew it." Nico sniffled and Percy hugged him tighter.

"It started ages ago because… Being in the Underworld made me feel like a bit of a ghost, so I wanted to feel real. The pain helped because I knew I couldn't leave." Nico whispered the last bit.

"So why did you leave?" Percy asked, not realised how choked up he'd become.

"I lost track of time down there, which reminded me of the Lotus. I got scared. Not a good thing to be when you're in the Underworld. Before… I knew it—" Nico let out one sob, and stopped talking to let Percy hug him tighter.

"I was in Tartarus." Was all Nico said, his eyes dark. There was a minute of silence. Once again, Percy thanked the gods he had Annabeth with him in that gods-forsaken place.

"After that, Hades was always trying to get me to leave— telling me I still didn't belong there and I'd just get in the way while getting myself killed. I'd learned all I could from the ghosts, so eventually I told them I was." Percy felt a hot tear drop onto his arm.

"I wasn't going to, Percy." He whispered, "But… Neither of them said anything to stop me. Wished me luck. Goodbye. That's when I really left. I was upset, and got caught off guard." Nico let out a dark laugh while wiping his tears. Percy was keeping up with the timeline— Nico was caught by the twin giants and had to go into a death sleep.

"Next thing I know, I'm being rescued. I still felt so…" Percy didn't push him for details.

"I know… It's alright, Nico." They both shut up and savoured each other's embrace.

"The ghost feeling didn't stop, and after delivering the Athena Parthenos, it got so much worse. The cutting got worse— more, but I could feel it turn into something else. I couldn't feel anything, except being unwanted. I couldn't go to the Underworld. I was hated at camp. I wanted to leave. I wanted to be somewhere where I was like everyone else, but… Percy." The arms around Nico tightened again, but Nico's warning wasn't for Percy to comfort Nico; it was for Percy to prepare.

"That wouldn't happen while I was alive."

Silence again. Percy buried his face in Nico's hair, silently thanking Persephone for not letting Nico die.

"Well it has, Nico. You belong with me. Nothing any one can do or crap they say will ever change that in the slightest. Alright?" Nico nodded, and Percy noticed him scratching his arm. Gently, not letting Nico know Percy saw what he was doing, Percy took hold of Nico's wrists and wrapped his arms around Nico's torso, just like that day in the lake when Percy healed Nico's (physical) scars.

"I love you."

"I love you."

Percy squeezed Nico again.

"I've loved you for a long time, and I'm sorry it took me so long to act on it… I'm sorry for Hades being a douche… Nico? I'm sorry for the others at camp being mean."

"Percy… Don't—"

"I'm sorry you went to the Underworld and stayed for so long. I'm sorry for the Lotus, and I'm sorry about Tartarus. I'm sorry you didn't feel needed or wanted. I'm sorry you didn't feel comfortable on the Argo, and I'm sorry for bringing you into the war, and giving you such a hard task with the Parthenos."

Nico was crying, violently.

"I'm sorry you still felt useless, even when you saved all our asses. I'm sorry the other campers weren't grateful, and didn't accept you. But, Nico? The thing I'm most sorry about, I'm sorry I didn't do this sooner, because, Nico," The younger boy tried to hide his face in Percy's shirt, but Percy made him look into his eyes with a soft hon.

"Because, Nico, I'm pointing out all the shit other people have done, and you're crying like it's your fault." Now Percy let Nico freely cry. He didn't need to say anything else, it was all silent conversation from then on.

They fell asleep in each others' arms.

**If you want something specific to happen, please leave a comment or private message me, I love hearing what you guys think :P

-TJ**