**(Sooo this was meant to be up five weeks ago, but I went to Europe and didn't have time) Hey y'all, I'm so sorry for not updating for ages, I had to move out of my mum's and then I went to Qld, then Europe, so things have been crazy in amongst exams. How did my readers go on those, if you're still doing school-y stuff? To make us all feel better, there's some sex in this chap, kind of explicit :3

Trigger Warnings: minor violence, swearing, feels. Oh, and sex =D

Friday ~ Afternoon

Rachael could finally see that all of the things said about Camp Jupiter were true. The rolling hills, beautiful temples, ageless buildings (though some of them were still in disrepair) and she knew the main aqueduct would be amazing as soon as it was finished. She had a good vantage point from Temple Hill, which was one of the highest points in the valley. The fog that had blanketed the valley that morning had been swept away by the pristine breezes. Smiling to herself, she walked through the various construction works going on. The minor deities were the first dozen cabins, but most were still too broken to really identify. Then, she recognised the only slightly more extravagant temples dedicated to the Olympians. For some reason, Rachael felt the urge to go into the Apollo cabin, which was almost as large as any of the Big Three's temples.

The doorway was made of alabaster, and the floors were red marble. White curtains hung above each of the many windows, the delicate fabric swaying in time with the light breeze that was constantly sweeping back and forth over the valley of New Rome. Inside, the smell of incense, Rachael could tell, was seemingly as permanent as the breeze outside. Inhaling the sickly sweetness, it couldn't have made Rachael's inner Oracle happier.

Of course, out of all the temples, the Apollo temple was the first to be completely rebuilt, and a few of the minor priests were fast at work. Two of them, still young teens, were praying and lighting candles and more incense at the altar, and Rachael was fascinated watching them work. Another entered just behind Rachael, arms laden with oranges. They exchanged small smiles and Rachael watched as the newest comer tossed the oranges, one by one, into the large bronze dish behind the altar which had a fire in it. The light cast by the dish filled the whole temple, giving anyone in it the feeling of being closer to heavenly light the more they neared the altar.

The other two stood up, holding small clay pots of incense and the fruit-tosser joined them in silently praying as acrid smoke rose and filtered out of a hole in the ceiling.

Rachael couldn't help it. She cleared her throat.

Yet, like good priests, the three teens didn't respond. Rachael stepped forward and tapped one on the shoulder.

'Hey, um, excuse me, but I think you're meant to throw the incense in with the offering.'

The teen gave Rachael a look of bewilderment as the other two peeked from behind closed eyes to see what was going on.

'Uh, I don't think so.'

'… Why don't you give it a go? If you want, I won't tell Octavian. It's smells really good, so the gods love it, trust me.' She tried again, this time with a small smile.

The young priest looked to the others, and with a small nod, the incense was tossed in onto the smouldering oranges.

Almost immediately, the smoke became pale pink in colour, and smelled strongly of sweet fruit and the gentle herbs in the incense.

Rachael gave another smile as the other incense-holder exclaimed how good it smelled.

'How'd you know?' The first one asked. Rachael shrugged, biting back a cheeky grin.

'Oh, I just… Have a knack for what the gods want us to know.'

She smiled at them again, and went to leave, happy with what had transpired.

'You! Witch!' A high-pitched and very much irked voice echoed into the hall from the doorway. 'What are you doing, sabotaging the Roman offerings? Trying to turn our own patrons against us?' Octavian spat at Rachael, who was busy fixing him an irritated stare. After admonishing the trainees (who Rachael wanted badly to stand up for), Octavian approached the bronze dish.

'What are you doing?' Rachael asked, frowning. Octavian looked up, his dark eyes glinted with hate.

'Not that it's any of your business, our official proceedings, but I'm going to cleanse my temple of what you've contaminated it with, since these idiots couldn't take a bit of initiative.' Octavian spat out, making the trainees flinch and Rachael bristle with ire. Even more worryingly, it looked like Octavian was going to put out the fire, supposedly to clean the dish.

Shooting a worried glance at the three young priests, Rachael saw they'd approached the same conclusion and were equally distressed. The fire was never meant to go out; as a symbol of power, but also that the Apollo priests and temple would forever be open and welcoming.

Of course the fire would go out under Octavian's watch, Rachael thought. He was anything but welcoming.

Knowing she shouldn't butt-in any more, Rachael shot a Do Something! look to the young teen she'd convinced to throw the incense. He gave her a hopeless look in return and looked to his sandal-clad feet. Luckily, the orange-tosser stepped forward at Rachael's nod.

'Um, sir, we were told the fire was never meant to be put out, remember?'

Octavian paused from pulling blackened sticks away from the main pile, causing charred oranges to roll to the outside of the dish. He pulled his robes out of the way to swing a furious glance at the young girl.

'What fool told you that?!'

'… You did, sir.'

After growling again, Octavian sneered at Rachael.

'This time we can make an exception. My temple must be clean, and purifi—'

'Look, kid, it's not your temple, it's a temple dedicated to a god.' Rachael stepped forward, matching Octavian's stare with her own powerful gaze, 'I happen to be a speaker for the gods, just like you, except my power is thousands of years old. When did you get your pathetic, I mean, prophetic—' Rachael was glad to hear the trainees choke back giggles, '—powers? When you realised you weren't any more special than the other demigods? Rack off, Octavian. This is how formal offerings have always been made.'

Rachael didn't realise just how vindictive her feelings toward the young augur were, obviously brought on by his abuse of his roles and wards, but she'd voiced them, and felt her stare didn't waver.

Octavian, on the other hand, was positively shaking with rage.

'How dare you?! You Greek bitch!' He cried.

Rachael narrowed her eyes threateningly in response, hearing one of the priests whisper "It's her, I told you so!" to another. Outside, the wind was picking up, throwing the delicate curtains around like seaweed in the ocean. Far off, thunder cracked, and Rachael shivered as the temple was suddenly darker for a moment.

Just like that first day, before she knew it, a flash of gold flickered before her eyes and Rachael was suddenly at knifepoint.

Though, Octavian was, too. Just like that first day, Nico di Angelo was suddenly by Rachael's side, the point of his Stygian blade level with Octavian's bobbing Adam's apple.

'Down. Now.' He commanded. As Octavian's Imperial Gold dagger lowered, Nico pushed his sword forward until the blond had to take a step back.

Nico had felt looming Death sweeping over the camp, and though he didn't want to leave his spot watching (more like guarding) Percy, he remembered Rachael was still hanging around Temple Hill, and that Octavian wanted to kill her.

Now, though, Nico was incredibly tempted to shove Octavian just a little bit more, so that he'd trip into that huge blazing dish that was before him. It was even tilted slightly in Octavian's direction, as if enticing Nico to push, and Octavian to fall.

Still, Nico had sworn off doing his "uncle's" work if the collected wasn't a monster. Thanatos would not collect today.

Plus, Nico's arm was starting to ache. It was a mistake slicing his sword-arm last night. He grimaced not only at the ache of a scabbed scut tearing, but the memory of the night before. Percy's tone as he said Jason's name. That last kiss Nico got before Percy left.

Before Percy left.

Percy left.

'Nico? Hey, are you all right?' Rachael. Talking. To him. Apollo temple.

Right.

'Yeah, yeah. I'm… I'm okay.' Nico's sword-holding arm had fallen to his side, and he suddenly felt shaky on his legs. Looking down, Nico saw that feeling of warm liquid on his wrist was a small stream of blood flowing onto his sword's hilt, and dripping on the ground. Nico may've softly said "Oh." as he tried to straighten up, using his sword as an aide, but it slipped and Nico fell to his knees before Rachael could support him.

Hugging his injured arm to his chest, Nico expected to be consoled by Rachael, but instead he was kicked in the ribs, so hard he was tossed onto his back, his head clacking on the marble floor.

Coughing and gasping for air, Nico saw out of the corner of his eye Rachael picking herself up off the floor from where she'd been thrown by Octavian, who was standing over Nico, dagger in his hand and glinting much like his dark eyes.

As dramatically timed as it was, lightning flashed through a window behind the blond, silhouetting his outline for a second, leaving only his beady eyes to shine in the darkening hall.

Octavian's hand holding the knife twitched, and in the augur's hesitation, Nico reached out hand down for the knife hidden in his belt. When he finally twisted it out of the black leather, Octavian didn't hesitate to kick it from his grasp, sending it skidding over near to where Rachael was crouched in shock. If only she had her hairbrush.

'Kni—… Rach!' Nico croaked, looking frantically at his knife. His groggy brain was only focussed on defending himself, but not registering the fact that Octavian wasn't actually brutally murdering him, even though he'd had quite a few seconds to do just that.

Octavian was only looking at Nico, or more specifically, where he was bleeding from his sleeve, but he still had a knife in his hand. That was enough for Nico to grasp again for his sword as Rachael scrambled over to his knife.

With a cry of "Get away from him!" a body hit Octavian, taking him to the ground.

~ O ~

It's raining men in here, Rachael thought as she scrambled over to where Percy had tackled Octavian. Outside rain was bucketing down, covering up most of Octavian's swearing and threats as Rachael sat on his chest and pressed Nico's sleek knife to his neck, making sure he didn't move.

Percy got up in a second and scrambled over to where Nico had managed to sit up and was trying to focus on Percy.

'Nico! Nico, are you all right?!' Percy cried as he skidded to a stop by his boyfriend's side. He tried to roll up Nico sleeves but with his shaking hands couldn't manage it, and just wrapped Nico up in his embrace, breathing easily for the first time that day.

'Per—… Perce…'

'I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Nico. I shouldn't have left you, I just thought you wanted time and to be alone to think it through but I just freaked and—'

'Percy,'

'You're bleeding, oh gods, why are you bleeding? Did that asshole hurt you, I swear—'

'Percy, please,'

Percy just shut up and hugged Nico tighter. Nico's delirious mumblings that he was fine were drowned out by not only the rain but Percy's apologies to never leave him when he needed him again.

'Percy,' Nico tried again, and felt his eyes prickle when Percy leaned back to face him and had tears streaming down his cheeks.

'Yeah?'

'… Can… Just— take us home?' Nico asked quietly, letting his head fall into the alcove of Percy's neck. Shooting a glance at Rachael, and hearing her "I got this," Percy gathered his lethargic boyfriend up in his arms and hastily left the temple.

The rain was coming down steadily now, past the initial pour, but still heavy, and Percy and Nico were dripping by the time Percy manoeuvred his way down the stone steps that led from Temple Hill to the centre of New Rome. Percy wished the barracks were closer to Temple Hill as he crossed the bridge over the Little Tiber. He felt the magical pull of the waters as he reached the other side, pulsing as fat raindrops hit the surface, making the river jump with energy more than normal. Percy considered trying to heal Nico by, well, dunking him, but figured getting wetter and colder wouldn't be great.

Percy was too worried thinking about how weak and pale Nico looked, and how cold he was to remember he could've kept them dry the whole time.

Finally, when he kicked open the door of their cabin, laying Nico down the couch, he swore uncharacteristically strongly, and concentrated on making them dry.

'Nico? Hey, babe, you can wake up now,' Percy tried, holding Nico's gelid cheeks in his warm hands. Nico's eyelids fluttered, but opened gingerly eventually, letting Percy stare intently into the most beautiful chocolate eyes he'd ever seen, however unfocussed they were at the moment.

'Hey,' Nico croaked. Percy managed a shaky smile.

'Hey. I'm gonna fix you up, okay?' Nico didn't respond but Percy didn't hesitate to push up the sleeves of his jacket. He swore again, then stood to fetch the medical supplies kept in the bathroom.

Halfway there, he stopped and knelt by Nico again, gingerly touching the torn skin of his boyfriend's arm.

'Do you… Want me to, uh…?'

Nico managed to roll his head in Percy's direction to read his lips as he spoke, and then nodded a tiny bit. Percy disappeared and returned with a bowl of water and a washcloth. Gently he wet the cloth and laid it over Nico's forearm and concentrated.

Soon all of the cuts on Nico's arms had disappeared, and when Percy came back from throwing out the pink water, he saw Nico sitting up, nibbling on an ambrosia square.

Silent, Percy dropped down next to him, taking a bite of the ambrosia when Nico waved it in his direction.

For a few minutes the two of them sat in more silence, the steady pitter-patter of the rain on the roof soothing them both.

'So what happened?' Percy eventually said, speaking softly so as to not disrupt their calm atmosphere too much. Nico took a deep breath.

'That… Figlio di una cagna attacked Rachael, so I tried to take him down, but… I fell. I was bleeding. I guess it was too much.' With a sigh, Nico leaned back on the couch and consequently into Percy's arms, as he'd shifted closer to Nico as he spoke. Percy waited another minute before speaking again.

'What about earlier? Not last night, but this morning. I heard some… Some stuff happened on Plebeian Lane.'

Nico scoffed, but it was without humour.

'I, uh. I ran into those Lares again. Kinda made me mad, but I just ran for it.' He muttered, while brushing ambrosia crumbs off of his jeans. Percy gave a sympathetic sigh and wrapped his free arm around Nico's shoulders, burying his face in the Italian's curls, breathing in the intoxicating scent.

'Anything else?' Nico hesitated. 'Nico?'

'Yeah, yeah… There's…' Regretfully, Nico glanced at Percy's baby-seal eyes, and knew that Percy would be better off knowing. He'd spent most of the day thinking about the mania, and what its intentions would be, and Percy wasn't totally oblivious when it came to hacking and slashing, so Nico figured he should know.

'I… I have a mania. Ran into it this morning…' Nico watched Percy's face turn from concern to alarmed concern.

'What, here?'

'Well not here, but around, yeah. I think it's what's been making me feel so ill, lately.' Percy nodded, still obviously sifting through the information he knew of maniae, his brow furrowed in concentration.

'Hey,' Nico said gently, rousing Percy as he touched his boyfriend's cheek. 'It's not around, I feel much better… Tomorrow, I promise I'll talk with Rachael about what she can do about it. I'll consult Reyna and even my dad, okay? I don't want you to worry about it.'

Percy nodded, but his frown remained.

'What do you think it is? Like, what's it embodying?'

Nico just shook his head to say he didn't want to talk about it, and leaned in to pull Percy in for a kiss. It took a bit of nipping and shifting, but soon Percy was kissing Nico back with fervour, and Nico could tell it was fuelled by what had happened that day—

Reminding himself if Percy wasn't allowed to think about it, then he couldn't, he threw himself into everything that was Percy, and how everything about Percy was amazing.

After he'd pulled Percy's shirt off, Nico set about kissing every inch of skin on Percy's chest, nibbling Percy's nipples and running his hands over the bronzed skin. Percy groaned and lay back on the couch, tangling his fingers in Nico's hair as the smaller teen continued his exploration. Next to go was Percy's jeans, after Nico's own shirt and jeans, of course. While sucking on one of Percy's nipples, Nico reached down to stroke Percy's cock through his boxers. Percy groaned and tried to thrust into Nico's hand, but, making Percy shoot him seal-eyes again, Nico's hand left Percy's throbbing erection.

Nico took hold of Percy's hand and pausing, looked up at Percy's flushed face.

'Help me,' Nico murmured, before beginning to suck gently on Percy's fingers, making sure they got sufficiently wet.

Percy got the hint and reached with his other hand to pull Nico's underwear down. Exchanging sultry looks, Percy moved his lubricated fingers to Nico's entrance, and began rubbing around while Nico moaned around the fingers Percy had now moved to his mouth. Percy dipped a finger in, then out, and in again, until Nico was obviously wanting him to really begin, so he took his other hand out of Nico's mouth and began easing open Nico's rear entrance. Nico breathed with the motions, and leaned forward to lay his head against Percy's chest, feeling Percy's racing heartbeat strong against his cheekbone.

That sound was Nico whole world for a few minutes, until Percy mumbled something vaguely English, and Nico felt he was ready enough. Nico leaned up to give Percy a quick kiss before rolling his hips back, pushing down onto Percy's turgid cock, relishing the feeling of being filled by something so hard and hot. Moaning quietly into Percy's chest, his breaths timed with Percy's strained pants as he took in more of Percy.

Eventually Nico had all of Percy in him, and he began rolling his hips tantalisingly slowly back and forth, loving the strangled noises Percy made.
Really only after a few minutes, Nico felt to need to come to, and rode Percy faster until they came at the same time, both with choked cries.

Breathing heavy, Nico and Percy looked at each other again. Nico opened his mouth to say something, but Percy beat him to it.

'I'll never leave you alone again.' He said, a small smile twitching his lips. Nico leaned in for a chaste kiss, relishing the feeling of home, and love, and Percy.

Figured it was time for a review shout-out :P

dancerchik— you are not alone in the adoration of Rachael! I just hope I write her well, and she ends up ok :S

datbookworrm— I PROMISE this story will have an ending, and it will be glorious! :D But dark, just a heads up.

FreakyMuthee— Oh yeah, some *stuff* is coming ;)

Aaaaand TheTwinlessTwin— Nice/sad user, btw :P Thank you for your compliments! The next chapter is up in, well, now, since I'm writing these just as I published it, but I'm be working on these a lot more over the holidays :D

To FloKip, .Hale, Allen Walker Yuu, guest heehee, and loyal Solangelo Love XOXO (why are you reading a Percico? :P), and guest someone (you solely got this chapter published, well done ;3)

Reviews are amazing to read, you guys, thank you :)