Chapter 5

Nico walked into his cabin. Dinner had been fine. Boring though. He had started making paper airplanes and throwing them at Percy. Percy had laughed for the first time in weeks.

Everyone was silently congratulating Nico for bringing Percy back, but a few were watching him closely. Nico was just grateful that Jason, Piper, Hazel, and Frank were in New Rome.

No, the one who was surprisingly giving him trouble was Clarisse. She also alerted Grover's attention to it. Both of them were watching Nico guardedly. Nico ground his teeth.

"Why can't they just leave me alone. I deserve some happiness for once."

"If you make plans for happiness, then you should be more thorough in your research."

Nico turned slowly and looked at his father. "You're not going to stop me?"

"Olympus no! I'm the one who kidnapped Persephone remember? I just was more careful than you are now. For instance, I wouldn't have used something so flimsy as a soul catcher. The minute your skin loses contact with it, her soul can escape."

Nico went very still. "What happens after that?"

"Well, Annabeth has a choice to either inhabit another body, or she can inhabit her own."

"Why wouldn't she just immediately inhabit her own?"

Hades smirked. "She would be vulnerable. Her mind will be unconscious for six hours."

Nico smiled. "So what happens if she has no bodies to inhabit?"

"Evaporation. She's forced to go to the Underworld where I will give her safe and immediate passage to the Isles of Blest."

Nico scowled. "You were serious about that?"

Hades nodded. "I was and still am. Good luck in snaring Jackson." He vanished. Nico thought about what he had learned.

"Interesting…" If worse came to worse, he had to get to that body before Chase did. And if her soul got there first, well… He'd have to get to her before someone else did… Nico looked down at his Stygian sword and smiled. Yes...

The Next Day

Nico was watching Percy fight. The teen was a marvel. He was amazing. Nico only wished that he was as good a fighter as Percy. The boy waved at him and jogged over to Nico. They both walked in silence to the beach.

Nico relaxed on the grassy sand. They were at the spot where the lawn ended and the beach began. Percy slumped down beside him. His torso gleaming with sweat. He should not look this erotic. This should be completely illegal. Nico thought. He sighed. "Gay week is coming up."

Percy grunted. but didn't open his eyes. "You celebrating it?"

Nico shook his head. "Naw…rainbow colors aren't really my thing."

Percy snickered. "I'd like to see you covered in rainbows. That would be…interesting." He wrinkled his nose.

Nico smiled, but his smile melted slightly. "Percy, what do you think about homosexuality?"

Percy frowned in the a thoughtful way. He shrugged. "I don't really think about it much. People do what they want. They love who they want. As long as everyone is polite and not in everyone's faces then I'm fine with it." He thought back on how some people had called him a bigot, stupid, and close-minded because he wasn't vocal about equal rights.* He shrugged it off. "Right now, everything's 'whatever' for me."

Nico nodded. "Do you think you could like a guy?"

Percy gave Nico a look. "Where's this coming from?"

Nico shrugged. "Gay week."

Percy gave a dry chuckle. "I've wondered what the attraction is sure. But I've never gone so far as to kiss a guy."

Nico smiled. "If you could find out, say, from a neutral party, then would you?"

Percy shrugged. "I guess."

Nico leaned forward. "You're not really my type, but…I guess I could show you."

Percy stared at him and then slowly, gradually leaned closer. They were out of view from everyone. A favorite little niche of Percy's on the beach. Nico closed the gap gently, so as not to scare Percy away. Percy's lips weren't soft. They were firm, and full, and oh so comforting. Nico tilted his head to get a better angle. Ten seconds spread into sixty seconds. Sixty seconds spread into three minutes. Nico slowly opened his eyes and pulled away.

"That's what it's like." He tried to hide his breathlessness.

Percy stared at him. He nodded. "You're lips are like Annabeth's."

Nico forced himself to smile. "Well, don't try to kiss me whenever you want her."

Percy smiled slightly. "Don't worry…" He stared at the water and suddenly got up and dusted himself off. "It was nice though. Different." He walked away with a small wave.

A sharp pain pricked Nico's chest. He frowned and looked at the catcher. It was glowing harshly, angrily. The light pulsed from within. Nico's frown deepened. Suddenly, he started laughing. Low and full of menacing mirth. He watched as Percy jogged away. His eyes traveled down the older boy's body.

"Don't worry, Annabeth. I'll make sure that Percy is completely distracted from his grief." The light from the catcher spiked again. Nico smiled and laughed softly.

*This has actually happened to me. I keep myself to myself, and so, I was called names and such, because I wasn't as vocal about gay rights as others thought I should be… Yeah…it wasn't a nice experience.

Anyway! Yes, Annabeth can hear and sense what's going on around her. Imagine how frustrating that would be...

Btw! Thank you guys so much for the reviews! I didn't think this story would become so popular. Thanks! ; )

Ink...