Chapter 6

I was planning to make this two chapters, but I didn't have want you guys to wait on another cliffhanger, so I joined the two chapters together. Hope you enjoy!

Slightly sexual scene coming up.

Ink...

Nico sighed contentedly. It had been three weeks since Annabeth's tragic departure. He had been able to persuade Percy into facing his fears and grief and not running from them. The son of Poseidon had hesitantly agreed to stay longer at camp. Nico laughed delightedly. He had gradually worked his way to the status of Percy's second best friend; however, Percy listened to what Nico had to say more often that what Grover had to say. Nico laughed darkly. That satyr had been trying his hardest to separate the son of Hades from his prize.

Needless to say, Grover hadn't succeeded. Percy was still in a grief filled daze, but he was still observant enough to notice that Nico was closer to him than anyone else. It was good fortune for Nico that Percy was so oblivious to romance and all things having to do with love. Nico had slowly but surely planted little seeds of doubt about what real love was, how a person would know if they weren't actually bisexual…just little things that would make Percy more…open-minded to what Nico had planed.

Nico got up. Time to go hunting for something green and black. He prowled over to Percy's cabin and knocked.

"Yeah?"

"Nico. Can I come in?"

"Sure."

Nico opened the door and saw Percy looking at his sword. The setting sun was slanting through his window creating dark shadows and harsh angles. Percy was shrouded in grey. Nico smiled. He liked Percy in black. Nico made up his mind to slip in some suggestions of wardrobe change to Percy.

"It's not good to lock yourself away like this."

Percy shrugged. "I can't stand everyone looking at me. Staring at me with those pitying eyes. They want to help, but they don't know how."

Nico glanced over at some food left over on a plate. "Who brought you the food?"

"Calypso. It's a pity she and Leo broke up. Good that is was mutual, but a pity nonetheless. She was good for him."

Nico ground his teeth together. "She fell in love with you, didn't she?"

Percy nodded distractedly. "She still is. Thinks that she can move into Annabeth's spot."

"Can she? Can anyone?" Nico kept his voice carefully neutral.

"No." A sigh. "Not yet. Too soon. Way too soon. A decade at least. Maybe two. No one's as good as Annabeth. No one."

Nico made his voice light. "Not even me?"

Percy leveled him with a stare. "You come close. Calypso does too, but she ruined it by cursing Annabeth. The bitch nearly got Annabeth killed." His eyes shifted from dull green, to flashing green filled with wrath. The transformation nearly took Nico's breath away.

Nico sat on Percy's bed. Close. "Let's not talk about that. Let's do something else. Let's…do want some of this apple?" Nico wanted to say kiss, but he refrained. He couldn't scare Percy away. Instead, he offered an apple. He brought out one of his own. Nico grinned. "Let's race to see who can eat all of their apple the fastest."

Percy switched his stare from the sword to Nico and smiled. "Sure." Percy won, though he did hesitate on the stem.

"Let's talk about something. Let talk about…" Percy stared at the wooden ceiling, at a loss for what to say.

Nico whispered. "That kiss…"

"You thinking about it too?"

"Uh huh."

"It was nice. Why don't you have a boyfriend yet?"

Nico raised an eyebrow. "So my dating ability is rated by my kissing?"

"No. That's just a plus."

Nico laughed. "I've got other things to offer to ya know."

Percy was silent and then he spoke. "I'm aware." He kept staring at the ceiling.

Nico frowned slightly. "It's interesting. You know, I was reading this article and it said that some people go their whole lives without realizing that they were homosexual or bisexual. Sad isn't it? That you couldn't discover what both worlds were like…"

Percy was still silent.

Nico continued. "It's tragic really. Some guys get so hung up on girls, girls, girls that they don't even notice other boys who are better."

Percy sighed. "I guess."

Nico sighed. "I'll leave you alone." He got up off the bed. He headed to the door and counted to five while reaching for the knob. One…two…three…four-

"Don't….don't leave."

Nico smirked in triumph, but quickly changed his expression to one of concern. "Percy, I'll never leave you alone." He sat back on the bed, closer this time.

Percy sighed. "I'm just…tired. Tired of life. Tired of facing just another day without Annabeth. Tired of…living. There's nothing much to live for. Just another day to fight a monster…just another day without Annabeth." Percy threw himself onto his bed in exhaustion.

Nico was silent and then he murmured. "Find someone to live for. Maybe…maybe not romantically, and maybe not even a girl this time. Just find someone else to live for."

Percy frowned. "Like who?"

"Someone you know cares about you. Someone you care about too." Nico slipped his hand onto Percy's thigh. The contact made Percy look at him.

"You?"

"If you want."

"You wouldn't mind?"

"Not at all." Nico turned to face Percy and twisted his body to hover over Percy's. "Not at all." He gingerly kissed him. Percy grunted and pulled Nico closer, crushing the younger boy against his lips. The older teen twisted around, and Nico fell onto the bed. Nico held back a moan. Any noise might break the spell that Percy was under. However, it seemed that the older boy wasn't going to let the younger up any time soon. Nico certainly wasn't arguing.

Nico gasped, but not from pleasure. The amulet was burning his skin. He laughed and started kissing Percy hungrily. Percy's no longer Annabeth's. Percy is mine!

Lots of Smut Later

Nico moaned. He body was convulsing from pleasure. The feeling of Percy inside him was so intensely pleasurable, it was suffocating. He couldn't even remember his own name. All he could think of was "At last!"

Something was choking him. He yanked it off. He was oblivious to the spirit that floated out of the room to return to the place that it had been stolen from.

Nico was oblivious to everything that wasn't Percy. Percy was his world. His god. He cried out as his body exploded in sheer heat.

Six Hours Later – POV Change [Percy]

Nico was asleep. I woke up beside him. I stared at him. Covered in sweat and semen. I wasn't attracted to him. I had used him. I felt like throwing up. Annabeth was gone, and I had jumped the closest person just to feel close to her again.

She and I had gotten married. Athena didn't know. Dad hadn't known. Only Mom, Paul, and Grover had known. We had been married immediately after Gaea was overthrown.

I got up off my bunk gently, so as not to wake Nico up. It had been good, but it wasn't lasting. I wasn't gay. I was a monogamous, opposite gender kind of guy. I felt sick again. Poor Nico. He didn't deserve being used like that.

I sighed. Maybe I would give it a try. For him. He's been through so much. Besides, he was a good friend. He had been kind and supportive during this whole shitty month. I owed him. I'd date him if he wanted. I'd give it a try, and then, afterwards, maybe he'd realize that we really were incompatible.

We'd date for a few weeks, maybe months. Yeah, I'd give it a try. After all, it was the least I could do after taking his virginity. He deserved to have something good happen in his life. I'd date him, do right by him, and then he'd realize that I wasn't the guy for him.

I nodded. That was a good plan. I washed myself off. It was eleven. I sighed. I dressed and moved in the shadows, avoiding the harpies. My feet took me to a place that I had often gone at this time of night. The last place Annabeth was. The place she died.

I sighed. I could almost see her body lying there. Wait...wait…her body was lying there. I cussed and ran over. "Annabeth?! Annabeth!" I stared at her. She was breathing! I…

I had sex with Nico…

I slumped beside her and cursed myself. I was stupid. I was idiotic. I hated myself. I couldn't face her! I couldn't.

Adulterer!

"You fool. You stupid, seaweed brain fool! How could I…? How could I?!" I punched the ground. I couldn't live with myself. I was filled with shame. Inconsolable shame! "NO!" I practically screamed out my disgust and shame. How could I have done it?!

"You were in grief and in sadness. You thought I was dead, and you blindly reached out for any sort of comfort. Will I kick your ass for it? Oh yeah. Will it come up sometimes in the heat of an argument? I don't doubt it. Do I forgive you? Of course I do. How could I not? I love you. You'd do the same for me, if I had done something like that. I know you'd forgive me. How could I do anything less?"

I stared at Annabeth. Her beautiful grey eyes were smiling at me. For three weeks, I had thought I would never see those eyes again. I kissed her. She kissed me back. Nico had left my mind.

Annabeth. My Annabeth.

She was my whole world.

That's not all folks. Show ain't over yet.

Ink…