Paint Me a Better Tomorrow Chapter 8: Trouble in Paradise, a percy jackson and the olympians fanfic

DIsclaimer: I do not the PJaTO franchise. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure I even want to own it. It's just a bit too much work for me. The responsibility would kill me (like how high school is). I'm just here to spread the Nicercy goodness. And also, have crazy references to the books that no one gets. (Percy skateboards because I equate that with the land equivalent of surfing, which is a water sport, haha)

I do not own the song My Answer by EXO. (I know another kpop song. But, what can I say? I'm a fan.)

A/N: Well, I'm here. ^-^ This story is slowly coming to a close. It probably won't end until three-four more chapters, maybe less. I have started to form an idea on how it ends and I just hope that it ties all loose ends up. Once this story is done, I'm going to start working on my Drarry story full-time. :) ALSO, THIS IS PART ONE OF A DOUBLE UPDATE.

Sorry for taking such a long-ass time (one month, I know). Not only that I also posted another small fic in the Hetalia fandom, too. (check it out if you'd like). I am busy with school and two other stories, so updates won't be frequent (as if they weren't frequent enough already, right?).

Warnings: Language, Sappy Romance, Characters That Are Out of Character, Some Hurt/Comfort (I know, that's so not me), Italics Abuse (?).

-The moment I first saw you, I was so attracted to you

I didn't weigh out my thoughts and just talked-

Paint me a Better Tomorrow

VIII. Trouble in Paradise

-I should've been more careful, I should've saved myself

So I wouldn't get hurt-

The sound of incessant ringing pierced the silence of the room. A tanned arm reached out from under the covers and slammed harshly on the offendly alarm clock. WIth a groan, Nico sat up, rubbing his eyes blearily. He glanced over at the clock and sighed when it read "9:30". He stretched, feeling his muscles protest at the actions, and yawned.

"It's way too early," he muttered, fluffing his hair sleepily. He stood up and walked towards the bathroom. On the way there, he gaze flitted over the calendar hanging on the wall, eyes widening when he realized just what day it was. 'Saturday.'

A giddy feeling settled into his stomach, as he entered the bathroom. There was still a couple of hours until his date, so he felt that there was no need to hurry. Turning on the faucet, he took his time washing his face and brushing his teeth. Afterwards, he combed his hair and walked out, feeling awake and refreshed.

"Morning, Nicki," Bianca greeted when he walked into the kitchen. She had a bemused expression on her face. "What's got you so happy today?"

Nico shrugged, his features settling into a mask of indifference. "It's nothing. And, I told you not to call me that, Bia."

"Nothing," Hazel scoffed, laughing when Bianca sputtered at her hated nickname. "I know you better than that, brother. Come on, spill. What is it?"

"I got a date."

Bianca and Hazel squealed, "That's so cute! Is it with that Jackson boy?"

"His name is Percy," growled Nico, rolling his eyes when his sisters bursted into a fit of giggles.

"Oh, we know." Bianca had that look on in her eyes. "When's the date?"

"Later in the afternoon," he replied cooly, narrowing his eyes. 'What is she planning?' "Percy and Leo are going to come over and we're going to the basketball courts near here."

"You're dating two, boys?"

Nico shook his head fervently, dispelling the thought. "No, I'm not dating Leo. He likes Jason, anyways." At his sisters' knowing grins, he added, "And, no, I'm not dating Percy either."

"Well, he'll definitely consider dating you after today's date," Bianca said with a sly smile. She shared a look with Hazel, which didn't go unnoticed by Nico.

He glowered. "What are you planning?"

"It's nothing, dear brother," Hazel replied, an innocent expression on her face. "Don't worry about it. Just go make your breakfast."

Nico nodded slowly, the confusion evident in his eyes. He watched as his sisters walked out of the kitchen, talking in low tones. Something was definitely he heard them squeal, it only further confirmed his suspicions. "Nothing, my ass."

. . .

"Nico?" He looked up from his reading and scowled when he saw Persephone's face.

"What is it?" He could barely keep the biting tone out of his voice. Persephone just sighed, her fish clenched behind her back. "Bianca and Hazel want to talk to you."

"Where are they?"

"Their room."

Nico nodded stiffly and closed his book. He turned his back to Persephone and started towards the girls' shared room, missing the hurt painted across her delicate features. Tucking the book under his arm, he trudged up the stairs. What were his sisters up to? He had barely finished lunch. It was still a good couple hours before his date. 'What do they want?'

Their door was left open innocuously. Nico stepped in without much of a greeting and frowned when he saw the room was in disarray. Clothes were strewn all over the floor. His clothes, he noticed.

"What are you doing with my clothes?" he asked. Hazel and Bianca just smirked at him, sending shivers down his spine.

"Don't worry, Nikki," Bianca soothed. "We're just helping you pick out an outfit." She held up his black leather jacket, white tee, and artfully ripped jeans. "How about this?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm going to play basketball, not trying out for a bike gang. I can't run around in those clothes. And, I can pick out my outfit on my own. I'm not a kid anymore."

"How about this one, then?" Hazel asked, as if what Nico said did not register in her mind. She held up his favorite hoodie, blazoned with the words 'Ghost King', a gray t-shirt that he didn't remember buying, and a pair of sweatpants that seemed a bit tighter than he would have liked.

He sighed resignedly, grabbing the clothes. He stripped down to his boxers right in front of them, not caring if they saw. After all, they were siblings. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. It's not anything they haven't seen before.

"So, how do I look?" he asked, just to humor them. There was an unmistakable tinge of pink across their cheeks, causing him to raise an eyebrow in concern. "Something wrong?"

Bianca shook her head almost violently and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry your pretty little head, Nikki. We're just stunned to see how much our little brother had grown up."

"So, I look okay?" He played with the fabric of his hoodie distractedly.

"Better than okay," Hazel affirmed with a grin. "You look great."

"Percy won't know what hit him," Bianca added, giving Nico a once-over. She frowned suddenly.

"Something's missing," she murmured to Hazel. "A hat, maybe?"

Hazel nodded in agreement and ran out of the room. When she came back, there was a black snapback in her hand. She handed it to Nico. "Wear this. I think it'll suit you."

He narrowed his eyes. "This isn't my hat. It's not yours either. Can I really wear this?"

"Thanatos gave it to me before he left," his sister replied with a shrug. "I don't really like wearing hats, so you can have it. Besides, I think you look better in it than I do."

Nico hummed in reply and fitted the snapback onto his head. He glanced at his reflection in the mirror and grinned. 'Not bad.'

"Now, you're ready." Bianca and Hazel beamed at him, eliciting a smile of his own.

"Thank you, I guess," he said.

"It's no problem," his sisters dismissed. "Now, go and get him."

Nico rolled his eyes. "He isn't meeting me until a couple hours later."

"Oh." Bianca got that spark in her eyes again. "Well then, you should tell us about Percy. We have the time. What is it you like about him?"

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes again. Wasn't it obvious? "Everything."

. . .

"I wonder if Percy t-" the doorbell suddenly rang "-ops." Hazel elbowed Bianca viciously in the side, blushing as the audacity. She glanced over at Nico, who was listening to music, and sighed in relief. He hadn't hear anything after all.

"Nico." She reached over and pulled the headphones off of his ears, causing him to growl like a ruffled kitten (or at least, that's what it seemed like to Hazel, she saw a very tame version of it). "I think Percy's here."

Nico perked up and grinned. He let the headphones go and fitted the hat back on his head. He had taken it off earlier to listen to music, once Bianca and Hazel got a bit too personal with their questions. They may be his sisters, but he wasn't going to spill all his secrets out to them. It just doesn't work like that.

"Well, I'm going to go now," he announced. "I don't know when I'm be back, but I think it will be before dinner."

"Have fun," Hazel wished with a smile.

Bianca smirked. "But, not too much fun."

"Bye," he gritted out, walking out of the room as quickly as he could. There was no way he was staying in the same room with the insanity that was his sisters, especially when there was something much more tempting waiting for him at the door.

Before he let Percy in, Nico made sure that his appearance was impeccable. Even despite his sisters' grooming, he still wanted to make sure that he looked presentable. After all, it was his second date with Percy (the study session before was totally a date) and their first date out in public. He wanted it to be perfect.

He opened the door. "Hey, Per-" He was met with the sight of gorgeous green eyes. Percy was wearing a blue flannel, left open to reveal a white shirt, and a pair of black pants that hugged his body in all the right places. His hair was tousled, framing his face. He was flushed a delicate pink, panting slightly from exertion. Nico swallowed thickly at the delectable sight. "Hey, Percy."

"Hey, Nico," he replied with a smile. "Are you ready to go?"

Nico nodded. "We should go get Jason. He lives across the street."

"In that pretty house?" Leo pointed to the pristine white house. The lawn was clean-cut and the bushes well-trimmed. Not a single thing seemed out of place. 'Typical,' Nico thought. 'Of course, Hera would want things to be perfect.'

At Nico's nod, Leo grinned slyly. "Why don't I go get Jason and you two"-he winked at Percy-"can hang out for a bit?" He chuckled when Percy sputtered and took that as a yes. "I'll be right back."

He crossed the street, making sure to look both ways, and left the soon-to-be couple (at least, that's what he thought would happen) alone. A slight sensation of apprehensiveness hit him when he stepped onto the property. Yes, the white house was beautiful, but it was also daunting as well. Something felt off about the house. It didn't seem like something Jason would live in. It didn't feel like a home, just a place to stay.

Leo rang the doorbell and waited, fiddling with the fabric of his shirt. His previous enthusiasm had dissipated to what seemed like fear. The elapsed time felt like an eternity, as he stood there in wait. Was no one home?

He was turning to leave, feeling dejected, when the door opened to reveal a blonde woman with piercing blue eyes staring down at him. It felt like she was judging him down to the depths of his soul. He had to stop himself from shivering, as he met her gaze. She was admittedly a very pretty lady with her hair perfectly styled and her clothing impeccably chosen, but she seemed very cold.

"What do you want?" Leo winced at her voice, which practically dripped with disdain. He could tell the lady was looking down on him (both figuratively and literally) and was starting to regret his choice of going alone to get Jason. Dammit, if only he had asked either Percy or Nico, or even both of them to come with him.

"I'm looking for a Jason Grace," he replied as politely as he could. "We're supposed to go on a.." He paused. If he said date, then the lady would surely shoo him away. SHe definitely seemed like the type, but he wished with all his heart that he was wrong.

"On a?" She glared at him menacingly.

"Practice session!" Leo squeaked, stepping back subconsciously when he felt the weight of her stare. "We have a game coming up and we scheduled a weekend practice at a nearby court." By now, he was just rambling nervously. His mouth moved on its own. The lady was fucking scary.

"Oh, you play that filthy sports, too." Leo couldn't hold back that flinch his body involuntarily gave. It was chilling to see someone speak of basketball with such unadulterated hate. He could feel her eyes scrutinizing his body and felt a wave of disgust wash over him. When he scrunched up her nose, he could tell the feeling was mutual. "Can you even touch the basket? You're such a midget."

Leo opened his mouth to retort, feeling anger rush through his veins, but a soft tenor interrupted him. "Honey, who was at the door?"

"Oh, it's no one, dear." Leo's eyes widened at her swift change in demeanor. It was almost a complete 360 from what he had experienced earlier. What a two faced bitch. "He was just leaving."

"No, I'm not," Leo asserted, his lips quirked into a smirk when the woman gave him a scalding look. "I'm looking for Jason. We're supposed to go on a date." His smirk grew when the woman sputtered, while the man broke into a wide grin.

"Why didn't you say so earlier?" He turned to his wife (at least, that's what Leo thought she was. He couldn't fathom how anyone could stand being married to that woman). "Honey, go and get Jason. Tell him his date is here." When she didn't budge, he sighed. "Come on. It's the weekend. Let him go out."

"He will go out with a girl," she spat. "Not a boy. I will not let my son become one of them." Leo balled up a fist and was honestly ready to punch the fucking bitch in the gut, but Jason's voice stopped him.

"Leave Leo alone, Hera." The woman's name was spoken with pure loathing. "I can do whatever I want."

Hera turned to him with her lips pressed into a thin line. "Last time I checked this isn't your house. Under my household, you adhere to my rules."

"Last time I checked," Jason shot back. Leo had never seen him so angry before and to be perfectly honest, he thought it was kind of hot, but also scary. The blonde was another Nico when furious, equally volatile and dangerous. "This isn't your house either. It's dad's. And, he let me go. So, I'm going."

"You-"

"Honey." The single word was said firmly and a strong hand came to rest on her shoulder with a warning squeeze. "Just let him go. He's old enough to make his own decisions."

"But, Zeus."

The man wasn't taking any of it. "Don't 'but, Zeus' me. Jason may be our son, but he is a person, too. Let him do what he wants. From what I can tell, this boy he's going on a date with seems like a good kid."

Hera didn't reply, but her gaze spoke volumes. This isn't over, it said, but Jason and Zeus didn't seem worried when she stomped off with a huff. Instead, they were relieved.

"I'm sorry you had to see that," Zeus apologized. "My wife doesn't have the best of personalities."

Jason snorted at that, but his father chose to ignore it. "You guys can go. Just be careful. Have fun. And, Jason?"

"Yes, dad?"

"You can stay over at Nico's if you wish. Hera won't be in the best of moods when you get home."

Jason nodded and grabbed Leo's hand. "Thanks, dad. Bye."

"Bye, Jason and Jason's friend. Have fun." He gave them a quick smile and closed the door, probably off to sooth his wife's sore ego.

"I'm so sorry you had to see that," Jason said, rubbing his neck with his free hand.

Leo blushed. Jason's hand was warm and it dwarfed his own, making him feel utterly safe. "Don't worry. It's alright."

They settled into an uncomfortable silence, as they walked across the street. Jason was still holding Leo's hand, but it served more as a comfort than anything else. He hadn't wanted for Leo to meet Hera. It was best if he never met her, but things just didn't go the way he wanted to. He wished that his dad would just divorce the woman already, whether or not she was his mom. If anything, he had no mother. She had never been his mother, much less his mom, in the many years he had lived on this earth. He had only one parent. It was Zeus, his father.

"So, how did it go?" Percy's voice broke the self-imposed silence. He raised an eyebrow at their joined hands and grinned knowingly at Leo's blush.

"Hera is not on Team Leo," he mumbled. But, he quickly brightened up. "But, Jason's dad, Zeus is definitely a fan."

Jason chuckled at the synopsis and couldn't help, but add, " More like she's Team Crazy. Dad is already a fan. I'm on Team Leo, too."

"Who isn't?" Leo quipped with a cheeky grin. But, the blush on the back of neck said otherwise. Percy snickered from behind his hand and received a glare in return.

"Well, lovebirds," he drawled, dropping his skateboard onto the ground with a clack, "are you ready to go?"

Leo glanced at Jason. "The courts aren't far, but it takes more on foot. Do you have a bike or a skateboard?"

"No," the blonde replied, shaking his hood. "But, I can always ride with you. I can peddle and you can stand on the pegs." He leaned in and whispered, "Let me make it up to you for before."

"A-alright." Leo blushed and looked away. He cleared his throat when he noticed the others staring at him with a knowing grin and looked to Nico. "How about you? You have something?"

The Italian nodded, holding up his own skateboard. "I went to get it when you were over at Jason's."

"Okay. Ready to go?" Leo waited as Jason sat down on his bike and he gingerly stood on the pegs, holding into the blonde's shoulders' for dear Iife. The other just chuckled.

"Lead the way."

. . .

The basketball courts were located at an out of the way recreation center. It was a quaint little place, where not a lot of people went to. Most of the locals preferred the big recreation center in the middle of the city, but Percy and Leo liked the peace and quiet their place could provide.

"Welcome to the courts," Percy announced, placing his foot against the ground to stop his skateboard. There was a soft smile on his face as he took in his surroundings. "This our favorite place to relax.

"It's a nice place," Nico commented. "Very peaceful."

Leo nodded. "That's why we chose the place. It's where we'd go if we get too stressed. We haven't gone in a while, though."

"Why not?"

Percy shrugged. "Honestly, I don't know. School has been pretty normal, except for a few issues here and there. We just haven't gotten around to finding free time. Junior year is the hardest year for a reason."

Nico and Jason shared a look of surprise. They had honestly thought that Percy would mention something about Luke. 'Guess their lives don't revolve around the guy as much as we thought.' It was comforting to know.

"So, are we going to shoot some hoops?" Jason asked, noticing the distinct lack of basketballs.

Percy and Leo blushed. "That was originally the plan, but we've had too much to do with basketball lately. I think it would be better if we took a break." At Nico's and Jason's look, they grew indignant. "What? We learned." The hard way was practically implied.

"What are we going to do?"

Leo gave Jason a shy smile. "Well, I was hoping that we could spend some time alone and get to know each other a little more. If that's okay with you."

"Perfect," Jason purred, wrapping an arm around the boy's waist. "I'll take good care of you." He chuckled when Leo blushed and pulled him to the side. "Come on," he whispered, "let's go find a place."

Leo nodded and lead him towards his favorite spot, leaving Nico and Percy alone.

"This is my secret base," he declared, gesturing to the treehouse above them. "It's not much, but it's my favorite place, besides Cabin Nine."

"It's amazing," Jason praised, in awe with the place. He watched as Leo began to climb the pronged ladder and did the same. "Who built it?"

"My dad," Leo replied proudly. "He wanted me, my brothers, and my sister to have someplace to go when we needed to be alone. We still go here sometimes." He stepped into the tree house and took in the familiar. It has been a while since he had been there. It was also the first time he had brought anyone, aside from Percy or his family, to this place.

"What's Cabin Nine?" the blonde asked, sitting down cross-legged. He smiled when Leo sat beside him and gently laid his hand on top of the boy's, squeezing it softly.

"My dad's car garage. He and my brothers and sister works there fixing cars. When I get out of school, I'll be working there, too."

"How many siblings do you have?"

Leo smiled wryly. "I have three. Nyssa, Jake, and Beckerdorf."

"Beckerdorf?" Jason repeated. Leo laughed. The look of confusion only made his blonde cuter. (Wait, when was Jason considered his?)

"It's his nickname. Don't ask me how he got it. I just know that I've been calling him that ever since I could remember. His real name is Charles." He met Jason's brilliant blue eyes and blushed under the intense gaze. "How about you? Do you have any siblings?"

"I have one sister," Jason answered with a fond smile. "Her name is Thalia. I love her more than anything else in the world."

"You guys are really close, huh?"

Jason shrugged. "Well, we had to be."

"Is it because of Hera?" Leo asked, biting his lip nervously. He hoped that he wasn't crossing a line.

The blonde sighed and tousled his hair. He didn't really want to talk about it, but Leo had the right to know. After all, it might bring them closer (and, he needed to tell someone other than Nico). "It's always because of Hera," he gritted out. "She's the cause of all our troubles."

"If she's your mom, why do you call her by her name?" He shrank back when Jason glared, even if it's not directed at him. "I'm sorry. You don't have to tell me if you don't want to."

"No, no," Jason dismissed, shaking his head. "It's alright. I want to talk about it. I really need to get it out." He took a long breath and released it. "She is my biological mother, but she doesn't deserve to be my mom."

"Was she.."

"No, she wasn't abusive or anything like that. It was more of neglect really. She didn't love us. She never did. I doubt she loved my dad either. She just wanted a perfect family with the perfect husband who has a high-paying job, a domestic wife, the perfect son to follow his father's footsteps, and the beautiful daughter who will grow up just to be like her mom. Ever since we were kids, she told us what to do, how to dress, who to hang out with. I know it sounds like any other parent, but trust me. She isn't like anyone else. She knew dad would be the one to give her beautiful children and give her lots of money. After so many years together, dad still hasn't figured it out. He still believes that she loves him he doesn't know that she loves perfection, not him."

"He'll realize eventually," Leo said happily. "She's not trying to hide anything from you or Thalia. She didn't even hesitate to reveal her true self to me."

"I can only hope," the blonde said, his expression grin. "They have been having a lot more fights lately and dad has been doing more things without her permission. She didn't like that we moved here. She hated it when dad enrolled me and Thals at Elysium, not the private school she had wanted. Me going basketball made it even worse. I didn't tell anyone about the tutoring. It would only cause more fighting. Even if fighting means that a divorce is on the way, I hate the yelling."

Leo could barely refrain the blunt "That sucks" that bubbled up his throat, as he pulled Jason into a hug. He felt the blonde rest his head on his shoulder and felt a certain warmth over his being. There wasn't much he could give, but a hug was the least he could do.

"I'm glad you trust me enough to tell me all this," he said a little while later, while contemplating what he could say that wouldn't sound in any way offensive.

"You deserve to know."

Leo blinked in surprise. "But, we're not even that close. I ... I don't understand."

"We've only known each other for a couple months, Leo, more or less. But, I feel this connection towards you." He buried his head into Leo's shoulder again, this time to hide his blush. "I am.. attracted to you. I like you a lot. That's why I wanted to tell you all this. That's why I can trust you."

"Okay."

"Okay?"

The impish boy blushed and nuzzled against Jason. "I like you, too. I'm pretty sure I made it kind of obvious. I'm not very good at hiding things."

Jason chuckled and broke the embrace, still keeping his arms around Leo's waist. "No, you're not," he admitted. "But, neither am I. You caught my eye on the first day I went to school and had been on my mind since." He grinned when Leo's blush deepened and cupped the boy's cheek lovingly. Stroking the soft skin with the pad of his thumb, he leaned forward and pressed his forehead against Leo's.

"I'm not going to rush anything," he said, his eyes smoldering when they came in contact with Leo's. "I want to start slow. We have all the time we need."

"You're my first," Leo confessed, the blush reaching his ears and down the back of his neck. Jason could feel his breath hitch. There couldn't be a lovelier sight.

"You're not my first," Jason admitted quietly. "But, you are definitely one I hold dear to my heart."

"How many have you had before?" Leo asked, trying to keep the jealous out of his voice, but failed miserably.

"Just one," the blonde replied. "She wasn't of my choice either, so I guess she doesn't really count. Hera chose her for me and I accepted. It was during a time that I still believed she loved me and just wanted the best for me."

"So, I'm technically your first?"

Jason laughed heartily. "You can say that. It's not like it matters anyways. She is nothing compared to you."

Leo had never been so red in his life. "So, what are we?"

"Isn't it obvious?" Jason beamed at his sweet boy. "We're boyfriends."

. . .

Meanwhile, Nico and Percy were sitting on the swings, a comfortable silence blanketing over them. After Jason and Leo left, there wasn't really much they wanted to talk to each other about. Their presence was enough to sate their desires. At least, until Percy's curiosity got the better of him.

"Can I ask you something?" he blurted out, wincing at his forwardness.

Nico shrugged his shoulders. "What about?"

"It's about Persephone." He saw the frown etched on Nico's lips and immediately added, "You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to."

The other shook his head. "I-it's alright. I can talk about her."

"O-okay." The Italian didn't seem all that confident and frankly, neither did Percy. "What's your relationship with her?"

"She's my stepmother, as you probably figured out," Nico replied, staring off to the side. He ruffled his hair with a hand, sighing almost tiredly. "My real mom died a while back and my father remarried some time after. I didn't like Persephone at first. I still don't like her, but my sisters did. They loved her."

"Why don't you like her?" Percy asked. "She seems pretty nice."

"Mamma." The single word was spoken with such sadness that Percy could feel his heart break a little. "She can't replace mamma. I can't accept Persephone being there when it's mamma's place. She's not mamDIsclaimer: I do not the PJaTO franchise. Now that I think about it, I'm not sure I even want to own it. It's just a bit too much work for me. The responsibility would kill me (like how high school is). I'm just here to spread the Nicercy goodness. And also, have crazy references to the books that no one gets. (Percy skateboards because I equate that with the land equivalent of surfing, which is a water sport, haha)

I do not own the song My Answer by EXO. (I know another kpop song. But, what can I say? I'm a fan.)

Sorry for taking such a long-ass time (one month, I know). Not only that I also posted another small fic in the Hetalia fandom, too. (check it out if you'd like). I am busy with school and two other stories, so updates won't be frequent (as if they weren't frequent enough already, right?).