AN: Sorry story is coming slowly. This of it as writer's block. I want to finish but I'm having difficulty.

Enjoy!

Juno had given him the coordinates in a dream. With complete certainty, Jason had announced to the assembled demigods that they were shipping out. They'd cheered, ready to fight for the gods again, as they had done before, and as they would do again, and any time they were asked.

Armed, and ready, they boarded the many aircraft, and during the journey, Jason scoured the maps he'd borrowed from the base, He got a grip on the landscape, the location of the nearest towns (thankfully, nothing near) but of course, who knew what magical or mythical creatures could be there?

He'd taken the new praetors as his lieutenants. They were strong and clever warriors, experienced with the continuing battle against monsters. Between them they'd fought almost as many battles as Jason. The legion were promising, made up of seasoned warriors and the best trained around. They were armed to the teeth, thanks to the imperial gold Percy had brought back to camp Jupiter from Alaska. Jason knew the dangers of this unknown foe in an unknown location, but he was confident; he'd defeated titans and giants with less.

And Juno had been clear: the rogue god was alone. His deputy had abandoned him, and he had no one else. no demigods on his side, no allies, no support. Jason's mission had the support of his father, his uncles, and all the gods of Olympus. Reinforcements were on their way.

Juno had made it sound almost unfair. A whole army of demigods, followed by an unknown number of cyclopes and other supporters of the gods against one person, alone and friendless. Even if that person was a god.

But only almost. Jason knew he was dangerous. Juno had explained how Zagreus was a threat to Olympus that she had thought she'd dealt with before. She'd explained he'd tried to overthrow Jupiter, depose him and all the family of gods, which would lead to a downfall of civilization. He was not known for his kindness. He would be cruel, even vicious, and overturn the rules of life and death and justice.

Jason couldn't let that happen.

They landed a few miles north of Anchorage, their destination visible. Jason could not tell if they would be seen, or if they would be overlooked in their mortal-made airplanes. He didn't want to risk the god attacking first, so they moved out straight away, marching North the few remaining miles to the foothills of Denali.

With no deities in sight, they made camp, and made sure everyone was fed and rested, ready for battle. Jason had a command tent erected, where he once more perused the maps of the area.

He took advice from both praetors and all the centurions of the cohorts. Each gave him good advice, but Jason needed to make his own plans, as he had done a thousand times before. Their best chance of winning would be with a surprise attack, but something ate at him about that plan. It felt wrong to attack someone so hopelessly outmatched.

After he'd sent all the leaders of the Romans away, a young man walked into his tent. He smiled at Jason warmly and asked if he wanted refreshments. Jason smiled at him, and thanked him. Then the young man offered his help. Jason raised an eyebrow,

"Thanks, but I'm on it," he said. "Sorry I didn't catch your name."

The newcomer put his head on one side. "That's because I didn't say it yet," he said, with a small smile. "You are Jason Grace?"

"That's me," said Jason.

"And you're a son of Jupiter?" the young man asked.

"Yeah," said Jason, frowning slightly, "which cohort are you with?"

The newcomer smiled, "I'm not with a cohort," he said, conversationally.

"Oh, you're one of the veterans?" Jason asked.

"No," said the newcomer, "I'm Zagreus."

It took Jason a few moments to realise what he'd said, but when he did, his hand flew to his sword. Which wasn't at his belt. He'd taken it off and placed it beside the table to help himself calm down while the discussions took place. He ran towards it, but Zagreus was holding it before he had taken two steps.

Jason stopped in his tracks. This was unexpected, but it was still just one against hundreds, "You're surrounded, Zagreus," Jason told the god "There are demigods ready to attack from every angle. Give yourself up."

Zagreus watched him with his head on one side, a small smile playing around his lips. "You are bothered by this mission," he said.

Jason frowned, "I serve the gods. Juno herself has commanded me to fight you and protect Olympus. I will protect people as long as I am able."

"But you haven't yet called your many soldiers to your aid," said Zagreus. "Why is that?"

Jason watched him steadily. Zagreus was caressing Jason's sword as though it were a curiosity to him. His own was still in a sheath on his back, untouched.

"I thought we could settle this without bloodshed," said Jason, "You want that too, don't you? That's why you came here to talk to me. This is a battle you can't win. You are alone."

"Oh, I assure you, I am not alone," said Zagreus, still mildly, "My general himself fed the information to Hera to get you here, and by the end of our conversation, this whole army will be mine, and you will be sharing my bed."

Jason couldn't help but scoff at that. "Er, that's not going to happen," he said, "This army are loyal to the gods. And I am very much a straight man with a beautiful girlfriend waiting for me at home."

"No, you're not," said Zagreus, "You are under a spell of Aphrodite."

Jason couldn't help but laugh at that. A scornful laugh. The idea was ridiculous. "Look, man, the second I call for help, you'll have a hundred demigods ready to take you down. You can't win this. Just give up, yeah? Let me take you back to Olympus, and we can talk to the gods. You haven't done anything wrong, yet, have you?"

Zagreus shook his head. "Your army are of no use to you," he said.

Jason rolled his eyes, "There are literally hundreds of them, Zagreus," he said.

"But not one that is able to come to your aid," Zagreus told him, and with such confidence Jason almost believed him. "But, please," Zagreus added, "take a look."

With a smirk of derision, Jason marched to the flap of the tent. He pulled it aside, ready to shout for his backup. What he saw outside chilled him to the bones.

The camp was still. Not a calm stillness, or a ready stillness, but a frozen, motionless stillness. His army were stationary, locked in their actions of eating and cooking and messing around. There was no sound but the cold wind around them.

"It is taking a lot of my energy," Zagreus confided, "I am not ready to hold so many with ease, not until I fuse with Aion. But that matters little. You can see how hopeless your mission is, Jason Grace."

"How have you…" Jason tried to ask, but he didn't know how. Had he turned them to stone? Had he killed them all?

"They are frozen in time," Zagreus told him, gently. "It is temporary. I have more to show you, Jason Grace."

"But…" Jason protested, but an arm snaked around his waist. He tried to turn, ready to throw this terrifying creature off of himself, but he wasn't anything like strong enough, and he was tugged from his feet. If it weren't for Zagreus' arm he would have tumbled. and the sudden shadow travel was confusing enough without worrying about landing on his head.

...xxx...xxx...

In that moment, Nico knew he had two options.

The first was to push Percy off, shout at him for being a massive dickhead, and run away. This was the best solution. If he did that, Percy would have to stop blaming Nico for the fact that he clearly wasn't certain about his sexuality. Nor would he be able to blame Nico when he later felt absolutely awful about betraying Annabeth within minutes of her disappearance. Nor would Nico have to experience the gut wrenching misery of being rejected by Percy Jackson, again, this time after he'd experienced the taste of his lips and the feel of his hands on his body.

That was what Nico should have done.

He didn't. Instead he gave in to his desperate need to pull Percy closer, crush their lips together and grind his body against Percy's. If this was going to be his last chance to kiss Percy Jackson, he was going to make the most of it.

And Percy was demanding; a tongue had demanded entry to Nico's mouth almost viciously, and when Nico let it in without protest, it invaded, it took charge, it had Nico at its mercy, barely able to remember his own name. Nico wouldn't have been surprised if his whole brain had blown up from the ferocity and passion in that tongue.

But Percy was far from satisfied with one kiss. His hands were as powerful as his tongue, and they moved from where they'd been holding Nico against a wall to grasp at Nico's waist. Nico's own grabbed at Percy's head and shoulder, trapping him close. Kissing Percy was more important than breathing right now.

Gods, Percy Jackson was kissing him! Nico almost wanted to cry.

He shut down that part of his brain. He couldn't say no to something he'd craved for a decade. He wasn't strong enough.

Percy pulled him up from against the wall, his arms encircling Nico's body. He didn't break the kiss as he pushed him over to the couch and then over the arm until Nico was lying awkwardly on his back, and Percy fell on top. Oh gods, he was so perfect, so beautiful. Nico could barely believe he was on top of him.

But it couldn't last, could it? This was just the emotion of Annabeth going missing. Which would make this super awkward if she was just out getting milk or something and was about to walk in on them like this.

Then Percy's leg rubbed Nico's crotch, and Nico lost all coherent thought,

Percy pulled off Nico's t-shirt, and Nico just surrendered to the action. The moment his arms were free, he grabbed Percy's in return, shoving it up over his head. Percy discarded them both somewhere to the side, and started on Nico's pants. Nico's breathing had already become erratic, as he shoved the offensive garments down over his hips, and attacked Percy's. Gods, Percy was so beautiful, with beautiful muscles without the overblown size. Nico often thought he had the body of a swimmer, a peculiar sort of grace unique to him. Nico's pale thinness must look disgusting next to something so beautiful.

Percy didn't seem to mind. His lips attached to Nico's neck, powerful and bruising. His hands gripped his skin, merciless.

"Percy!" Nico gasped, because he could barely believe he was there.

Percy himself only groaned, pushing his thigh against Nico's groin, making all further speech impossible. Instead, Nico grabbed Percy's hair in a tight fist and used it to pull their faces back together.

Underwear was discarded somewhere along the way, and then there was nothing between them. Nico wrapped his legs around Percy's waist. He needed this, he needed Percy inside him now. Even if this was the only time and he'd spend the rest of his life with a gaping hole in his heart, he needed this.

But Percy pulled away.

"No!" Nico gasped.

"I've got to get a condom," Percy gasped, his erection obvious, his breathing laboured, his eyes shadowed with lust. Nico, who hadn't spent much time at all in school and hardly had a parental figure he could discuss such things with, was very tempted to tell him to just fuck him already, but it seemed important to Percy, so he let him up.

Percy sprinted off in the direction of the bathroom. Nico lay there with his legs open, staring up at the ceiling. Shock, arousal, need, desperation were still flooding his brain. His whole body was quivering with the energy, he was pulsating with it. Percy Jackson had kissed him, undressed him, and laid him out on a couch to fuck. He'd never been so happy, so much in love.

But it was taking too long. Percy returned with a small plastic packet in his hand. Nico stopped breathing. Beautiful Percy was there, still hard, still ready. But he wasn't looking at Nico.

"What's…"

Nico trailed off the question. He didn't want the answer.

"She's only just …" Percy said, "She could be anywhere and I'm…"

Nico closed his legs.

Percy took a few steps into the room, finally letting his eyes fall on Nico. There was no mistaking the desire in them, but it was almost drowned by the guilt "What's wrong with me?" he said, "I'm straight, I'm in love with Annabeth, I…"

He dropped the condom, and with it Nico's heart.

"I've gotta go," Percy mumbled, "I should be… looking… I should…"

Nico wanted to weep. He rolled over and sat up, pulling his legs up to his chest.

"I should…" Percy mumbled, "I've gotta… where…" He fumbled around for his clothes, pulling them on messily. "Where would… where would… Zagreus… what would he… " He let out a sob. "Annabeth," he whispered.

Nico brushed the tears from his own face. He felt stupid. He was sat naked on someone else's couch as they wept for their fiancé. Was he that desperate that he would volunteer himself like this at the first whiff of returned feelings?

"Where would he take her, Nico?" Percy asked, "Where did… where would…"

"I don't know," Nico replied. He should probably get dressed. He couldn't just sit here naked, but he didn't have the capacity to move. He wanted to fall into a hole and die. He wanted the ground to swallow him, and crush his heart for real so he didn't have to feel how crushed it was right now.

"You… he's friends with you. He would tell you…"

"He didn't!" Nico snapped, then hung his head in shame. Getting angry with Percy was not fair or helpful. Annabeth was a good person. She had Percy first, Nico had no right to wish her ill. "He never said anything about Annabeth, or about where he would go. I never even thought he would go!"

Percy nodded. He was pretty much dressed now, and Nico was still sat there, uselessly. "I should… I've got to go to … to Chiron and… and Frank and … Hazel and… I've got to find her."

Nico nodded, "I know," he said.

"I've… got to go," Percy repeated.

"I know," repeated Nico. "So go."

Percy looked at him for a moment longer, Nico couldn't even meet his face. He was too busy staring at the floor. If they'd been on the ground floor, Nico probably would have disappeared into rock already. But all he could do was sit there.

"I…" Percy said. But then he walked out. Without another word. Leaving Nico alone and lost in the home Percy should be making with Annabeth, unable to move, unable to speak, and unable to see through the tears that ran down his face.

...xxx...xxx…

When Jason next knew where he was, he was surprised to find himself back at Piper's father's mansion. Piper was staring at him in shock, her hands resting on the shoulders of a slim, kneeling figure.

At first Jason just stared back. The arm around him was still strong and firm, and when he was overcome with fury, it still held him back from doing anything violent and stupid.

"Wait, my little lover," whispered Zagreus in his ear, "I am no one's rebound, as they say. When I take you, you will be mine forever. Speak to her. Ask her to explain."

"Explain!" Jason shouted.

Piper flinched. Her partner too had gone as still and stiff as a statue. No explanation came.

"Explain!" Jason shouted again.

"Jason, I'm sorry!" gasped Piper. "It doesn't mean anything it's just…"

"I don't want apologies!" Jason growled, part of him wanting to tear her and her lover apart, part of him grateful for the arm that prevented that very crime. "Explain!"

Piper's eyes darted down to her partner, who was still frozen. But feelings seemed to be returning to them, and they turned, hesitantly. Despite his fury at Piper, Jason couldn't help but look.

Reyna stared at him with wide, alarmed eyes.

"I'm sorry!" Piper gasped again, her eyes filling with tears.

Reyna scrambled to her feet. "I'm sorry, Jason, I just… I wanted to get next to you!"

Jason stared at her. She was irrelevant. He'd never felt anything for her beyond respect, and now even that was lost.

"Get out," Jason ordered.

"Jason…"

"Get out!" Jason repeated.

Reyna grabbed some bits of cloth from the floor and ran from the room. He didn't really care how long it took her to leave. He only had eyes for his cheating girlfriend. "How long?" he asked.

"Jason, it doesn't mean anything," Piper protested.

"How long?" he repeated.

Piper shook her head, "I don't know," she breathed.

He glared. That wasn't an answer. "Just with her?" he asked.

Piper closed her eyes in shame, and Jason repeated his question with fury.

"No," said Piper.

Jason was ready to throw her bodily from the house, but the arm around him tightened, and was joined by another. He could feel the hard body behind him, the breath on his neck. "Listen to her explanation, Jason," breathed Zagreus. "Listen to what she says."

For some reason, it didn't even feel weird to be having this conversation while being embraced by a god he'd just met. He wanted to hear her explanation. Her excuses. Was he about to be blamed for her indiscretion? Had he abandoned her? Had he neglected her?

"It's my nature," said Piper, "I'm a child of Aphrodite."

Jason growled, "The goddess of love! Of love, Piper! I thought you loved me!"

"I do!" Piper sobbed, "I do, I swear I do."

"Then why?" Jason shouted.

"I need the act of love, Jason," Piper whispered, "Aphrodite isn't the goddess of marriage, she's the goddess of the act of love, of procreation and beauty."

"You want children?" Jason growled, "because Reyna can't give you that!"

"No! That's not what I mean!" Piper protested, "I mean… I'm sorry…"

She looked miserable and broken, but Jason felt no pity. He glared at her, waiting for her to finish her explanation.

"I need to make love," she said, "I love you so much, but I cannot be faithful. No more than Aphrodite can be faithful to Hephaestus. It's not in our natures."

Jason sneered, "It is in my nature to give in to my anger and hurl thunderbolts!" He felt his fingers buzzing, but Zagreus pulled him back to reality with a hand on his neck.

"Stop, Jason," he breathed, "what do you feel?"

"Who are you?" Piper asked Zagreus, "what are you doing to him?"

"What do you feel Jason?" Zagreus asked again, "do you feel anger? Really?"

Jason struggled against the arms, "Of course I'm angry!" he shouted,

"Feel, Jason," Zagreus repeated, "listen to your body. Is that anger or is that shame?"

Jason kept struggling, but there was a comfort in Zagreus' strength. No way was Jason going to get free, and when he submitted he felt a rush of calm, and felt. "No," he said. "It's… why didn't I realise? How could I be so stupid?"

"You weren't stupid, my lover," Zagreus breathed, "Aphrodite is a clever goddess, and her children are the same. This girl loves you."

"I don't care," Jason hissed.

"You do," said Zagreus, "you care about what has happened."

Jason fidgeted, feeling Zagreus so close filling his mind, "What do you mean?" he asked.

"Do you love her?" Zagreus asked.

"I… yes," said Jason. Of course he loved her. He knew he loved Piper. That was something he knew to be fact.

"Do you love her?" Zagreus repeated, "What do you feel?"

Jason looked at Piper, who was staring open mouthed, still not dressed. She was pretty, she was warm, she was brave. Was that the same as love?

"She could not help it," Zagreus breathed, "she wanted you so much. And look at you, how could she not?"

"What are you talking about?" Jason demanded, "I don't… I want to go!"

"Do you love her?" Zagreus repeated, more firmly this time, an order.

Jason searched Piper's face, thought about his feelings. There was usually a feeling with Piper, Like a chord joining them together, possessiveness and protectiveness. But it was gone.

"No," he said, "I don't."

Piper's face crumbled at the words.

"Good, boy," said Zagreus, "the spell is broken."

"Spell?" Jason asked, "I don't understand, what spell?"

"Her spell over you," Zagreus explained, "She didn't mean to cast it. She just wanted you so much."

"Spell?" Jason repeated, "Piper's spell?"

"Aphrodite's love isn't real, Jason," said Zagreus, "It is a game to her. But Piper loves you. Do you want to stay with her?"

Jason shook his head. It didn't need thought. He did not love Piper. Maybe he never had.

"Jason, please!" begged Piper, "Don't listen to him! You do love me! You told me so!"

He had, but each time he'd meant the chord, the thing that pulled them together. And that was completely gone.

"Please Jason!" Piper sobbed, "It's his spell! He's made you stop loving me! It will come back, I promise! Jason, I love you!"

"I am taking you with me, Jason," breathed Zagreus, "from now on you will be mine. Mine to love, mine to care for, mine to command."

Jason worried that his reaction to that wasn't natural. The words should have terrified him, and they did send butterflies dashing about his stomach. But they weren't entirely butterflies of fear.

Zagreus had a hand on his neck, the other floated down his body, until it settled on his cock, which, to Jason's surprise, he discovered to be hardening.

"Do you want to go with me, Jason?" Zagreus asked.

Heart racing, mind a fog of confusion, Jason simply nodded.

AN: Thanks for reading. Review are appreciated.