AN: Short chapter but to prove I've still not given up despite the hate.

Enjoy and please review if you have something nice to say.

x

"You wished to see me, Percy Jackson?"

Zagreus' voice was cold and smug. Nico could barely stand to look at him when he sounded like that.

Percy held his head down, an empty expression on his face. Nico feared for him. Not for his life; Percy had risked his life countless times, and Nico knew there was no one who could be quite so certain of an afterlife in Elysium. Nico feared that he'd lost a part of himself when Annabeth had told him of his father's fate. He feared that, for Percy, knowing his father was fallible was more damaging than any monster Tartarus could throw.

"Please, Lord Zagreus," said Percy, and it sounded unnatural to hear such words from the hero, "I want to speak with my father. Please allow me to visit him."

Zagreus smirked. To a casual observer, looking at him was looking at the victor – his palace was resplendent, he was massively tall, dressed lavishly and armed to the teeth. To Nico, he looked desperate: a power-crazed megalomaniac desperate to prove their own strength. It was a sign of weakness, displaying that he was threatened by the mortal Percy Jackson.

"I will have to think on it, Jackson," said Zagreus, "Though I see no reason to show you kindness. You have shown nothing but disrespect and hostility."

Percy kept his gaze down, though Nico could see his expression tightening.

"And now you see which side will have the victory," Zagreus crowed, "So now you come to me on bended knee."

Nico could see Percy biting his lip.

"And yet, you still lack the humility due," said Zagreus. "I fear you will need to show a great deal more contrition to sway me."

Percy closed his eyes, maybe trying to hold back tears.

"That's what you need, is it?" Nico said.

Eyes spun to him. He hadn't meant to talk. It had just slipped out.

Zagreus still looked mostly surprised, so Nico used the moment's silence to continue.

"You need him to behave like a slave to be able to tell yourself you're a leader? Make him feel small so you can feel big? That doesn't make you strong, Zagreus. That makes you bully."

"Nico," said Percy, warningly.

Nico ignored him, "Are you going to let Percy see his dad, or would that be a great threat to your regime?"

Zagreus' lip curled. "Silence, boy, or I will …"

"You will, you will," Nico cried, "You can do a lot to us, Zagreus. But stop telling yourself you're some sort of hero! You're a kid who wants to be king of the playground."

Zagreus glared harder. Nico wondered if he could be made to explode by the glare.

Then Percy started to choke.

It started with spluttering noises, quiet sounds of distress that Nico took a moment to place. They didn't grow louder so much as more desperate. A few whines joined the mix, and a clatter as Percy started to fall. Nico swallowed back the tears.

Before them, the god smirked with appreciation. "Every second that passes without an apology from you, Nico, is another second Jackson goes without air."

Nico only needed to be told once. He nodded and fell to his knees, "I apologize, my lord," he said.

Zagreus left him waiting for long moments as Percy failed to catch a breath. Nico shivered. If he caused Percy's death with a stupid temper tantrum he'd… He didn't know what he would do.

The god let out a noise of disgust and Percy gasped in breath after breath. Nico took his own deep breaths of relief. He stayed on his knees and looked up at Zagreus. He didn't need to say anything. It was clear that this fit of pique from the god simply proved Nico right. However powerful he may be, Zagreus was a bully and a villain.

"Be gone," Zagreus snapped. "Before I do something irreversible. Stupid, delicate humans."

So Nico stood and helped Percy from the throne room. Percy walked carefully, his breathing sounding raw still. When they'd gotten a distance from the Zagreus' presence, he gave Nico a raised eyebrow.

"So… the words beaten, broken and groveling… they featured heavily in our plans for that conversation."

Nico ducked his head. He had been foolish. They were supposed to be getting a chance to see Poseidon. He was ashamed by his outburst.

"Hey," Percy interrupted, a hand on Nico's arm, "I'm proud of you," he said, and leaned in, touching his lips gently against Nico's.

Nico didn't deserve it, had no right to want it. He'd failed Percy. "I'm sorry," said Nico into the kiss, even as his concious failed in the strength to pull back.

But Percy shook his head and gave him a small smile, "No need," he whispered, and kissed him again

Something coughed behind them, very rudely Nico thought. Percy broke away from the kiss with an apologetic look in at Nico.

They turned to see a pair of armed demigods. They were teenagers, probably barely old enough to cease attending camp. They had twin frowns on their faces.

"Lord Zagreus asked us to check you returned to your quarters," said one, a spotty guy of about sixteen. He had his hand on a sword, obviously wary. After all, few demigods would have failed to hear of Percy Jackson. He had good reason to be nervous.

"Get moving," growled the other, scowl firmly in place. His sword was actually drawn, face hard and vicious, like he was hoping for a chance to attack.

With a brief look at Nico, Percy ducked his head, "Please," he said, looking contrite, "I am injured, I need time to recover."

"You can have it once you're locked up," said the scowling demigod, "Get moving, or I'll injure you some more."

Percy looked at him with raised eyebrows, "Wow," he said, "you just made this super easy."

The demigod with the spots frowned, edging back a little, giving his fear away, "Made what super easy?" he asked.

Percy smiled.

Nico took a step closer to him, suddenly very wary indeed.

The opposite wall exploded. Water shot from the giant crack, smashing into the two armed demigods, slamming them aside.

"Come on," said Percy, to Nico, "actually, grab that sword, you need something."

"Seriously?" said Nico, "You wanna fight your way out?"

Percy shrugged, "Best chance yet. I can't see the dragon, can you?"

Nico smiled. He looked at Percy in all his beautiful, rebellious glory, and grinned. Percy grinned back, and took his hand.

"Come on, then," Percy whispered.

They ran.