Summary: He didn't want it to happen, it just did. Everything that meant something to him just left. Vanished. Disappeared. He threw everything meaningful aside. He ignored society, the community and his 'so-called-friends'. He ruined his own life, built up a mask to protect himself, to protect others. But he wasn't happy. Not at all.

DISCLAIMER: DO NOT OWN THE PERCY JACKSON AND/OR THE HEROES OF OLYMPUS CHARACTERS. I REPEAT! DO NOT OWN PERCY JACKSON OR THE HEROES OF OLYMPUS CHARACTERS! ALL THE CREDIT GOES TO RICK RIORDAN.

Harsh Words

He Who Couldn't

"Why are you still in those ridiculous clothes, Percy?"

So it's been 3 hours. Percy was playing in their massive backyard, climbing trees and getting himself muddy. Apparently he was supposed to have gotten ready at 2, which he didn't know since she never told him. She said that he shouldn't have known like it was common sense. Now she was fussing over getting him a suit and saying "there isn't enough time". Please. It would have probably taken him 5 minutes tops to get ready.

"Make-up! You need make-up!" Bianca yelled, calling for a maid to come in.

Percy made a face and stood up from the chair he was sitting on. Like hell was he going to wear girl powder and girl pencil marks.

"Snob. Snob, stop. I ain't wearing any ugly ass make-up to dinner or even ever."

Bianca was looking at him like he was insane. She was already dressed in a long and frilly black dress and black eye liner and mascara. She had dark red lipstick on and a light blush to coat her cheeks. What in the world was she so dressed up for? It's not like this dinner was important, right? Only he was going to attend- wait. He was going to attend. He…was going to…family…dinner…PARENTS!

Percy's eyes widened and he shook his head. "No! I don't want to meet your family, snob! We are not in that type of relationship—"

"Percy."

"I will not dress up for your snobby family—"

"Percy."

"You're insane to even think—"

"PERCY!" Bianca shouted.

At this, he silenced himself and looked at her. She had an irritated expression and he saw a pulsing vein on her forehead wanting to break free. Bianca was very scary when annoyed.

She let out a sigh. "Honestly, Percy. I worry for you. We dress up every day for dinner because our father is strict about stuff like this, okay? It hasn't changed and you being here certainly isn't a reason. Plus," Her face scrunched up in distaste. "I would never date you."

80% of Percy relaxed with delight, lucky she said that. However, he found that 20% was aching. He didn't know why but he got the feeling that maybe, just maybe, he wanted her not to say such a cruel thing.

"Good. You're too snobby and ugly for me to date too." Percy stuck his tongue out, which got Bianca to growl.

No one said anything after that. The two just glared at each other, waiting to see who'd surrender first. Seems like Percy had won when Bianca stormed out of the room. Although winning seemed to be a good thing, he felt like he should apologise, just because he saw the look in her eyes before she left.

Percy sighed and gave in when a maid came. Just this once was he going to follow someone else's orders. It's the least he could do. He owed her his happiness in the past. He owed her for looking after him earlier.

~O.O~

After all the make-up and getting on a tailored suit, Percy began adventuring his uncle's mansion. Bianca told him not to but he couldn't resist. He's always loved adventuring and just trying to remember the good memories he shared with Bianca and Nico here made him want to disobey her even more.

He remembered the time when he and Nico raced-crawled from one end of the hall to the other. He remembered jumping from a window to the floor, a pillow case wrapped around his neck and a plastic bag with holes on his face. He remembered how he and Bianca used to become superheroes and rescue Nico from the Di Angelo's really scary dog. They were good memories. He still wished he could remake those memories but that part of him was nothing more than a distant memory he will never get again.

Down the hall, Percy could make out a shadow on the ground. It was small and there was a cowlick at the side of the hair. He turned the corner and found Nico, standing in front of a shrine? He didn't know who the person was but he heard Nico's murmurs; he was speaking to someone who's dead.

"What are you doing?" Percy asked, which Nico jumped up at.

The little boy scrambled back up against the wall, his obsidian eyes wide with fear and pale skin turning a shade whiter to add more colour to the wall. Instead of just looking over Nico, Percy took in his appearance, trying to figure out what the boy still had when he was a kid. First was the cowlick hair. No matter how many times Percy and Bianca tried to get the chunk of hair down, it always puts up a fight. Baby Nico was much more tan – believe it or not – but Percy saw the structure of his face. There was still some fat in his cheeks and his nose was still small. Nico got skinny though, skinnier than he was as a kid. He was skinnier than Percy! There were bags and a dark shade under his eyes that suggested that he didn't sleep much.

He knew Nico wouldn't answer but the boy gazed over at the shrine, which Percy followed. Then, it all connected. In a wooden frame, behind small lavender smelling candles, was a photo of a woman. To be more specific, this woman was their mom. She looked so much like an older version of Bianca; beautiful, lady-like yet also someone who can take jokes. In fact, Percy remembered once where he used to give her hugs before leaving their mansion and eat cookies that she made – blue and delicious, like the way his mother made it.

"Your mom…passed away?" Percy couldn't process his words.

Auntie Maria – their mother – was one of the nicest people he met. He loved her company and she was really loving towards him. She was like his second mom. He couldn't believe that she would have died. Maybe she had cancer or some type of disease or even killed in a freak accident.

"Murdered."

Percy turned his head towards Nico, very slowly. "Murdered"? Did he just say murdered? Who could have killed her?

"By who?" Percy dared to asked.

Though he knew he'd not get an answer. Nico just looked away. Percy thought he caught a glimpse of sadness in the boy's expression but it seemed like an illusion because Nico looked back at him with a straight face. Still, he said nothing as he turned away, walking down the hall and to his room.

"I'm genuinely happy that you're helping."

Bianca's words ran through his mind, which for some reason made him blush. Okay, she was on his mind but only because he remembered that he should help with her brother. Right, his new job that he got in no shorter time than a couple of hours. He was surprised that he didn't have to sign a contract.

"Hey, kid! Wait up!" He said, jogging to Nico's door.

When he got there, Nico was already putting on his black blazer over a white shirt that almost was as pale as him. There was a strained look on his face as he pulled on the sleeves. Maybe he didn't want Bianca to fuss over him like she did to Percy. Maybe, but Percy didn't need to find out.

Percy looked around the room. It was covered in darkness, apart from the light shining down through the window. Some of the wallpaper was falling off and a couple of toys and cards were scrambled on the floor. On Nico's bed lay a picture of his mom, smiling and holding infant Nico in her arms. Percy was about to reach out for it when—

"Stop." Nico's voice cracked.

With hesitation, Percy turned his gaze to the boy. Nico stood still with wide eyes that looked like they were staring into his soul. Nico was fidgeting, his fingers twitching at his side and his lips trembling.

"Why me?" Percy asked. "Why are you only speaking to me?"

Not even saying another word, Nico fixed his tie and walked out of his room. Percy tried to follow him out but the kid was already gone. He ran, Percy bet. He ran so that he didn't have to answer the question.

With a sigh, he went to meet up with Bianca.

~O.O~

"I can't believe it." Bianca muttered as Percy followed her.

She was stalking down the hallway, pulling her dress up to walk properly. Percy saw a bit of pale skin on her legs. Guess she wasn't the type to wear dresses outside. Bianca was moody and it didn't sound good. She said something about her "lousy step-mother" being absent. Percy didn't even know that Uncle Hades re-married.

"Of all the days…" She kept on going.

Percy just left it. He didn't know the her right now but back when they were young, you never should try to calm down angry Bianca, unless it was adults. Adults were always the solution.

And the problem.

Upon entering the dining room, Percy glanced up at the golden chandelier. It was massive and was probably worth more than his life. The antiques and statues that were placed by the dark and black walls left shadows on the ground. The table was black too with silverware and cloth. Percy didn't understand how one could be comfortable eating in such a dark place. He sat down at the table, opposite Nico.

At least the chairs have cushions.

Nico wouldn't look him in the eye. Guess Percy should apologise afterwards. After all, he's being paid to basically be nice to Nico. Bianca sat down next to him, sighing as she placed her hands on the table. Percy noticed that there were three other chairs; two chairs on each end of the table and a chair next to Nico. He assumed that Uncle Hades and his wife sat opposite each other but he was curious as to who was going to sit next to Nico.

Just as he thought that, a girl who looked about the same age as Nico, walked into the room. She had curly brown hair that was pulled back into a bun, untameable strands curling to her ears and cheeks. Her eyes were gold, matching with the chandelier above them, over her cocoa brown skin. She didn't look anything like the pale kids. Maybe she was Nico's friend—

"Excuse my tardiness, family…oh." She said, realising that Percy was in the room.

Okay, so maybe she was a step-sister? Percy didn't know and he didn't question. He could see small resemblances but not much. Percy knew for a fact that Uncle Hades' children don't take their pretty looks from him.

"It's okay, Hazel. Persephone isn't coming and father's running late. This is Percy, by the way. He'll be joining us thrice a week." Bianca informed Hazel. "And Percy, this is Hazel Levesque,"

Oh, they weren't family?

"She's my half-sister but Nico and I like to exclude the "half". Her mother passed away a couple of years ago and she's been living with us since."

Okay, they were family. It was definitely confirmed.

Hazel bowed to Percy. Ugh, rich people. He thought.

"It's a pleasure to be meeting you. My siblings need a friend in their life." She said.

Percy couldn't help but laugh at Bianca's glaring. Hazel was one funny kid.

"Yeah, I noticed." He replied, smirking at a red faced Bianca.

Then, the double doors before Percy opened and there revealed a slightly taller looking man. He was thinner than the average male and a lot paler but he held himself up with pride. It was Uncle Hades for sure. He strode across the room to his seat, settling himself down. At this point, Hazel had already gotten herself sat on her chair.

"Now, children…Time to feast."

And there we have it! Hades' children all in one scene with Hades!

Wonder how Hades himself will react to Percy's appearance.

I can't believe that Percy's missed school for this. Smh.

Oh well, we'll see how Annabeth and Luke will react when he comes back…maybe with some friends of his…

But first, we have to see how well the dinner went first, right?

Thank you for waiting yet again! I hope you've enjoyed the story so far!

R&R

ThinkStupid (~.~)