Greetings, and welcome back to the next installment of Child's Play! ^_^ Whether this is your first time reading one of my works, or you are a return reader, thank you very much for taking the time to read my story. Special thanks go out to Kat Fish 1298 for their kind and thoughtful review! I hope you enjoy!
Chapter 2: Possibilities
Jason opened the door to his cabin with Nico, smiling when he saw Nico was already there, just setting his sword down on a small table by the door. Jason came up behind Nico, who had already glanced Jason's way, and slipped his arms around him. Nico sighed softly, and leaned back into Jason's embrace, letting his head fall back against Jason's shoulder
"Hey, you," Jason murmured, pressing warm kisses over Nico's ear and cheek. Nico squirmed slightly, but didn't really try to get away.
"Hey," Nico replied, turning his head for a kiss. Their lips molded together, then parted, deepening the kiss. Just as Jason's tongue swept over Nico's full bottom lip, Nico turned in Jason's arms, and lifted his own to wrap around Jason's neck, pulling him closer. Jason hummed softly in satisfaction and pressed into Nico, backing him into the nearest wall. Nico went willingly, pressing himself into Jason. A moment later Nico pulled back, a soft smile gracing his lips. "What's this?" he asked, fingering the edge of Jason's pocket where the small box from Piper still lay.
Jason pulled back reluctantly, still keeping one arm firmly around Nico. "This?" he asked, pulling the box out of his pocket. "It's just something Piper gave me to give to you. It might take some explaining though."
"Why did she give you something for me?" Nico asked, eyeing the box in Jason's hand.
"She was coming to visit us yesterday, and thought she interrupted something, so she wanted to apologize," Jason began, pausing when alarm began to grow on Nico's face. "What?"
"It...it's not a sex toy is it?" Nico asked, looked dubious, and actually leaning slightly away from the box now.
"Nico, I would expect that from a child of Hermes, not Piper," Jason replied with a small smile. "Come on, you know her too. She's very respectful of other people."
Nico made a non-committal noise in the back of his throat. "Yeah, but she talks about sex all the time." Nico's cheeks were tinged a slight pink, and his eyes were intently studying a spot on the far wall.
Jason sighed softly, and pulled Nico closer. He had loved Nico for many years, and as much as his shyness could be appealing, it could also be frustrating. Nico was far from judgmental, as some campers had taken to thinking, he simply couldn't seem to believe how easily people talked about things that would never even have been mentioned in the 1940's. "It's not a sex toy," Jason assured him.
Nico relaxed slightly, leaning into Jason's chest. "So what's in it?"
"Open it," Jason suggested, holding the box out to Nico. Nico looked hesitantly up at Jason for a moment, so Jason continued. "It'll take some explaining regardless, so you might as well see it."
Nico glanced between Jason and the box for a moment before reaching forward and lifting the box from Jason's hand. Nico held the box in one hand and lifted the lid with the other. When he comprehended what was inside, Nico's eyebrows drew together in confusion and his eyes flew back to Jason's. "Explain," Nico commanded.
Jason nodded, keeping his arms loosely around Nico's waist. "Well, she came over when we were eating lunch, and she saw me feeding you. She said she thought we might be in an age play relationship"
"What?!" Nico interjected, his face flushing bright red, and his gaze snapped down to the box in his hands. "She's calling me a baby?" Nico's voice was breathy with disbelief, and his fingers started to shake. Nico set the box down on the table by the door as if it had burnt him.
"No, Nico," Jason rushed to correct him. "Well, she thought something like that, but not in the way you're thinking. Nico, calm down, breathe! She was talking about a kink or a way of being. She was not being cruel."
"What do you mean?" Nico asked, his breathing still elevated.
"It's something people do, if they want to, act young, and have someone take care of them," Jason explained, trying to keep his voice calm. "She saw me feeding you and just made some wrong assumptions, that's all."
Nico pulled out of Jason's arms, and reached for the door.
"Nico?" Jason's voice was thick with concern and he reached out for his long time boyfriend, only to have Nico shrug off his hand.
"I need to go for a walk," Nico insisted, wrenching the door open and stumbling outside.
"I'll go with you," Jason volunteered, moving to follow Nico outside.
Nico pressed his palm flat against Jason's chest and pushed him back. "No!" he insisted. "No, I need to think."
Everything in Jason wanted to follow Nico and comfort him, but he forced himself to stay. Nico's tendency to run from difficulties had caused most of their arguments in the early days of their relationship. It was still an issue sometimes. Jason didn't like feeling abandoned, and Nico didn't like feeling penned in. After some bad fights, they had agreed that Jason would allow Nico time to think if he needed it, and Nico would always come back in at least three hours, even if it was only to tell Jason that he was okay, and needed more time to think. Reluctantly, Jason left Nico walk away. "Be safe," he called after Nico, fruitlessly hoping Nico would turn around. He didn't.
Exactly three hours later Jason heard the door to their cabin open and close, followed by Nico's all too familiar footfalls. Jason let out an inaudible sigh of relief. He trusted Nico, but he couldn't help worrying about him.
Two thin arms slipped around Jason's middle and pulled him back into Nico's chest with remarkable strength. Jason smiled, and his own arms lifted to cover Nico's. "Welcome back," he breathed, glancing over his shoulder at Nico's mop of dark hair. "I love you."
Nico's face was pressed into Jason's back, and Jason swore he could feel Nico's lips twitch into a reluctant smile. "I love you, too," Nico breathed, squeezing Jason tighter.
"Want to talk about it?" Jason asked, slowly turning in Nico's arms, and pulling him closer. Nico only pressed into Jason and grumbled inaudibly.
Jason leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss into the top of Nico's head. "It was just a wrong assumption, Nico. It doesn't mean anything." Sliding his hands down Nico's arms, Jason grasped his hands and lifted them briefly to his own lips. Nico still wouldn't look at him, but he hadn't pulled away either. "Even if we participated in every kink or every possible deviation from normal you know Piper wouldn't judge or wouldn't tell as long as everything was-"
"Safe, sane, and consensual, I know," Nico said, lifting his gaze to Jason's at last. Jason had hoped his emphasis on normal might accomplish that; both he and Nico had mutually decided that normal didn't really exist, and often emphasized the word unnecessarily or used air quotes to communicate that fact.
Nico sighed and slipped his arms around Jason's waist once more, hugging him from the front this time. Jason smiled and pulled Nico against him, swaying softly on his feet as they stood there.
"I'm sorry I worried you," Nico began, acknowledging Jason's overprotective nature without apologizing for taking the time he needed to think. "It was just so… different from everything I've ever heard of, and I know that doesn't make it wrong. I…" Nico hesitated for a moment then sighed, and turned his gaze back up to Jason. "I couldn't take it all in at once."
Jason nodded. "You came back, like we talked about. That's what matters most." They shared a smile and a chaste kiss. "Have you eaten?"
Nico rolled his eyes. "No, mom, I haven't eaten."
"Watch your tone young man," Jason warned, "and if you're going to start talking like that you might as well call me daddy." Despite his harsh tone, Jason smiled and watched as Nico's blush spread all the way to the roots of his hair, before he leaned in and pressed a gentle kiss to Nico's forehead. "Come on, let's get some dinner."
"Okay," Nico said softly, allowing himself to be led into the kitchen. "No more jokes for tonight though."
Jason chuckled. "Fair enough. I haven't seen you blush this much since we started talking about sex."
Nico swatted playfully at Jason, but otherwise remained silent, lost in his thoughts.
Three days later, Nico was sneaking into the library at the big house. The Athena kids had started and maintained it, but Nico hadn't come for the books. No he needed a wealth of information to satisfy his nagging curiosity…and privacy. Specifically, he needed access to the camp computer. Leo had been able to make it safe for use, but even so its access was strictly controlled. There were no games on it, it was purely a research and communication tool.
Nico had specifically chosen a time when most other campers or counselors would be busy: it was capture the flag night. Attendance wasn't required for older camp members, but most people came willingly to participate, and to watch. The Library wasn't even open right now…but it was late in the day, and there were many shadows…
The world swayed, and pulled taunt, then Nico was stumbling into the small room which held the camp's only computer. Nico took a moment to steady himself on the sturdy wooden chair before he took his seat and turned the computer on. The room held no windows, thankfully, and all the doors between him and the outside would be locked until tomorrow morning. Nico had made a point of telling Jason that he would be out until late. Jason had been confused, but he hadn't pressed Nico for details when he'd seen his reluctance. Hopefully, Nico would have all the time he needed.
His search began.
At first Nico just skimmed for information, trying to compare sources and get a general impression. He had been taught enough about the internet to know not to trust everything he read. Once he had identified general themes that were consistent through many of the sites, Nico started to dig deeper. It seemed that Jason's summary, thought brief, had covered the basics. He learned about Bigs and Littles, and saw a wide variety of adult sized baby and toddler clothing, as well as other connected items like cribs, play pens, and toys. Nico also learned about diaper lovers, and while he understood the general rationale, he found the idea personally unappealing. The rest… well the rest Nico was still curious about.
Nico scrolled on and on through various internet pages, educating himself as well as he was able to. Despite his inherent shyness Nico was not at all judgmental. While he may roll his eyes at Piper's incessant reputations of 'safe, sane and consensual' he whole-heartedly agreed with the concept.
At length Nico was forced to admit that he could see how Piper might have come to her conclusion. Nico already recognized that he sometimes liked power exchanges during sex, and age play did have strong elements of power exchange. In that sense Nico could completely understand and relate. He'd been responsible for himself too early and for too long; he very much enjoyed giving over that responsibility to Jason from time to time. He knew he could trust Jason, and there was something so relaxing about not having to make the decisions, while still maintaining the right to protest if he needed to.
From what Nico could tell, however, age play was often a non-sexual activity. It could certainly be engaged in by a couple, or people who weren't dating, or incorporated into a parent or authority figure kink, but it didn't have to be. Nico hadn't really considered this aspect of a power exchange. Admittedly, he had occasionally let or even asked that Jason order for him at resturants, or do most of the speaking to other people when they went out on dates, but not every time, and usually only if Nico was feeling particularly tired or shy.
Nico leaned back in his chair and pondered what age play might be like, if he tried it. He wasn't opposed to considering new things, provided he had time to understand and reflect on them. When he'd first begun exploring power exchange with Jason, he'd discovered that he really didn't enjoy actual pain, just the idea of giving up control. Nico had done research about people who enjoyed pain or punishments, and how those could be incorporated into a relationship or experience, but had very quickly decided that a "red room" was not for him.
In the last several hours Nico had learned that age play could and often did involve punishment and discipline for misbehavior, but the main focus seemed to be very much about caring, gentleness, and affection. These were all things Nico enjoyed and, if he were honest, very much craved.
"Are you being naughty?"
Nico started, and all but leapt out of his chair in surprise, only to turn and glower at one very amused Jason Grace. "What are you doing here?!" Nico asked, bristling at Jason's laughter.
"Sorry, sorry," Jason apologized. "I didn't mean to startle you. I just wanted to check on you; it's getting late. And, I wasn't exactly trying to be quiet when I came in."
Nico's eyes narrowed as he observed the glint of keys in Jason's hand. "I suppose you got those from Annabeth?"
Jason nodded and Nico sighed. Jason and the others of the seven heroes often did little such favors for each other without question because of the trust they'd built up both during and after the war. Annabeth probably hadn't asked any questions, but it would hardly take a genius to figure out that Jason would likely be going after Nico. At least Nico was thankful she wouldn't have any idea why Nico had been in the library, and like Piper, she wasn't one to pry. Jason, on the other hand, was already peering over Nico's shoulder at the computer screen, despite Nico's less than subtle efforts to block Jason's view with his own body.
"You don't need to hide from me, Nico," Jason murmured, returning his gaze to Nico's worried eyes, and his hands resting on Nico's waist.
"I was just doing research," Nico mumbled, looking down, but not pulling away.
"And I can understand why you might not everyone to know," Jason continued, lifting Nico's chin with one hand so that he would meet Jason's eyes again. "You've always been shy. But you don't need to hide anything from me. If you're curious, I want to know, and I would never assume curiosity about a subject meant that you want try it."
Nico fidgeted until he was free from Jason's hand and could tuck his head under Jason's chin. Jason smiled wrapped his arms more tightly around Nico, pressing a kiss into his hair. "Did you learn anything interesting?" Jason asked, his voice a soft murmur.
Nico shrugged. "More about what you said…at least the pacifier makes sense to me now, considering what Piper thought."
Jason smiled softly. "Are you still curious? I didn't mean to cut your research short, I was just worried about you."
Nico pulled back far enough to look at Jason with a dubious expression. "You're always worried about me."
"Guilty," Jason admitted, pressing a kiss into Nico's forehead, then a line of small kisses down to Nico's cheek. Nico flushed and smiled, only pulling away slightly. "I love it when you smile like that," Jason murmured, pressing his lips against Nico's in a soft, chaste kiss.
Nico sighed softly when they parted and said, "I was more or less done, I don't mind stopping here and going home with you."
Jason's smile widened. "Sounds like a good plan." He nodded once towards the computer and added, "Make sure you delete your browser history."
Nico rolled his eyes and sank back down into his chair. "Yes, mom." Nico stuck out his tongue for a moment before spinning around and going to work on the computer. He smiled when he felt Jason's arm's wrap around him, and Jason rest his head on Nico's shoulder so that their cheeks were pressed together on one side.
Jason watched Nico work for a few moments in silence before he added. "Just so you know, if you wanted to try this, even just to see what it's like, I'd be willing to give it a try."
Nico's fingers stilled over the keyboard and Jason watched a deep flush spread down his cheeks and neck. Nico licked his lips and swallowed before he finally replied. "Why?"
Jason shrugged. "I already like looking after you," he admitted. "You've always had a big independent streak, so it feels really special when I you actually let me take care of you." Jason paused to press is kiss into the arch where Nico's neck met his shoulder. "I love knowing that I can put those contented smiles on your face."
Nico smiled despite himself, and leaned back into Jason's hold, closing his eyes. That was one of the things he loved most about Jason. It always felt so safe in his arms.
"Bedtime for you, I think," Jason observed.
Nico grumbled softly in protest, then sighed and resumed the careful process of deleting his browser history and shutting down the computer. When he was finished, he stood, placed his hand in Jason's, and they walked out of the big house together.