Author's Note: Warnings: It's not that explicit, but there are sexual scenes so be warned. This is also an AU, and if you're uncomfortable with the characters being OOC, then I am warning in advance that they are going to be. All in good fun.
In this fic, their ages are the following: Zagreus - 29; Thanatos - 28; Percy & Bianca - 27; Hazel - 25; Nico - 24
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It all started with a rumor, and rumor has it that Prince Niccolò di Angelo, the fifth heir of the kingdom of Skotádi, bedded a lot of men.
"Personally, I don't care what any of my children do in their spare time. However… Nico, son, what the hell is all of these?" Hades grumbled before throwing a stack of letters in front of his youngest who didn't even bother to spare it a second glance as he continued eating his breakfast.
The letters had been a part of his daily life ever since he started his… activities roughly a year ago. At first, it had been endearing to receive them, but at some point, he just felt peeved. The letters were nothing more than hopeful yet ridiculous wishes from men who refused to wake up from their 'dreams' that Nico showed them.
"You know the drill, Father. Just burn it in one go. Or use it to kindle fire," was the dismissive response as Nico pushed them away from his sight. Now that his father brought it up, he was considering watching as they were set ablaze. He found a twisted pleasure in the thought of watching those 'dreams' turn into ashes before his eyes.
"That is the plan, but Nico, this is getting out of hand," his father said, placing a hand on his face and rubbing it out of frustration. "Those are all proposal letters. Proposal, Nico. And that's just this morning's stack. Even your siblings don't have that much, and every single day."
"Oh? Are they jealous?" He turned to face his siblings with a shit-eating grin. "Are you jealous?"
"First of all, the three of us aren't interested yet, and Hazel is already engaged," his eldest sister, Bianca, said while pointing to their brothers - who could care less - and gesturing to Hazel. "Second of all, why would I be jealous of you sleeping around?"
Nico placed a hand on his chest, and exaggeratedly looked at his older sister with a faux, insulted expression.
"First of all, you three are already old," Nico stated bluntly, causing his brothers to violently cough in the middle of swallowing a mouthful of food. "Zagreus is twenty-nine, Thanatos is twenty-eight, and you're twenty-seven. We should be addressing that instead of my lifestyle."
"Second of all, I don't sleep around. I'm devoted to my lovers-"
"-Until they get tired or you get tired, we know," Thanatos, his second older brother finished for him without glancing up from his plate.
"I'm just embracing who I am," Nico countered almost childishly. "You all said to embrace who I am and I did."
"If you ask me, there's too much 'embracing' happening with you, baby brother," Zagreus, the eldest, cheekily commented.
"Like I said…" their father interjected before the siblings could start bickering early in the morning. "I don't care what any of you do in your spare time. But is there any way for you to… reduce this?"
"Isn't that something that's more within your control, Father?" Nico asked with a frown, tilting his head to the side as he briefly considered the situation presented before him. "Besides, I'm not encouraging them to send me proposals. I established with them long ago that what we do is just… transactions. If this is really bothering you, you can just send out an announcement that I won't be accepting any proposals and it will all be settled."
After all, his father was the king of the Skotádian empire. No one would dare oppose him openly. Well, no one except their maternal grandmother who was the only person their father was afraid of, and for good reasons.
"Little heartbreaker, he is," Thanatos whispered to Bianca.
"Despite the nature of your activities, I'm still hoping that you would accept one from these dozens of letters," the king stated, gesturing to the pile of letters his son heartlessly shoved away. "Some of them are from good families. Sure, none as great as ours, but none of you have to marry unless you really want to."
"Thanks, but no thanks. You're lucky, Father, but for some of us, love is a sham," Nico rolled his eyes as if to emphasize his point.
Their father and mother were lucky, despite that their grandmother initially opposed the union. While their happiness only lasted for a few years, with his mother passing away six years ago, it was clear to Nico that theirs was the kind of love that was meant to last even with the absence of one. Sure, he wanted that for himself - a partner who would be wholly devoted to him - but as the years went by, it became a pipe dream. His orientation presented an issue as well. Not for his family obviously - they were more than accepting - but not so much for others.
"Nico, you know at some point you have to move on-" Bianca tried to start, but was cut off with the coldest of glares.
"There's nothing to move on from," the youngest son of Hades sharply interrupted whatever his sister had to say. Those russet-brown eyes, which had been alight with mischief earlier were now as hard and cold as ice.
It was true. How do you move on from something that never had a chance to happen? Perhaps if he was a woman… no. He would never allow his thoughts to go in that direction. He was confident in his skin. He didn't need to change himself for anyone, especially not for someone who wouldn't fight to be with him.
"This discussion is over. Announce or don't announce, feel free to decide on your own," Nico stated, wiping his mouth with a napkin before he promptly stood up. He didn't really feel like eating anymore. "Enjoy the rest of your meal."
They silently watched their youngest leave the dining room, releasing collective sighs at the same time a few seconds after the doors closed.
"Bianca, you know you shouldn't have mentioned that," their father started, looking at his eldest daughter with mild disappointment.
"I know. I'm sorry. It's difficult to walk on eggshells with him," she said, heaving another sigh. "It's just… it's been more than a year. I don't find his coping methods to be healthy."
"Personally, I think what happened was for the best," Thanatos stated. "The Ouranós' Royal family has a bad reputation attached to them."
"Queen Hera would have made his life difficult," Hazel agreed. As much as possible, where it concerned her siblings, unless her counsel was requested, she wouldn't give her opinions. But for this specific matter, it warranted an opinion. "It was best that Jason didn't fight for him, although you could tell that he really liked Nico too. Nico would have been miserable if they ended up together, living with his family."
"He's miserable now regardless," Zagreus pointed out.
"It's the better devil out of two bad options," their father concluded.
It was for the best, yes, but like Bianca said, he coped with it in an unhealthy way - he started having sexual affairs. He still had morals, so Nico never involved himself with a taken man, but anyone eligible was for his pickings. Provided, to their hopeful knowledge, he didn't have multiple partners at the same time. When either party decided that they were getting bored, they were free to leave and pursue others. They couldn't count on both hands how many partners Nico already had at this point. That's what Nico had been doing for more than a year, changing sexual partners once in a few weeks or months, and never getting emotionally involved.
Their baby brother used to believe in the notion of love… but not anymore. That was his cardinal rule: to never be involved with love. It was likely that he didn't want to set himself up for another heartbreak.
"I'm sure he'll find the one eventually," Hazel hopefully supplied.
They could only hope as well, and soon.
The change they were hoping for in Nico's mundane, humdrum existence came in the form of Prince Perseus Tzákson, son of King Poseidon of Thálassa. They should have seen it coming - that Nico would be enamored with another prince. Provided, Nico wasn't even actively looking for a partner when he met the older prince.
While his siblings socialized, he casually stood in a corner, wine on hand and back against the wall, while observing the party in its full-swing. He didn't really like attending these socialization events; everyone had their own agenda for coming into these things. For political reasons, to climb up the social ladder, to establish connections… Reasons he could care less. Fortunately, he didn't have to due to his position. Despite having said that, he was still required to be present like his siblings - a united front, as their father said.
"Someone so beautiful doesn't deserve to be a wallflower in his own home."
Russet-brown eyes shifted to where the voice originated from, only to be faced with one of the most handsome men Nico had ever seen in his life. And that meant something, considering he had multiple partners.
The man was tall, had gorgeously tan skin and disheveled, jet-black hair swept artistically to one side. His body, from what Nico could see, seemed fit, muscular and lean. His lips were curled upwards in a cheeky yet troublemaker smile that reminded Nico of their cousin, Luke, when the older man was up to no good. But that smile suited the man before him more, as if it were a part of his whole identity. Speaking of identity, the moment the fifth heir saw those vibrant sea-green eyes, he already had a few guesses on who this man might be. There was only one family who possessed these eyes, but he wasn't paying enough attention earlier to remember which of the sons was sent to represent their kingdom.
Which Sea Prince are you?
"Sorry, I don't talk to strangers," Nico answered, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips as he offered his hand for a handshake. "Niccolò di Angelo. Nico's just fine."
"Perseus Tzákson, third heir of Thálassa, though I prefer to be called Percy. Perseus sounds pompous," the Thálassian prince stated as he took Nico's hand. But instead of just shaking it, he gently brought it to his lips and kissed the back of Nico's hand. All the while, his sea-green eyes remained focused on Nico's russet-brown ones.
"So, pray tell, what do I deserve to be then?" Nico took his hand back and decided to play along with the older prince's antics, a ghost of a smile playing on his lips as he took a slow sip from his glass of wine. It did not escape him how those sea-green eyes trailed from his lips to the delicate curve of his neck.
"You deserve to be my dance partner. Care for a dance, angel?" The third prince offered, extending one of his hands.
Angel. Nico was so used to being addressed as beautiful or gorgeous that hearing 'angel' seemed foreign to him, though it isessentially his last name. Nico looked at the outstretched hand, debating and analyzing the prince's intentions. He wasn't the best of choices if Percy's intentions were on the political or social aspect. He would have achieved better results if he decided to talk to Bianca or any of his older siblings who were clearly more engaged than him. The only logical reason Percy would be here, asking him for a dance… could be that.
Smoothly, Nico placed his half-empty glass of wine on a passing server's tray before he stepped confidently towards Percy.
"You're charming. Be my guest," Nico permitted, placing his hand against the other male's as Percy led them to the dance floor.
The crowd parted for them as they made their way to the center of the room under the scrutiny of all the guests, Nico's family included. The music stopped as well, as if they were waiting for the fifth heir and his partner to get into position. Placing one of his hands against broad shoulders, Nico took Percy's other hand while the Thálassian prince placed his free hand against his waist. Once they were in position, the music started playing once more. Only, Percy didn't guide them to move like Nico expected. The moment the music played, he seemed to have frozen all of a sudden and looked slightly pale.
"Crap. I forgot I don't know how to dance," Percy whispered his admission.
"What?!" Nico exclaimed, earning the attention of the dancing couples around them.
"I don't know how to do these fancy dances. I always skip the classes because they feel stuck-up," Percy offered sheepishly, genuinely embarrassed but he had a cheeky grin on his lips.
"You…" It was untoward of someone his status, but he laughed out loud; the kind that had him clutching at his stomach as he giggled uncontrollably. They were attracting attention now from everyone, especially from Nico's siblings who were surprised to hear their baby brother laughing out loud in public, but Nico couldn't care less. "Why did you even ask me here if you didn't know how to dance?" Nico asked breathlessly, wiping at the tears at the corners of his eyes.
"Like I said, someone so beautiful didn't deserve to be a wallflower in his own home," Percy answered, giving him a genuine smile as his warm hands rested against the fifth heir's small waist, as if it belonged there.
"You're amusing, Prince Perseus. Normally, when they want to bed me, they would be more straightforward," Nico murmured, returning the smile with one of his own as he used the man's hold on him to pull them away from the center - from the prying eyes of the guests.
The Thálassian prince looked at him with confusion, not understanding the younger prince's words. It took Nico a second to realize that, since this prince was not from their kingdom, he wouldn't have known Nico's infamous reputation. He wouldn't have heard the rumors surrounding Nico.
"You don't know my reputation? This is a first," said Nico as he slowly wrapped his arms around the older prince's neck.
As if to confirm his words, Percy blushed brightly at their intimate position, but his hands never let go of Nico's waist. So Percy didn't approach him with the intent to bed him in mind. But why did Percy approach him?
Nico pressed forward until there was no more space between their bodies, every curve of his body molding against the older prince's perfectly like a puzzle piece slotting into place. Percy might not have approached him with sex in mind, but Nico had already made the assumption. From the moment Nico acknowledged the possibility of taking this prince to his bed, Percy already lost all chances to turn away. Nico wanted to have him, and by all means, he was going to have his way.
"Will you let me show you my appreciation for entertaining me tonight?" Nico leaned up to heatedly whisper against the shell of Percy's ear, the latter's breath hitching before his arms finally wrapped around Nico, pulling him flush against a strong chest. "I'll make it worth your while."
Prince Perseus is a good lover, and Nico took delight in taking his first. Perhaps not his first kiss, but how little does that matter when there was something much delightful underneath? Nico took delight in guiding him to give Nico what the younger prince desired, and in turn, he guided Percy to take what he desired. Patience is a virtue and what-not, they say. The trade-off for his patience was marvelous, and his body was definitely not just for show. His previous lovers would pale in comparison. None of them satisfied him, not like Percy did that night.
"This is another first; you're thinking of something other than me. What's keeping your attention from me, my prince?" Nico hummed as he stretched his body, having to bite his lower lip so he would not moan at how delicious it felt to do so. Confidently, he pressed himself against the older prince's chest to properly enjoy his warmth but was thwarted instead when Percy pulled him flush against his body, his hands keeping Nico trapped in another passionate kiss. "I'll forgive you if you keep worshiping me like this," he whispered into the kiss.
"I'm just thinking how to tell father about us," Percy admitted, albeit distracted as he suckled on those petal-shaped lips. Nico was addicted to the openness of those sea-green eyes as they clouded over at the sight of, presumably, his reddened lips.
Great in bed - check. Enthusiastic in bed - check. Eager to learn - check. Eager to please - double check. Can last for a long time - all the checks Percy wants, he could have them. So long as Nico could keep him for a while. It would be a shame if Percy only wanted him this one time and never again.
"Why would you tell your father what happened tonight?" He asked a bit belatedly, having his fair share of… distractions. Greedily, he traced with his hands the body of a god, fascinated with how sensitive it was to his touch. He could feel a certain hardness poking against one of his legs, and he purred at the knowledge that he could play such a strong body like a fiddle. He would take such good care of it for as long as he could.
With a mischievous grin, lips and tongue traced the same path his hands took, relishing in the clean salty tang of sweat from their shared passion. If only Percy knew what those honest eyes of his were doing to Nico… but perhaps it was best that he didn't. He didn't take his eyes off of the other as his body slid down the frame beneath him, until his face was mere inches from his desired destination. He could be so good for a good lover like Percy.
"Well…" the third prince panted; the sight of Nico so close to his privates eliciting a ragged breath from him out of anticipation. A groan was punched out of his chest as a wet tongue lapped at the precum on his tip before a sinfully warm mouth closed around his glans, suckling on the skin hungrily. "T-Though we have certainly skipped steps, I still have to properly court you. That would be the most appropriate thing to do, and also to earn the respect of your family."
SPLASH! The sound of an icy cold bucket dropping on his head resounded in Nico's head. Gone were his earlier desires, replaced with only dread.
What a shame.
How could he have forgotten that the third prince was unaware of his reputation? Yet again, why would the third prince want to court someone he just met and bedded?
You're not in a fairytale. Stop dreaming.
"What did you think was happening here, Perseus?" Nico asked, cleaning the tip that was dripping with precum before suddenly lifting himself off of the older male for the first time in hours. Alarmed with the sudden change in Nico's voice and posture, Percy raised himself up as well until he was seated. His confusion was palpable, but it was all the more pitiful in Nico's eyes. Ah, he didn't really want to break the heart of someone with great promise to him. It would have been better if Percy was well-aware of his reputation and approached him with that in mind. Then again, why did Percy approach him?
"Did you think there was a meaning to us kissing? To us having sex? Did you think there were affections involved?" Nico decided to be direct; it was the best way to rip the bandaid off.
Percy looked as if Nico had slapped him instead. He looked as if Nico took a knife and killed something that was precious to him. He looked at Nico as if he were a stranger. In truth, he was. They were. They were acquainted for hours, more than half of that was getting to know each other in bed. What were the prince's expectations?
That's what you get for believing in fairytales. That's what you get for believing in love at first sight, true love and happy ever afters. Don't you know?
Despite the obvious misunderstanding, Nico wanted to keep Percy. The heart could lie, but desires don't. Love is a lie. A sham.
When the story ends, you have to wake up from this fairytale dream. There's no Prince Charming. Cinderella had to purposely lose her shoe to make him find her. It's all made believe.
"I like you, Perseus," Nico sighed as he moved to straddle his current lover's hips. With his hands, he cradled Percy's face as if they were truly each other's precious lovers. "You're a breath of fresh air from my previous partners - and I lost count of the many I've had." He pretended not to notice how the man below him flinched with his open declaration. "You're an incredibly charming man, and - though inexperienced - a very, very good lover. But to want love?"
Leaning down, he kissed the prince sensually for a few seconds before dousing him with the cold, harsh reality.
"We don't do love. We do transactions. We do conveniences," he finished, patting Percy's cheek gently, almost mockingly.
"Is this just a transaction to you then?" There was anger in the third prince's voice, but what stood out to Nico was the sadness in it.
"No. This is your dream. So cherish it before you have to wake up," Nico crooned as he grasped the other male's trembling hands, placing them against the same body those hands had worshiped and mapped only moments ago. "Love is a commoner's dream. We don't do love in our world, Perseus. We don't do love beyond this room. Love shatters this dream."
I don't need to get my heart broken by another prince.
"You can let your dreams take form in my arms… but when the dawn breaks, you have to wake up in the noble's world and forget about a commoner's dream," the younger prince offered, his eyes unwavering as it clashed with vibrant sea-green eyes. He could see the hesitation in them for once, but beyond it was something that Nico was all too familiar with.
Want. Desire.
"So, what's it going to be?"
In Nico's arms, Prince Perseus decided to keep dreaming. Or rather, he drifted living in between his dream and reality.
After that night, it was as if Prince Perseus was everywhere Nico went, thrown into the latter's daily life. He occupied most of Nico's days and all of his nights, albeit the former was due to his duties to his own kingdom. For some reason, his father, who couldn't be bothered, appointed him to personally deal with the Thálassian kingdom. Though, he probably wouldn't approve of how 'personally' Nico took it if he knew.
It was convenient, having a lover temporarily live under their roof. He thought it would be awkward at first, but when he and Percy weren't lovers, Percy treated him as his counterpart to the point that Nico might consider him a friend if they weren't secretly having their way with each other's body.
"You must have grown tired of me by now," Nico wondered out loud. Both of them were panting as they came down from their high. How many rounds had it been? Nico had lost count, to be honest. Sex was that good with Percy, he thought to himself as he ground his hips down, drawing out groans from their mouths. Sex with Percy made him feel insatiable; something his previous partners never made him feel.
"Why? Are you tired of me?" Percy asked while tugging at the younger male's hair, forcing the other to tilt his head back to give more access to the pale olive skin of his neck. Not that Nico was unwilling; the other prince had an obsession with leaving marks, and Nico always looked forward to seeing them in the morning. The discoloration on his normally blemish-free skin and the soft aches from them were pleasant reminders of a passionate night passed, and a passionate night to come.
Being with the Prince of Thálassa so intimately always made him feel special. Percy always made him feel special. In the way that he handled Nico's body with familiarity, yet every moment seemed as if it was his first with how much he worshiped it as if it were his personal temple. In the way that his tongue mapped out every inch of skin as if he were a dying man and the feel of Nico's skin was his salvation. In the way he whispered the sweetest words of adoration for Nico, yet at the same time, that mouth could promise the filthiest of sins. Well, he was to be blamed for that last part, Nico mused. Or perhaps Percy. Nico had never met anyone more eager to please him than Percy. And, oh, does Percy please him.
"No. You're an incredible lover. Quick learner too. I appreciate a very willing partner in bed." As if to emphasize his words, he slowly rolled his hips, a sinful moan parting his lips as he relished in the feeling of Percy's lust and seeds buried deep inside of him. The reaction was instant, a needy whimper punching its way out of his lips as Percy subconsciously lifted his hips in a sharp thrust.
"I appreciate you too, Nico."
Not this again, Nico thought, voicing his displeasure with a sigh at the double entendre. But, as long as the prince would not violate any of his rules, he would tolerate it. It was a give and take. But Nico would be lying if he said that he didn't pity Percy who was looking at him as if he hung the stars into the sky.
Percy knew better than to say that word if he wanted their arrangement to continue, but even if he didn't say it, Nico could see the emotion swelling in his eyes once their bodies were well-sated and spent.
While Nico just wanted the dream to stay a dream, Percy was trying to make it a reality.
It started with gifts. Percy constantly showered him with gifts, each one carefully considered with the son of Hades in mind. Nico had half the mind to give them away, but he found that he couldn't. But he wasn't the son of Hades if his conviction wasn't concrete. So, he hid them in a box, and Percy was well-aware of the existence of said box. That didn't deter him from gifting Nico something new every day.
Then came the notes. It took a while for Nico to notice them; Percy had to point out that he was leaving the fifth heir notes on his bedside table. He had laughed at that, pointing out that it wasn't necessary since they spent most of everyday together. But Percy was adamant on leaving them and Nico was, just as much, stubborn enough not to read them. Again, another box stashed somewhere safe.
In truth, Percy was an amazing person in general. When their bodies were too spent for either of them to continue, Percy would tell him stories about himself and in turn, Nico would share some of his. At least the ones that did not seem too personal. But talking with Percy was as easy as being intimate with him. So easy that Nico would often find himself sharing stories that were too personal without him realizing. Sure, the sex was still in the picture, but at times when they would just talk and Percy would be holding him close, running his hands over his back or randomly placing chaste kisses to his lips or anywhere on his skin… it was those times that had Nico thinking how amazing Percy would be as a real lover.
Perhaps not his, but still. He could imagine it. Not the bed part - he did not need to imagine that when he could easily have it - but on the more… physically non-sexual side, so to speak. He could imagine Percy being that kind of lover who would welcome his partner with a warm hug, kiss them gently while asking how their day had been. He would suck on anything domesticated - Nico knew because Percy had said so himself - but he probably would pamper his partner through other means. And on days where his partner would be down, Nico could imagine Percy spoiling his partner until said partner would ultimately feel better.
Yes, Percy would be an amazing partner. Just not his.
Why not? A traitorous voice whispered in his head. He did not need to answer that.
Besides, Percy deserved better than someone like him. Frankly, Nico didn't understand what Percy was seeing in someone like him for him to want Nico.
"... You're still not thinking about that ridiculous commoner's dream, are you?" For some reason, Nico couldn't say it directly. 'You're still not thinking that I would love you and we'll be together, happily ever after, aren't you?' It was so easy to think in his head, but he couldn't say it for some reason. As much as he ridiculed the notion, he didn't want to trample on the older prince's feelings. You know why, that traitorous voice whispered on the back of his mind, and he would counter that he didn't. He would think of a thousand reasons, if only to deny the truth that was slowly creeping up on him. "For the record, out of all your attempts to have me change my mind, you're reaching me more while you're intimate with me."
Of course, Percy must have thought as Nico watched the older male roll his eyes.
"Perhaps. I've been thinking about how to convince you to believe otherwise," Percy admitted in between kisses to his neck. Nico didn't need further prompting, keeping his neck as exposed as possible for the Sea Prince to abuse.
"Don't ruin a good thing, Perseus. Continue dreaming here with me. I'll give you all that your heart can desire. But when dawn breaks, just like any other dreams, you have to wake up," Nico sighed, his breath hitching towards the end as his lover suddenly pressed him back down on the bed.
"No, Nico," Percy drawled while intertwining one of their hands. He pushed his length as deep as it could go inside of the younger male, causing Nico to shudder at the delicious feeling of being filled to the brim once more. "You just need to embrace that dream and make it a reality. I have all night to make your dreams come true."
That was the last coherent thought in Nico's head before Percy ruined him once more… and again… and again… until Nico could only think, feel, taste and see his lover.
Nico would be lying if he said that he wasn't expecting this confrontation with his three older siblings for a while now; Hazel wasn't the type to reproach him for his life decisions. It had been a month since that party; a month into his and Percy's arrangement. Surprisingly, he hadn't grown tired of their nightly affairs, and was actually looking forward to them throughout the day. Perhaps it was because he wasn't being subtle about it that his siblings took notice.
"So…" Thanatos started with that tone, and Nico was certain he wasn't going to enjoy this conversation. "You've been spending a lot of time with Prince Perseus."
"What do you all expect? He's a guest in our household," Nico answered casually as he popped a pomegranate seed into his mouth, relishing the mild and sweet flavor of it on his tongue.
They were having a picnic outside, at the palace's garden - the four of them. His older siblings were seated on the picnic mat on the ground while Nico opted to take his seat up high on a tree branch, getting a clear, unobstructed view of the entirety of the palace gardens.
"Sure. 'Guest'. I'm pretty sure I caught your 'guest' slipping into your room for the past few nights before the telltale signs of your headboard banging on the wall tells me you're having nightly sex with our 'guest'," Zagreus outed him.
"You screwed around with him during the day too!" Bianca accused, her cheeks flushing a bright red. Oh, he remembered that day. He would have loved to see her face but he could only see Percy's flushed cheeks from underneath the table.
"What can I say: he's a man with great talent," Nico said, grinning like a Cheshire cat. It was not as if he was hiding his affairs to anyone - Percy wasn't his first, and he surely won't be Nico's last. What better way to show his appreciation than be vocal about it? He sure appreciated Percy a lot.
"Nico… don't take any offense in what I'm about to ask. I'm just worried about you. We're just worried about you," Bianca emphasized while gesturing at their elder brothers. "He's another prince. Are you sure you're not setting yourself up for another heartbreak?"
"Nope," Nico answered with certainty. He knew Bianca cared a lot about him, but right now, her care was suffocating and unwelcomed. "But he clearly is. He thinks there could be something more to our arrangement."
"You told him no?" Thanatos prompted.
"Of course. Why else would I continue having these rendezvous with him?" Nico stated matter-of-factly. He had done well over the last year or so to avoid involving pesky emotions. Pleasure was simpler to deal with - it was straightforward, and neither he nor his partners had anything to lose. Percy wasn't going to be an exception to that rule.
"Maybe because you're subconsciously falling for him?" His eldest brother suggested, causing Nico to laugh at the absurdity.
"That's a funny joke. I knew you were the funniest one in the family. Who do you even take after?" He asked rhetorically.
"I'm built differently," Zagreus quipped, playfully flexing his muscles before he leaned back, placing his hands behind him to support his weight. "Anyway, it wasn't a joke. Have you considered that you might potentially be falling for that prince?"
Russet-brown eyes rolled at the suggestion. The whole purpose of him having these affairs was to avoid the scenario of another heartbreak. Why couldn't they understand that for him, this was just taking and giving pleasure? Nothing more, nothing less.
"He's just good company."
"Nico, even Luke is good company, but you're not banging him," Bianca pointed out, causing him to shudder in disgust. With a glare, he took a few seeds and threw them towards her direction, causing her to shriek and glare back.
"Eww! What the hell, Bianca?! Luke is that annoying unofficial brother I can't get rid off. Besides, the only 'banging' that would happen between us would involve a gun."
"Kinky," Zagreus easily slipped in, causing his younger siblings to groan.
"You're an idiot, Zag. Lovable, but still an idiot. Have I ever told you that?" The youngest asked, pointing a pomegranate seed at his eldest brother's direction. As if on cue, the Zagreus opened his mouth as Nico threw the seed. It bounced off his chin and onto the picnic mat, but Zagreus still took it into his mouth.
"Five seconds rule," he tried to justify over the disgusted looks from Thanatos and Bianca. "By the way, I did not hear a 'favorite sibling' in that description, Nico."
"Nah, that title goes to Hazel. She's not snooping around, unlike you and Bianca, and Thanatos acts too much like Father." Hence, why Hazel wasn't there and the other three were.
Zagreus looked positively offended at that.
"I guess I better cancel today's plans then. I was going to take you out into town today to sample some newly imported wine, and then we would go to an auction-" The eldest listed down his plans, causing the youngest to perk up.
"I love you," the youngest shamelessly declared before his brother could finish, ignoring his other siblings' betrayed looks. "You're my favorite sibling. Hazel doesn't need my favoritism when she has Frank."
The eldest laughed out loud while the youngest grinned in response. Was Zagreus playing dirty by targeting two of his weaknesses? Definitely. Did Nico feel guilty in succumbing to his brother's ploy? Not in the least.
"I hope I'm not interrupting anything…?"
Nico hastily turned around to where the sound of that voice originated from, but in his haste, he didn't expect to lose his balance.
"Nico!" His older siblings shouted at the same time as their youngest fell off the branch. He closed his eyes tightly, completely prepared to deal with a possible concussion. But instead of the ground, he landed hard on a pair of strong arms. He didn't need to open his eyes to know who it was. He's been held every night in those arms that they've become all too familiar to him just by feeling alone.
"Hey there," Percy breathed once he opened his eyes, smiling down on him before his eyes wandered around, checking for any injuries.
"Nice catch," Nico breathed back, his arms wrapping around the other prince's neck for support. His body was slightly trembling from having fallen from that height, but he was otherwise fine - neither his pride nor his body suffered. Well… perhaps a bit of his pride, now that he noticed that Percy caught him bridal style.
"Nice, indeed," the older prince murmured, those sea-green eyes raking over his body sensually, causing Nico to shudder in his arms. Percy winked and flashed him a smile before he turned to face his older siblings. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but can I speak with your brother? Alone?"
"... yes, 'speak'. Like guest is 'guest'," Thanatos remarked once he got over the shock of their baby brother falling out of the tree. He could tell that Nico was at least fine and sustained no injuries. Standing up, he pulled his still shocked siblings up. "Come on, you two. Let's go."
"... We'll leave in about three hours. You do whatever you want with Prince Perseus in the meantime," Bianca said with slight hesitance as she looked on worriedly at Nico. But their baby brother just smiled, shooing them off past the Thálassian prince's shoulders.
"Or he could do you," Zagreus suggested with a snicker, receiving a well-deserved middle finger.
"Traitor!" Nico shouted over Percy's shoulder. Percy had to move his head slightly away when the young man continued shouting in his arms. "You're demoted! Hazel's my favorite sibling again!"
The three of them fondly rolled their eyes at their brother's antics as they walked back inside the palace. Meanwhile, Nico redirected his attention to the Thálassian prince who was currently looking at him with a look of amusement.
"So…" Nico drawled, smiling sheepishly for once. "Are you going to let me down?"
It was probably a little too late to ask that question, but he didn't really expect the other prince to keep a hold of him for so long upon catching him. But Percy pretended not to hear his suggestion as the Thálassian prince leaned back against the tree for support, the fifth heir still securely in his arms.
"... I'll have to go back to our kingdom tomorrow morning," the prince suddenly said, cutting to the chase, while looking at Nico with an unfathomable expression. It took Nico a few seconds to process what he meant before russet-brown eyes widened in understanding.
Oh.
"Oh." Nico tried not to sound and feel disappointed, but he was unable to help it. "The 'dream' ends today then."
Eventually, Percy had to 'wake up'; it was bound to happen. He would leave Nico, and Nico would find someone else to drag into the 'dream' like clockwork. It was how things were supposed to be, it was how things had been, so why was he dreading the impending end now?
"I could just take you back with me," Percy wiggled his eyebrows suggestively while squeezing Nico in his arms.
"No, Percy," Nico said, trying not to laugh.
"Yes, Percy," the older prince countered, earning a laugh this time. "I want to continue this. What we have. I'll visit often if I have to," he promised in earnest.
"Percy…" Nico sighed, feeling an oncoming headache as he knew where this conversation was headed, but Percy cut him off before he could start.
"Unless you're bored of me, I'm not taking no for an answer, Nico," the Thálassian prince declared, reminding the younger male of their agreement. Nico did agree that their affair would continue so long as both parties were still willing. Percy clearly wanted him still - gods know what reason - whereas Nico… He did feel disappointed because he wanted to have the prince much longer. It was just that their bodies were so compatible; he was just satiating his body's needs. Nothing more, he convinced himself.
"You never did," Nico acknowledged with a small, knowing smile. He wasn't sure what possessed him, but he pulled Percy down for a chaste kiss, causing the other prince to smile against his lips. Their lips barely separated before Percy reconnected them again, this time with an urgency that had Nico tugging at his hair on the back of his head out of reflex.
It might have escalated to something more had Nico not heard the sound of a startled squeak some short distance away from them.
"As much as I like this, I don't appreciate having an audience. Give me a minute, and I promise I'll make it worth your while tonight," Nico said upon pulling away from Percy's lips, smiling apologetically when the latter groaned in obvious disappointment. Looking past his lover's shoulder, he looked around briefly to find their audience. "You three can go back now! Nothing will happen here that will potentially scar the servants for life!"
There was a startled squeak again for a moment, before his older siblings emerged from where they were hiding behind a column.
"You heard him, Bianca, let's go," Thanatos declared with nonchalance, as if they hadn't been caught red-handed, while Zagreus slung their sister over his shoulders, carrying her like a sack of potatoes as she refused to go. She blushed fiercely, whether it was for getting caught snooping or being carried in that manner by their brother, Nico wasn't sure.
"Three hours, Nico!" Zagreus called out without looking back as the three of them finally went away.
"Now… where were we?" Nico barely managed to finish his sentence before Percy impatiently claimed his lips once more. He didn't mind: he would have his fill, and he would let Percy have his fill until the Thálassian prince came back.
In the time that Nico knew Percy, the latter had never been one to break a promise to Nico. Which was why Nico trusted him to keep his word: If he said he would come back, then Nico firmly believed that he would. But, after a few weeks had passed, there was only silence from Perseus Tzákson. No visitations, not even letters. Just… nothing. Nico had been patient the entire time; for the first two weeks, he considered the strong possibility that the third prince was just too busy since coming back to his kingdom. But when two weeks stretched to four… then to six… Nico had to wonder if something happened.
The answer to his question came a few weeks later, in the form of gossipping maids. He had no intention to eavesdrop since he only intended to pass through, but when he heard them mention a Thálassian prince, he paused in his steps just as he was about to turn the corner.
"Did you hear? The Thálassian prince who visited us a few weeks ago is getting married!"
"What?! To our youngest prince?"
"No, silly! Do you think he would have left if he was? He's getting married to a daughter of a duchess from Ouranós! I heard that it was already decided by the time he got back to his kingdom."
"But isn't he and our prince…?"
"Yes! I thought he would be the one for our prince, but he's just like the other one. No, he's worse. I've heard our prince has been waiting for him for weeks and he doesn't even have the decency to explain to him what's going on!"
"Oh dear, poor prince Nico. When do you think his family will let him know?"
"Will they even? The last one was so bad… Anyway, I've only heard the news this morning, so they probably will be checking on it first before they tell the young master."
But Nico didn't need the confirmation. It made perfect sense, and it made him realize something he didn't even notice. Percy had woken up from his 'dream'. But while he did, Nico was the one who was still trapped in its illusion.
That happened in the sixth week since Percy left, and today was the seventh, and a week since he left his room. He barely ate anything and spent most of the time drifting in and out of consciousness, just allowing time to pass him by. His family immediately caught on that something was wrong with him, and he wouldn't put it past them to figure out what was causing his depression. Not that there was anything to be done. Not by them, and certainly not by him. There was nothing between him and Percy, he kept insisting for the longest time, and that made everything more painful.
Why didn't Percy inform him? Simple. Because he wasn't obligated to do so. Nico wasn't his, just as much as Percy wasn't Nico's.
Nico felt as if he had been played, yet at the same time, he still couldn't believe that it was something Percy would do. He had seen into those eyes far too many times, and Nico never saw a lie in them. But what difference could a truth and a lie make now? The truth was Percy was probably engaged, to be married. The lie was Nico didn't care - that he wasn't hurting.
"We're just dropping off a baggage…" Thanatos and Zagreus briefly poked their heads inside of their baby brother's room to assess the damage. Fortunately, there was none, but the lack of response from Nico was equally alarming. But they knew that, at that moment, what Nico needed was not their counsel, but a certain someone else's.
"Hi. I'm the baggage," Bianca announced to the unmoving mass underneath the bed covers, but not before glaring at her brothers for forcibly pushing her into the room.
"Go away, Bianca. I'm not in the mood," Nico said, his voice muffled and raspy.
With a sigh, she sat down on his bed and placed a hand atop of the covers, stroking the fabric as if she was stroking his hair instead.
"You haven't been yourself since you heard rumors of Prince Perseus being engaged," she started once their brothers closed the door to Nico's room. When she received only silence in return, she continued. "Nico, you fell in love with him, didn't you?"
"What are you…?" Nico pulled the covers away just slightly to be able to look at her. Bianca felt her heart breaking as she took in his red-rimmed eyes and the fresh tears still spilling down his cheeks.
Of course, you did. You got another prince to break your heart again.
"To be honest, all of us knew you were falling for him long before we confronted you about the nature of your relationship with him," Bianca admitted, slowly coaxing him out as she pulled the covers away until she could properly see his face. Scooting further back into the bed, she guided his head on her lap as she brushed his hair back in a comforting manner. She didn't acknowledge his tears, knowing how prideful their baby brother was. "You just… you gravitate towards each other. You could be in a crowded room and the two of you would immediately find each other."
"No, it's not love," Nico denied, his eyes darting around the room nervously. "Maybe just a crush, but-"
"Nico, Jason was the crush. But Percy, you love him." Bianca slapped him with the truth he had been trying to deny.
"You loved the idea of Jason; he was like a god to you that manifested into the mortal plane or something." She smiled slightly as she said that. "But Percy… you love him with a passion that the one you had for Jason pales in comparison. It's not just the sex, though that's the icing on the cake for you."
"You love how he smiles. You love being in his company. He makes you laugh effortlessly. Being with him was as natural for you as breathing," Bianca listed all of their observations. They always had their baby brother's interests at heart, so they were particularly observant of him. "You had years ro spend with Jason, but Percy only had a month and he's already had you wrapped around his finger. But we didn't intervene because we can see that he cares for you immensely. When you told us he wanted more, the four of us talked, and none of us opposed it. When you said that he loves you, we can tell he truly loves you."
"Loved. He's engaged to someone else now," Nico said in a voice barely above a whisper, as if it pained him to admit it. It probably did.
He had been in denial for probably the same amount of time that he had been in love with Percy. Love. It truly was a sham. It was supposed to make him happy, but now it was slowly killing him from the inside.
"Did you all know? That he was engaged?" Nico had to know.
"Just a few days ago, around the time you started acting differently. We wanted to be sure of the authenticity of the news before we break it to you," Bianca admitted, and Nico felt relief in knowing that they at least didn't betray his trust. It was stupid of him to make that assumption; of course they wouldn't.
"But Nico… are you not going to fight for him?"
"How can I fight when he wasn't mine to begin with?" Percy might have been fighting for him, but that time had come to pass. He had moved on. Now Nico was the one left, hanging preciously onto the remains of his love.
"Oh, baby brother. I'm sure he would beg to differ," Bianca assured him softly. She saw something special between them - something that could last. Nico wasn't going to chase after his happiness; he had been scarred before, he wasn't going to commit the same mistake twice. There was only one solution to this, but she needed to enlist the help of their entire family.
Misery loves company, and in his misery, the only company he loved was wine. Just enough for him to feel numb; just enough for him to pass out in a dreamless sleep. His family didn't approve of his affinity for it, more so now that he was consuming it almost on a daily basis. He hated himself for making them worry, but he hated himself more for wasting away like this. But the talk he had with Bianca opened the floodgates for emotions he didn't want to acknowledge until it was already too late. He denied himself a chance to be truly happy because he let himself cling to the ghosts of his past. He couldn't blame Percy for choosing to be with someone else; he offered his love to Nico but Nico shunned it; mocked it. That same love was now mocking him, dangling at a height he was unable to reach.
That same love now mocked him in the form of the notes Percy left for him, an accumulation of that one month that now felt like forever ago. Nico had thrown all the notes onto the table, and spent time reading each and every single one of them until he had them engraved into his memory.
'You're beautiful when you smile. I hope tomorrow brings you happiness as well.'
.
.
.
'I (love) like hearing you laugh. I can listen to the sound forever.'
'You say your eyes aren't special, but I like looking into them. I feel comforted. You're so comfortable to be around.'
.
.
.
'Your hair is always a mess, but it's the softest thing I've ever touched. Wait, no. Your skin is.'
'I always look forward to tomorrow, knowing I'll get to see you again.'
.
.
.
'Your skin is always so cold. Let me hold you, so I can share my warmth with you.'
'Do your lips ever feel lonely? Let me know, I'll keep them company.'
'You're perfect. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.'
If I was perfect, why couldn't I make you stay? Nico thought bitterly.
He leaned back against his seat, tilting his head back as he stared at the ceiling of his room. There was already a pleasant buzz in his head. If Percy was there, he would have scolded Nico. He didn't like Nico drinking too much wine in the weeks that they were together; didn't like how it would leave the younger male flushed and vulnerable, not that Nico had ever overdone it. Though in the past week, he might have to admit that he had been. The headaches and waking up at noon were telling signs.
No one told him how to cope - they only told him to take care of himself. Percy wouldn't like it, his siblings would say instead. Well, Percy isn't here, is he? He wanted to tell them. Percy was probably out there planning his perfect wedding with that perfect female fiancé of his. He wasn't thinking of Nico. He couldn't be thinking of Nico.
"I told you: stop drinking too much of that. You'll kill yourself."
Nico wasn't sure when he had closed his eyes, but when he opened them, he was still staring at the ceiling of his room. His vision swirled a bit - too much alcohol - as he looked down at his right hand where the wineglass had been pulled away. A man hovered above him, looking down at him with genuine concern. The first thought that passed through his head was that this was probably a dream. The second thought was, 'Damn it. If this is a dream, it means that I didn't drink enough wine'. The third thought was that this dream would probably hurt him in the morning if he were to remember it. For there was no way Percy would be here, in Nico's room, with him.
"I must be dreaming. You can't be here," Nico voiced his thoughts out loud as the Thálassian prince knelt in front of him.
"I'm here though. Where else would I be but with you?" Dream Percy, as Nico dubbed him, questioned while bringing both of Nico's hands to his face. Nico barely registered the warmth in his drunken stupor. "But maybe I shouldn't be. You're clearly intoxicated."
"No… stay," Nico begged, practically throwing his arms around his Sea Prince's neck, refusing to entertain the idea of Percy going, even if it was just a dream. "Don't leave me too…"
Perhaps it was the urgency in his voice, or perhaps because it was a dream, but Percy stayed and held him.
"Don't cry," Dream Percy soothed him, patting his trembling back in reassurance. He was crying? Ah… anything can happen in a dream. It was not in his control. "I'll give you everything you could ever want. So don't cry."
"You," Nico rasped, pulling back from his lover's neck to look into those vibrant sea-green eyes that he had fallen in love with. He wanted those sea-green eyes to look at him - and only him - once more; he wanted to see himself be the center of Percy's world. He did not care if this was a dream. He did not care if this was an illusion. When dawn breaks, he would have to face the reality that Percy-... No, he would think of the reality only when the dawn breaks. He has Percy now, if only in a dream. "I only want you, Percy."
Those warm lips he had been longing for so long finally captured his, and it felt like coming home. As those strong arms trapped him in a warm embrace, he knew that this was where he was supposed to belong. He had made some mistakes in his life, but neglecting his and Percy's emotions had to be the worst one yet. His then trembling hands moved to grasp onto Percy's clothes, tugging on them insistently. If this was the last time he could have Percy, if only in a dream, he would take it.
When both their clothes were discarded on the floor, his body welcomed Percy as if the man had never left; welcomed him as if he needed him to survive. You do, a voice inside his head whispered traitorously as Percy entered him, their moans intermingled in a forbidden symphony. His lover held him equally tight in his arms, as if he was afraid to lose Nico as well. Truly, this had to be a dream, for how can something that felt so good be wrong?
The demons in his head could retire for the night, as they did for so many nights when he was loved in Percy's arms. For tonight, he would cherish this man as Percy deserved when Nico denied him. It was too late to love Percy himself, but he hoped - by some form of miracle - that this Percy in his dreams could feel all his love from his broken heart.
Nico stopped caring in that moment for the world that awaited him beyond this room; for the world that awaited him when dawn breaks. That world did not deserve him; Percy did not deserve him. But here, in his safest place, he could dream.
In this dream, he deserved Percy. In this dream, all that mattered was Percy and him.
"Beautiful. So beautiful for me. All of you - born for me. My beautiful fallen angel." Nico vaguely registered the headboard slamming against the wall over Percy's croons as he placed kisses on every exposed skin he could reach. Their bodies moved with hunger, both starved for the touch of their lover. Nico couldn't manage to say a single word, yet it didn't matter after a while as Percy's lips claimed his. "Don't cry anymore. I won't ever let you go."
Nico could taste his tears intermingling in their kiss, but he didn't mind. Let Percy taste his tears. Let him know that even his tears belonged to him alone. It broke him when he was left alone before by Jason, but this… Percy was destroying him.
"Say it," Nico gasped as their lips briefly parted. Instinctively, he bit on his lover's lower lip, eliciting a guttural groan from the man above him, and for his lover to deliver a harsh thrust to his insides. "Please say it. Please, please, please…"
"I love you, Nico," Percy whispered against his lips. "Gods, I love you so much," he repeated again with a choked sob, finally breathing out the words he had been forbidden to say. This time, he said it a little louder, as if he was not afraid if the whole world heard him and hated him for his feelings. "You make me lose all reason. I don't care about anything else," Percy declared. "I want you. I just want you."
Russet-brown eyes fluttered shut at the declaration before they rolled back as the man above him punctuated every confession with a harsh thrust. He could feel the mind-numbing pleasure up to the tips of his fingers. He was losing all coherent thought, yet he didn't mind. He wanted this. He needed this. He needed Percy, and all that Percy would give him.
"So tight…! Every inch… made for me. Every inch of me, for you," Percy rambled, eyes fluttering close as the sensations became too much. With a low growl, a hand moved to cup one of Nico's thighs, propping one of the younger's legs on his shoulders, allowing him to go smoother. Deeper. "Nico, love. I love you so, so much. Let me fill you until I'm the only one in your thoughts; in your world."
What are you saying? You're the only one in my world.
"Too deep?" Percy asked when all he received as a response was Nico arching his back, eyes nearly rolling back again from too much pleasure. One of his hands had long dropped onto the sheets, clutching and tugging onto them as if they were his lifeline. "No, not deep enough. I need to engrave myself deep inside so you won't ever forget me."
As if I could ever forget you. As if Percy heard it, he gave Nico a breathless, yet dazzling smile.
"Don't hide your voice from me," the older prince begged, his pace slowing when he noticed his lover biting down on his lips. "Let me kiss you. Let me hear every lovely sound."
As if I could ever deny you.
Their lips met once again with ardor, neither parting for too long nor separating too far even as they struggled for air. Their foreheads were pressed against each other, sweat intermingling as did their moans - as did their breath - as Percy set a brutal pace once more, and Nico easily welcomed him with open arms.
Take it. All of it. All of me, it's yours.
His heart mended and broke itself repeatedly as Percy alternately showered him with praises and declared his love for him. To have Percy like this should be enough. To dream of him was a mercy in itself from whoever god that still pitied him. Yet, it was not enough. For once, he knew the answer why.
Percy… I love you. I love you, I love you, I love you… his head and heart screamed, for once agreeing to the one thing he ever wanted desperately. I love you, I love you, I love you…!
The body atop of him stilled for a few seconds, causing a heavy weight to settle in Nico's heart. Was that it? Was this where his dream will end? But the next second, Percy cupped his face with that beautiful dazzling smile on his lips, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. Yet, Nico could see that he was not unhappy. There was pure happiness in his eyes, and there was unadulterated… love.
"Don't ever forget what you said," dream Percy choked, grasping the younger prince's hands. Lowering the leg on his shoulder, he placed those hands behind his neck before he forced both legs to wrap around his waist. Wordlessly, Nico understood, clinging onto his lover as tightly as he possibly could. "Don't forget what I said. I love you, Niccolò di Angelo."
Percy loved him first, but Nico loved him too late.
I love you too, Perseus Tzákson.
That was his last coherent thought as, for the rest of the night, they claimed each other's bodies with an understanding that only the two of them had with the moon as their sole witness. For the rest of the night, they each gave and took all that they could, for they knew that only their lover could have all of them. When his body was finally spent and dream Percy just held him in his arms, he knew that there was nowhere else he wanted to be in that moment than in Percy's arms. And when dawn breaks, for once, Nico did not feel that dread. In his exhaustion, with his eyes closed, he could feel bruised lips - smiling - pressing against his equally bruised ones.
"Wait for me. I'll come back to you soon. I won't let you cry anymore." With that, dream Percy left him with a kiss and a promise. With that, his body finally gave up and exhaustion dragged him further into sleep.
When noon came and he unwillingly greeted the day alone, he wondered briefly if last night was a dream… but that wonderful ache in his body said otherwise.
It had been three weeks since that night, and the marks and bruises on his body had already faded. It was becoming more and more like a dream with each day that passed, and his sole comfort was that Percy made a promise to come back to him. Could he really trust him again? Nico asked on more than one occasion. But he knew that it wasn't a matter of trust at this point: if it wasn't Percy then he'd rather not be with anyone else. He's long stopped wanting the touch of anyone else's on his skin.
He could wait forever, but that didn't mean that the world couldn't move on.
"Father gave approval to one of the proposals sent to you," Thanatos said casually while Nico lounged on the sofa in his study room.
"Proposal?" Nico asked with a frown.
"Marriage proposal, Nico," Bianca clarified from above him. Thanatos glanced up from the documents he was reviewing to look at his siblings who were all huddled up on the sofa. Nico was currently using his eldest sister's lap as a pillow for his head while his legs and feet - fortunately shoeless - draped over Hazel and Zagreus' laps. It was amusing how much they spoiled their baby brother. Then again, Nico needed that much spoiling due to his recent heartbreak. Though, he could definitely do with just his sisters spoiling him, Thanatos thought while giving his older brother a leveled glare. You should be the one reviewing these papers, his piercing eyes seemed to say, while Zagreus pointedly ignored him.
"He has not given a formal response yet since he wants you to meet the person before having his approval in a written agreement," Hazel assured when their baby brother simply remained silent, likely processing the sudden news.
"What? Why would he? I told him to burn all those stupid proposals. Or use them to kindle fire," Nico grunted, his voice and expression dripping with displeasure. "What's the point of saying he won't use us for politics if he's going to marry us off in the end?"
"It's not for politics. He thinks you might like this one," Zagreus said with a knowing smile. "We kind of like this one. Went through a personal screening with me and Thanatos and passed with flying colors."
"Ah, so you have interrogated this person like a common criminal and he hasn't run for the hills. Good to know," Nico said with a small smile, to which the eldest flashed him a wink. It didn't escape Nico's eyes how Thanatos smirked in response. "I knew I could count on my favorite siblings."
"You traitor," Bianca and Hazel exclaimed, pushing him off of their lap and onto the ground. He landed hard with a groan, but an occasional chuckle slipped past his lips as he looked at his sisters.
"What? You couldn't have joined Than and Zag?"
"We did. I'm pretty sure our hands left perfect indents on his cheeks for a while. He's a perfect match for you. He's an idiot, you're an idiot," Bianca explained, smirking when her brother only rolled his eyes in response.
"The guy being an idiot aside, Bianca and I really like him though. We think he'd be good for you. Besides, four siblings would have been an overkill - our brothers did plenty enough," Hazel explained.
That was true. The overkill part, Nico meant. Not this person being good for him. There was only one person who would ever be good for him, but since that night a few weeks ago, he hadn't shown up again.
"It doesn't change anything. Father doesn't know what I want," the youngest declared as he carefully stood up and slipped in his shoes. "I'm going to see him. I'll be right back."
"Believe me, he does," Bianca said once their baby brother left the room, exchanging knowing grins with the rest of her siblings.
In the end, Nico couldn't get out of meeting his mystery fiancé. A few days later, he found himself in the throne room, sitting beside his father and siblings as he looked at the carpeted floor with disinterest.
Meet him once, Nico. If you don't like him, then I promise to make an official announcement that you won't be accepting any proposals in the future, his father promised him. One meeting, in exchange for peace and quiet. He could do that, but he still wasn't looking forward to it. Clearly, his family was in cahoots with one another; Nico was observant enough to know that his siblings were clearly looking forward to him meeting said fiancé.
What was so good about him? Nico wanted to ask. Who was this person that all his siblings and his father gave approval of? Was he better than Percy? No, that wasn't possible, and even if he was, Nico only wanted that one person. He trusted Percy to keep his promise to him, and as long as he'd come back to him, Nico would wait.
The sound of the door to the throne room opening snapped him out of his thoughts. Right, he could do this. He had rehearsed what he was about to say. Let whoever this person was down gently, and establish what he wanted with his family.
"I'm sorry but I can't marry you," Nico declared in a loud voice before his father or his supposed fiancé could speak. He twisted the skull ring in his thumb as he continued before his nerves could overwhelm him, still looking down on the ground. "I-I'm in love with someone else and I promised to wait for him."
"... Is he at least a very charming person?"
That voice. That voice.
"... Percy?" Nico finally looked up from where he had been previously looking at the ground. The moment his eyes met those tender sea-green eyes, he felt as if he could breathe again. "But how?"
Nico could hear his siblings snickering on the side at his earlier declaration while his father massaged his temples from his peripherals. They were in cahoots on this?
"How what?" Percy asked, grinning. He was kneeling on the ground before Nico's earlier outburst.
"You're engaged!" He could not allow himself to hope. If Percy was just going to be taken away from him again, he would rather not cling onto any hope and trample further on his heart in the process. "... aren't you?"
"I can decide for myself who I want to be with. And I know who I want to be with," Percy declared as he stood up and walked all the way to the bottom of the steps where Nico's throne sat on top. He knelt down once more, offering a hand to the fifth heir. "You say that love is a commoner's dream. So how about we make it a reality?"
"Are you all mine?" Nico asked as he stood up and slowly walked down the steps. He needed to hear his answer desperately, allowing hope to seep into his eyes.
"If you still want me to be."
That's a ridiculous question, Nico thought, as he tackled Percy to the ground, feeling him smile against his lips as they met in a messy kiss. It took him a while, but he finally knew who he wanted.
.
.
.
Author's Note: This is like the mildest work out of the 3 works in this series. I hope you all like this one and look forward to the next!