Drowning In You
Chapter 18: Attachment
Author's Note:
Hey you guys! I just wanted to say that this is the last chapter of my fan fiction. I'm so thankful that you all have been so supportive through this. I have to say that this is probably one of my favorite fan fictions that I've written. Once more thank you all for everything and I hope you enjoy this last chapter! See you all soon. :3
Most people believed that because of Nico's tendency to be a downer that he never smiled, but, in fact, Percy knew just how incorrect that statement was. To be honest, Nico had a brilliant smile, one that was infectious. One that stretched all the way across his face, showing off a glimpse of perfect pure white teeth, and spread to Percy.
The two of them grinned briefly as they limped down the hallway, the smaller of the two leaning on Percy for support of his burned foot
"You alright?" Percy murmured, still feeling the buzz upon his lips from the kiss.
"I guess," Nico's eyes were cast downwards as the other boy looked at him with a soft, yet worried look. Nico could feel the tension between them, "I just don't know how to deal with this. I mean what the hell? It's just all so…."
"…mixed up." Percy finished with a slight grimace, "What did you expect, really? Everyone has been saying that we would get back together. I figured we would, however, there was a point where I wasn't so sure. Truly, if I really thought about it, I knew you and me would be back before too long. No matter how hard I try to quit you Nico di Angelo, I always come running back. I'm bound to you."
"Oh," Nico started sarcastically, "Now you want to be romantic? Next you'll be spouting poetry and sending me flowers or some shit."
"First of all, I hate poetry. Second, I don't have enough money to buy you flowers."
"Yeah…. I really don't want any, and I mean any, of that." Nico replied with enthuses. "I don't need you to make me feel like a girl."
"Oh, so you don't want the classic lovey dovey romance anymore? Ha! I figured you would at least want something out of me after all of this." Percy inquired as they entered the kitchen. Nico and he both perked up at the small gathering around the kitchen table.
Luke, Annabeth, Grover, Thalia, Jason, and Leo were all seated around the table looking crestfallen and completely and utterly underwhelmed. Apparently they were not as overjoyed with the sudden rain as Nico and Percy were.
"What's going on?" Nico asked briefly as he glanced between the group. His eyes finally fell on Annabeth as the girl began to speak.
"What do you think happened? We got rained out!" Annabeth admitted ruggedly, running a single hand through her wet locks. Usually her beautiful blond hair was soft and curled, falling perfectly about her heart shaped face. However, it was now stringy and tangled. After a moment of her dragging rough fingers through the mess she glanced back up at Nico, "How's your foot?"
"Oh…," Nico brought the word out a little bit, glancing at Percy with a hazy smile, "It's perfect."
Percy met his gaze for a moment, eyes falling on the shorter boy's face as he took in the beautiful features. His bright brown eyes that shone with a sense of cheerfulness (one that Percy hadn't seen in a while), those full lips drew up into a hasty grin, a thin strand of sleek black hair coasted across his cute button nose- Nico di Angelo was absolutely and unequivocally amazing.
"Whoa, well that's a bit of eye contact there." Grover admitted with a whistle as he tapped long, slender fingers on the hard wood table.
"Yep." Thalia agreed as she leaned against her boyfriend's shoulder.
"Wait, are you two….?" Annabeth replied briskly before letting the question hang in the air. There was no reason to finish it. The answer was quite obvious at this point.
"Called it." Luke murmured as he glanced up at Nico, a slight grimace etched onto his lips. Despite the comment being an inside joke based on their conversation earlier everyone took notice of his edge of bitterness.
"Shut up, Luke." Nico justified, his voice not exactly angry, but not exactly neutral either. Percy slightly wrapped his arm around Nico's waist at the developing conversation, body feeling tense.
"No jealousy." Nico murmured nearly inaudible as he stole a glimpse at Percy who, despite himself, let his arm fall loosely from the other's body.
"Hey Thalia," Jason questioned offhandedly, "What time are we supposed to be home?"
"About an hour ago." Thalia snorted at her brother's crestfallen face.
"Well, shit."
"We should all head out I guess." Annabeth stood up, not bothering to acknowledge the trail of water that dripped from her soaked bathing suit as she moved. There wasn't any real reason for her to not change clothes, but despite that Annabeth continued to strut around in her swim suit.
"You are not getting into my car wearing that." Luke insisted, "I swear to god if you get water on my car's interior I will kick you."
Percy couldn't help the laugh that exploded from his lips although he could hear the honesty in Luke's voice. He wouldn't hesitate to do as he spoke.
"So, we are all heading home?" Thalia asked.
"Well, there isn't much of a party anymore. Too much rain, not enough heat, too many kids stepping on fire." Leo attempted to joke as he turned towards Nico.
"That's not even funny." The Italian replied as he leaned further on Percy. Without even thinking Percy leaned over and pressed his lips against the side of Nico's ear. The other boy jerked back slightly, not enough to be noticeable; however, Percy still felt it. He still felt hurt as well.
"So, now that that is sorted, who is riding home with who?" Jason asked as he rolled his shoulders back, leaning back in the chair.
"I assume that Nico will want to ride with Percy so Leo and Jason can ride with me and those two can ride with you guys." Grover replied instantly, almost as though he had already sorted the entire thing out.
"So, me, Annabeth, Percy, and Nico in a car and you, Thalia, Leo, and Jason in the other car. Is that right?" Luke questioned under his breath.
"Yep." Grover nodded plainly.
"Well then let's go. I'm getting really fucking tired now." Luke admitted as he stood up, holding back the deep yawn that threatened to burst from his lips.
"You'll have to wait a minute." Leo replied monotone, halting Luke's movement towards his keys on the stove counter.
"Why?"
"Annabeth's in the bathroom. I guess since you wanted her to change clothes so badly she actually did." Leo shot Luke a glance before leaning back in his chair, bringing the front legs up off the ground for a few seconds.
Without warning a annoyed and bothered moan etched from Luke's throat- a sound that none of the other's had ever heard him utter before.
"What the fuck's your problem?" Thalia questioned bluntly as she ran a harsh fingernail along a groove chopped into the hard wood table top.
"It will take her about twenty minutes now. First she has to put on makeup and then get dressed and then brush out her hair and all that shit." Luke droned on with fatigue.
"Well," Nico justified with a cheeky grin, "that's what you get for being such an asshole."
"Will you two stop?" Luke asked peevishly as he glanced in the review mirror and to Percy and Nico in the backseat. Between the two of them and the darkened car, Nico and Percy had snuck a total of twenty-four stole kisses in the last twelve minutes. They couldn't stay away from each other.
Leaning forward, noses pressed together, lips inches apart, Nico and Percy's breath mingled, only hearing Luke's words when Annabeth replied to them.
"I think you two are just adorable." Annabeth justified under her breath, shaking her head at Luke's negativity.
"Sorry." Percy murmured in a near inaudible manner as he flopped back against the seat startled, briskly adjusting his seatbelt back into place. For the time being, while they were kissing, Percy and Nico had both undid their seatbelts to get a better angle.
"Don't worry about it."
"Thank you"
Annabeth and Luke both replied at the same moment, shooting each other harsh glances over their reactions.
"Anyway," Luke continued as he gritted his teeth, "We'll drop you off first Percy. Your house is closer."
"Sure." The boy in the backseat replied.
Turning his face from the two in the front seat, not bothering to conceal his newest distraction, Percy's eyes landed on Nico. For a moment he was mesmerized. In the harsh darkness of the car, only light coming from the headlights and street lamps that cut through the black every once in a while, Nico looked overwhelmingly beautiful. Percy would wait for the perfect moment, for when the light would break through the window and cast down on the boy's face like a beacon, for when his harsh pale skin would illuminate in the darkness and reveal those smoldering eyes and lips pursed in a haze. It was all so overwhelming as Percy dragged Nico towards him, hooking his arm within his boyfriend's.
"You know what you should do?" Percy muttered it more as a statement rather than a question.
"What?" The other asked as a single hand brushed away a strand of ebony hair. Percy's fingers lingered on Nico's lips for a moment before dragging across his cheek and down to his throat, resting softly against the crook of his neck.
"You should stay the night with me." Percy admitted as he pressed a single hand against the other's chest. The vicious pounding of Nico's pulse under his fingertips alerted the other of the Italian's fear.
"I want you to." Percy tried again, "Just text you parents and say you'll be home tomorrow morning. They'll understand. Please. My mom won't mind in the slightest. She won't even question it."
Nico hesitated for a moment, thoughts of the repercussions swimming through his mind, before nodding his answer, "Yes. Alright, I'll stay with you."
"Perfect." Percy murmured as he leaned forward once more, trying for a kiss. Before the two's lips could come into contact the car came to a jerking stop. Slinging forward, Percy's head struck the front seat.
"Ow!" He whined in protest as he clutched his forehead.
"We're here." Luke moaned out grudged.
"Thanks Luke!" Nico called as he tried to stand up only to have himself pulled back down, seat belt not completely undone. Once again he clicked the button before standing up, making sure he could move freely now.
"Welcome." Luke replied with a huff.
Heading up the sidewalk, heart pounding in his chest, Nico made his way up Percy's side walk still limping lightly on his burned foot. Before he could attempt to make his way to the porch, Nico felt the warm body beside him, helping him move.
"There you go." Percy whispered lightly under his breath as he held tightly to Nico.
"They are so cute." Annabeth whispered from the car, leaning through the window with a look of utter and complete cheerfulness. She was happy for both of them, however, she still kind of yearned for that romance within her own life.
"Shut up, Annabeth." Luke echoed as he shook his head.
"Awwww! You need some love too, don't you?" Annabeth pouted as she leaned over, pressing a soft kiss against Luke's cheek. The other boy said nothing other than a simple sigh of appreciation.
The Next Morning…..
Nico awoke to the strained, high pitch wailing of his alarm clock, the deaf siren causing his ears to ache. Sitting up on the old, lumpy mattress, the springs creaking under his form, Nico felt odd. His enter body was completely out of scenic, limbs tired and head dizzy. In the dark oppressive shade of the curtained bedroom, Nico squinted to see through the darkness. The only illuminating light he could find was the flashing number upon the alarm clock that read 5:30 am and the single crack of white light bleeding under the door frame.
It took him a moment to gain his wits, shaking his head a few times, but finally Nico managed to key in on what the room actually looked like. It definitely wasn't his own. The blue walls seemed to drown him through the darkness. The white shag carpet felt like silk under his bare feet compared to his own hard wood floored bedroom.
After a moment of holding his breath in the darkness, Nico let out the long string of air, the truth finally dawning on him. With a deep sigh he tossed his legs back under the sheet, lying back down with a slight huff of fatigue. He gently pulled the gray comforter back up against his bare chest.
"What are you doing?" The question startled him for a moment, eyes snapping opening wickedly. His face was pale as he sat up on the bed once more, slipping off the side of the mattress and falling to the carpet.
"Damn it, Percy!" Nico hissed out as he sat up on the floor, wincing in pain from where his head made contact with the floor. It was at that moment that Percy leaned over the side of the bed, gazing down at his boyfriend as he hoped for forgiveness.
"You alright?" He cooed, slinging his legs over the side of the bed and holding out an extended hand. Pulling Nico up, watching as the boy readjusted his shorts, Percy realized the other boy's fatigue.
"What's wrong?" Percy words came to Nico like a spiral of ice, causing goose bumps to rise up on his arms with the haunting, worried tone.
"No, I'm not alright. First of all, I can't wear your freakish, mutant shorts right so they are uncomfortable," Nico sputtered plainly, pulling on the shorts and watching as they stretched out to about three times his size, "Secondly, It's really fucking cold in here."
"It always is." Percy interrupted briefly as Nico shot him a heated gaze.
"Thirdly, I feel like shit. Every part of me is sore." Nico groaned out as he came and sat down beside Percy. Leaning backwards, allowing himself to fall against the stiff mattress, Nico stretched out.
"Why would you be so sore?" Percy asked with a mocking grin.
"You know why I feel so…. Wait! Stop sounding like such a pervert, Jackson. You make it seem like you fucked me or something like that." Nico growled out as his face began to heat up.
"You made it sound like that yourself." Percy justified softly.
"No I didn't!" Nico insisted before letting out a deep breath, "I'm sore because you kept rolling over on my all night and I couldn't sleep right. I hate it when you sleep in the wrong position and it just makes you feel like crap for the rest of the day. Oh, and I have another question: Why the hell is your alarm clock set so early?"
"God, Nico!" Percy murmured as the boy stood up beside him, crossing the room and looking in the mirror on the wall. Nico began matting down his hair the best he could.
"You are so hard to please!" Percy continued jokingly as he came up behind the shorter boy.
"Oh!" Nico gasped as two slim, but strong arms wrapped around his bare chest. Without an ounce of hesitation Percy pressed his lips softly against the thick black curls atop Nico's head. The locks were like thin feathers brushing passed his lips. Holding the boy tightly, Percy refused to let go, despite Nico tenderly slipping a casted arm into the other boy's stomach.
"Percy! Let go!" Nico whined heatedly, dragging himself away from the other before shooting a cheeky grin at his boyfriend. Percy smiled back slightly, eyes running up Nico's body softly.
"You look adorable, you know that?" Percy admitted as he moved forward and wrapped a soft arm around the shorter boy's waist. This time, as he moved in for a kiss, Nico didn't deny the action. Rather, he leaned upwards, standing on his toes as he forced his own lips against Percy's own.
Nico had missed that most of all. Just being with Percy. Kissing him, hugging him, knowing he was there. Leaning against the other's chest, Nico placed his head on Percy's shoulder. The older boy simply pulled him closer.
"You want to dance?" The taller of the two echoed softly against Nico's ear. There wasn't any real reason for it but Nico didn't hesitate. Percy grinned lightly as the other boy shivered and nodded a simple and plain yes.
Leaning against the other's shoulders, arms enlaced tightly around his neck, Nico felt warm on the inside. He felt amazing. The deep scent of Percy wavered to him, causing his insides to turn goo. It made him feel like he was on top of the world. He was absolutely consumed by the burning in his chest, the peace in his head, and the love that overwhelmed his heart.
"Do you remember the first time you and me danced?" Percy's words were gentle and tender as he held his left hand on Nico's side and the right one on his arm. It was so good to just feel the boy's skin under his own, to touch the porcelain flesh and know that he was actually there. And at that moment Percy realized something. Something that he had never thought outright, but it had always been there.
He was still absolutely and unequivocally in love with Nico di Angelo. And, honestly, he had never stopped loving the boy.