Chapter 8

Nico arrived at the cave and sat on the bed, staring into the distance. Gods, they were screwed. Neither he nor Percy had thought through the consequences of their relationship. Now it was too late. Nico started to feel depressed and alone. What was taking Percy so long? Maybe Percy was ditching him. No, he wouldn't. Would he? Nico started to pace the cave restlessly. He couldn't lose Percy after all this. He just couldn't. He stopped and punched a wall, then cried out, his hand bloody. He sat down on the bed, cradling his broken hand, tears starting to run down his cheeks.

A few minutes later, Percy's head popped out of the hole in the floor. "Nico? What-" he pulled himself out of the water and went over to him. Then he saw Nico's hand. "Gods, Sunburn, what did you do?"

Nico threw his arms around Percy. "I thought you weren't coming." He sobbed.

"No… I- I was talking to Grover." Percy wrapped his arms tightly around Nico.

Nico sniffed and snuggled closer, gasping a little from the pain from his hand. Percy pulled away. "What's wrong?"

"Just…my hand."

Percy took Nico's injured hand in his. Nico gasped and bit his lip.

"Gods, Sunburn…you broke it."

"I…punched a stone wall. What…what do you expect?"

Percy chuckled. "I'm going to get some bandages and something to set it with. Don't punch anything else and stay here." Percy pressed his lips to Nico's forehead. "I promise, I'm coming back."

Nico smiled weakly. "OK. Hurry."

Percy jumped back into the water and headed toward the infirmary. Nico laid on the bed, his broken hand on his chest. Percy returned and sat onto the bed next to him. "This is going to hurt…a lot." He reached forward and picked up Nico's hand. The broken bone was just visible beneath the surface of his skin; it jutted out awkwardly. Percy gently ran his hand over the surface of the bone. Nico cried out and bit his lip. Percy pulled his hand back.

"Sorry." He reached out and touched Nico's lips. "Try not bit your lip. That's my job." He smiled.

Nico smiled back and nodded, clenching his teeth. Percy placed his hand other the bone again. "On three, one-" Percy snapped the bone back into place. Nico yelled in pain, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Sorrysorrysorry!" Percy held the hand still, still pressing down on the broken bone. With his free hand, he reached for the two splints he'd grabbed and placed one on top and one under. He quickly wrapped them tightly all the way around. "I'm sorry." He apologized again and leaned forward, pressing his lips to Nico's head then pulled a bottle out of his back pocket.

"Here…" Percy popped the lid off the bottle. "It's nectar." He held out the bottle for Nico. Nico took a sip and the pain in his hand eased. He sighed and wiped his wet cheeks with his other hand.

"I'm sorry…" Percy mumbled again. He felt horrible that he was the reason Nico's hand was broken.

"It's…not your fault." Nico said though it kind of was.

"I should've come back sooner." Percy stared at the pattern of the bed. "I made you worry…I shouldn't have done that…especially after what happened at breakfast."

"Percy, I'm fine. Really."

Percy studied Nico's face. "You're lying."

Nico blushed and looked away.

"Am I wrong?" Percy reached for Nico's good hand. His thumb ran back and forth along the back.

Nico shivered. "No, you're not. No one has ever read me so easily before."

Percy smiled. He leaned forward and brushed his lips against Nico's. Nico wrapped his arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Percy allowed him to pull him onto the bed. He tried to be careful not to bump Nico's hand. Nico made a small noise against his lips. Percy pulled back. "Am I hurting you?" He wasn't sure how he could've, but you never know.

"No! Don't stop!"

Percy pressed his lips back to Nico's. Nico moaned and fell flat to the bed, Percy on top of him. Percy laughed at the effect he had on the Ghost King. He held himself up by his elbows and tangled his fingers in Nico's hair. Nico snuggled closer, pressing his lips harder to Percy's. Percy moaned. He squished Nico in between the bed and his body, loving the way the small boy felt beneath him. Nico tugged on Percy's shirt with his good hand. Percy pulled away with a smile. "What did I tell you about asking?"

"My mouth was occupied."

"Good excuse." Percy yanked off his shirt and tossed it to the floor.

Nico pulled him close again, sighing with pleasure, running his hands over Percy's torso. Percy shivered at the contact of skin on skin and pulled off Nico's shirt. He pressed his mouth to Nico's momentarily then moved toward his ear, trailing kisses along his jaw. Nico moaned and closed his eyes. Percy took Nico's earlobe in between his teeth. He had a pattern: tug, move his lips down Nico's neck to his sweet spot, suck, repeat. Percy loved the way the boy squirmed under his touch. Nico continued to squirm and moan. He could do little else with Percy on top of him. Percy moved his kisses down Nico's collarbone to his chest. He continued down his stomach then worked his way back up. Nico moaned and squirmed. Percy ran his tongue over Nico's chest then moved back up to his lips. Nico sighed as Percy kissed him. It was both gently and hard at the same time. Percy pulled away smiling and flopped onto the bed next to him, reaching for the Ghost King's hand. Nico slipped his unhurt hand into Percy's and smiled.

"You're amazing." Percy murmured, stroking Nico's hand with his thumb.

"I'm nothing to you." Nico murmured back.

Percy chuckled. "You're everything to me, Sunburn. Don't ever doubt it."

Nico smiled and snuggled closer. Percy wrapped one of his arms around him and rested his chin on his head. Nico sighed and closed his eyes. Soon Percy fell asleep, Nico in his arms. He awoke to a loud THUD above and dirt raining down from the ceiling.