PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO || Nicercy || The Trial of the Chosen || Nicercy || PJatO || Nicercy || PJatO
Title: The Trial of the Chosen – Living in a World of Mutants
Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus; AU
PJatO Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Rick Riordan for he created the awesomeness that is Nico di Angelo. And everything else related to Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus. Aside from the Gods, of course. They are all copyright by the old Greeks. This fanfiction on the other hand is entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.
Warnings: shounen-ai, underage, explicit intercourse, masturbation, anal, hetero, shoujo-ai, mutants
Main Pairing: Nico/Percy
Side Pairings: Octavian/Percy, Leo/Percy, Ethan/Percy, Jason/Percy, Piper/Annabeth, Charles/Silena, Chris/Clarisse, Frank/Hazel, Grover/Juniper, Malcolm/Katie, Tyson/Ella, Jake/Will, Lou/Miranda, Drew/Thalia/Bianca
Percy Jackson Characters:
The Sirens of Poseidon: Perseus Jackson, Piper McLean, Silena Beauregard, Drew Tanaka, Lacy Hunnigan, Mitchell Logan, Tyson Jackson
The Fighters of Ares: Nico di Angelo, Clarisse la Rue, Frank Zhang, Chris Rodriguez, Bianca di Angelo, Hazel Levesque, Reyna Anderson, Mrs. O'Leary, Aurum, Argentum
The Crooks of Hephaestus: Leo Valdez, Nyssa Black, Charles Beckendorf, Jake Mason, Travis Stoll, Connor Stoll, Grover Underwood
The Hunters of Zeus: Jason Grace, Thalia Grace, Zoe Nightshade, Calypso Nightshade, Phoebe Burge, Hylla Anderson, Kinzie Cohen
The Avengers of Hermes: Ethan Nakamura, Annabeth Chase, Lou Ellen, Katie Gardner, Miranda Gardner, Juniper Gardner, Malcolm Cage, Luke Castellan
The Seers of Apollo: Octavian Simmons, Rachel Elizabeth Dare, Ella Dare, Will Solace, Austin Barton, Kayla Hein, Alabaster C. Torrington
Court: Counselor Paul Blofis, Judge Chiron Brunner, Counselor Nancy Bobofit
Summary: Poseidon, one of the most powerful mutants, used his son to spy on his enemies. But what after they got caught? How will Percy struggle through the trial? And through love?
The Trial of the Chosen
Living in a World of Mutants
5. Balanced Emotions
/Annabeth\
It's hard to concentrate. I'm not sure where my focus should be...
I try to concentrate on the trial. I really try. But whenever I look straight ahead, my eyes catch sight of the girl in front of me. The wild, brown hair with the many blue streaks, the beautiful and rather tempting neck, the... Oh, why can't I just focus on Percy?
Instead, all I can see is Piper McLean. Even though I can only see her back. But then again, that's more than enough to distract me... She is so beautiful. She's a siren, yes. But she's not like them. She's not all prettied up to seduce others, she's wearing completely baggy clothes and sometimes I think she's not combing her hair at all. That's part of her charm, I guess. Part of what I fell for.
I close my eyes tightly at that thought. I love her. But she... I'm only an assignment for her, have only been one. To keep an eye on Percy. I know. I have looked through their plan once this trial started. They had assigned Percy to infiltrate the second in commands of the last living remains of the Olympians. Since it is a widely known fact that they either are gay, bisexual or very open minded as long as it involves long legs and a hot piece of ass.
But he was new and to make sure their plan would work, they send one more Siren to every group.
Silena Beauregard had infiltrated the Crooks of Hephaestus by dating Charles Beckendorf, who is one of the closest to their temporary/second-hand leader Valdez.
Drew Tanaka, the most skillful seducer, had managed to wrap the older sisters of both the leader of the Fighters of Ares and the Hunters of Zeus around her fingers. Even though Grace and di Angelo are widely known for their levelheadedness and their suspiciousness.
Their personal bodyguard and son of their leader Tyson Jackson had easily fallen for one of Apollo's Seers named Ella Dare, the younger sister of the right hand of their temporary leader.
And... Piper McLean to get into my head. Which she did. She was so easy to talk to, so friendly and charming and so beautiful. We just spend most day laying around in bed, cuddling and watching stupid television shows or talking. But it was mostly me doing the talking. I should have been more suspicious about this. No one ever listens to me. Well, of course they listen to me, I'm one of Ethan's favorite helpers. But they never listen to me. Only when it's important for our organization. Not that I can take that personal. I'm... well... I'm a brainiac, that's what they call us. Infinite knowledge. Everything I have ever seen, heard or read is forever saved in my brain, I can get back to it like others use the files on their computers. Because of all the information inside my head, I tend to ramble. I ramble on about everything, but mostly about architecture and history, because I really love those two. Which both happen to be quite boring to most others. The only ones ever who tolerated me and my ramblings were my best friend Malcolm and my boss Ethan, though his patience only bears a certain dose of my rambling and my best friend only endures it because he's a brainiac just like me. So... I truly should have known that Piper can't be for real...
I slowly open my eyes again and manage to stare at Percy. At least for a little while before my attention is drawn back to Piper. It may be easy for others to turn their backs on them, but... I need them. Percy may not have been as patient with me and my rambling as Piper – his eyes always glazed over when he had to concentrate too long – but he was still a very sweet and nice guy. He was even impressed by my knowledge and always so cute. And he had made our stoic leader happy.
It's actually what makes this so unbearable. If only we could simply turn our backs on them, then we could continue with our lives. But... The longing is too great, I don't want to picture even for a second how life could be without Piper. Which is probably the saddest thing I have ever done in my life... Because I will never have her.
/Ethan\
My attention shifts from the beautiful boy I had bedded quite often since meeting him to the sighing and pouting blonde next to me. It's hard to concentrate on either the trial at hand or all the dirty memories in my mind while one of my closest friends is so depressed.
"Your emotional distress is driving me even more insane than anyone else's in this room. Which is saying quite much considering that five people, including me, are here because the boy being questioned stole our hearts and secrets."
"Sorry for not being calm and collected about this", snapped the blonde with an irritated glare.
I raise one eyebrow at her. It's not like Annabeth to get cranky. But then again, it's also not like Annabeth to have love-trouble. Those Sirens truly manage to rob you of everything. But they are so worth it. The temptation Percy offered me, not only with his very amazing body of which I have enjoyed every last square-inch, but more so with his soul. I'm a mutant of the mind, I can read and manipulate emotions. I can glorify them, balance them out or reduce them. When I first laid eyes on him, his very soul was like an open book to me. He is so full of emotions. There was hatred and anger and resentment and disgust, all dedicated to his stepfather as I now learned. And even though he bore so many dark emotions, the most brilliant one, the one that practically radiated off him, was the purest and most beautiful love I have ever felt. Not the love for a lover. No, that would have made it so much easier for me to detect his con. No, the love for his family. His mother and his half-brother and also his father and the Sirens. He holds such a pure and deep-seated love for others in his heart and I can still feel that he has so much more love to give, that all he wants is someone he can share it with. It was what made me love him so much, because – even though I know it can't be true and is completely irrational – he was the first person I felt cherished by without any ulterior intentions or motives. I have exactly two friends, even though I am the leader of Hermes' Avengers at the moment. But even they had initially only befriended me with the longing for more power or more recognition in the back of their minds. I don't know why I couldn't detect Percy's ulterior motive behind seducing me, but I suppose it may be because his love is so blindingly brilliant that it overpowers everything else. It made me numb for negative things. For once, I wasn't the one balancing others out. He was the one giving my mind the peace it had longed for. I didn't have to use my powers on him, he was at ease and his warmth was so soothing. I long for the warmth of his love again. I have never met anyone who was so full of love and so desperate to give it...
"The two of you are making me sick", growled the other blonde in their row, leaning over to hit both of them upside the heads with a glare. "Seriously, if you want to play kicked puppies then do so somewhere else. Have you two even been listening to what Jackson had been saying?"
"Uh... I tried", mumbled Annabeth and blushed slightly. "I really did, Luke."
"Well then, enlighten us if you've paid so much attention", glared Ethan annoyed.
Luke chuckled amused by the jealous glare of his Japanese friend. He knew that Ethan disliked it whenever someone, especially so Luke, would pay too close attention to his Percy.
"Oh, it wasn't anything important. Only how he first met his father, you know, and then got introduced to the Sirens and learned what they were doing", repeated Luke with a dismissive wave of the hand, rolling his eyes at them. "Seriously guys, try to stay here with your thoughts."
It's hard to glare at him annoyed when he's right. I'm here to keep an eye on Percy. Both, to keep him safe from the other leaders and also to make sure he doesn't spill our secrets.
Though I knew from the beginning I wouldn't be able to concentrate here. That's why I asked Annabeth and Luke to come with me. If there is anyone I would trust with my Percy, it's them. Even though I try to avoid leaving Percy in the same room as Luke for too long. It's nothing personal, but Luke is just too much of a player to be trusted with what is mine.
/Piper\
I sigh deeply upon hearing the conversation between Ethan and Annabeth. I know I broke her heart. Maybe even beyond repair. And, if there is one thing in my life that I regret, then it's that I had to do this... But it's saver for her. Perhaps, with a little luck, her heart may mend again. And then she will find love, a different and better kind of love. Someone who deserved her. Not someone like me who only used her. But that thought alone tears my heart apart, because, if there is one thing in my life I would not be able to bear, it would be to see her with someone else...
"Stop listening to what they're talking behind us", hissed her Asian colleague annoyed. "You keep biting your lips like that and they'll split. Really now, what is wrong with you two? You and Percy, always getting all depressed about this!"
"Not everyone can take this as a game, Drew", growled Piper back, her arms crossed over her chest in defiance. "Just because you can simply go from one conquest to another doesn't mean others can. It's simple for you to jump from Thalia's bed to Bianca's and right back again."
"Well, it was easy for Percy to jump through more beds", snickered Drew amused.
"Stop it. Both of you", grunted Silena irritated, her eyebrow twitching. "No one is jumping around anywhere anymore from now on."
"Says the one that keeps her assignment as her lap dog", muttered the Asian with a pout.
"Who are you calling a lap dog, Tanaka?", growled Beckendorf from the row in front of them.
The smirk on Drew's lips tells me that if this wouldn't be a courtroom, she would play this game to the fullest and I would say Beckendorf would lose. Even though he's stronger than her, he would never hurt a girl. Especially not one of his girlfriend's 'sisters'. He reminds me very much of Ty. That tall, broad, strong and intimidating guy, that's truly only a lovable and also love-seeking softy on the inside. I'm glad Silena didn't have to break his heart, because I doubt he would have been strong enough to stand it. But their love succeeded. Unlike, well, others... And I'm not even just talking about me or Percy. With a look into Drew's eyes I can see it. They're dark. Darker than they normally are. Broody and moody. Angry and sad. I think she truly enjoyed Thalia's and Bianca's company. Regardless of how professional she is when it comes to assignments – she and Silena had been doing that for years now, but Drew has done it the longest – she may have risked a bit more this time. It was easy playing the heartless bitch when it came to reducing some hormonal men to puddles of wanton goo. But she had to give a bit more than her charmspeak and good looks to convince the two critical women. Perhaps that's what intrigued her, what finally managed to pull her in on a personal level. I think it's the reason she's being so irritated about me. Because I know how to mope about this while she is not even certain how to handle her feelings.
I look up to get lost in the swirling depths of two green oceans. Percy's eyes are the most livid ones I have ever seen. We mind controller always have very... enchanting eyes, swirling with emotions and different colors, drawing others in. But his are truly like the sea. Calling everyone to look deeper until they're too deep in to breath or get back in time. And then they're lost forever. He always blushes and denies it when I confront him about this. I remember how he had first told me about Ethan and how much his power fascinated Percy. The regulation of emotions. For someone who manipulates emotions by appealing to the mind-set of a person, this does sound amazing. It would make our jobs so much easier. But I don't think I would want to feel the emotions of others. If I would be able to feel how much I hurt Annabeth, I think it would kill me with guilt...
To get away from those very irritatingly dark thoughts, I try to focus on the trial again.
"So you joined this sect?", asked the prosecutor with a disgusted look on her face.
"It's not a sect. Or cult, as you have called it earlier", grunted Percy offended. "It's a sisterhood. We're family. And yes, I joined them. I became a Siren under the name of my father."