Author's Note: Got a lot of love for this story so I whipped up another chapter!

AGAIN SO YOU PEOPLE KNOW- Dark stuff in here. A lot of mature themes.

Also smut- because what's Percico without it?!

Main Pairing: Percico

Sorry I haven't been posting nearly as much as I had hoped I would, but with school starting I have a very busy schedule that doesn't always include spending hours writing. For the most part it's because I prefer to write on my laptop, which I only access at home, so... Yeah. It would be easier for me to do it during my day on my phone but then there would go a good potion of my structure and grammar. It's not exactly a win-win situation people. Anyway, don't forget to review and fav and check out my other stories!

Without further ado, Chapter 2!

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Percy POV

Percy stood outside Nico's cabin. He wasn't even sure if the teen was in there. It was free time, after all. He could be anywhere on the grounds. Percy had tried to reason with himself that he needed to explain to Nico what happened, but the son of Poseidon ended up putting it off another two days. With a sigh, he knocked on the black door, silently begging the gods that Nico wouldn't be in there.

Oh, how wrong Percy was.

He heard a soft groan from the inside and a thump as Nico obviously came out of bed. He opened the door, looking down a bit. The boy looked like he had just rolled out of bed. His hair was a black mess around him and he was wearing skull pajamas. Percy refrained from laughing at Nico and instead looked at his face, which was turned downward.

"Look, man I don't usually get up this early and I stayed up real late-" The son of Hades stopped himself as he looked up and realized who had knocked.

"Oh," Percy said. "I'll let you sleep then."

He awkwardly started making his way away from the cabin but heard Nico exclaim in protest.

"No! Wait!" Nico said, placing his hand on Percy's shoulder. At the other boy's touch Percy felt electricity zoom through his skin. It gave him goose bumps in the most delicious way and Percy couldn't help but flush a little at his touch. Percy met Nico's black eyes impassively.

"I didn't mean it. Why-why are you here?"

"Well you deserve an explanation for my behavior. I-I didn't mean to be so rude to you. I came to apologize." Percy said seriously. He turned to face the other boy, trying not to focus on how Nico's pajama pants were just a little too loose on his hips. It showed the other boy's V in the greatest ways. Percy gulped and tried to focus instead on Nico's confused body language. Obviously he hadn't expected Percy to come talk to him, let alone apologize.

Nico blinked a couple of times and then let his hand retreat from Percy's shoulder. With a broad hand motion he waved the son of Poseidon in. "Well come on."

Percy followed Nico in, trying to swallow a wave of guilt, shame, and nervous energy that threatened to come loose from his throat. Nico went over and sat on his bed, his hair still a complete mess around him. He was slouching a little and his bangs rested on his face, framing it. Percy went and sat down opposite him on the silken black sheets, hands in his lap.

Nico sat patiently, not trying to urge Percy on or force the answers out of him. Percy breathed deep and closed his eyes, trying to focus the best he can.

"I'm sorry," Percy started. Being in the presence of Nico made him giddy in the worst ways. It also made him feel like he was younger and not someone who was going to college soon. Under Nico's questioning gaze, Percy melted. "I-I didn't mean to-to push you or... control you."

He said it in a deep whisper, the words coming to him without meaning to.

"I didn't mean to lose control like that. It's just been a lot for me right now. Me and Annabeth, we broke up and you came to me that day. I didn't want to see anyone." Let alone you, he wanted to say, but refrained since he was still unsure what Nico felt about him. "I can't even go to New Rome. I get to stay here in New York until I can retake that test again. I was miserable and I really wanted to be alone, but you're so stubborn."

Nico looked at him for a moment and licked his lips. "I heard about the break up from Piper a day after I visited you. I didn't know about the test though. That sounds pretty rough."

Percy nodded his head. He felt that he was about to regret his words, but they needed to be said. He knew he wasn't going to like what came from the olive-skinned demigod regardless.

"I'm sorry I kissed you," Percy said quietly. "It was uncalled for and you obviously didn't want it. I didn't mean to put you in that position. I understand that you said I'm not your type, and I respect that. It was a very emotional day for me and it was an inappropriate thing to do. If you don't want to talk to me or look at me, I can understand. I just wanted you to know that I'm sorry."

Percy stood up, ready to leave and possibly let Nico sleep, but Nico grabbed his hand.

"Well I'm not sorry," Nico said a little angrily. "Percy, I've been waiting for that for years and now you have the guts to tell me you regret it? Really?"

"I...But," Percy said stunned, looking back at Nico. "But I'm not your type."

"Percy, you're everybody's type. Tall, dark, handsome, hero with the troublemaker attitude. You're kidding, right?"

"But you said-" Percy still couldn't grasp this. Nico liked him back? But he said he was over it!

"I tried to reason with myself. I thought that if I said it enough times that it would make it real, but it didn't."

Nico looked at him with desperate eyes. Could Percy really say that he didn't like Nico? Seriously, it was impossible to even think that. But he didn't want to force him into anything. He didn't want to make Nico feel things that weren't real. It would be like Gabe, all over again. He didn't think he could do that to someone. It would destroy everything Percy was.

"You were yelping," Percy said quietly. "You didn't want me to kiss you."

"I was surprised. You'd been dating Annabeth for a whole year or so and then you go and kiss me? I didn't know what to think. All I knew was something was wrong with you." Nico replied back serious. His grip on Percy's wrist got tighter for a minute and Percy moved back to stand in front of Nico.

"I was a mess," Percy whispered, a little fear in his voice. "I didn't want to hurt Annabeth, or you. That's what I thought I did. I thought I had hurt Annabeth and then you came and I practically shoved you around."

"How long have you known you had that power?" Nico asked quietly. He sounded like he wanted to support Percy the best he could. The problem was, Percy didn't want to be a freak. If he explained himself, he'd become just that. He glanced at Nico and only saw an urgency to help. Who would know better about being a freak then the guy who could summon zombies at will? Percy breathed with a new resolve. He had to tell someone, at least. Why not Nico?

"I knew about it for about a month...I was training with the Demeter cabin but everyone left for water except this one kid. He was pretty good, but when he went to charge at me my fingers tingled and I...I threw him. I threw him about a foot. I didn't even know I could do it, but I did. There he was, about a foot away from me, and I didn't even touch the guy. He swore on the Styx not to tell but... he was terrified of me." Percy said completely scared. He looked down at his own hands as if he didn't know them. "It was just like Aklys, but this time I controlled blood. The body is made up of eighty percent water, Nico. And I can control every bit of it."

He heard his own voice terrified beyond belief. He never wanted this power. He certainly didn't want to use it on anyone. But he had, and Nico was right there. He looked over at the boy and even he was scared. With a bitter frown, Percy shook his head and in a short few strides was at the cabin door. With one sad look back at Nico, Percy met his eyes. The son of Hades was beyond shocked at this discovery, not quite over the fact the he could control other people.

"I'm sorry about that night, Nico. I'll leave you alone. Good bye," He said sad and lonely. Percy walked past his cabin headed for the training area. Maybe he could get in some sparring before he controlled someone else. Percy secretly wished he could let everything slip, but alas, he had barely been able to skim the surface of his problem.

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Nico POV

Nico stood in his cabin, shock everywhere in his body language. He still heard Percy's voice in his head. The body is made up of eighty percent water, Nico. And I can control every bit of it.

What could Nico have said to that?

Oh, that's cool, Percy! You should totally use it everywhere, even if you're completely terrified!

Maybe even a hearty, Blood bending! Great! Even Katara stayed away from that stuff!

Not exactly something you say to someone when they confide in you that much. So Nico had stayed silent, maybe a bit too long, and Percy had left feeling discouraged. Nico hadn't meant to make the Sea Prince feel that way. He never even intended to gawk. But that's what the son of Hades had done.

I have to go after him, Nico said to himself. I have to tell him it doesn't bother me. I have to tell him he's not a freak. It's not like he's the one making skeletons out of thin air, here.

Despite all his inner thoughts, his legs remained in place. Percy was getting stronger. Even as he prepares to go to college, the boy was always learning new things. Like the fact he could blood bend people at will.

Nico gave a little shudder as he remembered looking at Percy, stock still, as he watched as the other boy sobbed. Nico had yearned to comfort Percy in the best way possible. He had wanted to pounce off that wall and hold Percy close and tell him that everything was okay. He had wanted to tell him that he was a good kisser, and that his lips were as soft as kitten fur.

He had wanted to calm the son of Poseidon down, but instead he had been pushed up against the wall and not in the sexy way. He had tried to move his body to no avail, not even his pinky, and stared shocked from his place, feet away, while Percy had begged to leave him alone.

He had done it, reluctantly, because he knew he couldn't force Percy to want his company. Nico understood what it was like to want to be alone. He knew that sometimes having only yourself is a relief. Nico also knew that he had to let Percy be. He had to let Percy come to terms with this new power on his own, even if said power was truly horrifying to the wielder.

Now Nico had to do the same thing, and watch as Percy left his cabin, feeling extremely like the outcast once more. He swallowed bile that had risen in his throat and sat down on his bed, trying to think of what he could say to Percy. It didn't even seem like he had been telling the whole truth, like there were parts that he had skipped out on. Nico didn't know what it was, but he knew it had bothered Percy. He knew it must have been pretty bad, since the boy with the sea green eyes looked extremely disturbed.

Nico kept telling himself for years. Percy's not my type. It'll be okay. He's with Annabeth. You're supposed to want the other person to be happy, even if it wasn't with you, right? Reyna had done it for Jason, why couldn't Nico do it for Percy?

Yet the catch was that now Percy was a single man. He had broken up with Annabeth and kissed Nico. On the mouth. Of his own volition. Nico hadn't needed to grab him by the collar in some romantic way and try to convince Percy that he would be a good lover. Percy was already thinking those type of things, it seemed. He had been upset when he thought Nico didn't want him.

Nico felt his cheeks get warm at the memory of the kiss once more. He was sure he had felt sparks dancing between their lips, and he couldn't restrain himself from making the yelping sounds. Surprised wasn't the actual word for what he had been feeling in that moment. Ecstatic and horny, was.

Too bad he messed up, apparently. He had disappointed Percy, and now Percy had given up on him. Great.

Nico took a deep breath and got dressed in proper clothes. He was not going to leave Percy to think that he was disgusted at Percy, or scared of him. In some ways Nico was, but then again, everyone was. The open sea is a scary thing. He needed to reassure Percy that he was still accepted. Still wanted. Nico finished pulling on his sneakers, which were all-black chucks (nifty looking sneakers that Piper had shown him. Weird twenty-first century and it's weird clothes. He liked the shoes though. They fit him perfectly.) and walked out of his cabin. He hadn't realized it, but the sun was a little higher than it had been when Percy had knocked on his door. Nico had unintentionally been sitting in his cabin, thinking about Percy Jackson for a solid two hours at the least. The boy could be anywhere.

Fortunately, Nico found the black haired teenager in the Arena, sword fighting with one of the straw dummies.

It was a fine sight, Nico will be the first to admit. Apparently the son of the sea god had decided that it was too hot out, and had removed his shirt to reveal a sweaty six pack. His muscles were contorting as he moved around the big building, Riptide in his hand. The Celestial bronze glinted in the light as he slashed downward, impaling the nearest dummy right through the top of it's head.

Nico walked in slowly, his hands high in the air. He didn't want to scare Percy away, like some frightened animal. Course' that's exactly what Percy had looked like when he had left Nico's cabin. Like a scared animal who just saw a hunter with a gun.

Percy didn't even turn around. His shoulder's tensed and he extracted Riptide from the dummy, letting it hang in his hand at his side. There was sweat all down his back, from what Nico could see. The son of Poseidon had his back to him, but Nico was pretty sure Percy's lips were pouting in concentration. Concentrating on what was the real question, but Nico knew he was doing it nonetheless. He was breathing hard after his workout. Percy's head turned a little to the side, getting a short look at Nico.

"I can hear your blood," Percy said loud enough for Nico to hear. It was still a quiet sound, like he didn't want to say it, but had to. "I can hear it pumping through your veins. I can hear it in everyone. On some it's quieter, like they have some heart issue that no one knows about. For some it's loud and fast, pumping the blood through the body during training. I didn't realize what it was for a long time. Sometimes I thought it was just me. Sometimes I thought it was just the sound of the ocean. They don't sound so different, to be honest. Eventually I understood. You don't even need to make a single sound, and I'll know you're there."

Nico breathe caught in his throat. Woah. He can hear blood in people's veins? It's similar to Nico's ability to feel someone's death, but to hear if someone's heart is weak? That's something completely different.

"You're blood is fast. It reminds me of the beach at Montauk. I try to compare people's blood, but no one's compares to your's. Every time I hear it, I know it's you. Every time." Percy was quiet and a little sad, his shoulders slumping with his mood.

"I've never said it before, but I can see people's aura," Nico said softly. He walked inside slowly and put his hands at his sides. "It's what the mortals call 'synesthesia'. When I look at someone and they glow green, I know they'll live a long life. When I look at someone and they glow red, I know they'll die some horrible way. When I see yellow, it'll probably be an accident, or something unplanned. When I look at the gods, they glow gold. If someone does something, sometimes their auras change. One minute I saw Silena Beauregard with a bright green aura and the next-" Nico choked for a minute, trying to keep his calm. "The next it was a blood red like Ares' flag. The one I could never describe was a blue aura. That one I've only seen on one person."

Percy turned to face him, his eyes full of curious wonder. He opened his mouth as if he wanted to say something, maybe take a guess at who it was or maybe to comment on what Nico said. He didn't say anything, however, and Nico finished what he was saying.

"I've only ever seen a blue aura on you."

Percy's eyes got a little softer than they were before and eased his shoulders some, trying to process what Nico had said.

"What kind of blue?" Percy asked softly.

"The kind of blue you can only find in the middle of the open water. It's like waves lapping onto each other."

"Do you know what it means?" Percy hesitated a moment but went on. "Does it have some significance?"

"I don't know," Nico said honestly. He took a few steps closer to Percy, black eyes meeting gorgeous sea green ones. "Like I said, I've only ever seen it on you. I even asked Hazel about the power, thinking maybe she had it. She didn't. Maybe Bianca did, but I don't think I'll ever find out."

"Maybe you should ask your dad," Percy suggested, finally putting Riptide away. He shoved the ball point pen into his pocket and looked back up at the son of Hades. Nico shook his head, his eyes closed in thought. Percy still looked so good with his chest out like that. Nico tried to swallow a good amount of spit that had formed at the thought of licking Percy's abs. Now wasn't really the time for such thoughts, and if he was back in his 'own time' he would have got a serious beating for such a thing, but Nico couldn't control himself. Percy looked really good. With a resolved sigh Nico opened his eyes again.

"You aren't the only one with strange powers," Nico said. "Seeing people's aura is rough. I want so badly to tell them, but if I do what will it change? If they have a yellow aura there is nothing I can do, and if it is red I probably can't stop it."

"At least you can't change their auras. I can control the blood I hear. Sometimes-" Percy said. He was about to go on, it looked like, but he got a pained expression and turned away. "Never mind. Why are you here Nico? To tell me I'm not a weirdo? That's not true, is it? The moment I stepped into this camp I have been. A child of the Big Three, destined to be a prophecy child. Someone who has to be the hero, because that's just who I am. Someone who still fights for the gods who use him like a rag. Someone who would do anything for another person. So do tell, Nico, why you are here?"

Nico got angry at Percy's words. Sure, he was weird. So was Nico! So were all of them! They were demigods of Greek mythology for goodness sake! What's not weird about all of that?! Besides that obvious truth, Percy acted like it was a bad thing that he was hero. That thought made Nico angrier. A hero is who Percy is. Period. He has saved more lived than anyone combined. Why should he get the right to be bitter about being something that most people would dream of? With his brows furrowed, Nico took his last steps to stand in front of Percy.

"For this," he said simply. He leaned up, and with the force he couldn't explain, smashed his lips against Percy's.

Percy gave a slight gasp into the kiss, but kissed him back nonetheless. Nico closed his eyes in bliss, wrapping his arms around Percy's neck. Percy, in turn, hesitantly put his arms around Nico's lower back and pulled him a little closer.

One minute is was simple kiss and the next the two boys were searching each other's mouth, tongue and teeth and spit. It was heated and passionate and telling each other the things they couldn't express. After what seemed like heaven to Nico, both of them pulled away and caught their breath.

Percy looked at Nico and his eyes lit with wonder. Nico never thought he'd see anyone look at him like that, let alone Percy Jackson. It made his cheeks get warm looking at him. Then, as quick as the look was, it was gone. It was then replaced with a shielded look, one that was closed off and reserved. Percy backed away, his chest heaving a little. Nico saw Percy's hands clench at his sides and Nico felt his own eyebrows come together in confusion. Why was Percy acting this way? Why was he hiding it if it bothered him so much?

"Percy," Nico said, reaching a hand to him. Percy looked him in the eyes and saw what lay underneath the shield. It was raw unadultered pain. Something was paining and scaring Percy about kissing Nico, only the son of Hades didn't know what it was. "Percy?"

"I-I can't," he whispered desperately. He turned to leave Nico once more, like he had done every time he tried to be honest with Nico. Nico instead got angry at the son of the sea god.

"Stop!" He said loudly and angry. Percy stopped in his tracks and turned to face Nico. "You do this every time! You walk away! Tell me what's bothering you so much! You won't be happy until you do! I won't be happy until you do."

Percy looked at Nico, obviously struggling for the right words. His face was contorted in both pain and concentration as he tried to piece out something to say.

"Please," Nico begged. "If you don't like me then fine, but it's obvious you do. But then every time we kiss, or you almost open up, you clam up again. You can't keep it in forever. It's killing you. Is it my blood? Does it sound different?"

Percy shook his head swiftly. "You're blood is fine. It's the same as it's always been but- i-if I tell you, you won't look at me the same. No one will. It's horrible." Percy was whispering, trapped in his own horrors it seemed.

"It can't be worse than Tartarus," Nico said quietly. "And we've both been there."

Percy looked back up and met Nico's eyes. He studied him a moment, contemplating if he should tell the other demigod. Eventually, he took a deep breath and motioned for Nico to follow him.

"If I tell you, I'd like to do it... not here." Percy said shortly, his hands looking clammy and grasping his shirt from the ground where he had thrown it. "Let's go somewhere I know best."

With a determined nod, Nico followed Percy out of the Arena and toward the beach, ready for anything Percy could tell him.

Author's note: Man these chapters are long. Hey so I was going to write a total smut part in here, but I felt like their relationship needs a little more development and a little more than just -oh he's cute - oh he kissed me, ya know? Anyway, so there definately will be a smut part in the next chapter, along with a giant Percy secret reveal to Nico. Trust me, it'll be good. Sorry again for not posting as frequently as I hoped, but stay tuned till the next installment! Don't forget to fav and review! ~Cryellow