Rant removed. Thank you everyone for all your kind condolences, and thank you anon for your apologies! I felt it unnecessary to keep it here. Hope you enjoy the chapter!

Fourteen Days

Day Five

Soft sobbing met the ears of the three girls who stood with somber expressions outside the door of the Poseidon cabin. It was sad, and lonely in every possible way. Hazel slipped her arms from the elbows of the two girls she had been walking with after chewing out the idiotic boys behind the mess hall, raising one hand to knock softly on the door to the cabin they stood before. The crying stuttered and fell quiet, sniffles heard from behind the door, Percy clearly contemplating if he should take the risk that it might be Nico or Jason at the door. But his desire for comfort clearly outweighed his disinterest in seeing the other sons of the Big Three, and moments later the girls could hear his feet on the floorboards advancing towards the doorway. The door swung open to reveal a red-eyed son of Poseidon, eyes swimming with tears, cheeks splotchy where he had been rubbing the wetness from them and made them raw. Hazel's golden orbs softened and she stepped forward to envelop Percy in a hug, crooning softly as he stiffened and then broke down in her arms. The other two girls ushered them into the cabin, away from the prying eyes of the other campers, closing the door with a soft click of the metal tab sliding into place. Hazel maneuvered the crying boy to his bed, sitting him down beside her as she wrapped an arm around his shoulders. Piper sat opposite her as Annabeth paced the room, clearly upset by the entire situation, fingers curled in her hair as she tried to think. Hazel gazed down at the mess of the boy in her arms and her chest hurt. This was the same boy who had kept her and Frank safe in Alaska, who had selflessly saved the gorgon blood despite never knowing if he'd ever regain his memories, who had rescued Ella despite having no incentive to, and who had ripped apart the earth like a true god while fighting the Hyperborean giant. She still remembered how her heart had dropped at seeing him so bravely take everything over the edge with him, thinking he would not survive. So much had happened since that comparatively minor quest, but she had not lost her bond with the demigod crying into his hands beside her. He had called them family when he had introduced them to what he had deigned his 'other family', and loyalty like that was not easily weathered away for Hazel. It's not long before he is comfortable enough and calm enough to begin speaking, Piper's hand rubbing soothing circles across his back, encouraging him to open up to them.

"I hate this," he cried softly, words barely audible from where his face was buried in his hands in defeat. "I didn't mean to break up their friendship! I just...I just wanted Nico to spend time with me," he sobbed, hands sliding up and over his features to fist in his hair, tugging helplessly. "I'm so selfish! I just wanted...I just…" his words broke off and his hands fell back to shamefully cover his face, self-conscious about how weak he appeared over something so simple. Hazel pulled him over and hugged him tight, pressing her face into his hair, heart aching for the kind boy crying into her chest.

"Percy, you're not selfish." She bit her lip, realizing she couldn't find a way out of this situation. The only way to fix it was to tell him exactly why the two boys had been fighting, but that would mean not only betraying her brother by revealing a secret he'd kept for seven years, but betraying Jason as well. What was she supposed to say? But Annabeth's anger was what saved her, the blonde jumping in to heatedly agree with Hazel's words.

"I cannot believe them! They're both idiots, but I never thought it could go this far! Are they really fighting just because they want-" Annabeth's ranting was put to an end by Piper jumping up and slapping the palm of her hand over her girlfriend's mouth with a wide-eyed look. A sharp shake of her head was all that was given, only removing her hand when Annabeth's eyebrows curved downward on her features, clearly annoyed by the fact she not only could not speak but had been interrupted so rudely.

"You're kidding, Pipes. You seriously saying I shouldn't tell him? Look at him!" One pale hand flung out to the side to gesture to the Sea Prince, making Piper turn with the motion. The Native girl winced and looked away, clearly hurt by the apparent agony on Percy's face as he looked up at them in hopeless, hurt confusion. Hazel shook her head sadly, having to agree with Piper, despite wanting more than anything to ease Percy's suffering by simply telling him why the two idiotic boys had ruined his day and made him cry. Sea green eyes, all the more fitting of title because of the tears clouding his vision, turned upward to look at Hazel for guidance and honesty that she couldn't give him.

"W-what are you keeping from me?" he whimpered, clearly distressed and hurt by the fact they were hiding it from him in the first place. Hazel frowned and leaned forward to press her lips softly to his forehead, repeating the motion as she smoothed out the worry lines with several kisses, wishing she could make them disappear forever. But she had made Nico a promise, and she intended to keep it, even if it killed her to see the savior of the world as small and broken as a babe.

"We can't tell you, Perce. I'm so sorry. Everything will make sense in the end, okay? But right now...it's not our secret to tell."

Percy's eyes darkened, but he nodded quietly, staring down at his hands clasped uncertainly in his lap. They were small and pale against the dark wash of his jeans, scars like ivory kisses across the worn skin. It was disconcerting to see the jut of his bones out the sides of his wrists, to see the violet of his tendons and be able to trace them from fingertip to shoulder with ease. Tartarus had taken everything from him, and he'd been beaten down so far and with so few to help him back up that, unlike Annabeth, he'd seen no purpose in taking it back. The girls fell quiet, watching him as he watched his hands, Piper laying an arm across Annabeth's waist to restrain her when she tried to move forward. Shaking her head at the blonde, she hugged her silently, knowing well the guilt that ate at her girlfriend. They had hurt him so badly, and while he had forgiven them, they still saw the rawness of the pain in his eyes when he would look at them kissing and holding hands. He was so lonely. The girl he had given up immortality for, had denied a goddess for, had fought war after war for, had left him. Annabeth knew it was her fault, as did Piper, but they wished he would just be angry with them. Shouting and screaming would be far easier to take when compared to the quiet hurt in his eyes, the tremble of his lips as he tried to smile, the shake of his hands as he spoke with them. Hazel was just as guilty. She had let their valued relationship become background noise, instead favoring her relationship drama with Frank and Leo, becoming so involved with everything else that she hardly spoke to Percy throughout the entirety of the war. She had taken his three best friends from him simply by falling in love with them, too possessive to let Leo out of her sight. Maybe if she wasn't so selfish, she wouldn't be here right now, holding the pieces of the Sea Prince together as he broke apart.

"Can we leave?"

It was a quiet request, barely murmured loud enough to be heard at all, but all three of the girls nodded instantaneously. Anything, if it meant he felt better. So Hazel wrapped her hands round the tiny ones placed upon Percy's thighs, warming them, enveloping them as she pulled him softly to his feet. He was still so frail, it was hard not to see him as a broken-winged bird, even if he was the most powerful demigod in all of existence. The three shielded him from view as they exited his cabin, heading almost instinctively towards the beach with Percy between them. Nobody paid them too much attention, especially with the looks they were given if they dared to stare too long. Percy was a well-loved and well-protected demigod at camp, and the three girls guarding him like trained hellhounds were perhaps the fiercest in those aspects.

As they moved they were silent, allowing Percy the time to collect himself and his thoughts, and by the time he looked up from staring at his feet they were descending onto the beach. Absentmindedly, almost instinctively, the Sea Prince kicked off his shoes and socks and delighted in the eternally warm sand against his bare feet. Sometimes the weather barrier really was something to be grateful for, if it gave him warm waters and warmer sands every single day. Annabeth smiled indulgently as a small curve of his lips was seen, pulling out a book Piper had given her and sitting down upon the sand, flipping open to the page number she'd left off on. Piper flumped down beside her with a dramatic oof, deciding to let Hazel and Percy enjoy the sand and surf without her. She'd rather have her girlfriend playing with her long dark hair.

Percy couldn't resist the call of the sea, hands clawing at his shirt like he'd die if he didn't get in the water immediately. Stripping to his boxers, already knowing the three girls around him didn't care, he ran off for the waves that seemed to invite him closer with every slip and slide across the damp sand. Hazel laughed and, thanking her decision to wear shorts that morning, raced after him. Together they splashed in, Hazel's camp shirt a deep orange as it was wetted down by the spray of the salty liquid. Percy smiled at her, clearly beginning to feel better, and dipped a cupped hand down into the water to splash her. Hazel shrieked and lifted her arms to defend herself, golden eyes glinting wickedly as she smirked once the assault had lifted.

"You are so on, Jackson!"

Break

In Nico's cabin, everything was deathly silent. Though the irony of that statement likely would have caused some sort of laughter, the air was chilled and unfriendly. Nico was glaring at Jason, not daring to so much as blink. He didn't want to give the golden boy any sort of notion that Nico wasn't upset with him, because the truth was the farthest from that assumption. They hadn't gotten anywhere in the hour they'd spent silent and grumpy in Nico's cabin aside from glaring at one another. Jason broke first, flinging his hands into the air and standing abruptly from where he'd been slouched in one of Nico's chairs on the other side of the room.

"Okay, okay! I yield! Now what are we going to do about this? Because I, for one, don't want to be shredded for making Percy cry!" Jason shouted, both boys wincing at the reminder. Neither of them had wanted it to happen, they both cared for the Jackson boy too much to desire for his tears to be shed because of them. Especially because of their abhorrent behavior.

"Yeah well, neither do I," Nico grunted softly, clearly not wanting to agree with Jason but finding no other solution. Arms crossed his chest grumpily, as if to underline this fact, but he made no move to say anything else as he thought over what they had to do to make it up to the beautiful boy.

"We still need to think of how to apologize to him…" Nico sighed, lifting one hand to tousle his onyx tresses, letting the strands fall into his eyes as he stared at Jason from behind them with eyes as dark as the pits of Tartarus. Jason sighed and bit his lip, ivory teeth placed upon the length of his scar as he worried it between his teeth, clearly deep in thought. Nico snorted to himself and refrained from making a sarcastic comment at that realization. Who knew Jason Grace was even capable of being deep in thought? But he, too, had to think. After all Nico wasn't going to let Jason beat him once again by coming up with a way to make Percy feel better before Nico did.

Of course, it hit him rather quickly, a sudden revelation that hit him so abruptly he dropped his hands with a shout of triumph once the thought entered his head.

"We can take him to a water park!"

Jason startled from where he was standing, azures flicking up to lock eyes with Nico as a dawning spread over his face. It was...well, it was perfect! The two of them grinned and, momentarily forgetting their differences and reverting back to the friendship they really had, crossed the room in two long strides as their palms met in a hearty high-five. Then they both paused, shocked, and the two of them slowly let their hands fall. Nico's face went stony, not sure how to handle the situation. He had the lesser amount of social experience between the two of them, and he wasn't going to take the initiative as it was. Immediately his arms returned to a cross over his chest, as if the action would mean he wouldn't have to deal with Jason's prying. But it didn't deter the golden boy of Rome, when did it ever? So of course his mouth opened as he moved hesitantly forward towards Nico, trying not to start a fight that would likely end in camp being destroyed and Percy kicking their asses.

"Hey, how about this. We can both compete for Percy's affection, okay? But it doesn't mean we have to do it in a bad way, man. Plus, Percy doesn't want us fighting anyways. We can still be friendly while we're competing, can't we?" Jason proposed, hands out to the sides as if offering it to the son of Hades. It didn't garner an immediate response, eclectic as he was to Jason's typical friends and acquaintances, and after a few minutes Jason began to doubt himself. Had he said the wrong thing? But whatever fears he had, they were wiped away in time, Nico's head nodding warily along to the idea. Then a glint appeared in his dark cofee eyes and the Italian man moved closer, invading Jason's personal space, pinning the son of Jupiter to the spot with the intensity of his gaze. Jason didn't dare move, eyes big and breath stuttering. He'd always known Nico was too much for him to handle, and he sure as hell didn't want to test that theory right then. He was practically hanging on Nico's coming words, looking distressed by the prospect of Nico initiating a fight Jason feared he would quickly lose. There was no need, howeer, as Nico's words were only a warning.

"Don't get me wrong, golden boy. I may agree to compete, but don't think I'll play fair. Percy will be mine. You will never get your paws on him. So you better bring your best game, Grace, or I'm going to mop the floor with you and sweep him off his feet."

By the glitter of challenge in Jason's eyes and the smirk that slowly slid upon his face at those words, Nico knew Jason understood.

Break

It was nearing sunset when Nico and Jason approached the beach. It had taken them a few hours to concoct a plan for the water park, especially on such short notice. It had taken a lot of shameful begging and pleading to Dionysus and further groveling at Chiron's hooves for them to be granted permission to take the following day off. It wasn't the best idea, considering the power the children of the big three held, but Nico and Jason were not to be deterred. Percy deserved a waterpark apology, and so a waterpark apology he would get. However, both boys knew they wouldn't dare approach the trio of girls protecting their beloved Sea Prince if they didn't have a perfect plan. They'd get shot down, and likely hurt even worse in the process. The beach was the most obvious place to look, even if Chiron hadn't hinted towards it when they'd left the Big House, Rachel's glare burning holes into their backs. Neither boy was prepared for the sight that met them, though.

Percy was curled up on the damp part of the sand, the waves kissing him with every turn of the tide back to the beach. Hazel was sitting with his head in her lap, one hand perched behind her for balance while the other was threading through his hair gently. Annabeth was seated at Percy's feet, letting the waves wash over her legs as she murmured soft, unheard words to Piper who had an arm round her waist, miming Hazel's position as her free hand kept her propped up with the weight of her palm on the sand. Both boys gave a wistful smile, watching how the apricot skyline painted them in the hues of its evanescent life, Apollo heralding the return of his sister Artemis to the skies over Camp Halfblood. It was clear that Percy had fallen asleep at some point in time, though neither of the boys watching the group had a clue as to when or for how long, nor if it was better to wake him or let the surprise wait for the next day.

Nico moved first, walking quietly across the sand to stand beside Hazel, eventually sitting beside her in the spot unoccupied by Percy. The beautiful girl turned and smiled at him, garnering one from the son of Hades at the action. He shuffled closer across the sand and let his head fall softly upon her shoulder, her own tilting to hold him close. Dimly they heard Jason moving to sit beside Piper, legs crossed and elbows askew upon his thighs as his wrists dangled in the area between. They all remained there, watching Artemis draw her carriage across the skies, counting the stars as they emerged until they could count no longer, overwhelmed by the quantity of their existence. The silver luminescence of the moon spread over their features, highlighting edges and shadowing crevices of their faces, the only sound accompanying this slow process being the murmuring of the sea and the soft breathing of the demigods sat before it. They remained quiet, hearing the shuffling of camp preparing for the bonfire that night, the orange and crimson glow they would see against the boughs of the trees should they turn to inspect the noise. None of them did. Inevitably, as it would always be for the son of death, Nico's eyes turned to fall upon the slumbering Sea Prince cradled like a child in Hazel's lap. He still seemed so small, especially contorted in such a vulnerable manner upon his sister's legs. At least the trio had clearly cheered him up. Nico frowned, a downward curve of the corners of his lips all that betrayed his thoughts. How could he have been so jealous as to harm the one he cherished? Jason was not worth causing Percy to cry. Percy's doubts of his own importance, his fears that he would tear apart his family and lose all he had worked so hard to create, stabbed Nico through the heart like the tip of a manticore's stinger. Nico swore that when this was over, no matter how it ended, in Percy loving him or not, that he would make sure those fears were assuaged from his mind. Percy was too pure to know suffering, but the gods had stripped them of all choice. The least Nico could do was remove the unnecessary fears, lighten the burden Percy tried so hard not to let his friends see.

Nico stretched his hand behind him, lacing his fingers with Hazel's, and squeezed gently. His eyes closed, lips twisting in a small smile as he felt her squeeze back, sure and real, solid.

Break

It was finally time for the bonfire, Clarisse heading down the beach to gruffly give the news, not wasting the opportunity to glare daggers at Nico and Jason while she was present before turning and storming back up to the stone steps of the bonfire seating. Hazel smiled and inclined her head towards Percy before Jason got the idea, clearly telling Nico that he should be the one to wake up the Sea Prince. Nico smiled, nodding a little as he gravitated to his knees, moving to kneel directly before the peacefully sleeping son of Poseidon. One hand moved out to brush the hair from his beloved's face, wanting to see him clearly. Nico rested his palm over Percy's cheek, his thumb stroking the soft skin lovingly as he gazed down at the sand-covered demigod. Moving closer he placed his lips to the shell of Percy's ear, murmuring soft nonsensical words to awaken him. Percy stirred and moaned softly in discontent, clearly reluctant to leave the side of Morpheus. But Nico was far more persistent than the god of sleep and dreamcraft, and Percy seemed to realize this in his subconscious, for even while his brows furrowed in irritation of being awoken his eyes fluttered open, lashes thick and black like a midnight butterfly's wings. Sleepy sea foam eyes peered up at Nico, who smiled lovingly back down at him, unable to keep such a strong emotion from his face. Percy mewled softly and tried to close his eyes again, only for Nico to chuckle, thumb swiping across Percy's cheek as he dropped his head to continue urging him up and out of sleep with his voice. Percy groaned, promptly resorting to the only thing that had ever worked when it came to begging Nico for something: puppy eyes. Nico immediately shielded his own eyes with a chuckled, shaking his head.

"Don't you dare pull those on me, Perseus," he laughed. Percy chuckled softly in his sleepy state at the reply, instead lifting a hand to trap Nico's to his cheek, nuzzling it affectionately. Nico slowly dropped his hand to peer down at the Sea Prince, cheeks too warm to be comfortable at the endearing action.

"Five more minutes," Percy murmured, pulling Nico's hand down to place his lips into the center of the Italian's palm. Nico shuddered as he felt those soft lips moving with each syllable, caressing his skin so tenderly. He forced himself to shake his head, removing Percy's hand and moving closer to hook his arms beneath the sleepy form of his beloved. Percy yelped as he was lifted easily off the ground, Nico swinging one leg up from his kneeling position and then the other, holding his Sea Prince bridal style. While Percy wasn't looking he turned and smirked at Jason, who gave a throaty chuckle and a disbelieving shake of his head, clearly admitting defeat for that round. Nico triumphantly turned and began striding up the beach, Percy warm and drowsy in his grasp, head tucked against his collarbone. He sat next to Piper and Annabeth, who had grown tired of Percy's unwillingness to awaken and had gone ahead to save them seats. Percy turned, nose trialing up the side of Nico's neck, the poor Italian suppressing a shudder and a moan at the tantalizing gesture.

"Are you going to set me down so I can sit?" Percy asked innocently, though he made no move to remove himself from Nico's secure hold. Nico smirked and looked down at the son of Poseidon, one eyebrow rising higher as he laughed deep in his chest. This time it was Percy hiding a shudder.

"You seem comfortable, why would I? Plus you're warm, I may keep you on my lap forever," He teased, smirk widening as Percy laughed, loving the sound and the fact that he had been the one to cause it. It was one of the best expressions to see on his beloved's face. Percy only shook his head in feigned defeat and settled back into Nico's chest to watch the festivities. After a few minutes he spoke up, voice soft and somewhat strained.

"What...what happened with you and Jason?" he said quietly, looking down at his hands, twisting the skull ring with the ruby eyes that Nico had given him. As much as it hurt to see Percy so nervous and self-doubtful, there was a certain affection that welled inside of Nico at realizing that his nervous habit was touching the ring he had gotten from Nico. Not Jason. The Italian demigod hugged Percy tighter, pressing his face into the mess of black hair in front of him, inhaling the salt water taffy smell that always seemed to linger on his beloved. Salty but also incredibly sweet. It was addicting. But he was getting distracted.

"We made up. We decided we're going to take you on a surprise trip tomorrow, to apologize for making you worry-" and cry his subconscious added, making him internally wince "-if you want to go that is." Percy tilted his head up to look at Nico, observing him for a few long moments that nearly had Nico looking away. Intense as the son of Hades may be, nothing was as intimidating as Percy Jackson's scrutinizing gaze. He'd take the wolf look over that one any day. But Percy just smiled and nodded, turning to curl closer to Nico, pressing his cheek to the other demigod's muscled chest. Listening to the steady thrum of his heartbeat beneath his skin.

"I think I can do that," he laughed jokingly. Nico chuckled along with him, arms holding him tighter, never wanting to let him go. Fearing that if he did, the old proverb would come to light, and that Percy wouldn't be his. Wouldn't return. Why take the chance? But it seemed he didn't have to worry, because Percy was already dozing off against Nico's chest, pale hands clutching Nico's long-sleeved shirt as if afraid the son of Hades would leave him. A preposterous thought, to Nico. He'd never willingly leave his Sea Prince.

Maneuvering to hold Percy better, he lifted him up and turned towards his own cabin. It sure seemed Percy had been sleeping a lot...this was the second time he'd fallen asleep against Nico before the bonfire had really even started. It was cute, yes, but also extremely worrying. Nico slowly laid the smaller demigod down upon the black silk sheets of his bed, staring down at him with a worried frown. Percy's ADHD had always prevented him from obtaining too much sleep, so why was he suddenly so drowsy all the time? Kneeling down beside the bed, Nico folded his arms upon the sheets and placed his cheek upon his forearm.

"When will you let go of him?" he cursed softly, turning to place his forehead upon his arms, unable to stand the sight of his most valued person so torn down and weak to the point where he was always falling into sleep to recover. If only he could damn Tartarus to hell and back. But Tartarus was already hell itself. Nico fisted the covers and choked on a sob, too angry to succumb to the need to cry.

A hand touched his head.

Nico jolted and looked up, eyes wide and lips parted, to see Percy smiling sadly at him. He had obviously just awoken, though not for long with how tired he looked.

"Don't worry 'bout me, Neeks," he murmured softly, words slow and thick with sleep.

"You'll keep me safe," he sighed out, hand falling from Nico's head to caress his cheek, then falling down to the mattress as he turned to his side and closed his eyes, retreating back into sleep. Nico could only stare in shock for countless minutes, uncaring how odd he looked simply staring mouth agape at the sleeping savior of Olympus. Then he slowly shook his head, overwhelmed by the sudden surge of love in his chest for this stupid, selfless, impossibly trusting boy.

As he stood to make a temporary bed on the couch in his room, he slipped a card into Percy's open palm, lovingly curling Percy's fingers around it.

Dearest Percy,

I worry so much over you. I wish you would open up to me. Know that I will always protect you, whether you know I am there or not. Your gift will come by morning. It is kept safe with Annabeth. Please take care of yourself, beloved.

xoxo

Your Secret Admirer

Break

I hope you guys are paying attention, because there are a lot of hints in the past few chapters! And the sleeping portion is one of the more obvious ones. I think writing this really helped me feel better, even if the reason I wrote it in the first place wasn't as great.

Have any ideas about my puzzle? Send me your thoughts and guesses in a review! I'll be surprised if anyone can guess it this early on! But if you do, you might receive a surprise gift or a granted wish!