Hello everyone! And so here is the next chapter to this story! It's soon drawing to a close so I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Sorry for any spelling mistakes and grammatical errors!
Disclaimer: I don't own Percy Jackson and The Olympians nor Corpse Bride
When Percy awoke the next morning, he got up and walked around the small apartment he was in. He entered the kitchen and saw a bowl of fruit sitting on the table, waiting for him with a note.
Percy, I went out for a bit to visit the pub, I should be back soon.
Percy put the note back on the table and pulled out a chair. He picked up a plum that looked fresh and juicy and took a hesitant bite. When Percy bit into the plum, his mouth was instantly overwhelmed with the sweet juice.
Deciding that the fruit was really fresh and really bitter at first before becoming sweet, Percy ate the pear, strawberries, grapes, and banana until he finished the whole bowl. He hadn't realized how hungry he had been, but for now he was all filled up. Just then, Percy heard the door open.
"Oh, morning Percy, how are you feeling? Did you like the fruits I left you?" Nico asked as he made his way over to Percy.
"I'm fine, and you? Where did you go? And where did you get the fruits from?" Percy asked Nico.
"Oh I went to visit the pub for a bit and talk to Jason and I asked Elder Gaea to take me 'Upstairs' to get the fruits," Nico responded.
"Upstairs? You mean where I came from? The land of the living right?" Percy asked, to which he received a nod from Nico.
Mrs. O'Leary soon came bounding through the kitchen and settled for resting at Percy's feet. Percy decided that now was the best time to put his plan into action, even if he did feel guilty.
"Nico," Percy started, "do you think... well now that we're married, don't you think that it's time you met my parents?" Percy asked Nico.
Nico's eyes widened at the thought of meeting Percy's parents. Slowly, a smile made its way on his face. Nico felt happy that Percy wanted him to meet his parents, that meant that Percy cared about Nico.
"Sure, Percy, I would love to meet your parents. Where are they buried?" Nico asked Percy.
"Oh, well you see, they're not exactly dead. They live... upstairs," Percy told Nico.
"Oh my, that is a problem... well maybe not, I could ask Gaea to fix us something so that we can go upstairs... come on Percy, let's go now," Nico told Percy, and soon both men neared a great building that was built like a temple, where they had to climb a few stairs to get to the top.
When they arrived to the top, Percy saw a woman with a slender figure wearing a dark green dress and a brown shawl over her shoulders. She had short brown hair and only her face seemed to have skin, the rest was all skeleton parts. The woman was walking around the temple which had piles and piles of books, some stacked on top another like towers, others filled to the brim on the shelves, some scattered across the floor and spilling everywhere.
"Hello Gaea!" Nico greeted and the woman who was Gaea, turned around to face him.
"Nico! How are you? Back again so soon? And who is this?" Gaea asked as she took notice of Percy.
"I'm very sorry for interrupting again, and this right here is my husband Percy," Nico said with a proud smile as Percy sheepishly waved hello.
"Hello, m'am," Percy spoke up.
"Hello Percy and please, call me Gaea."
"Gaea," Nico started, "we need to go and visit upstairs for a bit."
"What's that?" Gaea started to make her way down her small podium a floor up from where Nico, Percy and Mrs. O'Leary stood, "go upstairs? Now why would you want to go up there when people are dying to get down here?" Gaea asked as she finally came to level with them.
"M'am-" Percy started before being interrupted.
"Gaea."
"Gaea, right sorry, I beg you to help, it means so much to me-" Percy stopped short and looked over at Nico who smile warmly at him, "to us."
"I don't know, it's just not natural, and this would be the second time today that you go upstairs Nico," Gaea rubbed at her head.
"Please Elder Gaea," Nico asked as he moved forward and took her hand in his, "Percy wants me to meet his family! Surely there must be something you can do."
Gaea hummed for a bit, squeezing Nico's boney hand in hers, "mmm let me just...see what I can do..." Gaea started to look for a book among the countless of books she had, "where did I put that book?"
She climbed up a ladder and rolled to the right until she stopped in front of a book case, she started to flip through books and finally she found the one she was looking for.
"Okay, let's see here...I have it! A Ukraianian Haunting spell, just the thing for these quick trips," Gaea said as she made her way to the podium that was in the center of the room, carrying a couple of items with her, "says here, I'll need an eye, three fingers, a rotten egg, and a crow's feather."
As she said that, she put each of the items she had with her in this big cup, finally she stirred and lifted it up in front of Nico and Percy. Percy was honestly hoping that they didn't need to drink that to go upstairs because his stomach was churning and he didn't think he could hold it in before he blew chunks. But, Percy hadn't need to be worried, because Gaea gulped the drink down and set the glass back on the podium.
"Goodness gracious, that stuff goes in!" Gaea exclaimed as Nico laughed softly, "now then, to go upstairs, the Ukrainian Haunting Spell...I would just need to crack open a crow's egg."
Gaea reached for the crow resting on her podium and squeezed it's belly until a giant, golden egg popped out.
"To come back, just say the word "hopscotch" okay?" Gaea asked and Nico nodded his head as she cracked open the egg and both Nico and Percy were engulfed in white smoke.
When the smoke dissipated, Percy saw that they were back in the graveyard and Percy had never been more thankful. As soon as Nico stepped away from Percy, he bent down and started to kiss the ground.
Nico laughed at Percy, "what are you doing, silly?"
"Nothing," Percy answered.
Both men looked up at the sky and saw the moon, full and bright, illuminating the dark sky with millions of stars twinkling. Nico gasped as his eyes turned glassy at the mere sight of the sky. Emotions overflowing him now that was upstairs again.
"I haven't seen the moon and stars, I've spent so long in the darkness I've forgotten how beautiful the moonlight is," Nico spoke as he stared up at the sky.
Percy turned to look at Nico, and felt his cheeks fill with color. In the moonlight, despite Nico having a blue tinge to his skin, he was beautiful to look at. His face seemed at peace with a small smile gracing his face. And then, those brown eyess of his fixed their sights on Percy, and Nico's smile grew even more. Soon, Nico began to spin around, he grabbed Percy by the hand and spun him around once before letting go. Nico spun around and around when suddenly, his left leg caught on a rock and snapped off, and down Nico went.
Percy tried to contain his laughter, but he couldn't. It was funny and endearing how Nico acted. Percy went over and picked up Nico's leg, then he handed it to the brown-eyed boy.
"I believe this belongs to you?" Percy teased.
Nico laughed good-naturedly before taking his leg from Percy and putting it back in to place.
"Thank you very much, you're such a gentleman," Nico played along as he stood up.
"Well, I try to be," Percy smiled at Nico, and once again his heart started to beat fast.
Nico took Percy's hands in his and started twirl them around once again, "come on Percy, dance with me!" Nico said with glee as he spun around some more.
Percy smiled fondly before slowly joining Nico in his dance, even if there was no music playing. Percy came close and Nico spun them around all the while laughing. Percy couldn't help but laugh too, and he couldn't help how his heart started to beat so fast, his cheeks filling with color, his brain flooding with senses that were filled of Nico, his breath caught in his throat.
Seeing Nico's hair fly back and getting to see his entire face with that huge smile on, it took Percy's breath away. This was too much, how could Percy start to feel anything for someone who was dead? Can the living even marry the dead? It didn't seem possible, and Percy still needed to be married to Annabeth. How many days had it been since Percy was last here? Two days? Plus, Percy had to leave Nico soon. Percy could not and would not feel anything for the boy that seemed to have captured his heart so fast unlike anyone else. Soon, Nico led Percy out to the woods and they started their trek to town.
"Nico?" Percy spoke up.
"Hm?" Nico answered as he looked Percy's way.
"Um, my parents are still living... and you are not... I-I need you to stay here and wait for me to bring them here. So that they could be more prepared, do you understand what I'm saying?" Percy asked Nico.
"Alright Percy, I understand. I'll sit right here," Nico sat down on a fallen tree trunk and looked up at Percy, "you go get your parents and I'll wait right here okay?"
Percy looked at Nico, and he suddenly felt a bit sad that he would be leaving Nico. So Percy bent down, and pecked Nico's cheek softly, chastely. Percy didn't know what had come over him to do that, but seeing Nico's face bright up and a big grin in place was enough for Percy to smile back. Percy's cheeks turned pink and he looked flustered.
"Okay," Percy said and he made his way to town.
Percy reached town and quickly made his way over to Annabeth. He was about to knock on the door when he heard Annabeth's parents talking on the other side.
"Terrible, terrible boy that Jackson boy had been! Absolutely horrid!" Lady Athena spoke loudly as she and Frederick began to lock the front doors.
"That boy probably ran off, he didn't want to marry so he ran off instead, what did we ever think when we agreed to the wedding with the Jackson's?" Lord Chase asked as he latched the lock from the top, "well, I'll tell you, when if ever I see that boy, I'll strangle him with my bare hands!"
"Your hands are too fat and his neck is too thin," Athena said as she latched the lock from the bottom, "you'd have to use a rope."
Percy backed away and decided go find Annabeth instead. He rounded the house and found a rope vine leading to her bedroom, so Percy set to climb it. Once he got to the top of the balcony, Percy peered into the glass double doors Annabeth had and saw her with Luke on the bed, their lips locked together. Percy looked away from the sight but remembered he needed to talk to her and so lifted his right hand to knock on the door. The knock resonated into the room where both Annabeth and Luke looked around until Luke's eyes landed on Percy. Luke quickly made his way to the balcony and opened up the doors for Percy.
"Percy? What are you doing here?" Luke asked as Percy made his way in.
"Where have you been Percy? Practically the whole town and your parents are looking for you!" Annabeth exclaimed.
"Its... a really long story... and right now I don't have the time. Listen, I'm sorry we didn't get married... I was-" Percy began only to get cut off by Annabeth.
"Its fine, Percy, I married Luke."
"What?" Percy asked, confused.
"Yes, her parents had called off the wedding and Annabeth and I suggested that she get married to me, which surprisingly her parents agreed to." Luke explained.
"Well, that's great for you both!" Percy said, a bit if relief flooding in. Which Percy didn't understand, but the first thought that popped into his head was that now, he could possibly stay with Nico.
"Percy... you're arranged to marry someone else now..." Annabeth spoke, breaking into his thoughts.
"What do you mean?" Percy asked, "who am I to marry now?"
"His name is Lord Kronos Bitter, you met him remember? At our wedding rehearsal... it seems as though he convinced your parents to marry you off to him after our wedding was called off. Your parents were very disappointed and distressed. I'm sorry Percy," Annabeth told Percy about the new plan his parents had for him.
Somehow, Percy thought to himself, he couldn't see himself marrying anyone anymore, and he couldn't put his finger as to why he felt that way.
...
As Nico watched Percy leave, he couldn't help his smile. Percy had kissed Nico on the cheek! He had spun around with Nico in the moonlight, he had let Nico grab his hands, Percy was finally letting Nico in and Nico couldn't be happier, it looked as if Percy was reciprocating his feelings.
"Ya know," Leo began to speak from the inside of Nico's head, "it seems a bit fishy how he left you to wait here."
"Oh come on Leo, Percy said it himself, he wants his parents to be prepared," Nico spoke.
"Or maybe he wants you to think that, maybe he's planning to escape..." Leo said, because he had had his suspicions about Percy ever since the pub.
Nico got mad and started to poke in his ear until he came out with Leo in hand, "Percy loves me and he is going to get his parents so that they could meet me."
"Well if it's just that, why don't you go ahead and follow him? He couldn't have gotten too far right?" Leo said as Nico put him back in his head.
"Fine I will."
Nico followed the way Percy had gone and entered the town. It reminded Nico of the underworld a bit, as he walked on. Finally Nico saw Percy about to knock on a door only for him to falter and then round the house. Why would Percy not go in through the front door, it was his house wasn't it? Nico followed along until he saw Percy reach a balcony and go inside the room. Nico started to climb up as well, thinking Percy to be silly until he heard other voices in the room. Nico stopped and listened, even though he knew how rude it was to eavesdrop.
"Who am I to marry now?" Percy had asked.
"His name is Lord Kronos Bitter, you met him remember? At our wedding rehearsal... it seems as though he convinced your parents to marry you off to him after our wedding was called off. Your parents were very disappointed and distressed. I'm sorry Percy," a woman's voice spoke.
Nico had heard enough, he climbed up the balcony and started to make his way into the room.
"But I don't want to-" Percy began to say until he was cut off by Annabeth gasping and Luke pointing behind him.
Was it possible for a dead person's heart to break? Because it seemed very possible now. Nico looked at Percy and he felt his heart shatter like glass.
"Percy, who is this?" Nico asked him in a tight voice that didn't go unnoticed by Percy.
"This is Annabeth," Percy said.
"And she was supposed to marry you?" Nico asked as he looked at all three people in front of him.
The girl Annabeth was beautiful, she had blonde hair that was curly and such striking eyes, although for Nico, Percy's eyes were much more mesmerizing. They reminded him of the ocean, and they were so beautiful.
"Yes, but-"
"Listen here Percy Jackson," Nico said in a tight voice that made Percy flinch internally. Nico would never speak to him this way, or call him by his full name, "you are now my husband, you married me and now we are going to go back to the underworld together," Nico tiptoed as he reached to kiss Percy on the lips and then whispered, "hopscotch."
"Percy?!" Percy heard both Annabeth and Luke call after him as he was once again enveloped in darkness.
They returned back to the temple of Elder Gaea and Nico let go of Percy's hand. He was obviously mad at Percy, but Nico was more heart broken over the fact that Percy had been with another woman.
"So how was it?" Gaea asked smiling, not noticing how upset Nico was.
"You lied to me," Nico stated.
"No Nico, you don't understand," Percy said.
"You lied to me! You didn't go find your parents! You went to get back to that other woman!" Nico cried.
"Nico! I was supposed to marry her first! If anything you're the other woman! Or man..." Percy told Nico.
Nico turned to look at Percy, hurt evident in his eyes and Percy flinched because he had never seen Nico look so sad and hurt, "you're married to me!" He sobbed, "she's the other woman!"
"Don't you understand Nico?" Percy began as Nico sobbed some more, his eyeball popping out. Percy went to go fetch it, "we're just too different," but even as Percy said it, some part of him screamed for him to stop.
"It's my eye isn't it?" Nico asked glumly, as he popped it back into his skull.
"No! Your eye is...lovely," Percy assured him, "it's just that..you're dead! This could never work out!" Percy said and yet as he said it, some part of him flinched at his own words, some part was thinking, who knows, maybe it could work out.
"Well you should have thought of that before you married me," Nico huffed.
"Well don't you see, it was a mistake, I would never marry you," Percy finally said, trying to make Nico understand but instead his eyes widened as he realized what he had said. He looked over to Nico whose eyes widened as well, glistening as hurt was so clearly evident in them. Percy froze, berating himself for letting that slip up.
Nico sighed sadly, realizing exactly how Percy felt about him, really and made his way out of the temple and into the streets.
"So... not good, I'm guessing?" Gaea asked after a moment of silence.
Percy couldn't help but feel guilty as he watched Nico leave the temple. He hadn't meant to sound so harsh, and he definitely didn't mean to hurt Nico. Just seeing that look on Nico's face made Percy's heart sting with pain. He had to go and find Nico, to make things right again. He heaved a disappointed sigh before starting to follow him out.
...
Nico left and quickly made his way to the pub which was void of any people. He went to sit at the piano and sighed heavily. He really was the other woman or man... why would Percy ever have any feelings for Nico? It would never work out between them.
"Oh come on Nico, don't be like that," Leo said as Nico picked him out of his head.
"Percy doesn't belong with me, he belongs with her instead. Little miss living, with her rosy cheeks and beating heart... why would he ever feel love for me? I just fooled myself into thinking it would be possible..." Nico said dejectedly.
"Now that's now true," Leo started, "you're so much more wonderful than that woman could ever be."
Soon Hazel, a black widow, came down from her web.
"Why the long face?" Hazel asked Nico.
"That boy Nico married, he was to be married to another woman," Leo explained.
"And she was so much better than me..." Nico added.
"Never Nico, never," Hazel told him as she reached Nico's shoulder.
Leo
What does that whispy little brat have that you don't have double?
Hazel
She can't hold a candle to the beauty of your smile
"How about a pulse?" Nico said dejectedly.
Leo
Overrated by a mile
Hazel
Overvauled
Leo
Overblown
Leo & Hazel
If he only knew the you that we know
Nico groaned as he turned away from Hazel and Leo.
Hazel
And that silly little creature isn't wearing his ring
Leo
And she doesn't play piano
Leo & Hazel
Or dance
Leo
Or sing
Leo & Hazel
No she doesn't compare
Nico
But she still breathes air
Hazel
Who cares?
Leo
Unimportant
Hazel
Overrated
Leo
Overblown
Leo & Hazel
If only he could see
How special you be
If he only knew the you that we know
Nico
If I touch a burning candle, I can feel no pain
If you cut me with a knife, it's still the same
And I know her heart is beating
And I know that I am dead
Yet the pain here that I feel
Try and tell me it's not real
And it seems that I still have a tear to shed
Leo
The sure redeeming feature
From that little creature
Is that she's alive
Hazel
Overrated
Leo
Overblown
Hazel
Everybody knows that's just a temporary state
Which is cured very quickly when we meet our fate
Leo
Who cares?
Hazel
Unimportant
Leo
Overrated
Hazel
Overblown
Leo & Hazel
If only he could see
How special you can be
If he only knew the you that we know
Nico
If I touch a burning candle, I can feel no pain
In the ice or in the sun, it's all the same
Yet I feel my heart is aching
Though it doesn't beat it's breaking
And the pain here that I feel
Try and tell me it's not real
I know that I am dead
Yet it seems that I still have some tears to shed
Hazel retreated back to her web and Leo went back inside of Nico's head as he started to play the piano.
"Mother! Father!" Annabeth ran down the stairs of her soon to be old house, "Percy has been abducted we have to tell the Jackson's!"
"Annabeth!" Athena chastised her daughter, "what is all that racket, all that screaming?"
"Mother we have to help Percy, he has been abducted!"
"What are you talking about girl?" Frederick questioned his daughter.
"Annabeth, slow down, let's breathe so that we can help Percy," Luke came in after Annabeth, he still couldn't believe his eyes or what he had just seen.
"Percy never slipped away with another woman, he was abducted by a dead man!" Annabeth looked at her parents, "we have to tell the Jackson's!"
"How do you even know this?" Athena asked Annabeth.
"I saw him! I saw them both! Percy and the dead corpse!"
"We both saw them," Luke interjected.
"Where?" Athena questioned.
"In my room-our room," Annabeth answered, she wanted nothing more than to go to the Jackson's and give them the news.
"In your room?!" Athena questioned, "alone? The scandal!"
"But mother that's not the point! The point is that Percy is in trouble and we have to help him!"
"Darling he no longer is your concern, you needn't worry about him," Frederick said simply, trying to put that whole mess behind them.
"But-but if we don't help him who will?" Annabeth asked incredulously, looking at her parents.
"Who knows but not us," Athena spoke, signaling the end of the conversation, "I suggest we all go to our rooms to sleep, we have a big day tomorrow. You have move your things to Luke's house tomorrow Annabeth. Go to bed."
Annabeth couldn't believe her parents, they weren't going to help Percy and the Jackson's didn't have any information on their son.
"Come on," Luke lead her away and once they were far enough away from her parents, he whispered, "tomorrow bright and early before your parents are even awake, we'll go to the Jackson's and let them know what's happened."
"Oh Luke!" Annabeth hugged him, grateful at least someone was going to help her, "thank you!"
"It's the right thing to do, Percy doesn't deserve that although..." Luke continued, "he also doesn't deserve to be married to Lord Kronos either..."
"Tomorrow then, we'll tell the Jackson's what happened to Percy. Hopefully we can something...anything."
With that, Annabeth and Luke made their way to her soon to be old bedroom.
Percy had been searching everywhere trying to find Nico to apologize to him before coming across the pub he woke up in and found Nico playing the piano. The tune was very beautiful, but it sounded sad. Quietly, Percy approached Nico and sat down beside him on the bench. Nico stopped playing and instead turned the other way so as to not look at Percy.
"I'm sorry I lied to you...about wanting to see my parents..." Percy began and Nico continued to ignore him, continuing to play the same, melancholy tune from before, only this time Percy joined him as well. But that only served to stop Nico from playing the piano.
Percy set his eyes downcast, knowing Nico was still upset about what he had said. So, Percy did the next best thing, he started to play the piano on his own, hoping Nico would join him. He played a poignant tune, wanting to change Nico's mood. Nico chanced a glance at Percy and saw him looking straight at Nico, those piercing sea-green eyes pinning Nico in one spot.
Percy smiled at him and continued to play the piano. Soon, Nico joined in on playing the piano, but instead he played a different tune that somewhat contradicted what Percy was first playing. Nico looked over Percy, in sort of challenging way as they continued on with the clashing melodies. Nico started to smile and then laugh a little while Percy kept looking at him, wanting Nico to not be upset anymore. They continued to play when suddenly, without warning, Nico's left hand snapped off and ran across the piano keys and on to Percy's left shoulder. Percy looked it at for a second before smiling fondly and plucking up the hand.
"Pardon my enthusiasm," Nico had said.
"I like your enthusiasm," Percy laughed as he put the hand back on Nico's wrist, holding his hand for a bit and just smiling at him.
"Let's go home," Nico smiled at Percy as they both got up and made their way home.
They were reaching the same building that Percy had spent the night in before, when Reyna came running up to them.
"Nico!" Reyna called, "Elder Gaea wants to see you, right now."
"Do you know why?" Nico asked with a look of confusion.
"She didn't say, but she's asking from you." With that, Reyna went back the way she came from.
Nico looked at Percy, "you should go inside, I'll be there in an hour at most, so don't wait up." Nico then turned around and walked the way to the temple.
Percy watched Nico leave until his form disappeared around a corner, and then went inside. He made his way to the apartment and walked inside, where he was greeted by Mrs. O'Leary.
"Hey girl, how are you?" Percy greeted the energetic dog who only yipped.
Percy turned on the light to the kitchen and living room and looked around. He didn't really pay that much attention to the apartment before but it seemed nice and cozy even if it was small. He went over to the small fireplace it had and saw a picture frame there. In the picture was Nico, and a girl who looked a bit older than him, then there was what Percy supposed were his parents.
The man in the picture looked like an older version of Nico. He had the same dark hair and eyes, the same pale skin, and he was tall, but Percy decided Nico smiled more often than the man. The woman by his side was smiling and it reminded Percy of how Nico looked when he smiled. She was pale with an olive tinge to it, she had black hair that curled at the ends and dark brown eyes that looked warm. She was holding onto both of her kids in a loving manner and her face swelled with pride at being photographed with her family.
The girl that was next to Nico was wearing a green hat. She was smiling as well as she leaned close to Nico, she had the same pale skin as her mother and the same dark brown eyes, her hair was long and wavy and she looked really pretty. Then Percy focused on Nico. It surprised Percy how attractive Nico had been when he was alive, but then it shouldn't have. The brown-eyed boy was already good looking now. Nico was pale like his father, but he had more color to him than the blue tinge he had now. His eyes were more full of life, his smile a bit brighter, and it looked as if he had rosy cheeks in the photo. His hair was still the same, but at the same time it looked different.
Percy let out a small puff of air, and took the picture frame with him to the bedroom. For some reason, he couldn't stop looking at Nico. He laid down on the bed, looking at the picture of Nico and realized that Jason had been right. When Nico was alive, he was a beauty for miles around, and even in death Nico was still just as beautiful. It felt a bit weird to not feel Nico's body next to his, and so Percy found he couldn't fall sleep. He decided he would stay up and wait for Nico to return even if the boy had said not to.
...
Nico made his way up the stairs to the temple and went inside where Gaea was mixing a drink for herself once again.
"Gaea, you wanted to see me?" Nico spoke.
Gaea turned around and saw Nico standing there.
"Yes my dear boy, I did want to see you," Gaea smiled a sad smile towards Nico, "it's about your marriage with Percy..."
"What about it?" Nico asked growing fearful.
"Nico, the marriage with Percy is invalid..."
"W-what? What does that mean?" Nico asked, panic rising within him.
"I mean, that it cannot be a proper marriage because the vows are binding only until death do you part but you are dead and Percy is alive, death has already parted you. I'm sorry Nico, but Percy will have to go back to the land of the living. I know how much you love him," Gaea looked at Nico sadly.
"There must be something I could do to-to make him stay here..." Nico looked lost and helpless.
"There is... something you can do... but I'm not sure you would want to for it requires a great sacrifice..." Gaea started.
"Is it the only thing that can help me?" Nico asked.
"It's the only thing you can do... Nico, you must kill Percy."
"What?" Nico gasped in shock.
"He would need to repeat his vows in the land of the living, drink from the poisoned wine and die, only then will he be able to give his heart to you freely," Gaea explained.
"No," Nico sighed sadly, "I don't think I can do it."