Hi guys, how are you?
I hope well!
I apologize for the huge chapter hahahaha It is that it is very important, so I ended up getting excited. Oh, and I'm sorry for the delay, I don't have much free time :(
Anyway, enjoy


...

The first time was in a supermarket.

Perseus Jackson was distracted through the streets, and his mind wandered about the state of his kitchen cabinet - empty, unsurprisingly. It was for this reason that he had got off the bus at that specific point, after saying goodbye to Jia, one of his best mortal friends, and now he was walking to the Key Food market.

After two months, Percy no longer thought so much about the event Nico-and-the-laptop-of-the-god-who-lives-below (what he should seriously rename as Nico-and-that-liar-who-lives-below-part-2). In fact, the event was so surreal in the conception of the son of the god of the seas that it looked more like a delusion than anything else. So, basically, he lived a life as peaceful as a demigod can lead. All he wanted to do was not get himself into trouble and not think too much about the past, after all.

Now, his biggest concern was to list items in his head (of which he would surely forget at least half): ok, Jackson, you need, um ... two cartons of milk, coffee, orange juice, noodles... maybe some meat? Burritos, I think, and frozen lasagna is good. Coffee, washing powder, toast... oh, sure, I can't forget the coffee ...

He took a cart right there in the small parking lot, murmuring the names of certain products. The noise the wheels made on the floor was annoying, but nothing he couldn't ignore.

He was walking between the shelves.

"Let's see…", he whispered.

The coffee made a particularly loud noise when he tossed the package on the cart. Isotonic and Coca-Cola are essential. He kept walking. Lasagna and microwave burritos, frozen pizza, and waffles. He stopped to review his purchases and almost felt guilty for not having anything with real nutritional value, but he simply shrugged and went to the cereal section.

Okay, a big box of chocolate cereal. How about one of those ...

Puff.

He had bumped into someone.

"Uh, I'm sorry..."

Oh, fuck.

Oh shit.

What was the chance of that happening? One in a million? Less than that? Jackson didn't know (well, it wasn't a surprise that he failed his stupid statistics class).

In more precise numbers, bumping into Nico di Angelo, among so many people who could be in that market (and among so many people who existed on this planet) was a tiny, ridiculous, and infinitesimal probability.

He had no idea what to do, and it seemed that Nico himself, who was holding a box of cereal (which Poseidon's son noticed were Froot Loops), also had none.

"Er…", he murmured. His black eyes were wide, and a combat pose was ready as if he was prepared to take Percy's head off with the colored box of cereal.

Jackson then hoped, really hoped, that Nico would ignore him and go his own way. He wouldn't have complained, too, if the boy had been frightened enough to throw himself into the shadows of the shelf. And who knows, Nico could even be just a hallucination of his troubled mind, in a typical plot twist handled by cult films. Serious. Either option was okay.

Overall, Jackson just didn't want one thing: Nico Di Angelo starting to speak.

But, you know, fortune is never in favor of a demigod, least of all if that demigod is Perseus Jackson. That way, obviously, speak was what that kid from Hades did.

"Hi, Percy", Trembling by the sudden adrenaline rush, Poseidon's son knew what it was like. "What are you doing here?"

-I just wanted to say that I-

Percy raised an eyebrow. For some reason, he was very irritated by that memory that assaulted him with frightening speed.

"We are less than two blocks from my house. I think the right question is: what are you doing here?"

He didn't want to be rude to Nico, you see. It's just that he was nervous about people from his past around. He wanted to pretend that Dr. Thorn, Sssssamantha, and the coat had never existed. He wanted to pretend that he had forgotten that scribbled note.

He wanted to convince himself that, if he were in his full mental faculties, that "help" would never have occurred (well, he hasn't been in his full mental faculties since he was 11 years old, so ... please ignore). But the fact is that Nico Di Angelo, with absolute certainty, was not part of his plan to be a grumpy 19-year-old.

Nico seemed a little offended and upset by that question, of course. Percy would also be offended if someone spoke to him like that. The boy lifted the cardboard box so he could shake it lightly.

"I wanted Froot Loops", he mumbled in a low tone.

Percy looked at him, incredulous.

"Are you telling me you came to fucking Harlem to buy Froot Loops?"

Nico blushed slightly.

"Yeah. I mean, no. I mean ... I'm kind of ... doing some things. So I stopped by to buy Froot Loops. Just that."

"Things?"

Nico sighed. Percy felt that an explanation was forming in the other's head, even though he hadn't asked for any.

"Yes, um ... a thing for Chiron, you know", he looked away and started turning the skull ring with just one hand. "He asked me to watch something for him".

Jackson raised an eyebrow.

"Did you come here to ask for my help again?"

"No, not really". He shook a hand in denial. "Everything is fine. It's not like what I'm looking at is, you know, suddenly building legs and run".

Percy giggled without humor.

"In our world? I would not be surprised".

Nico lifted the corner of his lips slightly in an odd smile.

"Yeah"

Silence. The tension between the two was so dense that it could be cut with a knife. Percy looked away.

Wow. Was that Nestle box new? Beautiful design. Ah, was that "Morning" good? Sally had said something about "more iron", but ...

"Is that... your cart?", Said Nico in a low voice. It was out of nowhere. Percy barely heard it, mostly because he hoped, at most, that Nico would say goodbye awkwardly or even that he would disappear (have you ever noticed that Percy always expected Di Angelo to disappear?). But no, of course. Nico was stretching the conversation. The boy had more social skills than Percy, and that was scary.

Percy looked back at the cart he had left near the beginning of the corridor, not far from them.

"Yeah?" He replied suspiciously.

Then Nico gave a tiny smile.

"Well, if a monster doesn't take your head off, you're probably going to die of gastritis, aren't you?"

Percy blushed with embarrassment. He didn't know why - it was Nico, not his mother. But for some reason, being scolded (scolded? Damn, he felt like he was six again) for Nico managed to be even more embarrassing.

"Ah, I... I don't know how to cook. I mean, I, uh, I know how to make pasta and very simple things, but like, I don't..."

And now, he was the one who gave explanations without being asked. Karma, maybe.

"No need to explain Percy. And I am not surprised", the tick eyebrows were raised. "Fast food?"

Jackson sighed and rubbed his face with one hand.

"Too. With some frequency, I guess…"

And Percy laughed. And Nico accompanied him, even if much more restrained.

Percy turned his eyes to Nico and was surprised to find that he was... different. He seemed to have put on a few pounds, although he remained very thin. Dark circles had diminished noticeably. Certainly, he had entered a more friendly relationship with the daylight, since his pale tone was no longer so pale. His hair was more lustrous (which was totally unfair on Percy's mind. His hair sucked these days). Jackson was curious, but he was not so close to the other to make small talk about his personal life. He was content to just say:

"You look much better".

Hesitation.

"Thanks", and Nico squeezed the box. The colorful bird had a slightly bent beak. He seemed to have many important things stuck in his throat, but that was all that Jackson could deduce from that gesture. "And it seems that you... well, managed to keep your head in place".

"That's luck. Usually, my head is at a premium".

Nico smirked, very small.

"Well, yeah. I can understand that".

Percy still didn't know what to do. He wanted to run, but he would also like to stay. Who were you trying to deceive?

-I just wanted to say that I-

"Are you okay?" Asked Nico, who was staring at him with a worried look. Percy was sure to have blacked out for a few moments, lost in daydreams he should not have had if his real will was to complete his plan. Come on, Percy, grumpy old man! He blinked quickly.

"Ah, yes, sorry, I was, I, um ... thinking. Only that. Sorry", he ran over.

"It's alright", Nico put a lock of hair behind his ear. "Look, I'm going to have lunch at a McDonald's nearby... not that you need more fast food, you know…", the boy didn't seem to be at all sure about asking that. On second thought, he seemed nervous around Percy, always, as if he couldn't or shouldn't be there. Jackson could understand that since that feeling was mutual. "Anyway, I haven't had lunch yet, and I don't think you have either. Do you want to go there with me?"

In all honesty, Jackson could not understand such a gentle and sudden invitation after having acted like a total asshole.

The son of the god of the seas thought for a moment.

"Uh... I guess that I can't, Nico, unfortunately. I'm already here when I had to be doing a lot of other things. I have to go home to do a boring, bloody job of at least 35 lines on phytoplankton, man. To deliver tomorrow."

Okay, Jackson did have work on phytoplankton (and one on algae and corals, besides having to read a huge text about something about evolution, but that is beside the point). But phytoplankton was just an excuse, an excuse for Percy to be on his feet without seeming even ruder.

Nico shook his head slowly.

"Ah, of course. Fine". A cordial look. He shook the Froot Loops box again. "I'll be going, then. I need to pay for my cereal. See you, Percy".

Jackson shook his head in agreement.

"See ya!", he exclaimed, and wanted to bite his tongue right away.

Nico put his arms back, in a strangely innocent gesture, as if she were 12 again. He turned and walked to the opposite side of the corridor, towards the cashiers. Before he was out of sight, Nico turned his face slightly to Jackson's direction and said:

"Uh, Percy?"

Percy pretended to carefully watch the prices of a Kellogg's and Crispy Brown Rice, when, in fact, he couldn't ignore a few seconds ago of the oversized aviator jacket and black hair dangling in that strange farewell.

"Nico?", He replied in the same tone.

The boy pressed his lips and then replied:

"I didn't forget your coat, okay?", He shook his head. "Bye".

And he returned to his walk.

Jackson closed his eyes, very tightly. His heart sped up a little, and he swallowed. He didn't know if he should do what he was about to do, but before he could stop himself, he spoke up:

"Nico?"

Nico had already turned the corridor by now, so Percy didn't know if the boy would listen to him (which, in a way, relieved him). To his complete surprise, however, only the messy-haired head emerged from the end of the corridor, the rest of the body hidden behind the shelf.

"Yeah?"

Brief silence.

"Sorry for... what I... I'm sorry for what I said before. Like I said".

Tiny, indecipherable smile. He raised his eyebrows.

"It's not like I'm surprised. Now, see you later, Percy".

Then he was gone. For once.

And Jackson didn't know what to feel.

"So, Percy, are you hooking up with somebody?"

Jia smiled huge and full of pieces of apple. He blinked several times, not knowing what to do or say in the face of that sudden question. Her friend had put her right arm around Jackson's shoulders.

"Uh, I..."

William, across the table, frowned in clear disapproval.

"Oh, Jia, there you go".

"Shut up idiot!" She pointed to the fork she was holding in the direction of her childhood friend. William, mature as he was, gave the tongue to the Asiatic girl. "So, Percy?", she insisted again.

Jackson blushed.

"Me, um, nobody?

"Hum", she turned away from Poseidon's son and rolled her eyes. "Always this boring reply".

"But it's true!", He protested. He had never told her or any mortal friend about... his super-animated summer vacation a few years ago. About how traumatizing she had been. They wouldn't understand, anyway.

"Percy", Jia Zhao put his hands on the campus restaurant table, as if to explain an intricate thesis ", you know, you need to have sex from time to time".

William almost spits his orange juice on the table.

"Jia! This is personal!"

"But it's true!", The Chinese replied. "Anytime your balls will turn purple, purple, purple, and explode, man".

She made an exaggerated explosion movement with her hands. Percy blushed a little more and took a deep breath.

"Jia, this is not something of such extreme importance to me now, I..."

"Look, you are a nice guy, hot...", She continued as if the son of the god of the seas had not said anything. "There is certainly some girl out there crazy to go on a date with Percy Jackson! I mean, you're not asexual, are you? ' If it is not a problem, friend, only if it is not... man, then we have a question there".

"Well, I'm not, but..."

William raised his eyebrow, apparently very confused, interrupting Jackson.

"Jia, do you... do you think Percy is hot?"

She sighed.

"Listen, William Scott Johnson, being a lesbian does not mean being blind".

"She has a point..." he mumbled the with his face hidden in his hands.

After that, William and Jia started a very lively discussion about lesbians and "hot men", which fortunately diverted their attention from the state of Percy's balls. He, on the other hand, just continued to slowly chew his mountain of meat, cheese, and bread, which he affectionately called a hamburger.

Hamburger? Really? Maybe you are wondering. But come on: there was a lettuce salad in the middle. Isn't that healthy enough for you?

Percy studied at that college, which was nowhere near the best in the country, and which was also not on a list of the worst (and that was good enough). He had a scholarship and provided him with distraction - and, after all, it was there that he had met his new friends.

He had started with Jia.

Percy was much worse off as soon as he entered the institution, physically and psychologically. He spent partly of his time asleep, partly remembering and partly angry that it had not been better. He was dejected, ate little, his hair fell more than normal, and, according to a doctor, he had a severe vitamin D deficiency that should be closely monitored, boy.

Percy did not follow anything closely. Gods, he was the son of Poseidon! Having your skin constantly tanned by the beach sun was routine, right? Just because he spent a few months almost without leaving the room, or because the contact with sand and saltwater, on the rare occasions that they happened, occurred at night? It was silly.

He had just finished high school as quickly as he could, and after talking to Sally, he decided to take a course in Marine Biology. For the first full month, he sat alone in a corner, barely talking to the teachers. One day, Jia Zhao had sat next to him. He already knew the girl in the halls of the place.

Zhao had that black, flowing hair cut in a short channel, without bangs. Certainly, her stature was less than 5'5", and her favorite colors were lovely shades of black, depressing greys, and the red of enemy blood. Despite being so small, she carried a permanent, frightening frown, and Jackson felt sorry for those who decided to mess with her. At that time, he had caught the girl screaming at a guy at least 6'4" outside the campus.

He was almost crying.

"Hey", she said. He just shook his head in response, trying not to pay too much attention. "I'm Jia. Jia Zhao, Chinese. And what's your name?", she continued.

Poseidon's son blew out a breath.

"Perseus Jackson. American?"

Silence.

"Perseus, uh, what a cool name. It's mythologic, isn't it?"

And so, a slight friendship between them had begun. Nothing so strong at first, but then developed very well for someone like him. Jia introduced him to William and said that the two had known each other since they were 9 years old - they were neighbours. William, in turn, introduced Mahi to Percy, a very sweet girl they met at college.

Gradually, he got used to the place. He discovered the secret passions (William for Mahi and Mahi for the salami sandwiches with a salad that were served on Thursdays). He also discovered gossip. Did you know that Jeremy from the Chemistry course caught Professor Josh... well, doing certain things with Professor Lucy, down there on the fifth floor, above the auditorium room?

And romance, ah, romance could run wild in the halls, but not for Jia Zhao. This he had learned quickly, as well as responding to the girl's complaints. Although the answers didn't matter much - she didn't really listen.

"I can't even find a girl who just wants to be with me!"

"Maybe it's because you face them, Jia."

But I'm so cool!"

"You growl, Jia."

"I ask about interests, I talk about songs..."

"Deathcore is not usually the favorite rhythm of most people, Jia".

"I even managed to go out with that girl, Clair, but she said that I put too much fear in others. I would never put fear in someone! I'm cutie, cutie!"

"You threatened to rip Patrick's balls off just because the poor boy was standing in the hall, Jia".

"I don't know what's wrong with me..."

William, on the other hand, was the tall guy who he had seen almost cry in front of Zhao's screams. He was big, strong, with a thick voice, had coffee-colored skin with, short dreadlocks, and a personality...

Surprisingly friendly and calm.

He fought taekwondo, had taken a shooting course (thanks to his father, according to him), played football, ran, went to the gym, and salon dance (don't ask. Seriously).

And yet, he managed to be a silly (but a cute silly, in a way). For example? He was terrified of inviting Mahi on a date.

"But what if she refuses? What if she doesn't like me? What if she doesn't like men?"

A slight whistle from Zhao.

"There, dear, it's better for me".

"Fuck you, Jia...", he ended with a defeated sigh and his face between his big hands.

Mahi Jaheel had (many) other friends, so she was not always with them. Percy, on the other hand, owned only that group of strange people, who fit in for some reason even stranger. His communication problems were much bigger than his lunch dishes.

Anyway, Jaheel was so sweet that he could easily understand all that passion that William had. In addition, the girl's distinctive appearance greatly aided natural enchantment.

The four would go to the cinema in a little while. Jia and Percy came up with a plan to leave Jaheel and Johnson alone for at least half an hour, to see if anything was going on.

Jia looked at her watch.

"We need to go find Mahi soon, guys"

Then the second time was on Amsterdam Avenue.

"Ah, shit...", muttered Percy, who had stopped on the sidewalk two blocks from his supposed goal.

"What is it, catfish head?", Jia asked while chewing gum. He wondered why everyone compared his beautiful head to some marine specimen but decided not to pay any attention to it. William and Mahi looked at him waiting for answers. Percy was still digging his old backpack.

"I forgot the cell approach book in college!", he exclaimed in an air of concern.

"Serious?", asked William, raising his eyebrows. The book was expensive, it cost Jackson about 90 dollars. He would never lose exactly for that (but the coat... he shook his head slightly, trying to ward off the thought).

"Yes, damn it. I have to go and get it", he frowned to give his performance more veracity. After that, he would think about dropping out of college and going to live in Hollywood, but now he was too busy for that.

"Then let's go together", Said Mahi. He opened his eyes wide.

"No! I mean, hey. The movie is about to start...". A sigh. "We can do it like this: the two of you…", pointed to Jaheel and Johnson, "go to the cinema and try to exchange tickets for the next section. Jia and I will go look for the book and try to come as fast as we can. What do you think?"

Silence again. The others seemed to be thinking about the proposal.

"It looks good...", Mahi said at last. Then he looked at William. "So, you think they will go to let us change the tickets?"

He blushed.

"Hm, uh, I hope so", he scratched his chin shyly.

Zhao snorted.

"Come on, Percy! You know I want to see this fucking movie since it launched!". The chinese complained, picking up Jackson's arm. She towed it across the street without looking back, leaving Mahi and William on their own.

After turning the corner, they both started to laugh.

"Ah, I can't believe they really fell for that..."

"If I come back and there and they're not at least kissing, I'll punch someone"

Jia stretched.

"So, what are we going to do? We have about half an hour"

He scratched his head.

"I don't know about you, but I need to go to the print shop there in Amsterdam..."

"Oh, Percy, come on!"

"Sorry, Jia", He laughed. "I need to get some papers I ordered last week. You could buy something sweet for us to eat later. Here", he put his hand in his pants pocket and pulled out his worn and faux leather wallet, and took out ten dollars ", join what you have there and find something for the four of us".

She rolled her eyes and smiled. For some reason, Jia had never really stressed with him. The girl plucked the banknote out of her hand.

"It's better for you be here in twenty minutes".

And then she walked away.

Percy followed with his green eyes the friend disappearing at the turn of the street. He expected her to bring ice cream, even though the possibility of taking four vanilla cones to the movies was very remote. With a sigh (this time real), he started his journey.

His steps were slow. He wasn't very focused on what was in front of her eyes - he was more interested in his mind.

His mother has been worried about him lately. More than normal. And worried Sally Jackson meant worried Percy Jackson. She said it was about time to talk to his friends again, that that seclusion was not good for anyone.

The worst part is that Perseus knew this.

He was not completely alone, of course. His new friends were wonderful, except that his life was almost an uninterrupted college-home and, honestly, being alone was dangerous. Jackson did not feel an exact pleasure in being in this deplorable situation, but the comfort of this life was great.

It was right to go to college, get on 235 and listen to the professor talk about Pacific Ocean specimens for a completely tedious hour. It was right to have lunch with his friends on the campus after the second class. It was right to go back to his old apartment, and it was right to go to a barbecue on the terrace with all those much older, friendly neighbours who gave him extra hamburgers (because they knew Jackson had a bottomless stomach).

They had no dinners, no bonfire meetings, no flag capture, no missions, no almost-deaths.

And yet, Sally was worried. She said that he seemed to be getting back to the baseline, which Poseidon's son didn't quite agree with - as long as he kept his mind occupied, everything was fine. That was how he got over it in the beginning. Dark circles, sleepless nights, anxiety? He had gone to Tartarus and returned; he could get over everything. His mother shouldn't be worried, not about that. He was doing great, the best he could, thanks.

The only bad thing Percy did was to mull things over, a direct consequence of not keeping his head busy. That was scary. Terrifying. Pulling over the past, the name of each person who's gone, all his guilt, and all that day passing by in a flash that...

"PERCY, GO DOWN!"

He threw himself on the floor in a movement so automatic that it was surprising.

Someone passed over him in a jump combined with a killer spin. He heard the sound of the blade, the body being divided, and the soles of heavy boots hitting the floor. He didn't have time to look closely at the head rolling beside him, as it soon turned to dust. With his hand clutching his pen in his pocket in that also automatic movement, Percy turned slowly to see who had saved his life.

He would have rolled his eyes had it not been for the adrenaline rushing through his veins. In a little while, it would become a routine for Nico Di Angelo to appear out of the most damn nothing.

He stared at Hades' son for a moment, as he stepped out of his combat pose. For a pointless moment, all Percy could focus on was his clothes: the boy wore black boots, black pants slightly smaller than usual, and a black long-sleeved shirt with a turtleneck. The aviator's coat was, as always, indispensable.

Oh, and of course, there was also the small detail that Di Angelo looked very angry.

"Damn it, Percy, pay attention!"

Wait, before proceeding, there are a few things that need to be explained.

First of all, you must be asking yourself: how did mortals not see a young man tear off the head of a mythological monster in broad daylight, in the middle of damn Harlem, on a busy Tuesday? I mean, in Abyssinia the fight was hidden, but there?

The answer to this question (very pertinent, by the way) is as follows: mist. Yes, it is not just used to deceive old men in a polo shirt with a snap of their fingers, no. That thing, the mist, makes mortals not see what really happens. It makes mortals see only what they want to see. Katrina hurricane? You shouldn't have pissed off Notus. That cousin of yours who burned an arm in the auto repair shop? Hephaestus had his reasons. A cute puppy running around the streets? It could be Mrs. O'Leary, Percy's hellish little dog, who certainly weighs more than a ton and purrs like a gigantic tractor.

See? Mist.

Second, it must also be understood that when you are a demigod, even more so for so long, and even more so being Percy Jackson, a scream telling you to get down is even common. Perhaps you, dear reader, would have a very different reaction (that is if you are a mortal). Most people would probably look for the owner of the voice, or maybe just look back.

A demigod doesn't want to know any of this; a hardened demigod like Percy just throws himself to the ground in time to not die.

And third, but not least: why was Nico so angry, anyway?

"What are you doing here?", that was the first sentence that Poseidon's brilliant son uttered. Yes, he was angry too, and he didn't even know why. A lady in her sixties passed by them, mumbling about how young people no longer had respect and did those internet challenges anywhere. He tried to ignore the comment.

"I just saved your neck and that is what interests you?"

Jackson finally stood up, snorting and dusting his jeans.

"Thank you, Nico, for saving my beautiful and precious neck. Now, if you'll excuse me, what the heck are you doing here?"

Nico rolled his eyes and stuck the black sword in its scabbard. Then the youngest crossed his arms. His eyebrows were so furrowed that Percy feared that his grimace would become permanent.

"You are a stupid ignorant, don't you?", he snarled. Jackson was slightly offended, he had to admit. He had certainly been called ignorant and stupid, but never the two together. Di Angelo rubbed his temple with his right hand. After letting out a breath, he raised his head again. "I just need to go to the print shop, ok?"

They stood for a few minutes, while Jackson felt his body calm down. Nico tapped his left foot repeatedly, also seeming to gradually calm down. Jackson didn't like talking to people in his old life at all, you know. A strange feeling was beginning to turn Percy's stomach, who wanted to force him to say something to calm the mood between the two (which was always prickly, at first. And sometimes along, too. And at the end). Of course, it was not something he approved of, but words slipped from his lips before he thought too much:

"Do you, uh... know what was trying to separate me from my beautiful head?", a much more friendly tone, although still suspicious.

Nico put his hands in his pockets and replied:

"Beautiful head...", he gave a short, dry and ironic laugh, but it didn't seem exactly offensive. "Really? I have no idea. Something with wings".

Percy smiled, even if only a short smile. It had been about two weeks since his last meeting with the boy, and he didn't expect the next one to happen anytime soon, let alone under those circumstances. They were silent for a few more moments, and this time it was Nico who broke the silence while turning his skull ring.

"Well, uh, I really need to go to the print shop, so..."

"Ah, yes, yes. Okay", Percy babbled. "About that, is that Amsterdam's ave. print-shop?"

Brief silence.

"Yes, that one"

Jackson sighed.

"I also need to go there"

Nico started to spin the ring faster. Percy pretended that he didn't notice.

"Oh, really?"

"Yep''.

"Um... shall we go then?"

"Ah, yeah, yeah..."

They walked down some quiet streets, without even looking at each other. Percy had the impression that Nico also seemed to be caught up in that feeling. Just before they reached the printer, the boy spoke softly:

"Look, Percy... um... I'm sorry for calling you of stupid ignorant".

"No, Nico, you were right, I should pay more attention..."

"No, I was very rude too, it was just the adrenaline of the moment. Seriously, it was bad".

"It's okay, man. I'm the one who should apologize for not thanking you. If you weren't there nor would the gods know what could have happened, then..."

Nico looked at him. He was as thin as before, and his hair was streaked back, still shiny, thick, and messy.

"Okay", he sighed. His nervousness seemed to have eased a lot, and surprisingly so did Jackson.

Both entered the glass doors adorned with DTG printing and embroidery stickers, and Percy couldn't stop wondering what Nico di Angelo had ordered from a printing shop. Two people were also there, talking to the tattooed attendant.

"What did you come for?", Nico spoke in a low voice. Percy raised his eyebrows.

"A task I sent here last week. In fact, it's kind of part of the task, because it's just a few pictures. Is that you?"

"A bookbinding".

Silence.

"Chiron?", he asked cautiously.

"Oh no. It's mine"

Percy didn't quite know what to think about that information. Nico's?

"Um, yeah...", he decided to answer vaguely.

Silence reigned over them until a few minutes later Nico pointed out:

"There, the people left. Do you want to go first?"

"No, go ahead".

"Okay".

He walked over to the attendant. He inquired about his request and handed a small paper to the man, who disappeared through a door behind the counter. He returned a few minutes later carrying a black plastic bag, handing it to Di Angelo, who checked the contents briefly. Then Percy approached the tattooed man and asked for his paperwork. Again, the man entered through the wooden door.

They started talking, trying to find out what monster was the one who had attacked Percy. He was gesturing when another person entered the scene.

A slow whistle.

"Wow, so that was your appointment at the printer shop?", Jia Zhao's unmistakable voice entered Jackson's ears. She looked at Nico from head to toe. Percy supposed that it must have been quite uncomfortable to be looked at that way, even though Jia watched almost everyone that way. It was as if the existence of other human beings was a personal offense.

"Jia?"

"What's up. You were taking too long, so I decided to go after it, but it seems that you are very busy".

She raised her eyebrows and approached Nico. She held out her small hand.

"I'm Jia Zhao, Chinese. And you, dear?"

Di Angelo blushed slightly (which was quite understandable, as it was the first conversation with Jia), but he extended his hand, nonetheless.

"Nico Di Angelo. Italian?"

"I liked you".

"Thanks?"

"Do you always answer questions with other questions?"

"No?"

"Um... ok".

She let go of the boy's hand and turned to Percy. She pulled the taller by the arm, leading him over to shelves. She motioned for him to come closer, then whispered.

"So you decided to follow my advice? I mean, for someone who doesn't hook up with anyone in ages, this is a great move". She pointed at Nico with her chin. The youngest was busy, looking at a black cap embroidered with skulls and roses. She continued: "I just didn't know you liked that kind of thing. No boys, you know, I mean goths".

Percy gasped.

"Jia, you... you don't... I mean, that... no, we are colleagues... um..."

Jia looked at him seriously. Then a small smile. Finally, she laughed.

"Oh, you should see your face!"

So she continued to laugh alone.

Jackson never wanted so bad to run and hide his head in a hole, like an ostrich. His heart was beating too fast. Ah, gods, one day Jia would kill him.

He looked sideways at Nico as if to apologize. The boy, oblivious to the conversation, just raised an eyebrow.

The third time he was at home.

It was mid-afternoon, and Jackson was lying on the couch. He was watching Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind for, like, the fifth time, and didn't pay much attention. He had drunk a can of beer (which he drank only on special occasions, always bought in that suspicious place where he was never asked for his identity). It was one of those depressing days when he kept remembering and thinking about things that he should neither remember nor think about.

He wore only the pants of his black and blue pajamas (which he had bought in the Target promotion to replace his old one that had been thrown in the trash). He had taken off his shirt and left it on that iron chair next to the sofa because the weather was too hot and he was too lazy to open the windows. He reached into the packet of snacks.

Of course, he was terrified when a frantic knock sounded at his front door. With great agility, Jackson tucked in his shirt and grabbed the Riptide, running to see who wanted to pester him that quiet afternoon.

When he opened the door wide and raised the ballpoint pen in the most threatening way he could, he felt a strong déjà vu. Nico di Angelo looked at him. His hair was a mess, and his eyes were very concerned.

"Percy, we have to get out of here!", he fired.

Jackson felt all his instincts being activated at once. Neither the beer nor the snacks or their heat mattered more at that moment. He leaned forward.

"What? Why?"

"Monsters are coming here. I think Thorn is in charge of them, and they don't seem to be kidding".

A few seconds of silence.

"Wait, how do you..."

"And does it matter? We have to get out of here now!"

Percy frowned, squeezing the pen tightly, then looked steadily at Nico.

He had an old building to defend.

"Oh I can't help it

I've got this feeling

That tomorrow never comes

The only thing that

I want to do now

Is to lift my feet and run"

All the Things we Forgot - Moyka