PJatO || Hadephonercy || PJatO || Pining Pluto & Proserpina || PJatO || Hadephonercy || PJatO
Title: Pining Pluto & Proserpina – Polympians Event 2024
Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians / Heroes of Olympus
Disclaimer: All rights reserved to Rick Riordan. Aside from the Gods, they belong to the old Greeks. This fanfiction and its OCs on the other hand are entirely mine. No money is made with this, though reviews are more than welcomed.
Tags: m/m, pining, fluff, hurt/comfort
Main Pairing: Hades/Persephone/Percy
Percy Jackson Characters: Perseus Jackson, Mrs. O'Leary
Godly Characters: Hades | Pluto, Persephone | Proserpina, Zerberus
Summary: Polympians Prompt: Roman. Hadercy Prompt: Pining Hades.
Percy moved to New Rome for college. And regularly passing the temple of Pluto, he remembers how alienated he had felt when he'd first been here.
Pining Pluto & Proserpina
Polympians Event 2024
When Percy had been to Camp Jupiter for the very first time, it had made him feel alienated. Not just as an outsider coming in, not even because of his stolen memories, but to see Neptune – his father, and by association also himself – feared like that. It had even more impact on him when he regained his memories, because he remembered Lord Hades.
The god had left a lasting impression on him the first time he'd met him, looking truly godly and truly royal. But even beyond that, Hades was an outcast among the gods. And seeing that reflected in the way the Romans treated the god too.
Those were thoughts that crossed Percy's mind as he walked past the Temple of Pluto, marveling at its intimidating beauty. He'd been living in New Rome for a couple of days now, still getting settled in. He'd signed up for college, after finally graduating high school. Barking and pulling on the leash distracted him and redirected his attention away from the temple and to his dog.
"Okay, Molly, let's go and get you to the dog-park."
Mrs. O'Leary barked pleased at that, wagging her tail. One of the perks of living in New Rome was that Mrs. O'Leary finally got to stay fully with him. That also made living here less… lonely. Sure, his Roman friends were living here, but he was living alone right now. There's always been his mom, then Paul, now his new baby sister. He wasn't used to coming home to an empty apartment, nobody there to greet him, to share his meal with, to talk about his day.
Loud barking from Mrs. O'Leary was the only warning he got before he got fully dragged off by his hellhound. The downside of having a small-elephant-sized dog was that he was absolutely at his dog's whims. When Mrs. O'Leary finally stopped, Percy found himself fully flat on the ground.
"Oh, hello, gorgeous, you are so pretty."
A soft and beautiful voice. Percy blinked and looked up, finding a stunning woman petting Mrs. O'Leary. Her skin was light brown, her hair fell in long, dark curls, flowers braided into it, a grass-green dress hugging every curve of hers in a stunning manner. She turned toward him, curious.
"Oh, you are pretty too," she smiled at him and offered him a hand.
Clearing his throat in embarrassment, Percy accepted her hand and let her help him up. This woman had legs for days, proven by the way she was about two inches taller than him. Though at least one of those inches were her shoes. Blinking, he stared into her bright eyes, lost for words.
"Hello," she tilted her head intrigued. "I'm Pina Khthonios, daughter of Ceres. I'm new here."
Percy blinked. Name, he had a name, he knew he had a name, what was it? Her eyes were so warm, Percy felt like he was drowning in them, and her smile was so pretty. What was the question?
"Did you hit your head when you went down?" Pina frowned at him concerned. "Are you okay?"
"No," Percy shook his head. "I'm not not good at talking to pretty people."
His eyes widened and his cheeks flushed brightly, but at least it got him a bright laugh from Pina. "Why, thank you for the compliment. At least one of us is good at it though, otherwise this would not be much of a conversation. Now, your name, pretty boy?"
"Percy," Percy sputtered out, relieved. "My name is Percy Jackson."
Thank the gods, he remembered. Pina smiled at him amused, taking his hand to shake.
"Percy Jackson, I'll be sure to remember that name."
The blush returned, trice as strong. She smiled at him, looking pleased by the blush.
"And who is this gorgeous creature? I've never met anyone else who has a hell-hound."
"That's Mrs. O'Leary, she's the best girl," Percy grinned broadly.
For the first time, his eyes landed on what had brought them here to begin with. Why Mrs. O'Leary had run off. Because… there were three hell-hounds here. Leashed. And Pina was holding the leashes. Percy raised his eyebrows in surprise. The three puppies turned to stare at him and the next moment, he was buried under a heap of gigantic dogs.
"No! Boys! Down!" Pina sounded slightly panicked. "Don't trample the pretty boy!"
Percy just laughed and did his best to pat as many dogs as he could reach. "I'm okay, I'm great, these are great. Who are good boys? Who are very good boys? Well, who are they?"
He craned his neck to look at Pina from between furry paws, making Pina laugh. "This is Cerball, this one's Berach and the one licking your cheek is Osheen."
The dogs eased off enough for Percy to get up, again. He smiled at Pina. A beautiful woman who loved dogs and was very charming. This seemed like a great start to his time here. Part of what he had promised himself was to move on. His teen romance with Annabeth hadn't survived Tartarus, unsurprisingly so – when one used their powers to protect their partner and said partner looked back in fear, that was… hard to move on from. Annabeth had come out of Tartarus frightened by Percy, and Percy was done making himself small for others. He'd needed time, after, and then he decided to move here, while Annabeth had moved to Boston to be closer to her family, to attend mortal college, get a great degree in architecture. It was time to move on. And it was hard to not see this literal 101 Dalmatians meet-cute as a sign.
"I'm sure I'll be seeing you around here a lot, then? With three dogs?"
"Absolutely," Pina laughed. "They need a lot of exercise. It's nice to see another hell-hound around, we should make play-dates for our dogs so they can really roam free."
Oh, this was going better than expected. Percy beamed at her as he agreed.
/break\
Over the following couple of weeks, Percy got settled in. Starting college and adjusting to how different it was from high school, getting used to living on his own, reconnecting more with his Roman friends – living on different ends of the US, on top of their own lives, made that harder. It was good to be able to just drop by at Hazel and Frank's and hang out with them, or go and bother Reyna at work until she started bribing him out of her office with doughnuts.
And then there was Pina. Every two or three days, the two of them would meet up at the dog park, so their puppies could play. In that time, he also got to know her better. Estranged from her father, because she never got along with her stepmother, though she had some half-siblings she was close to. She loved flowers and nature, which figured for a child of Ceres – Roman's Demeter. They often ended up wandering to the flowering fields, the rose garden in the park. It was amazing to see her interact with flowers, making them bloom and grow and twist.
He finally felt like the time was right to actually ask her out – knowing her well enough to know he had a huge crush on her and wanted to spend even more time with her. Which was, of course, when something had to get in the way. Namely, her husband.
"Darling, so this is that little friend of yours you have been telling me about? Good to meet you, Percy Jackson. I'm Theon. My wife speaks highly of you."
Percy stared, and blinked. Today was the day he had wanted to ask Pina out – and how had it not come up yet that she had a husband? Or that her husband was a whole snack? Though the latter should not be a surprise. After all, Pina was breathtaking, so why shouldn't she get a man as good looking as her? Tall, lithe, with olive-skin and black curls, wearing the most well-tailored suit Percy had ever seen. And the suit looked expensive too.
"Is he okay?" Theon turned toward his wife with a frown. "He's not… said anything yet."
"Oh, that's normal," Pina laughed and waved a dismissive hand. "He's not good at talking to pretty people, according to himself. Give his brain a moment to catch up."
Percy blushed furiously at that, even though he knew she was right. "Hi, I'm Percy. Pina… never… mentioned having a husband, so I was a little… surprised."
He forced a smile, even as he shook Theon's hand. There was a sheepish look on Pina's face, at least. So she was aware that she had kind of forgotten to mention something there.
"Well, we will get to know each other better now," Theon smiled charmingly at him.
Percy tilted his head. "How come I haven't met you so far, then?"
"Work," Theon explained. "I am… a busy man. But I'm glad my wife has found someone to be good company while I was away."
There was something so charming about the man, yet also intimidating in a way. Authoritative, strong, with an overwhelming aura. Percy could picture very vividly how this man would be patting his head in praise and tell him he was doing good. Percy shook his head wide-eyed.
/break\
Pluto heaved a sigh as he let himself fall onto his favorite armchair in the apartment in New Rome. An apartment. Who would have thought the king of the underworld would be living in an apartment in the mortal world like that. Alas, he had been drawn to New Rome by Percy Jackson.
The Greek hero had intrigued Pluto during the Titan War already. He had been impressive and Pluto liked a strong-willed someone who knew to stand up to him. That spitfire energy was why he had fallen in love with his beautiful wife, after all. But it was only when Percy had moved to New Rome that Pluto felt drawn out. Every time Percy walked past his temple and thought of Pluto, thought of the parallel in how Neptune and Pluto were treated by the Romans. He could feel the growing respect and also the self-reflection Percy was feeling. Pluto could hear them like prayers.
So he had asked his beloved wife, to give it a chance. He'd never been one to cheat, he wasn't like his brothers. When he took a mortal lover, it was never just him. They always shared. They picked their mortal together and only engaged in anything once they agreed.
Proserpina had been doubtful at first, though she had agreed. After all, she had interacted with the hero before too and had found him interesting. She'd wanted to see what kind of young man he'd grown into since then, how the two wars had formed him.
And then Proserpina went to the dog park with Zerberus. Proserpina seemed quickly charmed by Percy, but Pluto bid his time, waiting until she was smitten. Until she was the one to ask him to come along to the dog park. He tried not to be smug about it.
The thing about Percy Jackson was that he was very charming. So snarky and funny and cute. A real spitfire, the way he liked them. And seeing his wife with Percy, the easy friendship between them, joking and laughing and generally looking absolutely beautiful together. Intrigue quickly turned into something more, the more actual time they both were spending with Percy.
"I think," Proserpina whispered into his ear, as she sat down on his lap, her hands on his chest. "I think it's time for us to make a move. You know a pretty boy like him, a great and celebrated hero like him, he has people making heart-eyes at him from all sides."
Grunting, Pluto wrapped his arms around his wife's waist, pulling her closer. He was very well aware of that. Beyond his good looks and heroic background, Percy was currently studying to become a teacher. Who didn't like a cute guy who was good with kids? And the passion he had for it, when he would talk about what great influences Chiron posing as Mr. Brunner and his now stepfather Paul Blofis had been, how he had always struggled in school, but the right teachers, knowing how to help him, had made his life so much easier and that he wanted to be that kind of presence for future generations. It was captivating, how passionate he was.
/break\
It only came to Percy when he had told his mom about them, about a month after meeting 'Theon'. When he first said their names together, because Pina had introduced herself as Pina Khthonios. That alone hadn't really raised any suspicion, neither had her husband's name on his own. But when he put that together. Theon Khthonios. God of the Underworld, in Greek. An epithet of Hades. Or Pluto, in this case – because he would have recognized Hades, he'd met Hades before, but the Roman aspects of the gods tended to look different than their Greek counterparts. And Pina. Short for Proserpina, he'd guess. Pluto's wife. Persephone's Roman aspect.
That realization had come to him at his mom's kitchen table, when he told her about his new friends. The friends he had crushes on. The friends who were married and whom Percy had thought were like a decade and a half older than him but actually seemed to be more like a few millennia older than him. The friends who were actual gods, a king and a queen at that.
And the friends who still hadn't told him the truth, even as he kept waiting. He'd thought about confronting them – once he stopped freaking out about his realization – but then he decided against it. Because he wanted to know if they would tell him the truth on their own. He also wanted to know why exactly they were even hanging out with him to begin with.
What was their goal here? Was he some kind of entertainment for two bored gods? Had they… really become friends, was that genuine? And what was he supposed to make of the flirting? Which had only been increasing, but Percy was absolutely playing dumb until they told him the truth. Both, about having figured out the truth, as well as noticing their flirting.
"I brought you a snack," Percy grinned as he produced three big dog treats. "Who's three good boys? Or… one big good boy, mh, Zerberus?"
After having figured out Pluto and Proserpina, it didn't take a genius to realize the three hell-hounds who always stuck very closely together and were named Cerball, Berach and Osheen were a heavily misted Zerberus. The puppies looked up at him with adoring, big eyes before being handed the treats. Now he wondered if the two gods had deliberately 101 Dalmatian trapped him.
"You spoil them," Pluto heaved a sigh, looking at him.
All Percy offered in return was a huge, cheeky grin. He'd been invited over for dinner today. To celebrate the end of Percy's first semester, and that he had survived his exams. The apartment was huge, furniture all fancy designer stuff in black, but it didn't feel gloomy because there were so many plants everywhere, absolutely thriving. Pluto was cooking for them. The king of the underworld was cooking for Percy. That was absolutely wild to him. And charming.
"So, now that your first semester is officially over, how do you like college?"
Proserpina sat down next to Percy, resting her chin on her palm as she regarded him. She was so beautiful, sometimes it still took his breath away to look at her even though they'd been friends for months now. It was funny to him, looking back, how she had never actually lied to him. She never claimed to be a demigod, she only introduced herself as a daughter of Ceres, which was the truth. She'd told him about her estranged dad, the stepmother she didn't get along with – Jupiter and Juno – and that she had a lot of half-siblings on her father's side, which, was also true. Clever.
"I like it," Percy shrugged with a thoughtful look. "I mean, still not really a fan of academic learning myself, it's… a struggle, but I know I need to get through it to get to where I want to be."
"And how is… everyone treating you?" Pluto spoke in a strangely careful manner. "We know you're popular and made a lot of new friends, but did you… met someone… interesting?"
Oh. Oh, that was cute. The big bad king of the underworld was trying to subtly figure out if Percy was seeing anyone. Percy bit his lip to keep from grinning outright. He distracted himself by petting the puppies instead. Interesting turn of the evening, he wondered where this was going.
"I did make a lot of new friends, sure," Percy tilted his head. "But I was rather busy with school and work and didn't exactly concentrate on trying to find dates. A new relationship would need attention and care, and with everything else going on in my life at the time, that didn't… seem like a good idea. I was adjusting to the new city, to college, had to focus on my studies."
"At the time, you say?" Proserpina perked up, looking at him like a hawk at its prey.
Huh. That should not be as hot as it was. Percy blinked repeatedly at her.
"Yeah," Percy grinned at them both, an edge of teasing – baiting them. "I mean, it's semester break now. And sure, I'll be working extra shifts, but I've had the job all semester. It's nothing new. There won't be classes to focus on. And the break is three months, so that would give me plenty of time to… actually focus on building a relationship, before the semester starts."
"Ah," Pluto looked displeased. "And… do you have anyone in mind?"
"I me—ean," Percy leaned back, regarding the two of them. "Maybe. But you know, what's really important to me, in a relationship, is honesty. That's just, that's the key to a good, functioning relationship, wouldn't you agree? Honesty and trust. So I'm just, looking for someone like that."
There was a moment of processing on both their parts. Okay, so maybe he was growing a little tired of waiting. Maybe these gods needed a bit of a push. And Percy was very good at pushing gods.
"Oh, you little tease, you know," Proserpina blinked at him before she started laughing, leaning against her husband for support. "When did you figure it out?"
"Oh, I'm the tease?" Percy raised one eyebrow. "You spent a month flirting with me and making me want to ask you out, just for you to only then introduce your husband to me, mh?"
The laughter died down and Proserpina smiled at him near sheepishly. "In all fairness, I didn't mean to make you want to ask me out, when I first approached you. I simply wanted to… get to know you, to see who you are, beyond the great savior of Olympus."
Raising one eyebrow, Percy crossed his arms over his chest. "Sure. Why?"
A grin spread over Proserpina's lips as she wrapped her arms around her husband's neck. "Because my beloved here has been pining, and he wanted me to see if that is… an idea to be pursued."
"And what is that?" Percy also raised his other eyebrow, now looking at Pluto. "Well?"
"You are a nineteen year old demigod, why am I feeling chided by you?" Pluto huffed and crossed his own arms. "This is ridiculous."
"Oh, is the great and powerful lord of the underworld being pouty now, mh?"
Percy gave him an unimpressed look, before he reached out for the food. No need to let good Italian dinner go to waste. He grinned a little when an embarrassed blush colored Pluto's cheeks.
"You seem to forget that I am the powerful lord of the underworld. You are being cheeky."
"And I don't see you smiting me about it," Percy shrugged and stuffed his face with chicken. "Besides, I am not the one who lied for months here. So get off your high horse."
"I should not find your defiance charming," Pluto muttered beneath his breath. "In my, our, defense, we lied to you to get the chance to get to know you. Would you have been as open with us if you had known who we are from the get-go?"
Heaving a sigh, Percy reached out to get more pasta. "Fine, I'll give you that. But it's been months now. We have been… friends for months now. You should have told me for a while."
"You're right," Proserpina nodded and reached out to take his hand. "But that's easier said than done, sweetie. When is that right time? It's not like there was a specific point where things shifted. Everything grew… more naturally. Us, becoming friends, me… seeing the appeal in you, and ultimately… seeing so much more than just the pretty boy."
"At what point do you come clean, and how," Pluto heaved a sigh. "We have been talking about it, for a while, but we just… I wasn't sure what your reaction to that would be. We don't have the best track-record with each other, do we?"
"You did throw me into your dungeons once and that wasn't much appreciated," Percy tilted his head amused. "But… years ago, you did save my mother's life and that is… more than most gods have done for me. I'm not stupid, I mean I was an angry kid back then who just saw that his mom had been taken, but I know enough about this world now to know that she would have died at the minotaur's hands, if you hadn't taken her in the last second. And in my track-record of gods asking for my help, saving my mom's life was honestly the best one. Definitely beat Hera's 'I'll abduct you and erase your memories for a couple months' spiel."
Pluto winced at that, while Proserpina huffed with a glare. "Yes, my stepmother is… charming."
One of Pluto's eyebrows wandered up. "So, what I'm hearing here is that my chances aren't zero."
Percy's eyes landed on Proserpina's hand, still covering his. With a small smile did he reach his free hand out for Pluto. The god looked surprised when Percy linked their fingers and somehow, that expression really pleased Percy. He was capable of flustering and surprising a god.
"I mean, I have been flirting with you guys for months, if you haven't noticed," Percy gave them both a pointed look. "I have been flirting with you after I noticed and put one and one together."
Proserpina's eyes were sparkling brightly as she leaned in. "So you are interested in us then, the real us, knowing who we are?"
That gave Percy a little pause. "I mean, I would have to get to know the real you. Sure, I noticed you told me very clever half-truths, but… the two of you living in New Rome like demigods isn't your truth, you guys are a king and a queen, two gods. That being said, I… am… interested in you, yes. I never really pictured myself dating gods, even just one, much less two, but… I love spending time with you guys. You've been… kind, sweet, charming, I… would like to see where it goes…"
Slowly, he leaned over the table, closer to the goddess in front of him. Heh. Literal and figurative. Tilting his head, he waited. Waited for her to move closer too. With a smile on her lips did she oblige, until they met in a soft and gentle kiss. She tasted like honey, which was a bit surprising but then she was the goddess of spring, wasn't she? They kissed, until Pluto cleared his throat.
"I was the one who proposed this, how come that she is getting the first kiss?"
"Look at him, pouting again," Proserpina whispered against Percy's lips. "He has been pining for you so badly, you should have heard him whine about how cute you are and-"
"Please stop undermining me, wife!" Pluto groaned in frustration. "I have a reputation to maintain and you make me look like some… some big softy."
"It's cute that he thinks I don't know this already," Percy whispered right back to Proserpina. "I have seen him be a dog-dad for months now, he totally spoils them too. Because he is a softy."
Laughing softly, Percy turned toward Pluto and kissed him to appease the now legitimately pouting god. Pluto's face softened as he pulled Percy closer, making Percy smile. Not the outcome he had expected from moving to New Rome, but he was definitely not complaining.
~*~ The End ~*~
Author's note: So it's Hadercy Week and I just HAD to. Plus, in a fit of hybris, I have decided to host a Polympians Event for all god/Percy ships, and I managed to make the prompts for both events match ;D