Nico stood in front of the mirror, the soft click of his belt buckle echoing in the quiet room as he adjusted his tailored suit jacket. The early morning light filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow on his olive skin and the sharp cut of his suit. His black curls fell slightly into his eyes, and he pushed them back with an impatient huff. He could feel two pairs of eyes on him, watching his every move with the kind of intensity that made the air in the room feel warmer than it should have been.

From behind him, lounging lazily in nothing but boxers on the large bed, Percy and Jason exchanged a look, smirking like they were in on some inside joke. Percy propped himself up on one elbow, his dark hair messier than usual, while Jason stretched out, hands behind his head, his blond hair catching the light just right.

"You know," Percy drawled, his voice still thick with sleep, "you really clean up nice, Death Boy."

Jason, grinning from ear to ear, added, "He's right. You look like you could make a hostile takeover seem sexy."

Nico caught both their reflections in the mirror, and despite his best effort to keep his expression neutral, he could feel his face heating up. He narrowed his eyes at them, though it was more playful than threatening. "Are you two done?" he muttered, adjusting his collar with a bit more force than necessary.

"Not even close," Percy shot back, sitting up now, his green eyes sparkling with amusement. "Seriously, though, Nico. You're gonna kill it in that suit. And if you don't, you can always just give them the death glare. Works on us every time."

Jason chuckled, nodding in agreement. "You might want to save that glare for the board, though. You wouldn't want to scare us away." His tone was light, but there was an affection behind it, a softness that only came through when Jason wasn't trying to put on his "perfect Roman" act.

Nico turned to face them, and though his face was still tinged with a faint blush, he let a small smile slip. "You two are impossible." He shook his head, trying to suppress the fluttering in his chest as they continued to openly admire him.

"Come on," Percy said, grinning as he ran a hand through his already-disheveled hair. "We're just appreciating the view."

Nico crossed his arms over his chest, leaning against the dresser as he raised an eyebrow. "Appreciating the view, huh? You know, you could've joined me in getting dressed instead of lazing around all morning."

Jason gave a mock sigh, stretching out even more as if to emphasize his point. "Why would we do that when we can sit here and watch you look like the boss you are?" His voice was teasing, but his eyes held that same fondness.

Nico felt a warmth bloom in his chest at their easy banter. There was something about the way they made everything feel so... normal, even when nothing about their lives was remotely normal.

With a small huff, Nico pushed away from the dresser, walking over to where they were sprawled out on the bed. He leaned down, first pressing a soft kiss to Percy's lips, then to Jason's. The kiss was brief, but there was a tenderness in it that lingered long after he pulled away.

"I'll see you two later," Nico said, his voice softer now, but still laced with that unspoken authority he carried so naturally.

Jason reached out, his fingers grazing Nico's wrist before he let him go. "Don't be too hard on them," he teased, though there was a genuine hint of concern in his voice. Jason always worried—about Nico, about the weight he carried on his shoulders.

Nico gave a small smile, something more reserved than the smirks he usually flashed, and nodded. "I won't." He straightened up, casting one last glance over them before heading toward the door.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Percy and Jason fell into a comfortable silence, the warmth of the room lingering even in Nico's absence. Percy lay back down, folding his arms behind his head, his mind already racing with plans for when Nico returned. Jason, on the other hand, stared at the door for a moment longer, his thoughts more introspective, but no less filled with affection.

"I swear," Jason muttered after a beat, a small smile tugging at his lips, "how did we get so lucky?"

Percy turned his head, flashing him that trademark grin. "Well, Jason, maybe it's because we're irresistible."

Jason rolled his eyes but couldn't help the laugh that escaped him. "Yeah, sure, Jackson. That must be it."

They both settled back into the bed, the room quiet once more, but the space Nico had left behind still filled with the warmth of his presence.

Then everything turned black.

The world of shadows pulled Percy and Jason with an unsettling, gut-wrenching tug, and by the time they landed—rather unceremoniously—Jason was already half-cursing under his breath. Both demigods stood ready for battle, hands gripping their weapons tightly: Riptide gleamed in Percy's fist, and Jason's gladius caught a faint gleam of light from the otherworldly atmosphere around them. Instinctively, they scanned their surroundings, hearts racing in sync, expecting some monster from Tartarus or an ambush from enemies they had yet to face.

But what they were faced with was much worse.

Standing in front of them, not looking particularly impressed, were three figures. Godly figures. Each of them exuded a palpable sense of power, their eyes sharp and assessing. Percy felt his grip on Riptide falter slightly. Jason, no less startled, glanced down at himself and realized they were still in their boxers. Because, of course, shadowtravel didn't give them time to get dressed. This was exactly the kind of thing Nico would laugh about later—if they survived this.

"Um," Percy started, but the words seemed to dissolve in his throat as he took in the trio staring them down.

Melinoë, the Goddess of Ghosts, flicked her eerie, pale gaze between the two of them. Her entire form seemed to shimmer with the faint outlines of spirits clinging to her shadowy robes. The faint sound of whispers floated around her, just on the edge of hearing, making Percy's skin crawl.

Macaria, Goddess of Blessed Death, crossed her arms, her expression unusually stern and unreadable. Her dark eyes locked onto Jason with an intensity that made him squirm slightly. It felt like she was already deciding how to weigh his soul, should he screw up.

And then there was Zagreus, looking both amused and exasperated as he leaned casually against a shadowy pillar, his arms crossed over his chest. The God of Rebirth and Escape had an air of cool detachment, though his eyes glimmered with a silent warning.

"Great," Jason muttered under his breath, "just great." He tightened his grip on his gladius, not out of fear but out of sheer awkwardness. Percy caught Jason's eye, and they both had the same look: pure, unfiltered embarrassment.

"So," Zagreus started, his voice calm but with an edge to it, "you're the two guys our little brother is spending all his time with?"

Jason swallowed hard, feeling the weight of their stares. "Uh, yeah. That would be us."

Percy nodded quickly, though he suddenly became hyper-aware of how ridiculous they looked—still shirtless, Riptide barely shimmering in his hand, with nothing but boxer shorts and confused expressions to defend themselves.

Melinoë took a step forward, her presence cold, yet her voice was steady as she spoke. "Do you two understand who Nico is to us? Who he is to the Underworld?"

Percy's mouth opened, but no words came out immediately. Sure, he knew Nico was important—he had seen firsthand how powerful Nico could be. But the way she said it made it sound so much bigger, like they were talking about a king or a prince, not just their fiercely independent, slightly grumpy boyfriend.

Macaria's voice cut through the awkward silence, sharp as a blade. "We're here to make sure you understand one thing: if you hurt him—" her dark eyes pierced into Jason, then Percy "—we will make your afterlife Tartarus. Quite literally."

Percy blinked, feeling a bead of sweat trickle down the back of his neck. "I… uh… wouldn't dream of it." He glanced sideways at Jason, who nodded quickly in agreement.

"Yeah, we're—uh—on the same page. No hurting Nico. Got it," Jason added, clearly trying to keep his voice steady.

Zagreus, watching the exchange with an amused grin, stepped forward, eyeing them both. "You see, Nico's been through more than any demigod should have to. You two, well... let's just say we'll be keeping an eye on you. And if anything happens…" He didn't finish the sentence, but the implication hung heavily in the air.

Percy cleared his throat, finally finding his voice. "Look, we care about Nico—a lot. We wouldn't—couldn't—hurt him. You've got our word on that."

Jason nodded firmly. "Nico's not just some lover to us. He's… well, he's everything."

Melinoë leaned in slightly, her smile both eerie and satisfied. "Words are as sweet as honey, but they get carried away by wind quite easily. And if you fail him, there will be no second chances." Her words felt final, echoing in the space between them. "Perhaps, it would be prudent to remind you of a few things." She glanced at her siblings, and they took the cue.

Macaria stepped forward, her eyes locking onto Jason. "You see," she said calmly, "the Fields of Punishment have a few new developments. I've been perfecting a method where every breath you take sears your lungs as if you're inhaling molten lava." Her voice was eerily conversational, like she was discussing her latest hobby.

Jason gulped, eyes widening, but he said nothing.

"And there's my personal favorite," Melinoë added, her gaze sliding to Percy. "Eternal nightmares where you're hunted by your deepest fears… except, there's no waking up. Ever." The grin that flickered across her face sent shivers down Percy's spine.

Zagreus, who had been more laid-back until now, smiled faintly. "Oh, I've got a few ideas myself. Ever heard of the wheel of Ixion? Except I've made some… improvements."

The room seemed to shrink, the weight of their words pressing in on Percy and Jason. Both boys stood frozen, horrified at the mental image of these underworld horrors awaiting them if they slipped up.

Just when the tension reached an unbearable peak, the door slammed open with a gust of cold air.

"What in the name of Tartarus is going on here?" Hades thundered, his deep voice reverberating through the room. His black robes billowed out as though propelled by a storm, and his eyes burned with otherworldly intensity. He glared at his children, each of whom straightened up like guilty teenagers caught sneaking out after curfew.

Macaria, Melinoë, and Zagreus fumbled for words, their intimidating façades quickly dissolving under their father's fierce scrutiny. "We were just… talking," Melinoë said, her confidence fading rapidly.

Hades raised a brow, unimpressed. "Talking? About what? Scaring these two half to death?"

"Uh, well…" Zagreus started but trailed off when Hades' glare intensified.

"To your rooms. Now," Hades commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"But—" Macaria began, only to be cut off by the stern wave of Hades' hand.

"I said, now," he repeated, with the same finality that could seal the gates of the Underworld itself.

Grumbling under their breath, the three deities shuffled out of the room like chastised teenagers, shooting Percy and Jason a look that said, this isn't over.

The door closed behind them with a soft click, leaving Percy and Jason alone with the god of the Underworld. For a fleeting moment, they both sighed in relief, but that feeling vanished as Hades turned back to them.

The air in the room seemed to drop several degrees as Hades crossed his arms and loomed over them, his expression unreadable. "Now," he said in a low, dangerous voice, "what is this I hear about the two of you 'deflowering' my bambino?"

Jason swallowed hard, while Percy mentally kicked himself for letting that slip. "Uh… it's not what it sounds like, Lord Hades," Percy began, desperately hoping he could dig them out of the hole they were currently in.

"Yeah, it's just, um… bad phrasing," Jason added quickly, forcing a nervous laugh. "We're in a, uh, committed relationship with Nico. It's all very, um… respectful?"

Hades' eyes narrowed, clearly unimpressed. "Respectful," he repeated, as though tasting the word. "We'll see about that."

Hades straightened to his full height, towering over Percy and Jason, his form casting an ominous shadow over them, even in the cozy penthouse. His glare could have frozen fire as he crossed his arms over his chest. Percy and Jason, still in their boxers and wielding their weapons like they'd been expecting an ambush, both suddenly felt very underdressed. The fact that they were shivering had nothing to do with the temperature and everything to do with Hades' stare that made even Tartarus seem welcoming.

"I won't repeat myself," Hades growled, his voice dripping with a mix of paternal fury and ancient, bone-chilling authority. "Explain yourselves."

Percy, always quicker with words (even if they weren't the best ones), managed to stammer, "Uh, w-we didn't do anything wrong—"

"Yeah," Jason chimed in, but his voice cracked slightly. "Nico… he, uh, he deflowered us too, if that helps?"

The room fell into an awkward, stifling silence. Percy and Jason exchanged panicked looks, realizing that maybe, just maybe, mentioning anything about "deflowering" to the literal God of the Underworld was not their brightest moment. They both snapped their mouths shut, hoping Hades wouldn't literally melt them into shadows on the spot.

Hades' expression didn't soften. If anything, the look of restrained fury in his eyes grew. He pinched the bridge of his nose as if he couldn't believe he was having this conversation. The God of the Dead was not amused. "My son," Hades hissed, "deserves better than to be dragged into your ridiculous mortal entanglements."

Percy blinked, taken aback. "W-we're not dragging him into anything—"

"Do you understand what you've done? You're not just 'dating,' Jackson. You're involved with the prince of the Underworld." Hades' voice echoed with a power that reminded them just how ancient he was. "My son has been through enough without you two treating him like a conquest!"

Jason, summoning all the courage he had left, straightened up. "Sir, with all due respect—"

"None taken," Hades cut him off, his dark eyes narrowing.

Jason swallowed but pressed on, glancing at Percy for support. "Nico is his own person. And we... we really care about him. We're not treating him like a conquest or... or some prize. We both love him." His voice softened, more sincere than it had been all morning. "We'd never hurt him. Not on purpose."

Percy, nodding quickly, chimed in, "Yeah, Nico's been through so much. We know. And we—we just want to make him happy. Protect him. You know... the same way you do."

Hades tilted his head, considering their words. There was still cold fury in his expression, but now there was something else—an almost begrudging respect. His gaze flickered from Percy to Jason, as if weighing their sincerity.

"You think love is enough to protect him?" Hades' tone was quieter now but still heavy with warning. "You two are demigods. You bring danger with you wherever you go, just by existing. Do you think you can handle what it means to be with someone like Nico? The Underworld is not kind to those who cross it, and I won't stand by if my son is hurt."

The weight of his words settled over them like a storm cloud. Percy tightened his grip on Riptide, his knuckles white, not out of fear, but determination. "We're not afraid of danger, sir," Percy said, meeting Hades' gaze. "We've faced Gods, monsters, and survived. Nico's worth it. And we're not going to let him down."

Jason nodded in agreement, his eyes earnest. "Nico's been alone for too long. He's one of the strongest people we know, but he shouldn't have to be strong all the time. We want to be there for him. Always."

For a moment, Hades said nothing. His eyes bore into theirs, cold and unyielding. The tension was thick, the kind of silence that seemed to stretch on forever. Finally, Hades sighed, the sound less angry, more... weary.

"You two," he said slowly, "had better keep your promises. Nico may be strong, but he's also fragile. If you break his heart—if you so much as think about betraying him—" Hades paused, the room seeming to darken around him. "Let's just say, the torments I have in store for you will make eternity in Tartarus look like a summer camp."

Percy and Jason both paled, rooted on their spots.

The air shimmered, the chill of Hades' presence dissipating as the scent of flowers filled the room. A gentle warmth spread, and soft, golden light bathed the space. Percy and Jason barely had time to register what was happening before a new figure appeared—Persephone.

The Queen of the Underworld strode in, her delicate steps somehow radiating both grace and immense power. She looked at Hades, who had stopped mid-fade, his imposing demeanor faltering slightly on her arrival. With a raised brow and a faint smile that held no small amount of amusement, she crossed her arms.

"Hades, darling, what exactly are you doing?" she asked, her tone sweet but with an edge that could slice through stone.

Hades, the fearsome Lord of the Dead, actually looked sheepish. He cleared his throat and straightened his robe, though he seemed reluctant to meet her eyes. "I was… simply ensuring that Nico's well-being is taken seriously," he muttered, a touch of defensiveness creeping into his voice.

Persephone let out a small, knowing sigh and shook her head. "By terrifying them with elaborate torture methods? Really, love?" She stepped closer, resting a hand on his arm. "They don't need that kind of encouragement."

Hades grumbled, his shoulders slumping ever so slightly. "They need to understand the consequences…"

Persephone's gaze softened as she looked up at him, her fingers brushing gently against his sleeve. "And they do," she said softly. "But that's enough. Let's not traumatize the poor boys more than necessary, hmm?"

Percy and Jason, who had been standing frozen like statues, exchanged a glance. The shift in atmosphere was so dramatic, they almost felt like they had whiplash. They weren't sure whether to be relieved or even more terrified, but watching Hades, the literal god of death, look like he'd just been scolded by his wife was surreal.

Hades let out a long sigh, the intimidating edge of his posture dissolving. "Fine," he muttered, clearly trying to maintain some semblance of authority, though it was rapidly crumbling. "But I meant what I said."

Persephone smiled, patting his arm affectionately before turning her attention to Percy and Jason. "I'm sure these two understand perfectly," she said warmly, her voice a soothing balm after the storm. "Don't you, boys?"

"Absolutely!" Jason blurted out, standing a little too straight, his face pale but determined.

"Crystal clear," Percy added quickly, giving his most sincere nod.

Persephone gave them a reassuring smile, her eyes sparkling with a kindness that Hades' children had not shown. "Good. Nico is very dear to us both. I trust you'll take care of him with the love and respect he deserves."

"Always," Jason repeated, his voice firmer this time, though his heart was still pounding in his chest.

"Of course," Percy echoed, sounding just as serious.

Persephone nodded approvingly, then shot a playful look back at Hades. "See, darling? No need for all the doom and gloom."

Percy and Jason both paled, nodding furiously.

"Understood. Completely, sir," Jason managed to squeak out.

"No hurting Nico. Got it," Percy added, holding his hands up in surrender.

"See that you don't. For all of our sakes." Hades finally relaxed his posture, his arms falling to his sides. He gave them a piercing look. "Nico is... precious to me," he murmured, his tone softening for the first time. "Take care of him."

The moment felt oddly intimate, a rare glimpse into Hades' love for his son, and it left Percy and Jason speechless.

Percy and Jason let out a collective breath they didn't realize they'd been holding. The weight of his warning still hung in the air, and both boys were doing their best not to tremble. But just as they thought they'd survived the worst of it, Persephone gave them a smile full of warmth.

"Now, boys!" Persephone's voice chimed like a bell. Dressed in a flowing dress of greens and golds, her eyes sparkled with something far more terrifying than Hades' wrath: excitement.

Jason and Percy stiffened again, exchanging wide-eyed glances. Their terror wasn't the monster-fighting, battle kind of fear—it was the dread of being trapped in a situation they had no control over.

"Oh no," Percy muttered under his breath, barely audible to Jason, who simply nodded in silent agreement. "We're screwed."

Persephone wasted no time, her gaze sweeping over them both. "Oh, you two!" she cooed, clasping her hands together as if she was admiring a pair of adorable kittens. "Just look at you! I've always thought you and Nico were perfect for each other, but this? This is even better than I imagined!"

Jason blinked rapidly, his face paling as Persephone leaned in, her face filled with joy. Percy's eyes darted toward Hades, hoping—no, begging—that maybe, just maybe, the God would have mercy and pull them out of this. But Hades, standing just at the edge of the shadows, wore the smuggest smirk Percy had ever seen on him.

"You two got this," Hades seemed to silently say with his expression. Then, with a final, almost gleeful glance, he vanished into the darkness, leaving them alone with the goddess of spring and death.

Percy mouthed a silent "traitor" in Hades' direction before turning back to face their new reality.

"Jersico," Persephone continued, her voice lilting with excitement as she circled them like a fan who had just spotted her favorite actors. "I've shipped you three since forever. You guys are the ultimate power trio! Nico's strength and dark mystery, Jason's golden boy charm, and Percy's lovable, heroic self... Oh! It's just too perfect!"

Jason visibly winced at the word "shipped." His fingers nervously fidgeted with the hem of his boxer waistband. "I… uh... thanks?"

Percy, always one to use humor as a defense mechanism, let out a shaky laugh. "Yeah, totally. Who doesn't love a good power trio, am I right?"

"Right!" Persephone's enthusiasm didn't falter for a second. "And Nico! Oh, my sweet boy, he's always had it so rough. But now he has both of you to love and protect him! He must be over the moon!"

Jason opened his mouth, probably to make some kind of excuse, but the words didn't come. He just stared at her in horror, trying to find something—anything—to say.

"Yeah, over the moon," Percy echoed, trying to shake off his own rising panic. "Totally, he's, uh, he's probably super... over it."

But Persephone wasn't done. "And don't get me started on how aesthetically pleasing you three are together!" she continued, raising her hands in a dramatic gesture. "The imagery of light and dark! The perfect balance! Honestly, I could write a whole ballad about it."

Jason turned an even brighter shade of red, his gaze darting toward Percy for help, but Percy was just as frozen in place, trying to plaster on a smile.

"Please, make her stop," Jason muttered out of the corner of his mouth.

"I'm trying!" Percy whispered back through clenched teeth.

But Persephone wasn't even close to stopping. She clasped her hands together, eyes practically gleaming with pride. "When you all showed up in my Underworld palace last year—Nico leading you through those dangerous tunnels—I knew something magical was happening. It was destiny!"

"Destiny, yep. Totally," Jason stammered, nodding frantically as he backed up half a step, bumping into Percy. "Love destiny. Big fan."

"I—uh—yeah, love destiny too," Percy chimed in, wincing as his voice cracked.

Persephone took a step closer, absolutely beaming. "The Gods don't usually care about mortal relationships, but when I see something this perfect—oh, it's like a fairy tale! My heart swells with joy every time I think about how the three of you make Nico so happy."

Percy rubbed the back of his neck nervously, glancing at Jason. "Uh, Jason? Maybe you should, um—"

But before Jason could even attempt to speak, Persephone placed her hands on both of their shoulders, her gaze softening with motherly affection. "Promise me one thing, boys," she said, her voice now tinged with an almost eerie seriousness. "Take care of him. Nico deserves the world—and then some. If you two ever... ever hurt him... Well, let's just say that what I did to Ares would pale in comparison to what I'll do the moment I get my hands on you."

Both boys paled instantly, their heads bobbing up and down in unison like bobbleheads.

"Yes, ma'am," Jason croaked.

"Got it," Percy added weakly, swallowing hard.

Persephone's smile returned, bright and sunny once again. She clapped her hands together like it had all just been a lighthearted chat. "Good! Well, I'm off to my gardens. Do let me know when you three have your first official date. I'll make sure to send a basket of ambrosia treats."

With that, she waved, disappearing in a swirl of flower petals and light, leaving Percy and Jason standing there—stunned, speechless, and very much traumatized.

After a few beats of silence, Jason turned slowly to Percy. "I take it back," he said, his voice still shaky. "I'd rather have Hades lecture us again."

Percy nodded, wide-eyed. "Same."

They both stood there in their boxers, weapons still in hand, looking like they'd just survived a particularly harrowing battle. And, in a way, they had. Only this one was far worse than fighting any monster.

Later that day, when Nico walked through the door of the penthouse, he was greeted by an unexpected sight—Jason and Percy sitting on the couch, pale-faced and looking like they'd just been through a war zone. Their hair was a mess, and they both clutched throw pillows to their chests like shields. Jason's normally confident posture was slouched, and Percy, of all people, looked downright haunted. It was as if the weight of the world—or at least the weight of one very enthusiastic goddess—had crushed their usually unshakable bravado.

The moment they spotted Nico, their eyes lit up with a mix of desperation and relief, as if he were their only salvation. Nico paused in the doorway, one eyebrow raising slowly. "Okay... what happened?"

Jason pointed at Percy, who immediately shot back, "Don't pin this all on me! You were there too!"

Jason sighed dramatically, dropping the pillow to the side. "Okay, fine. I'll say it. We just got ambushed by your family."

Nico frowned, confused. "Ambushed? By who?"

"Oh, just your charming siblings—Melinoë, Macaria, Zagreus—and your dad," Jason explained, crossing his arms as if that detail alone should make everything clear.

Nico's face paled slightly. "Wait, they showed up? Here?" he asked, his voice edged with disbelief, though there was a hint of a smirk forming at the corner of his lips.

Percy, sitting up a little straighter now, nodded furiously. "No. They shadowtraveled us to the Underworld! While we were half-naked, I might add. Just laying here, minding our business in our boxers, when—bam—we get shadow-traveled to meet your siblings. They gave us the shovel talk from Tartarus, Nico. The shovel talk!"

Nico crossed his arms, a smug grin creeping onto his face as he watched Percy's animated retelling. "And what exactly did they say?"

Jason groaned, flopping dramatically back against the couch, clearly still reeling from the experience. "It wasn't just what they said, it was how they said it. Like... they made it sound like they had plans for us—detailed plans—about how they would personally make our afterlives hell if we ever hurt you. Melinoë gave me the creeps."

Nico snorted. "Yeah, that sounds like Melinoë." He was clearly amused, but he tried to hide it. "They mean well, you know."

"Mean well?" Jason scoffed, throwing his hands up. "They threatened to haunt us for eternity, Nico! Your dad even accused us of... you know, deflowering you."

Percy sat up again, looking equally scandalized. "And then Jason here decides to throw me under the bus and tells him you deflowered us!"

Jason grinned sheepishly. "I panicked, okay?"

At that, Nico burst into laughter, doubling over as he tried to catch his breath. Percy and Jason exchanged incredulous looks, clearly not finding the humor in the situation.

"Oh Gods... I can't believe..." Nico gasped, still laughing. "I leave for one meeting, and you guys get into this much trouble?"

"It's not funny!" Jason protested, though his lips twitched as if he was trying to fight a smile. "Hades was actually grinning as he watched us squirm. And then, when we thought it was finally over, Persephone shows up!"

Percy groaned, rubbing his temples. "Don't even remind me about that."

Nico's laughter slowed, though his smirk remained firmly in place. "Wait, what did Persephone say?"

"She didn't just say anything," Jason mumbled, looking utterly defeated. "She... she fangirled over us. Like, full-on shipping us like we're characters in some romance novel."

"'Jersico,'" Percy added miserably. "She even called us by our ship name—Jersico. She was so into it, Nico. I swear, she's planning our wedding or something."

Nico chuckled, clearly enjoying this far too much. "Jersico, huh?" he teased. "Well, at least now I know she approves."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Approve? Nico, she was ready to throw us a party. She said she'd make ambrosia treats for our first official date."

"Oh," Nico said with a mock-serious expression, "you're definitely going to that date now."

"Great," Percy muttered, sinking deeper into the couch. "We've got the queen of the Underworld planning our romantic outings. What could possibly go wrong?"

Nico leaned against the wall, arms crossed as he watched them both, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "You know, Bianca still hasn't given you guys the shovel talk."

The air in the room shifted instantly. Percy and Jason, who had been mildly recovering from their ordeal, stiffened like deer caught in headlights.

"What?" Percy said, his voice squeaking a little. "Bianca? She... she wouldn't, right?"

Nico shrugged, trying to keep a straight face, but the corners of his lips betrayed him. "Oh, she absolutely would. And trust me, you guys aren't ready for it."

Jason turned to Percy, eyes wide with panic. "We have to run."

Percy nodded, equally serious. "Yep. Run. Fast."

Nico's laughter filled the room again, and for the first time that day, both Percy and Jason couldn't help but grin. Despite the torment from Nico's family, it felt good to be here, together, and even better to hear Nico laughing so freely.

"You're lucky I like you two," Nico finally said, moving to stand in front of them. He bent down, placing a kiss on both their foreheads before straightening up again. "Otherwise, I would've joined in on the shovel talk."

Percy grinned, his mood visibly lifting. "Yeah, but you love us, so you won't."

Jason smirked. "Right?"

Nico pretended to think about it for a moment before grinning. "Yeah, I guess you're right." He paused before adding, "Just don't push your luck."

With that, he turned and headed towards his room, leaving Percy and Jason still sprawled on the couch, now smiling at each other.

"Okay," Jason said after a beat, "I think we survived the worst of it."

"Yeah," Percy agreed, "until Bianca finds us."

Jason groaned, grabbing the nearest pillow and tossing it over his face. "Don't remind me."