Better Than Drugs

thinking about Nico starting to grow a beard before Jason and not caring about having to shave until Jason offers to do it for him, and then ofc Jason buys a whole kit with many razor blades, shaving foam, aftershave and more things like that that Jason doesn't even know what they're for. Anyway, the image of Nico sitting on the closed toilet and paralyzed while Jason fills his face with the foam and shaves him very serious and focused, and nico can't stop staring at him... this is doing something to me ok??

a late entry, but heavy contender for tik tok of the year

Imagine #118

Imagine Percy and Nico being soulmates, but Nico never put in the Lotus with Bianca. Nico grows up knowing something is missing and training to be the one of the prophecy. He eventually finds the Lotus hotel on a quest and ends up trapped, because he’s a loner. Percy goes on his first quest, but this time he has been warned of the Hotel because Chirion knows it attracts children of the big three now. (Due to Nico) When Percy encounters the hotel with Annabeth and Grover they still enter because they’re exhausted. Nico is now Percy’s age and when the two meet. Percy talks to Nico long enough for Nico to remember more of his past and the two escape with Annabeth and Grover. The four complete the quest without a hitch, Nico having the ability to calm his father and convince him to release Sally. The four then confront Ares and Nico gives Percy his pink triangle he received back in his own time when Annabeth gives her camp necklace and Grover gives the tin can. The four fly to return the lightning bolt, Percy and Nico comforting each other due to fear of air travel. They go to Olympus and things play out like in the books, with the exception of Zeus being “ugh. Hades’s brat is alive?!” Percy defends Nico and Poseidon is like, “You should probably go, Percy.” Then, Percy checks on his mom. They then go back to camp and all four are honored. Nico is astounded by the demigods and has a hard time processing everything, especially the slang. Chiron welcomes Nico back and the two share an emotional bonding moment that everyone is like, ‘daww’ at. Luke betrays Percy in the same way he did in the actual books. Then, at the end of the book, Percy asks if Nico can come live with him and Sally and Sally says yes. The two go to school together and its cute.

Second book plays out as normal, with the only exception being Nico sneaks out with Tyson, Annabeth, and Percy. (And Nico has to be comforted by Percy due to fear of water that’s similar to the fear of the air). Thalia is returned to a living state and the children of the big three kind-of clash, but not really because all three are there and Nico becomes a kind-of mediator.

Then, Bianca is released from the Lotus. Thalia, Nico, Percy, and Annabeth are sent when Grover IM’s about her. Nico recognizes her immediately and wants to run to his sister, but is held back by Percy, who tries his best to explain that she wouldn’t remember him. Nico knows this to be true but still hates it. Percy goes to rescue Bianca and Annabeth falls off the cliff. Artemis saves them and Apollo informs everyone of not only Thalia’s age, but Nico’s as well.

Nico, apparently, now has the same birthday as Percy and they are both the same age. The two find this cool and just high-five. Though Apollo is seen glaring at the back of the bus (where Eros sits invisible shooting an arrow in Nico). Nico idolizes Percy for a bit there because of how brave he was in defending his sister. Then, Nico starts to hate himself for feeling his feelings. (Remember the era he grew up in.)

Percy follows the hunters and grover on the quest, and promises Nico a similar promise as in the book, because, “While I can’t keep her safe or make her remember, you can at least keep her safe. Promise me, Percy!” When Percy returns and has to give the news of Bianca, it crushes Nico. And, were it not for the deep friendships he had already formed he would have likely run to Sally. Percy comforts Nico as best he can, and Chirion permits Nico to raise Bianca. Percy then gains the idea of contacting the Hunt and having them say their goodbyes to Zoe. Nico thinks this is a great idea and Chirion contacts Artemis. 

They contact Bianca first, in-case she had anything to say to Zoe. Bianca remembers Nico,albeit faintly and the two share a “What might have been” moment before everyone else says goodbye to her. Then she leaves with a Thank you and telling Percy to not feel guilty (though everyone can tell he totally does)

Then they contact Zoe and a lot of the people cry. After everyone finishes (Annabeth ends up asking about the one-battle-i-can’t-remember-the-name-of for her dad, which Zoe finds sweet and gives percies details) 

After the goodbyes are finished and Zoe is sent off Artemis thanks Nico and actually gives him a hug. (Whispering in his ear, “I know it hurts, but we both must move on.”) Everyone is stunned by this but most see it similar to when Thalia hugged Percy. (Platonic hugs are the best things ever.)

Then, Percy and Nico head back to Sally and finish off the school year.

The fourth Book is changed, simply due to Nico not running. So this gets a bit complicated to imagine. Let’s just say, Percy, Annabeth, Tyson, Grover, and Nico all go on the quest. Nico runs away after admitting his feelings  and being scared of them. They run into him with Minos who is telling him lies. Percy convinces Nico to come with them. Rachel Elizabeth Dare is necessary. Pretty much the rest of the book is the same except Nico stays at camp at the end Percy ends up on Calypso’s Island she helps him figure out his feelings for Nico and during this she falls for him (he still grows a garden in New York to honor her) and Percico becomes a couple during the next school year because they both like eachother and Percy  shows him different cultural things like, “Hey, It’s okay to be Gay.“ 

Sword of Hades happens, and Nico comes back to Sally’s house after dealing with the Bob situation. Now, Nico and Percy have to deal with sharing the prophecy and Nico convinces Percy to bathe in the Styx. Sally gives approval. (And this time Percy isn’t captured by Hades because Nico would have memories of his mom (including Zeus killing her) and Hades understands they will share the prophecy.) Nico is what thethers Percy to the world. 

Then Last Olympian pretty much plays out the same way, but Nico convinces his father, a bit easier, to help fight for Olympus. 

Nico ends up with Percy and helps Luke make the decision. He then travels to the Underworld to garentee Luke to get whichever spot in the Undewrold he wanted. 

At the celbration, Nico and Percy come out as couple to camp (cupcake scene and underwater kiss cannot be stolen from Percy) 

Then Lost Hero happens and Nico reports back to Sally whenever he is not searching. He ends up in the underworld a few times and finds Hazel. He saves her and Hades guides him to be Pluto’s Ambassador. 

During SoN, Percy remembers Nico. When he sees Nico he demands information and Nico tells him honestly and Percy can see the pain and sincerity in Nico’s eys “I wish I could tell you, but I can’t. You need to find out on your own, no matter how much this hurts I’m sorry.” Percy doesn’t like it, but accepts it after Nico begins to have tears stream down his face.

When Percy regains his memories in SoN, he gets frustrated at Nico but understands and cares about him a ton.

Annabeth is still the one of the seven and she was still worried. (Hey, you have that close of a friendship with someone, wouldn’t you judo flip them for being gone that long?) The seven end up sailing and MoA happens. (Only there is a kiss when Nico and Percy are reunited.) Percy still cares about Annabeth and still ends up helping her (because, again their best friends. Come on. Platonic love exists people!) So, then Percy and Annabeth still fall into Tatarus. Nico and Percy shout ‘I love you’s as Percy falls, both sobbing and Annabeth shocked Percy would fall with her. 

Nico leads them to the House of Hades (Cupid sequence is Nico admitting he still feels like he shouldn’t like guys in that way and cupid being a freaking nice character and actually helping Nico with his feelings, and Jason being a good person and accepting Nico and becoming his friend though discussion and shared experience.) 

House of Hades then on happens similar to how it did in the book, but with platonic-still-deeply-care-about-eachother-just-not-romantically-okay-Percabeth instead of romantic-lets-kiss-type Percabeth. When Nico learns about Bob he freaks out and just Nico-sadness. 

Then, Nico volunteers to Shadow Travel with Reyna and Coach to get the Athena Pathenos to camp. Percy doesn’t want him to leave, but Nico promises to see him soon. (Kiss moment) Then the three leave and the seven are off to Athens.

Blood of Olympus happens (but with more actual blood.) Annabeth and Percy get seriously injured (though they don’t die) and when Apollo gets there he can partially heal them, but they cannot fight geia directly due to the sheer amount of injuries. (Plus he’s like “Woah! You two need to talk to me later because I need to physco analyze you. Tatarus did some serious crap to you two. And Nico went there too? Gosh dammit, take him along to. when you meet with me, okay?”) (So, there, reason for no direct fighting) When the giants were fighting frank, the one with control over fire almost burned his stick to a crisp, so he decides to sit out the direct battle, due to the “Storm or FIRE” part of the prophecy. Everyone is pretty much okay with this because, “WE CAN’t LET YOU DIE FRANK” Hazel, however, climbs on Festus and helps destroy Mother Earth. She uses the soil in the airborne body of Gaia to morph the earth goddess and make her more vulnerable. Piper works on Lulling her back to sleep with a lullaby so strong most wear earplugs. (Plus, Leo helped by giving her megaphone) Leo works on his fire part. Nico is still fading from shadow travel, but he, along with Percy, Annabeth, Tyson, Grover, Frank, and Reyna convince the two camps to stop fighting, though there have already been many casualties. (Most well known being Clarisse, having died protecting one of the younger campers (whom she had earlier been teasing) who had snuck up to help fight. Octavian fires himself, though many try to stop him. Jason flies Hazel and Piper to the ground in time and Leo promises to jump and says him “you’ll have to catch me” line from Lost Hero. Leo doesn’t jump and with the combined efforts of Hazel, Jason, Piper, Festus, and the two sacrifices of Octavian and Leo Geia is defeated.

Leo saves Calypso from Oygia and the two return to camp to find his memorial being presented by Nico with the 7 and coach hedge speaking on his behalf. The two wait until Coach finishes to enter the area. Annabeth just cries out, “NOT AGAIN” (Because of Percy and MT. St helens) and Nico chuckles. Piper punches Leo in the face after he makes a joke and the 7 + Nico and Coach hedge give him hugs. Calypso and Percy fist bump and Percy apologizes for not following up with the gods. 

Then, Celebration is had for Leo’s return and Nico and Percy make sure the two get dumped in the lake for their initiation. 

I make a post about how smut writers shouldn't be discouraged if their smut has a low hits to kudos ratio, because people are just afraid to kudos smut.

I get told in response that AKTUALLY smut has a low kudos to hits ratio because people are re-reading that smut.

I make a post about how if you're re-reading a fic a lot you should tell the author because they won't know that and will think no one likes their fic.

I get told that authors should just ASSUME that it's re-reads without needing to be told.

I post a smut fic that gets 100+ hits in its first 24 hours of posting (therefor no re-reads counted) and this smut fic with 100+ hits gets zero kudos.

I make a post about how if you read a fic on AO3 it creates a 'hit' and if the author gets a lot of hits without kudos or comments or response, the author will assume no one liked their fic.

I get told that authors should just ASSUME that everyone who clicks their fic likes it, without needing to be told that.

I make a post reminding people that fanfiction authors are not mind readers and that there's no way for them to tell a hit from a person who clicked a fic by mistake, or hated the fic, from a hit from a person who liked it, and if you don't tell the author you liked their fic they will assume you didn't.

I get told that authors aren't entitled to comments or kudos, or to a certain ratio of kudos to hits.

NO SHIT.

But if they don't get comments or kudos, they're gonna assume ya'll didn't like the fic!

To all my writers who have a tough time with smut terms and not knowing which ones to use, I have found the holy grail for us.

This reddit user took a poll of 3,500 people and went really in depth with asking their favorite terminology, along with actual pie charts on what the readers preferred to see in their smut.

Here's the direct link to the Google doc with all the info!

Prólogo, Segundo Arco - Refulgente (Amor de Babá)

Oii, como vai? Eu estava revisando a história e decidi colocar o texto aqui. Eu gostei tanto desse pedacinho, acho ele bem interessante. Espero que vocês gostem.

Annabeth entrou na sala e olhou ao redor, era a segunda vez que ela tinha que vir atrás de Percy em menos de um mês. Haviam garrafas e latas por todos os cantos, livros jogados ao chão, roupas espalhadas pelo cômodo e outras coisas que ela preferia não analisar. Ela não acreditava que depois de dez anos ainda tinha que bancar a babá de Percy. Ela chutou algumas latas para fora do caminho e marchou até o sofá onde Percy dormia. Pegou a bolsa dela, preparada para acordá-lo da forma mais dolorosa quando olhou para o sofá; Percy Jackson dormia com as mãos debaixo da cabeça e de pernas abertas, penduradas para fora do assento. Pelado. Mostrando tudo sem pudor algum; não que ele tivesse motivos para se esconder. Agora ela lembrava porque tinha casado com ele. Bem, Percy nunca decepcionava, mesmo tão… desleixado.

Isso era ridículo, ela estava velha demais para isso. Annabeth iria acabar com isso logo de uma vez e fazer o que tinha vindo fazer.

— Percy, querido. Você quer mais uma garrafa? — Ela escutou uma voz feminina vindo da cozinha.

Não, isso já era demais. Percy tinha trazido uma mulher para a casa onde os filhos dela moravam?

— Quem é você? — Annabeth marchou em direção a cozinha e enfim pode ver a garota. Porque era isso o que ela era; alta, esbelta, cabelos ondulados, pele morena e profundos olhos escuros. Isso a fazia lembrar de um certo alguém.

— Rox. Namorada do Percy. — A garota sorriu e estendeu a mão, ela não podia ter mais do que vinte e três, estourando vinte e cinco anos, idade que um certo alguém tinha agora.

— Não, você não é. Porque eu sou a esposa dele. Se você puder recolher suas coisas e se retirar, ficaríamos gratos. — Annabeth apenas continuou olhando para ela, nenhum pouco impressionada e observou com um prazer ácido o sorriso sumir do rosto da garota, as feições sorridentes sendo substituídas por uma expressão triste que não enganava ninguém.

— Percy me disse que… que ele estava se divorciando e que… 

— Ele ia ficar com você?

— Ele me disse que a gente podia se conhecer e… curtir junto. Eu não esperava que ele fosse chamar a ex dele para me expulsar.

— Você sabe como os homens são. Não dá pra confiar neles, querida. Agora, se você me permite. — Annabeth deu as costas à garota e entrou na sala mais uma vez. Ela recolheu do chão um vestido vermelho e saltos altos finos, os levou até a garota que estava esperando no pé da porta de saída e entregou a ela. Bem, ela meio que jogou os pertences na cara dela.

— Não é nada pessoal, mas isso não daria certo.

— E por que não? — A garota enfim pareceu recuperar a voz. Ela endireitou a coluna e empinou a cabeça, olhando Annabeth nos olhos, se aproximando feito uma pantera circulando a presa.

— Você é apenas a substituta. Algo… passageiro, tão fugaz que ele nem vai lembrar de você quando acordar.

— Você… você não tem o direito! — A garota bateu o pé e olhou para Annabeth com os olhos cheios de lágrimas.

— Como eu disse, não é nada pessoal. Se você gosta tanto dele, por que você não liga para Percy? Ah, você não tem o número dele, tem?

Annabeth viu o rosto choroso da mulher se transformar em uma máscara furiosa, desfigurada de ira, e deu um passo para trás, se preparando.

— Ben! — Annabeth gritou. Em um momento onde antes não havia ninguém, um homem alto e musculoso, vestindo um terno preto apareceu por debaixo das escadas e parou ao lado de Annabeth, bloqueando o caminho entre as duas mulheres. — Você poderia levar essa… senhorita até a saída e se certificar de que ela deixou as premissas da propriedade?

— Sim, senhora. — Ben, o guarda-costas de Annabeth, pegou no braço de Rox e a levou para fora da casa sem questionar a ordem, e bem menos do que delicadamente. Ele a colocou dentro do carro parado em frente a entrada, sendo possível escutar os gritos de fúria e irritação da mulher, com ela ainda vestindo apenas uma camisa longa e segurando as roupas na mão.

— Bem melhor agora. — Annabeth, então, se virou e marchou para dentro da sala, pegou uma almofada e bateu com ela até Percy se mover e arrancar a almofada de suas mãos.

— Ah, ainda fingindo? Sei muito bem que você escutou tudo. Seu idiota! Desde quando você traz essas pessoas para dentro de casa, hein? — Ela pegou mais uma almofada e bateu de novo em Percy e ele apenas… deixou, até que Annabeth se cansasse e se sentasse ao lado dele no sofá. 

Ela se sentou na pontinha, levantou a cabeça de Percy e a colocou no colo dela, suspirando exausta. — Quando você vai crescer e parar de birra?

— Eu não fiz nada de errado.

Esse era o problema.

Annabeth gemeu de ansiedade e revirou os olhos, parece que eles tinham voltado para o passado quando Percy estava de coração partido e ela como um dos poucos amigos que ele tinha teria que consolá-lo. Annabeth olhou para o rosto de Percy e até o olhar triste e a expressão melancólica estavam lá; ela tinha esquecido que havia existido um tempo onde eles não tinham se casado ainda e onde o dinheiro e influência não ditava suas vidas.

— Percy, o que você está fazendo?

Não, ela não podia olhar para ele. Ahg! Percy dirigiu aqueles olhos verdes cheios de emoção a ela, e Annabeth se sentiu derreter. Mas era um olhar tão triste que ela não viu outra alternativa senão ser derrotada pela nostalgia. Antes que Annabeth pudesse pensar, seus dedos pousaram sobre os cabelos de Percy e começaram a deslizar por eles, o afagando como costumava fazer no passado.

— Per, você precisa sair de casa. Até seus pais estão preocupados.

— Isso é novidade. — Ele murmurou, seu olhar perdido, fixo no teto da sala, distante e vazio.

— Eles te amam.

— Eles te pediram para vir aqui? 

— Não, eles me pediram para ver se você estava vivo.

Percy soltou uma risada seca e se virou para ela, Annabeth sendo acertada em cheio bem no meio do peito. Agora ela se lembrava porque tinha casado com Percy; ele podia ser charmoso, encantador e até um pouco misterioso mesmo depois de todo esse tempo, mas ele também era teimoso e egoísta, como qualquer outro homem que tinha sido educado para liderar. Ela ficava contente de saber que Percy ainda lutava contra o sistema.

— Sei que você está sofrendo, mas você precisa se levantar. Você não pensa nas crianças?

— Não seja dramática. — Ele disse a Annabeth, abrindo um belo sorriso charmoso. — Elas vão ficar com meus pais durante o fim de semana. Mas já que você espantou minha transa fácil, você deve assumir a responsabilidade.

Em câmera lenta, Annabeth observou a mão grande de Percy vir em sua direção e segurar em seus cabelos, se fincando contra sua nuca e puxar sua cabeça para baixo, a fazendo lembrar de… não! Ela já tinha feito isso uma vez e não faria novamente. Tinha sido um erro antes e era um erro agora. E antes que algo sério pudesse acontecer, ela segurou no braço de Percy, mas não antes de sentir o cheiro de álcool.

— Você está bêbado. — Ela murmurou descontente. Annabeth pensou que talvez ele estivesse tendo uma recaída, mas era apenas o desespero da angústia batendo na porta. Tão carente. Percy e drogas nunca era uma boa combinação. Ah, se o perfeito Nico estivesse aqui para ver seu querido Percy agir assim. Ela devia contar para ele já que eles iriam jantar com as crianças e Reyna na próxima noite?

— Isso é uma surpresa pra você? — Ele disse, parecendo sorrir ainda mais com a reação de Annabeth, como se a indignação dela o divertisse.

— Nós estamos de volta a isso? O que Nico diria se te visse assim?

— Ele nunca vai ver. Nico está ocupado demais sendo feliz.

— O que você está dizendo? — Pelo o que ela sabia, Nico estava tão infeliz quanto Percy, Nico apenas sabia fingir melhor.

— Ele tem um namorado agora. Um bom emprego. Um apartamento. Bons amigos. Por que ele precisaria de mim? — Annabeth sentiu o peito de Percy balançar e ele cobriu o próprio rosto, um som anasalado saindo com um soluço que balançou seu corpo por completo.

Era só o que faltava! Annabeth pensou, tentada a abandonar tudo e deixar esse homem pelado e de quase dois metros de altura chorar sozinho só para não ter que lidar com todo esse drama.

— Percy! Você não pode continuar assim!

— Você tem medo que eu faça alguma besteira, não é! Como eu fazia antes? E se eu fizer? O que te importa?

— Deuses! Você é tão melodramático! Nico sempre pergunta de você! Se você está bem, se você está comendo direito. É tão doce que me faz querer vomitar. Então, será que dá pra você levantar essa bunda pelada e falar com ele?

— Ele pergunta de mim? — A voz dele soava tão maravilhada que Annabeth acabou sorrindo.

Percy arrancou a mão do rosto e olhou para ela com tanta esperança que Annabeth não conseguiu segurar; Annabeth sorriu para Percy e voltou a massagear os cabelos dele.

— É claro que ele pergunta. Se ele não perguntasse, não seria o Nico que eu conheço.

— Mas eu… não. Eu não posso.

— Por que não?

— Ele era tão jovem, tão inocente. Eu brinquei com ele feito um boneco. Porque ninguém me disse nada? Porque ninguém me impediu! — agora ele estava todo angustiado de novo.

Percy se sentou no sofá em um pulo e enfiou as duas mãos nos próprios cabelos, os puxando com raiva. — Porque você não me impediu?

— Eu até tentei. Você me ouviu?

— Você… você foi tão cruel que eu pensei que… 

— Que eu estava com ciúme? Isso está abaixo de mim.

— Como eu pude? Como pude fazer isso com ele?

— Você queria se vingar de mim, se lembra?

Percy acenou, derrotado e angustiado, agora se levantando e começando a andar pela sala, chutando latas e garrafas, em todo seu esplendor pelado e ainda muito bem definido apesar de toda a bebida e abusos dos últimos anos. Annabeth se distraiu por um segundo e perdeu o momento em que Percy pegou um vaso e o jogou contra a parede.

— Eu sou um monstro! — Ele urrou e jogou outro vaso, esse cheio de água, fazendo o líquido voar em uma acrobacia até o fundo do cômodo.

— Percy, você apenas está bêbado. — Annabeth suspirou, exausta demais para pará-lo.

— E daí? Por que eu não posso ficar bêbado? Eu não sou perfeito!

— Eu nunca disse que você era.

— Por que você se deu o trabalho de vir aqui? Você já não fez o suficiente?

— Seu crianção! — Annabeth berrou com todas as forças que tinha e se levantou, encarando Percy bem de perto. — Seja homem! Vá atrás do que você quer e pare de preocupar as pessoas. Até as crianças já notaram, e se elas notaram, Nico também notou.

— Você acha que ele se importa?

— Sim. — Era mais um suspiro que vinha dela. — Por que você apenas… não leciona de novo? Você gosta de fazer isso, não? E se por acaso vocês se encontrassem pela faculdade, seria uma grande coincidência…

— Seria? — Ele perguntou, parecendo imaginar a cena.

— Sim, uma grande e inacreditável coincidência.

— Eu não tenho certeza.

— Percy. — Dessa vez, Annabeth tocou no ombro de Percy e o olhou nos olhos. — Nico não é mais uma criança, ele pode tomar as próprias decisões. Por que você não deixa que ele escolha ao invés de tomar a decisão por ele?

— Eu… nunca pensei nisso. Pensei que… que eu pudesse estar… 

— Forçando ele?

— Bem…

— Acho que você o subestima. Ele nunca foi forçado a nada.

— Não? — Percy murmurou, parecendo confuso. — Às vezes, parecia, sabe? Como se ele…  ele nunca tomava a iniciativa, então… 

— Você é mesmo um idiota. — Annabeth suspirou pela terceira vez e pegou sua bolsa do chão. — Por que você não volta ao mundo dos vivos e faz o que você mais sabe fazer?

— E o que seria isso?

— Ser irritante até que os outros façam o que você quer. Deu certo até agora, não deu?

Annabeth sorriu zombadora e deu as costas a Percy, mas antes de ir embora, disse:

— Só não esqueça de colocar umas calças.

— Qual o problema? — Percy gritou enquanto Annabeth se afastava. — Não é como se você não tivesse visto antes!

— Eu vi, mas não sei se o coitado do Nico está pronto tão cedo!

Com isso, Annabeth bateu a porta da saída e deixou Percy boquiaberto, porém sorrindo de orelha a orelha. Pelo menos agora Annabeth poderia se sentir menos culpada. E menos preocupada. Ela sabia que no fim Nico cuidaria de tudo.

I loved this! Realllyyyyy! Thanks for tagging me @haiseiscute333!

@yonemurishiroku @language-of-blueberries

Got tagged in this post by @kamikazequail! It was getting long, though, so I made my own💜 Thanks for the tag, friend

Picrew

☆ friend maker ★ by Rowan

PLEASE READ: — — — — — — tip jar: cashapp ($foxtrqt) or https://tr.ee/2O_BuExK_X ! hi there:) if you enjoy my work in this picrew, an

If I could be an elf with blue hair and piercings...

Tagging: @sithmonarch, @scar-queen-owl, @peachyprawnss, @backwardshirt, and @voxofthevoid

Writers should NOT feel guilty about:

Skipping a day of writing.

Not having a perfect first draft.

Partaking in sinister, arcane rituals for inspiration.

Working at their own pace.

Enlisting demons and/or helpful spirits to aid them with editing.

SITTER'S LOVE - Nico!Babysitter, Percy!Teacher-father - Chapter XXXI and Chapter XXXII

Previous chapters: CHAPTER I / CHAPTER II / / CHAPTER III, CHAPTER IV e CHAPTER V / Chapter VI e Chapter VII / Chapter VIII e Chapter IX / Chapter X, Chapter XI, Chapter XII e Chapter XIII / Chapter XIV / Chapter XV / Chapter XVI e Chapter XVII / Chapter XVIII and Chapter XIX / Chapter XX and Chapter XXI / Chapter XXII and Chapter XXIII / Chapter XXIV, Chapter XXV and Chapter XXVI / Chapter XXVII and Chapter XXVIII / Chapter XXIX and Chapter XXX

Chapter XXXI

By the time they got home, the sky was already dark. They climbed the few steps to the porch; Percy opened the car door for Nico, helping him out of the Jeep, and once again, Percy led him from behind, as though he didn't know the way, like he would run away if Percy took his eyes off him. Maybe Nico was tempted to do just that, maybe tonight had been a bit too much for his confused mind. In the end, he let himself go, let Percy open the door to the house, take the blazer from his shoulders and hold his hand, just like Percy would do on any other day. But unlike what was usual for them, Percy kept walking and Nico continued to follow him like a puppy on a leash. He yawned and followed him up the stairs, turning right and then entering a long hallway that led to the same room where he had slept every other time; next to Percy's room and further away from the children's rooms.

That's when Nico wondered what he was doing there, or why Percy came in with him and opened the closet door, showing him the clothes hanging there.

"If you want to change. The clothes you were wearing are here.”

He took out a hanger with a pair of jeans and a dark t-shirt and Nico finally understood, someone had washed his clothes.

"You didn't have to.”

“Yeah, I didn’t have to.” Was all Percy said, his eyes intense on him. Nico hated it when Percy did that. Why was it so hard to look at him in those moments?

Yes, that was exactly why he lowered his head and pretended that there was some dirt on his Italian shoes and pretended he had no idea how much they cost. He bent down and undid the lace, then did the same with the other foot and took off his sock. Okay, he had to change, right? Take a shower first? He decided to start with the buttons on the light-colored shirt and reached his hands down to the soft fabric. He pressed and the first button slid away from the hole, he pressed the second and then the third, before he saw that there were no more buttons and only his pants were left. He unbuttoned the last button and pulled down the zipper and--

"What are you doing?" Percy questioned him, stopping his hands in the air. He didn't have the courage to look him in the face, so Nico kept staring at Percy's broad shoulders.

"What does it look like I'm doing?”

"Asking for sex?”

"I'm changing. Can I take a shower?”

"Nico, I didn't-- this wasn't how I expected the night to end.”

“And what did you expected?” He found himself laughing even though he didn’t find it funny. Percy never knew how to apologize.

"I'm sorry, okay! What do you want me to do? Can you look at me?”

No, he couldn't. If he did that, the moment he looked at Percy he would be tempted to try to comfort him.

"I forgive you." Nico murmured, fixing his gaze on the right side of Percy's neck, watching how his throat bobbed, how Percy looked nervous and frustrated, his hand clenched into a fist at his side. It was strangely amusing to see him so out of control, knowing that Percy felt the same way he did. In the end, Jason was right, he wanted every single person who made him suffer to suffer the same and in the same way.

"Nico, please." Percy begged, his voice almost tearful.

He sighed and stared at him, bracing himself. Nico knew what he was going to find, even when the man looked defeated and vulnerable, Percy still found ways to manipulate the situation. And he fell once more, it was inevitable, irresistible. Nico brought his hands to Percy's face and got closer, a force pulling him towards him and making him hug him by the neck, ending up with his mouth against his neck, close to Percy's ear.

"It wasn't your fault. I know you didn't mean for that to happen. It's okay.”

“You promise?” Percy murmured back, very close. His arms wrapped around Nico’s waist and his lips whispered against his earlobe.

He had fallen right in, hadn't he? Still, knowing all this, Nico sighed once more, shivering as the heat slowly crept up his back, waist, and groin, stopping where Percy's mouth met his skin.

"Will you forgive me? I promise…" Then, Percy held him tight against him and a moan escaped him. "I promise this won't happen again." Percy finished with his face buried against the hair on the back of Nico's neck.

That... that wasn't fair... why... why was it so easy for Percy? Why was it so easy to forget everything and let himself go like that when, even with Will back then when he treated him well, Nico never had that urge that was slowly destroying him?

"Nico…" Then, an almost innocent little kiss was placed against his neck, in that little part behind his ear that made him… ah… "Are you going to visit me?”

"I-I…" He stuttered, still stuck in a trance. "I… I can't… you have to--”

"I don’t have to do anything." Percy said it decisively, but at that moment it sounded like the sweetest love poem. "I can wait for you.”

"Percy, I don't…”

"Don't what? Don't want to deceive me? Hurt me?" Percy pulled away slightly and grabbed Nico's hair, making him look at him. "Do you want to be sure? Do you want to have other experiences? See if someone else can make you feel the way I do? I don't care about any of that.”

"I couldn't.”

"Baby, you're the only one for me. So beautiful and so perfect. I love your smell, and when you moan I want to hold you and never let go. I want you to be happy. But only with me.”

"Percy…" he whimpered, closing his eyes. Why was Percy doing this to him?

"It's quite simple. I want you to live and make all the mistakes a college student could make. When we meet again, don't ignore me. If you've changed your mind by then, I'll do everything I can to win you over, but if you don't want me, I won't bother you.”

"How could I ask for something like that?”

"I also need some time to sort things out." Percy smiled at Nico and stroked his hair, lulling him into that false sense of security. "Things with Annabeth don't seem to be going anywhere and I'm tired of my parents. I promise you this, when we see each other again everything will be better. Do you trust me?”

"I trust you.”

"So I want you to have fun and not regret anything.”

Percy kissed Nico's cheek and he finally relaxed, as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.

***

Percy kissed Nico's cheek and he finally relaxed, as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.

Yes, he felt light because Percy was holding him, keeping him safe. 

“Oh!” Nico couldn't help the moan that escaped his lips; Percy's hands moved up his back, caressing slowly and entered inside his open shirt, eliciting another moan from him. Percy's lips slid to the side and then, they were there, at the corner of his mouth, kissing and nibbling and-- No! He knew exactly what Percy was doing! Percy wanted him to lower his head, to agree with everything while Percy had his fun. Percy wanted him to wait until the man felt the urge to see him again. He refused to let another man manipulate him, even if it was through the best torture tactic.

"No, I can't do that." Nico said, letting go of Percy. He took a step back and a deep breath, and said more forcefully: "I won't! Do you think I'm going to stay quiet while you do whatever you want?”

"Nico, I said you can--”

"You don't own me! I don't need your permission!”

"Nico, of course not. I'm just asking for a chance to work things out.”

"I don't want-- I never wanted… you… you're just like all of them!”

Percy didn't seem to hear him. Percy took a step forward and he took another step back, then another and another until his back hit the wall. The strange thing was that Percy didn't do what Nico imagined, not like Will usually did, cornering him and making him feel suffocated. No, Percy took his hands and tried to smile, but it was such a shaky smile that Nico found himself stopping fighting Percy.

"It's okay, baby. Can you breathe with me?”

"Breathe?" He asked without understanding.

"Please.”

Percy looked on the verge of tears, so he complied. Nico took a deep breath and let it out, slow and easy, and only then did he realize how tense he was, and he calmed down immediately.

"I… I was having a panic attack?" Nico asked. Percy nodded and tried to smile at him again.

The interesting thing was to realize that Nico didn't feel bad like he usually did. No, Nico felt light and calm. That's why he didn't fight this time, he let Percy take him to the bed and help him put on sweatpants, a loose t-shirt came next and socks too. Percy dressed him, item by item, and he found himself lying against the bed frame, his head resting on Percy's shoulder and a movie playing on the television in front of the bed. He knew Percy was saying something, that his head was resting on his, that his big, warm hands were massaging the back of his neck in a pleasant way that made him want to sleep instantly.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I never meant to make you feel this way. I'm the worst of men. I'm so impulsive. Annabeth's right, I'll never... I'll never be able to--”

"Der?" Nico found himself mumbling. His head was too light to understand what was happening. He just wanted Percy to feel what he felt right now.

"Are you okay?" Percy said in the same miserable tone.

"Hmm. Sleep with me." Nico crawled down on the bed and rested his head on Percy's chest, under his heart. His hands found Percy's waist and Nico closed his eyes once more, feeling himself melt. Nico loved the way Percy smelled, the way Percy always seemed to run hotter than him, most of all, he loved those rare moments when Percy showed that vulnerability, that uncertainty, usually so well hidden.

"Nico, I need--”

"Tomorrow. Tomorrow you can say whatever you want. Today, we sleep.”

Nico closed his eyes one last time and sighed, soon he could hear nothing but the sound of Percy's heart slowing down.

Chapter XXXII

That was another morning where everything seemed like a distant and fantastical dream. The light entered weakly between the blinds, birds sang softly and Nico felt himself floating, comfortable, being hugged from behind, very tightly, in the way he would never admit he liked the most; it was Percy who breathed against his neck, while the blanket kept the cold away, giving a greater touch of illusion.

So this was it, right? This was what he could have if he chose to… what?… Stay? Wait for Percy? No, this was the goodbye, sweet and treacherous, giving Nico a taste he knew he couldn’t have.

“Are you awake?” Percy murmured softly against his earlobe, brushing his lips over the sensitive skin.

Nico took a deep breath for a moment, feeling himself go from zero to one hundred, and let it out slowly. It wasn't fair. Maybe he had moaned, or maybe it had been Percy; it was hard to tell when Percy was so close to him, pressed against his back, the thin clothing between them not stopping Nico from feeling all of his desire, so close together, in that almost too intimate way, even their breaths came out synchronized, fast, almost panting, almost...

"Now, I am." He then murmured, trying to control himself.

“Good,” Percy told him, his sleep-husky voice telling him everything he needed to know. Percy was never satisfied. A kiss would never be enough, a touch would do little to quell his restlessness, and the shiver that ran up Nico’s spine even less so, none of it would make him happy until… No, Percy needed to hear it, needed to taste the pleasure against his skin and experience… oh… experience his hands moving down Nico’s shoulder and down to his abdomen and…

"Percy." He warned, panting but holding his ground like Nico rarely did. Even if he felt Percy was as anxious as he was or if he wanted, perhaps more than Percy, for this between them to happen, this damn torture would finally end.

“I wanted to apologize,” Percy said again, as if nothing had happened mere seconds ago. “I never meant to put you in this position.”

"I know." Nico sighed, exhausted and anxious. Excited. He turned, relaxing, and looked into the eyes he loved to watch so much.

But this was the end, the farewell, and for that reason, only for that reason, he allowed himself to have what he wanted; he let his body lean against Percy's, molding them together like a puzzle that was finally complete, once again trying to fool himself, wishing he didn't know that all of this was wrong; only if Percy really insisted, forced him just a little more and they both let the blame fall on Percy, just this once, giving him that false reason and allowing his rationalization to convince himself that all of this was Percy's fault and never his own, so Nico could finally, finally...

"Nico. Matt. Teo. I think I like Teo more." Percy was smiling, that small, genuine smile that somehow always broke his heart and made him want to stay by his side for the rest of his life.

Percy touched his face and then everything self-destructed, a house of cards crumbling, that smile squeezing his heart, making juice out of what was left.

"You're horrible. I hate you." But even that sounded false.

"I love you too." Percy said. A whisper, a confession. Something that seemed true in that intimate stillness translated into the form of a caress, in the touch of Percy's fingers that intertwined in his hair and of his lips, wet and firm, that finally touched his.

It wasn't at all what Nico expected, this attitude didn't seem to come from the one who spent the last two months chasing him until he couldn't think of anything else. No, they were the most gentle and careful that Nico had ever tasted; sweet and soft kisses, pressed against his in a way so light that he didn't know it existed, brushing slowly and nibbling them just to make him sigh, encouraging him to open his mouth so they became even slower, slowing down their cadence and stopping, but keeping their lips glued together.

Percy didn't try to force anything more intense or try to ease the situation, as was his custom. Percy just kept smiling and stroking his hair, looking at him with such affection that Nico had no choice but to stare back. There was no safe place he could hide from this fact; he loved Percy Jackson and he was leaving him before that feeling could even finish blooming.

That was how his last morning at the Jackson-Chase house ended, with a cuddle, a kiss and a tight hug, Percy's hands massaging his hair and lulling him into that false sense of security until the time for lunch with the family approached, taking Percy away from Nico, leaving him frozen in a desert he had never felt before meeting Percy.

But it was all right, he thought, wiping away the tears that were falling, the last ones that would fall because of him. Nico finished putting on his clothes, fixed his hair and washed his face. He picked up his backpack that had been lying on the floor since the day before and left Percy's room, entering the room where he had stayed during those nights to finally pick up his clothes scattered on the floor, returning the ones he had borrowed and going down the stairs where the children and Annabeth were waiting for him.

***

“Can’t you stay a little longer?” Alice said, catching him off guard. She rarely asked for anything, so independent and unaffectionate, but always attentive.

"It's getting late. I need to wake up early. You understand, don't you?" Nico touched her long black hair and looked into her green eyes that were now filled with tears. "You can visit me whenever you want.”

"It won’t be the same. We won’t eat together or watch TV anymore. Dad will be sad and Logan will whine for a whole month.”

"Don't be like that. Everything will be fine. It's part of growing up. Not everything goes the way we want.”

"Grandma keeps saying that. You two look so much alike.”

Nico smiled at Alice and ran his fingers through her hair, very doubtful.

"Don't you trust me? You can visit me as soon as I'm done moving.”

"Do you promise?" She looked at Nico with her eyes wide open and wet, all tearful, in the perfect example of innocence.

Yeah, it seemed like the whole family had manipulation in their blood. Which made him smile even more.

“I promise.”

He reached down and hugged Alice tightly, feeling her squeeze him back with all the strength she had.

"Enough." Annabeth's voice reached them, she was walking in her high, thin heels, strutting elegantly. She was carrying a sullen Logan, while Percy followed them at a safe distance, looking at his own shoes and seemingly oblivious to everything that was happening around him. That was what had happened during lunch; Percy had been by his side and, at the same time, had been somewhere far away from him.

"Come on, say goodbye to Nico. He has to go.”

"I'll miss you. Don't forget your promise." Alice told him, now looking like a clone of her mother.

Alice gave Nico another tight hug and pulled away, forcing Nico to blink his eyes, his throat suddenly tight. No, he said he wouldn't cry anymore. But then Logan reached out and, still in Annabeth's lap, wrapped his small hands around Nico's neck and sobbed.

"Logan, don't do this. I'm going to live even closer, isn't that good?”

"No! You won't be our mother anymore!”

"Er… when was I your mother? Isn't she right here?" Nico looked at Annabeth and she just rolled her eyes impatiently. It seemed like he was the one who was most uncomfortable with this whole conversation. So what came next was what really ripped his heart out of his chest.

"You… you don’t have to go… you can be our second mother and no one has to leave.”

This time even Annabeth gasped, and Nico found himself frozen in front of the exit door.

"Honey, Nico isn’t leaving because of you." The implication of whose fault it was was pretty obvious. But even so, Percy said it all calmly and softly as he moved closer to Logan, trying to comfort him.

"So… so… he’s leaving because of you!" Logan practically shouted.

Nico felt like he was losing his breath, although it was different from other times. Percy was calm, while Annabeth didn't seem to know what to do. Relieved, he saw Percy pick Logan up and simply start rocking him, massaging his back and lulling him slowly. He didn't think he had ever seen Logan, much less Percy, act like this; Percy seemed to be on autopilot and Logan turned into this rebellious teenager right before his eyes.

“Say goodbye, Logan,” Percy murmured in that soft, gentle voice, and finally looked at Nico.

"I’m sorry, Nico. Dad’s right. I…" he gasped as a sob escaped, trying to smile. "… we’ll miss you.”

At that, Logan and Alice waved as Percy tried to smile. Percy turned with Logan in his arms, grabbed Alice's hand, and marched into the house, not turning back until he was gone down the hallway.

Silence, only silence remained and a strange tightness in his chest, an unfamiliar vacuum, a feeling of emptiness like he had never experienced before. And of course, Annabeth. She still watched everything silently, but she didn't mock; Annabeth didn't even seem happy now that the obstacle had been removed. She seemed as shocked as he was.

“I know this won’t fix things.” She held out a small velvet box to him, and Nico accepted it. “It’s a gift from me and Percy to show our gratitude.”

He opened the box and found a silver and gold watch, delicate but still masculine. Nico had no idea how much it cost.

"Thank you. You didn't need to." He said mechanically. There was no room for anything else.

"I hope you can keep in touch with the children.”

"Of course." Nico felt better talking about them. "I was serious.”

He took the bag from his shoulders, unzipped it and took out a piece of paper. With a pen he wrote down his phone number and handed it to her.

"It’s better if you call me? I should be ready in three days. If they want…”

"Of course." Annabeth smiled at Nico and accepted the note. All he could do was nod quickly and turn his back on her. The faster he got out of there, the less he would be tempted to change his mind. The good news was that Ethan was already waiting for him, he would take him to the exit for the last time towards his future.

Bonus

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. I wished I didn't have to do this. Why couldn't I just hop on a bus and go to my interview with the college dean? But no, first I had to be a good boy and say goodbye to my family. But who was making me, hmm? Was there a force pushing me and keeping me in place? What if I--

"Look who showed up.”

Now it was too late. The one who opened the door was Hades. He had his arms crossed and was looking down at me, his almost two meters of height and eyes as black as night judging me as always, disappointed with what they saw.

"Yeah, I'm going to college tomorrow. I thought I'd pay a visit.”

"At least you still have responsibility to your family.”

Hm, interesting. But that was all we both said. I looked at Hades and Hades looked at me. That is, until he stepped away from the door, allowing me to see my brothers who were right there, hidden behind Hades. When they saw me, Bianca and Hazel came running and hugged me tightly at once, knocking the air out of my lungs.

"You came!" Hazel said.

"Finally." Bianca murmured more restrainedly.

"Come in. The food will get cold.”

And so, I was pulled into the house, where Maria and Luke were waiting for me with open arms.

Hello, how are you? We've finally reached the end of the first story arc! I'm going to take a break for two or three weeks, and we'll be back with the second arc soon. While we rest, how about leaving a comment? It could be the chapters you liked best, a specific scene or a comment or suggestion about the characters. Your opinion is always very welcome.

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (2001) dir. David Heyman