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“So what do you think?”
The cat in front of him blinked sleepily and didn’t answer.
Percy came home one afternoon from class to find a small cat sleeping on his sofa. He didn’t have a cat so he was a bit confused. After some sleuthing he concluded she got in through his open bedroom window, which was pretty impressive since he lived on the fourth floor. He never considered himself a cat person but she was just so cute. And fluffy. And really sweet. Hazel confirmed that no one reported a missing cat which made Nico convinced she was a monster in disguise. After some googling, Frank decided she was a Ragamuffin or something; Percy declared she was white and brown and precious all over, which Drew agreed with and named her Mochi. Since then she has been a happy member of Percy’s home. It made for a nice change as most of the pets he collects aren’t exactly apartment friendly even if Nico was still convinced she was a monster. Percy was pretty sure he just didn’t like white cat hair all over his black clothing.
Mochi also served as his sounding board when he had no one else to talk to. She rarely answered, and even if she did Percy didn’t speak cat. Yet. But he still felt better talking to her.
Right now he was trying to figure out what to do about Nico. He was a common visitor once Percy moved to New Rome, and became even more so after his spectacular breakup with Annabeth. Two years later and it seemed like they had evolved into something more. Nico unofficially lived with him these days, and after so many nights soothing his nightmares out on the couch, they also slept in the same bed. Percy developed the habit of spooning him in the middle of the night, which freaked Nico out at first but has since become expected. Snuggling while watching a movie and quiet affection like that was also common. Their routine was oddly domestic and comfortable, like they had been an old couple for decades instead of frenemies turned friends for a few years.
So it seemed like something more, but it happened so gradually, and it’s not as though they had actually done anything, so maybe not. Could you even be dating someone without realizing it? Percy knew he wasn’t the best judge of that sort of thing when it came to himself and there was that whole awkward “you’re not my type speech” Nico once gave him to consider. He was surprised the idea of dating Nico didn’t really faze him. He hadn’t dated a guy before but found he wasn’t opposed to it. But given their rocky history, he also didn’t want to assume or push anything onto the younger boy. Percy never suggested to anyone that they were something more than friends, and to his knowledge Nico didn’t either, so maybe he was just making a tsunami out of a wavelet.
He was just confused. Even more so after an incident a few weeks ago where Travis and Katie ambushed him with a blind double date. The girl was a legacy of Venus and very pretty, but obviously only interested in him because of his reputation. Percy had no interest in that. But what would have been an annoying but maybe funny story to tell his friends later became super awkward when Nico came across them and realized he was on a date. Percy suddenly felt really guilty which was the first indication to himself that maybe his relationship with the son of Hades was more than just a simple friendship. But that was three weeks ago and other than a quick conversation when he got home before Nico left for the Underworld after a summons from his dad, he hasn’t seen the boy since.
Hazel didn’t seem upset with him in the weeks since and he knew if Nico told her anything, she would be the first one pounding on his door. And he wasn’t about to ask her, or Frank, or any of their other friends. So that just left him Mochi. He asked if she had any idea. The cat just stretched and started licking his face.
A knock at the door interrupted their deep conversation. Percy kissed the top of her head before moving to the living room to open the door, Mochi trailing behind him. He wasn’t prepared for what was on the other side of the door.
Frank, holding up a very disoriented and giggling Nico, with a slightly scared look on his face.
“Hey, man,” he said sheepishly.
Percy opened the door wider to let them in, Frank practically dragging Nico to the couch. Once deposited there, the son of Hades became fascinated with a pattern on the wall only he could see, repeatedly muttering something that sounded like “goose.” Percy gave Frank his no BS look, silently asking for an explanation.
“Hazel and Nico have been catching up on their movie marathon for the last few days,” he rushed out, not noticing Percy’s surprise. He didn’t even know Nico was back in New Rome. “And you know his sweet tooth,” Frank continued obliviously. “Well, he found a bag of gummy bears and ate them, except they weren’t real gummy bears. I kinda confiscated them from a legionnaire who just got back from visiting their family in Colorado.”
“You mean—”
“Yeah, he’s baked.”
They both stared at the still giggling Nico, whose mutterings increased. “Baked. Goose. Baked goose. Baker goose. Goose is a baker. I might be a baker but I’m not going to pluck that goose!” he finally shouted, before descending into giggles again. That was the moment Mochi decided to join the fray, and as soon as Nico saw the fluffy white cat, his giggles dissolved into tears. “Goose!” he cried, picking Mochi up in a desperate hug. “Talk to me, goose!” Mochi gave a slightly indignant meow before deciding the snuggles were worth the rough treatment.
“You broke my Nico with edibles and Top Gun ,” Percy finally concluded.
Frank rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “I mean, not on purpose? And I wasn’t even there. Technically Hazel broke Nico with edibles and Top Gun .”
Percy pinched the bridge of his nose but nodded. He thanked Frank for bringing him by and walked him to the door. Apparently Hazel wasn’t in much better shape and he needed to get back. Frank did some googling and there wasn’t any danger, but it would likely take a few more hours for the effects to wear off.
He made his way back to the couch where Nico was now lovingly petting Mochi, repeatedly telling her how much he loved her even though she was a goose. He really hated being around people when they were drunk or high. He was getting better but that didn’t stop his fight or flight instinct from screaming flight at the moment. They would need to have a talk with the Underworld siblings once they both got sober.
Percy went to the kitchen to get some water and the family-sized box of Cheez-Its he got from Costco last week which Nico looked at like the seventh wonder of the world. He settled himself on the couch and picked up Mochi, who had been rudely abandoned by Nico as soon as snacks came out.
“Am I your Nico?” he asked Percy, eyes impossibly wide as he shoved a handful of Cheez-Its in his mouth.
Percy froze for a second as he realized what he said to Frank. He really didn’t want to have this conversation while Nico was in this…condition. Then again, maybe it would be easier. It certainly would involve a lot less scowling.
“That is up to you,” he finally said, as Mochi purred.
Nico’s mouth, still filled with half-chewed crackers, dropped open. “Wha– But, but you date the curly blondes and redheads!”
He sighed. “Travis and Katie ambushed me. I had nothing to do with that whole thing you saw a few weeks ago.” He pushed Nico’s mouth shut to encourage him to finish chewing and handed him the glass of water. Luckily Nico got the message. After gulping down the water he crawled onto Percy’s lap, dislodging poor Mochi once again.
“I want to be your Nico,” he sniffled into his neck. “But I’m not a pretty blonde. Or a pretty redhead. I have pretty curls though,” he mumbled. Percy internally cringed as Nico continued to babble about the girls he’s seen Percy with in the past. Talking about this now was a horrible idea. If nothing else he knew Nico would be really embarrassed tomorrow and probably run off to Siberia or something. He decided to drop it. He’d pretend the boy hadn’t said anything and leave it up to him on whether to bring it up again.
He turned on his TV and flipped to the classical playlist Grover programmed for him when his anxiety gets the best of him. He turned on the music visualizer which instantly shut Nico up as he stared at it in awe. Within twenty minutes the boy was snoring into his chest as Percy petted Nico’s hair with one hand and Mochi with the other.
Luckily Nico didn’t stir as he carried him to the bedroom and took his shoes and jacket off. He stayed in the room for a bit to make sure he was okay before returning to the living room to take care of his own stuff. Nico was still snoring away the next morning when he had to leave for class, so he placed a fresh glass of water, bottle of Advil, and a note on his bedside table explaining he had class and asking him not to leave when he woke up.
By the time he came home in the afternoon, he was ready for his own nap. Based on the bedhead, it looked like Nico just woke up. The son of Hades froze when he saw him.
“Hey, Neeks. How you feeling?”
“Fine. Head hurts,” he mumbled. Percy collected the Advil bottle and asked if he took any already. When Nico shook his head, he gave him two and a tiny piece of ambrosia which he hid the night before, scared Nico would devour it with his munchies and burst into flames. That would be bad.
Percy chatted aimlessly about things he missed while he was gone while putting away dishes, not bringing up the previous night at all. “I’m sorry!” Nico suddenly blurted out. “I don’t even know what happened, but I know you hate being around people….like that.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” he said gently, “although we will be having a talk with you and Hazel about modern drug use.”
Nico nodded, fiddling with his skull ring. “Did you mean what you said last night? About…us?”
“I said it was up to you,” he shrugged, “so it’s up to you.”
Percy continued to put dishes away in silence. After a minute, Nico appeared at his side. When he looked at him and raised an eyebrow, Nico reached up, kissing him quickly on the lips. “I’d like that,” he said shyly. Percy smiled and kissed him back, a little less chastely than what Nico had done.
Not wanting to be left out, Mochi jumped up on the counter and meowed. The two boys broke apart and Nico instantly started petting her, a change from his normally standoffish behavior towards her.
“We should rename her Goose,” he finally said.
“We are not naming her Goose.”
“It’s a good name!” he smirked.
Percy rolled his eyes, giving him a gentle shove. “Go brush your teeth so we can make out.” He laughed as Nico scurried off, the only way he could get to the bathroom faster would have been to shadow travel there.
“He’s silly,” he told Mochi, who purred in agreement. “But he’s my silly boy now.”