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C’est la vie – there are many things in life that can’t be explained; they just are. Percy used to be skeptical of that phrase – if he were to accept things as they were, then how was he to control his fate? That was, until he met him.
The moment their gazes connected, Percy felt a pull, a tugging in his soul. It wasn’t gravity keeping him in place anymore from that moment on; it relinquished its hold and handed the reins to him. When he properly laid his eyes on him, instinctively, he knew he was a goner – figuratively and physically. In retrospect, he had the physical aspect of it coming. His mouth lacked a filter; he should have known better to either attach one or sew it shut completely. He seemed more than happy to do just that, pressing the blade of his Stygian Iron sword too close for comfort to the skin of Percy’s neck while keeping him pinned to the ground. It took absolutely everything in Percy to not react inappropriately, willing a blush not to color his cheeks from their close proximity.
“My father’s no thief,” he hissed, fury ablaze in his eyes, as intense as Greek fire. “Be careful with your words, sea spawn. They may be your last.”
Percy licked his lips nervously, suddenly aware of how dry his mouth felt. He feared him as he did Hades who, at this point, calmly lounged on his throne, listening to the cacophony of screams of the damned souls weaved onto his robes. But, as genuine as his fear was, it was inadequate as his brain short-circuited and overflowed with thoughts of only how pretty the young man in front of him was.
“Stand down, Niccolò,” Hades commanded. Percy still had the overwhelming urge to curl at his feet. Only this time, he wished Niccolò – Nico, he mentally bestowed a nickname upon said gorgeous, young man – was there as well, stroking his hair, coaxing him to what was likely to be an eternal sleep. “You can’t kill him… yet. He has little to no value dead.”
Nico frowned as he glanced briefly at the god, lowering his sword only by a fraction. “But father–...” he protested, albeit hesitantly.
Great. As if their age gap – Nico looked around fifteen or sixteen – wasn’t enough to put a damper on Percy’s rapidly developing crush, Nico had to be related in the worst way imaginable to his uncle – the very uncle who took his mother and wanted nothing more than to pulverize him.
“I said no,” Hades said. Immediately, Nico lowered his weapon, sensing his father’s dismay at his decision being questioned. “You’re not needed here. Go accompany your sister in the Judgement Pavilion. I sent her to deal with Minos, but she’s wasted enough time.”
The frown creasing Nico’s features deepened, conveying his displeasure. In the end though, he said nothing, obeying his father’s order as he reluctantly distanced himself from Percy. With one last scathing glare, he slipped into the nearest shadows and disappeared as quickly as he appeared.
Percy swallowed the disappointment that bloomed in his chest at Nico’s abrupt departure. There was no point dwelling on it, not when Nico’s father redirected his attention towards him, as if sensing his thoughts about his son.
Oh well. It was just a silly, and likely momentary, crush. Nico seemed like a cool, untouchable individual, and the image he presented was, at the moment, the primary fuel to Percy’s sudden attraction. Eventually, it would fade. Eventually, it wouldn’t matter. It wasn’t like Percy would visit the Underworld anytime soon. It wasn’t like he would see Nico again anyway in the foreseeable future or at all.
Except Percy did see him, days after their initial encounter, when he was on the brink of death. He was certain that he was that close to dying, his soul in limbo, when a dark winged creature appeared before him, beckoning towards him to take its hand.
Admittedly, Percy almost took it, the promise of rest a tantalizing offer. But before he could, it was as if chains suddenly clamped on his joints and forcibly yanked him back, like a fish on a reel, to the land of the living, stuffing his poor soul back into his weak and battered body.
When Percy finally regained consciousness, the first thing that greeted him were intense russet-brown eyes staring at him with the mildest hint of concern. It was only for a second, so brief that it could be considered a trick of the eye, before honey-blond hair and stormy-gray eyes obscured his vision.
“Here we go again,” Percy mumbled under his breath just as Annabeth opened her mouth.
“You idiot!” Ah, there it was. “You were green and turning gray when you were found!”
“Who found me?” Percy rasped. “I thought I was dead…” He was convinced that he was going to die since getting back to camp was impossible with the pit scorpion venom coursing through his veins. It didn’t help that the last thing he registered was his body dropping on the damp forest floor, his senses collapsing one by one, before everything went black.
“It was Prince Niccolò who brought you in and treated you,” Chiron said slowly, subtly sparing said son of Hades a glance. Despite the fact that he was a new god – another detail from Annabeth that placed a damper on Percy’s crush – his presence was as imposing as his father’s that it had Chiron walking on eggshells.
“Don’t,” Nico’s face wrinkled with disgust, his arms crossing over his chest in discomfort. “That’s almost as bad as ‘Lord Niccolò’. ‘Nico’ will do.”
“I’ll oblige in your father’s absence then,” Chiron hesitantly agreed.
“Don’t hold your breath; he’s not showing up anytime soon. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be here to settle his business,” Nico said, tilting his head towards Percy’s direction. He then addressed him as he walked to the foot of the bed, “How are you feeling?”
“Like my insides have been frozen, then microwaved.” Percy wasn’t sure if what he said made sense, but that was the best he could offer. “You said you’re here to settle your father’s business. Is that how you found me?”
“I’m the god of untimely death, Perseus.” It was sinful how his name sounded like a purr, coming from Nico’s lips. “The only reason I found you was because I sensed your soul slipping out of your body. You were lucky I arrived when I did. Otherwise…”
Percy nodded in grim understanding. Had Nico arrived a little later, his soul would be queuing in the Underworld by now, waiting to be judged.
“My mom,” Percy croaked. “How is she?”
“She’s fine. I personally returned her to that place you call home,” Nico honestly answered, a coldness glazing his eyes. “I took the liberty of taking care of some of your family’s issues at the same time. Consider it as compensation from my family.”
“I don’t–... You didn’t need to do that.” Whatever it was that Nico did, Percy didn’t need his intervention. The idea of owing a favor, with a god no less, didn’t sit well with him. He didn’t vocalize his thoughts, however. He was aware that speaking out of turn came at a price.
Nico’s eyes sparkled with mischief and amusement, causing his heart to rapidly thump against his chest in response. “Call it a gesture of appreciation for returning what was stolen from my father, and for clearing up his name.”
Percy knew that he didn’t do much for the latter. Zeus implied that he was still paranoid Hades would attempt to usurp him. He didn’t bother to correct Nico though. A part of him was convinced Hades’ son knew as much.
“How about an apology for being wrongfully accused?” Percy suggested.
Nico allowed himself a wry smile. “Don’t push your luck, demigod. The gods don’t own up to mistakes. At most, they offer rewards – which my father has. That wild animal in your home? He has taken special interest in it and decided to keep it.”
“Wild animal?” Percy questioned. As far as he was concerned, there was no animal whatsoever in their home. It was unlikely to be Gabe’s; he wasn’t the type of person to spend money on anything that wouldn’t benefit him, much less care for another being.
“I believe its name was Gabe,” Nico drawled, as if reading his thoughts. “Father had the Furies drag it to the Fields of Punishment. I hope you’re not too attached; you probably won’t get it back.”
“Keep him. Please,” Percy answered hurriedly.
Gabe was gone? Finally gone?
It felt so surreal, mostly because of how abrupt it was, but completely welcomed. It was as if a mountain of burden was suddenly lifted off of his shoulders, allowing him to breathe after all these years.
“Of course. I’ve already financially compensated your mother for acquiring him,” Nico said, waving a hand dismissively. “Hmm… I don’t think I have anything else to convey. Now that everything’s settled…”
Nico trailed off, russet-brown eyes meeting sea-green irises directly. Underneath his unfathomable gaze, Percy resisted the urge to shudder, not wanting to expose the effect Nico had on him.
“I hope we don’t see each other again in the foreseeable future.” Perhaps the overwhelming disappointment Percy felt was evident on his face because Nico added, “Like I said, I’m the god of untimely deaths. Everyone in my family is associated with death. It’s in your best interest not to be around our presence. That said, I should leave now. I’ve done what I’ve been tasked to do.”
“Wait!” Percy scrambled to properly sit up as Nico made a move to leave. “Don’t you want to know what happened?”
“The Furies informed us what they saw. The rest, I can find out for myself,” Nico replied, fiddling with a silver skull ring on his thumb. “Don’t do anything unnecessary, Perseus. Just stick to the Fates’ timeline, and you might live a long lifetime.”
“It’s–… It’s Percy. My name is Percy,” Percy corrected instead, not sure what else there was for him to say when Nico looked so determined to leave.
Thin lips quirked to an amused smile. “Interesting. Goodbye then, Percy. Take better care of yourself.”
Nico disappeared in a flash before Percy could get another word in. Oh well, Percy sighed as he leaned back on his bed. It was fine. He was certain he’d definitely see Nico again, one way or another.