Auroraescritora - Aurora Escritora

Human: Deal.

Fey: Very well. When you return home tonight, your mother will be in pristine health again. It will be like she never fell ill at all. Even the memory of her suffering will fade…

Human: Thank you so much. She means everything to me.

Fey: I know, I know. Let’s hope the price wasn’t too much for you after all… Only time will tell.

Human: So, when do we start?

Fey: …If I may ask you to elaborate?

Human: You said you wanted my firstborn.

Fey: Yes? And you agreed?

Human: Yeah, so, when do we start?

Fey:

Fey, blushing: Ah.

I sit with my grief. I mother it. I hold its small, hot hand. I don’t say, shhh. I don’t say, it’s okay. I wait until it is done having feelings. Then we stand and we go wash the dishes.

– Callista Buchen, from Taking Care

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - PERCY/NICO AU HIGH SCHOOL - CHAPTER XXI

Hi, guys. How are you doing? I had a bit of a burnout this week, but a promise is a promise. If I don't show up next week, it's because I'm sick and completely drained. I hope you like it.

CHAPTER I / CHAPTER II / CHAPTER III / CHAPTER IV / CHAPTER V / CHAPTER VI / CHAPTER VII / CHAPTER VIII / CHAPTER IX / CHAPTER X / CHAPTER XI / CHAPTER XII / CHAPTER XIII / CHAPTER XIV / CHAPTER XV / CHAPTER XVI / CHAPTER XVII / CHAPTER XVIII / CHAPTER XIX / CHAPTER XX

“I love you too.”

Percy continued to hold Nico against his chest and only moved when he was sure that Nico would no longer hate him. He leaned back against the couch and brought Nico with him, touching him gently

For a moment, in the silence of the living room, where all he could hear was Nico's heavy breathing slowing down, Percy thought that things between them would return to their normal and that Nico would finally be satisfied. Imagine his surprise when he felt Nico moving on his lap in a very specific way, rubbing against him, making him lose his breath when he felt small hands touch between his legs over his pants, a touch so gentle that it made him gasp, the sweet torture reminding him of his erection.

“Do you want to…?” He heard Nico say, the uncertainty in his voice clear, although that didn't stop Nico. Because, right after, he felt Nico's hands continue to explore the area, sliding up and down,  drawing a tortured moan from him.

“You don't have to.” He mumbled, or thought he had. In those moments it was hard to tell what was real and what was a creation of his mind.

“I know you're... trying to treat me with respect, but... is that necessary? Wasn't it because of sex that we... fell apart?”

The insinuation was clear, and with each passing day Percy saw how much the unspoken words made the distance between them grow.

“Do you think that's why I like you?”

“Well... you always say I'm pretty.” Nico said in a lower voice, as if he expected not to be heard. It was at that moment when Nico hesitated that Percy remembered to take his eyes off what Nico was doing between his legs and pay attention to what Nico was saying. What caught his attention was the blank expression on Nico's face, the distracted way he touched him, like Nico was trying to hide something behind the mask of indifference. “Isn't that why you looked for other people when I was right in front of you? For thinking I was... pure?”

“Nico. That doesn't make sense! I wouldn't do that again.” When would he have time to do that? Between his depression and the mountain of work and studying?

“Wouldn't you?” Nico then raised his head and looked at him, without any kind of judgment in his voice, but that still made Percy feel very judged. — “What I have to do so you don't ignore me?”

“I'm not ignoring you!” Like, he didn't think he was. Right? Didn't they spend all day together? How could Percy ignore someone who was right next to him?

“When was the last time you did something you wanted?”

“I... we went to that party last week?”

“Percy.” Now Nico looked like he was about to cry. “When was the last time you did something no one asked you to do? You say I'm not interested in things? You're not either. And now, you don't even want sex.”

“It's not your fault. It's not because you came back.”

“I'm starting to see that. But that doesn't make me any less guilty.”

"What do you want me to do? Everything I do is a mistake! It's better to keep things this way. If I do what people expect of me, I won't make mistakes." 

"Percy!" Nico's scream echoed through the room, making him open his eyes wide.

With a dry throat, Percy watched Nico get up from his lap and kneel between his legs. With tears in his eyes, Nico rested his hands on Percy’s thighs and put his face in his lap, ready to start begging. "No one is asking you to be perfect!" 

"I have to be!" 

"I should have never come back! If I'm going to see you like this, it would have been better to go somewhere else. It would have hurt less. You can say whatever you want, It's my fault you're acting like this again." 

"How could this be your fault?" 

"I made you remember the past." 

Nico was right about that. Percy was thinking about his childhood more often than usual. He had worked to get rid of it, and now that his memories were flooding back, it was hard to tell the difference between the person he used to be and the person he was now.

“Please,” Nico finally begged in the most miserable voice he had ever heard. “I don’t want you to hold yourself back because of me. I know you care about me, and I care about you. I just… I want to live these things with you. I want to wake up every day next to you, and I want to be with you every day, and I want you to have all the things you want, and I want… I want, um… you know… I don’t mind if you’re… not so kind in bed. I like it… really. I mean, you were never a saint, maybe a little vindictive, and also--”

“I’m glad you think that of me.” Percy said, and smiled sincerely for the first time in days, interrupting Nico. The boy wanted him to be honest and do what he wanted, didn’t he? “That’s not fair. And where does that leave you?”

“Me? I'll stay by your side.” Nico said and smiled back at him, still with his head on his lap, rubbing his face against him like a kitten. “I'd rather see you acting like the worst person in the world than see you turning into an empty shell.”

“Nico.” Percy leaned forward and grabbed Nico by the back of his neck, making him lift his head. “I don't want to take advantage of you. I feel like that's going to happen if we keep going like this.”

“What are you waiting for, then?”

“Nico!”

“There's nothing either of us can do. The damage is already done. Now, you have to take responsibility for what you did.”

“And what would that be?”

“You can start by taking me to the bedroom and taking off my clothes.”

“I'm not sure.”

“But I am.” Nico pouted cutely, and Percy found himself smiling again, watching Nico stretch toward him still kneeling and kiss him sweetly. “I can wait.”

When Nico spoke like that... so convincingly, Percy could almost see the reason behind it all. Although he didn't really understand. Who would want to be treated like Nico had been and still ask to continue suffering alongside someone like him? Percy would try one more time. If Nico had knelt at his feet and put his head in his lap like a pet, Percy could also try to be a good owner.

***

Honestly? Percy hadn't thought it would be so easy to surrender after so long fighting these urges. It was a magnificent sight to watch Nico get up from the floor. His pants still open, his hair messy and his lips swollen. Nico offered him his hand and Percy didn't hesitate, as he had promised, he went upstairs to their room. He sat on the edge of the bed and took off Nico's clothes. First, the skull t-shirt, then he pulled Nico's pants down, taking his underwear with him, his All-Stars and socks too, and finally allowed himself a moment to appreciate Nico's beauty. 

In the end, what his baby had said was true. The first thing that had caught his attention in Nico was his natural beauty. Long eyelashes, deep black eyes, full mouth, soft skin, rounded hips, long legs, the sweetest voice even when angry and, above all, that well-behaved boyish appearance, always obeying what he was told. There were exceptions, of course, moments like these, where Nico would beg and be demanding, but not like Percy would. Never.

"What about now? How that leave us?" It was a rhetorical question, and they both knew it. Percy smiled and Nico moved closer, placing himself between his legs, holding onto his shoulders.

"Do you want to see something?" Nico asked, cheerful.

"It depends. Is it a surprise?" 

"You could say that." 

Nico smiled and ran towards the closet, coming back with a golden box with a lid on top.

"Did you buy it for me?" 

"No, it's for me." Still smiling, Nico said and took off the lid revealing a nice collection of toys, only these toys were for adults. Three dildos of different sizes, a vibrating ball, handcuffs, nipple clamps and even a paddle. And lots of lube, at least three large tubes.

"Are you sure you haven't been having fun with someone?" He couldn't even blame Nico if that was the case.

"I don't want anyone else touching me but you. This is all your fault! Here I am, offering myself and saying that you can do whatever you want with me, and you having a crisis of conscience? I never thought something like this would happen.”

“Hey! I'm not that bad!”

“Right now, you’re not.”

“That's why I wanted to take it slow.”

“Sorry. I guess I've changed too. But if I knew, I would never have run away. At least, you didn't do the same thing I did.”

Yeah, Percy could imagine. Where would he run away to? To his father's house? To look at the face of his stepmother who hated him or deal with his stepbrother who stalked him when his mother wasn't looking? No way.

“I needed some time. I want to make sure that something like this won't happen again.”

“I know. I was safe in Verona. Hades isn't brave enough to face my nona. If she knew everything today, Hades wouldn't have a penny.”

“Why didn't you tell her?”

“It doesn't matter. She already spoils me too much.” But Nico said this with a smile on his face, seeming to remember happier times. “We don't have to do anything today. Or tomorrow. I want you to know that I'm here and that you don't need to feel guilty, because I've never blamed you for anything. Okay?”

Nico took the box from his hands and placed it on the bed, then sat on his lap, kissing Percy once more. And maybe... maybe it wouldn't be so bad to let himself go a little bit.

***

So… Percy found that he really liked that toy box Nico had put together. Especially the vibrating ball. It was the size of his thumb and was fluorescent pink, with a long string and a button in the middle. Really interesting. And since Nico had bought all those things, it would be a waste not to use them.

He grabbed the handcuffs, the lube and the ball, and well, there they were. Nico lying against the pillows, on his back on the bed and his hands tied above his head to the bed frame, while he was between Nico's legs, fully clothed. It was kind of funny. Percy had pressed the button on the ball and it had started vibrating immediately, making him laugh and say "You asked for it" and before Nico could complain, Percy brought the madly vibrating toy to Nico's legs, following the same path with his mouth. It seemed that Nico didn't know what to do, whether to laugh because of the vibration or to moan, bite marks, teeth brushing against his skin and lsucking lips in places that had never been marked before.

"What now? Should I stop?" Percy said in the most innocent voice, moving the ball up between Nico's legs, stopping at his groin before reaching the really sensitive parts.

"No! Please!"

"What do I get if I keep going?"

"Anything!"

"I don't know... it seems too generic."

"Um-- I... I suck you? Or..."

"Or?"

"Whatever you want."

"Really?"

"Hmhm." Nico sighed and gasped, because Percy was tired of playing.

He brought the little ball down and pressed it against Nico's member, and like in a magic trick, it had magically gone from semi-erect to hard so quickly that it must have hurt. Percy slid the vibrator along the base of the member and slowly moved up, reaching the tip and lingering there, pressing in small circles on the reddish head.

Percy couldn't believe his eyes, he pressed just a little more and suddenly, Nico was screaming, the small member throbbed in his hand and expelled faster than Percy could react. He removed the vibrator from Nico's member and watched Nico shake all over, breathing as if he had run a marathon. But he wanted more, Nico reacted so strongly to the vibrations that Percy wanted to see how long Nico could hold out.

He turned the toy back on, feeling it vibrate in his hand for a few moments and waited until Nico was not about to have an asthma attack, and slowly, like nothing was happening, placed the little ball on Nico's skin again, near his hip, going down his long legs. 

All Nico did was gasp in surprise, still shaking, he didn't say anything or even move in protest, he just looked at Percy, his gaze half lost and half ecstatic, trusting Percy and allowing himself to feel, as if that was all he wanted to do. So Percy, like the gentleman he was, continued with his exploration. He went back up with the vibrator and reached Nico's groin once more, this time passing straight past his member and touching his testicles, watching Nico open his lips in a silent moan, his body shaking without his control. To Percy the whole experience seemed painful, the way Nico contracted and arched, the high-pitched moans, if it weren't for the expression of complete pleasure on Nico's face, he would think that... no... it was better not to think about it.

Percy concentrated on what he was doing and finally brought the vibrator lower, finding Nico's entrance, who let out a little moan so delicious that Percy wanted to make things even more interesting. But, no, that was enough. Then, he rubbed the ball around the entrance until it went in, disappearing inside Nico. Maybe he had overdone it, Nico opened his eyes wide and writhed, whimpering and panting, seeming like he had never done this before, and when Nico did nothing to stop him, Percy kept on exploring. He pulled the vibrator out by the string and pressed it back in, playing with the entrance, doing this so many times that the skin began to swell, like when you kissed someone for a long time and this was the result.

"Please!" Nico begged, twitching on the bed, back arched and head thrown back, looking like he was about to cum once again. And who was Percy to deny his sweet baby.

He pressed the ball in once more, making Nico shudder and this time, he pushed it in harder, inserting his fingers along with it, moving the vibrator around. Nico went crazy, he began to beg nonstop and held on to the bed frame, his toes curling. It was a magical moment for Percy. With two fingers, he took the ball a little deeper and pressed it into that little spot they both knew well. The reaction was immediate. Nico screamed at the top of his lungs and Percy was amazed. He had never seen Nico cum so fast and hard, making Nico's orgasm hit his chest.

"Good boy. So obedient." He said as he pulled the ball by the string, finally bringing it out. Nico fell onto the bed and sobbed, still finishing his orgasm with a strange expression caught between agony and ecstasy. Maybe he really had overdone it. Well, Percy would leave that up to Nico to decide, since he himself didn't know whether to run away, disgusted with himself, or try not to think about his erection at seeing Nico completely under his control like this.

How about a comment to cheer up this writer? See you next time.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - PERCY/NICO AU HIGH SCHOOL - CHAPTER XX

I hope you enjoy it.

CHAPTER I / CHAPTER II / CHAPTER III / CHAPTER IV / CHAPTER V / CHAPTER VI / CHAPTER VII / CHAPTER VIII / CHAPTER IX / CHAPTER X / CHAPTER XI / CHAPTER XII / CHAPTER XIII / CHAPTER XIV / CHAPTER XV / CHAPTER XVI / CHAPTER XVII / CHAPTER XVIII / CHAPTER XIX

Percy felt like he had gone back in time. He remembered as if it were yesterday, the long, tortuous days and the whispers wherever he went; the desire to disappear was also there, the disconnection with reality, as if no one could break his bubble of self-blame and depression, feeling the emptiness that hit him when he least expected it; the feeling of inadequacy telling him that he would always be that lonely, violent boy who didn't deserve what he had or the love of others. In the end, no matter how detached he felt from reality and how unprepared to deal with life, time waited for no one. When Percy blinked, they were already at the end of first quarter of the year, which brought him to that verymoment, barely able to focus on what was right in front of his face. A surprise test, a piece of paper that would tell him if he had a chance of passing the first assessments or not.

"Per?" Nico whispered beside him, still writing. "You didn't study at all, did you?" 

Could anyone blame him? The guilt was still eating at him up inside, paralyzing him, fighting against the urge to do exactly the opposite of what his conscience was asking him to do. Nico being around him twenty-four hours a day wasn't helping, making him want to break that bubble of anguish and, at the same time, tempted to stay exactly where he was just so he wouldn't have to make a decision. Percy still woke up in the middle of the night tense and without remembering why, forced to get out of bed to calm down or get some fresh air on his face. Because he had to--

"Don't worry, we'll figure it out." Nico touched his shoulder and showed him one of the sweetest smiles he had ever seen, making Percy relax immediately, feeling like there was a light at the end of the tunnel. He watched Nico pick up both of his answer sheets, walk over to the teacher and hand them to him, who smiled charmingly at Nico.

No, he wasn't going to go down that path. That was why Percy had gotten himself into such trouble. He was committed, he would be a better person even if he died trying. So, Percy put his things in the bag and took a deep breath, counting to thirty.

1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6… 7--

“Let’s go?”

Percy looked up and there was Nico, sweet and smiling, holding out his hands to him. The fear of worrying Nico was the only thing keeping him on his feet at the moment, if someone gave him a nudge Percy would crumble immediately; he couldn't accept the fact that... that in the end he was the monster people accused him of being. Feeling on automatic mode, Percy picked up their bags and held the hand Nico offered to him, barely missing the disappointed expression on the teacher's face.

Usually Percy liked this class and it wouldn't need much to get a high mark, but what could he do if his obsession was right in front of him, wanting his attention all the time? The bad thing was knowing he would sink into this obsession if the world around them didn't remind him of what a mistake this would be. Sometimes, Percy asked himself if what he felt was love or was just a codependency, a crutch to help him deal with the problems and traumas that not even the best psychiatrist could fix.

“Is everything okay? Do you need a break?”

They had become masters at creating barriers that weren’t there before, useless and cruel barriers that only served to hurt both of them.

If Percy were honest, he would say it’s exactly what he needed, although it wouldn’t make anything better. The longing would only increase, the pain in his chest would spread and that bad feeling in his stomach would grow stronger, making him act impulsively. Basketball practice would be a good excuse for his issues if the coach hadn’t banned him from practicing until he could focus on the game.

“Do you want to come with me to band practice? We’re going to play at the dance.”

Gently, Nico held his arm with both hands and kissed his cheek, making Percy forget about his inner demons for a brief moment, warming the emptiness in his body. “Come on, it'll be nice. You can join in if you want.”

“I didn't bring my guitar.”

“The teacher can lend it to you.”

“I don't know…” After all, there was a reason he didn't join in the group practice.

“I've been thinking about what you said... that I don't have many hobbies. You were right.”

“Was I?” It’s good to know he’d done something good.

“In Verona, I went out with my friends, drew, played and sang, wrote and cooked every day with my grandmother and cousins. I just... I feel like I don't need to do all those things when I'm with you. Now I understand the problem with that. You are doing the same.”

Well, that was exactly the problem. They were an obsessive, compulsive couple who were obsessed with each other. It was hard to see the rest of the world when the person he loved the most was so close, but for that reason it was so wrong to want those things. His desires became so intense that everything ended up being somewhat toxic.

Percy wanted to say all of this to Nico, but if he did, it would only encourage him to stay with him in this intense and traumatic bubble they had created.

“I’m glad you understand.”

“That’s exactly why I want to show you something. Will you come with me?”

He would do anything Nico asked.

Luckily, Nico was too kind to demand anything of him, or that was usually the case. So when Nico asked, Percy would be happy to oblige. He took Nico’s hand once more and they headed towards the music department, letting Nico lead him for the first time in his life. Maybe it would be a good change for them.

***

“Nico, where have you been these days? We couldn’t find you anywhere!”

Percy now remembered why he didn’t like coming to band practice. Because the one who had gotten up and ran towards them was Lou Ellen, the most fervent defender of the defenseless and oppressed, and according to her, Percy was one of those who oppressed other people.

Lou stopped in front of them and crossed her arms, looking him up and down. Percy chose to pretend he hadn't seen her, this was another ex-member of his fan club. 

Percy may or may not have gotten involved with her, he may or may not have used her and then thrown her away. It wasn't his fault if people put expectations on him when Percy didn’t promised anything, not even love or friendship. In the end, people believed what they wanted, but he wouldn't be the one to stroke their ego.

"I get it. Why did you bring that psychopath here?" She mumbled, as if she had eaten something sour, and turned to Nico. "Nico! We're late. Did you get the song?"

"Better yet, I wrote one." Nico, like the angel he was, ignored what she had said and held his hand tightly; Nico knew very well what Percy really wanted to be doing.

Instantly, Lou Ellen's face transformed in the blink of an eye, from frowning to glowing.

"Perfect! Are you going to show us?”

Lou hadn't given Nico time to answer, she pulled him along and Percy had no choice but to follow them into the music auditorium where less than ten teenagers were waiting. He remembered at some point in the past being among them, he must have been what? Twelve years old? But since music had always been something Nico liked, Percy choose to focus on other things, like sports, something that could give him a better future.

Percy didn't say anything or greet anyone, he followed Nico to the center of the stage and watched from afar. Nico picked up a guitar provided by the school and sat down on the floor, where the other people approached and sat around Nico, looking at him with admiration and something else he would rather not question. Honestly? Percy couldn't blame them, Nico looked even more handsome with a guitar on his lap and that look of contemplation as he strummed a few notes on the guitar strings, his sweet and velvety voice coming right after, echoing through the room, words and notes that Percy didn't recognize, but he also didn't make an effort to pay attention to their meanings, letting the music surround him like a sweet caress that insisted on flowing through him only to leave him throbbing and wanting more. 

He couldn't resist, Percy put their bags in a corner and got close to Nico, sitting directly next to him, placing one of his hands on Nico's back. 

Nico merely turned his face towards him and continued singing, perhaps in a slightly lower tone, a little more intimate, as if those words were meant for him and no one else. Nico smiled, then, calmly, and finally when the song reached its end, the sound of the guitar echoed for a few more moments, waking him up with its ending

Looking only at him, Nico asked in a low voice:

“Did you like it?”

“It was really good.” Because it was true. Even if he hadn’t paid attention to the words, the song itself spoke enough. “What’s it called?”

“There’s no place like home.”

The people around him applauded, stealing Nico’s attention, who thanked them, making something inside Percy rage. Who did they think they were!?

“Nico, we recorded it. Is that okay?” Lou said from somewhere in the audience. “It's perfect. Can I share it with the others?”

“I… I put it online? Can I send in the chat group?” Nico said, feeling unsure. Of course, Percy thought, as if they would deny it when the people around seemed to love him.

“That’s great,” Lou said again, excitedly.

“Excellent, Nico. Thank you for sharing something so personal with us. Can we use it for an exercise?” Euterpe, the music teacher, congratulated him. When Nico nodded, she continued. “For the next class, I want you to create an arrangement for the band. Re-record the song and also bring suggestions for other songs to perform at the dance.”

With that, the auditorium exploded into activity, people organizing themselves into two or three groups while the two  remained where they were, leaning towards each other, with Nico still holding the guitar and Percy holding Nico's waist.

"Do you want to play?" 

Percy accepted the instrument when Nico offered it to him, although he hesitated for a moment. It had been a while since he had held a guitar, long enough to almost make him forget how to position his fingers. But as they say, there are things in life that we never forget and that’s what happened when the first note sounded, clean and firm on his fingers, the fingering exercises coming back with full force, making him remember the long hours in that same auditorium, one of the few things that kept him in touch with reality when Nico had left. One of the thousands of crutches he carried through life, but that kept him standing on his feet. 

Percy concentrated for a moment and let himself go, lowered his head and allowed himself to remember, felt his fingers fly over the strings and allowed a strange calm to take over him. And for long minutes that’s all he heard, his breathing and the sequence of fast notes, that is, until his sequence came to an end and he found himself embraced by Nico.

"That's beautiful. Why didn't you tell me you could play like that?" Nico said calmly, not as if he was demanding something but as if he had received a valuable gift.

"I was busy with basketball. And with the teenage drama." Well, Percy was never good at making jokes. So, he wasn't surprised by Nico's attitude, who just kissed his cheek and rested his head on his shoulder.

"Play some more. Everyone liked it.”

“Everyone?" Percy looked around the auditorium and saw that people were indeed watching him in silence without the usual mockery. And he could swear that there were more people in the room than before.

"What do you want to hear?" 

"A romantic ballad." 

That's what he did, the notes coming out slower and simpler. Imagine his surprise when he heard people singing along with Nico, clapping and swaying.

Well, what could he do? Maybe not everything needed to be drowned in drama and angst.

***

“Sorry.” Percy said, admitting defeat. Sometimes, he forgot that Nico couldn't guess what he was thinking and, if he wanted their relationship to work as it should, Nico wasn't the only one who needed to be honest.

“You didn't do anything wrong.”

A few days had passed, but that moment in the music room had stayed in his mind. Percy knew he had a tendency to get lost in his own thoughts, imagining how the whole world was against him, when in fact, no one cared e he shouldn’t either; gossip was fleeting, these things had no effect on his life and not everyone had something bad to say about him. Nico was the reminder of that, that he still had a family, friends and someone who would stand by his side unconditionally.

To repay all the effort Nico was making, Percy had sat next to Nico on the couch at home and hugged him tightly, pulling him onto his lap. He kissed him back, but not the innocent little kisses they had grown accustomed to over the past few weeks, but rather open mouths and tongues intertwining, hearing Nico moan, sprawled and surprised in his arms.

“What was that?” Nico gasped, still in his lap, holding onto his neck.

“Thank you for being patient.”

Nico blinked slowly at him, his cheeks flushed, breathing fast, an obvious bulge in his pants. Percy knew this was Nico trying to reason through the excitement that was suddenly invading his brain.

“You know I love you, don’t you?”

“I know.” Percy said, feeling truly content.

“Sex… it’s not important. You’re my best friend, my partner.”

“Nico.”

“I could go without sex for the rest of my life, but I never want to be without you. I can wait.”

“I’m sorry.” And Percy really was, especially seeing the frustration on Nico's angelic face, seeing that Nico was ready to beg at the slightest positive sign.

The truth is that celibacy was not for him. It was a torture every day that he didn't touch Nico, he was afraid that if he allowed himself to do what he wanted, he would go back to the same bad habits. Although Percy had been questioning himself if all of this was wrong or if it was all inside his head due to the guilt of not having paid more attention to what was happening with Nico.

“Enough. I don't want to see you like this. I don't want to hear that you're sorry and that you're going to change. I don't want you to change, I mean... you don't have to do all these things because of me.”

Nico was practically pouting now, angry, it was beautiful to watch as Nico tried to convey the seriousness in his words. Nico kept trying so hard to make sure he was okay that Percy felt like doing something crazy; it could be anything. What he really wanted to do was throw Nico on the bed and make him forget the worry written all over his face. Maybe he should? Just to see if he could control himself?

“I understand. I won’t apologize again.”

“You won’t?” Nico tilted his head to the side, like a confused puppy, and that made Percy smile. He grabbed Nico by the hair and kissed him once more, feeling Nico melt against his chest.

“You deserve a reward. Do you know why?”

“Why?” Nico moaned, shifting in his lap.

“Because good boys deserve the best things.”

“Am I…? A good boy?”

“The best.”

Percy felt like he was at a tasting in his favorite restaurant. He stared at Nico’s burning face for a moment and finally allowed himself to do what he wanted. Slowly, to see what Nico would do, he took his hand from Nico’s waist and brought it to the boy’s groin, touching him gently over his jeans. Like a flower, Nico spread his legs and moved his hands out of the way, looking up at where Percy's hands were going, moaning softly when Percy finally covered his member over his clothes.

"Is it okay if I do this?" Percy asked, stopping his movements.

"Yes, please." And then, as an afterthought, Nico said: "Thank you!"

"Hmm, good boy." 

Then, as he had promised, he opened the button on Nico's pants and lowered the zipper, seeing the small bulge over his underwear. Even more slowly, Percy massaged his member for a few moments and pulled it out of his underwear. He couldn't deny it, Nico was beautiful everywhere; his dark skin, his sweet voice, his soft body. Down there he was all of that too, the member that fit in his hand, the reddish and wet head right at the tip, the  thin, well-trimmed hair at the base. Percy felt like devouring him and would only stop when Nico came all over himself, in pleasure, on his hands, on his knees, surrendered at Percy's feet. 

But not today, today Percy would take everything as calmly as he could.

“Please!” Nico whimpered, tears welling up in his eyelashes.

Percy closed his eyes for a moment and focused on his breathing. It was that heavy feeling in the pit of his stomach that was taking over him again, that possessive, controlling voice telling him that if Nico was his and he was offering himself to him like this, Percy could do whatever he wanted.

"It's okay, baby," Percy murmured, barely recognizing his own voice as he heard Nico moan. He hesitated only a moment to pay attention to Nico's reaction.

Oh, his sweet Nico. He was staring at him with wide eyes, pleading, showing so much trust in him that Percy had to move. The hand that had been near Nico's groin finally found its way and wrapped around his throbbing member. He had almost forgotten the feeling of touching such an intimate place on someone else’s body. Percy tested the waters by holding around Nico and then brushing one of his fingers over the tip, collecting the pre-cum and bringing it down, fingering the length to wrap it around him completely again, applying a little pressure.

"Like this?" He asked.

Well, Nico didn't answer him exactly, but the way Nico was leaning against his chest, moaning shamelessly, should have been a good indication.

Suddenly, Percy felt curious. After so long he felt like he had forgotten the shape of Nico's body. He used his other hand and wrapped it around Nico's lower belly, caressing his belly. He moved up a little further and found his abdomen, his ribs and chest, touching the hard nipples, where he lingered for a few moments.

"Percy!" He heard Nico whimper, rubbing himself against him.

"I know. I'm torturing you."

Keeping Nico pinned against his chest, back against shoulders, Percy continued his exploration, going down and massaging between Nico's legs again.

"Could you... lower?" Then, Nico murmured, all docile and obedient.

"Here?" His curious fingers did as Nico asked, passing over Nico's testicles and finding Nico's entrance. A light touch told him what Nico wanted.

“Have you been having fun without me, hmm?”

“I didn't know if… when… ah!…”

Well, he was still curious. Slowly, Percy brushed one of his fingers around the entrance and soon Nico opened like a flower. And even dry, his finger entered, almost without resistance, going all the way in. Percy could bet that while he was trying to give Nico time to think, Nico was having fun without him.

“Is this what you did when I wasn't looking?”

Percy tried to put another finger in and surprising him, the finger entered almost without resistance again. Nico bent over in a way that seemed painful and screamed at the top of his lungs: “It's all your fault! I tried… I tried… it's not the same!”

Oh, that made him want… no! Not today. Today, he would settle for touching and watching, who knows, maybe in a few days Percy would feel strong enough to move forward. 

So, Percy did what Nico so desperately asked him to do. He watched Nico's member throb, without anything touching it, while he continued to massage Nico's insides, moving his fingers slowly around, opening them very delicately until he found the right place. Nico shuddered and moaned for a long time, arching his spine and like magic, he saw Nico expelling, jet after jet, Percy without having to touch anywhere else.

"I hate you!" Nico groaned as he finally collapsed against Percy's chest, an expression of exhaustion and ecstasy still etched on his features.

Well, Percy believed in Nico. Sometimes, he hated himself too, especially when he had to control himself like this.

"I love you too." Percy continued to hold Nico against his chest and only moved when he was sure that Nico would no longer hate him.

So, how was today's chapter? I'm trying to develop their D/s relationship in a way that feels natural. Percy may know a lot about the bdsm world, but knowing isn't the same as understanding or practicing. Like, there's something called domdrop, you know? The guilt of doing something that socially might be discouraged, like taboo fantasies and kinks. Just like Nico has or will have some kind of subdrop too. It's not all roses and I wanted to show this side of this kind of relationship in the story. I hope you enjoyed it. Likes, reblogs and comments are always welcome. Suggestions too.

Nico and Percy

Okay so I’ve received a lot of asks about Nico and Percy and how Percy treated Nico and someone else sent me a link to a post that had more stuff.

90% of the stuff I’ve seen is either inaccurate or taken out of context.

Lets start with the choking scene.

This scene happened right after Nico lied to Percy to trick him into coming to see Hades so that Nico could learn more about his mom. They were meant to go to the Styx in order to give Percy the Achilles Curse so they had a chance at winning the war. This resulted in Percy being locked up by Hades.

Nico did not intend for this to happen, but he did knowingly lie to Percy. Percy understandably did not trust Nico after that.

The mountain of darkness loomed above me. A foot the size of Yankee Stadium was about to smash me when a voice hissed: ‘Percy!’

I lunged out blindly. Before I was fully awake, I had Nico pinned to the floor of the cell with the edge of my sword at his throat.

‘Want – to – rescue,’ he choked.

Anger woke me up fast. ‘Oh, yeah? And why should I trust you?’

‘No – choice?’ he gagged.

I wished he hadn’t said something logical like that. I let him go. (The Last Olympian page 60).

As you can see, the initial action was taken before Percy was even awake. After he was awake, and got through his initial anger at the betrayal with Nico’s comment, he released Nico and they escaped.

He acknowledged silently later that he didn’t trust Nico anymore and Nico was aware that his actions meant he wasn’t trusted.

So the choking scene: not Percy being unreasonably cruel to Nico.

Threats is another common thing I see people bring up and… I’m genuinely baffled by that one. The closest I can think of is the scene I quoted above? But that doesn’t seem to fit? Anyone want to quote some threats Percy made to Nico? Because I don’t know any.

Next up! The claims that Percy said they should leave Nico to suffocate. Funnily enough he actually says the opposite, multiple times.

Percy stared at his jelly donut. He had a rocky history with Nico di Angelo. The guy had once tricked him into visiting Hades’s palace, and Percy had ended up in a cell. But most of the time, Nico sided with the good guys. He certainly didn’t deserve slow suffocation in a bronze jar, and Percy couldn’t stand seeing Hazel in pain.

“We’ll rescue him,” he promised her. “We have to. The prophecy says he holds the key to endless death.”

Is this first time kind? Not necessarily. But it’s certainly not saying to leave Nico. For multiple reasons, he didn’t deserve, Percy didn’t want Hazel to hurt, and (what he says outloud) Nico is an important figure in the war.

Percy also makes a comment later when they feared they’d be too late

The vision zoomed in again. Inside the jar, Nico di Angelo was curled in a ball, no longer moving, all the pomegranate seeds eaten.

“We’re too late,” Jason said.

“No,” Percy said. “No, I can’t believe that. Maybe he’s gone into a deeper trance to buy time. We have to hurry.”

Funny, this doesn’t sound like someone advocating to leave Nico to die. In fact it sounds like someone almost desperate to save him, or at least hoping strongly that they’ll succeed.

Interestingly there were comments about leaving Nico, but not from Percy. They came from Jason and Leo.

“Uh…” Leo shifted in his chair. “One thing. The giants are expecting us to do this, right? So we’re walking into a trap?”

Hazel looked at Leo like he’d made a rude gesture. “We have no choice!”

“Don’t get me wrong, Hazel. It’s just that your brother, Nico… he knew about bothcamps, right?”

“Well, yes,” Hazel said.

“He’s been going back and forth,” Leo said, “and he didn’t tell either side.” Jason sat forward, his expression grim. “You’re wondering if we can trust the guy. So am I.”

Hazel shot to her feet. “I don’t believe this. He’s my brother. He brought me back from the Underworld, and you don’t want to help him?”

Frank put his hand on her shoulder. “Nobody’s saying that.” He glared at Leo. “Nobody had better be saying that.”

Leo blinked. “Look, guys. All I mean is—”

“Hazel,” Jason said. “Leo is raising a fair point. I remember Nico from Camp Jupiter. Now I find out he also visited Camp Half-Blood. That does strike me as… well, a little shady. Do we really know where his loyalties lie? We just have to be careful.” (Mark of Athena page 125)

How interesting that they’re the ones making comments about leaving Nico…

Next of course I’ve heard the wonder bread brought up? And I had to key word search wonder bread in the books to figure out what that was about and it appears to be a single thought Percy had while they were trying to rescue Nico.

Nico started to crawl away, groaning. Percy wanted him to move faster and to groan less. He considered throwing his Wonder bread at him. (Mark of Athena page 357)

Percy did not actually throw the bread for anyone wondering, and I hardly see how the panicking thought of trying to get them all out of there and keep Nico from being noticed by the people he was escaping from is even something for you to hold against him.

Finally the thing I hear the most, Percy calling Nico creepy and spreading rumors.

Creepy is used in MoA 5 times, in HoH 2 times, and BoO 8 times.

In MoA it’s used by Percy once, and that time is describing Persephone’s garden, not Nico. This comment is also only made in his thoughts, not outloud.

Funnily enough Leo does mentally refer to Nico as creepy in MoA

Nico and Hazel shared a look, maybe comparing notes on their Hades/Pluto death radar. Leo shivered. Hazel had never seemed like a child of the Underworld to him, but Nico di Angelo—that guy was creepy. (Mark of Athena page 396)

In HoH it is used once by Jason in regards to Nico, not at all by Percy.

Nico gave him a thin, creepy smile. ‘Ah … that legend.’ (House of Hades page 164)

In BoO it’s actually used by Nico about himself.

By now, Will Solace realized just how creepy and revolting Nico di Angelo was. Of course, Nico didn’t care what he thought. But still …  (Blood of Olympus page 317)

And once by Reyna about Nico

Reyna had stitched up the gashes on his biceps, which gave Nico a slightly creepy Frankenstein look, but the cuts were still swollen and red. (Blood of Olympus page 140)

So uh, no Percy did not call Nico creepy. And I have found no evidence of Percy spreading rumors so like with the threats, feel free to find me quotes proving that claim.

Concluding all of this I will point out that prior to book 5 (TLO) Percy was doing everything in his power to find Nico and protect him. After book 5 Percy only had one physical altercation with him (when he was half asleep and right after the betrayal occurred) and otherwise did not hold it against him beyond having his trust broken. As time went on we know from Percy’s thoughts that he doesn’t trust Nico, but he makes no comments saying such and agrees to help rescue him and does everything he can to do so.

Their conflicts are understandable due to their history. Percy’s feelings on Nico are complicated but understandable and he has not let it interfere with their jobs, if anything it interfered in a negative way making them risk the quest to save Nico (though Nico was a key figure needed to succeed in the end).

Overall I don’t know where these claims come from beyond people wanting to find issues with Percy (to the point they make stuff up).

SITTER'S LOVE - Nico!Babysitter, Percy!Teacher-father - Chapter III, Chapter IV, Chapter V

Hey. Here are the chapters, three in one go! I got too lazy to do them one at a time, I hate these monetization book platforms that force me to chop up the chapters. I think I'll give up on them, they annoy me to no end. Anyway, I think the next chapters are going to be much longer.

I hope you enjoy it.

Chapter III

"It's not your fault. Come in.”

Mr. Jackson made room for Nico to enter and closed the door, then walked into the house, guiding him through the entrance chamber.

Nico tried to move through the room at the man's speed, but he had to stop for a moment. The first thing he saw was white in its purest tone, seeing that as he walked and his eyes roamed the hall, the white mixed with other lighter and more neutral tones. The walls were white too and the furniture was had an equally light color, pale snow, which contrasted with the beautiful paintings in which he would never be able to recognize their real value even if he were paid to do it, decorating those walls interspersed with large windows that went all the way to the floor in strategic points; everything was so immaculate, so clean and bright that he was afraid to take a step forward and get something dirty.

He blinked, looking around and wondering what else he would find in that place. So, with the greatest care possible, Nico stepped on the very white carpet that stretched across the entire entrance and walked as fast as he could trying to reach Mr. Jackson who was already waiting for him at the entrance to the living room.

And like everything else, the floor of that house was also made of a white granite that shone almost blindingly. Had he mentioned the large spiral staircase that led to the upper floor? It was beautiful, something out of a fairy tale. Nico could very well imagine a princess descending those bright, polished steps. He heard a cough and finally looked away from the staircase, seeing that there were two doors on the right and one on the left, and the room that he thought was a small living room opened up wider to the right, well lit by the large windows that were also there, showing the well-kept garden, more white walls, cream sofas, a coffee table and a big tv mounted on the wall.

Like an idiot, he kept walking while looking around and accidentally tripped over the end of the carpet, stopping at the beginning of the living room. Mr. Jackson, on the other hand, had walked confidently down the long hallway, waiting for him, looking more impatient with each passing minute now standing in the middle of the room.

"Come in. Please." Mr. Jackson told him as seriously as before.

For some reason Nico couldn't explain, he felt conflicted, though... though he knew it was a different kind of conflict. It was a funny feeling in the pit of his stomach that made the hairs on the back of his neck stand up, as if... it might sound ridiculous, but he felt like he'd walked into a trap where if he stepped wrong he'd be devoured. He admitted it, he was attracted to a specific type of man. Tall, strong, and... determined.

Well, he didn't know if "decided" was the right word, but Nico liked to believe that. He didn't know, maybe it was all that skin on show, the way the half-naked man was standing in the middle of the room as if he had nothing to hide, the way Mr. Jackson seemed to use his height to demand... demand something from him. It was also the way those eyes that shone intensely seemed to stalk him, restrained, attentive, trying to communicate something that Nico refused to understand.

It could also be that giant, deserted place that gave him this feeling of being suffocated, as if he were tiny and the white vastness was going to swallow him in that house that seemed to be the perfect prison made of gold. Or even worse, it could be something unprecedented, something that Nico would refuse until the end out of pure moral sense; he hated this feeling that climbed up his spine and made him even more confused, because it wasn't fair, he had been irritated with the man less than ten minutes ago! And now, well... Nico couldn't hide it, it was something that came to him naturally; this sexuality that he tried to bury as much as he could and that was obvious if Nico could compare, was the similarity in the posture of this man who stared at him from head to toe so intensely that it made him uncomfortable and at the same time eager.

But everything was fine, Nico could admit that to himself. The only reason he hesitated so much was the memory of what had happened yesterday, it was exactly because he knew people like this man, authoritative and confident, as if it was obvious that others lived to fulfill his desires, that he had lost his job. Nico didn't want the same thing to happen so soon. Or for something worse to happen.

Ah, why didn't he listen to his intuition and leave when he could? I mean... no one was forcing him to be there, right? Mr. Jackson had just held the door, letting him pass and walked into the house. Maybe with his head held a little high? Maybe standing up straighter than before as if... as if he were puffing out his chest? And just maybe... just maybe he could see a sinister glint in those eyes that for some reason Nico couldn't look away from ... No, it must have been the anxiety that liked to play tricks on him.

Nico took a deep breath and did his best to convince himself, he was only making this sacrifice for the money.

He took another deep breath and let it out, taking the first step into the room. Then he took another step and stopped in front of Mr. Jackson, who stared at him for a few more seconds, his face unreadable, arms crossed in front of his chest, standing in the middle of the room with his legs apart. It was hard to keep his eyes from following the natural direction of things.

"Follow me.”

Without waiting for Nico, Mr. Jackson strode towards the sofas in the living room and sat down heavily against one of the thousands of armchairs that decorated the room, forcing Nico to follow him.

"I won’t beat around the bush. My wife travels most of the time and I take care of the kids. I’m a researcher and I don’t have time to waste. They have a routine. You’re supposed to wake them up at seven sharp, get them changed, help me with breakfast, take them to school, pick them up, help them with their homework, keep them entertained until bedtime, and bathe them at the end of the day. The rest of the time, I don’t care what you do. Whether you stay here or somewhere else is none of my business.”

"Hmm… okay?" Nico said, a little confused, irritation rising again in his nerves. "Will you be present at some point? Or should I do something else?”

"And what would that be?”

The man finally smiled at Nico, but it was so mocking and cynical that he almost got up from his chair to punch him.

"Look, I don't know what you do in other people's houses, but here you're going to do what you were hired to do. Take care of the children and clean up the mess they make. Is two hundred a day enough?”

"Two hundred?" Nico said, surprised. That was double what he expected.

"Two hundred plus transportation and lunch. You are free to eat or do whatever you want.”

Mr. Jackson gave Nico another small smile and slowly stretched as he stood up, Nico watching every movement more closely than necessary, still slightly confused and refusing to blush. The worst part was knowing that he was so obvious, unable to avoid the embarrassment.

"Don't worry. It happens to everyone. "Mr. Jackson winked at Nico and finally walked away, but not before saying: "Up the stairs, I'm in the first room on the right. The children should be woken up in twenty minutes.

Nico waved dazedly and watched the broad-shouldered silhouette of his newest boss disappear up the stairs.

Chapter IV

Nico turned on the couch, leaning back against it and placed his hand over his eyes. He blinked slowly and felt the early morning light blind him, like an arrow hitting its target. When he opened his eyes again, he saw that the sun was already shining brightly throughout the room, bathing the cold, white walls with the warm rays of dawn, illuminating and warming the place that had previously seemed so devoid of life or warmth.

He blinked once more, trying to pry his eyelids apart and rubbed his eyes, his vision clearing as Nico got used to the morning light. He looked around and finally remembered where he was, leaning forward in search of his cell phone. He felt around the coffee table and his pants pockets until an image he hadn't expected to see became clear; all Nico could see were blue-green eyes, as intense as the sea on a rainy day, along with a thin nose and pretty lips, open in an even prettier smile, although he felt that this smile didn't indicate good news.

In a leap that made his heart race, Nico threw himself off the couch just as the alarm clock rang, telling him it was time to wake the children. Determined to regain control of the situation, he took a few steps back and put some distance between himself and the man who was leaning over the couch, insisting on disturbing him and who was now smiling at him, his pretty lips widening and the pleasure on his tanned face making it clear that the fun was far from over.

Still half asleep and with his face burning, feeling as if he were observing his own life through a blurred lens, Nico saw when Mr. Jackson straightened his spine and, still smiling, approached him. The man stopped in front of him, placed one of his hands on Nico's shoulders and looked at him in what seemed to be a friendly way. However, this time, Nico could see that Mr. Jackson had deigned to wear clothes and had even combed his hair, which was now thrown back, allowing him to see how handsome the man really was. With a clean-cut face, white teeth and a smirk, he looked so charming that for a moment Nico forgot where he was.

If Nico said that something had possessed him and controlled his mind, would anyone believe him? Well, that's what happened. In slow motion, he found himself raising his own hand and holding the fingers that rested on his shoulders, staring at them, half-seeing and half-disbelieving. Fingers over fingers, his palm curved over his, observing how both hands, together and of such different tones, fit so well that for a moment Nico just allowed himself to watch. He heard a throat clearing and only then turned his attention to Mr. Jackson; his green eyes, handsome face and friendly smile finally making him realize that the silence had lasted longer than usual.

That was a fact he couldn't deny, Percy Jackson could be strangely annoying and nice at the same time, but he was one of the most beautiful people Nico had ever met, even though his face had a slightly rounded shape and he was now wearing glasses, not forgetting the sweetest smile he had ever seen.

"Rough night?”

"…something like that." Nico said, unsure. With each passing moment, Nico's confusion grew, making him… uncomfortable, making him feel that little sensation crawling out of his stomach, running down his spine, causing a trail of heat and shivers, something beyond what he was willing to admit.

The truth was that Nico couldn't help it, Mr. Jackson's voice sounded so hoarse and so velvety that he couldn't suppress another shiver, Nico couldn't help the way his hands gripped his tighter. In return, Percy Jackson didn't seem to be behind. The grip on his shoulder was so strong and determined that Nico's attention went immediately to what the man was saying, making him pay attention to his mouth, to how his lips moved, to his tongue that came out and wet his slightly dry lips, Nico little by little feeling himself going crazy with every second he spent near that man; one moment, Mr. Jackson seemed like he was going to kick him out of the house and the next, they were the best of friends. Nico didn't feel comfortable with any of this, bothered by the man's sudden change. It made him insecure and uncertain of how to act.

Realizing what was happening, Nico let go of him and took another step back.

"Sir, if you could--”

"No, it's my fault. I didn't express myself properly." Mr. Jackson raised his other hand and when he saw Nico moving away again, he lowered it and continued in a much softer tone of voice, keeping his intense eyes on Nico's. "Can we start over?”

Nico felt a different kind of heat rise up his spine, he opened his mouth to call him a bipolar lunatic when he stopped in the middle of what he was going to say. Yes, Nico shut up. He shut up because Mr. Jackson kept looking at him as if Nico was the only thing worthy of attention, he shut up mainly because Mr. Jackson smiled again, a small and beautiful smile, but so sincere that it had hit him completely and with full force, making him realize that he was in more trouble than he thought.

You know what? Nico didn't know what was happening to himself or to this man, or why this sudden change in behavior. And he didn't even want to know. Should Nico leave or…

"I swear, I'm being sincere. I'm sorry about before. The last nanny she got didn't leave the best impression, you know?”

“She?”

"Annabeth Chase, my wife? The one who hired you? It doesn't matter, she did it on purpose.”

"I understand if you--”

“No, I insist,” Percy Jackson said, sounding more… firm than before. “Let’s see what happens by the end of the day. Think of it as an experiment, okay?”

And so, the matter was concluded. Mr. Jackson nodded to Nico, straightened his spine and turned, indicating the way. He strode in the direction indicated and climbed the flights of stairs, walking down a long hallway that led to the children's room.

Still a little dizzy from so many mood swings, Nico had no choice but to follow him, practically running to catch up with him. He took the stairs two at a time and, already panting, reached Mr. Jackson on the upper floor.

"I thought… that you… wouldn't be involved?”

"I wasn't serious. I'll be there whenever I can. So relax. I'm not that kind of father.”

For some reason, Nico felt that Mr. Jackson was still mocking him even though the mockery wasn't obvious. In the same way, he followed him once more into the room, being greeted by two children who were already awake. They ran to their father, laughing, and each of them held one of the man's legs, their happiness sincere and contagious, soon making him forget what had just happened.

Chapter V

Percy tried to hold back his laughter and turned his back on Nico, going up the stairs, deep down tempted to continue and see how far he could tease Nico. He liked to think he wasn't that sadistic. Most of the time he did his best to be a good father and stayed true to Annabeth's image. Like it or not, on paper, they were still married, even if Annabeth didn't make the same effort as him, and at the moment, Percy was especially trying to be a good host; it was clear that Nico was a good boy, patient and respectful when he didn't treat him the same way, but it was so easy to tease that little boy... before he knew it, they were too close, Percy having even more fun while trying to control himself and hide his amusement behind a frown.

Okay, he was the one to blame in this story, Percy admitted, he was testing the boy. Nico seemed too nice and too young to be working, it was like watching a child taking care of other children, besides the fact that he didn't know anything about the boy. It couldn't be possible, that cute and innocent little face couldn't be more than fifteen, maybe sixteen years old. He was so skinny that Percy was afraid that the children would accidentally break him in half when they went to play. And even though he knew he would regret it, Percy went up the rest of the stairs and opened the door, being greeted by his mischievous little angels who hugged him tightly before returning to their tasks.

"Daddy, Daddy! Where have you been? We 're late!" Little Logan shouted from his bed, putting on his shoes and already dressed. He was sweet, innocent and well-behaved, always trying to do the right thing. This also had to do with the fact that Logan hated being late.

"Kelly didn't come today?" Alice asked in a much calmer, almost distracted way, reading something on her cell phone while sprawled on the bed.

"She had to leave. Nico will stay with us today. What do you think about that?”

"Another one left?" Alice said.

“I didn’t like her at all,” Logan said. He smiled at his shoes, satisfied with a job well done, and shrugged. “She didn’t know how to play and was on the phone all day.”

"I know, dear. Hopefully, Mr. Nico will be different. Do you want to meet him?”

Obediently, the children stopped what they were doing and got up from the bed, each one stopping on either side of Percy and finally seeing the person standing behind their father. With their straight spines and curious looks, they waited patiently when Percy finally moved out of their way, allowing them to see him. And Nico, who had been leaning against the doorframe all this time and watching the interaction between him and the children, let a smile take over his face.

Percy saw Nico take a step into the room, approaching them, and continued watching from afar, as curious as they looked at Nico.

"Kids, what do we say when we meet new people?

"It's a pleasure to meet you! "Logan said excitedly, his eyes shining when they met Nico's.

"I hope you last longer than a month." It was Alice's turn to mutter. Soon after, she looked away at her cell phone and pretended nothing was happening.

Percy understood perfectly, it was Alice's way of protecting herself; she would ignore the problem until it went away or until someone solved it for her. Because, in fact, he had already lost count of how many people he had hired in the last few years.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Nico said, the tone of his voice surprising him.

Percy couldn't deny it, that tone was something much more loving and kind than Nico had used with him. This surprised him even more when, contrary to what he thought, Nico knelt down to the children's height and held their hands, smiling gently as he said: "I hope we can have fun.”

"Are you going to take me to school? The sitters always do that." Logan said.

"Are you going to help us with our homework?"Alice added.

"Yes, we will do that and much more.”

“Shouldn't you be in school? How old are you?" Alice said again, looking suspicious.

"I'm twenty. And you?”

"Eleven. My little brother is seven.”

"It's true! Daddy's twenty-nine. Mommy, thirty-one!" Logan spoke excitedly, as if in a game. Whoever spoke the fastest won.

"That's very good to know." Nico smiled and Percy couldn't help but smile along.

Percy ruffled Logan's hair and sat on the bed as he continued to watch the light and easy way Nico spoke to the children.

"Do you… study?" Alice asked.

"No, I'm saving money to pay for college.”

"Do you live in the city?" It was Logan's turn.

Percy saw Nico smile even wider, a smile so wide and angelic that he tried to hide his interest as Nico continued to answer the children without hesitation. “No, I live further inland, an hour away from the city. Yes, I have four brothers, two girls and two boys. And yes, I have a boyfriend.”

"Why so many questions?" Nico asked after a while.

"We're helping daddy!" Logan told him, sitting next to Nico on the floor with his sister.

"When we ask, people lie less." Alice nodded, confirming.

"Who has lied?”

"The last nanny. A woman of twenty-five.”

Percy felt like slapping himself and sneaking out of there just as Nico turned to him and raised an eyebrow, clearly questioning him about it. He shrugged, pretending he didn't know anything and settled back in bed, pretending with his cell phone in his hand as if he was reading something very important. Nico turned back to the children, once again paying attention to what they were saying, but... yeah... Percy could see a slight blush creeping up Nico's neck, stopping at his high cheekbones, giving Nico a slightly darker hue.

"I think that's enough for today. Who's ready to go to school?”

Surprisingly, it wasn't Percy who had said it. It had been Nico himself, already in full caretaker mode. It all felt so natural that Percy found himself following Nico's order. They both helped the children pick up their bags, books, and water bottles, each of them taking Nico's hands and pulling him toward the front door, down the stairs, and into the entrance hall.

Feeling satisfied, he handed the car keys to Nico and said, “Have fun!”

"Shouldn't you…?”

"You don't know how to drive?”

“It's not that!”

"So, it's settled. It's the black Jeep.”

Being dragged along by the kids, Nico made a funny face at Percy and he found himself following them again as the kids continued to drag Nico around the house. They went around the house, past the garden, and behind it where there was a long garden were the cars, a convertible that Percy had gotten for his eighteenth birthday and a Jeep, a four-door monster with wheels that he loved to drive, almost taller than himself.

Percy pointed out the car to Nico and, paying attention to Nico's face, felt even more satisfied. Nico stopped in place and spent a while admiring the car, his eyes wide open with such a surprised expression that it made him even cuter.

Nico shook his head and looked at him, looking overcome with fatigue.

"Come on, unlock the car." Nico did, of course. Nico pressed the button and as soon as the alarm was deactivated, Percy opened the door for him and then picked up the children, placing them in the backseat and adjusting the seat belts for them.

"Can you climb up?”

Nico waved, pushed himself forward, and fell face first into the driver's seat, all awkward. Percy had the urge to help him, but since Nico hadn't reacted well when he'd touched his shoulder earlier, Percy stopped before Nico could interpret it the wrong way.

Yeah, looks like he'd have to buy them another car. One that was... lower? That was a good idea.

Percy finally slammed the car door, waved to them and only went inside the house when Nico actually showed that he knew how to drive. Percy continued to watch the car drive away until Nico parallel park to complete the return towards the exit. It seemed that things would be more interesting than Percy thought.

I hope it was a good read. Suggestions or comments are always welcome.

More of Percy being pretty🌊

“In fairness, murder is a lot quicker, though.”