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Nico thinks it's pretty fucking rude for Hazel and Frank to get married.
That isn't fair. It isn't their fault that they're desperately in love and want to be child brides. It isn't their fault that Hazel wants to get married before they live together. It's just that Hazel is only 23 and Nico thinks that's a little young and—
"It's about Percy, isn't it?" Jason asks as he ties Nico's bowtie for him. Nico levels him with a glare that has killed other people, but Jason Grace is no mere man. He's used to Nico by now. "Dude, just be honest with yourself."
"I won't be doing that."
Jason heaves a sigh and pats Nico's shoulders. "I've seen you kill things with no hesitation, but you can't handle seeing Percy Jackson for five to seven hours?"
"It's the 'to seven' part," Nico deadpans. "Five hours would be fine. Six is pushing it."
"Might even be eight hours if he shows up for pictures beforehand," Jason says, all cheer and good will for Hazel and Frank's special day. Nico hates him. "You're about to find out either way. You didn't think to protest before the morning of the wedding?"
"I couldn't just ask Hazel not to invite Percy," Nico says. "It's Percy. Savior of the world, savior of Hazel's life more than once. Of course she was going to invite him and his perfect, beautiful girlfriend."
"They're broken up."
"They do that all the time."
"They're broken up for now," Jason amends with a grimace. "Fair point."
Frustrated, Nico runs a hand through his hair, fucking it up supremely. He groans. "I can't do this, Jase. I can't see him. It's been five years since we've seen each other and I had every intention of making that permanent."
"I know, but you're going to have to get over it for the day unless you feel like ruining Hazel's day. Hey, isn't Will coming? You could hang out with him."
Nico stares at Jason. "Do you seriously hate me? I thought we were friends, Jason. 'Hang out with Will.' You're insane. He hates me just as much as Percy does."
Jason rolls his eyes. "I don't think either of them hate you. You just have a complicated past with them or something. You really don't have the best track record with Greek boys, do you? We should hook you up with a Roman."
"You offering again?"
Jason laughs and shoves Nico's shoulder, which unfortunately moves Nico closer to the door. It's about to happen. It's all about to happen.
"You said you'd never bring that up again and you bring it up all the time," Jason laughs.
"Not around anyone else. I'm benevolent."
"Yeah, yeah, very benevolent. You're nearly late too. We'd better get going."
Nico braces himself, takes Jason's hand, and pulls them through the shadows.
They pop out of the shadows and directly into Leo's lap. This is to say that Nico miscalculated having another person with him and threw Jason into Leo's lap in the shade of the trees outside the wedding venue with an unceremonious "oof."
"Well, hello, Jason Grace," Leo says as he leers down at Jason. "I've waited for you to make a move for years."
Jason's cheeks go bright pink immediately as he scrambles out of Leo's lap. At least someone else is humiliated along with Nico right now, because Nico is debating throwing himself in the Lethe to forget the look of shocked horror on Percy's face when they made eye contact as soon as Nico materialized. Nico shifts his attention back to Leo and Jason to try to avoid the heat on his own face and the sudden urge to scream.
"And Nico di Angelo!" Leo says when he looks up at Nico. "Dude, I thought you'd died. No one's seen you in, like, too long. Except Hazel. And Jason, I guess. Are you guys…"
"No!" both of them say too quickly. It looks suspicious. Gods.
"No," Jason repeats. "Just the one time."
"And here I thought I wasn't supposed to talk about it," Nico says, rolling his eyes.
Leo's mouth is dropped open in shock, but he closes it to clear his throat. "I guess di Angelo did get hot. I don't blame you."
Nico feels a little dizzy, but at least he got hot. At least there's that. Maybe that's why Percy looked so horrified, but—
"You've always been so pretty," Percy whispers as he tucks Nico's hair behind his ear. "Gods, Nico, you—"
That's enough of that. Time for a swim in the Lethe.
"Nico!" Hazel yells from inside the venue. "Come here!"
Nico gives Jason and Leo a little salute before he brushes past Percy to walk into the venue, finding Hazel easily. Piper is hovering behind her, fluffing Hazel's dress, and they both smile when they see Nico.
"Hey, guys," Nico says with his own small smile. "Hazel, you look beautiful."
Hazel grins. "Thank you. Can you do me a huge favor?"
"Always."
"Can you walk me to the first look? And down the aisle?" Hazel asks in one quick breath, like she's almost embarrassed.
Nico kind of wants to cry. His voice sounds a little choked when he says, "yeah, of course. It'd be an honor."
"Aw," Piper says under her breath. Nico sucks any tears in. He can't cry in front of Piper. That would be horrifying.
Nico clears his throat. "Anyway, are you ready for the first look? Frank's going to cry."
"He'd better," Hazel says with a laugh. She straightens her shoulders and she's so little. Nico towers over her now that he's grown. "Let's do this."
"Let's," Nico teases. He puts his arm out for Hazel, dramatically lowering it so she can take it, and it bubbles laughter out of Hazel. "To Frank."
Frank cries as soon as he lays eyes on Hazel, as expected. Nico might have hit him if he hadn't. Hazel lets go of Nico's arm to go to Frank and Nico sinks into the background, where Jason is waiting for him.
"He asked about you," Jason mutters, barely moving his mouth. Nico whips his head to the side to look at Jason and Jason sighs. "Don't be so obvious."
"Sorry? What do you mean, he asked about me?"
"He came up and asked me where you'd gone, and then he asked me how you've been. I told him in no uncertain terms that he could ask you himself, because I'm not his messenger."
"Gods," Nico groans. "I really don't want him to talk to me."
"We've talked about being honest with ourselves."
"Kick rocks, Jason Grace."
Jason huffs out a laugh as Nico shoves his shoulder. "I'd rather not. These are my nice shoes."
Someone clears their throat next to them and Nico braces himself for Percy's voice, but it's just Leo trying to get their attention.
"Lover's spat?" Leo asks. "Is it weird to have all those powers in one relationship? Should I try it?"
"Are you asking if you should date someone powerful or if you can join our relationship?" Nico asks. "Not that there's one for you to join, by the way."
"But you'd consider it?" Leo sounds so hopeful, giving Nico those puppy dog eyes, and Nico nearly laughs. Damn Leo. Now isn't the time for laughter, not when Percy and Annabeth are right there.
"Maybe," Nico says with a shrug. "Jase?"
"I'd consider it," Jason laughs.
"Man, I can't wait to tell Piper," Leo cackles. "You experimented and fell in love and now I get to join your relationship. I'm taking wins today."
"Sure, Leo," Nico says as he rolls his eyes. "You're the real winner today. Definitely not Hazel and Frank."
"Nah, they're just child brides."
"Fair point. Oh, it's picture time."
Leo leers at Nico. "Do you even show up in pictures?"
Nico does actually laugh this time. He feels eyes on him that he ignores. "Sometimes. Why don't you come find out?"
"My beautiful vampire not-boyfriend," Leo says, taking Jason's arm to drag him toward Hazel and Frank. "Come on, Neeks."
"Please don't call me that."
Jason snorts. "I like it. Neeks. I'm using that."
Nico, because he's damned and deserves to die, ends up next to Percy in the group photo. He pastes on a small smile and hopes it doesn't look desperately stiff, even as Percy's fingers brush his fingers for a moment before he pulls away.
"Hey," Percy murmurs. Nico hums, but he doesn't respond. "Nico."
Nico stiffens when Percy loops his fingers around Nico's wrist. "Percy."
Percy gives Nico a blinding smile while he manages to hide their hands behind Hazel, but it's a little bashful. "Haven't seen you in a while."
"Mhm."
"Neeks!" Jason shouts, getting both of their attention. It startles Percy into dropping Nico's wrist and his face is dark when Nico spares him a glance. "Come here."
"I told you not to call me that," Nico grumbles as he goes to stand on the other side of Frank.
Jason tosses his arm over Nico's shoulders. "I just saved your ass, so I don't want to hear it. I saw his hand."
Nico lets out a breath and relaxes into Jason the barest amount. "Everyone is right here and he's— Ugh. I hate this."
"You hate my wedding?" Hazel turns around and glares at Nico. He puts his hands up in surrender. "Smile, please."
"Smiling."
Nico feels too many eyes on him when he walks Hazel down the aisle, when he sits in the front row. He knows he hasn't seen any of these people in years, but damn. He shoves down any tears that threaten to come when Hazel says her vows, because he will not be crying in front of these people who won't stop staring at him.
He manages to stay tucked between Jason, Piper, and Leo for the beginning of the reception as the dancing picks up and it shields him from too many glances, but he can perfectly place a pair of sea-green eyes and a pair of bright grey ones. He doesn't know what the second pair is about, but it feels a little ominous. Annabeth's gaze sears into him. He refuses to look back or break a sweat though. He can handle being stared at by his ex-boyfriend's ex-girlfriend, or whatever Annabeth is. Whatever Percy was to him. Nico still isn't quite sure.
It's a little hard to call someone your boyfriend when you're only with him when he's broken up with his girlfriend. On and off boyfriend, maybe. "Hooked up when Percy was single every few months for three years," maybe. Does that make someone a boyfriend? Nico can't tell.
Will won't answer, that's for sure, even if he's standing in front of Nico right now.
"Hey, Nico," Will says with that sunshiney smile. "It's good to see you."
Nico tries not to let the shock show on his face. "You too, Will."
Nico might kill Jason for the way he grabs Piper and Leo and leaves Nico with Will. He really might this time. Jason's days are numbered, Nico vows in his head as Will puts his hand out.
"Want to dance?" Will asks.
It would be rude to say no and Nico has been half-heartedly working on that, so he puts his hand in Will's warm one. "Sure. Let's go."
Will leads Nico onto the dance floor and it's almost casual, the way they're catching up, if not for the tense set of Nico's shoulders like he's waiting for the other shoe to drop. He's waiting for Will to bite his head off. It would be so deserved and Will never got to do it when he was 20, so Nico thinks it's only fair.
"Are you dating anyone?" Will finally asks. Nico tenses in Will's hold, Will's hand on Nico's waist, and Will's smile falters.
"I'm not," Nico says after a moment. "You?"
"I am," Will says quietly. "I met him in med school. He's nice. You would like him."
"I probably wouldn't if he's nice."
Will laughs. "I guess not, no. That just felt like the right thing to say."
Nico shrugs and laces his fingers together behind Will's neck. "You tried. I'm happy for you though. I'm glad he's nice."
"I guess I just wanted you to know that things are fine," Will says after a moment. "They're fine between us too. We're fine."
Nico doesn't actually know what to say to that. "Really?"
"Really."
"Well, thanks, I think," Nico says quietly. "Yeah. Thank you. That's really cool of you to say. You're a bigger person than I am."
"Usually am," Will laughs. "I'm assuming the fact that you're single and hiding from Percy means you never worked things out with him?"
Nico flinches. The only two people to know about Nico and Percy are Jason and Will, the latter because Nico kind of fucked him over repeatedly for three years and finally owned up to it when Will caught them in Cabin 13. Leading a man on for three years because you can't admit that your not-boyfriend doesn't love you enough is kind of rude.
"You'd be right," Nico sighs, because despite it all, he's always been comfortable with Will. He's always been able to talk to him. "Is it obvious that I'm hiding?"
"I've never seen you spend so much voluntary time with Leo Valdez."
"I like him just fine."
Will laughs. "You get my point. You should talk to him. Aren't he and Annabeth broken up?"
"Sure, but you know how they are."
Everyone does. Camp Half-Blood's golden couple who can't stay together longer than three months at a time. Nico has always wondered how that worked, how everyone still revered their relationship despite the fact that Percy was fucking Nico half the time. Not that anyone knew, but still.
"I do," Will sighs. "Still. You shouldn't be so obvious about avoiding him, at least. Everyone can tell you guys aren't talking considering you used to, uh, pal around so much."
"Right," Nico says, dragging the word out. "Pal around."
Will pinches Nico's waist and Nico tries not to yelp. "You know what I mean."
"I do," Nico sighs. "I—"
"Cake time!" Frank yells. "Gather, please!"
Nico gives Will a lopsided smile as they separate and Nico goes back to find Jason. He hides himself between Jason and Leo again as they watch Hazel smear cake very delicately on Frank's face. It's all fine and good until Hazel and Frank are serving cake and everyone breaks into conversation again, all fine and good until Percy joins their group.
"Percy Jackson," Leo says, dragging out Percy's first name. "Look at us, all back together. Some of us more than others. Have you heard the news?"
"Huh?" Percy asks.
"Nico and Jason are letting me join their relationship," Leo laughs.
Percy's face flashes with something that Nico can't read as Leo continues talking about whatever he's on about that Nico doesn't pick up. Leo's conversation lulls and Jason seems to read how stiff Percy is, because he grins.
"Neeks and I aren't together, by the way," Jason laughs.
"Except for that one time," Nico says, because he can't help himself. Jason already told Leo. It's probably not going to get him killed. "Jason's experiment with bisexuality."
"Tested positive for bisexuality," Jason says with a sage nod. "All thanks to this guy."
"When did you figure that out?" Percy asks. Everyone ignores that his teeth are kind of gritted together.
"I was 18, I think?" Nico says. "Yeah, 18."
Nico watches Percy realize it. He watches as it dawns on Percy that yeah, he and Nico were "together" from when Nico was 17 to when he was nearly 20. Yeah, Jason and Nico slept together when Percy and Nico were off again, when Percy and Annabeth were back on, and yeah, Percy is pissed about it.
"That's awesome," Percy says, his eyes bright with anger. Nico wants to roll his eyes, but he knows that will only set Percy off.
Actually— Yeah, Nico wants to do that. He rolls his eyes.
"Nico, come get a drink with me?" Percy asks sharply. It isn't a real question, but Nico shrugs.
"I'm fine."
"Come on, Neeks," Percy bites out. "Humor me."
Jason unceremoniously shoves Nico toward Percy and Nico sighs. "Yeah, alright. Let's go."
Percy takes Nico by the wrist and despite how angry he is, his touch is gentle as he pulls Nico toward the bar and then right past it toward a nearly-dark hallway. At least Nico can disappear into the shadows if this goes badly, which it almost certainly will. Nico keeps thinking it when Percy backs him against the wall.
"So," Nico says casually. "Thought you wanted a drink."
"You slept with Jason?" Percy asks, his voice low. "While we were together?"
"We certainly weren't together when you were with Annabeth," Nico hisses, because that's the first time Percy has ever said they were together and it came out like this. "So I slept with Jason while you were with her. What's your fucking problem?"
"You never told me!" Percy hushes his voice when he seems to realize that he's rivaling the music. "You should have told me."
"I didn't owe you anything. You weren't my boyfriend."
"Wasn't I?"
"No. You were never my boyfriend. You were always Annabeth's boyfriend first."
There's anger all over Percy's face and Nico is a little worried about how he's grinding his teeth together. His dentist probably hates him.
Of all the things Nico expects Percy to say, it isn't what comes out of his mouth. It isn't, "I was in love with you, but I wasn't your boyfriend?"
Nico feels his mouth drop open in shock. He feels like Leo earlier. He hates that.
"You were—"
"Madly, horrifically in love with you, yeah," Percy spits out.
Nico narrows his eyes. "You sure had a shitty way of showing it."
Percy slams his hand against the wall next to Nico's head and Nico doesn't flinch. Percy wouldn't hurt him, so Nico holds eye contact. He holds it until he can't anymore, until his eyes are fluttering closed while Percy fits their mouths together.
It's, unfortunately, the best kiss Nico has had in years. He hates that too, but he hates himself more for the way he lets Percy pull his mouth open with a hand on his jaw. It's Percy's tongue in Nico's mouth, it's Percy backing Nico into what must be a bathroom and shutting the door, it's Percy, Percy, Percy. It's all over Nico. He's all over Nico and he's under Nico's skin and under Nico's shirt when his hands trail up Nico's sides after he gets his dress shirt untucked.
"Percy," Nico murmurs once Percy's mouth is on his jaw. "What are you doing?"
Percy bites down ever so gently on Nico's neck. Who's the vampire now? "I don't know. I just want you."
Nico hums while he thinks about that. Percy waits to crash their mouths together again until Nico whispers, "yeah, okay."
"I saw you with Will," Percy mutters as he drags his hands up Nico's thighs. "I always hated that guy."
"I know, which was ridiculous," Nico says, rolling his eyes again. Percy nips at his jaw. "It was never him that I wanted."
Nico's too loose-lipped, drunk on Percy's mouth on his, on the hard line of Percy's body pressed against him. Not drunk enough on anything else to warrant how he's talking. He should have let Leo keep feeding him drinks.
"Yeah, you apparently wanted Jason," Percy says under his breath.
Nico huffs out a breath through his nose before he flips them so he can press Percy up against the door. "You're an idiot."
"Thanks," Percy laughs drily.
"You're welcome," Nico says against Percy's mouth. His tongue traces the seam of Percy's mouth until Percy opens up, letting Nico in. Percy makes a small noise when Nico runs his tongue along the back of Percy's teeth. "Pretty."
"Look who's talking," Percy says, and it sounds sickeningly fond. "Haven't stopped looking at you today. You've always been so pretty."
"Annabeth looks nice today," Nico says placidly, a test.
"I wouldn't know. I've been looking you."
Probably just platitudes, nice words, but for some reason, Nico almost believes him. He loops his fingers in Percy's belt loops and pulls their hips together. Percy is already hard. Nico sucks in a breath.
Percy strokes a hand through Nico's hair, gentle and sweet, before he kisses Nico again and tugs. Nico makes a noise that he wouldn't own up to under oath, some kind of choked whine, and Percy grins into the kiss, breaking it up. Nico can't help himself. He leaves a kiss on the corner of Percy's mouth and undoes the button of his dress pants. One hand in Percy's hair and one hand snaking down, wrapping around Percy's cock.
Percy hisses. "Your hands are so fucking cold, Neeks."
"Don't call me that," Nico groans.
"I think it's cute," Percy laughs, but it turns into a moan when Nico moves his admittedly cold hand. "Hold on, hold on."
Nico doesn't know where Percy is going with this, but he doesn't have to wait long. Percy is apparently taking advantage of the fact that Nico is nearly his height now, because it means he can get Nico's pants down enough to spit into his hand and wrap it around both of them. Nico lets out a breath and lets his forehead thump on Percy's shoulder, watching Percy's hand move. Sticky with sweat and spit and precum, Nico couldn't care less about anything other than the feeling of Percy's skin on his.
"Gods, I missed you," Percy whispers. His other hand is cradling the back of Nico's neck, tangled in the hair at the nape of Nico's neck.
"Don't bring up the gods right now, please," Nico laughs breathlessly. He's still watching Percy's hand move, watching Percy's hips twitch like he can't hold still. He's never been able to.
Percy uses the hand in Nico's hair to drag Nico's head up, to kiss him messily while he speeds his hand up. "You gonna come for me, sweetheart?"
Nico's heart skips a beat or two. Percy hasn't called him that in years. In too long. Even when they were together, it was so rare. Nico can't be blamed for the fact that he comes with a low moan when Percy says it. He can't be blamed at all.
And then the worst thing in the world happens: Percy uses Nico's cum to jerk himself off, comes with Nico's name on his tongue. Kisses Nico with that same tongue in Nico's mouth, but it's gentle. It's comforting more than anything while Percy reaches out for a paper towel to wipe his hand off, to clean them up before he helps Nico get dressed again, never separating their mouths.
Nico's forehead is tucked in Percy's neck while Percy gets dressed again, while Percy runs his hand through Nico's hair. It's too nice, too vulnerable, too much, but Percy is holding Nico close now.
"I really did miss you," Percy whispers. He's always been too honest.
Honesty has never been Nico's strong suit, but—
"I missed you too."
Percy kisses the tip of Nico's ear. "We've probably been gone too long. People are going to wonder where we went."
Nico is reluctant to move, but he extracts himself from Percy's hold. "You're right. Come on."
"Wait," Percy says, stopping Nico. "Can I hang out with you the rest of the night?"
"Sure," Nico says after a moment. "If you want to."
"I do."
"Then alright." Nico follows Percy back to the party, trying to put his hair in place as they go so it isn't obvious that they fucked.
He should have known it would be anyway, at least to Jason and—
"Annabeth," Percy says stiffly as the woman in question stalks up to them. Nico tries to pull away, to go back to Jason and Leo, but Annabeth's hand locks around his wrist.
"No, Nico, you should stay," Annabeth says. Her grey eyes are narrowed in her anger. "Percy. Am I right about what you were just doing?"
"I don't see why you wouldn't be," Percy says, trying to philosophize them out of this. He's never been much of a philosopher though.
Annabeth rolls her eyes. "This isn't the first time."
It isn't. It isn't the hundredth time. Nico feels nauseous and he can't even leave, because he can't think of anything worse than shadow traveling away with Annabeth attached to him. He doesn't want to be alone with her.
"No," Percy says quietly. "It isn't."
Annabeth spares Nico a glance before she shifts back to Percy, her hand flexing on Nico's wrist. "Is he why you won't marry me?"
Yikes. Nico wants to die more than usual.
"I should—" he tries, but he's cut off by Percy's voice, firm and sure.
"Yes. He's why."
Nico whips his head to the side to stare at Percy. Annabeth stills for too long before she straightens her shoulders. "I'll see you in a few weeks, Percy. Nico, nice to see you."
"You too?" Nico more asks than anything as Annabeth walks away. Nico looks at Percy. "Care to explain?"
"Depends on if you want to ditch the rest of your sister's wedding."
Nico looks around for Hazel and gods bless her, she always knows. They make eye contact and she makes a shooing motion. It bubbles a hysterical laugh out of him.
When he looks at Percy, Percy is looking at him with the brightest eyes. Nico looks away quickly, even as Percy laces his fingers with Nico's.
"Back to my apartment, please, shadow boy."
Nico takes them to Percy's apartment.
When they land in the living room of the place Percy has lived since he was 18, Nico feels a rush of familiarity run through him. It's the same, really—blanket thrown over the back of the couch, salty incense in the air like the ocean hit Manhattan, Percy staring at Nico. It's all very familiar.
"So," Percy says, dragging Nico onto the couch with their joined hands. He doesn't let go. "About all of that."
"I didn't know you guys were talking marriage," Nico chooses to say.
"We're not. Not really. It would never work."
"Why?"
Percy looks at Nico for a long moment before he speaks. It's almost unnerving, because Percy is never still like this, but Nico feels shockingly relaxed. "You."
"So you said," Nico says softly. "What does that mean, Percy?"
"It means I haven't stopped thinking about you since you walked away," Percy nearly whispers. "It means I've been in love with you for so long that I don't know how to do anything else."
"What does that mean, Percy?"
Percy seems to brace himself. "It means I want to try this, for real, with you. I want you to stay this time. I want to stay this time."
And Nico has always been so weak when it comes to Percy. He's only ever wanted Percy, only ever wanted all of Percy. He's always been asking for too much though.
Unless he isn't now. Unless he can have this.
"You swear?" Nico asks, his voice low and surprisingly stable. "This is it, Percy. This is the last time. Swear you want this for real."
"On the Styx."
Well, that's one way to do that. Nico wonders if his dad heard that in the Underworld. Hades will probably be fine, and Nico doesn't really care either way because he's too busy kissing Percy. His dad can try him again later, he's got bigger things to do right now.
Percy's smile breaks up the kiss, which is just fine. They've got time for more.
"Percy, no," Nico sighs.
"You're saying no?" Percy asks, his eyes wide.
"I've said no every week for six months, Percy. I'm only 26. We can't get married. I can't be a child bride like my sister."
"But look how well that worked out for her!"
Nico just laughs and kisses Percy on his way to make coffee. He'll say yes one day.