Opposites Attract- Pernico/Percico

Chapter Ten

Percy touched down onto the sandy beach, glancing around. The sky was still an iridescent blue. There were families everywhere, enjoying the water, kids making sandcastles.

He saw Nico sitting on the wall, his back to him. He was kicking his legs against the wall like a little kid. Percy saw his ankles. They were scorched red. The acid had eaten through his skin, leaving it raw and bloody. Percy thought that he might leave trails of it when he walked. He was frighteningly pale and too thin. Percy could see the bone at the back of Nico's ankle. He'd glamoured his bat wings, and Percy could see his shoulder blades, like butterfly wings.

Percy climbed up beside Nico.

Nico glanced at him. His eyes were rimmed with red. "Are you okay?" he asked quietly.

"Yes. Are you?"

Nico nodded reluctantly.

"Why'd you glamour your wings? I thought you liked them."

Nico turned to Percy. He was very pale. His eyes were darker than Percy had ever seen them, glittering like frozen tar. "Did you mean it, Percy? What you said? What you promised?"

Percy felt guilty. "I did."

Nico looked at the ground. "I can't..."

"Can't what?"

"I can't fly," said Nico. "Not for a long time. Not for at least half a year. They're burned. One is fine. Ish. One's not. It's bad. The acid burned it to the bone."

Percy's heart clenched. He hated seeing Nico so forlorn. He hated the fact that he'd been hurt. "I'm so sorry."

"You didn't mean it to happen."

"I know, but-"

"Stop," said Nico softly.

Percy fell silent.

Nico looked at his hands. He looked like he was about to cry, which unnerved Percy. Nico was sarcastic and cold. He didn't seem like the type of person to cry.

"Bianca died."

"What do you mean?" said Percy.

"Bianca. My sister." Nico sniffed, and wiped his eyes with his fist. "She died. Some angel drenched her with holy water. She didn't stand a chance."

"I'm sorry."

"It's my fault. I went after you. I should have protected her, Percy. She was my sister." Nico shivered, and covered his face with his hands. "I miss her. It's been a day, and I miss her."

Percy stayed silent.

"Father is so, so mad," said Nico. "He personally killed the angel that killed Bianca. Then he went around, reaping all the angels in sight. Looking for you, Percy."

Percy shivered.

"I want her back," said Nico.

"I wish I could give you that." Percy wanted to say he was sorry again. He wanted to say it a thousand times. He wanted to kiss Nico, even though it was wrong, even though he was grieving. He wanted to make him forget all his troubles. He knew he couldn't, though. It was insensitive.

He remembered their first kiss. He'd expected Nico to be different- rougher- but instead, he'd been gentle and sweet. He'd tasted like pomegranate.

Nico looked down. His eyes were normally brown. Today, even in the sunlight, they were black as the night.

"I don't want to feel this anymore, Percy," said Nico plaintively. "I don't want to beg for her in my dreams. I don't want to keep screaming at the world to take me instead."

"Don't hurt yourself."

Nico scoffed. "Not going to."

"Mentally, too."

Nico didn't answer.

"Nico?"

"I'm so tired, Percy. And it feels like I can't breathe because it hurts so much. Everything hurts and it won't stop."

Percy wanted to hug him, but he felt that it would be awkward. He didn't even know what he and Nico were- friends, enemies, lovers?

Nico turned to look at Percy. "Percy, when you're Archangel, can you bring her back?"

"Archangels don't have that power."

"Yes they do. I asked Father. They have the power to undo unjust deaths."

"That's... not fair," said Percy carefully.

Nico arched an eyebrow. "Why not? It's my sister."

"I can't meddle in death."

"My father is Death. He won't mind."

"You know what I mean."

"Percy, please." Nico took Percy's hand in both of his, and clutched it like a lifeline. His eyes were wide and pleading. "Please, Percy. I've never wanted anything more."

"But then... we won't be able to be together."

Nico arched an eyebrow. "What?"

"Archangels have a vow of chastity."

"Don't all angels?"

"Archangels especially," said Percy. "It's forbidden. Angels could get away with it, maybe. It gives you a bad reputation, but it's not bad enough to send you down. But not Archangels."

"Then break the rules."

"I can't."

"Please."

"No."

"Then get someone else to become Archangel. Get them to bring Bianca back. Please."

"They won't agree."

"They're angels. If I could talk to them-"

"They'll drench you in holy water."

Nico let go of his hand. "Then I want that, if you're not going to bring her back!" he snapped.

There was silence.

"Nico... the Archangel wants me to marry Annabeth. If I become Archangel, I won't have to, but I'll be forced to forswear love. If I don't, then I'll have to marry her."

"Fine, Percy. Become Archangel, bring Bianca back. And we don't see each other anymore."

"You want that?"

Nico swallowed. "I want Bianca. I really, really want her. I will do anything."

Percy lowered his eyes. He knew Bianca deserved to be put above him, but it stung. "I..."

"Gods, Percy, you're so selfish." Nico hit the wall with his hand. Percy saw the stone cut his hand, but Nico didn't seem to notice. "It's because of your idiotic extermination that this happened!"

"You're blaming me?"

Nico nodded, then shook his head. "I- I don't know. You promised not to hurt me." Nico looked down at his hands, as if just realising they were bleeding.

"But I-"

"You promised!"

He glared at Percy, his eyes rimmed with red. "I shouldn't have trusted you." His voice broke. "You lied to me."

"I-"

"I hate you!"

Percy tried to take Nico's hand, but he jerked away, so forcefully that both of them fell off the wall. Percy ended on top of Nico again. Nico shoved him off.

"Go away!" he yelled. "I hate you! I wish you were dead!"