Never (A Percico Fanfiction)

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One more week went by before Percy was off for Winter vacation. Nico's strength returned at last, and both boys fell back into routine. The only difference was that Percy held Nico a little tighter now, and that he'd wake up many nights, next to his Ghost King writhing and screaming in his sleep.

Three days before Christmas, Nico was returning home from the final bits of his Christmas shopping. As he walked up the drive, he saw two figures on his porch swing; a cinnamon-haired girl and a tall Asian boy with his arm around her. A grin crept to Nico's face as he ran toward the pair.

"Nico!" Hazel shouted, running to meet him. She enveloped him in a hug, and Nico buried his face in his sister's hair.

"I missed you," he whispered.

"I missed you, too," she told him, pecking her brother on the cheek as she pulled away. Holding him by the shoulders, she examined Nico. "Hmm..." Hazel said, looking him over. "No cuts, no bruises... you've combed your hair..." Hazel grinned. "Yup. Looks like Percy's been taking good care of you."

A sudden arm slung around Nico's shoulders and the boy grinned, knowing Percy must have made it home.

"Of course," said the sea prince, leaning down and kissing Nico full on the mouth.

"Percy!" Nico seethed, blushing furiously. "Company!"

"So?" the green-eyed teased. He winked before turning toward Hazel, and Frank, who'd approached the group as well. He offered them a lopsided grin. "I always take care of my Ghost King."

Hazel smiled, pulling Percy into a hug.

"Hey, Haze," he said, as she let him go.

Both boys shook hands with Frank, and then Percy interlaced his fingers with Nico's, pulling him close. Nico blushed again, causing Percy to grin and Hazel to smile at the happiness her big brother had found with this boy.

"C'mon," Nico said, grabbing Hazel's bag as Percy went to unlock the front door. "Let's go inside."

Percy led the way into the house, followed by Nico, Hazel, and Frank. Suitcases were deposited in the guest bedroom, and then the four demigods gathered round in the living room. The group talked about any and everything they could think to catch up on, laughing and joking all the while.

When Hazel started to bring up Nico's assault in the alley, though, Percy quickly signaled to her not to. Though he acted strong, Nico still couldn't talk about it without curling up and crying, terrified. Though a bit confused looking, Hazel dropped it, albeit awkwardly. Covering for his girlfriend, Frank spoke.

"Gods, I'm starving! What's for dinner, you guys?"

"I'm making spaghetti." Nico glanced at the clock, and then said, "Oh, wow. It's getting late. I should've started cooking half an hour ago." He jumped off the couch from his spot next to Percy, making to go into the kitchen, but not before the son of Poseidon pulled him back down for a short kiss, just to see his boyfriend blush. Red-faced, Nico disappeared into the kitchen. Percy smiled fondly after him.

When Nico was out of earshot, the pair looked expectantly toward Percy.

"Spill," Hazel said.

Percy sighed.

"He doesn't like to talk about it. It... It scares him a lot to think about. He won't even let me file a police report."

"Oh, Nico..." Hazel whispered.

Frank put a hand on her shoulder.

"He says he's okay," Percy continued. "But he's still afraid. I know he is. He-He gets nightmares almost every night. I keep him closer to me now, and I keep all the lights on, but, I just don't know how else to help him."

Hazel looked at him. "Please don't give up on my brother."

"Never!" Percy exclaimed. "I would never. I love him, Hazel. I'd do anything to keep him safe. I just wish there was something else I could do for him. Anything."

"Anything?" Hazel asked.

"Anything."

She hesitated, before meeting his eyes. Her voice was almost a whisper.

"Make him believe you."

Before he could respond, Nico came back into the room. Percy just nodded at Hazel.

"It'll be ten more minutes or so on the sauce, then we can eat," he said, plopping back down on the couch next to Percy. Percy put an arm around him, tugging him closer and nipping playfully at his ear.

"Percyyyyyyy," Nico whined. "Quit it!"

Percy smiled at him. "Fine," he huffed, settling instead to play with Nico's fingers, twisting the skull ring Hades had given him. A mild blush colored the smaller boy's cheeks, but he rested his head on Percy's shoulder all the same.

Hazel grinned at the two boys, before whipping out her phone and snapping a few pictures of them.

"Hazel!" Nico said.

"What? You guys are too cute. Piper'd kill me if I didn't get some pictures for her."

Nico just sighed.