Waiting (a pernico fic)

Chapter 17

AN: okay guys last chapter was super fluffy and I am a self-declared fluff master but this chapter shall not be. At all. By any stretch of the imagination. So I'm warning you now that shit is getting real and the last chapter of fluffyness was a preparation. Feel free to go back and read the fluff to get ready. *Joker voice (which is ironic)* Heeeeere we go.

Percy

As soon as Nico heard about Will getting released, he flipped shit.
Percy knew that he shouldn't have been but Chiron's hands were tied. Apollo heard about Will being locked up and threw a hissy fit to end all hissy fits. It was so bad that Hades himself came to see what the raucous was about. As soon as Hades had heard Apollo had wanted Will freed, the two almost went head to head. Luckily, Hera (the unlikely hero) stepped in. How she got them to not try to kill each other, Percy didn't know, but it ended with Will being let go, under the condition that if Nico so much as got patted on the back by Will, Hades would damn him to the deepest parts of Tartarus. Therefore, Will was free, and Nico was a wreck.

Percy had relented to Nico's beyond firm refusal to leave the cabin, on the condition that Percy was with him. The son of Poseidon certainly didn't want to carry his boyfriend back to the Infirmary with him lingering around.
Constantly, Percy had to assure Nico that Will wasn't coming here, that Percy would keep him safe. To make Nico feel better, Percy re-swore on the River Styx (with all the feeling he could), that Percy would never allow Nico to come to harm on his watch. Nico had slightly calmed down then, having the man who killed Kronos protecting him with everything he had. At least he was no longer visibly shaking.

Then came the knock at the door.
Its suddeness frightened a yelp that was as loud as a scream from Nico. He immediately scrambled away from the door, staring at it fearfully. Percy, admittedly, was worried too. Their friends always announced they were coming over, via text, as to not startle Nico. (Nico retained the right to deny any of them, but more often than not, he allowed them all.) 'It could be one of the Apollo kids, come to check on Nico's condition,' Percy hypothesised while directing Nico into the bathroom out of habit. (They always did this, Percy answering and telling Nico who it was, then Nico deciding if they came in. Admittedly, it was weird, but it made Nico feel better. Since Will got released, Nico had been as easy to scare as a baby deer.)
Percy opened the door after moving the bookshelf from in front of it with a practiced ease. What he saw both shocked him to his core and made him angry enough to combust. Will.

The blonde stands on Nico's stoop, looking sheepish, and plays with his hands. "Hey-"
"What do you want, Solace?"
The sound of the name made the listening Nico yelp/scream again and Percy gulped hard at the sound. "B-breathe into your bag, baby," Percy directed, knowing Nico was no doubt hyperventillating. Will's face scrunched into confusion. "Why's he breathing into a bag?"
Percy's eyes narrowed. "He's having a panic attack because you're here. What. Do. You. Want?" Percy got out through gritted teeth. At the words 'panic attack', Will paled considerably. "What?"
"You heard me. You," Percy jabbed an accusing finger at Will's chest, "Did that," the finger moved to point to the bathroom where Percy heard Nico's wheezing breaths and the crinkle of the paper bag inflating and deflating. "Now, if that's all, I have to go calm down my boyfriend."
Before Will had a chance to speak, Percy slammed the door. He got a sick sense of satisfaction at the fact that Will looked so horrified at himself. He should.

After Percy moved the bookcase back into place, he treaded carefully to the bathroom, gulping hard again.
There's Nico, curled up against the cabinet under the sink, methodically inflating and deflating the paper bag like Percy taught him. He glanced up when Percy came in and sat opposite him, back against the tub, the toes of their sock-covered feet touching. Nico lowered the bag into his lap, deflated. "Why was he here?"
"He didn't say. He just stood there. I suspect he was here to see you." That made Nico pale, then shake his head clear and crawl over to Percy, where he settled against the older man with his head in the crook of his neck.
They sit that way for a while. Percy's butt fell asleep a while ago but he didn't care. Whenever Nico needed to be held, Percy did it, without hesitation and for as long as Nico needed. Finally, Nico broke the silence, his voice hoarse. "Thank you. For keeping him out."
"Of course. I have to keep my princess safe from the dragon," Percy said, trying for levity. Nico smacked his chest lightly and muttered, "'M not a princess," but he smiled and that's all Percy cared about.

AN: I'm super sorry this is so short but it was intended to be a filler. Albeit a sad one with exposition on Nico's condition you need, but a filler nonetheless.
(Fun fact: I listened to Teddy Bear by Melanie Martinez while writing this, so I suggest listening to it while reading this. It's kinda the theme.)
So, I'll see you next chapter, my lovelies.
˜Tom