PJO/HOO one-shots

Broken - Percico (Re-Write '23)

"Pour me another," requested the son of Hades, leaning against the bar. He had already consumed quite a few, and the bartender responded with a knowing look as he served the raven haired male another shot of whiskey. Since turning 21, Nico had frequented bars, drowning his sorrows after losing the love of his life, the memory of which still haunted him.

Now at 26, living in disarray with a growing alcohol dependency, he indulged in temporary flings, using others to fill the void left by the absence of his former lover. Yet, his heart still ached for those vivid green eyes he hadn't seen in eight years, back when he watched his love marry someone else.

As Nico downed his seventh glass of whiskey, a new presence sat beside him. He ignored it until the familiar voice spoke, stirring up emotions he'd tried to bury. Despite his practiced facade, he couldn't hide the recognition in his eyes.

"You hardly recognize me anymore, Jackson," he retorted, masking his emotions by gulping down a glass of whiskey The encounter was laden with tension, memories resurfacing as they exchanged words. Percy, apparently married, was taken aback by Nico's bitterness.

As they continued to converse, their conversation veered towards the personal, unearthing a mix of resentment and regret. Percy revealed his impending fatherhood, further highlighting the gap between their lives. Their exchange left an unspoken heaviness hanging in the air.

Eventually, Nico's inebriation took over, and he stumbled towards the dance floor. Percy watched him from a distance, wrestling with his own emotions. Nico's reckless behavior tore at his heartstrings, reminding him of the boy who once raved about Mythomagic.

Nico moved rhythmically on the dance floor. A blonde haired male strutted over to him. Without any words exchanged, their bodies were flush against each other as they grinded to the beat.

After a while, Percy approached Nico as he danced with blue eyed stranger. He tried to break through, asking why he was subjecting himself to this self-destructive path. Nico's response was laden with sorrow, and he left Percy with the words, "You broke me," before disappearing with the stranger, leaving Percy to grapple with the weight of their history.