King of My Miserable Life

Chapter 10

Nico walked into Percy's room with his hands deep in his pockets. Percy was busy getting a swimsuit on, his bags unpacked and scattered across the room. "What are you doing?"

"Swimming." Percy looked around before grabbing a beach towel. "Annabeth said there was a pool. I'm going to go find it. How'd the talk go?"

"Horrible," Nico admitted. "Basically said to just stay alive, do whatever, and stay out of his way."

Percy whistled. "That isn't too bad. We have money and a castle at our disposal, Nico. It could be fun."

"I still miss home." Nico sat on Percy's bed. "Nice room."

"I know, right?" Percy sat next to him. "Still want to go out tonight?"

Nico nodded. "I need alcohol."

"Not too much." Percy sighed. "What about swimming?"

"If I may interrupt, your majesty, there is no pool." Will cut in, his eyes on Nico. "Annabeth was messing with Percy."

"Well, that's just great!" Percy huffed in annoyance. "I was looking forward to that!"

Nico laughed. Hard. "That's amazing. Rich."

Percy sullenly started to get changed. "We're finding a pool, Nico. I miss swimming already."

"Sure, Percy. Let's just travel across this freezing country and find a pool." Nico replied sarcastically. "That'll be a great way to spend our night."

Percy rolled his eyes. "Fine, we won't. But I'm wearing my swim shorts under my clothes just incase."

"You do that." Nico stood up and stretched his back. "Let's get a move on. I want a drink."

"Fine, fine, I'm coming." Percy threw a jacket on before going to Nico.

As they exited the room Nico turned to look at Will, his eyes moving over the blond's body. "What are you waiting for? Get Annabeth and come on."

"Co...come with you?" Will stuttered. "Me?"

Nico nodded. "A night on the town. We just need to find Annabeth and we'll be on our way. And you need to get a jacket or something."

"I'll meet you at the front door, your majesty." Will bowed before sprinting from the room, leaving Nico and Percy alone to try and find their way to the front door. Twists and turns, sidetracks, a door they tried opening but ended up being locked. They finally found their way and walked up right as Annabeth and Will did, sighing in relief.

"Thank god!" Percy spread his arms. "We got lost."

"Of course you did." Annabeth had a book in one hand and a jacket in the other. "Where are we going?"

"Wherever a good place is for a night on the town." Percy smiled at her. "You'll have fun, don't worry."

"Come on, let's get going." Nico opened the door and made his way out. "Will, show me where the nearest bar is."

Will glanced at his sister before running to catch up with Nico, leaving Percy and Annabeth to trail behind. "Are you sure, your majesty?"

"Five hundred percent positive." Nico looked up at the sky. "I need my mind cleared. I don't want to think about my father right now."

"You'll have to think about him eventually, your majesty." Will kept his coat tight around him as he walked towards the downtown streets. "It isn't something that will go away."

"I'm aware, William. And I still want to drink. I've done it before." Nico kept his eyes forward. "I'm legal here. What's your problem?"

"I just...I just don't like when people are drunk, sir. I hate it. They don't think and they can...they can get violent. I've seen it and so has Annabeth. We hate it." Will stared down at his soaked feet, the snow having gone through his poorly made shoes. "That's why I wish you could change your mind, your majesty, but I can't change it for you."

Nico reached over and grabbed Will's hand, smiling at the small gloves he felt. "You should be used to this weather and you're having a worse time out here than me."

"I'm inside most of the time, Prince Nico." Will's face was beet red as he faltered in his steps. "What are you doing, your majesty?"

"Making you feel better. And stop calling me that." Nico commanded. "My name is Nico."

Will smiled. "Okay, Nico."

As they walked next to each other, hand in hand, Percy and Annabeth followed in silence. Annabeth now had her jacket on against the cold wind, her fingers trying to button it as her other hand kept hold of her book.

"Do you want me to help?" Percy offered. "I can hold the book if you want."

"I stole it from the royal library. I'm not risking you ruining it." Annabeth sighed. "Will you button me, please?"

They stopped walking so Percy could button her coat for her, his fingers twitching ever so slightly near the top. Once he was finished he stepped back and looked at a job well done, an aloof smile on his face. "There you go, Annabeth."

"I guess I should thank you." Annabeth gave him a rare smile before continuing on her way. "Hurry up or we're going to get lost."

"Wait, Annabeth." Percy grabbed her arm. "Can I ask you something?"

Annabeth huffed in annoyance but stopped walking again. "Okay, sure. What do you need to know?"

Percy watched her and tried not to let his hands shake too much. "Um...you like reading? You're smart and you're always with a book. I was just wondering why because I've never liked it before."

Annabeth raised an eyebrow. "You stopped me in the middle of the street, in the middle of the snow, to ask me why I like reading?"

"Sounds about right."

Annabeth chuckled to herself. "Percy, you're a strange one. You want to know the truth? Growing up, Will and I...we didn't have a good life. Once we were bought I taught myself how to read here. I would sneak into the library and borrow whatever I wanted. Queen Maria, Prince Nico's mother, she would always allow me to."

"She sounds like a good person." Percy shivered in the falling snow. "So you like books because they've been a recent opportunity to you?"

Annabeth held the book closer to her chest. "Have you ever read a book for fun, Percy?"

Percy shook his head.

"Read one for fun," Annabeth commanded. "Then you'll see why I read."

"I don't have a book to read..." Percy admitted. "Can I borrow one of yours?"

Annabeth stuffed the book she held into Percy's hands. "There. Just don't destroy it, okay? It's a really good one. I've read it about five times now."

"Five times?" Percy looked stunned. "There's no way I can-"

"Read it once. If you don't like it, do a different one." Annabeth looked down the street and sighed. "They're gone. Who knows where they went."

"Adventure to find them?" Percy offered.

Annabeth took a scarf from her pocket and wrapped it around her neck. "I always come prepared."