Before I Die (Split Souls part 1)

48: I'm About To Piss Someone Off (More Than Usual)

NICO POV

Wow, so Percy's getting married, huh? Funny how things work out. Still kinda hard to believe. They deserve it, though. I wonder if Will and I would ever get to that point. That thought gives me skeletal butterflies, which is a common occurrence when it comes to Will Solace. 

I'm wondering if I should sneak out and get McDonald's for breakfast, or brunch, whatever you want to call it. Will would probably scold me for that, though. I sigh, coming to a stalemate.

And that's when I hear the thunk against the wall. I whip around, expecting an enemy.

But it isn't.

It's worse.

Percy slumps against the wall, and slides down to the floor. I dash over to him, pulling his head onto my lap. "Percy?" He doesn't respond. It's no wonder when his clothes are soaked, fried, and torn to absolute shreds. He's covered in ichor, bleeding from too many places to count.

"Will! Will!" I scream.

18 HOURS EARLIER

PERCY POV 

I vapour travel us back to the tower, where for some reason it sounds louder than normal. It doesn't sound like fighting though... And then I catch why. Thor's back.

Annabeth looks at me questioningly, having heard the unfamiliar voice. "Thor," I tell her. She makes an 'O' shape with her mouth. "Well, let's go see what all the fun is about."

We round the corner into the living room, which is now almost crowded. Natasha and Clint are the first to spot us. "Hey! They're back!" Clint hollers.

We get dragged into the chaos. "Hello Percy!" Thor greets. "And this is the Lady Annabeth?"

"Yep." I grin. "My fiancee." I can't describe to you the joy that it brings me to say that. Annabeth looks a bit smug about it too.

Apparently they had forgotten to tell Thor that, or maybe he had forgotten, but his face lights up. "That is wonderful!" He turns to our other friends. "We must celebrate! Where is the mead?"

Bruce looks like he wants to hide. Scratch that, he is. Uncle T however, is about ready to jump for joy at the idea of celebrating, and then he pauses, and turns to me. "Would you be okay? I know you don't like..." He trails off, but I know what he means.

"It's okay. Gabe was a long time ago, and you're not him." I say, and make sure I believe it. Annabeth gives my hand a comforting squeeze. I can't let the old fear of him cling to me.

He gives me an 'are you sure?' look, to which I affirm. And then he leads the charge to the partying floor, with Thor just behind him, only slower because he has to follow my uncle. Steve and Clint hesitate with the underage demigods, but they assure the two men that they'll stay clear of the alcohol. 

They did not, however, say that they would stay away from sugar. Which we all noticed the moment they found sugared drinks. You know, I think Leo somehow arranged that, because I doubt Tony Stark would have such things.

Annabeth goes to get some lemonade, and I get dragged over to Thor and Uncle T's group. Uncle T passes me a shot glass. "Try it."

I take it from him, and sniff. Oddly, it smells kind of alcoholic, and kind of like nectar. What could be the harm in trying it? Uncle T looks excited. Natasha, who is somehow in this group next to Clint, looks cautious. Steve makes his way over to us, leaving Bruce with the demigods.

Taking a sip, I'm surprised at the taste. It does taste a bit like nectar. Nectar would be a hard thing to describe it's flavor to someone who hasn't had it. It doesn't taste like anything else. It kind of reminds me of berries, in the sense that it's sweet and tart, but it's not berry. This drink also tastes... Warm. Warm and sweet, with a bit of a... Sharpness. It's weird, but I like it. I take another mouthful.