Percabeth in High school after Tartarus

Chapter 18 - TW: Dark Jokes

Annabeth's POV

I was sleeping. I was having a nice dream, for once, when I was rudely awakened by freezing cold water. I could tell Percy had received the same fate, as we screamed simultaneously.

"What the Hera was that?" I ask, or really, demand. I look around in an attempt to determine the culprit, but the room is empty of uninvited guests. Only one person was capable of something like that.

"NICO!"

Percy and I leaped out of bed and ran to the living room. Nico was casually sitting at the table.

"Yes?" he asked innocently.

"Do you want to die?" I ask him. Percy and I are both giving him our death glares.

"Honest answer? Kinda."

Percy lessens his glare and gives Nico a hug. Then, Percy looks Nico square in the eyes, which is amusing because of the height difference, and tells Nico to stop by whenever he feels like that so "we can remind you what there is to live for."

Nico looks directly at me, almost pleading. Well, I guess he can be a bit much for some. I touch Percy's shoulder and he lets go of Nico.

I decide to make conversation before the awkward air settles.

"Do I smell pancakes?"

Nico smiles, "Yes. And better yet, I helped make them."

Percy's face lights up. "That means that you are officially part of the family!" He runs forwards and engulfs Nico in a hug.

"Percy," Sally chastises from the kitchen, "don't make it a big deal. After all, I have accepted Annabeth and we haven't made pancakes together."

"But that's different!" Percy complains, reminding me of Bobbie and Matthew.

"How so?" Sally asks as pancakes sizzle on the pan.

"Mo-om!" he whines.

"Per-cy!" Sally mimics.

I sit down on the couch and pat the spot next to me, letting Nico know to get comfortable. ____________________________________

"Percy! STOP DROWNING YOUR PANCAKES!" I yell.

"We've been over this," he retorts, "I can't drown and NeiThEr CaN mY PANCAKES!"

"Besides," Nico puts in, "drowning is better than getting eaten alive, and even so, you can't drown a dead body."

Sally and Paul look really upset and stop eating. Percy smirks at me.

"Fine," I sigh, "Nico, you make a valid point, but Percy, that is too much sugar."

Percy pouts, then takes a big bite of his pancakes. Nico and I laugh, then start cutting our pancakes.

"Mom? Is something wrong? Why aren't you guys eating?"

Sally sighs, "Percy," she says gently, "some of us aren't used to the more gruesome side of your lives and it can be hard to hear a dark joke or comment and then eat right after."

"Oh, sorry," Nico says, ashamed.

Nico's POV

Great. Of course I have to say something death related. Mrs. Jackson probably won't ever let me be here again. At least she doesn't know about... it. She'll probably tell Percy that he can't ever be near me in case I infect him.

"Oh, don't be sorry. I know I sometimes forget who I'm near when I start rambling," Mrs. Jackson tells me, taking me out of my thoughts.

Annabeth laughs. "I get that. Sometimes, people seem to forget that Thalia was a major influence on my life as a tiny child."

Percy's eyes widen in horror.

"She was the one who taught me how to do a judo-flip." Annabeth continues.

"Wait," I interject "Really?"

She laughs. "Yeah. Th- She taught me some stuff so I could use my dagger properly. True family helps each other survive." Her words turned slightly malicious towards the end.

I raise my eyebrow as Percy wraps an arm around her. Mrs. Jackson looks sympathetically at the pair.

I awkwardly take a bite of my pancake and get surprised by the flavor. "This is the best pancake I have ever eaten!"

Mrs. Jackson beams, "Thank you!" she exclaims, "it's my own recipe. I tweaked around to make it the best I could."

I nod. "To be fair, I haven't eaten a pancake in almost eighty years."

Mr. Blowfish snorts in surprise. "I'm sorry, what?"

I chuckle, which is rare for me, "Hi, I'm Nico Di Angelo, I was born in Italy during the 20s. I lived in DC for a while, then Zeus killed my mom and I lived with my sister in a casino for about seventy years. I was ten. I'm now 14."

Mr. Blowfish just stares at me. "Didn't I see you fight in the battle two years ago."

"Yep, and I led my father, step mom, and Demeter into battle."

"And this is normal?"

Everyone except him snorts. "You have no idea."