Meeting Of Swords and Wands

Chapter 22: The Past and Present

As Harry's steps echoed up the tunnel, I turned to my new boyfriend who was watching and listening to the retreating steps. His look of pure concentration and melancholy was beautiful in its own unique way. He looked like the leader of wars and felt the weight of the world, which he did in a literal sense.

"Hey Perce?" I began, a little nervous. I knew that his past can be a testy area but, if my instincts are correct, they still hurt him.

"Yeah Neeks?" He responded, turning those vibrant, almost venomous sea green eyes at me. Taking a deep breath, I dived in.

"You had a step-dad before Paul, right? Wasn't his name Gabriel or somethin'?" I asked, accidentally putting an Italian accent to the Gabriel. My accent sometimes slips out when my emotions are charged, but it's always somewhat embarrassing especially since my boyfriends find it sexy.

Percy looked at me like he was studying me and then finally spoke up.

"Yeah. 'Smelly Gabe' Ugliano." Percy responded, looking back up at the ceiling, remembering the guy's name and a small smile darted across his face. He then looked down at me. "Why do you ask?"

"He hit you, didn't he?" I asked. I know it's dangerous to ask so directly and it can be offputting according to my boyfriend Will. But, Percy was not a fool and could see through any diplomacy. The directness did catch him off guard as he look stunned and slightly mortified.

"Nico...how did you..." He began asking, but was at a loss of words.

"I didn't until you answered that way." I admitted, "But, when you were talking to Draco and Harry, it sounded like you knew too much about the subject of parental abuse to have just read it."

Percy looked away from me and in his eyes, I could see the fear and pain from what happened in his childhood. I almost instantly regretted my straightforwardness. Yes, Percy and I have been friends for years, but there is a difference between being best friends and actual, true boyfriends in an intimate relationship. So, I slid down the bench and gently put my left hand on his right cheek.

"Percy, I know that it's a difficult subject for you and please don't feel forced to talk about it." I said as I gently turned his head to face me, "But I just want you to know that I'm here for you and so is Will. You're our boyfriend and we want you to be happy and healthy. I want you to be happy. I love you Percy." And with that I gave him a kiss on the head. His face instantly heated up the minute my lips touched his forehead and a small mental smile crept across my mind. I got to kiss Percy Jackson and tell him I loved him. He was my boyfriend that only Will can share with! And because both Will and Percy are taller than me, any time I get to kiss their foreheads is a great time.

Percy took the hand I had on his cheek and gently held it in his own. Despite the years of combat, practice and sheer abuse, Percy's hands were still so soft and smooth, like fine silk.

"Nico," Percy said with a smile as he looked into my eyes, "you're a great friend and boyfriend and I really appreciate you." That smile dissapeared as memories came flooding back. "Look, I don't like my past before coming to Camp, but I think you do deserve to know. Yes, I was abused as a kid. Gabe would starve me, beat me, and belittle me. And, he would financially abuse my mom on top of the regular shit of beating and belittling her. In fact, it was Gabe that I can thank for my depression. And, Gabe made it clear that if I squealed, my mom would get it, so I took the abuse silently and without complaint. I know I should've told someone, but back then I was Mr. Unpopular. No one would've believed me."