Nobody Warns You That Writing Makes You Obsessed With Hands. What Are They Doing? Are They Trembling?

Katie McGrath as Elsa in King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (2017)

first time writing fanfiction of a character : uughh i hope this is all canon accurate... it cant be canon innacurate at all or the enitire fandom will throw rocks at me...

10057th time writing the character: heres them working at a mcdonalds

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - PERCY/NICO AU HIGH SCHOOL - CHAPTER IX - Parte II

Hello, how are you? I noticed that there was a part missing from the previous chapter. I've already put it in the full chapter, but it will also be here for those who have read the chapter before. It's a flashback to when Percy and Nico first met.

Happy reading!

Previous chapters: CHAPTER I / CHAPTER II / CHAPTER III / CHAPTER IV / CHAPTER V / CHAPTER VI / CHAPTER VII / CHAPTER VIII

Extra  - Getting to know each other

Another scene from the past, when Percy and Nico first met.

Percy looked around, making sure no one was following him, and left the empty classroom. Ever since his family's restaurant had become five"star, the stalking had begun. People who had never spoken to him now wanted to be his friend, his best friends started treating him like royalty. No matter where he went, everyone knew his name, trying to get a reservation on behalf of other adults. He had learned very quickly how to avoid these people who were now almost everyone he knew. And you know what was worse? These people weren't interested in his mother's food, they were interested in who frequented the restaurant. It was so unfair! Even to go to the bathroom the crowds followed him without giving him a minute's peace. Tyson was so lucky! He’d already finished high school and was about to graduate from college. Percy had no choice but to deal with the gossip and greedy, self"centered people.

Looking once again at the empty corridor, he put his cell phone back in his pocket and went into the bathroom.

Ah, finally. Silence. Just him and the urinal. He unzipped his pants and...he heard a moan. Right next to him. Percy turned his face and there were three boys in a circle. He saw that one of them was unzipping his pants and the others were already without them.

Well, that was none of his business.

"No, please. I… I…"

"You what? Are you going to tell your little sister? Your Dad?"

"Please!"

Percy sighed and walked towards them. His mother hadn't raised him to watch someone being abused.

He stopped behind them, in front of the mirror, and saw what was happening. A boy with the softest, most feminine features he had ever seen was trying to cover his face and was cowering against the wall, he was so small that reacting against those boys would have been stupid. The problem was that he was so distracted by the boy's beauty that Percy ended up missing when one of the boys grabbed his own member and pointed it towards the boy on the floor.

"What are you doing?" Percy finally said. The boys were startled and jumped away, covering themselves as best as they could.

"We... hey, aren't you that rich kid?"

Just what he needed.

"I said, what are you doing?"

"It's not what it seems."

"Oh, is not? How do you explain that?"

The three boys and Percy looked at the little boy on the ground, who was hiding his face and crying pitifully.

"You know what? I don't want to know. If I catch you doing it again…"

"You have no proof!"

"Are you sure?"

The boys looked at each other and after a few moments, ran off. And Percy Finally could do what he needed to do and leave.

That is, if the little boy hadn't lifted his face and looked at him with those deep black eyes, swollen and shining from crying. Slightly curly black waves of hair and the most beautiful red lips he had ever seen. Percy admitted that he had frozen, enjoying the sight. He, who had never been interested in anyone in his eleven years of life, found himself enchanted. And even when the little boy bit his lips and looked at him, still lying on the bathroom floor, Percy couldn't stop staring.

"You didn't have to." The little boy mumbled, shrinking further against the wall near the sink.

"I... was the right thing to do." That was the truth, it was the right thing to do, but what wasn't right was to admire the beautiful little boy, especially in a situation like that. He felt like a monster. "What's your name?"

"Nico. Niccolas."

Hmm... Italian. They say it's the language of love.

"Percy Jackson."

"Oh." Nico said, looking him up and down, his high cheeks getting hotter. "You're not going to do what those boys wanted to do... are you?”

"What they wanted to do?”

Nico looked down and Percy followed his gaze.

Oh, actually, his zipper was still open, but now there was a certain... volume there.

"I'm nothing like those boys.”

"Aren't you?" Nico still looked doubtful, even though he himself had a bulge in his pants. A much smaller one that Percy seemed to be analyzing more closely than he should.

"I'm not." Percy turned around, trying to convince himself, and walked to the urinal again.

He pulled down his underwear and tried to concentrate. No one had warned him that it would be so difficult to relieve himself with an erection on the way. Percy took a deep breath, relaxing, and finally succeeded. When he returned to the sink, intending to wash his hand, he saw that the little boy was still on the floor, watching him get close.

Nico had been watching him... go to the bathroom? Since the area was wide open, it was impossible not to see.

"Do you need help?" He said as he washed his hands, staring at their reflections in the mirror. Nico looked scared and embarrassed, while he himself was serious and almost absent, showing no emotion.

"No! I mean, I'm fine. Thank you very much.”

"All right, then.”

Percy dried his hand and turned towards the exit. He had offered to help, hadn't he? From then on, it wasn't his responsibility what happened to Nico.

***

Percy had never realized how big that school was. Two indoor and two outdoor courts, fifty classrooms, ten laboratories. Swimming pools, jogging trails and even a forest with a variety of plantations. It was a good place for anyone looking for a well-rounded education, but also for anyone looking for a place to hide. Luckily, Percy had found just the perfect place; deserted and quiet, right in front of one of the open courts. Best of all, the view from the stands was very limited, preventing people from finding him easily.

He walked calmly through the school corridors and arrived at his favorite spot, determined to make a few baskets on the court and eat something quick before the next class. Percy intended to join the team and didn't want it to be out of sheer favoritism. That is, he was just about to enter the court when he saw a black head of hair on the far side of the bleachers. Now, he needed to know who it was, and only then would Percy know if it was still a safe place or not.

Percy hurried over and saw that it was the same little boy as last time. He had a cut in his lip and the right side of his face was purple. Percy had the impulse to ask who had done this to him, but remembered it was none of his business. Especially since Nico seemed to be fine, apart from his bruised face, and seeing that Nico was eating a small feast. Percy could see at least four different kinds of dishes, all arranged in little bowls, the sight warming his heart for some reason. It must have been the way Nico cowered, trying to hide from him, but he still stared at him, smiling.

Percy watched Nico pick up one of the lunchboxes and, as shyly as possible, offer it to him, saying: "Do you want some?”

Percy found himself walking the rest of the distance to Nico, abandoning his backpack and basketball at the foot of the bleachers, and sat down in front of Nico.

"I brought it too. My mother is a cook.”

"Ah." Nico muttered and shrugged, picking up his fork. "I always make a lot. See?”

Nico then opened the other two lunchboxes and showed them to him. Vegetable pie with cheese. Meatballs. Calabrian bread. Cake, too.

"Do you? And your mother?”

"I don't have one. She's dead.”

That's when Percy realized what he was doing. Like a weirdo, he watched Nico eat as if it were the most wonderful thing in the world while the boy ate alone, having to make his own food.

"Your father? You must have one, right?”

Nico denied it and stuffed another piece of pie into his mouth, ignoring all the other dishes. "Dad's always traveling.”

"So...?”

"I learned from Mama before she died. Her food was the best!" But Nico said it so happily that Percy felt better.

"Who looks after you?”

"I have a nanny. My sister, too! She's the best sister in the world." Nico continued eating happily and Percy felt something in his eyes. What was going on? This boy couldn't be so naive, could he? So... happy? How old was he? Nine? Ten? He must be younger than himself.

"You really don't want to? I did it all by myself!”

"Everything? Did you even reach the stove?”

"Yes, I did! The nanny just turned on the stove. I have a ladder near the table and…”

"Yeah?”

"You're very mean. I don't want to talk to you anymore!”

Percy couldn't stand it, he put his hand around his belly and laughed. It had been a long time since he had seen something so cute and funny. Nico's chubby cheeks inflating like a balloon, his arms crossed, his lips in an even cuter pout.

"How old are you, eh?”

"I’m eleven! What's the problem?”

"You're so short and small. Who's feeding you?”

And again, Percy couldn't take it. Laughing at his own joke, he let himself fall backwards onto the bleachers, laughing and laughing until his breath died away and then came back, a happy smile remaining on his lips long after his crisis had passed.

"Are you okay?” Nico asked in a small, soft voice, making his heart melt.

Percy opened his eyes to see that Nico had approached where he was laing, sitting on his knees, all worried, his black eyes wide and cheeks flushed.

"So…" Percy said, trying to stop smiling. "We're in the same year. Why haven't I see you around?

"I saw you.” Nico said and lowered his eyes to his lap. "It's hard not to when people only talk about you.”

"What they say?”

"You get the best grades. You're the best at sports. You have the best girlfriend. That sort of thing.”

"Who is that girlfriend?”

"I think… Annabeth Chase? I'm not sure. I arrived a few weeks ago.”

"That's good to know.”

"Know what?”

"That I have a girlfriend.”

"You… don't know?" Nico tilted his head like a confused puppy and that got another laugh out of him. This time, Nico laughed along. He seemed to be holding back his laughter, but when Percy didn't stop, Nico found himself with no escape, joining in.

"You're funny.” Nico told him.

"No, you are.”

And like third-graders, which they both were, they laughed again as they heard the bell ring. Percy hadn't even realized that half an hour had passed, which was more time than he usually spent with his old friends. And what that said about him, hm?

"We have to go." He heard Nico say.

They really did.

In a hurry, he helped Nico collect the lunch boxes and accompanied him to his next class, discovering that Nico was in fact in the same class as him. Was Percy so distracted by trying to hide that he couldn't see what was going on around him? Well, that would change from that moment on.

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Thanks for reading!

Writer’s Guide to Unreliable Narrators

Unreliable narrators are narrators who intentionally or subconsciously mislead the reader with their own bias and lies. I love nothing more than a narrator who deceives me. There is something incredibly charged about not being able to rely on your guide through a story. So how can we write them?

Determine What Kind of Unreliable Narrator your Narrator is.

There are five kinds of unreliable narrator we see in fiction, each with their own way of leading the audience astray.

The Unstable: This narrator is usually an unstable character with problems with grasping reality or having trouble accepting it so they bend it to their own tastes. Example: Arthur Fleck in Joker & Amy Elliot Dunne in Gone Girl

The Exaggerator: the one who spins fanciful lies to embellish the facts of the story around them. Usually they embellish it in such a way to make themselves look good.

The Child: Though children can be a font of truth, they often have a way of muddling facts and being confused by certain aspects of the story they are not versed in. Example. Bran in A Song of Ice and Fire & Scout Finch in To Kill A Mockingbird

The Biased: The biased Narrator is usually an outsider. They enter the world with preconceptions of the world and/or characters around them. Usually they get disabused of their biases by story’s end but not always. Example Damen/Damianos of Akielos in The Captive Prince Trilogy

The Liar: The Liar is simply just a liar liar pants on fire. They twist the narrative and outwardly lie about their actions and the reactions of others. The liar is self-serving, usually narcissistic. Example Cersei Lannister from A Song of Ice and Fire.

How to Write Your Unreliable Narrator

The thing you must remember is that your audience immediately trusts your narrator, they have no other choice. It is a given. However, it is your job to break that trust.

Allow the narrator to outwardly lie. Let them spout half truths or full out lies in the narrative. The audience will take what your character says as the gosphel until slapped with a conflicting account or detail. It provides a wham to the story that becomes a turning point. Perhaps the best example of this is Amy Elliott Dunne in Gone Girl (I recommend). She introduces herself as a sweet housewife who loves her husband despite her fears over his temper. However, in the section of the book she narrates she quickly flips Nick’s account of the events leading up to her disappearance, turning the audience on their head so fast none of us have a chance.

Allow the character to mislead your audience with the absence of details. Your story is one big chain, omit a link and the thing is useless & subject to the questioning you want to draw out of the audience. For example, Daenerys Targaryen believes wholeheartedly that the house with the red door is in Braavos. However, she vividly remembers a lemon tree outside her window and sunsine. But lemon trees cannot grow Braavos and it is notoriously damp and cold. #lemongate

Speak to your audience through the events of the story, bypassing the narrator to get through to the audience. Sometimes the best reveal that the narrator cannot be trusted is showing the audience evidence that they are either not seeing what’s happening or they are ignoring it. For example in Captive Prince, it is almost explicitly suggested that the Regent molested his nephew Laurent as a child. If one ignores Damen’s narration, the signs are there to see from Laurent’s reaction to his Uncle’s presence and in some of Laurent’s words. Damen chalks this down to Laurent being a brat and the Regent just being a villain. He has to be told despite the audience realising or at least suspecting it from the second book onward.

Play off your secondary characters. Use the characters around your narrator to disprove their account if the story and completely flip the story on its head. Usually, I trust the secondary characters when it comes to Unreliable Narrators. For example, Cersei Lannister gets her own POV in a Feast of Crows. Up until this point she has been very mercurial in her reactions in the first few books, to the point where other characters and the audience are confused about who the real Cersei is: the shrewd polictian or the wine mom with way too much faith in herself and her spawn. In truth, Cersei is incredibly paranoid about those around her and she thinks herself the cleverest player in the game. However, from others such as Tyrion, Tywin, Littlefinger and the members of the Small Council (who yes, all have a touch of misgyny to their criticisms of Cersei but really most of their points have a point since she is mad as a box of frogs) we see that Cersei tends to make enemies out of allies, assume the worst in others and make political choices to spite others or to put her faith in those who offer her little more than flattery.

Não há lugar como o lar - Percy/Nico AU Colegial - Capítulo I

Oii, como vai? Vi que ficar reblogando vai deixar as coisas muito confusas, então, vou separar cada post por capítulo. Esse é o primeiro, porém ele foi postado em partes anteriormente. Nada mudou, estou colocando aqui para ficar mais organizado. Ainda hoje tem mais um!

Felizmente decidi a agenda de escrita, vou tentar postar a cada três dias, se eu postar antes é porque tem um feriado no meio e se eu não postar até a data é porque não consegui escrever, o que significa que vou atualizar o blog assim que eu conseguir. Cada capítulo terá entre 2 mil e 3 mil palavras. E já para deixar claro, Percy e Annabeth nunca namoraram, é só o que o Nico pensa, ok?

Agora, para quem não sabe sobre o que é a história, aqui vai um resumo improvisado:  Nico está voltando da Itália depois de passar dois anos por lá e encontra Percy, o melhor amigo que ele deixou para trás, mas que manteve contato nesse tempo afastado. O resto se desenvolve a partir desse reencontro e bem rápido! Nessa história vou tentar ser mais direta.

Obrigada pelo apoio! E boa leitura.

Capítulo I

— Olha quem voltou! O garoto italiano. — Nico apenas teve tempo de se virar antes de ser prensado contra ombros largos e braços fortes que o abraçaram com tanta força que o levantaram no ar, o deixando sem fôlego e fazendo com que seus livros e bolsa caíssem ao chão, a porta de seu armário sendo fechada com um estrondo barulhento.

— Perseu Jackson!

— Só a minha mãe me chama assim.

Mas Percy estava rindo, o girando no ar enquanto as pessoas ao redor olhavam para eles. Também, não era para menos. Eles estavam bem no meio do corredor onde havia vários armários, dando para a entrada das classes de aula. Nico não resistiu, envolveu os braços ao redor do pescoço de Percy e o abraçou tão forte quanto Percy tinha feito, enterrando o rosto contra o pescoço de Percy.

— Eu senti sua falta. 

— Eu também senti a sua. — Nico murmurou de volta e se afastou, finalmente conseguindo ver o rosto de Percy. 

Olhos tão verdes quanto ele se lembrava, nariz reto e empinado, lábios finos e largos sempre em um sorriso bonito. O que tinha mudado era a altura, quase dois metros, e músculos. Onde ele se lembrava de um garoto tímido e um pouco triste tinha se transformado nesse… nesse homem feliz e cheio de vida. Confiante. Embora ele ainda pudesse ver a bondade e a amizade que eles costumavam ter, mas essa coisa entre eles… esses abraços todos eram algo novo. Ele não podia evitar a comparação com o passado, onde ele era jovem demais e Percy era… Percy era Percy, abrindo a porta de sua casa para um garotinho triste e solitário.

— Dois anos, hein? Eu pensei que você nunca ia voltar.

— Hm.

— Me deixe te ver melhor. — E o que ele nunca esperaria do garoto mais hétero e tímido que ele já tinha conhecido aconteceu, Percy levou uma de suas mãos a seu rosto e penteou seus cabelos para trás, expondo sua face por completo. E ele? Bem, Nico apenas encarou Percy de volta, tão focado no garoto quanto Percy se focava nele. Todas as ligações e vídeo-chamadas não se comparavam ao que a realidade lhe mostrava, o fazendo se questionar o que tinha acontecido nesse tempo todo para fazer Percy agir assim, tão… tão afetuoso, tão atencioso. Ele ainda namorava Annabeth, não? Ainda era o capitão do time de basquete? Esse devia ser o caso, pois Percy vestia a jaqueta do time.

— Hm… Percy? Me põe no chão, sim? — Nico fez o seu melhor para ficar sério.

— Por quê?

— Você não tem uma namorada?

— Eu tenho?

Então, Percy sorriu ainda mais e enfim o colocou no chão para em seguida afrouxar o agarre em seu rosto e em sua cintura, sem se afastar, porém se inclinando um pouco sobre ele, como se tivesse algo em seu rosto que ele precisava ver mais de perto.

— Como você tem estado? Por que você não me disse que chegava essa semana?

— Por quê? Você ia me buscar no aeroporto?

— É claro, meus amigos merecem o melhor.

— E o que seria esse melhor?

— Eu, é claro.

Nico jurava que estava tentando ficar sério. Pelo jeito que as coisas iam, Percy queria algo a mais e no momento ele não estava interessado. Mas não adiantou, Nico se segurou nos ombros de Percy e gargalhou; ele achava que essa era uma das piores cantadas que ele já tinha ouvido.

— Ei, não ri da minha cara. Eu sou um cara legal.

— E muito humilde, também. 

— Muito. — Percy disse e enfim o soltou, se encostando a seu lado em frente aos armários e Nico suspirou em alívio, pegando suas coisas do chão e as guardando no armário. Às vezes Percy era um pouco demais para ele; era o que Nico tinha descoberto durante os anos nas milhares de conversas que eles tiveram nesse tempo todo. Ele não sabia quando Percy tinha mudado do garoto introvertido para essa pessoa esfuziante, mas ele gostava. E odiava ao mesmo tempo, fazendo seu estômago se revirar de nervosismo.

— Agora, de verdade, como as coisas têm estado?

— Você sabe, sempre iguais. — Nico deu de ombros e fechou o armário, tirando os livros que usaria naquele dia, os guardando na bolsa. — Bianca veio comigo.

— Faculdade? — Percy perguntou. — E você?

Nico deu de ombros mais uma vez e se encostou ao lado de Percy, voltando a encará-lo de perto, o olhando sobre os cílios, tentando não demonstrar como realmente se sentia. Achava que nunca se conformaria com a beleza do amigo, agora duplicada conforme os traços suaves da adolescência davam lugar a músculos definidos e um rosto angular e forte, o sorriso de canto, o olhar intenso, a atitude confiante… e… bem, tudo isso e muito mais.

— O que tem isso?

— O que te traz de volta?

— Eu senti falta de casa. — Nico acenou para si mesmo. — Por um tempo pensei que fosse em Verona, mas… eu sempre ficava me perguntando o que estava acontecendo por aqui.

— Então, você decidiu voltar? Simples assim?

— Por que não? Eu vou fazer dezoito em alguns meses. Queria aproveitar esse último ano e rever o pessoal.

Bem… ele queria rever algumas poucas pessoas e uma delas estava bem em sua frente, olhando para ele como se quisesse… como se quiser ver o que tinha dentro de sua mente. E como costumava acontecer, ele foi o primeiro a perder nesse joguinho para ver quem desviava o olhar primeiro.

— Então… você sentiu saudade e veio para ficar ou… 

— Vim para ficar. Hades vai vir depois.

— Fico feliz. — Percy disse, ainda sorrindo, algo mais sincero e bonito, como se tivesse se cansado de flertar. — Quem sabe a gente pode se ver mais tarde. Comer alguma coisa?

— Mais tarde quando?

— Hoje. Depois da prática de basquete. Quer me ver jogar?

— Oh, não! Era isso o que eu temia! O clichê colegial! — Mas ele ria e Percy ria junto, o fazendo lembrar dos velhos tempos.

— Sabe, você não pode falar de mim. Você era todo bonitinho e tímido e voltou parecendo sair de um filme dos anos oitenta. Jaqueta de couro, calça rasgada e isso… é delineador? — Percy se aproximou mais uma vez dele e segurou suavemente em seu queixo, apenas mais uma desculpa para tocá-lo, disso Nico tinha certeza; não que estivesse reclamando. Percy podia fazer isso e muito mais. — Você é o perfeito garoto bonzinho que ficou rebelde.

— Eu ainda sou um bom garoto.

Isso fez Percy parar por um momento, ainda com as mãos sobre o rosto de Nico, e o encarar longamente apenas para um sorriso de canto aparecer junto a covinhas.

— É mesmo? O quanto você é um bom garoto?

— Acho que você nunca vai descobrir.

Mais um silêncio e mais um olhar que no passado o faria correr em busca de abrigo mais rápido que um foguete. Entretanto, esse Nico tinha ficado para trás junto com sua inocência.

— Hm. — Foi tudo o que Percy disse durante alguns momentos, e Nico jurava que ele estava se aproximando em direção a seu rosto quando o sinal tocou, os interrompendo.

— Certo. — Nico pigarreou, endireitando a coluna e olhando ao redor. — Acho que eu tenho que ir.

— Qual seu primeiro horário?

— Língua portuguesa. Preciso passar na secretaria primeiro.

— Eu vou com você.

Nico nem tentou negar, ele tinha sentido tanta falta de Percy que estender um pouco mais as coisas não faria mal. Ele se desencostou do armário e, de novo, aconteceu algo que ele não esperava. Percy pegou a mochila de seu ombro, a carregando para ele e com a outra mão, entrelaçou os dedos com os seus, o puxando suavemente pelo corredor quase vazio em direção à administração do colégio.

***

Era estranho estar ali depois de tanto tempo. As paredes cor creme ainda eram as mesmas, ali estavam os mesmo bancos azuis e as mesmas mesas pretas, os mesmos corredores largos e a mesma cantina, pintada da mesma cor pastel. Ele até conseguia reconhecer alguns rostos familiares no meio de outros mais jovens. Era um dejavú, só que agora ele via as coisas do alto, numa perspectiva distante, quase deslocada, onde antes seus dias eram permeados por ansiedade e incerteza agora tudo parecia mais fácil e incolor, ainda que um pouco doloroso, mas sem importância e talvez até confortável. Talvez fosse pelo fato de Percy ainda estar segurando em sua mão, conversando com a mesma secretária de dois anos atrás, uma senhora de cinquenta anos, sempre sorridente e solícita.

No fim, não demorou muito para ele conseguir seus papéis de admissão que precisaria mostrar para seus professores.

— E então, língua portuguesa? Aula dupla? Eu também tenho. Deixa eu ver seu horário.

Nico deu de ombros e tirou de dentro da bolsa sua grade horária de aulas. Ele observou Percy pegar o papel de suas mãos, franzir a testa em concentração e entregar de volta o papel para ele: — Temos a maioria das aulas juntos. Você está nos clubes de artes e de música? Eu estou no de música também.

— Pareceu ser os mais fáceis.

— Eu aposto.

— Cala a boca. — Nico empurrou Percy pelos ombros e andou para fora da secretaria. Poucas pessoas sabiam que ele tinha facilidade para coisas criativas e talvez ele tenha tocado algo para Percy durante os anos. Bem, isso não era da conta de outras pessoas.

— Nico, as salas mudaram! Estamos usando os auditórios.

— Tá bom. — Nico revirou os olhos e dessa vez nem se surpreendeu quando Percy o alcançou e tocou em seu ombro, suas mãos grandes deslizando por suas costas até chegar em sua cintura, o guiando suavemente na direção correta. Na verdade, ele não se lembrava dessa escola ter um auditório, então, se deixou ser guiado por Percy, uma presença confortável e calorosa a seu lado.

***

Quando eles chegaram no auditório a aula já tinha começado. A professora Johnson não era do tipo que se importava com atrasos se a aula não fosse atrapalhada, pois isso Percy ficou parado na entrada principal da sala, longe do olhar da professora, preferindo ver Nico descer até o palanque onde a professora estava e entregar o papel para ela assinar. O que Percy podia dizer? Nico era uma visão bem mais interessante naquele momento, longas pernas encobertas por um jeans justo, bunda empinada, cintura fina, ombros largos, profundos olhos negros e uma boquinha que parecia estar sempre mordida e avermelhada, pele negra e bronzeada, parecendo ser tão macia que ele não resistiu a vontade de tocar nele assim que pôde, só para testar a teoria. Ele admitia, estava indo rápido demais, porém dois anos era tempo suficiente para saber se você gosta de alguém, não? Sem contar os sete anos antes disso. Talvez ele devesse ter ido para a Itália com Nico quando Hades ofereceu, sempre generoso mesmo que ausente na maioria das vezes.

Ele foi tirado de seus devaneios quando Nico terminou de falar com a professora e veio em sua direção, despreocupado e lento, como se tivesse todo o tempo do mundo, desfilando com suas roupas punk e atitude despretensiosa. Por que evitar algo que ele sabia que aconteceria cedo ou tarde? Se Percy pudesse, ele beijaria Nico ali e agora, para acabar com aquela tortura que se estendia por tantos anos. Mas ele podia se controlar, se tinha esperado por mais dois anos, podia esperar mais alguns dias.

— Tudo certo?

Nico apenas acenou e pegou em sua mão, o levando em direção ao meio do auditório onde eles podiam ter uma boa visão da professora e do que ela estava falando. Percy nem teve tempo de apreciar Nico tomando a iniciativa e tocando nele por vontade própria, embora sentisse que deveria se preocupar mais com a reação das pessoas ao redor deles, os olhares nada discretos e murmúrios feito zumbidos a seu ouvido, ele não costumava exatamente namorar garotos em público, principalmente porque Annabeth sempre estava por perto para fazer com que todos pensarem que ele estava com ela. Era o que era, ele só esperava não ter que socar alguns rostos. Porque ele faria, e com muito prazer.

— Per? — Ele escutou alguém o chamar e só tinha uma pessoa que ainda o chamava assim. — Em que capítulo a gente está?

— Sete.

— Obrigado. — Nico murmurou mais baixo do que antes e se pôs a ler, completamente concentrado no livro e no que a professora dizia. Restou a Percy se perguntar como alguém podia ser tão bonitinho? Tão adorável? Observando um pequeno vinco aparecer entre as sobrancelhas de Nico, em seus lábios se formarem um biquinho frustrado até que ele pareceu encontrar o que procurava no livro, relaxando contra o acento e se colocando a fazer a anotações rápidas conforme a professora discutia o assunto.

Então, um barulho veio da fileira de cadeiras acima da sua, alguém o tocando no ombro. Ele se virou e lá estava Grover, seu mais antigo amigo de infância.

— Quem é o garoto novo?

— Nico.

— Aquele garoto quieto e triste que Sally tinha praticamente adotado? O seu garoto italiano? Agora eu entendo a obsessão.

— Cara! — Percy sussurrou furiosamente. Ele não era tão obcecado assim… era? Percy olhou para o lado, só para ter certeza que Nico não tinha escutado, vendo que o garoto continuava concentrado na aula e voltou a se virar para Grover: — Depois a gente conversa.

— Como você quiser, Don Juan.

— Tanto faz.

Percy se virou para a frente, se inclinou sobre Nico, vendo onde eles estavam no livro e ignorou todo o resto. Quando Nico empurrou o livro em direção a ele para que os dois pudessem ler, Percy não hesitou. Colocou o braço ao redor do ombro de Nico, juntou suas cabeças e começou a ler. Quem sabe se ele pudesse se concentrar, a vozinha no fundo de sua mente pararia de lembrá-lo de que isso daria em mais confusão do que ele estava disposto a lidar.

Pervy, approximately 8 hours after finding out about Nico's crush:

Percy: Mom I gotta go back to camp half blood to strangle Nico.

Sally, waking up at 2.47 am:

Sally: Can it wait until morning?

Percy, already dressed and putting his shoes on: NO!

Sally: *sighs* Fine. What is it?

Percy: We spent MONTHS scouring the country for him in between tlo and botl. When I found a clue in the Labyrinth, I took off running, even though that's just about the most dangerous thing you can do in the Labyrinth.

Percy: I took on the weight of a great prophecy to protect him. The same prophecy that told me that I would die. I was ready to die for him.

Percy: I gave up godhood and used my wish for Nico to have a cabin at camp. A place that he'd be safe and feel welcomed. Somewhere I could keep him as close as he'd let me. So I could check on him, and see that he's alright and eating well.

Percy: All that, and IM NOT HIS TYPE!?!??!?!

Percy: I'm going to strangle him, mom.

Sally:

Sally: I'm going back to sleep. Have Mrs. O'Leary take you to camp. Call me in the morning so I know you're safe.

This is the magic lucky word count. Reblog for creativity juice. It might even work, who knows.

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - PERCY/NICO AU HIGH SCHOOL - CHAPTER XXVII

Hi, how are you? This will be the last chapter of the year, we'll be back on January 6th, although we'll still have posts on writing tips in Portuguese this week (because there are plenty in English) and another post on the creative prompt.

I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Previous chapters: CHAPTER I / CHAPTER II / CHAPTER III / CHAPTER IV / CHAPTER V / CHAPTER VI / CHAPTER VII / CHAPTER VIII / CHAPTER IX / CHAPTER X / CHAPTER XI / CHAPTER XII / CHAPTER XIII / CHAPTER XIV / CHAPTER XV / CHAPTER XVI / CHAPTER XVII / CHAPTER XVIII / CHAPTER XIX / CHAPTER XX / CHAPTER XXI / CHAPTER XXII / CHAPTER XXIII / CHAPTER XXIV / CHAPTER XXV /CHAPTER XXVI

Percy slowly moved away from the bed and walked towards the wardrobe. He still couldn't believe what he had done. Nico wasn't like Luke, or like any other boy, where Percy would have some fun and then leave, without caring about the consequences. No, with Nico, extra care was necessary, he needed time and attention, to be treated in the right way and at the right pace so that in his haste, Percy wouldn't ruin everything. That was why he couldn't let himself get carried away like that, having more fun than he should with Nico's reaction and discomfort, watching Nico get more excited with each passing moment without even knowing what he was doing.

Did Nico realize how easily he could enter that state of submission? His pupils dilated, his face flushed, and even his posture changed, bowing slightly, the mood changing drastically as Nico transformed into that completely obedient and sweet being, something even the other people around him noticed. The worst? Percy transformed with him, bringing out his worst side.

Thankfully, all of this has been put on hold for the time being. Percy made sure to keep those memories inside the box Apollo had given him, along with the collar and the other objects. In the meantime, he kept the box on top of the desk next to the bed, out of sight but close enough if they decided to take it a step further than they were both comfortable at the moment.

"Per?" It was Nico who called him, the only one who used that nickname or said his name so sweetly.

Nico was sitting on the bed, fingering his necklace with the same hand that held his engagement ring. He had that same lost look and flushed face, even though they had just showered and gotten dressed for school. Percy decided to ignore the urge to pin Nico against the bed and give them what they both wanted, and just smiled, content to watch Nico.

"What's wrong, baby?”

"We... is everything okay?”

"Of course it is.”

"So why haven't you touched me since... since the collar?”

Percy stopped and thought, “Hm. That was true.” It hadn’t been a conscious thing or to punish Nico. Percy just thought it would be good to have a few moments to breathe a little.

"Don't worry, hmm ? Give me a kiss.”

Percy walked back to the bed and knelt between Nico's legs, getting to his height, and kissed him. Something sweet and soft. Percy didn't intend to turn the kiss into anything more than a passing caress. The problem was Nico and his sweet moans, the way he parted his lips and gasped, wrapping his legs around Percy’s wais, pulling him up, inviting him to lie on top of Nico. When Percy saw it, he had grabbed Nico by the hair and rubbed his tongue against Nico's, swallowing his moans.

Moving away from Nico was like surfacing after long hours of swimming, he felt like he could go on for a while longer, but that it wouldn't be good for him if he tried it. So he pulled his lips away from Nico's, took a deep breath and slowly moved his head away. He propped one knee on the edge of the bed and inhaled, forcing his heart to beat at a normal pace. And Nico? He was lying down, sprawled in the middle of the sheets, breathing just as deeply as he was, but completely happy and content to stay exactly where he was, blinking slowly as he watched Percy walk away.

It seems like he would have to be the adult there.

Percy practically threw himself out of bed, then grabbed Nico's shoes and put them on Nico's feet, tying the laces. He got up, went to the wardrobe and grabbed their jackets. He helped Nico sit on the bed and finally put one of them on Nico who just raised his arms, allowing himself to be dressed.

If he could, Percy would stay home today and make sure Nico stayed in his happy, content bubble of pleasure. That is, if it weren't for the exams coming up. They had studied too hard to let everything be ruined now.

"You didn't have to do that." Nico said, his face heating up, seeming to come back to reality.

Percy just looked at him and smiled, picking up their bags from the floor, Nico's guitar, and took Nico's hand that was now reluctantly dragging itself across the carpet, Percy guiding him out of the room towards the exit door.

***

Percy sat down on the bench and closed his eyes for a moment. Preparation for finals was starting and the teachers were determined to make his life miserable. Seven papers, surprise tests and group presentations, everything he didn't need right now. If he could just have a moment to catch his breath he was sure that—

"... cy ? Percy!”

"Hm?”

"You didn't listen to anything I said!”

Percy tried not to roll his eyes, but it seemed to be in vain. Luke was trying to say something that must be very important, Percy was sure. Something about the team, or probably about graduation. In fact, in his absence, Luke was proving to be a great leader, a good friend and someone he could trust even if the jealousy always got the better of him.

"I know you're busy with Nico and the future of your perfect life. But can you pay attention to me?”

Percy smiled at Luke and hugged him around the neck, reminding him of the thousands of nights where loneliness made him seek refuge in those same arms, but that no matter how hard Luke tried, it would never be enough for Percy. The reality is that beneath the flirting and fun, Luke was just another person looking for a place to belong.

"You don't need me. You never did.”

"Percy! I'm serious.”

“Me too,” Percy said. He turned to Luke and cupped his face, admiring him in a way Percy rarely did. It was a shame he already loved Nico. Luke deserved someone who loved him as much as he loved Nico. “I’m quitting the team this week.”

"What? Why now? So close to graduation?”

"It's a surprise. I'm not going to go to college here.”

"You can't drop everything because of him!”

"I received a good offer in Italy.”

"Are you sure? You tried so hard.”

“You deserve it more than me.”

"Me? What do I have to do with this?" Luke pulled away, leaning back, and scratched his head, completely confused.

"You'll make a great captain.”

“I…” Luke stuttered and stopped talking, and Percy could see real emotion flash across Luke's face for the first time in a while. “You don’t have to quit the team. We need you if we want to win.”

"Hm. Maybe. If you insist.”

***

In the end, Percy was defeated by sheer exhaustion, he would be vice captain while Luke would take his place. The coach seemed proud of them for some reason, and nothing really seemed to change, even though he didn't go to all the practices anymore. Without the practices, Percy had more time to talk to his mother and plan the next steps, like college and marriage. A house. But without Nico realizing that something very drastic was happening.

"Come to the next training practice.”

"Do I really need to?" Percy said to Luke and then turned to Grover who was beside him, hugging Juniper. Grover shrugged and Juniper smiled, the cheerleader just hugged Grover tighter and rested her head on his shoulder.

"The first game is in eight days. Please.”

"Just because you asked nicely.”

Percy ruffled Luke's hair, and Luke stood up, taking his bag and the clipboard with him. He watched Luke march out of the courtyard and saw Nico appear shortly after with his bag and guitar slung over his shoulder. An unusual sight. Nico would be at band practice at this time, getting ready for his performance at the prom, not here, looking like a puppy abandoned on the side of the road. Before Nico could disappear into the crowd of teenagers, Percy ran towards him, grabbing Nico by the shoulder, turning him towards himself.

“What happened?”

Percy could tell immediately that something was wrong. He touched Nico's face and turned it towards him, moving it in different angles. He felt around Nico's neck and ran his fingers down Nico's shoulders, finding nothing wrong. That is, until Nico looked at him through his eyelashes and blinked slowly in his direction.

"Nothing happened. Today's practice was canceled. The teacher was absent. Everyone was going out to eat... I rather stay here.”

"What happened on the way here?”

"It was nothing, I swear.”

Percy thought about continuing with his questions, but then he remembered his promise not to question Nico's actions. He would trust his baby.

"Do you want to rest a little or do you want to go home?”

He knew it wasn't fair, testing how dependent Nico really was on him. Imagine his relief when he saw Nico stop and think for a few seconds, his eyebrows furrowing and a pout of concentration appearing on his lips. Nico was taking a huge weight off Percy's shoulders without even knowing it; not because it was hard for Percy to keep deciding everything for the two of them, but because, this way, Percy knew he wasn't hurting Nico in any way or deepening any kind of trauma.

"Can we rest a little and then study?”

Percy groaned, already regretting asking. Nico could deny it, but he loved torturing him with endless study sessions. Percy was sure of it.

"Seriously? Is that all you think about?”

All Nico did was laugh, all delicate, and hold onto the strap of his backpack, acting cute and innocent.

"What's the problem? It'll be good for you. This way, we'll be training for college. "Nico continued smiling, using a very soft and gentle voice, and held his hands, making him forget the complaint that was about to come.

See? And then people called him manipulative and cold. That's because they never paid attention to what Nico did. Percy smiled back and took the backpack and guitar from Nico's shoulder, walking towards the benches in the open courtyard. He knew how much Nico liked to lie in the sunlight.

It was not a common sight, him sitting on the bench in the middle of the courtyard and Nico with his head in his lap. Nico had his eyes closed and was breathing calmly, while Percy massaged his hair, slowly and carefully, touching his small, soft ears, his long neck, the fragrant nape of his neck.

"Stop looking at me like that." Nico said with his eyes still closed, although Percy could feel his face between his hands slowly warming up.

"How am I looking at you?”

"Like I would run away.”

"That's not why I'm looking at you." Percy continued touching Nico's skin, running his fingers down Nico's neck, and stopping with his hand on the choker, finally leaning over Nico, kissing him softly on the leather. Percy raises his lips and finds that piece of skin, right behind Nico's ear, which makes the boy shiver from head to toe.

Of course this is the moment where Luke yells for them to find a room.

“Where did he come from?” Nico says, and something in his voice makes Percy stop and look at him, seeing Nico open his eyes softly. Percy could force himself to believe that nothing was wrong, but... it was so obvious. “I saw you hugging Luke.”

So, that was it.

"He's just a friend.”

"I don't like this." At this moment, Nico really looked at him and emphasized every word. "Just a friend? Just like he was when I was in Italy, is that it?”

"Wow." Percy was speechless. It was kind of funny, even if deep down Nico was right. Any friend could have become more when Nico was on the other side of the world and Percy was there, alone and lonely.

"Wasn't that what you did?”

“You’re right,” Percy said, trying to calm his fussy baby. “I didn’t know this was a problem.”

"You didn't act any different than me when I told you about my ex-boyfriend.”

Hm. That was true. As always, Nico was right.

Percy thought about justifying himself and saying that they were angry for different reasons. He didn't understand why Nico had to go looking for sex on the other side of the world and Nico didn't like that Percy had tried to replace him with the first person who appeared.

"I'm so sorry, baby. I swear that's in the past. I promise it won't happen again.”

“Have you had sex with other people or touching your “friends” is something usual?”

This time, Percy couldn't hold it in. He threw his head back and laughed. Gods! He missed Nico so much, the senseless jealousy and obsession they both had for each other. Even though he understood it was wrong, it was like coming home after a long, tiring day.

"Both. I won't do either without your consent.”

Then the cutest thing happened. Like the baby that Nico was, he pouted and puffed out his cheeks, showing his displeasure, and then he turned to the side, hiding his face in Percy’s belly.

"Sometimes I hate you. I hate this feeling that eats away inside of me. I want you all to myself. I know you do these things on purpose!" Nico raised his voice and sank even deeper into his lap, rubbing himself against Percy a little too much.

Now, who was doing what they shouldn't have done on purpose?

"Baby, I swear. I didn't do this--”

"Percy, it's been a while.”

Damn! Did she have to show up right now?

For a moment the voices around the courtyard seemed to fall silent, and there was a strange silence, as if the other people had frozen in place to listen better and see what would happen. Even Nico seemed to stop breathing, tensing in his arms and turning his back to Annabeth . And just when he said he wouldn't do those things...

"Per-cy!”

"You don't need to shout, everyone can hear you." He murmured, trying to ease the situation.

"When are you going to get tickets to the dance?”

"I don't know what you're talking about.”

"Don't you remember? You promised.”

"Only in your dreams.”

Percy couldn't help but look down and see that Nico was already staring at him, furious, a look so determined that he knew he would have to make amends. He barely realized that he was still holding Nico's hair and necklace, still with his fingers on Nico's skin, possessive and protective. The biggest surprise came next, Nico grabbed his hands and pulled them away from him, struggling to get up, trying to run away from him once again.

That was enough for Percy to spring into action. Percy pushed Nico back, and turned him around, making him sit on his lap, once again with his back to Annabeth .

"Where do you think you're going, hm?”

"I thought you wanted to talk to your friends.”

Oh, so much hurt, so much jealousy, so bitter. Would he be a horrible person just for knowing that Nico cared so much, even if it was through such bad emotions?

“Baby?”

“What is it?!”

Percy lifted Nico's head, who refused to look at him, and got closer to his ear, so that only Nico could hear:

"I love you. Only you and no one else.”

"Liar!”

"I would never spoil anyone the way I spoil you. I would never indulge your every whim or allow myself to be so vulnerable if I didn't love you. You know what else I would never do?”

"What?" This time, Nico's voice came out much lower, almost a whisper.

"I would never fuck you like I do to you. I would never accept submission from anyone other than you. Why would I choose anyone else when the most perfect, obedient thing is right in front of me. Hm? Answer me.”

Nico pulled back just enough to look at him, his face and ears now on fire. His attitude completely different than it had been five minutes ago.

"I... I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say those things. I just…”

"I should punish you. I should show you what naughty boys deserve.”

The moment would have been comical if Percy hadn't been so turned on, and apparently, Nico was too; he could feel the small bulge against his lower belly, and the way Nico moaned and held onto his shoulders would have told him what was going on anyway.

"Now, how are you going to apologize?”

"Apologize?" Nico looked confused, but even so, he moved closer to him, pressing their bodies together and hugging him by the neck.

Nico only needed a little push and their lips were connecting. Their tongues soon met and a breathy moan followed. Unfortunately, Percy couldn't let things go too far, after all they were still in public, and his baby was too good for those predatory eyes, looking for the next gossip.

Percy grabbed Nico by the back of his neck and pulled their mouths apart, watching Nico gasp as if they had done much more than just share a quick kiss. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to leave Nico without sex for too long.

"How about we go home, hm? Take a relaxing bath? I promise we'll study as much as you want tomorrow.”

Nico just nodded, blinking slowly. He helped Nico pick up his bags, and when he stood up, Annabeth was still standing in the middle of the path, closer than Percy would have liked her to be. Well, that didn't matter. As long as Annabeth didn't intrude on his life, she could do whatever she wanted, even if it meant watching him like a hawk.

Update

Oii, como vai? Eu consegui fazer uma capa para uma das minhas histórias com Inteligencia artificial! Eu só queria compartilhar com vocês. ❤❤

Eu fiz uma capa em Inglês também, mas por enquanto apenas tenho a versão em português. A história está incompleta, mas quem quiser ler >>> SpiritFanfic e AO3. Provavelmente no futuro vou traze-la para cá.