Pernico :)

#11 I Iris-Message My 'Girlfriend', Go To the Underworld With My Boyfriend

AN: I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT I NEVER ACTUALLY POSTED CHAPTER #11 OF THIS STORY FOR YOU GUYS! I AM SO SORRY ABOUT THAT! HAD I WOULD'VE NOTICED SOONER I COULD'VE HAVE FIXED IT ALREADY! SORRY! HOPE YOU ENJOY?! XD
Also, this is like the longest chapter thus far of the story. I had SO much fun writing it when I wrote it way back when! Let's hope my past efforts paid off! :)
Also, my apologies for the constant switching of POVs in this chapter, it was/is totally necessary!

AN: Back in Percy's POV :)

Let's just say that, after Nico and I left Aphrodite's garden, it was very hard not to just crash under the nearest tree and make-out.
Somehow though, we willed ourselves not to.
I still couldn't believe it.
My cousin, the Son of Hades, my first crush, loved me.
It all seemed so unreal.
My mind kept conjuring up flashbacks of what happened years ago.
As if it was trying to warn me.
But, I could really care less right now...
"Don't you think we should tell Annabeth?", he asked, as we walked towards the subway station.
I froze.
"W-what d-do y-you m-mean?"
He giggled and shook his head.
"Don't look so frightened, Perce. I don't mean about us, I mean about our quest"
I sighed with relief.
"Okay"
We kept on walking until we reached a nearby car wash, there we would IM Annabeth.
Nico started the hose.
A stream of water appeared and sprayed across into an arc.
The arc of water began to shimmer with a rainbow light, I reached into my jeans pocket and brought out a drachma.
The coin disappeared into the watery rainbow.
"Camp Half-Blood", I said.
"Athena cabin"
Instantly, an image of Annabeth's cabin came into view.
She was sitting on her bunk in the corner, reading a book.
Typical Annabeth.
Then, she looked up suddenly.
"Percy?"
I nodded.
"Yes wise girl, it's me"
She smiled and put the book down beside her.
"I was wondering when you'd call. How's the quest going?"
I looked over at Nico, he was holding the hose up high and smiled at me.
I smiled back.
"Oh uh, fine I guess... Wish you were here, though..."
She giggled.
"Aw, I wish I was there too, Seaweed Brain"
I nodded.
"How's camp?"
Annabeth pushed her blonde hair back and stared at her siblings.
"Boring"
I laughed.
"Well, it's better than a war or something, right?"
She sighed.
"I guess so, Seaweed Brain"
Looking back at my boyfriend, I saw his face was contorted and he looked ready to drop the hose.
"Anyway, I gotta go. Me and Nico gotta make it to the Underworld soon."
She gave a me a confused expression.
"You're not there yet?"
I swallowed, trying to think of a good excuse.
"We um, we got off track..."
She laughed.
"I'll bet. Anyway, I guess I'll see you soon, bye Seaweed Brain!"
A pause.
"I love you"
Though I knew it was wrong, I said it anyway.
"Love you, too"
Her image began to face and I heard Nico drop the hose.
"Ugh, my arm is like dead thanks to you. Anyway, how bout we get some dinner. I'm starving."
I smiled and laughed.
"Okay, what do you want?"
He stared at me with a look, as if it were obvious.
"Duh! McDonalds"
Nodding, I grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the car wash.
A guy in a Cadillac gave us a strange look as if we were high, but we just smiled and waved.
People could think whatever they wanted, I was happy for the first time in a long while.
At least, for now...

Later, after we'd had some dinner, we decided it was best if we found some place to rest for the night.
I was contemplating about maybe sleeping on a subway bench downtown, when I suddenly ran into a giant building.
Looking up, I saw the familiar neon flower and panicked.
Oh, gods.
I thought
Not this place again.
But, Nico didn't look as worried, he grabbed my hand and we walked through the doors of the casino/hotel.
"Perce calm down, you've been here before."
It was true.
I had been here before.
That didn't make things any better though.
I squeezed his hand tighter and looked at the carpeting until we got to a room.
It was just as I'd remembered it.
Big beds and everything you could ever want.
I shuddered.
My cousin laughed and plopped down on the bed, kicking off his shoes.
He seemed contented being here.
Though, I didn't know how that was possible.
Finally, I spoke: "You know what this place is? Right?"
He nodded, then grabbed the TV remote and started flipping through the channels.
"Yes, I know. I've been here before, too..."
I looked stunned.
"Y-you have?"
"Yes Percy, I have. It's not that bad."
I shook my head, vigorously.
"It is. They-they have a different allotment of time here. It goes faster, you can be here forever, easily..."
He giggled and got up to pull me towards the bed.
I was still standing by the door.
"C'mon Perce, you can't spend the whole night by the door. Someone might get suspicious."
I sighed.
"Alright, fine you win. But, if I promise to go with you, will you promise to cuddle me so I'm protected from this creepy hotel?"
He shrugged his shoulders, than nodded.
"Okay, whatever gets you out of the door, Seaweed Brain."
I froze.
That was what Annabeth always called me.
Especially after we started dating a few days ago...
Without even thinking, I backed up towards the door more.
"Percy?", Nico asked, looking at me, worriedly.
"Don't call me that!", I yelled.
He looked taken aback.
"Wha? What do you mean? That's your name, right?"
I shook my head.
Anger was slowly rising within me.
"Don't. Call. Me. That."
My voice was so calm, it was even scaring me.
I didn't know why the heck I was being this way all of a sudden.
Especially, to my own boyfriend.
Then, as quickly as it came, the anger left me.
Nico was now huddled up on the bed, hiding under the blankets.
"Nico?"
"P-Percy, d-don't c-come n-near m-me!", he screamed.
His words sent a stab of pain into my chest.
"W-what d-do y-you m-mean?", I stammered.
I could hear him crying.
Well more like, sobbing.
"Y-you-y-you d-don't lo-love m-me, P-Percy. G-go-go b-back to A-Annabeth! Y-you s-still l-love h-her, P-Percy! N-not m-me!"
I couldn't believe it.
He was telling me to leave him.
I'd frightened him and now he wanted me gone.
Stupid, stupid me!
I really was a monster.
"N-Nico, p-please", I managed to get out.
A pause.
"I-I d-don't l-love h-her a-anymore, N-Nico. I-I lo-love y-you, p-please! I-I d-don't w-wanna l-lose y-you a-again!", tears streamed down my face as I said the words.
It was all true.
I did love him.
I always had.
And, I couldn't lose him again...
When, he didn't reply, I cautiously made my way over to him.
I sat down on the bed and pulled the bundle of blankets, (that was Nico), towards me.
"Percy?", he asked, slowly pulling off the blankets.
"Yeah?"
He looked worriedly at me for a second, as if I'd get mad at him again.
His brown eyes were still watery with tears.
"W-why'd y-you g-get m-mad w-when I-I c-called y-you...S-Seaweed B-Brain?"
I sighed.
I would never actually know, but I had a pretty good idea.
"I think because that was what she calls me..."
He nodded.
"I-I'm sorry, P-Percy. I-It wasn't r-right for m-me to call y-you t-that"
I shook my head and pulled him closer.
"No, I'm sorry. I shouldn't have yelled at you like that. I didn't mean to scare you. I love you so much Nico, but-but, sometimes..."
He placed his hand on my cheek and looked into my eyes.
I could see more tears building up in his.
"But, sometimes you love her...too?"
I didn't know what to say.
No way was I gonna let him leave me, again.
I loved him.
Love him.
But, her...
Annabeth Chase.
She knows me like I'm her favourite book, she always seems to know what to do, she knows when I need help, she knows my inner most secrets...
I sighed.
Ugh, why is my life so messed up?
"Listen, Nico. I love you. And, I'm sorry."
He giggled and cuddled into me.
"You already said that"
I nodded and pulled the blankets over us as I yawned.
"Yes, but I mean it"
He smiled.
I watched as his dark hair fell into his face.
I than pushed it back and leaned in.
He leaned over and we kissed.
It was wonderful.
Kissing him, was like being back at home.
Like, a reminder of what was than.
I thought that I could faintly taste blue candy in that kiss.
One of my favourites.
Jelly beans.
I smiled into our kiss, than pulled back.
"Someone's been eating blue candy again?"
He smirked and pulled me back into another kiss.
"Maybe", was all he said, as we were engulfed into a peaceful darkness and wrapped up in each other's arms.