At this point, I'm just visiting the Percico tag for a post from you that's how amazing you are. Really you've inspired me with my own characterization of Percy and Nico.
So I humbly give a triple prompt(whichever you choose is optional) the first is a reverse of the de aged prompt whereas it's Percy who gets de-aged whether it's before or after Bianca is optional.
The other one is another time travel prompt where when the argo crew goes to save Nico in MoA it's an adult Nico. So you have a Percy still conflicted about Nico's lie in SoN meeting this hot sarcastic mature version of someone he's always wanted to understand and protect.
The third is something I want to use in my own fic(supposed to be a short fic but then my masochistic self decided to turn it into a full on novel😅) it's Nico's name that Percy remembers in SoN. I've seen many spins on this in the fandom but most of them have Nico lying to Percy that they're dating and it's not... Like Nico at all.I barely see a side being explored where Nico is wondering why it's him and whether it's a cruel joke of the gods and trying to keep his distance while Percy just wonders why he has this sense of conflict and guilt and protectiveness for this stranger and how it'd change their dynamic after Percy gets his memories back.
Angst is optional but my masochistic self kinda leans into it(though with some hurt/comfort happy ending implications)
When the jar opened, Percy had expected to see Nico crawl out of it or, if his fears came true, just his body coming out.
Instead what had come out was a guy older than himself, about 19, looking around confused for a second before taking out his sword and stabbing Otis in the back.
It was a Stygian Iron Sword Percy was quite familiar with.
"Really?" Was all he said before taking the sword out of the Giant's back. Otis doubled over as the young man scanned around and found him and Jason. "You two, with me! I need help to finish them off!"
"Only a god and a demigod—" Jason started, but the guy stared him down.
"As I see it, we have a whole Big Three demigod set here," he said impatiently. "Trust me, you won't need a god for this one."
That confirmed it, then.
"Nico?" Percy asked uncertainly. "What happened to you?"
"I grew up, Percy," Nico said. "Now will you two help me or not?"
Without any words, both of them entered battle stances.
----
Percy couldn't help but stare. Nico did not look at all like he did in his dream. Gone was the scrawny kid who looked like he would stab you if you overstepped, and in his place was a handsome guy who was taller and older than him.
"This... was not supposed to happen," Nico said as a way of explanation as he sat on Percy's bed. "I'm not supposed to be here."
"Oh, so older you can tell me things?" Percy couldn't help but quip. Nico raised an eyebrow that made him feel ashamed, but he was too hardheaded to back down.
"Right, I forgot our relationship was like... this at this time." Nico sighed and moved to leave Percy space to sit beside him. Percy blinked. Nico never allowed anyone to sit so close, so he took the chance, not caring if their thighs were touching. "There was... an issue, in the future. I think the me you were supposed to find in that jar is in my place, five years in the future, and I came to... fill his place, so to speak."
"What happened? Are you okay?" Percy asked, concern for the son of Hades quickly overshadowing his anger. Nico chuckled.
He hadn't heard Nico laugh since he was a little kid. The sound was nice.
"It's okay," he said easily. "The other me will also be alright. Percy... the Percy of my time is holding the fort. I know this will make you mad, but knowing about the future is never a good idea, so you'll have to wait five years to understand this."
Percy frowned.
"Why do you always do this?" he said, voice shaky. "Why do you always hide things for me? Why can't you ever trust me?"
"Percy—"
"Back when Hades gave you a lead on your mother... o-or back in New Rome when you pretended not to know me, and now this!" Percy continued, desperate. "Is it because of Bianca? Will that mistake follow me all my life?"
Nico remained quiet for a few seconds before a sad smile appeared on his face. Percy couldn't help but think that it made Nico look ethereal, almost as beautiful as Aphrodite.
"It wasn't your fault," Nico said softly. "It is mine. The me of this time feels... alone. More alone than you'll ever understand. The reason why is his secret to tell, but believe me when I say, that the me of this time has already trusted you with the only valuable thing he has left."
"And I failed him..." Percy hated this. He was supposed to be reading Nico the Riot Act, not feel ashamed about how he had treated him.
"I'm not talking about Bianca," he said seriously. "I'm saying that he entrusted something different, something precious to you. You won't notice it for a while, and yes, maybe in some ways, you didn't take care of it like I would have wanted. But that doesn't change that your Nico trusts you. He didn't go about things as he wanted, but at the time, he just did what he thought was best."
"It's my life, Nico," Percy said. "I know Hera would have cursed you or worse for telling me but... my mom, my girlfriend, you could have told them, at least."
"I could have," Nico said. "But Annabeth already suspected where you were, and Sa—your mom found a neat little note on her table, the day after I found you, saying her son was safe."
Percy put two and two together and smiled gratefully at Nico.
"What was it you gave me?" Percy asked. "You did something for me, Nico. Let me pay you back. I'll protect that precious thing, take better care of it."
Nico winced involuntarily. Percy found himself wishing he hadn't said anything, if it meant Nico never had such a painful expression on his face again.
"You can't know what it is yet," Nico said, crestfallen. "Just... treasure your Nico, okay? Every day, he comes closer and closer to just giving up. He cares a lot about you, and you give him a reason to keep going."
"He has a funny way of showing it, then," Percy muttered. Nico smiled and held his hand.
The gesture was so personal, so intimate, that Percy felt as if his face was going to explode from heat. He swore he could smell Nico's cologne from where he was sitting, and it was making him dizzy.
"That's true," Nico admitted. "But that's because I didn't want you to know I cared, because just like you can keep me from giving up, you have the same potential to destroy me."
Percy felt the words weight on him uncomfortably. All his life he had been told he could save or destroy things with his power, from camp to the gods and the whole world, and it had always been a heavy load.
Knowing that he could do the same to a person, and Nico of all people, felt like the heaviest load of all.
"You almost sounded like a god there," he said, trying to lighten the mood.
"Don't ever say that again," Nico grimaced. "But I guess it comes from knowing things I can't reveal, because, believe or not, I actually like where we end up."
Percy nodded.
"I'm not sure if telling you this changed the future or not," he continued, worried. "But I want you to know that things will be all right for us, at least up to where I'm from."
"But it won't be easy," Percy guessed. Nico smiled apologetically.
"I'm sorry," Nico said. Percy didn't know what came over him, but before he could help himself, he was hugging Nico. The son of Hades hugged him back. "But when have things ever been easy for demigods?"
Percy laughed.
The same bright light that came from the jar back then appeared, and when Percy blinked, in his arms was an unconscious, scrawny son of Hades, who looked fragile enough to break.
He lied him down on the bed carefully before running towards the upper deck.
"Hazel, Piper!"
----
"Welcome back," Percy said, smiling at him. "The younger you was passed out the entire time. He stayed there knocked out until I broke that weird sun dial."
Nico smiled shyly as Percy got closer and pecked him on the lips.
He still wasn't used to that.
"Do you... remember me? I mean, the me from now being... there?"
Percy smiled.
"It's super weird, I have this double memory of having to borrow power from Bacchus with Jason and... of fighting alongside an older you, and figuring out... things after you went back to normal that I wasn't quite ready to face."
"So, which one happened?" He asked. "Was it just messing with our memories, or did I change the past?"
"I have no idea!" Percy said. He grabbed Nico and gave him a fuller kiss. "But as long as you stay mine, I don't really care."
30 notes
·
View notes
Hey! Just wanted to say I am a sucker for slow burn and growing pains is honestly one of the best slow burns I have read! The tension is 🤌… the spoilers only help to grow that excitement!
Growing Pains may be the definition of slow burn. Will they ever even get together!?
Currently still struggling with the story. I think because they're such a combative couple I'm struggling to see if it feels natural or not. Plus still struggling with if the mystery element. I'll get there someday! and thank you for the love, it always means so much and motivates to want to write it because I know someone wants to read it :)
Here's another tiny sneak peek:
“Why did you even kiss me?”
Jimin’s eyebrow raises, surprised but the smile on his lips shows he’s not annoyed by you bringing that up. “I thought we were ignoring that ever happened.”
You ignore him with a roll of your eyes. “Because you hate me, tell me to leave, that I’m not part of this,” you throw your hands in the air, gesturing to everything around you. “And then when I’m at my most vulnerable you kiss me. What am I supposed to think?”
The smile on his face is gone now. Instead his face looks like a storm. Impossible to read. It’s like it’s always been; he can read you like a book and you have no idea what he wants.
Frustrated and slightly drunk you sigh, shaking your head. “I don’t get you,” you mutter.
Ready for this night to be over you start to turn to finally go to bed. Your back is to Jimin, hand on the door handle before Jimin talks.
“It was bad timing,” the words make you pause but don’t make you turn. “I shouldn’t have – you were vulnerable and maybe I took advantage of that, but I don’t regret it. The timing was crap.”
He’s said the words before, and just like before they make something stir inside you. You expect more. You want more. But as you wait it becomes clear that’s all he’s going to give you. Body facing your door, hand still on the door handle, you twist your head to look at him. He’s still where you last saw him, eyes intense, posture standing tall.
“That’s it?”
His head tilts a fraction to the side. A silent question.
“The timing was crap, but you don’t regret it?” Your voice has retained the bite. “You really know how to make a girl feel special.”
You turn back to look at your door, this time get as far as pulling your handle down before Jimin interrupts you.
“Is that what you want,” his voice is quieter, deeper, it causes goosebumps to run up the back of your neck. “To feel special?”
5 notes
·
View notes