Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

It was a full moon and the shadows stretched across the ground of Camp Half Blood.

Percy was training alone in the arena. He was too wired and tired to sleep again, so he was training past midnight again. He hacked and slashed at the training dummies, stepping and spinning in the sand. He sensed a presence behind him. He spun around, swinging Riptide. The person behind him raised his sword to block Riptide, their blades clashing. 

“Nico?” Percy lowered his sword and Nico slowly lowered his sword to his side.

Nico di Angelo stood in front of him, holding a glowing black sword. Pale skin, black wavy hair, thin, a head shorter than Percy. He wore a brown aviator jacket, black graphic t-shirt, black jeans, and combat boots. 

Percy stepped closer and grabbed Nico's shoulder. “Nico, where have you been? We looked for you. We thought… something happened.”

“I-” Nico took a deep breath. “I was with Luke.”

“Luke?” Percy's grip tightened on Nico's shoulder. His voice was a mix of concern and caution. "You've been with Luke Castellan?” Nico nodded. His expression was unreadable.

“Are you hurt?” Percy looked Nico up and down. Nico's expression showed surprise, then he shook his head.

“What are you doing here, Nico?” Percy let go of his shoulder and stepped back. His grip tightened on the hilt of Riptide slightly.

Percy felt a sharp pain in his side and he gasped. Nico's sword sliced deep into his side, staining his burnt orange camp t-shirt red.

“I'm here to take you to Luke.” Nico locked eyes with Percy, pulling back his sword. He gripped his shirt, and pushed forward. Shadows enveloped both of them, Camp Half Blood fading into darkness. 

◇

Disoriented and dizzy, Percy stumbled back and fell to the ground. Nico fell on top of him, knocking the breath from him, and igniting the pain in his side. “What the hell?” Percy groaned, seeing the trees of a forest above them instead of the arena. The sky was sunset orange instead of midnight black. 

Nico knelt above Percy and held his stygian iron blade against Percy’s throat. Percy lifted Riptide, but Nico used his knee to hold down Percy’s sword arm to the ground. “Nico-?”

“Drop it.” Nico growled. Percy strained against him, gritting his teeth at the pain in his side. 

“Nico! What are you doing?” 

Percy continued to struggle, so Nico moved his blade against Percy’s neck, drawing blood. “Drop it.” Nico demanded. “Drop Riptide.”

“No.” Percy said, glaring up at Nico. “Get the hell off me.”

Nico glared down at Percy for a moment. He lifted his sword and brought the hilt against the side of Percy’s head. Percy’s head exploded with pain, his vision turning dark for a moment. He groaned.

Riptide slipped from his hand and fell on the forest floor. He watched Nico sheath his own sword in his belt and pull out celestial bronze cuffs. Percy felt his arm being pulled in front of him. Nico closed one cuff around Percy’s wrist, cold and hard. Percy struggled, but it was like moving through mud. Nico pulled Percy’s other arm in front of him and cuffed his wrists together.

“Stop.”

Nico stood up and dragged Percy by the chain on his wrists a few feet across the forest floor to the nearest tree.

“You fucking traitor.” Percy growled. His back was slumped against the tree. He tried to get up, but Nico looped a longer celestial bronze chain through his cuffs, across his chest, and around the tree. “What are you doing? What do you- What does Luke want with me?”

Percy's breath started to speed up when he realized he could hardly move. He strained against the cuffs around his wrists and the chain across his torso. He pressed his chained hands against the wound in his side.

Nico moved from behind the tree, and picked Riptide up from the ground. He stood in front of Percy, turning the sword in his hand, examining it. “How do I turn it back into a pen?” He looked down at Percy, who looked like he wanted to take Nico’s head off. He had never seen so much hatred in Percy’s expression.

He gripped the hilt tighter. “Tell me.” Nico demanded.

Percy glared up at Nico, silent for a moment. Shove it up your ass. “Why would I tell you?”

Nico's frown deepened. “How long before it returns to your pocket?”

“Let's find out.” Percy smirked.

“What happens if I keep Riptide? Will it go back to you?”

Percy just glared at Nico. The truth was that he didn’t know. No one had ever stolen Riptide before. 

“Fine.” Nico said. “I’ll just tear out your pockets.” Nico pulled out a pocket swiss army knife from his black jeans and flipped it open. 

“You don’t have to do that, Nico.” Nico ignored him. He crouched beside Percy, pulled the lining of his jeans pockets out, and cut off the thin material, one by one. 

“Hey. These are my favorite jeans.” Percy was breathing fast. He had never felt so vulnerable, without Riptide, without pockets, chained to a tree in the middle of gods know where. “When I get out of this, I’m going to cut your stupid jacket up.”

Nico stood, pocket knife in hand. He dropped the torn cloth on the ground. “You’re not getting out of those chains. Not without Riptide.” He had found the pen cap in Percy's pocket. He touched the cap to Riptide and slipped the pen into the pocket of his aviator jacket.

Nico turned around and walked a few feet towards another tree. He crouched down, swept some leaves aside, and pulled out a backpack that was hidden in the tree’s roots. He set the backpack against the tree and rifled through it. 

“Nico…how long have you been planning this?” Percy stared at Nico’s back. 

When Nico didn’t respond, Percy looked around the forest. The sun was just starting to set. If they were still in the United States, they were in a different time zone now, hundreds of miles west of Camp Half-Blood. “Where…where are we?”

Nico was silent for a moment. He pulled a stack of dried branches from the base of the tree and set them on the dirt between Nico and Percy. He finally looked down at Percy. “We’re miles from civilization, from any water. You won’t get anywhere without me. Got it?”

Nico and Percy locked eyes. Percy clenched his fists. Percy reached out his awareness but he didn't sense any water, except a small amount in Nico’s backpack, but he kept his expression neutral. Even if he used the water right now, he was still chained to the tree. And apparently miles from anywhere. 

“Where are you taking me?”

Nico sat down in the dirt, next to the pile of dried sticks. “I already told you.” He started to stack the twigs over a pile of leaves, building a campfire. “To Luke.”

“Where is Luke? Why are you taking me to him?” Percy asked firmly. When he didn’t get an answer, he continued. “Why did you join him, Nico?”

“You’ll find out.” 

Percy strained against the chains and raised his voice. “Do you know what will happen if Luke captures me? If he kills me? He wants to destroy Olympus!”

Nico snapped a branch in half with a sound that echoed in the forest. “Maybe that’s what I want.” He leveled a glare at Percy. 

“You want Olympus to be destroyed? You want the gods to die? Are you insane?” Percy took a deep breath and lowered his voice again. “Nico, you don’t mean that…”

Nico flicked his lighter on. He held it to the dried leaves, watching the flame grow into a small fire. “I do.”

“You’re talking about the gods, our family, your father-”

“The gods killed my family!” Nico stood up and stepped closer to Percy. “Just like you killed my family.” Percy also stood up, gritting his teeth at the pain in his side.

“What are you- …” Percy's confusion shifted to realization and sadness. “Nico, I- I tried to save Bianca.”

“No. You killed her. You took her from me.”

“Bianca chose to go. She chose to sacrifice herself. I tried to stop her-”

“You took her on your quest to save your girlfriend. She barely even knew she was a demigod. She probably didn't even know what her powers were. She didn't even have any training!”

“Nico. Bianca chose to go on the quest. She knew the risks. She knew… that one of us wasn't coming back. I tried-”

“It's your fault she didn't come back. It's your fault she left in the first place.”

Percy's anger rose. “Do you remember why we went on the quest in the first place? It's because Luke kidnapped Annabeth, after she risked her life for you and your sister. And now Luke is twisting everything- to make you hate me-”

“I already hated you!” Nico slammed Percy into the tree, hands tightening in his shirt. “You lied to me! You promised-! You took her from me.”

Percy stared at Nico, stunned. He opened his mouth and closed it again. Nico let go of his shirt, stepped back, and stalked back over to the campfire.

Percy’s voice was hoarse. “Nico. I’m sorry.”

“Shut up.”

The flames illuminated the forest floor and trees. The sky was a dark blue fading to black.

Chapter Text

Nico sat against the opposite tree, next to his backpack. He shot a glare towards Percy then just glared at the flickering flames in silence. He threw another branch on the fire.

Percy sat down again, the chain looped around his torso. He studied the younger boy for a long moment, before he spoke softly. “I still have it…the figurine…I wanted to give it to you.”

Nico tensed up and darkened his glare at the fire. “I don't care about a stupid figurine.” He muttered.

Percy knew that Nico probably felt abandoned when Bianca joined the hunters, when she left on the quest, and especially when she died. “Your sister cared about it.” Percy continued softly. “She asked me to give it to you… in case she couldn't.” He didn't mention how Bianca had died because of the Mythomagic figurine of Hades.

Nico's eyes were shining in the fire light. “You should have kept your promise and saved her ...instead of a children's toy.” His voice was bitter.

Percy remained silent. He didn't know how to respond. I'm sorry. I wish I could have saved her. It's my fault she died. It's not my fault. I tried. I tried to stop her. I didn't want her to die. I didn't want to be the one to die.

They both sat in silence, staring at the flames, lost in thought for several minutes.

Nico reached into his backpack, pulling out a protein bar. He tore open the packaging and started eating. Percy watched him, suddenly realizing how hungry he was after all of the training. Then Nico reached into his backpack and threw a protein bar. It hit Percy in the chest and fell to the dirt. 

Percy could barely reach it enough to pick it up, because of the chains. “Thanks.” He mumbled, with a hint of sarcasm. He finished the protein bar way too quickly. And now his mouth was dry with the taste of peanut butter and chocolate. 

Nico pulled out a small water bottle from the backpack. He walked over and crouched in front of the son of Poseidon. “Don’t think about using your powers, or I won't give you any water for a day. Got it?” Nico's hand rested on the hilt of his sword.

Percy glared at the other boy. “Scared of a little water?” he mocked. He considered his options. Attack Nico with the water, and pull Riptide out of Nico's pocket. But Nico was armed, there was no element of surprise, he was still chained up, and he was thirsty.

When Nico still held the water out of reach, Percy replied with gritted teeth, “Got it.” Nico handed the bottle to Percy. He drank half the bottle and caught his breath.

“Drink all of it.” Nico demanded. 

Percy rolled his eyes and drank the rest of the water. He crushed the empty bottle in his hand. “Are you done giving orders?”

Nico held out a small amount of ambrosia. “Eat this and don't bleed out.”

Percy was surprised, but he took the ambrosia and ate it. It tasted like blue chocolate chip cookies. He already felt the pain lessen and the wound in his side starting to heal.

“Just don't try anything. You're not leaving here without me.”

Percy hated that Nico was right. If they were miles from civilization and thousands of miles from camp, he wasn't walking out of here and help wasn't coming. He wasn't leaving without Nico and Nico wasn't leaving without taking him to Luke.

Nico stood up and set up a sleeping bag on the opposite side of the fire. He placed his sword alongside his sleeping bag and his backpack at his side. He threw a blanket at Percy.

Percy could barely lay down. His hands were chained in front of him and the chain that looped around the tree and between his wrists barely had enough slack to move. The chains jangled every time he moved. “If I can't leave without you, can't you at least take these off?” Percy held up his chained wrists.

“I'm not an idiot.” Nico mumbled, as he settled into his sleeping bag. 

Percy sighed and tried to get comfortable on the rocky forest floor, his head resting on the base of the tree trunk. The sky was full of millions of stars glittering like diamonds. Percy could almost imagine he was camping instead of in a hostage situation.

◇

Percy felt too exhausted to sleep. The tree bark scraped the back of his head and the rocks on the forest floor dug into his back. The wound in his side healed to a shallow cut, but it still ached.

He looked over at Nico. The younger demigod was watching the campfire, which had died down to a glow of embers. He looked exhausted and sad even with a neutral expression, his dark circles visible even in the dim light.

“Nico,” Percy said softly, "I really am sorry… about Bianca. I think about her all the time. I thought about you all the time, just alone outside of camp, with the monsters. I looked for you after... you left.”

Nico's expression looked pained. He didn't look at Percy.

“I- I should have looked harder. I'm sorry that Luke was the one to find you. But I'm glad you weren't alone.”

Nico was silent.

“You could still come back to Camp Half Blood. It's not too late.”

“Yes it is.” Nico turned over on his back and looked up at the sky. He just looked and sounded tired.

“Nico.” Percy sat up. “Earlier you said…that the gods killed your family. Did you mean Bianca…or did you mean… other family?”

“Why do you care?” Nico muttered.

“I care about you. If something else happened to you, I wanna know about it. I worry about you.”

Nico was silent for so long that Percy thought he was ignoring him.

“My mom… she was killed by Zeus, struck by lightning. Zeus was trying to kill me and… Bianca…because of the Great Prophecy.” Nico's voice was bitter. “Then my- then Hades wiped our memories and trapped us in the Lotus Casino.” 

“Nico, I'm sorry. Zeus never should have done that…” Percy was lost in thought about his mother. “I know how hard it must have been to lose your mom, and then find out you're a demigod.”

“What do you know?”

Percy took a deep breath, letting go of his irritation at Nico's tone. “When I first came to camp, my mom tried to protect me from a monster, a minotaur, but it got her. I thought she was dead, but really Hades took her to the Underworld at the last second, because he thought I had stolen something.”

Percy continued, “I don't know exactly what you're going through. But I know what it's like for the gods to mess with your life, for your father to ignore you for years. But not all of the gods are bad, Nico. I know your father cares about you. I know Hades only kept you in the Lotus Casino to protect you from Zeus.”

“Zeus killed my mom and almost killed me and…and…because of a stupid prophecy.” 

“I know, but you don't need to worry about the prophecy anymore. I'm older than you, I won't let it fall on you.” Percy's voice hardened. “And I won't let Luke use you to fulfill the prophecy.”

“I don't care about the prophecy.” Nico sat up in his sleeping bag, finally looking at Percy. “I don’t care who destroys the gods. The gods need to end. They can’t keep doing whatever they want.”

“Nico. The gods aren't perfect, I know that, but the Titans are much much worse. If Luke destroys the gods, he destroys the whole world.”

“You don't know that.” 

“Nico, what do you think a war with the gods looks like? The destruction. The natural disasters. The death. Do you really think the Titans will be better than the gods? They ate their own children. What do you think they'll do to their grandchildren? To demigods?”

Nico glared at him in silence.

“Do you really want revenge on the gods so badly that you would destroy the whole world?”

“That's not why I'm doing this!” Nico raised his voice. 

“Then why are you doing this, Nico? Why are you taking me to Luke?”

“You know why.”

“What do you mean? Are you doing this because of Bianca? Because you hate me?”

Nico darkened his glare at him, the anger and hatred surprising Percy.

“None of this is going to bring Bianca back.”

Nico's eyes widened then narrowed again. “Just shut up, Percy.” He rolled onto his side, his back to him.

Percy stared at the younger demigod's back. He wouldn't let Nico take him to Luke. He wouldn't let him go back to Luke. He was going to take Nico back to Camp Half Blood even if he had to drag him kicking and screaming.

Chapter Text

Percy could barely sleep. He woke up from the light of dawn and pretended to be asleep when Nico woke up. 

Nico got up slowly, the shadows under his eyes even darker. He rolled up the sleeping bag, and tied it to his backpack. He walked over to Percy, backpack slung on one shoulder, sword in hand. He ripped the blanket off of the older demigod, and shoved it into the top of his backpack. 

“Hey.” Percy groaned in frustration.

Nico removed the chain that tied him to the tree, shoving the chain into his pants pocket. He stood over Percy, pointing his blade over his chest. “Get up.”

Percy's wrists were still chained in front of him. He glared up at Nico, squinting from the morning sun. “Are you taking me to Luke now?” When Nico didn't answer, Percy continued. “How many days are you going to drag me across the states? What state are we even in right now?”

“Just get up.” Nico grabbed Percy by his arm, but Percy reached out and grabbed Nico's sword arm. The younger demigod pulled back, but Percy’s grip was stronger.

With the crumple of a plastic bottle, water exploded out of Nico's backpack. The water flowed into Nico's jacket pocket, and drew out his ballpoint pen. Percy caught Riptide with his free hand and unleashed the blade an inch in front of Nico's face. The two demigods froze, both holding each other's sword arms. 

“Nico, you're not taking me to Luke. You're not taking me anywhere except back to camp.” Percy's voice was cold and threatening. “So take off these handcuffs before I have to hurt you.” 

“Let go.” Nico pulled back, but Percy stood up with him.

Nico tried to step back, but Percy pushed him back against a tree. Nico smirked. The surrounding shadows grew darker and Nico sunk into the shadow of the tree, pulling Percy with him. The forest disappeared to black.

The black turned blinding white. A pale blue sky, whirling white snow, golden morning light. They were on the side of a mountain. Percy stared at the surroundings, his grip tightening on Riptide. He felt sick. “Where are we?”

Nico was breathing heavily. He fell to his hands and knees in the snow, backpack slipping off his shoulder, his sword held loosely in his grip. 

Percy didn't hesitate to kick the sword away from his hand. Nico hissed in pain, probably from broken fingers. Percy kicked him in the abdomen, causing him to roll over on his back with a groan. Percy stepped over him and straddled his waist. He held Riptide to his throat. He wished his hands were at his throat instead. “Nico. Where the hell did you take us?”

Nico continued to breathe like he had just run a marathon. He must have shadow-traveled them thousands of miles across the country. Again.

“Was the shadow travel too much for you?” Percy asked sarcastically, pushing the blade under his jaw. “Where the hell are we? Answer me.”

“Colorado.”

“And where is Luke?”

“...Not here.”

Percy stared at Nico for a long moment and took a deep breath. “Where are the keys to the cuffs?”

Nico didn’t answer, still out of breath. Percy tucked Riptide in his belt. He fished the keys out of Nico's pocket and unlocked and removed the cuffs. Percy flipped Nico on his stomach and dug his knee into his back. When he struggled, he shoved his face into the snow. 

“Get off me,” Nico growled. “Or I'll shadow travel you to Luke.” Percy caught his wrists, and cuffed his hands behind his back.

“We both know you can't shadow travel ten feet right now.” Percy lowered his voice and leaned closer. “And the next time you try to shadow travel, I'll knock you out. Got it?” Nico grit his teeth. He struggled against the cuffs and against Percy, but he couldn't move. 

“Why did you bring me to a mountain during a snowstorm?” Percy asked, keeping a hand on Nico's arm. Percy thought how dumb Nico was to bring him to a place surrounded with water.

“It wasn't supposed to be snowing.” Nico snapped. 

“What was the plan?” Percy growled.

“There's a cabin.”

Percy looked up and noticed the small cabin isolated in the trees. Percy stood up and swung Nico's backpack on. “Let's go.” He pulled Nico up by his arm, and pushed him forward, up the mountainside towards the cabin. 

“Wait." Nico dug his feet in the snow and looked at his blade on the ground a few feet away. "My sword.” Percy ignored him and continued pushing Nico forward. 

“It's stygian iron. Do you really want a mortal finding that?”

Percy sighed. He dragged Nico and grabbed the sword from the snow, holding it at his side as he walked. “Come on.” Nico stumbled a few times, but Percy held his arm tightly. As they reached the small cabin and walked up the steps of the porch, Percy noticed a car in the driveway, covered in snow. I hope no one lives here right now.

Percy let go of Nico and tried the front door, but it was locked. Nico kicked over a carved wooden bear, revealing a key hidden underneath. “How did you know that was there?” Percy tucked the other sword in his belt. He leaned down and grabbed the key, keeping an eye on Nico. 

“I stayed here… on the way to camp.” Nico muttered while Percy unlocked the door. 

On the way to kidnap me, you mean.

Percy grabbed Nico by the back of his jacket and shoved him into the cabin, then closed and locked the door behind him.

Chapter Text

The cabin was small. A combined kitchen and living room, one bedroom, one bathroom, and a fireplace. It looked like a hunting or camping cabin, based on the deer head mounted on the wall in the living room.

Percy dropped Nico's backpack on the floor. He grabbed Nico by the jacket and pushed him towards the couch. “Sit.” 

Nico reluctantly sat on the edge of the couch, hands cuffed behind his back. His eyes shifted to look around the room, likely mapping out all the potential weapons and escape routes. Nico was shaking slightly, and Percy didn't know if it was from the cold. 

Percy stood in front of the couch, towering over him. He kept a hand on the hilt of Nico's sword in his belt. He resisted the urge to strangle the younger demigod and took a deep breath. 

“Listen, Nico. You're not going to run. You're not going to shadow travel. You're not going to contact Luke.” Percy said in a cold voice. “Got it?”

Nico just glared up at Percy. “Okay?” Percy repeated, a threat in his voice.

“You can't stop me.” Nico said in a low voice.

Percy scoffed. “You're one minute away from passing out, Nico. You're not going anywhere.”

“What? Are you going to keep me in this cabin forever?” Nico snarked.

“No.” Percy crossed his arms. “As soon as this snowstorm is over, we're going back to camp. I'm not letting you go back to Luke.” 

Nico's glare darkened. “You can't stop me from shadow traveling.”

Percy stepped closer and lowered his voice. “If you even think of taking me to Luke, if you even step in a shadow, I'll take you out.”

Nico's eyes widened slightly, before his glare darkened. “You won't.” Nico stood up from the couch in front of Percy. The long morning shadows seemed to grow darker across the cabin. “You couldn't even stop me twice now.”

Percy stepped closer to Nico, inches from his face. “Nico. Stop. I'm warning you.” 

The shadows around them darkened. “I will take you to Luke and you're never going to see Camp Half Blood again.” 

Percy growled. He wrapped his hands around Nico's throat, pushing him back on the couch cushions, kneeling over him. Nico choked and struggled, but his hands were chained behind his back. The shadows grew darker, wrapping around them, but Percy tightened his grip until Nico couldn't breathe and the shadows faded again.

Percy loosened his grip, allowing Nico to gasp for breath, but kept his hand wrapped around his throat. “Promise me you won't shadow travel again.”

Nico gasped for breath. “Get off.”

“Swear on the River Styx.”

“I can't-”

“Do it.” Percy tightened his grip.

“Percy- please-” Nico choked out. “I can't give up my powers.”

Percy growled in frustration. “Swear that you won't shadow travel without my permission.”

Nico was silent for a moment, staring up with wide eyes.

“Swear. On the Styx. Now.” 

“I- I swear… on the River Styx…I won't shadow travel without your permission.”

Percy thought about making Nico swear that he wouldn't run away, wouldn't return to Luke. There were so many things he could make him promise.

Nico was shaking, the corners of his eyes filled with tears, and he was breathing fast and shallow. A tear slid down his face and onto Percy's hand. Percy let go of Nico like he burned him, and stepped back from the couch.

Nico curled into the couch cushions, protecting his front. His hands were still chained behind his back.

“Nico…”

Percy wanted to reach out to him, but he stopped himself. He thought about removing the chains, but he wouldn't underestimate the younger demigod again. That's why he was in Colorado instead of New York.

“We're leaving for camp in the morning.” Percy muttered. He couldn't quite look at Nico. He stepped back and ran his fingers through his hair. He sat in the chair opposite the couch and stared at the floor, head in his hands. 

Percy glanced at Nico. He was curled tighter on the couch, knees to his chest, and face pushed into the cushions, his messy black hair falling over his face. He was shaking slightly. Percy looked away and looked around the room.

He noticed Nico's backpack he had dropped on the floor earlier. He grabbed the backpack and emptied the contents onto the coffee table. He didn't know if he was impressed with Nico's packing.

A sleeping bag. A blanket. An atlas of the United States. A lighter. A roll of gauze. Ambrosia. Nectar. 1 crumpled water bottle. 6 protein bars. Mcdonalds ketchup packets. 3 Drachma. $120 in cash. A deck of mythomagic cards.

Everything was wet from the water bottle Percy exploded earlier. He opened the wet paper atlas to dry out on the coffee table. He also spread out the worn deck of cards. “I thought you were too old for Mythomagic?” Percy teased, trying to lighten the mood.

Nico glared at him. He had uncurled slightly to watch Percy and the red marks were already visible on his throat. He likely had bruised ribs and broken fingers too.

Percy sighed and sat on the edge of the coffee table in front of him. “I'm going to uncuff you now. Don't try anything.” Nico looked surprised and wary. He sat up on the couch slowly. Percy unlocked the cuffs with the key, and tucked the key and cuffs in the back of his pants. 

“I'm going to wrap your injuries. Stay still.” Percy grabbed the gauze and looked for something to cut it with. “Where's your knife?”

Nico shifted his eyes.

“Empty your pockets.” Percy really did not want to get cut again.

Nico reluctantly emptied his jacket and jeans pockets, wincing slightly. He pulled out the long celestial bronze chain, the swiss army knife, and protein bar wrappers. He set them on the coffee table.

Percy unrolled some gauze and cut it with the swiss army knife. He assessed Nico's injuries. Nico's fourth finger and pinky finger on his right hand were swollen and bruised. The palms of his hands were scraped. His wrists were red. His throat bloomed with bruises. Percy tried not to feel guilty. It was self defense. He made me do it. I'm not the bad guy here. He tried to take me to Luke.

Percy thought about giving him ambrosia, but there was a limited amount. They might need it later for more serious injuries. Nico was also less of a threat with broken fingers, Percy hated to admit.

He gently held his injured hand and wrapped his broken fingers together. Then he wrapped both wrists. He knew how much the handcuffs chafed. Nico didn't move or make a sound the entire time.

“Do you hurt anywhere else?” Percy asked awkwardly.

“I'm fine.” Nico grumbled with a hoarse voice. Percy realized it was the first time Nico had spoken since he choked him. 

Percy cuffed his wrists together in front of him. Nico flinched, but didn't fight him. “These stay on until we get to camp.”

“Are you serious?” Nico complained and Percy remembered that this dangerous demigod was just an angry thirteen-year-old teenager. 

“You don't get to complain.”

Chapter Text

Percy returned all the items to the backpack, except the dangerous items. The knife, lighter, chains, and drachmas. Percy shoved them into his pockets before he remembered he didn't have pockets. Nico had ripped them out. Percy suppressed a groan. 

“I'm going to look around the cabin.” He grabbed the long celestial bronze chain and connected Nico's cuffs to the radiator next to the couch. The younger demigod flinched slightly when he leaned over him, and Percy felt a pang of guilt. “Stay put.” Percy demanded, even though Nico could barely reach the coffee table if he tried.

Percy went into the bedroom and found some extra clothes in the dresser. He put on a pair of blue jeans that were a little big and stiff, but they had pockets. A few seconds later, he felt the familiar weight of Riptide in his pocket. He also put on a grey zip-up hoodie he had found. He shoved the rest of the items in his pockets. 

He should really contact Chiron with an iris message, but he had limited drachmas. He should get more information out of Nico first. And search the cabin. And find some food. Percy returned to the living room, where Nico was still sitting on the couch. He was pulling on the chain to test the strength, but he stopped when Percy gave him a look.

“I can't believe you ruined my favorite jeans.” Percy complained as he shoved his old jeans into the backpack. 

“Oh my gods.” Nico muttered, giving him a look like he couldn't believe he was keeping them.

“How would you feel if I ruined your jacket, huh?” 

Percy felt Nico's eyes on him the whole time he searched the cabin. He moved any objects away from Nico's reach, anything that could be used as a weapon.

He tried the lights and the sinks. The electricity and water were both off. He suspected Nico might have something to do with it. The little shit. He thought he could keep me here.

He put anything small and useful in Nico's backpack. A flashlight from the living room. A first aid kit from the bathroom. A set of car keys from the kitchen.

He searched the kitchen, opening all of the cabinets. There were a few bottles of water on the counter. He found several cans of pinto beans and green beans. Yum. There were empty McDonald's packages in the kitchen trash, probably from Nico's last visit. Percy would kill for a burger right now. He only had a protein bar since dinner last night.

In the closet by the front door, he found a brown winter coat and a black puffy coat. He grabbed the coats and the car key, and checked out the car in the driveway. He unlocked the car and threw the coats in the back, which was already stocked with camping gear, blankets, and pillows.

The car started fine and even had a half tank of gas. Percy just wished he had his driver's permit. He was not looking forward to driving down the mountain tomorrow.

Percy went back inside. It was freezing inside and out, and he was tired, cold, hungry, and angry. “Did you shut off the water and electricity?” He snapped.

“No.” Nico mumbled and Percy raised an eyebrow. “It was already like that.”

“Perfect.” Percy said sarcastically. He walked over to the fireplace and opened the vent. He threw in a fire starter and a few logs and used Nico's lighter to start a fire.

He went into the kitchen, opened the canned food, and split it between two paper plates. “Cold food it is.”

He sat down on the armchair opposite the couch. He tossed the plates on the coffee table, giving Nico a plastic fork. Back-stabbing traitors don't get real forks. They ate in awkward silence. Percy scarfed the food down. Nico struggled to eat with his hands cuffed and Percy tried not to care.

He tossed his empty paper plate on the coffee table, grabbed a bottle of water, and tossed one to Nico. “We'll have to get more food and water in the morning when we leave for camp.”

Percy pulled the map closer to him on the coffee table. It was mostly dry now, but some of the ink was smudged. He noticed four locations marked on the map of the United States in blue ink. Long Island, New York. Sand Ridge State Forest, Illinois. Manitou Springs, Colorado. San Francisco, California. 

“We're in Manitou Springs, Colorado?” Percy looked up at Nico, who looked away. “And Luke’s in San Francisco?”

Nico was irritatingly silent.

“Where exactly in San Francisco?”

“The Golden Gate Bridge.” Nico snarked.

“Is his cruise ship there? Is that where you were taking me?” Percy struggled to remember the name. “The Princess Andromeda?” But he didn't think Luke would take him onto a ship, not with his powers.

“I'm not telling you anything.”

Percy sighed heavily. He stood up and sat on the coffee table in front of Nico and leaned forward. Nico tensed and leaned back on the couch.

“Listen, Nico. I need you to tell me everything you know about Luke. His plans. His location. Everything.”

“Why would I tell you anything?”

“Because. You don't have a choice.”

“I'm not talking.” 

“What is Luke planning? What does he want with me?”

“Do you know what Luke would do to me if he knew I betrayed him?” 

“You're not with Luke right now. You're with me.” Percy leaned forward, his voice cold. “So tell me. What does Luke want with me?”

Nico hesitated for a long moment. “If I tell you… you have to promise to let me go.”

“No. You're going to tell me everything and we're going back to camp. I'm not letting you run back to Luke so he can keep brainwashing you.”

“I'm not going to tell you everything just to go back to the one place where Luke will find me.”

“Luke's not going to know-”

“Luke will know when I don't show up with you. He'll know I-" Nico looked down. "I can't go back to camp.” 

“Nico, he's not going to find you. Camp Half Blood is safe. Chiron and the other campers will protect you.”

“You don't know that.”

“I'll protect you. I won't let Luke hurt you.”

“You'll protect me?" Nico eyes burned into Percy. "Like how you protected Bianca? Like how you're protecting me now?”

“Nico.” Percy sighed. “I'm sorry, but I couldn't let you shadow travel again.”

“You're worse than Luke.” Nico said in a low voice.

“I'm worse than Luke?” Percy snapped, standing up. “You tried to betray me again and I stopped you. But you're too afraid to even talk about Luke because you know he'll kill you. So don't give me that bullshit. Don't ever compare me to Luke again.”

Nico was silent for a long moment. “I didn't say that Luke would kill me.”

“But you know it. That's what Luke does. That's why you're too afraid to say anything. But I won't let Luke hurt you. And I won't let him manipulate and use you anymore.” 

“Luke's not manipulating me.” Nico denied. 

“Really? Because last night you told me you weren't doing this for revenge on the gods. So why are you doing this?”

Silence.

“Do you want me dead? Is that it?” Percy was surprised by the sadness underlying the anger in his voice.

“No.” Nico muttered. “Luke's not going to kill you.”

“Then what's his plan?”

“He's tired of you getting in the way... He's planning to lock you up.”

“Lock me up? For how long?” When Nico hesitated to answer, Percy hardened his voice. “For how long, Nico?”

“Until your sixteenth birthday.”

“A year.” Percy glared at Nico, seething. He gripped Riptide in his pocket so hard the plastic would have cracked if it weren't magical. “Luke wants to lock me up for a year and you were going to let him? You were going to take me to him?”

“He was going to kill you!" Nico looked up at him. "I convinced him not to.”

“What, am I supposed to say thank you?” Percy held himself back from unleashing Riptide and holding it to Nico's throat again. He threw his hands up in the air. “Thanks for stabbing me, dragging me across the country, and taking me to Luke so he can lock me up and destroy the whole world!”

Nico wrapped his arms around his legs, pulling them to his chest. 

“What was Luke's plan after he imprisoned me?”

“Promise to let me go and I'll tell you.”

Percy stepped in front of Nico and pulled him forward by his jacket collar. “No, Nico. Tell me. Now.” 

“Luke was…he was going to…”

“Spit it out.” Percy's hand tightened on his jacket.

“He was going to try to…turn you to his side.” 

Percy was stunned into silence. “Why? So I would destroy Olympus for him?”

Nico nodded. 

Percy pushed Nico back against the couch and leaned closer to his face. “You're lucky I'm not like Luke, Nico.” Percy shoved him again and left the cabin. 

Chapter Text

Percy slammed the front door of the cabin, walked down the porch steps and beneath the trees. They reminded him of the trees at camp, except they were covered in snow. 

He unsheathed his sword and hacked at a pine tree. The tree shook and snow and pine needles fell from the branches. Percy slashed, cut, and stabbed the tree until it was weeping sap and bark and he was out of breath.

Percy dropped the sword, and fell back into the snow, staring up at the afternoon sky, at the snow falling softly and the sunlight shining through the trees. 

He missed Camp Half Blood. He missed the Poseidon cabin and the sea. He missed Annabeth and Grover. He was only there for a few days before Nico showed up. Everyone was probably starting to notice his disappearance by now.

After laying in the snow for a few minutes, Percy finally got up.

He found a rainbow reflected from the snow and the sunlight. He sat down in the snow and tossed a drachma, which disappeared into the rainbow. “Chiron. Camp Half Blood.”

The circle of light shimmered. The image of Chiron appeared at his desk. He looked surprised and concerned to see Percy. “Percy! Where are you? Annabeth and Grover are looking all over camp for you right now.”

“Chiron, Hey.” Percy ran his hand through his hair. “I'm in Colorado. Manitou Springs, Colorado. Nico di Angelo showed up at camp last night.”

Percy explained everything to Chiron. How Nico is the son of Hades, how Luke found him and manipulated him, how Luke wanted to use him to capture Percy and turn him to his side.

Chiron agreed to not tell the other campers, except for Annabeth and Grover, about Nico's betrayal for now. The campers might be hesitant to protect a traitor, and Nico needed to be safe at camp away from Luke. 

Percy also explained his plan to drive Nico to Camp Half Blood in the morning after the snow storm. 

“I'll update you tomorrow. I'll try to get more information from Nico if I can.”

“Remember to check in, Percy, or I'll have to send Annabeth and Grover on a quest to find you.”

“I'll be fine, Chiron. What's a little three day road trip for demigods?”

◇◇◇

Percy went back inside the cabin. 

Nico was asleep, curled on his side on the couch, his cuffed hands close to his chest. His skin was pale and his dark circles were even darker. I guess shadow travel and betrayal are exhausting. 

He didn't know if he wanted Nico to sleep all day. He would probably try to run away if he had enough energy, but Percy also didn't want to look at or talk to Nico right now. He would let him take a nap. 

Percy was freezing and his shoes were soaked from the snow. He sat in the chair by the fireplace and took off his converse shoes to warm up.

He mapped out a route back to Camp Half Blood on the United States atlas. From his previous experience with quests, it looked like a 25 hour drive. It would take three days or one very long day and night to get back to camp. 

◇◇◇

When the sun began to set, Percy went into the kitchen to make dinner, purposefully being loud. Nico startled awake, chains rattling.

“Don't sleep all day or you won't be able to sleep at night.” Percy glanced over his shoulder at him.

Nico glared and mumbled something under his breath, which sounded like “Okay, mom.” 

Nico only sat up when Percy tossed a plate of food on the coffee table. They had another sad meal of pinto beans and green beans. After they finished eating, paper plates discarded on the coffee table, they sat in awkward and tense silence. 

Nico sat in the corner of the couch, staring out the window, hands chained in front of him. Percy sat in the chair opposite the couch. He didn't trust himself any closer to Nico. He might strangle him again. He couldn't stop thinking about what he said. About how Nico was going to let him rot as Luke's prisoner.

“Why?” Percy asked. “Why were you going to take me to Luke?”

Silence.

“Did he threaten you?”

Nico shook his head.

“Did he offer you something?”

Nico hesitated slightly. “No.”

“You said you don't want me dead, but you were going to let Luke lock me up for a year. So why?”

Nico clenched his hands into fists. “A year of your life is nothing compared to what Bianca lost.”

“So you want revenge on me? That's why you're doing all of this? You're going to help Luke destroy the entire world because you hate me?”

Nico just glared at him silently. It was infuriating. 

“Answer me, Nico.” Percy stood up. “You were going to let Luke imprison me. Were you going to let him torture me too? Kill me?”

“No.” Nico leaned back against the couch.

“Were you going to help him destroy Olympus? Kill all of my friends? My family?”

“No.” Nico was shaking slightly.

“Then why?” 

“I have to.” Nico's voice shook. “I have to take you to Luke.”

“Why?”

“Because… he promised...”

“What?” Percy raised his voice. “What did Luke promise?”

“Luke promised to bring Bianca back to life…if I brought you to him.”

Percy paused. He sat back down. “What?”

“He promised he would bring her back with the power of Kronos."

“Nico.” The anger drained out of Percy. “I'm sorry, but…that's not possible.”

“Yes, it is. I've seen it.”

“You've seen him bring the dead back to life?”

“Kronos can manipulate time. He can move time through objects and restore them.” Nico's voice was desperate. “He can bring her back.”

“Nico, it doesn't work like that. You can't- you can't bring people back to life, not even with Kronos’ power.”

“I'm the son of Hades, the god of the dead and the Underworld. You don't know anything, Percy.”

“I know that Luke's a liar. He's telling you exactly what you want to hear. He's using you to get what he wants.”

“Luke's giving me what I want.”

“You're being an idiot, Nico. You're Luke's pawn, just like Luke is Kronos’ pawn. Luke will lie and manipulate and use you until he's done with you. And then he'll kill you.”

“What, like how you're the pawn of the gods? Of Camp Half Blood? Like how Chiron sends you on quests to do whatever the gods want?”

“I don't just do whatever the gods tell me to do!." Percy sat forward in the chair, throwing his hands in the air. "I go on quests because it's the right thing to do…to stop the war between the gods, to save camp from Luke, to save Annabeth from Luke. It's all been because of Luke!”

“You blame everything on Luke, but it's the gods that are the problem. Luke is just trying to stop them from destroying lives and killing innocent people!”

Percy stood up from the chair and Nico flinched from the movement. “I'm trying to stop Luke from killing innocent people! Luke is working with Kronos, the Titan of fucking evil! And you're too blind and desperate to see it.” 

Percy took a deep breath and sat back down. It was silent for a long moment. “I'm sorry, Nico. I wish there was a way to bring your sister back, but there's not. Bianca is gone.” It was as hard to say the words as the first time he said it to Nico. To the kid who was waiting for his sister to come back.

“It's your fault she's gone,” Nico's eyes burned with tears and anger. “and you're going to help me get her back.”

“Nico. It's not my fault-!” Percy thought about telling Nico how Bianca died because she ignored the warnings and picked up a figurine for her little brother, but he wouldn't let Nico think Bianca died a meaningless death. He wouldn't let Nico blame himself for her death for one second. “I did everything I could to protect her. Bianca sacrificed her life. She died a hero… a hunter. She's in Elysium now, and she's not in any pain.”

Nico was crying silently, tears running down his face, hands tight around the hem of his jacket.

“I know you miss your sister, and I know Bianca misses you.” Percy's voice was gentle. “But you can't bring people back from the dead. And even if you could, do you think Bianca would want to come back from Elysium? Do you think she would want you to destroy your life or someone else's life trying to bring her back?”

“You don't know what she would want. You knew her for two weeks. She's my sister.”

“I know she wouldn't want this.”

“You don't care about her. You just don't want to take accountability.”

“Accountability? You mean sacrificing me to Luke and Kronos?” Percy realized he was yelling again and lowered his voice. “I didn't kill Bianca, Nico. I kept my promise. I did everything I could to protect her. You're just looking for someone to blame.”

Nico's glare was burning into Percy. “You didn't keep your promise.”

“I promised I would try to protect her and I did. I did try.” Percy's voice was firm. “If you're looking for someone to blame, blame Luke. We were only on that quest because he took Annabeth.”

Nico was fuming for a long moment. “Luke just wants to make a better world for the demigods, and you and Annabeth are always getting in his way.”

Percy clenched his hands into fists. “Luke's monsters attacked you and Bianca too, and Annabeth and I saved you, or did you forget that? How is sending monsters and kidnapping people making a better world for demigods?” Percy locked eyes with Nico. “I know the gods suck and they need to change, but waging war with Olympus and Camp Half Blood isn't the answer. Luke is going about it all wrong. I need you to understand that.”

“How would you go about it, then? How are you going to change the gods?” Nico's tone was defensive. “The gods don't change, Percy.”

Percy could hear Luke's words in Nico's mouth. He didn't know how much of it was Nico's actual beliefs or Luke's brainwashing.

“I don't know, Nico. I don't have all the answers. I've been a little busy trying to stop Luke. But I know that attacking and kidnapping and killing innocent people is wrong.”

Nico opened and closed his mouth. He went quiet and seemed to be deep in thought. Percy hoped he was finally getting to him.

“Listen, Nico, Luke used to be my friend. At least I thought he was when I first came to camp. But it turned out he only pretended to be my friend, so he could try to use me to free Kronos. He hid the lightning bolt on me and gave me shoes that would have dragged me into Tartarus. And when I got back to camp, he tried to kill me. He almost did.”

Nico was listening reluctantly.

"Luke didn't tell you that, did he?" Percy asked.

Nico looked to the side, but he eventually asked, “How did Luke try to kill you?” 

“He summoned a monster, a scorpion. I would've died if not for the water…and the campers helping me.” Percy looked into Nico's eyes. “I don't want the same thing to happen to you. I don't want Luke to hurt you… or kill you.”

Nico's face softened and he studied Percy's expression. 

“That's why I can't let you go back to Luke. I have to get you back to camp, where it's safe.”

Nico frowned and looked away. Percy felt like he said the exact wrong thing. Why did I have to remind him I'm kidnapping him? Kidnapping him back?

Chapter Text

Percy was ready to sleep and it was barely dark outside. The moonlight reflected blue off the snow outside and the fire cast a warm glow in the cabin. He threw a few more logs in the fireplace.

Percy sat in the chair, watching the fire, spinning Riptide in pen form between his fingers. He felt Nico's gaze on him occasionally. The younger teenager sat with his back against the arm rest of the couch, playing with his Mythomagic cards on the cushions. Percy was so bored he almost asked Nico if he could join, but he decided to give him space. 

Nico would barely talk to him. Percy wanted to interrogate Nico for answers, convince him he was brainwashed, but he didn't want to push too far. Again. They were both physically and emotionally exhausted.

Percy got up and pulled the mattress from the bedroom into the living room. He positioned the mattress by the wall facing the couch, to keep an eye on Nico. He also placed Nico's backpack and sword beside the bed.

He grabbed a bunch of blankets and pillows from the bedroom and dropped them on the couch and mattress. “Time for bed.” Percy threw a pillow at Nico's face, and the cards almost went flying. Nico caught the pillow, his hair unkempt, and scowled at Percy. He almost looked like a normal teenager. 

Percy flopped back on the makeshift bed on the floor, and pulled the blankets over himself. Cabin camping was definitely better than outdoor camping, but it still sucked not being in his own bed in the Poseidon cabin.

Percy really wanted to sleep, but he didn't think he could with the traitor still awake. “You can play Mythomagic tomorrow.”

Nico didn't even look up from the cards. “I'm not tired.”

“That's what happens when you nap all day.” When Nico still ignored him, Percy rolled onto his side. “Whatever. Don't complain when I wake you up at sunrise.”

After several minutes of not being able to sleep, Percy rolled over again and glanced up at Nico, who seemed to sense his annoyance. He finally put the cards back in the box, tucked them into his jacket pocket, and laid down.

Nico struggled to get comfortable on the couch, adjusting and readjusting the pillow and blankets. The chain connected from his wrists to the radiator rattled with each movement. Percy was regretting his decision to sleep in the same room now.

He eventually drifted off to sleep.

◇◇◇

Percy woke to the sound of a voice. “Nico, you were supposed to be here.” Luke's voice.

He sat up on the mattress, pulling the blankets off and reaching for Riptide in his pocket.

Nico was sitting up on the couch, messy hair, blankets over him, and still chained to the radiator. Luke was an iris message mirage in front of Nico. Ashy blonde hair. Blue eyes. Silver scar down his face. Dark gray shirt.

“Where are you?” Luke continued. “Are you still in Colorado?”

“Uh…” Nico froze, making eye contact with Percy as he stood up with Riptide in hand.

“Nico.” Luke narrowed his eyes. “Where is Percy?” 

Percy unleashed his sword and walked up to the iris message. “Percy-” Luke said, just before he cut through the mirage with his blade. Nico flinched.

Percy turned to Nico. “Does Luke know where this cabin is?” He was still staring at the empty space where Luke was. “Nico!”

Nico nodded. Percy removed the chain to the radiator, stuffing it into his pocket, but left the cuffs on his wrists. 

“We need to move.” Percy put on his shoes, tucked Nico's sword into his belt, and grabbed the backpack. 

“What?” Nico stood up from the couch. “Why-?”

The window crashed open, glass flying, as a monster burst into the living room. A chimera with the body of a lion, long horns, scaly skin, and a scorpion tail.

“Get to the car!” Percy tossed the backpack at Nico.

Nico stared at the monster for a moment, before he turned and ran for the door. The chimera lunged.

“Hey!” Percy stepped forward and sliced its horn off. “I'm the one you want.” The creature roared in pain, stepped back and crashed against the wall. 

Percy glanced back. The front door was wide open and Nico was out of sight. Nico better get to the car and not run off and get killed. 

The chimera locked its bright eyes on Percy and spewed fire from its mouth. The demigod ducked and rolled towards the front door, barely avoiding the wall of flames that consumed the furniture. The heat was scorching even several feet away.

The chimera leapt over the flames, slashing its razor claws. Percy dodged to the side, slashing Riptide across its body. The chimera turned and slammed its reptilian tail against Percy's torso. Percy hit the front door, rolled down the steps of the front porch, and landed on his back on the snowy rocky ground. He groaned and held a hand to his ribs. The breath was knocked out of him.

He made eye contact with Nico who was in the driver's seat of the car, door wide open, frantically trying to find the key to start the car. Percy groaned. “Side pocket. Backpack.”

The chimera appeared in the cabin doorway, illuminated by the flames. It roared, the sound shaking the snow off of the trees. Percy struggled to his feet, but he was immediately knocked back down to the ground by the beast. It dug its claws into his right arm, pushing Riptide to the ground. He cried out in pain.

The chimera opened its jaws to maul his face, but it disintegrated into ash. Percy held Nico's stygian iron blade above him. He laughed breathily. Having two swords is not bad. 

He got to his feet, struggling with his injured arm. He stumbled to the car where Nico was trying to start the car with the key.

“You have to hit the brake first!” Percy sat in the driver's seat, throwing Nico's sword and Riptide on the dashboard. “Move.” Nico climbed into the passenger seat with the backpack. 

Percy stepped on the brake, turned the key, and started the car. He closed the door and put on his seat belt. “Buckle up.” 

Percy hit reverse, turning the car around in the driveway. He hit the gas, but the car slipped on the ice and snow in the driveway. “Shit. Shit. Shit.”

“Percy!” Nico shouted.

Percy looked out the window. Monsters appeared at the edge of the forest up the mountainside, all narrowing in on the car. Hellhounds. Furies. Cyclops.

“Shit!”

The ground started to shake. Percy thought it might be an avalanche, until cracks opened up in the earth and skeletons climbed out.

“What the-?”

The undead were dressed mostly in hiking gear or jeans or Native American clothing. They rushed towards the monsters, attacking with hiking poles, shotguns, knives, and bows and arrows. 

A hellhound leapt on a skeleton, tearing off its skull and reducing it to a pile of bones. The monster dove straight into the driver's side door window, denting the metal and cracking the glass. It snapped its teeth at the glass.

“Drive!” Nico shouted. “I can't hold them all!”

Percy floored the gas, but the car was still slipping in the ice and snow. He concentrated and the snow blasted off of the dirt road. The car finally lurched forward, running over a hellhound in their path.

A few monsters slipped past the undead warriors. A fury landed on the roof of the car, claws denting the metal and cracking the windshield. It leaned over the window, opened its maw of sharp fangs, and screeched.

“Fuck!” Percy swerved the car, side-swiping a tree on the edge of the driveway. 

The furies' claws pierced through the roof of the car as it held on tighter. Nico grabbed his stygian iron sword from the dashboard, and thrust the blade directly through the metal roof of the car. The monster screeched and the ashes scattered in the wind. 

Percy straightened out the car and glanced at the rear view mirror. There were a dozen monsters after them.

A cyclops stepped onto their path at the end of the long driveway. Percy gripped the steering wheel tight, and hit the gas.

“What are you doing?” Nico yelled.

Percy summoned a wave of snow that knocked the monster off of the driveway. Nico looked out the passenger side window and watched the snow and rocks cascade over the monster down the side of the mountain.

Percy swerved out of the driveway, onto the road, brushing against the guardrail at the edge of a cliff. He gripped the steering wheel hard.

“Are you trying to kill us?” Nico snapped, clutching the handle on the ceiling. 

“Shut up. You don't even know how to drive.” 

They raced down the twisting mountain roads. Percy didn't slow down until the monsters disappeared from the rear view mirror. He felt his adrenaline crash after a few minutes of driving.

◇◇◇

They finally reached the small town of Manitou Springs, nestled in the mountains.

Percy glanced over at Nico, who was looking out the window. “I forgot you can summon the dead.” The first time Nico summoned the dead was when Percy told him about Bianca and he ran away from camp.

“Yeah.” Nico muttered.

“Thank you…back there.”

Nico shrugged his shoulders.

They drove in silence for several minutes. Percy constantly checked the windows and mirrors for any sign of trouble. Nico was finally starting to relax in his seat.

Percy glanced over. “Did you know Luke was going to contact you?”

“No.” Nico's tone was annoyed.

“Did you say anything to him?”

“No.” Nico snapped, still glaring out the window. “I woke up right before you did.”

“Where were you supposed to meet Luke?”

“San Francisco.”

“Where in San Francisco? And don't say the Golden Gate Bridge.”

“Why would I tell you?” Nico finally looked at him.

“Because Luke is already sending monsters after you. Because I'll know where to find you if he takes you.”

“Luke sent those monsters after you.”

“He sent them after both of us. And you know it.” Percy cast him a look.

“If you didn't show yourself in the iris message, Luke wouldn't have done that. If you had just let me talk to him…”

“And said what? That you didn't betray him? That you're still on his side?”

“Yeah. Exactly.”

Percy sighed in exasperation. “Luke would still send monsters after you. You're a risk. That's all you are to him now.”

“Just because he did that to you.”

“Why do you defend him? You act like he actually cares about you.”

Nico pulled his feet up on the edge of the seat, cuffed hands in his lap. He stared out the window. “Luke was actually there for me when I was alone.”

Percy stared out the windshield for a long moment. “I looked for you for months. I'm sorry I didn't find you, but you ran away. You could have come back. You didn't have to be alone out there.”

“You know why I left.”

“Why didn't you come back? Why did you go with Luke of all people?” Percy glanced at Nico but he kept his attention on the road. He wished he wasn't driving during this conversation. 

“Luke saved me…from basilisks. He gave me a place to stay.”

“Knowing Luke, he probably sent those monsters after you in the first place.”

“Why can't you accept that Luke might be a good person?”

“Luke might have some good deep down, but he doesn't actually care about you, Nico. If he did, he wouldn't have sent you to capture me. He wouldn't have sent monsters after us.”

“The monsters didn't hurt me.”

“But they would have.”

Nico huffed. He put his feet on the dashboard and leaned back in his seat, looking out the window. “I wish I had let them get you. Then I wouldn't be stuck in this car with you.”

Percy tightened his hands around the steering wheel, eyes burning a hole in the road. It's not like I want to be stuck with you either.

“Then we'd both be dead… or worse.”