"It's okay."

Percy hung his head slightly. He wanted to weep, just hearing the soft voice of the boy he had never knew he needed. Nico's hand slid in his, their fingers brushing as a shy smile appeared on his lips.

He couldn't help but smile back; Nico had that effect on people. The green-eyed boy felt slightly out of place, but his brown eyes allured him back to reality, tugging on his heart until he was fully aware of their flushed skin pressed together. He hoped his palms weren't too sweaty, but just the thought of it made him sweat even more.

"Let's go, then." Nico whispered, making him shiver slightly. But somehow, the gently lighthearted mood was still in the night air as they made their way downstairs, their fingers not so intertwined anymore, but their hands still bumping as the two boys subconsciously leaned closer to each other.

Blush dusted over Percy's face, neck and collarbone as they arrived on the last step of the flight of stairs. He was curious yet terrified about how the night, or the following week would turn out in the end. His whole life too. He had it all in front of him but he couldn't imagine anything, really.

He just hoped his mother was going to be okay. That him and Nico were going to be okay. His heart folded over itself as he thought about the haunting future that could follow.

But Nico's fingers found their way to his again, and Percy was reminded that he wasn't alone. Not anymore. Not ever again.

They walked together in the dining room, which made Hades raise his eyebrows but thankfully he didn't comment. Percy had no idea how he would react to him dating his son. If they were dating. Were they? He honestly had no idea.

Their whole relationship was confusing as ever anyways. One feelingless kiss on a frivolous party night had led them to a too-affectionate-to-be-just-a-friendship, and then a second drunken one that Nico hadn't even remembered had dragged him into the mess of his life. And now, they would both realise they are only at the starting line.

"It's spaghetti night. I hope you don't mind, Percy. If there's anything that isn't on your diet, please let me know. I'll fix you something right up—" Nico's father said, a nervous demeanour appearing under his mask of indifference.

"No, it's okay. Thank you very much, sir." Percy interrupted, smiling a little. He couldn't even remember meals with his "family" without a tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. It was strange, but nice, to be as stress-free as he could muster to be as he sat down on the chair next to Nico on the large table, their hands breaking apart from each other.

Dread lingered in his stomach as he watched Hades di Angelo give him a plate, settling it in front of him as he moved to grab another for his own son. What was he supposed to do now? Did he need to wait for approval? Shame tinted his cheeks red as he bowed his head. They would probably think he was pathetic, doing this only out of pity...

He shook his head. He couldn't let his mind walk down that road right now. Not when everybody needed him to be strong. Not when he couldn't be weak anymore.

"It's okay, Percy. You can eat." 

It's okay. The green-eyed boy felt as if those words, pronounced by Nico, would never stop having the same effect on him. It would always make him feel at home. It would always fill him with a sense of clarity and reassurance, relieving him of burdens he didn't even realise he was carrying.

Percy had always been a wandering boy. A lost boy. His mind had always been elsewhere, drifting off at even the most inconvenient moments. He couldn't remember a time where he had stopped and decided this would be the end. Sure, sometimes it felt like the end. But a hand would stretch out to him, and he would grasp it tightly in the dark. It always brought him back on a never ending road. He simply didn't know how to stop. When to stop.

He knew he had to continue until things stopped getting worse, and actually became better for the best. He had to be there for his mom when his father died. He had to be there for her when Gabe had came. He had to be there for his team when there were swimming matches, despite the pain threading through his body. He had to be there for each council meeting, even if it meant receiving his stepfather's wrath when he came back late. He had to be there for his friends when they were in a tight spot. He always had to be there. He could never stop for himself.

But Nico... Nico had never needed him to be there. No, Percy had simply wanted to be there. For the first time in his life, Percy had strayed from the path he had built for himself long ago. He had strayed for the simple reason that he needed Nico to be there.

And Nico had been there. All the time. By his side. Unyielding.

That's when it hit him. He didn't need to continue trudging up the path, wandering, lost. He had found his safe haven. He had found his home. He had found Nico.

"Thank you, Nico."

Percy took up a fork tentatively, wondering what was going to happen next. He wanted nothing more than to thread his fingers in Nico's hands, in his hair, in his shirt. To be able to kiss those lips for no other reason than loving him. He wanted to be able to relax in Nico's embrace as he wrapped his arms around him. He wanted nothing else than him.

The three of them ate in a comfortable silence. When they all finished, Hades went to run some calls as Nico announced he would be doing the dishes. Not knowing what else to do, Percy sat on a chair, gazing at him while he did it.

He leaned back against it. "What do you think is going to happen now?" the green-eyed boy asked, repressing his shivers. He refused to admit it, but the anxiety had not left him since he had ran away from home. Water poured from the faucet, trickling down the dirty plates like tears.

A small sigh escaped Nico's lips. I want to kiss them, Percy thought.

"I don't know, Percy..." he confessed, continuing his work. "But I can promise you this; it's going to be alright." His brown, tender gaze met his. "I won't stop until you're alright. Until... we're alright."

Until we're alright.

Percy's lips quirked up in the corners. Nico looked slightly hesitant, but Percy was more than glad that he wasn't the only one who still held some hope for the both of them. 

He wondered, if he were to ask for a kiss, what would happen? If he stood up and glided over to him in a smooth stride to tilt up his face, pressing his lips against his own, what would happen?

"I—" he started, but was abruptly stopped when the doorbell rang. It's the police, he realised.

And by the look on Nico's face, he wasn't the only one. 

The brown-eyed boy turned off the tap as he reached out to clean his hands dry on a nearby towel. "They're here." he said. Percy didn't even have to ask who as he approached him, Nico's shoulder brushing over his arm.

At the contact, the brown-eyed boy tangled their fingers together and gave his hand a squeeze as they approached the front door, where Hades already was standing. A rush of gratitude flowed through Percy as they stood silently as three policemen stood on their doorstep. He held his breath as he glanced over their shoulders and saw the red and blue lights flashing on top of the cars parked on the road. How hadn't he heard the sirens? Were they nothing against the sound of water pouring in the sink?

"Hades di Angelo, correct? May we see Percy Jackson?" a brown-haired woman asked, her amber eyes glowing red in the night light. Percy thought he should be afraid of that gaze, but it only radiated a cozy feeling, like fire crackling. It still unnerved him though, hearing a stranger saying his name. He flinched slightly. "Yes—"

But he was surprised when Nico interrupted his own father by stepping in between them, his hand still intertwined with his. Blood flooded his face, but the brown-eyed boy's was set in stone, hard determination painted over all his features. "If you want to talk to him, you'll have to take me with you, too."

Marry me, Percy thought.

The two men behind the policewoman looked slightly taken aback, a slightly bemused expression passing over their faces. But the brunette didn't look shaken. Instead, a kind smile appeared on her full lips. "Of course." she said, gesturing with her hand for them to follow her. "You should come too, sir." she added to Nico's father.

In the quiet night, the two trudged down the path connecting the sidewalk to the di Angelo household. Once they arrived near the fence, the woman took out a sort of pad and turned it on, the white light illuminating her lovely, in an unpretentious way, face. She seemed to be reading.

Nico's grip tightened on his hand, but he looked unaware of his actions. Percy didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Percy Jackson... my name is Hestia. Are you okay with talking to us about what happened? About how it made you feel? If you will, may we also take a look at some of the damage?" asked Hestia. Being so close to her, Percy realised she smelled a little like roasted marshmallows, and her face was timeless. He couldn't guess if she was sixteen or thirty.

Nico turned to him, a reassuring smile that seemed to make everything okay. It's okay, it said. 

It's okay, he repeated to himself, telling himself the words Nico had told him earlier this evening.

"You can do this," the brown-eyed boy whispered. I can, if I try.

"...I-I think." he replied, a little nervously.

"Great," Hestia said, her fire-like eyes seeming to burn bright in the darkness of the night. 

And it was that light— combined with the comforting touch of Nico's skin on his, that made him continue. The story he had told him when they were both sitting on the floor of his room... that seemed so long ago now. He had thought it was hard. But this was harder.

Nevertheless, once we started, he couldn't stop. Before he knew it, he was hiccuping through his words, tears running down his face. But Nico, Hestia and Hades were all still there. All their expressions shared some of the same emotions; sadness and awe.

He didn't want their pity, he thought. But there was Nico, murmuring soft words of encouragement under his breath, his eyes still unwavering over Percy. Nico, who could build his hopes up like a tower. Nico, the only face he could connect to his heart. 

Nico, Nico, Nico.

I love you.

Nico, the one who held him and held on throughout the whole night, his brown gaze full of affection as he responded to all the questions asked, and helped him through it. Nico, who had been delicate as he lifted his shirt up, his fingers feeling like kisses on his skin. Showing them him scars, his injuries, all of them that dug deep into his soul and showed all his weaknesses hid inside.

He had once been ashamed of them. But all he felt was gratitude when it was done. He wasn't embarrassed of himself anymore. No, Nico had taught him how to.

"Percy, there is nothing ugly about you. You're not weak. You're not a coward. These scars... they make you a survivor. These are battle scars. They make you brave."

"You're so brave, Percy." Hestia said. Percy only felt thankful when she didn't reach out to touch him. Perhaps she understood him. He merely nodded as Nico loosened his grasp, his teary eyes seeming to smile at him.

His wet face seemed to shine silver in the moonlight. They both basked in it as they made their way back into the house, Nico waving with his free hand at his father, who was being carried away in one of the police cars to dig deeper into the whole thing. A year ago, Percy would have never thought this day would have came. But when Nico came across his path, somehow he knew more was coming his way.

"Let's go home, Percy." Nico said, stepping up on the porch as a breeze blowed his dark hair out of his beautiful eyes.

Let's go home.

You are my home, Nico.

✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.☆.*｡･ﾟ✫*.･:*

okay i'm very sorry for the very late chapter!! for some reason the only inspiration i get is at night?? and i went on a three-day-trip out of town?? so yeah!! i apologise!!
plus all you guys got was a short 2000-words chapter so i'm sorry for that too!!
as you can all see, i have no idea how the police system works. i have no idea, and tried to do research, but could only find the penalties. i apologise from the bottom of my heart if i did it wrong, and offended one of you. I will change it asap if i get information. 

anyways, this is actually my last percico fanfic, so i'm trying to do better on this book!
hope you guys are okay!

- deniiial