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“ what's got you in such a bad mood?” nico walked out of the bathroom and into percy's room without a warning. “ you know, besides the potential end of the world, and having to take a dip in the styx... actually now that I say that, that's a pretty solid reason to be in a bad mood. “
“ annabeth's at my throat again. ”
“ oh what is it this time?”
“ she's driving me crazy nico.” percy mumbled, laying on his back and setting a volleyball into the air and watching as it comes back to his hands, before repeating the process. “ i don't know what she's upset with me about this time. it's either me getting mad that she's defending luke, or that I have friends that aren't her.”
he's brooding, nico realizes with an urge to sigh, while he was waiting for him. cute. and a little sad. “ Okay first of all dude, you're allowed to have friends outside of her, don't let her dictate that. Second of all luke is helping the titan of time to take over the world, she can't get mad at you for not liking the guy.”
“ it's just,” Percy continues, “ i know that her and luke were friends way before i knew either of them, but how can she keep defending him? especially to me? he tried to kill me, more than once! and she has the gal to call me a coward!”
“ i can see how that'd be frustrating.” nico offered, hopping on percy's bed next to him.
nico looked over at percy's clock on his nightstand, they should be fine if he lets percy rant for a couple minutes before they get headed to the underworld.
“ i mean, i can sort of understand she likes him, she has a crush or whatever or maybe she's saying he's her brother now, either way i can't make myself care. every time i talk to her recently she brings him up and she just pisses me off.” percy caught the ball and held it in one hand so he could rub at his eyes. “ and rachel kissed me and then beck fuckin’ died while i watched and i can't deal with her and grieve at the same time. and it doesn't help that conner thinks she the spy.” Percy clicked his tongue, “ oh yeah if you didn't know i found out we have a spy in camp.”
“ and conner thinks it annabeth?”
“ yeah, and honestly with the way that she talks about luke, it wouldn't surprise me. she's been on every major quest but one with me, it would make sense.”
nico's brows raised, “ shit.”
percy scoffed, “ yeah you said it, man.”
nico let percy stew in his thoughts for a bit longer. “ well you know how I feel about annabeth, but that's not important right now, we gotta get going.”
Percy stood up. “ yeah,” he smirked self-deprecatingly. “ got a date with a river.”
“ also who’s rachel?”
Percy's face warmed at the mention of her name. “ she's a friend, she helped us with the labyrinth quest, she's clear-sighted so she could get us to the workshop. i’ve been hanging out with her a lot this summer, when i'm not on missions. it's nice to get away from the godly side of things, it lets me temporarily forget that the weight of the world is on my shoulders and i don't mean literally this time.”
nico grinned, “ a friend you like.” he stated.
“ yeah,” percy confessed. “ yeah i do.”
“ no wonder annabeth doesn't like her.” nico shook his head.
“ what?” percy asked confused his brows coming together.
nico couldn't stop the eye roll if he tried. “ annabeth likes you percy, of course, she doesn't like rachel, she's the competition.”
Percy came to a realization. “ when annabeth called me a coward, she wasn't talking about me not wanting to fight luke.” he murmured to himself with a scoff, talking out loud. “ she was talking about me not making a move on her after she kissed me.”
“ what hold up.” nico made a pause gesture with his hand by holding it up. “ annabeth has kissed you too?”
“ yeah i mean i was kind of in shock when she did it but it was nice i guess. i thought she was gonna hit me but she just kissed me instead.”
“ you haven't talked to her about that?” nico asked incredulously. You thought she was going to hit you? he thought, and you're still friends with her?
“ well, honestly, nico, I've been a little busy. i haven't really thought about it.” percy tossed the ball in his hand to a corner in his room. “ and in any case, this stuff isn't very important right now. mrs o'leary is still in the living room. we'll hitch a ride from her to get to the underworld entrance.”
“ but before we go, do you think your mom has cookies we could have?”
“ of course she does.” Percy smiled. “ she always feeds me before i'm about to die. besides, she also thinks you need to eat more. she won't say no to you.”
nico laughed. “ oh thanks percy.” he said sarcastically.
“ what? it's true.”
“ yeah, yeah, get out of my face.” Nico huffed playfully. “ i want a cookie. i deserve one after dealing with you.” he added with a teasing poke at percy's arm.
percy laughed and led the way to the kitchen, where the smell of freshly baked cookies greeted them. sally jackson looked up from her book, smiling warmly at the two boys. “ you boys about ready to head off?”
“ yeah mama.”
nico munched on the cookies, thoughts wandered. he didn't like annabeth. she always seemed to be too controlling, too judgmental of percy's choices. he could see the strain it was putting on percy, and it bothered him. percy deserved better, someone who supported him unconditionally. who wouldn’t make percy try so hard to please them.
“ these are amazing, mrs. jackson,” nico said with his mouth full.
sally laughed, “ i’m glad you like them, sweetheart.”
mrs. o'leary lounging in the living room, her tail thumping against the floor when she saw them. She was drooling all over the carpet. percy patted her head and scratched her belly. “ you're such a good girl.” he cooed. “ aren't you, my pretty girl?”
her tail wagged faster in response like she was agreeing, saying duh obviously.
“ yes you are.” percy climbed onto her back cooing the whole time, the way only someone with a pet can. “ my baby, the best girl.”
nico followed suit trying to hide his smile, by ducking his head.
“ allright nico lead the way.”