THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - PERCY/NICO AU HIGH SCHOOL - CHAPTER XXIII

It’s a secret recipe 🤫

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - PERCY/NICO AU HIGH SCHOOL - CHAPTER IX - Parte III

This is the last part, I promise! Sorry for the mistake.

"Nico”

"Hm.”

"It's time to wake up.”

Nico grumbled and snuggled further under the covers. He was so tired that he felt like he would need a whole week to recover. 

He moved again, about to put the blanket over his head when he felt strong arms surround his waist, but what made him open his eyes was the kiss on his neck, on that little spot near the nape of his neck that was now making him react more intensely than he thought he should. It was all Percy's fault,  his fault for the way Percy had touched him the night before and all those words.

Gods! What had he done? Had Nico really said all that things to Percy? Nico couldn't believe it! He sat up and looked around. He was still in his room, and Percy? Well, the idiot was stillnext to him, leaning against the headboard and with such a satisfied smile on his face that it made him wonder: Had he said something he couldn't remember in the night before?

"So, do you like being spanked?”

"Percy!”

"I thought I was the only one you allowed to fu-"

"Don't you dare!" Okay, Nico admitted that he was panicking. 

"I wonder where is the boy who wanted to take things slow, hmm?”

In another leap, Nico threw himself on top of Percy and covered his mouth with his hands.

"I take back everything I said. All of it!”

Percy licked his hand and kept smiling at him until Nico gave up and let Percy speak:

"It's a shame. We could’ve had so much fun…”

"I… I don't know." Nico had to look away, maybe he didn't want to take anything back, no matter how humiliating it was.

"Baby. Come here.”

Nico went, of course. 

Percy grabbed him around the waist and made him lie down on his chest, one of Percy's hands immediately going to his hair. Nico didn't understand why that gesture calmed him down so much, or why this feeling of tenderness made him want to tell Percy everything he hadn't said the night before. It's just that... he felt conditioned to never to lie to Percy, and he had already said so much… Nico wished he had a time machine to make sure none of it had happened, because only then he would be sure that nothing between them would ever change.

"I'm so sorry.”

"Nico.”

"I shouldn't have left. But when you told me to meet other people, I thought... I thought we would never have a chance. So why wait for something that's never going to happen?”

"It's all right. It's my fault.”

"I don't care who's fault it is. I want you to say that you forgive me and that this won't affect things in the future.”

"I forgive you and that won't change anything.”

Nico knew that Percy was only saying this because he had asked, but even so, the knot in his stomach seemed to loosen a little bit.

"Promise?”

"I promise.”

Nico pulled away enough so he could look into Percy's face and touched him there gently, caressing the sides of his neck.

"You know I love you, don't you? For real?" Nico forced himself to say, seeing a small smile appear on Percy's lips.

"Why those words now?

"I realized... I thought I liked you because you were my first friend. But when I was in Italy, it felt like something was missing. I tried to find it in other people, you know?”

"What were you looking for?" That's when Percy touched his shoulder, trying to comfort him.

Ahg, he couldn't look at Percy when Percy acted so kind.

"I don't know!" It was a lie, of course. And Percy knew it. “It's hard to express how much you mean to me. So when I don't tell you things, it's because I can't, not because I don't want to.

"I know that. But I need you to tell me anyway. I need you to give me permission." Then, Percy touched the back of his neck, pulling his head up to face him. And yet, when Nico refused and kept his eyes closed, Percy insisted: "Beautiful. Look at me.”

Nico did it, he did it because it was impossible to resist when Percy spoke to him in that firm, and at the same time, reassuring tone.

"I understand. You don't have to force yourself.” 

"I'm sorry.”

"No, Nico. It's not your fault.”

"I don't want to make you worry.

Because that was the truth. He'd always liked to go through life quietly and unnoticed, except that Percy had taken note of him and hadn't let him go ever since. No matter how much time passed, he would never get used to the attention Percy gave him and even after a decade, it still was strange, it was like  he was in a dream and at any moment Nico would wake up, realizing that Percy had been his imagination playing tricks on him.

"This won't happen again.”

"What are you talking about?" Nico asked, not understanding.

" I won't force you. Just… just tell me if you need to. Anything.

"Anything?”

"Of course.”

"Then, tell me you love me.”

"I love you.”

"Again”.

"I love you.”

"Again.”

"Nico." Percy smiled and kissed Nico, interrupting him. "What's going on? It’s about last night?”

"It's nothing.”

"I promise I won't do that again.”

"That...?”

"I'm not going to be... so intense or... you know.”

Why did Nico felt his face getting hot? And since that was the case...

"Why not?”

This was the moment Nico feared the most. Percy remained silent and stared at him for long seconds, giving him no choice but to stare back. He dreaded these silences so much because this was the moment when he couldn't lie, and if he couldn't speak, then he'd have no way of diverting the attention away from the truth. 

Yes, that was the reality, no matter how much he tried to hide it, Percy would always know everything in the end.

"Is this all because of shame? It’s the humiliation too much for you? Or is it because you like the feeling?

Nico didn't know how Percy managed to say all this in such a serious and composed way. Well, Percy was more right than he thought. However, when Nico got nervous, these feelings only came out in two ways: tears of anxiety or laughter. So imagine the scene where he started laughing out of nowhere while Percy remained serious and stern.

"Do you think I'm a joke?" Percy said and puffed out his chest, pretending to be offended.

"I would never think that.”

"I love you." Percy said, then hugged him tightly and stroked his back. “No matter what this thing is between us, we'll get through it together.”

That's what Nico expected. 

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I hope it's not too confusing. If it is, please warn this poor writer who sometimes can't see certain things. I wanted to end the week by suggesting a blog post from tumblr +18, but in this specific post there's nothing explicit. It's the idea I used for Nico's thoughts. Here, it might be interesting.

See you next week!

THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME - PERCY/NICO AU HIGH SCHOOL - CHAPTER IX - Parte II

Hello, how are you? I noticed that there was a part missing from the previous chapter. I've already put it in the full chapter, but it will also be here for those who have read the chapter before. It's a flashback to when Percy and Nico first met.

Happy reading!

Previous chapters: CHAPTER I / CHAPTER II / CHAPTER III / CHAPTER IV / CHAPTER V / CHAPTER VI / CHAPTER VII / CHAPTER VIII

Extra  - Getting to know each other

Another scene from the past, when Percy and Nico first met.

Percy looked around, making sure no one was following him, and left the empty classroom. Ever since his family's restaurant had become five"star, the stalking had begun. People who had never spoken to him now wanted to be his friend, his best friends started treating him like royalty. No matter where he went, everyone knew his name, trying to get a reservation on behalf of other adults. He had learned very quickly how to avoid these people who were now almost everyone he knew. And you know what was worse? These people weren't interested in his mother's food, they were interested in who frequented the restaurant. It was so unfair! Even to go to the bathroom the crowds followed him without giving him a minute's peace. Tyson was so lucky! He’d already finished high school and was about to graduate from college. Percy had no choice but to deal with the gossip and greedy, self"centered people.

Looking once again at the empty corridor, he put his cell phone back in his pocket and went into the bathroom.

Ah, finally. Silence. Just him and the urinal. He unzipped his pants and...he heard a moan. Right next to him. Percy turned his face and there were three boys in a circle. He saw that one of them was unzipping his pants and the others were already without them.

Well, that was none of his business.

"No, please. I… I…"

"You what? Are you going to tell your little sister? Your Dad?"

"Please!"

Percy sighed and walked towards them. His mother hadn't raised him to watch someone being abused.

He stopped behind them, in front of the mirror, and saw what was happening. A boy with the softest, most feminine features he had ever seen was trying to cover his face and was cowering against the wall, he was so small that reacting against those boys would have been stupid. The problem was that he was so distracted by the boy's beauty that Percy ended up missing when one of the boys grabbed his own member and pointed it towards the boy on the floor.

"What are you doing?" Percy finally said. The boys were startled and jumped away, covering themselves as best as they could.

"We... hey, aren't you that rich kid?"

Just what he needed.

"I said, what are you doing?"

"It's not what it seems."

"Oh, is not? How do you explain that?"

The three boys and Percy looked at the little boy on the ground, who was hiding his face and crying pitifully.

"You know what? I don't want to know. If I catch you doing it again…"

"You have no proof!"

"Are you sure?"

The boys looked at each other and after a few moments, ran off. And Percy Finally could do what he needed to do and leave.

That is, if the little boy hadn't lifted his face and looked at him with those deep black eyes, swollen and shining from crying. Slightly curly black waves of hair and the most beautiful red lips he had ever seen. Percy admitted that he had frozen, enjoying the sight. He, who had never been interested in anyone in his eleven years of life, found himself enchanted. And even when the little boy bit his lips and looked at him, still lying on the bathroom floor, Percy couldn't stop staring.

"You didn't have to." The little boy mumbled, shrinking further against the wall near the sink.

"I... was the right thing to do." That was the truth, it was the right thing to do, but what wasn't right was to admire the beautiful little boy, especially in a situation like that. He felt like a monster. "What's your name?"

"Nico. Niccolas."

Hmm... Italian. They say it's the language of love.

"Percy Jackson."

"Oh." Nico said, looking him up and down, his high cheeks getting hotter. "You're not going to do what those boys wanted to do... are you?”

"What they wanted to do?”

Nico looked down and Percy followed his gaze.

Oh, actually, his zipper was still open, but now there was a certain... volume there.

"I'm nothing like those boys.”

"Aren't you?" Nico still looked doubtful, even though he himself had a bulge in his pants. A much smaller one that Percy seemed to be analyzing more closely than he should.

"I'm not." Percy turned around, trying to convince himself, and walked to the urinal again.

He pulled down his underwear and tried to concentrate. No one had warned him that it would be so difficult to relieve himself with an erection on the way. Percy took a deep breath, relaxing, and finally succeeded. When he returned to the sink, intending to wash his hand, he saw that the little boy was still on the floor, watching him get close.

Nico had been watching him... go to the bathroom? Since the area was wide open, it was impossible not to see.

"Do you need help?" He said as he washed his hands, staring at their reflections in the mirror. Nico looked scared and embarrassed, while he himself was serious and almost absent, showing no emotion.

"No! I mean, I'm fine. Thank you very much.”

"All right, then.”

Percy dried his hand and turned towards the exit. He had offered to help, hadn't he? From then on, it wasn't his responsibility what happened to Nico.

***

Percy had never realized how big that school was. Two indoor and two outdoor courts, fifty classrooms, ten laboratories. Swimming pools, jogging trails and even a forest with a variety of plantations. It was a good place for anyone looking for a well-rounded education, but also for anyone looking for a place to hide. Luckily, Percy had found just the perfect place; deserted and quiet, right in front of one of the open courts. Best of all, the view from the stands was very limited, preventing people from finding him easily.

He walked calmly through the school corridors and arrived at his favorite spot, determined to make a few baskets on the court and eat something quick before the next class. Percy intended to join the team and didn't want it to be out of sheer favoritism. That is, he was just about to enter the court when he saw a black head of hair on the far side of the bleachers. Now, he needed to know who it was, and only then would Percy know if it was still a safe place or not.

Percy hurried over and saw that it was the same little boy as last time. He had a cut in his lip and the right side of his face was purple. Percy had the impulse to ask who had done this to him, but remembered it was none of his business. Especially since Nico seemed to be fine, apart from his bruised face, and seeing that Nico was eating a small feast. Percy could see at least four different kinds of dishes, all arranged in little bowls, the sight warming his heart for some reason. It must have been the way Nico cowered, trying to hide from him, but he still stared at him, smiling.

Percy watched Nico pick up one of the lunchboxes and, as shyly as possible, offer it to him, saying: "Do you want some?”

Percy found himself walking the rest of the distance to Nico, abandoning his backpack and basketball at the foot of the bleachers, and sat down in front of Nico.

"I brought it too. My mother is a cook.”

"Ah." Nico muttered and shrugged, picking up his fork. "I always make a lot. See?”

Nico then opened the other two lunchboxes and showed them to him. Vegetable pie with cheese. Meatballs. Calabrian bread. Cake, too.

"Do you? And your mother?”

"I don't have one. She's dead.”

That's when Percy realized what he was doing. Like a weirdo, he watched Nico eat as if it were the most wonderful thing in the world while the boy ate alone, having to make his own food.

"Your father? You must have one, right?”

Nico denied it and stuffed another piece of pie into his mouth, ignoring all the other dishes. "Dad's always traveling.”

"So...?”

"I learned from Mama before she died. Her food was the best!" But Nico said it so happily that Percy felt better.

"Who looks after you?”

"I have a nanny. My sister, too! She's the best sister in the world." Nico continued eating happily and Percy felt something in his eyes. What was going on? This boy couldn't be so naive, could he? So... happy? How old was he? Nine? Ten? He must be younger than himself.

"You really don't want to? I did it all by myself!”

"Everything? Did you even reach the stove?”

"Yes, I did! The nanny just turned on the stove. I have a ladder near the table and…”

"Yeah?”

"You're very mean. I don't want to talk to you anymore!”

Percy couldn't stand it, he put his hand around his belly and laughed. It had been a long time since he had seen something so cute and funny. Nico's chubby cheeks inflating like a balloon, his arms crossed, his lips in an even cuter pout.

"How old are you, eh?”

"I’m eleven! What's the problem?”

"You're so short and small. Who's feeding you?”

And again, Percy couldn't take it. Laughing at his own joke, he let himself fall backwards onto the bleachers, laughing and laughing until his breath died away and then came back, a happy smile remaining on his lips long after his crisis had passed.

"Are you okay?” Nico asked in a small, soft voice, making his heart melt.

Percy opened his eyes to see that Nico had approached where he was laing, sitting on his knees, all worried, his black eyes wide and cheeks flushed.

"So…" Percy said, trying to stop smiling. "We're in the same year. Why haven't I see you around?

"I saw you.” Nico said and lowered his eyes to his lap. "It's hard not to when people only talk about you.”

"What they say?”

"You get the best grades. You're the best at sports. You have the best girlfriend. That sort of thing.”

"Who is that girlfriend?”

"I think… Annabeth Chase? I'm not sure. I arrived a few weeks ago.”

"That's good to know.”

"Know what?”

"That I have a girlfriend.”

"You… don't know?" Nico tilted his head like a confused puppy and that got another laugh out of him. This time, Nico laughed along. He seemed to be holding back his laughter, but when Percy didn't stop, Nico found himself with no escape, joining in.

"You're funny.” Nico told him.

"No, you are.”

And like third-graders, which they both were, they laughed again as they heard the bell ring. Percy hadn't even realized that half an hour had passed, which was more time than he usually spent with his old friends. And what that said about him, hm?

"We have to go." He heard Nico say.

They really did.

In a hurry, he helped Nico collect the lunch boxes and accompanied him to his next class, discovering that Nico was in fact in the same class as him. Was Percy so distracted by trying to hide that he couldn't see what was going on around him? Well, that would change from that moment on.

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Thanks for reading!

NÃO HÁ LUGAR COMO O LAR - PERCY/NICO AU COLEGIAL - CAPÍTULO XV

Oii, como vai? Consegui escrever mais um capítulo. Mas devo admitir que o calor está fritando meu cerebro. O importante é que saiu algo, agora se é bom vocês que me digam. Não é meu melhor texto, mas eu tentei. Boa leitura! E claro, as cenas smutt vão permanecer como decidido por votação, entretanto vou avisar sempre que tiver capítulos assim.

Avisos: +18

Capítulos anteriores: CAPÍTULO I / CAPÍTULO II / CAPÍTULO III / CAPÍTULO IV / CAPÍTULO V / CAPÍTULO VI / CAPÍTULO VII / CAPÍTULO VIII / CAPÍTULO IX / CAPÍTULO X / CAPÍTULO XI / CAPÍTULO XII / CAPÍTULO XIII / CAPÍTULO XIV

Nico não sabia o que estava acontecendo com ele. Quer dizer, ele sabia, sim. A questão era o porquê.

— Bebê. — Percy murmurou em seu ouvido, fincando os dedos em seus cabelos por um breve momento que quase o fez gozar. Mas logo as mãos de Percy viajaram para seus ombros, descendo até segurar em sua cintura, parando ambos seus movimentos. — Eles vão ouvir.

Ele fechou a boca e tentou sufocar o próximo gemido, mas não conseguiu se parar, rebolando no colo de Percy e se curvando todo, e era isso o que ele não entendia. Nico nunca tinha transado com ninguém dessa forma e de repente, era tudo o que ele conseguia pensar. Como isso podia estar acontecendo com ele? O pior era que Percy estava sendo um perfeito cavalheiro. Ou foi o caso até Nico acordar na manhã seguinte. Ele tinha ido no banheiro e quando tinha voltado, Percy ainda estava ali, todo esticado na cama, sem nada o cobrindo… quando foi que Percy tinha ficado tão alto ou arranjado aqueles músculos? E aqueles braços? Nico não conseguiu evitar, voltou para a cama e… bem, Nico gostaria de dizer que apenas tinha o observado dormir.

Mesmo se sentindo sensível da noite anterior e com dor de cabeça da ressaca, ele engatinhou pela cama e se sentou na cintura de Percy, tentando ser cuidadoso. Isso era tão errado, a conversa sobre consentimento voltando com tudo. Mas, talvez se ele o acordasse de uma forma interessante, Percy não ficaria bravo com ele. Então Nico fez o que queria ter feito há muito tempo, colocou as mãos sobre o abdômen de Percy e as escorregou para cima, dedilhando os gominhos e voltando para baixo, sentindo os pelos se arrepiarem contra seus dedos. O que ele teria que fazer para Percy acordar? Talvez se ele… Nico se curvou sobre Percy e chegou ao rosto bronzeado de sol e quadrado, sentindo a barba que começava a crescer, vendo o sorriso nos largos lábios de Percy.

— Per? — E quando mesmo assim, Percy se negou a abrir os olhos, Nico continuou com sua exploração. Massageou o peito largo e roçou com a ponta dos dedos os mamilos eriçados.

Parece que ele teria que fazer tudo sozinho no fim, o que estava tudo bem, isso apenas lhe dava coragem para continuar. 

Como quem não quer nada, Nico deslizou sua bunda para baixo e encontrou um volume que não estava lá cinco minutos atrás. Será que ele devia? Nico sabia que iria doer um pouco, mas ele não queria procurar o lubrificante. Não poderia doer tanto assim, certo? Testando as águas, Nico se sentou mais uma vez no colo de Percy, levou a mão para trás dele e encontrou o membro de Percy completamente ereto. Talvez ele fosse um masoquista, era a única explicação para o gemido que soltou quando se forçou contra a resistência e a cabeça passou pela entrada apertada, deslizando com muito mais facilidade que ele esperava. Deuses! A pontinha estava tão molhada que ele acabou indo ao final mais rápido do que esperava. Nico achava que tinha gritado, achava que tinha apertado o membro de Percy dentro dele com todas as forças que tinha. Como isso poderia se traduzir como prazer para seus nervos, como?!

— Você vai se machucar. — Ele ouviu ao fundo Percy dizer e sentiu mãos apertarem com força suas pernas. Era difícil se concentrar em qualquer coisa que não fosse o membro o esticando e os tremores de prazer e dor que atingiam seus sentidos. Mas… mas tudo ficaria bem, porque alguns momentos depois Nico sentiu mãos quentes em acariciarem suas costas, o membro sair para fora dele e então dedos molhados estavam massageando dentro dele para o membro de Percy voltar a penetrá-lo, fundo e gostoso, alcançando aquele lugar que até noite passada Nico não sabia existir.

— O que foi, hm? Por que meu bebê está chorando? Onde doí?

Ele negou, balançando a cabeça, e se deixou levar. Colocou os braços ao redor do pescoço de Percy e relaxou, o que deixou tudo melhor. Mas Percy ainda estava parado, respirando rápido contra seu pescoço e o segurando forte pela cintura. 

— Per… eu preciso.

— Não está doendo? Da noite passada?

Nico negou mais uma vez, se acomodando melhor no colo de Percy, fazendo o membro dentro dele acertar os melhores lugares apenas com esse movimento acidental.

— Por favor… eu quero que você… quero que você… ah!

— Assim? — Percy perguntou e demonstrou mais uma vez. Levantou Nico pela cintura e o fez descer mais uma vez, o encontrando no meio do caminho com um movimento certeiro.

— Bebê, eles vão ouvir.

— Percy!

Ele achava que realmente estava gritando agora. Doía! Doía tanto e mesmo assim não conseguia parar, sentindo cada um de seus músculos se desfazerem a cada vez que os quadris de Percy se encontravam com os dele.

— Você tem que se responsabilizar por seus atos, bebê. — Percy sussurrou em seu ouvido. Aquilo era demais para ele.

Choramingando, sem saber o que seu corpo queria, Nico empurrou Percy pelo ombro e rastejou para fora do colo de Percy, gemendo e soluçando, suas pernas falhando no meio do caminho o fazendo cair de cara nos travesseiros. Nico não entendia o que acontecia com si próprio, ele só… só… iria explodir a qualquer momento se o mundo não voltasse a fazer sentido. Como dor poderia se misturar tão ao prazer a ponto de o fazer delirar? Porque o olhar no rosto de Percy só poderia ser uma ilusão que sua mente estava criando. Parecia tão… como se ele fosse a caça e Percy o predador.

— Onde você vai?

— Eu… eu não sei!

— Bebê.

Um calafrio subiu por sua coluna e fez suas pernas tremerem. Tinha algo na voz de Percy que o fez congelar no lugar onde Nico tinha caído. O que estava acontecendo com eles? Ele não conseguia olhar para Percy, como medo ver o que iria encontrar lá, e queria fugir, mas… mas Nico não queria se mover e talvez descobrir o que tanto o assustava. Entretanto, ele estava se movendo da mesma forma, se arrastando pela cama enorme em direção… ele não sabia, qualquer lugar estava bom. Então, porque parou na beirada da cama, ainda tremendo e… e sentindo uma antecipação que ele não sabia de onde vinha? A porta estava bem a sua frente, tanto a do banheiro ou a da saída. Se ele se sentia tão encurralado, por que não estava indo em direção a eles?

Nico gemeu, surpreso, quando a mão de Percy tocou no meio de suas costas, e suavemente deslizou para cima e para baixo num dos gestos mais confortantes que Nico já tinha experimentado.

— Você quer brincar? — Percy perguntou em seguida, ainda sem se aproximar. — Ou quer dormir mais um pouco? Ainda está cedo.

— Eu… — Nico se curvou contra si mesmo e escondeu o rosto no travesseiro. 

Ele não entendia o que acontecia com ele. Nada fazia sentido. Ele não queria estar sentindo essas coisas e não queria ser desse tipo de pessoa. Quer dizer, alguns dias atrás ele estava bem com o que estava acontecendo. Então, qual era o problema?

— Você pode me dizer.

— Eu quero gozar. — Nico admitiu, seu rosto afundado contra o travesseiro.

— Então, olha para mim. Sim?

Nico negou, se encolhendo ainda mais.

A cama ao redor dele balançou e então Percy estava ao lado dele, mãos quentes estavam de volta em sua coluna junto a lábios que deslizaram por toda a extensão, até chegar a curva de suas nádegas, as mordiscando.

— Você está pronto para conversar? — Percy murmurou contra sua pele.

Quando Nico negou mais uma vez, os lábios de Percy desceram mais um pouco e encontraram sua entrada, beijando a área suavemente. — Nunca mais faça isso. Não quero te ver machucado.

Nico não teve outra reação além de estremer e gemer contra os travesseiros, se sentindo derreter quando a língua de Percy acalçou um lugar mais profundo.

— Quer que eu toque seu membro?

Nico negou. Tudo o que ele fazia era negar. O que estava acontecendo!

— Quer que eu pare?

Então, negou mais uma vez, se surpreendendo.

— Bebê. — Percy disse na voz mais afável que ele já tinha ouvido e isso o fez se sentir estranhamente… contente, satisfeito até.

— Eu quero você… dentro de mim.

— É mesmo? — Agora Percy soou quase condescendente, irônico até. O que fazia sentido. Eles estavam fazendo exatamente isso até que Nico teve um ataque de panico.

— Me diga se for muito.

Tudo o que Nico conseguiu fazer foi arfar, ficando sem ar devido ao movimento repentino. O colchão se afundou ligeiramente atrás dele e Percy se encaixou sob suas costas. Mãos rodeiam sua cintura, o puxando para mais perto e dedos se fincaram em seu cabelo, estranhamento o forçando inspirar profundamente. O engraçado é que Percy nem empregava muita força, sua cabeça girando, tentando criar explicações porque esse momento parecia tão diferente dos outros. O que o fazia se sentir tão angustiado e tão excitado ao mesmo tempo? No momento, não importava. Nico sentiu a cabeça do membro de Percy contra sua entrada mais uma vez e então tudo sua visto ficou embaçada, sua cabeça esvaziando por alguns instantes. Era difícil descrever. Nico não sabia se era o agarre de Percy que ficava cada vez mais forte em sua pele, se era Percy arfando contra seu ouvido ou se era a forma decidida e com vigor que Percy o fodia, devagar, mas com proposito em cada estocada certeira, curta e bem colocada.

Talvez ele só quisesse que Percy o mantesse sob controle e lhe dissesse o que fazer em seguida. Será que ele seria obrigado a falar sobre isso também? Antes que isso pudesse acontecer, Nico preferia fugir e nunca mais voltar. Ou ele teria feito isso se Nico não tivesse sentindo as mãos de Percy o prenderem contra seu peito largo, o impedindo se mover muito.

— Está tudo bem. Comigo, certo? — Percy o manteve preso entre seus braços e diminuiu a velocidade de seus movimentos, mas era tarde demais. Algo no modo como Percy o continha finalmente fez Nico se deixar levar. Nico permitiu que Percy continuasse a segurá-lo e estremeceu pelos próximos minutos, relaxando contra o peito de Percy, sentindo Percy ir junto com ele. 

— Tudo bem? — Percy disse depois de alguns momentos quando nenhum dos dois fez nada para se mover.

— Não tenho certeza. — Essa era a coisa mais sincera que tinha saído de seus lábios desde que tinha acordado.

***

— Não tenho certeza. — Nico disse, ainda afundado contra o peito de Percy, finalmente se sentindo seguro e em paz.

Ele se sentia tão estranho que Nico nunca teria palavras para expressar. O que tinha mudado em cinco minutos que o fazia se sentir tão bem agora?

— Tudo está bem. Você foi ótimo. — Percy ainda tinha uma das mãos fincadas em seus cabelos e a outra em sua cintura, que nesse momento massageava sua barriga e baixo ventre, suavemente o ninando.

— O que está acontecendo? Eu não… não queria fugir.

— Sei que não.

— Eu só… 

— Está tudo bem se você se deixar sentir.

— Me deixar sentir?

— Eu aprendi que às vezes nossas mentes vão para lugares estranhos. Como se nosso corpo quisesse uma coisa e nossa mente outra. Então, tudo bem sentir, seja o que for.

— Desde quando você sabe tanto sobre isso?

— Eu… busquei ajuda.

— Psicológica?

Percy acenou que sim contra suas costas e Nico teve que se virar, para ver com os próprios olhos, mas Percy não o encarava; ele olhava para fora da janela.

— Quando você foi embora, percebi que não era comum sofrer tanto por alguém a ponto de querer me matar.

 — Percy! Eu nunca quis que isso acontecesse! Por que você não me disse?

— Você não é responsável por meus atos e eu não sou responsável pelos seus. Ou pelo menos, não era o caso naquela época. 

Então, Percy deu um sorrisinho sacana e Nico revirou os olhos. Parece que eles tinham muito a conversar. 

— A questão é que eu não podia te pedir para voltar e não era justo deixar que a depressão me afundasse. Eu fiz o que Sally pediu. — Percy deu de ombros. — Fui no médico. E mesmo com ajuda, eu ainda sentia sua falta. Não tive escolha senão te ver se divertindo e amadurecendo sem mim.

— Eu… nunca foi algo definitivo. — Nico murmurou, se sentindo um monstro. — Devia ser alguns meses, depois um ano. Eu não tive coragem de te encarar.

— O que te fez mudar de ideia?

— Uma foto. Annabeth e você sentados na sua cama.

Nico observou como em câmera lenta, o olhar de tristeza se transformar em divertimento e felicidade, Percy o abraçando com mais força.

— Ah, se ela soubesse.

— Soubesse o quê?

— Annabeth fez aquilo de proposito, pensando que iria te atingir. Acho que ela conseguiu, não foi?

— Percy! — Agora Percy estava rindo de verdade, se jogando para trás na cama e o levando junto, o prendendo em um agarre de urso.

— Me solta!

— Não, agora é serio. Você quer conversar sobre o que aconteceu?

— Acho que não.

— Não vai nem me dar uma pista? Um ponteiro? Nadinha?

Nico até poderia imaginar o pesadelo. Se Percy soubesse o que Nico realmente queria… seria a seu fim.

— Tudo bem. Já entendi.

Percy se espreguiçou e colocou Nico contra os travesseiros. Antes de levantar, ele beijou Nico e sorriu para ele, dando a volta na cama. Abriu uma gaveta em seu lado da cama e tirou de lá um diário com capa azul, parecido com o que ele tinha dado a Nico.

— Acho que vou escrever depois de tomar um banho. É relaxante, você não acha? — Percy colocou o diário do seu lado da cama e beijou Nico mais uma vez, indo para o banheiro dentro da suíte e fechando a porta.

Nico escutou o barulho de água cair no chão e se sentiu a pessoa mais idiota do mundo. Seu próprio diário estava bem a seu lado na cômoda e tudo o que ele menos queria era escrever sobre seus sentimentos. Ele se sentia forçado e manipulado a fazer algo que não queria, afinal, era o justo; Percy tinha contado a ele algo profundo e pessoal, o que o deixava na posição de contar alto tão pessoal quanto. No fim, não era o que ele queria? Que Percy o… dissesse o que fazer? Nico apenas não pensava que isso escorreria para fora do sexo também. Mas se Percy queria saber, ele faria Percy se arrepender disso.

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E então, ficou muito ruim? Estou pensando em reescrever essa cena em um momento futuro. Comentarios são sempre bem vindos.

Até a proxima.

SITTER'S LOVE - Nico!Babysitter, Percy!Teacher-father - Chapter XXXI and Chapter XXXII

Previous chapters: CHAPTER I / CHAPTER II / / CHAPTER III, CHAPTER IV e CHAPTER V / Chapter VI e Chapter VII / Chapter VIII e Chapter IX / Chapter X, Chapter XI, Chapter XII e Chapter XIII / Chapter XIV / Chapter XV / Chapter XVI e Chapter XVII / Chapter XVIII and Chapter XIX / Chapter XX and Chapter XXI / Chapter XXII and Chapter XXIII / Chapter XXIV, Chapter XXV and Chapter XXVI / Chapter XXVII and Chapter XXVIII / Chapter XXIX and Chapter XXX

Chapter XXXI

By the time they got home, the sky was already dark. They climbed the few steps to the porch; Percy opened the car door for Nico, helping him out of the Jeep, and once again, Percy led him from behind, as though he didn't know the way, like he would run away if Percy took his eyes off him. Maybe Nico was tempted to do just that, maybe tonight had been a bit too much for his confused mind. In the end, he let himself go, let Percy open the door to the house, take the blazer from his shoulders and hold his hand, just like Percy would do on any other day. But unlike what was usual for them, Percy kept walking and Nico continued to follow him like a puppy on a leash. He yawned and followed him up the stairs, turning right and then entering a long hallway that led to the same room where he had slept every other time; next to Percy's room and further away from the children's rooms.

That's when Nico wondered what he was doing there, or why Percy came in with him and opened the closet door, showing him the clothes hanging there.

"If you want to change. The clothes you were wearing are here.”

He took out a hanger with a pair of jeans and a dark t-shirt and Nico finally understood, someone had washed his clothes.

"You didn't have to.”

“Yeah, I didn’t have to.” Was all Percy said, his eyes intense on him. Nico hated it when Percy did that. Why was it so hard to look at him in those moments?

Yes, that was exactly why he lowered his head and pretended that there was some dirt on his Italian shoes and pretended he had no idea how much they cost. He bent down and undid the lace, then did the same with the other foot and took off his sock. Okay, he had to change, right? Take a shower first? He decided to start with the buttons on the light-colored shirt and reached his hands down to the soft fabric. He pressed and the first button slid away from the hole, he pressed the second and then the third, before he saw that there were no more buttons and only his pants were left. He unbuttoned the last button and pulled down the zipper and--

"What are you doing?" Percy questioned him, stopping his hands in the air. He didn't have the courage to look him in the face, so Nico kept staring at Percy's broad shoulders.

"What does it look like I'm doing?”

"Asking for sex?”

"I'm changing. Can I take a shower?”

"Nico, I didn't-- this wasn't how I expected the night to end.”

“And what did you expected?” He found himself laughing even though he didn’t find it funny. Percy never knew how to apologize.

"I'm sorry, okay! What do you want me to do? Can you look at me?”

No, he couldn't. If he did that, the moment he looked at Percy he would be tempted to try to comfort him.

"I forgive you." Nico murmured, fixing his gaze on the right side of Percy's neck, watching how his throat bobbed, how Percy looked nervous and frustrated, his hand clenched into a fist at his side. It was strangely amusing to see him so out of control, knowing that Percy felt the same way he did. In the end, Jason was right, he wanted every single person who made him suffer to suffer the same and in the same way.

"Nico, please." Percy begged, his voice almost tearful.

He sighed and stared at him, bracing himself. Nico knew what he was going to find, even when the man looked defeated and vulnerable, Percy still found ways to manipulate the situation. And he fell once more, it was inevitable, irresistible. Nico brought his hands to Percy's face and got closer, a force pulling him towards him and making him hug him by the neck, ending up with his mouth against his neck, close to Percy's ear.

"It wasn't your fault. I know you didn't mean for that to happen. It's okay.”

“You promise?” Percy murmured back, very close. His arms wrapped around Nico’s waist and his lips whispered against his earlobe.

He had fallen right in, hadn't he? Still, knowing all this, Nico sighed once more, shivering as the heat slowly crept up his back, waist, and groin, stopping where Percy's mouth met his skin.

"Will you forgive me? I promise…" Then, Percy held him tight against him and a moan escaped him. "I promise this won't happen again." Percy finished with his face buried against the hair on the back of Nico's neck.

That... that wasn't fair... why... why was it so easy for Percy? Why was it so easy to forget everything and let himself go like that when, even with Will back then when he treated him well, Nico never had that urge that was slowly destroying him?

"Nico…" Then, an almost innocent little kiss was placed against his neck, in that little part behind his ear that made him… ah… "Are you going to visit me?”

"I-I…" He stuttered, still stuck in a trance. "I… I can't… you have to--”

"I don’t have to do anything." Percy said it decisively, but at that moment it sounded like the sweetest love poem. "I can wait for you.”

"Percy, I don't…”

"Don't what? Don't want to deceive me? Hurt me?" Percy pulled away slightly and grabbed Nico's hair, making him look at him. "Do you want to be sure? Do you want to have other experiences? See if someone else can make you feel the way I do? I don't care about any of that.”

"I couldn't.”

"Baby, you're the only one for me. So beautiful and so perfect. I love your smell, and when you moan I want to hold you and never let go. I want you to be happy. But only with me.”

"Percy…" he whimpered, closing his eyes. Why was Percy doing this to him?

"It's quite simple. I want you to live and make all the mistakes a college student could make. When we meet again, don't ignore me. If you've changed your mind by then, I'll do everything I can to win you over, but if you don't want me, I won't bother you.”

"How could I ask for something like that?”

"I also need some time to sort things out." Percy smiled at Nico and stroked his hair, lulling him into that false sense of security. "Things with Annabeth don't seem to be going anywhere and I'm tired of my parents. I promise you this, when we see each other again everything will be better. Do you trust me?”

"I trust you.”

"So I want you to have fun and not regret anything.”

Percy kissed Nico's cheek and he finally relaxed, as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.

***

Percy kissed Nico's cheek and he finally relaxed, as if the weight of the world had been lifted off his shoulders.

Yes, he felt light because Percy was holding him, keeping him safe. 

“Oh!” Nico couldn't help the moan that escaped his lips; Percy's hands moved up his back, caressing slowly and entered inside his open shirt, eliciting another moan from him. Percy's lips slid to the side and then, they were there, at the corner of his mouth, kissing and nibbling and-- No! He knew exactly what Percy was doing! Percy wanted him to lower his head, to agree with everything while Percy had his fun. Percy wanted him to wait until the man felt the urge to see him again. He refused to let another man manipulate him, even if it was through the best torture tactic.

"No, I can't do that." Nico said, letting go of Percy. He took a step back and a deep breath, and said more forcefully: "I won't! Do you think I'm going to stay quiet while you do whatever you want?”

"Nico, I said you can--”

"You don't own me! I don't need your permission!”

"Nico, of course not. I'm just asking for a chance to work things out.”

"I don't want-- I never wanted… you… you're just like all of them!”

Percy didn't seem to hear him. Percy took a step forward and he took another step back, then another and another until his back hit the wall. The strange thing was that Percy didn't do what Nico imagined, not like Will usually did, cornering him and making him feel suffocated. No, Percy took his hands and tried to smile, but it was such a shaky smile that Nico found himself stopping fighting Percy.

"It's okay, baby. Can you breathe with me?”

"Breathe?" He asked without understanding.

"Please.”

Percy looked on the verge of tears, so he complied. Nico took a deep breath and let it out, slow and easy, and only then did he realize how tense he was, and he calmed down immediately.

"I… I was having a panic attack?" Nico asked. Percy nodded and tried to smile at him again.

The interesting thing was to realize that Nico didn't feel bad like he usually did. No, Nico felt light and calm. That's why he didn't fight this time, he let Percy take him to the bed and help him put on sweatpants, a loose t-shirt came next and socks too. Percy dressed him, item by item, and he found himself lying against the bed frame, his head resting on Percy's shoulder and a movie playing on the television in front of the bed. He knew Percy was saying something, that his head was resting on his, that his big, warm hands were massaging the back of his neck in a pleasant way that made him want to sleep instantly.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I never meant to make you feel this way. I'm the worst of men. I'm so impulsive. Annabeth's right, I'll never... I'll never be able to--”

"Der?" Nico found himself mumbling. His head was too light to understand what was happening. He just wanted Percy to feel what he felt right now.

"Are you okay?" Percy said in the same miserable tone.

"Hmm. Sleep with me." Nico crawled down on the bed and rested his head on Percy's chest, under his heart. His hands found Percy's waist and Nico closed his eyes once more, feeling himself melt. Nico loved the way Percy smelled, the way Percy always seemed to run hotter than him, most of all, he loved those rare moments when Percy showed that vulnerability, that uncertainty, usually so well hidden.

"Nico, I need--”

"Tomorrow. Tomorrow you can say whatever you want. Today, we sleep.”

Nico closed his eyes one last time and sighed, soon he could hear nothing but the sound of Percy's heart slowing down.

Chapter XXXII

That was another morning where everything seemed like a distant and fantastical dream. The light entered weakly between the blinds, birds sang softly and Nico felt himself floating, comfortable, being hugged from behind, very tightly, in the way he would never admit he liked the most; it was Percy who breathed against his neck, while the blanket kept the cold away, giving a greater touch of illusion.

So this was it, right? This was what he could have if he chose to… what?… Stay? Wait for Percy? No, this was the goodbye, sweet and treacherous, giving Nico a taste he knew he couldn’t have.

“Are you awake?” Percy murmured softly against his earlobe, brushing his lips over the sensitive skin.

Nico took a deep breath for a moment, feeling himself go from zero to one hundred, and let it out slowly. It wasn't fair. Maybe he had moaned, or maybe it had been Percy; it was hard to tell when Percy was so close to him, pressed against his back, the thin clothing between them not stopping Nico from feeling all of his desire, so close together, in that almost too intimate way, even their breaths came out synchronized, fast, almost panting, almost...

"Now, I am." He then murmured, trying to control himself.

“Good,” Percy told him, his sleep-husky voice telling him everything he needed to know. Percy was never satisfied. A kiss would never be enough, a touch would do little to quell his restlessness, and the shiver that ran up Nico’s spine even less so, none of it would make him happy until… No, Percy needed to hear it, needed to taste the pleasure against his skin and experience… oh… experience his hands moving down Nico’s shoulder and down to his abdomen and…

"Percy." He warned, panting but holding his ground like Nico rarely did. Even if he felt Percy was as anxious as he was or if he wanted, perhaps more than Percy, for this between them to happen, this damn torture would finally end.

“I wanted to apologize,” Percy said again, as if nothing had happened mere seconds ago. “I never meant to put you in this position.”

"I know." Nico sighed, exhausted and anxious. Excited. He turned, relaxing, and looked into the eyes he loved to watch so much.

But this was the end, the farewell, and for that reason, only for that reason, he allowed himself to have what he wanted; he let his body lean against Percy's, molding them together like a puzzle that was finally complete, once again trying to fool himself, wishing he didn't know that all of this was wrong; only if Percy really insisted, forced him just a little more and they both let the blame fall on Percy, just this once, giving him that false reason and allowing his rationalization to convince himself that all of this was Percy's fault and never his own, so Nico could finally, finally...

"Nico. Matt. Teo. I think I like Teo more." Percy was smiling, that small, genuine smile that somehow always broke his heart and made him want to stay by his side for the rest of his life.

Percy touched his face and then everything self-destructed, a house of cards crumbling, that smile squeezing his heart, making juice out of what was left.

"You're horrible. I hate you." But even that sounded false.

"I love you too." Percy said. A whisper, a confession. Something that seemed true in that intimate stillness translated into the form of a caress, in the touch of Percy's fingers that intertwined in his hair and of his lips, wet and firm, that finally touched his.

It wasn't at all what Nico expected, this attitude didn't seem to come from the one who spent the last two months chasing him until he couldn't think of anything else. No, they were the most gentle and careful that Nico had ever tasted; sweet and soft kisses, pressed against his in a way so light that he didn't know it existed, brushing slowly and nibbling them just to make him sigh, encouraging him to open his mouth so they became even slower, slowing down their cadence and stopping, but keeping their lips glued together.

Percy didn't try to force anything more intense or try to ease the situation, as was his custom. Percy just kept smiling and stroking his hair, looking at him with such affection that Nico had no choice but to stare back. There was no safe place he could hide from this fact; he loved Percy Jackson and he was leaving him before that feeling could even finish blooming.

That was how his last morning at the Jackson-Chase house ended, with a cuddle, a kiss and a tight hug, Percy's hands massaging his hair and lulling him into that false sense of security until the time for lunch with the family approached, taking Percy away from Nico, leaving him frozen in a desert he had never felt before meeting Percy.

But it was all right, he thought, wiping away the tears that were falling, the last ones that would fall because of him. Nico finished putting on his clothes, fixed his hair and washed his face. He picked up his backpack that had been lying on the floor since the day before and left Percy's room, entering the room where he had stayed during those nights to finally pick up his clothes scattered on the floor, returning the ones he had borrowed and going down the stairs where the children and Annabeth were waiting for him.

***

“Can’t you stay a little longer?” Alice said, catching him off guard. She rarely asked for anything, so independent and unaffectionate, but always attentive.

"It's getting late. I need to wake up early. You understand, don't you?" Nico touched her long black hair and looked into her green eyes that were now filled with tears. "You can visit me whenever you want.”

"It won’t be the same. We won’t eat together or watch TV anymore. Dad will be sad and Logan will whine for a whole month.”

"Don't be like that. Everything will be fine. It's part of growing up. Not everything goes the way we want.”

"Grandma keeps saying that. You two look so much alike.”

Nico smiled at Alice and ran his fingers through her hair, very doubtful.

"Don't you trust me? You can visit me as soon as I'm done moving.”

"Do you promise?" She looked at Nico with her eyes wide open and wet, all tearful, in the perfect example of innocence.

Yeah, it seemed like the whole family had manipulation in their blood. Which made him smile even more.

“I promise.”

He reached down and hugged Alice tightly, feeling her squeeze him back with all the strength she had.

"Enough." Annabeth's voice reached them, she was walking in her high, thin heels, strutting elegantly. She was carrying a sullen Logan, while Percy followed them at a safe distance, looking at his own shoes and seemingly oblivious to everything that was happening around him. That was what had happened during lunch; Percy had been by his side and, at the same time, had been somewhere far away from him.

"Come on, say goodbye to Nico. He has to go.”

"I'll miss you. Don't forget your promise." Alice told him, now looking like a clone of her mother.

Alice gave Nico another tight hug and pulled away, forcing Nico to blink his eyes, his throat suddenly tight. No, he said he wouldn't cry anymore. But then Logan reached out and, still in Annabeth's lap, wrapped his small hands around Nico's neck and sobbed.

"Logan, don't do this. I'm going to live even closer, isn't that good?”

"No! You won't be our mother anymore!”

"Er… when was I your mother? Isn't she right here?" Nico looked at Annabeth and she just rolled her eyes impatiently. It seemed like he was the one who was most uncomfortable with this whole conversation. So what came next was what really ripped his heart out of his chest.

"You… you don’t have to go… you can be our second mother and no one has to leave.”

This time even Annabeth gasped, and Nico found himself frozen in front of the exit door.

"Honey, Nico isn’t leaving because of you." The implication of whose fault it was was pretty obvious. But even so, Percy said it all calmly and softly as he moved closer to Logan, trying to comfort him.

"So… so… he’s leaving because of you!" Logan practically shouted.

Nico felt like he was losing his breath, although it was different from other times. Percy was calm, while Annabeth didn't seem to know what to do. Relieved, he saw Percy pick Logan up and simply start rocking him, massaging his back and lulling him slowly. He didn't think he had ever seen Logan, much less Percy, act like this; Percy seemed to be on autopilot and Logan turned into this rebellious teenager right before his eyes.

“Say goodbye, Logan,” Percy murmured in that soft, gentle voice, and finally looked at Nico.

"I’m sorry, Nico. Dad’s right. I…" he gasped as a sob escaped, trying to smile. "… we’ll miss you.”

At that, Logan and Alice waved as Percy tried to smile. Percy turned with Logan in his arms, grabbed Alice's hand, and marched into the house, not turning back until he was gone down the hallway.

Silence, only silence remained and a strange tightness in his chest, an unfamiliar vacuum, a feeling of emptiness like he had never experienced before. And of course, Annabeth. She still watched everything silently, but she didn't mock; Annabeth didn't even seem happy now that the obstacle had been removed. She seemed as shocked as he was.

“I know this won’t fix things.” She held out a small velvet box to him, and Nico accepted it. “It’s a gift from me and Percy to show our gratitude.”

He opened the box and found a silver and gold watch, delicate but still masculine. Nico had no idea how much it cost.

"Thank you. You didn't need to." He said mechanically. There was no room for anything else.

"I hope you can keep in touch with the children.”

"Of course." Nico felt better talking about them. "I was serious.”

He took the bag from his shoulders, unzipped it and took out a piece of paper. With a pen he wrote down his phone number and handed it to her.

"It’s better if you call me? I should be ready in three days. If they want…”

"Of course." Annabeth smiled at Nico and accepted the note. All he could do was nod quickly and turn his back on her. The faster he got out of there, the less he would be tempted to change his mind. The good news was that Ethan was already waiting for him, he would take him to the exit for the last time towards his future.

Bonus

I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. I wished I didn't have to do this. Why couldn't I just hop on a bus and go to my interview with the college dean? But no, first I had to be a good boy and say goodbye to my family. But who was making me, hmm? Was there a force pushing me and keeping me in place? What if I--

"Look who showed up.”

Now it was too late. The one who opened the door was Hades. He had his arms crossed and was looking down at me, his almost two meters of height and eyes as black as night judging me as always, disappointed with what they saw.

"Yeah, I'm going to college tomorrow. I thought I'd pay a visit.”

"At least you still have responsibility to your family.”

Hm, interesting. But that was all we both said. I looked at Hades and Hades looked at me. That is, until he stepped away from the door, allowing me to see my brothers who were right there, hidden behind Hades. When they saw me, Bianca and Hazel came running and hugged me tightly at once, knocking the air out of my lungs.

"You came!" Hazel said.

"Finally." Bianca murmured more restrainedly.

"Come in. The food will get cold.”

And so, I was pulled into the house, where Maria and Luke were waiting for me with open arms.

Hello, how are you? We've finally reached the end of the first story arc! I'm going to take a break for two or three weeks, and we'll be back with the second arc soon. While we rest, how about leaving a comment? It could be the chapters you liked best, a specific scene or a comment or suggestion about the characters. Your opinion is always very welcome.

Thinking of them being domestic in their apartment in New Rome🤲 (and un-colored background version bc I found it cute)

I make a post about how smut writers shouldn't be discouraged if their smut has a low hits to kudos ratio, because people are just afraid to kudos smut.

I get told in response that AKTUALLY smut has a low kudos to hits ratio because people are re-reading that smut.

I make a post about how if you're re-reading a fic a lot you should tell the author because they won't know that and will think no one likes their fic.

I get told that authors should just ASSUME that it's re-reads without needing to be told.

I post a smut fic that gets 100+ hits in its first 24 hours of posting (therefor no re-reads counted) and this smut fic with 100+ hits gets zero kudos.

I make a post about how if you read a fic on AO3 it creates a 'hit' and if the author gets a lot of hits without kudos or comments or response, the author will assume no one liked their fic.

I get told that authors should just ASSUME that everyone who clicks their fic likes it, without needing to be told that.

I make a post reminding people that fanfiction authors are not mind readers and that there's no way for them to tell a hit from a person who clicked a fic by mistake, or hated the fic, from a hit from a person who liked it, and if you don't tell the author you liked their fic they will assume you didn't.

I get told that authors aren't entitled to comments or kudos, or to a certain ratio of kudos to hits.

NO SHIT.

But if they don't get comments or kudos, they're gonna assume ya'll didn't like the fic!

Writing meme!

I sit with my grief. I mother it. I hold its small, hot hand. I don’t say, shhh. I don’t say, it’s okay. I wait until it is done having feelings. Then we stand and we go wash the dishes.

– Callista Buchen, from Taking Care

Isn’t it poetic that Aphrodite’s OTP is Percabeth whereas Cupid’s just there rooting so hard for Nico, who is too much in love with Percy for a mere crush?

Idk it just feels like Cupid is this enthusiastic vengeful fangirl who’s so enamored by this one character (Nico) thus just decides to say fuck it to canon (aka Aphrodite) and proceeds to hyperfixate in everything said character stands for including his self-antagonized one-sided crush.

Cupid plays with Nico the same way I write multiple angsty fanfics about him. I like Nico as a character the same way Cupid has watched him since the days of his first time stepping foot into Croatia. Oh my god Cupid’s a fangirl