Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

All his life, Will Solace had striven to be a good person. He was a healer, a peacemaker, a loyal friend, boyfriend and now husband. He saved lives, he spoke out against injustice, he never even littered. He was the poster child of a stereotypical boy scout.

Thoughts were not immoral if he never acted on them. That was also important and crucial to keep in mind to understand his current predicament: What could only be described as a midlife crisis at the ripe old age of 25.

Too soon for many, even for Will, but there was no other word to explain what had hit him like a ton of bricks one day as he did his rounds in the hospital with another one of the residents one morning after punching in.

“So, the hunky guy that dropped you off is not that loving husband you keep mentioning?” Jessica asked, surprised.

“Paolo is a friend,” he told her, rolling his eyes. “Yeah, he’s amazingly hot—”

“I would eat whipped cream off of him,” she commented nonchalantly. “And he totally wants you, I can tell.”

“But,” he stressed the word, gritting his teeth. “I’ve been with Nico for almost 10 years now. He’s my other half.”

That made Jessica pause. She blinked at him owlishly and started counting fingers.

“Since you were… 15? Have… have you ever been with anyone other than him?” she prodded, raising an eyebrow. For some reason, Will felt sheepish as he nodded, making her eyes widen. “I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that! It’s very sweet but… man, I couldn’t imagine only experiencing one relationship. It’s as if—”

As she kept prattling on, Will’s mind wandered. He had often thought about it, yes. He was bisexual but had never really gone on a date with a woman. He found men like Paolo (the strong, muscular type) very attractive, but he had never dated them. He had often fantasized about people other than his husband in the ten years they had been together.

And he truly loved Nico. He would never think it was a mistake to date him and marry him, but at the same time… nothing killed a relationship quicker than routine, and after so long together, Will and Nico knew each other’s tastes and quirks perfectly, for better or worse.

He had been married for two years, and the sudden realization that, at 25, he would only ever know what it was like to be with Nico and no one else scared him.

He wanted to know, he realized. He didn’t want to cheat on his husband. Not at all. Thoughts weren’t immoral if he didn’t act on them, remember? But the idea that the rest of his life was set, without any further variation or spice in his life, was suddenly overwhelming. That he would never know what it’s like to kiss a girl, or that he would never experience a first date, a first kiss, a first time ever again…

It felt suffocating, like he had wasted the opportunity. Like a sick joke the Fates played on him because he managed to bag the love of his life at the first try.

He went through the rest of the day almost mechanically. Helping along as he took samples and gave shots to patients.

If only there was some way to have the chance to experience all that he missed out on while keeping Nico. A morally acceptable way, a consensual way…

Will’s eyes lit up as an idea popped in his mind while riding the subway.

That was it. Consent was the key. If it was all consensual, if Nico agreed to it, then it wouldn’t be cheating. He just needed to be open and honest with his husband about his fears and needs, and hope he understood.

(He would. Nico was the best.)

He rocked on the back of his heels with nervous energy as his stop approached.

For the first time, that usual twinge of guilt as he imagined Paolo wrapping his arms around him, licking down his neck, was lessened, accompanied by determination and excitement.

Because now it was possible to achieve while remaining the good man he’d always been.

Nico Solace sometimes missed the excitement of demigod life. While he was glad that a peaceful life was something he could have, even as a son of Hades, sometimes the monotony made him yearn for the times when he fought hydras, empousas and manticores.

He had married Will right after he had finished his internship. He had reasoned that now that he would be winning more money, they could afford a wedding without mooching off Nico’s father, and that he’d make enough that Nico wouldn’t have to work odd jobs anymore.

It was the consequences of dropping out of school at 11. He had no certificate or paper that verified his education, and despite being fluent in 4 languages (2 of them dead, but still) and being knowledgeable in nearly every subject with a dead specialist on it, no one would hire someone whose only references could only be contacted via rainbow.

So, he had decided to focus on homemaking. He had learned to cook, the best ways to keep a house clean, to make the most of a resident doctor’s salary on the supermarket, and to do taxes and budgeting.

It wasn’t glamorous, nor flashy, but it was important, and it was something he never thought he would have back when he was 13: Normalcy.

Will provided that. He made him feel like a regular guy. Not the asocial, moody teen that was useful, but not pleasant to have around, not one of the most powerful demigods that intimidated anyone around him, but just a simple househusband. He had made mortal friends, he worried about stuff like mortgage and meal prep instead of monsters or plots to revive ancient evils.

He had found happiness in regular life.

So why was Will ready to throw it all away?

“I… I don’t understand,” he managed to say as Will looked at him anxiously. “Is something wrong with our marriage? With me?”

Blame it on being born in the 1930s, but Nico really didn’t get the appeal of open marriages. If you loved each other why did you need to bring a third, or fourth, into the equation? It was basically asking each other for permission to cheat with no consequences, wasn’t it?

Was Nico not enough?

“There’s nothing wrong with the marriage, babe,” he soothed him, immediately going for a hug. Nico squirmed a little, uncomfortable. “But… well, to be honest, I’m the problem.”

He looked at Will carefully. He looked pained, ashamed.

“What do you mean?”

“I love you more than anything,” he reassured him. “But sometimes I feel like… I never got to experience life, you know? As a teenager I only ever dated one person, you, and I feel… I feel like I lost the chance, that I never got to explore all of me.”

“I didn’t explore much either, you know?” Nico said, trying his best to mask his annoyance. “Yes, I had a crush on someone before you, but I’ve only ever been with one person.”

“But see, that’s the best part of this!” he exclaimed, squeezing Nico. “This exploration, this self-discovery, also applies to you!”

Nico swallowed. Why was Will acting as if he had already agreed to this?

“I don’t—”

“It wouldn’t be one-sided, Nico,” he explained. “Everything I do, you can do, too.”

Nico thought back to the last few months, trying to find the moment that Will became unsatisfied with him. Was monotony getting to him, too? Did Nico not take care of all his needs?

He knew their sex life had been in steady decline ever since their marriage. It wasn’t either of their faults, really. Doctors worked long hours, especially during residency, and Will often came home exhausted. It sometimes seemed like their schedules had unsynced completely thanks to night shifts and unpredictable calls, and whenever one of them was in the mood, the other one needed to rest.

“And… what is it that you, that we, can do?”

He hated this. He hated the idea of his husband going on dates with other people, of kissing or, gods forbid, even sleeping with other people, but he hated the idea of Will leaving him because he couldn’t be the partner he needed him to be even more.

Will’s smile turned hopeful.

“Well, pretty much anything we want… as long as we’re honest about it,” he added quickly. “We can date whoever, be with whoever, but we always go back to each other, and we always say when we get with someone else.”

Nico bit the inside of his cheek.

“And whoever we are with also knows that, that we are each other’s number one” he added. Will nodded enthusiastically. “Okay… if you think that’d help us…”

Will kissed him deeply. It was depressing to think this was the most passionate kiss they had had in months.

He felt sick.

Percy Jackson hummed a nonsense tune to distract himself from his anxiety as he arrived at the Denny’s by Jacksonville.

He normally didn’t leave Manhattan, much less at 10 P.M. on a Saturday, but Nico’s voice had been urgent when he IM’d him an hour prior.

(He hadn’t known Iris Messaging could be voice only, even after years of using the service.)

Now, he and Nico weren’t the closest of friends. At least, not anymore. They were closer to mutual friends than to each other, and with the threat of monsters going down after they became adults, everyone realized they were only close to certain people because of the forced proximity and shared constant danger they found themselves in.

Nico wasn’t one of those people for Percy, but it definitely applied to his husband, Will, and sadly, they were a package deal, so they had drifted apart.

And that made it all the more worrying that Nico had called him, asking to meet.

“Table for one?” the hostess asked, doing her best to smile at him.

Percy scanned the tables until he found Nico sitting in a booth by the corner.

“Actually, I’m meeting that guy over there.” He waved at Nico, who gave a nod to the hostess. She nodded back and let him through, giving him a menu.

As Percy approached, his stomach dropped at the sight of the son of Hades. He looked absolutely miserable, not even meeting his gaze and looking almost as desperate and lost as that fateful day when Percy had to deliver the news that his sister wasn’t coming back.

“Sorry I took so long,” he said, giving his best chipper tone as he sat down. “Commute from Manhattan is a nightmare at this hour.”

“It’s okay. I just… I didn’t know who else to call,” he muttered, voice apologetic. “I… I just felt like I would go crazy if I stayed home.”

Percy frowned. That didn’t sound good at all.

“Are you fighting with Will?” he asked seriously.

Nico gave a hollow, sarcastic laugh.

“Of course not,” he scoffed, glaring. “He’s the happiest he’s ever been and, as I’m told over and over, it’s because I’m the best husband in the world.”

Percy blinked, bemused. Even after so long, he could still read Nico’s tells with surprising accuracy. His acid sarcasm, his resentment, it was clear to him as day, and that meant only one thing.

Will wasn’t picking up on it.

“What is he doing?” He crossed his arms, glaring. If he had dared to hurt Nico…

Nico grabbed his head and covered his face. It looked like he was trying not to cry.

“A-a month ago he… we talked about opening up our relationship…” he whispered. His voice was so full of shame, and it made Percy’s chest hurt. “I agreed to it for his sake but…”

“But you didn’t want to do it,” he guessed. Nico didn’t say anything. “So, right now, he’s…”

“Do you remember Paolo Montes from Camp?” he said instead. Percy nodded. He had seen him once or twice in passing. He mostly remembered him refusing to speak English despite understanding it perfectly. “About two days after our agreement, Will started seeing him.”

“Ugh,” was all he said. Not because he had anything against Paolo or his appearance, just the idea of betraying a marriage so nonchalantly didn’t sit right with him. That it happened so soon was also suspicious, like Will had been planning this for a while and had his candidate ready.

“When he comes home late, he tells me all about it,” he continued, looking away. “Because openness needs honesty, or something. It always feels more like bragging, though.”

Percy clenched his fists.

“If this has been going on for a month, why did you wait until now to talk?” he asked. It was obvious it had been bothering Nico since day one. “And why to me? Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m honored you chose me to talk to but… let’s be honest here, Nico, we aren’t as close as we used to be.”

Nico sighed and finally looked at him.

“Tonight… Will mentioned he will stay over at Paolo’s,” he said. “I thought I could handle it, but being alone in that apartment, knowing he was off doing… it was just too much.”

Percy reached for his hand. It was even colder than usual.

“As for why you… because I knew you would listen to me and nothing more,” he said quietly. “Jason would try to find ways to fix it, tell Will that… that I’m not comfortable. Hazel would be too embarrassed to talk about it and Reyna…”

“She would cut your husband’s dick off,” Percy said bluntly. Nico let out a small chuckle and nodded. If Percy was being honest, he would do it too if it helped Nico, but it wouldn’t.

Because even now, Nico didn’t want to hurt Will. He just wanted to vent, to be heard, to make things go back to normal, maybe even to understand why he was doing this.

“Does he even notice you’re feeling like this?” he asked.

“I’m trying to prevent that, actually,” he said. “Because he… he told me how he felt upfront, that this is about him exploring what he couldn’t when he was younger. I don’t want to take that from him. I don’t want to be selfish.”

Percy closed his eyes and breathed deeply.

If anything, Nico should be acting and being far more selfish. He shouldn’t let Will walk all over his boundaries just because he felt unfulfilled or had been horny for Paolo or whatever. The idea of someone like Nico being selfish was ridiculous.

Maybe it was time he was selfish, actually.

His hand was still on Nico’s. He started stroking it experimentally. Nico tensed slightly, confused.

“Percy?”

“We’re ready to order!” he called loudly, not caring if the three or so people in the diner glared at him. “You are also allowed to see other people, are you not?”

Nico seemed to understand where he was going. He took away his hand immediately.

“Percy, I—”

“Because if you aren’t, forget Reyna, I’ll castrate Will myself,” he sentenced, making Nico’s eyes widen. “Let me help you take your mind off things, Nico, just for tonight. It’ll go as far as you want. It’ll be a nice, fun date, regardless.”

“I-it… it doesn’t have to be a date, you know,” he said, cheeks slightly pink. “We can just be friends hanging out.”

“Sure, but that’d be a waste,” he said, putting on his most charming smile. “Because I want this to be a date.”

Nico smiled, embarrassed. Percy thought it was the most beautiful he had ever seen Nico.

“O-okay…”

“Sorry for the wait,” the waitress said as she pulled out her notepad. “What are you getting tonight?”

Now that it was done, Will Solace could admit that there had been something bothering in the back of his brain for a very long time. Like an itch that he couldn’t quite scratch before, and now it was soothed.

He wasn’t in love with Paolo, not even a little bit. The man, however, did awaken something primal in him. A need to touch him, to lick and bite and take and be taken. It was purely physical, and now that need had finally been satiated.

It was just lust. Pure, unbridled lust that he had suppressed for years, and had now been released.

He really needed to take Nico out to dinner or something to thank him. The only reason this had been possible in the first place was his husband agreeing to this crazy, spur-of-the-moment idea. Maybe going to some fancy French restaurant, have champagne and everything.

He arrived home and was careful to be as quiet as possible. Not because he had anything to hide, but because Nico was probably sleeping and he didn’t want to wake him up that early in the morning. He’d just pour himself some cereal and grab his hospital ID and be off to work.

Maybe he’d also leave a pot of coffee for Nico when he woke up. That man loved his caffeine in the morning.

He heard movement from the kitchen, and felt silly for all his effort to be stealthy.

“Hey, babe, last night was— hello there,” Will said, blinking slowly and deliberately to make sure he wasn’t seeing things.

Percy Jackson was in his kitchen, shirtless, carefully pouring coffee into one of those tiny espresso cups Nico had insisted on getting despite Will telling him they’d never use them (and being right about it).

“Oh, hey, Will,” he said nonchalantly as he placed the cup beside a mug and a couple of croissants. “Just pretend I’m not here.”

And just like that, as if being in Will’s apartment was the most natural thing in the world, Percy moved past him and into his bedroom, giving a couple of warning knocks before going in.

“I made us breakfast,” he announced cheerily.

“Percy? You really didn’t have to…” Nico’s sleepy voice came from their bedroom.

“I know, I wanted to,” Percy said warmly as he closed the door behind him with his foot.

Will’s thoughts were a jumbled mess.

First, Nico hated it when anyone made meals for him. Whenever Will tried, he would get annoyed and tell him to just let him do it. He could only guess that his reaction this time was a mix of politeness and not being close enough with Percy to tell him off.

Speaking of, when had Percy Jackson happened? One of the conditions of their arrangement was being open in every way, to inform each other of any partner that may come. He always told Nico when he was going out with Paolo. Percy just being here without prior notice… it felt more like cheating than what Will was doing.

And lastly, how could Nico bring someone over to their home? True, they had never talked about it, but the apartment was theirs. It was their shared space, their love nest, if Will wanted to get sappy. The idea of a third person violating their space, being with his husband in it made him queasy.

His phone vibrated, reminding him of his upcoming shift. He heard indistinct voices from his bedroom and frowned.

He shook his head and took his backpack from the living room, taking out a pen and some paper.

Had to leave for an early shift. You didn’t tell me about Percy. Talk later?

Love, Will

He placed the note on the coffee table and ran out. It was all he could do with the time he had. He really needed to understand what was going on. It was so unlike Nico to just hook up with a guy he hadn’t seen in months, and the fact that it was the guy he used to have a crush on bothered Will to no end.

That uneasiness only grew when he came back home near sundown to an empty apartment. His note was on the same spot he left it in with a new message below, written in blue ink.

It happened last night while you were out. Very last minute. Going out with Percy again tonight, left you dinner in the oven. Yes to talking later.

Nico

For almost two weeks, Nico Solace had felt guilty about the note he left that night. Because he had left it to get back at Will.

Now, Nico knew he hadn’t really done anything wrong, he hadn’t broken any of the rules of their arrangement, but he had been intentionally misleading about what happened that night with Percy.

The truth was that there had been a date (as much as a late dinner at a Denny’s could count as a date), but he had let Will believe he and Percy had slept together, when that couldn’t be further from the truth.

After they had eaten, Percy had escorted him back to his apartment, even kissing him on the cheek goodnight, but Nico had insisted he stay. He hadn’t wanted to be alone in the apartment with his thoughts, so he and Percy had stayed on the couch watching silly infomercials until he had fallen asleep. He woke up in his bed to Percy bringing him breakfast in bed, so he must have carried him to his room.

But he had wanted Will to understand how he felt, so he hadn’t explained it. He had just taken the chance to ask Percy to hang out at his apartment instead.

Now it had been almost two weeks. It was far too late to come clean, and he kept going out with Percy on activities with just enough plausible deniability that he could say they were only ‘technically’ dates, but that he hoped Will would seethe at.

“Sorry to keep dragging you into these,” he muttered apologetically as they came out of the movie theater. “I know you had just finished work.”

“Don’t worry, these are the highlight of my day,” Percy said, placing his arm around his shoulders. “So, take you home or are we going to my place today?”

Nico bit his lip. The truth was, even though he and Percy had been keeping their dates mostly chaste and innocent, he still felt guilty about them. He felt like he shouldn’t enjoy them, because it was a betrayal of his marriage vows.

“Percy, thank you for all you’ve been doing for me these past few days,” he started. Percy’s smile dropped.

“Oh, I can guess where this is going…” he said, wincing a bit.

“The thing is… I’m doing this for all the wrong reasons,” he admitted. “I’m trying to get back at Will, and you’re doing this to help a friend. I… I don’t feel comfortable dating someone like this.”

“Because you think I’m doing it out of pity?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Partly that, yes,” he said. “I… I missed you, Percy. I missed hanging out with you, so there’s also that, but it doesn’t mean—”

Percy kissed him on the lips. Their first real kiss. Nico closed his eyes immediately, not caring who saw them as the kiss deepened (and really, it was New York, no one gave a crap).

He felt Percy’s tongue push past his lips, and he let instinct take over, hugging Percy’s neck and letting out a very embarrassing sound as the son of Poseidon’s teeth teasingly grazed his lips.

When they finally came apart, Nico was panting a little. He knew his face was flushed, and his lips felt a little swollen from the playful nipping.

“It’s not pity, Nico,” Percy informed him cheekily. “I actually think you’re really hot, and these two weeks I’ve tried so hard to not push boundaries but… well, you kind of forced my hand.”

“I… I’m married, Percy,” he whispered. He hated the regretful tone in his voice. “I made vows—”

“That Will threw away because he wanted to sleep with other people without consequences,” he stated plainly. “I won’t lie and say this didn’t start as wanting to cheer up a friend, but I actually want to see where this goes, be with you for real, not just to piss off your husband.”

Not just to piss him off, so it was still a reason. Nico chuckled.

“If that’s the case…” Nico was insane. He couldn’t really be considering this, could he? Then again, Will was probably off in some park or cafe right now, trying to pick up girls (as he had not-so-kindly informed him, probably getting back at him for Percy)… was it so wrong if he allowed himself this? He liked Percy. He found him attractive, and he was easy to talk to and get along with. It was exactly what he wanted for himself, and his husband had given him the okay. “Your apartment is fine, Percy.”

He played with the hem of his shirt as he disentangled. Percy grinned.

“Let’s make up for lost time, then.”

“Oh, before I forget,” Nico said. “The rules.”

“Hm? I thought you said there were no rules,” Percy said, a little confused.

“I have to tell Will what we do,” he explained. “And to make you aware he’s my husband and whatnot.”

Percy’s smile came back in full force.

“Noted,” he said. “But for the next few hours, we’re putting Will aside.”

Nico nodded and gave him a quick peck before taking him to a dark alley.

He was very out of practice when it came to Shadow Travel, but this once it felt appropriate.

For once in years, something in his life was not about Will, his feelings, or his needs.

This was about Nico.

Percy Jackson was royally screwed.

No, it went beyond that. Percy was fucked in a way never seen since biblical times.

“You know, knowing you’re actually bi makes me even angrier at younger me for never shooting my shot,” Nico said, laughing lightly and making Percy’s stomach do flips. “Obviously you would have rejected me, but it wouldn’t have been for the reasons I thought.”

“What reasons would I have to reject you?” he murmured, taking his mouth off Nico’s collarbone for a second before continuing down.

They were on his couch, some show he didn’t really care about playing in the background. At some point in the afternoon, both he and Nico had lost their shirts, and Percy had taken the opportunity to explore him to his heart’s content as they talked about a little bit of everything. Their past, Nico’s travels, Percy’s sexuality, and through it all, Percy used his mouth to talk as much as he used it to kiss.

“Because you were in a relationship?” he said before giving a small gasp when Percy reached his nipple.

So, he was a little distracted, sue him. He didn’t think he would ever get tired of Nico’s reactions.

“Did you know…” He paused for a second as he swirled his tongue around, making Nico whimper. He smirked. “That when you told me you had a crush on me, I wanted to go after you and demand a proper chance to sweep you off your feet?”

“You’re just saying that,” he said, closing his eyes as Percy used his hand to flick his other nipple. “Are you sure I’m the first guy you’ve been with?”

“Positive,” he replied. “I’m just working off instinct here.”

“Then your instincts are really good,” he said with a sigh.

Percy took that as encouragement and continued on his path, dipping his tongue into his belly button, drinking in Nico’s reactions like he was parched.

As his hands took hold of Nico’s belt, Nico tensed and grabbed his wrist. Percy looked up at his face. He was flushed, embarrassed, yearning, but underneath it all, he could see yet another emotion, threatening to overthrow the rest.

Guilt.

And that was why Percy was biblically fucked. Because he was allowing himself to feel things for Nico, even though his friend was as devoted as Percy was loyal. Despite obviously wanting this, despite his husband being the one to suggest this arrangement and taking full advantage of it, Nico still hesitated about going ‘too far’ out of respect for his marriage.

Percy was falling in love with Nico, and Nico would never be fully his. It was even baked into his rules, to never let any partner think Will and him weren’t together.

“Too much?” he asked, trying as hard as he could to hide his disappointment.

Nico shook his head and brought Percy’s hand to his lips, kissing it.

“It’s not enough,” he admitted sheepishly. “But I…”

He seemed at a loss of words. Percy decided to help him by nuzzling his crotch through his jeans.

Nico was hard, and his eyes widened at Percy’s action.

“It’s just us for a while, remember?” he said softly. “For a few hours, no one else matters but us.”

“But still, I—Percy!”

He took the zipper of Nico’s pants between his teeth and pulled down. Nico did not stop him.

His dark grey underwear had a wet spot where the fabric strained against his member.

“I want this, Nico,” he told him as earnestly as he could. “So much.”

“I… I do, too,” he whispered. He gave more kisses to the palm of his hand, even moving it a bit to hesitantly lick his fingers.

Percy groaned. He wasn’t sure who was seducing who anymore.

“Then what’s the problem?” he struggled to say. His own pants were getting uncomfortably tight.

Nico hesitated before pulling away, standing up from the couch. This time, Percy couldn’t help letting out a disappointed sigh.

Nico smiled and kissed him. He didn’t reach for his shirt, but rather started sauntering towards his bedroom.

“The problem is… that I’d like our first time to be on a bed,” he said. “More space, feels more intimate.”

Percy could tell he was partly lying, but the sultry, embarrassed smile he gave was all too real.

He grinned and scrambled to get up and open the door to his room.

(Not very graceful or cool looking, but Percy didn’t care)

“Sorry for my lack of manners, Mr. Solace,” he said.

He winced, realizing the name made Nico’s hesitation come back in full force for a second.

But then the smile was back, a little more confident this time as he shook his head.

“It’s di Angelo, actually.”

Chapter Text

Nico di Angelo was having the most fun he had had in years. Percy laughed as they came out of yet another roller coaster.

“Seriously, Shadow Travel is way more hardcore,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief. “How come you scream at this?”

Nico shrugged, unable to wipe the smile off his face.

“Mob mentality? Everyone screams,” he defended himself. “Ambience also helps.”

“Yeah, nothing to drive up the fear factor as Space Mountain,” he mocked, rolling his eyes. “I’m glad you’re having a good time, though.”

“I am,” Nico confirmed, smiling. “You know, the last time I went to an amusement park, the most extreme thing was the old mill ride.”

Percy’s eyes widened. Nico just leaned against him as they browsed the different space-themed shirts and memorabilia in the gift shop.

It had been Percy’s idea after he mentioned never having gone to any Disney Park. He had insisted on using Shadow Travel to go to Florida and spend a day at the Magic Kingdom as their next date.

Nico felt as if he was doing something wrong, rebellious, by using his powers again. It also felt right. It was something Nico di Angelo would do, using powers meant to represent his heritage and control over the Underworld his father ruled over so he could play games and make it easier to ride attractions.

He loved going out with Percy, because it was when he remembered what it was like being that person.

Not that he didn’t enjoy the stability and domesticity of being Nico Solace, Will Solace’s husband, but he had lived that life for years now. It felt liberating and novel to be who he used to be.

“Fine,” Percy said, determined. “I guess Six Flags, Universal, and Cedar Point are on the list now.”

“I remember hearing about Cedar Point,” Nico mentioned. “I think… You know my memories from before the Lotus are not that clear.”

Percy nodded, slightly more serious now.

“All the more reason to visit, then,” Percy decided, giving him a warm smile that made butterflies flutter all over his stomach. “So, where to next?”

Nico hummed and thought carefully. While he was enjoying the amusement park experience, he had to admit that queues were not for him. It wasn’t just impatience. Percy and he were paying quite a lot of money to go on rides and watch shows, not to stand in line for 30 minutes or more just for an experience that wouldn’t last more than 5 minutes.

He guessed they could go to a show or eat something while they waited for the parade. Those were a bit emptier and had the advantage of happening in a large room with good AC for Florida’s late spring heat.

He smirked as a different, more risqué idea popped in his mind.

“Old Mill rides are basically dark rides. Are there any of those here?” he asked, trying to keep his tone innocent.

 Percy looked at the brochure, frowning a bit in concentration.

“Well, Haunted Mansion and Pirates are the main ones… why?”

“You know, back in the 30s, I always heard from older kids about the real purpose of those rides,” he told him nonchalantly. “You’d take your partner there and make out.”

“Nico!” he hissed, though he had a smile on his face. “There’s cameras now, the boats aren’t for two people!”

“What’s life without a bit of risk?” he asked rhetorically, taking his hand and leading him towards the pirate ride.

It was only fitting for him to make out with the son of Poseidon inside of a pirate themed attraction.

It was funny, being with Percy made Nico more adventurous, more willing to take risks, but that wasn’t all. His libido had also shot through the roof. Just the thought of being able to be with Percy Jackson made him feel like a horny teenager again.

“Okay but… let’s keep things PG? There are kids in here…”

Nico nodded. Given Percy’s job as a P.E. teacher, it made sense that was his limit.

“That’s fine by me,” he agreed. He bit his lip and looked around before getting closer to Percy’s ear. “That other ride can be for after hours.”

Percy blushed, but also let out a guffaw at that.

“Who are you and what have you done with Nico?”

Nico’s smile faltered a little. He knew that when the date was over, he’d go back to being Nico Solace, devoted husband of Dr. Will Solace.

“I set him free,” he said, hating that it almost sounded like a question.

He wanted the validation of the person he was with, whether it was Will or Percy. Will had made him feel accepted and normal, and he didn’t want to lose that. That was the reason he had accepted the whole open marriage thing, after all.

Percy gave him a smile and kissed his forehead.

“Well, I like him being free,” was all he said before they got into queue (when had they walked all the way from Tomorrowland to Adventureland?) “He reminds me of this guy who once made me bathe in the River Styx despite it being the worst idea ever.”

Nico smiled back.

“You’re still alive, aren’t you?” He asked. “I think you have that guy to thank.”

Percy laughed, and Nico felt all kinds of warm inside.

Yeah, he would have to go back to Nico Solace later. That didn’t mean he had to stop enjoying his time as Nico di Angelo.

Will Solace was having something of a dry spell.

After Paolo, his next target had been to date a woman, just to know how different it was compared to men, but he sadly hadn’t been able to catch the attention of any girl.

His constant attempts to go out and flirt with girls also had the very specific goal of getting a rise out of his husband.

Ever since Nico had brought Percy home, it felt as if their problems had become worse. Before Percy, he and Nico would still pass the moments between Will’s shifts eating meals together, watching TV, or just enjoying each other’s presence as they did house cleaning and other chores.

Yes, Will missed the intimacy he used to have with Nico before they got married, but he still had his husband around at all times.

Now even that was dwindling.

Now, whenever he wasn’t on shift, Nico was out with Percy, and the few moments they had alone were spent talking about the son of Poseidon and what he and Nico did.

He guessed he deserved that, to some extent. It had been his idea to be completely open and tell each other everything that went on with their partners. He also had to admit it had less to do with trust and letting Nico know what he was doing, and more to do with having someone to talk to.

Because that was his husband. He was a good listener. Even before they started dating, Will loved how Nico would just sit quietly and listen to him ramble about sci-fi movies, medicine, and his plans for the future. Nico was as much his friend as he was a partner, and he had wanted to gush to his friend about the hot guy he was seducing.

Now the shoe was on the other foot, so to speak, and he wondered if Nico had felt similar when he mentioned his trysts with Paolo. Because it burned him that Nico was so… into Percy. He hated that they were constantly going on dates, sleeping over at his apartment in Manhattan or just lounging in Will and Nico’s living room.

It may have been hypocritical, but he had never expected Nico to actually get with someone. In his mind, it was him getting to quench his need of Paolo and maybe get with a girl a few weeks or months down the line, while Nico cheered him on and supported his personal growth.

Now he was getting nowhere with dating a girl, and his lust for Paolo was sated, he didn’t need to be with him anymore (or at least, not for a good, long while). Nico, however, seemed to not tire of Percy, and that was a breach of trust.

Will liked to think that if Nico had been with many guys, having meaningless flings, he would be more supportive. But it was just one guy. It was just Percy Jackson, a man that just so happened to be his husband’s first love.

“I’m home,” he muttered, knowing the probability of Nico being home was slim.

He just wanted to go to his room, collapse in bed, and sleep for at least 10 hours. He wanted to dream of better times, before he was married and he was, ironically, much closer to Nico.

A breathy moan made him stop on his tracks, his hand just inches away from the barely opened bedroom door. His blood ran cold and he saw his hand growing paler in real time.

“No,” he thought desperately. “Not in our house, not in our bed. He must be… doing it alone. Probably Percy had a last minute thing and—”

“I’m not going anywhere,” the unmistakable voice of Percy Jackson said softly from his and Nico’s bedroom, shattering any comforting lie Will was telling himself. “Breathe.”

“P-Percy…” Nico sounded unsure, hesitant. Will sucked in air before getting closer to the door and peeking from the small opening.

The scene was something out of a smut novel. In the dim lighting of the sunset, he could see Percy was sitting on the edge of the bed with Nico straddling him, his back to the door and to him. He didn’t need to get a closer look to know both of them were completely naked, with Nico’s labored breathing telling him the coitus had just started.

(Keeping it clinical was for the best, it made it feel distant, uninvolved.)

“You look so beautiful in this light,” Percy cooed, grabbing Nico’s thighs and caressing them softly.

“I’m sure you do too…” Nico said softly as he fidgeted a bit, adjusting to the son of Poseidon’s member. “I wish I could see you.”

“If you want to—”

“No!” He exclaimed. “I… I want it this way.”

Will frowned. What way was Nico talking about? He squinted a little until he realized that what he thought were shadows covering Nico’s face was actually a blindfold, taking away his sight.

He couldn’t help but wonder who had come up with the idea, if it had been Nico, was it because of guilt? Was he still thinking of him? Had he driven his husband to this by not realizing how much an open marriage would make him seek comfort?

“So, is it as intense as you were hoping for?” Percy asked. His voice was strained, probably trying to give Nico as much time as he needed to adjust.

“Even more intense,” he admitted softly. “I’ve never done this before.”

“Well, there’s a first time for— oh!” Nico raised his hips before falling down, throwing his head back in a silent moan. Will was gripping the doorknob with so much strength he was surprised it hadn’t bent yet. “Guess you’re ready now, huh?”

Nico chuckled breathlessly and nodded. That was all Percy needed to start thrusting, his lips finding Nico’s.

This was nothing like what he had done with Paolo the couple of times they had sex. With Paolo, Will could accurately describe what they had done as just animalistic fucking. It had been satisfying, but at the end of the day, it was devoid of emotion. Their kisses had been hungry, their movements erratic, their hands had left delicious bruises all over each other.

Percy was being tender with Nico, their movements seemed in perfect sync, and their kissing was needy and delicate at the same time as they softly caressed each other.

“They are making love,” he realized, feeling his chest constricting with a sense of betrayal.

He looked all over Nico, trying to find any hint in his swaying, his voice, his movements, that Will was still on his mind, when he felt it, the distinctive feeling of being watched.

Percy was staring at him with those unnerving sea green eyes. He had been caught, and part of him wanted to turn away and apologize for intruding but… this was Will’s home, Percy was with Will’s husband, if anything, he had all the right to stand up for himself and ask them to move somewhere else.

He stayed put and met Percy’s gaze without flinching. Maybe he would be uncomfortable with Will watching or maybe act smug. He would know how to react depending on Percy’s reaction to him not backing down.

However, Percy didn’t smirk, didn’t give a sheepish smile, he didn’t even nod in acknowledgement. Instead, he turned back to Nico as if Will had been a mildly interesting painting on the wall he hadn't noticed before.

“Can I move faster, Angel?” He whispered in Nico’s ear, but in the silent apartment Will heard it clearly.

“P-please,” Nico begged. “I need you, Percy!”

Will took a step back. He didn’t need to see more. Percy’s lack of reaction meant only one thing: Will was completely unimportant. They weren’t doing this to humiliate him or to rub it on his face. Nico had just honestly forgotten his schedule for the first time in years.

His stupid, rash decision was distancing them even more than months of no intimacy due to conflicting schedules.

He needed to talk to Nico. He needed to find a way to end this open marriage.

Only then could their relationship start to mend.

Percy Jackson was hard at work on his computer by the desk in his bedroom, when he heard it again.

“Something wrong, Nico?” he asked without turning.

“How do you notice these things? You should be focusing on writing your students’ report cards!”

They were just lounging in Percy’s apartment, so not technically a date, just two people hanging out. This also meant that Nico didn’t have to tell Will anything about this.

In a way, it made this more intimate and private than any date they could have, ironically enough.

“I’m always aware of you, Death Breath,” he said with a smile. “And you’re sighing a lot.”

As if to prove his point, Nico sighed again and sat up. Percy turned his chair around and looked at him closely. He did look troubled, but also a little resigned.

“I just realized I haven’t seen my husband awake for a whole week,” he told him. He curled up and hugged his knees. “Whenever I’m home he’s at work, and whenever he’s home I’m out with you.”

Percy was aware that there had been at least one time when Nico and Will had both been awake and at their apartment at the same time, but it was best for him to not mention it. Nico would probably die of embarrassment if he knew.

“Why don’t you try surprising him?” Percy suggested, even if it pained him to do so. “Just go to the hospital during his lunch hour or something, to spend time with him.”

Nico didn’t say anything for a while. He looked lost, and Percy’s chest felt heavy at the image.

“I…I don’t want to,” he said softly, barely audible from Percy’s desk. “That’s the problem. It’s the first time I have felt… free, in years.”

Percy frowned. He had thought things between Will and Nico had just deteriorated in the last few months, but obviously, the relationship had been fractured for a long time.

“Free how?”

“We fought a Drakon last night, Percy.” He said it like he was confessing to a crime. “I hadn’t fought a monster since before I got married. It’s dangerous, it puts my life at an unnecessary risk… and it was the most alive I have felt since I got engaged.”

“Using Shadow Travel to get on his weak spot was inspired,” he said, chuckling. “Does Will stop you from doing it?”

“He doesn’t stop me!” he exclaimed defensive. “He just… argues that it isn’t a good idea. It scares him to lose me.”

Percy closed his laptop and sat beside Nico on the bed, pulling him into a hug.

“I was also afraid last night,” he confessed. “You are very out of practice, and a Drakon is definitely not the type of monster to get back into doing demigod stuff. But we did it anyway, because it was our choice.”

They had been walking home from dinner when they had seen the giant serpent attacking some demigod kids, probably out on a quest, and had decided to help out. The kids had managed to get away after Percy had told them they were demigods too, and they had made short work of the monster.

The passionate kiss they had as it disintegrated was probably in his top 5 kisses of all time.

“You’re Nico di Angelo, son of Hades,” he continued. “The Nico I know loves to travel, to fight monsters, to adventure. Sacrificing that to be in a relationship isn’t right, at least in my opinion.”

Nico slumped a bit, leaning even more into Percy.

“But I’m not Nico di Angelo anymore,” he said. “I’m Nico Solace. I want my marriage to work, I want to be normal, for once.”

“Nico—”

“I mean, even now, with this arrangement, I haven’t slipped,” he kept going, some hysterics seeping into his voice. “I still keep the apartment clean, I’m not behind on any payments, I still leave meals for Will to take to the hospital or to have dinner if I’m not around! It’s…! It’s a dream to be able to live like this… A little sacrifice here and there is worth it.”

Percy pursed his lips. He hesitated for a moment before taking the plunge.

“And what does Will sacrifice?” he asked angrily. Nico looked at him, confused. “He’s working at his dream job, he doesn’t take you out unless it’s your birthday or anniversary, he has permission to cheat on you! What even is he giving up to keep your marriage afloat?”

He didn’t know if it was his place to say it, as Nico’s extramarital partner. It was very probable that he was coming across as a possessive man that wanted to break Nico’s marriage because he wanted him all to himself, but he couldn’t help it.

He cared about Nico too much to see him being treated this way.

“You don’t get it, Percy,” he said, frowning. “You never got married. You dumped your fiancé a month before your wedding. It’s about what Will offers, not what he gives up.”

“You know why I left Annabeth, Nico?” he asked, not rising to the bait. “Because despite loving her, I realized a life with her wouldn’t be good for me. I left because I didn’t want to be the Seaweed Brain all my life, the one that always was wrong, that had to stop being himself to be acceptable.”

He thought back to Tartarus, when he choked Akhlys. Annabeth had been convinced it had been the Pit that made him so angry, so violent, but it hadn’t been. That was just part of himself, and it scared and repulsed her. Ever since then, he had to suppress that part of himself. And as it turned out, bottling up your anger so you were the silly, jokey, charming boyfriend 24/7 was not particularly healthy.

And whenever he was too close to letting anger out, Annabeth would reprimand him. Steer him away so he wouldn’t go back to that mindset. Add to that the fact that they had nothing else to talk about, and their falling out was inevitable.

“What are you getting at, Percy?” Nico said, crossing his arms.

“Well, just that what Will’s offering kind of sucks, if we’re being honest,” he said, incensed. The best time to shut up was 30 seconds ago, now it was too late. “Nico, you’re not normal.”

“You think I don’t know that?” He tried to pull away from Percy’s embrace, but the son of Poseidon held him firmly.

“No, you don’t,” Percy said seriously. “You’re not normal, Nico. You’re amazing, unique, extraordinary. You deserve better than being treated as just one more.”

“It’s what I want, Percy,” he protested, though he seemed doubtful about it.

Percy huffed and kissed him. Nico immediately responded, his hands all over Percy’s hair.

“You want a life with someone by your side,” he corrected him. “It doesn’t have to be the one Will wants.”

Percy wasn’t sure if he was projecting, but the doubt in Nico’s eyes seemed to prove him right.

“Will is the one by my side,” Nico said stubbornly. “And that’s the life we built together.”

“Is he by your side?” Percy asked, raising an eyebrow. “Then how come he hasn’t made an effort to seek you out in a week? Why did he ask you to not be your amazing child of the Underworld self? Why did he ask you to agree to opening up your marriage?”

Nico stayed quiet for a while. Percy could see he knew he was right and hated it.

Nico initiated the next kiss, deftly unbuttoning his shirt.

Well, it seemed like Will would have to hear about this one after all.

Unlike Nico di Angelo, Nico Solace was a coward.

Too scared of being alone, of losing what he had with Will, even if it was just the ghost of a relationship.

“At least it’s on brand for me,” he thought sarcastically as he tapped his foot. “Keeping ghosts around.”

He knew Will had a long shift that day, but for once he wasn’t running to Percy’s to pass the day and feel loved. He needed to decide on his next steps carefully.

It would be stupid to believe that all their relationship issues came from the open marriage agreement. The cracks had been there for a very long time, maybe even since the start, but they both had been too set on being each other’s forever that they had chosen to ignore it.

If anything, the open marriage had shown Nico the cracks, and after almost three months of it, he was ready to take care of them, one way or the other.

“Mr. Solace? Mrs. Mackenzie will see you now,” the receptionist said kindly.

Nico almost corrected her but stopped himself. Right, when he wasn’t with Percy, he was still Nico Solace.

He nodded gratefully and opened the door with ‘Mrs. Bayley Mackenzie, Esq.’ engraved in golden letters.

The woman inside stood up from her desk as soon as he entered. She was in her thirties, dressed in a two-piece suit and with her auburn hair tied in a bun, giving her a strict, professional look.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Solace,” she said, offering her hand. “It’s not every day that a new client picks us.”

“Well, I needed someone with your background so they could get the full picture,” he said back. Mrs. Mackenzie raised an eyebrow. “A demigod, I mean.”

The woman looked shocked for about half a second before giving a nod, showing she understood.

“What gave it away?”

“Well, your firm’s name, for one,” he said, shrugging. “Most people use their last names or a play on words, you just used your mother’s name.”

It was sort of a constant with mythological beings. Despite supposedly wanting to remain hidden from mortals, they couldn’t help themselves when it came to names. It was always Monster Something, Restaurant God Name, Mythological Being Store, or in this case, Themis Law Firm.

Nico sometimes pointed it out to Will, and he would just give him a tight smile, a nod, and request him to leave it alone.

“It’s the name of my grandmother, actually,” she said, adjusting her glasses. “I’m a daughter of Dike, but naming a company after her is just asking for trouble and juvenile jokes.”

Nico chuckled and nodded.

“I see,” he said, sitting down.

“I have to start by saying I don’t sue gods,” the lawyer told him after sitting herself. “I know they don’t pay child support, but trust me, it’s a losing battle.”

Nico shook his head.

“No, no, it’s not about a god, it’s… my husband,” he admitted. “He’s a son of Apollo, and there’s been some trouble in our relationship.”

The woman nodded and started scribbling on a notebook on her desk.

“Okay, that’s more doable,” she said as she kept writing. “Now, what is it about your relationship that requires a demigod lawyer?”

“It’s not the relationship itself, it’s me,” he told her. “I was born in the 1930s, then trapped in a magical hotel that froze me in time, and I think I’m legally dead, so that makes legal procedures… complex, especially for a mortal.”

Mrs. Mackenzie didn’t look up, she just kept scribbling as he talked.

“Okay, then tell me everything,” she asked him. “What kind of legal procedure do you want to take with your husband, what are the grounds for said process?”

Nico took a deep breath and the words started pouring out. About the wars, about meeting Will, about their marriage, about how Nico di Angelo didn’t exist legally, only Nico Solace, who had popped up in the records the moment he had gotten married, about the open marriage agreement.

Mrs. Mackenzie had asked her secretary to bring him a glass of water midway through, as his throat was starting to feel sore.

“I see,” she finally said as she looked over her notes. “Well, I can have the documents you want ready in a week or two. Do you have a cellphone, or prefer IM?”

“I have a cellphone, your secretary must have it registered,” he told her. She nodded. “Thank you so much for your help.”

The woman gave him a small, kind smile.

“This is a big change no matter what happens, Mr. Solace,” she said. “I hope you’re ready for all it entails.”

“Just call me Nico,” he requested. He wished she hadn’t said Mr. Solace, but that was his name.

Unlike Nico Solace, Nico di Angelo was not afraid of being alone. He was not afraid of being creepy, scary, or morbid.

Nico di Angelo was who he wanted to be all the time.

The woman’s smile widened.

“Only if you call me Bayley.”

Percy Jackson didn’t know what to expect when Nico showed up unannounced at his apartment. His jaw was locked, he had a troubled frown on his face, and, most telling of all, his hands were shaking.

“Come on in,” he said quickly, taking his hand. “What happened?”

“Percy, I want to do something special tonight,” he said. His voice broke a bit, and Percy’s heart with it.

What could possibly be going on with Nico for him to be acting like this?

“Anything you want,” he promised him. “Just say the word and I’ll do it.”

Nico crumbled on the sofa, completely spent.

“I… I don’t know,” he whispered softly. “You… you told me I was unique, special… can you make me feel that way?”

Percy thought about it, trying to ignore his own growing worry for his… friend? Lover? He really didn’t know what they were anymore.

“We can go up to the roof,” he suggested. “See the stars, talk as we eat some sandwiches… make love under the night sky.”

Nico’s eyes widened. Percy wasn’t surprised, it was the first time he ever referred to them having sex as ‘making love’, even if that was what he had been doing since the first time.

“I thought you were against getting frisky in public spaces,” he said, a fragile smile in place.

Percy chuckled at that.

“A roof that nobody uses is not exactly public,” he told him. “Come on, I’ll bring the extra soft cushions and the fluffiest blanket… I’ll even let you top, if you want.”

That got a real reaction from Nico. The son of Hades fell off the sofa, sputtering and shaking his head as if Percy had just suggested doing it in front of a church.

“W-what?” he finally managed to say. “Percy, you don’t know what you’re saying, you don’t have any experience, you don’t know how to prep yourself, you—”

“Sure I do,” he interrupted him, shrugging a bit. “I’ve done it before.”

Nico blinked twice in rapid succession, bemused.

“Done it before? I thought I was the first man you slept with?” he said, unsure.

Percy smiled and gave him a nod.

“You are,” he told him.

He could see the engines turning in real time as Nico’s adorable scrunched up face morphed into pure astonishment, wide eyes, open mouth and all.

“No way,” he said slowly, looking around. “There’s just no way.”

Percy rolled his eyes. Nico really was absolutely adorable.

“Yes, it is what you’re thinking,” he told him, smirking.

Nico shook his head rapidly, as if the idea was just completely ridiculous.

“You’re joking,” he accused him. “You just wanted me to stop being so tense.”

“No, but if that works, I’ll remember that technique for the future,” he continued, enjoying Nico trying to come to terms with the new information.

“I just find it hard to believe that—”

“That Percy Jackson got pegged?” He asked, gleeful at seeing Nico’s face turn even redder. “Well, I did. Far more enjoyable than I thought it would be, too.”

“Annabeth?” he asked, still looking scandalized.

“Yup, a desperate attempt to sort through our issues,” he confirmed. “The act itself was good, except the moment passed and every problem was still there.”

“So, you’re serious,” he said, looking down. “I… I’m not sure I can…”

“Why? Don’t you enjoy topping?” Percy asked. Nico shrank, embarrassed, making an awful thought enter Percy’s mind. “Or is it Will that doesn’t enjoy you topping?”

“We… we only tried it once,” he admitted, uncomfortable. “He said he wasn’t into it, and I… I never tried again.”

Percy kissed him deeply. The now familiar feeling of Nico melting against him sent him into overdrive.

“You want tonight to be as unique and special as you?” he asked softly. “Then you topping is what we’re going to do.”

The rest of the night passed by in a whirlwind. They had sex (they made love) 3 times, and Percy felt it. The neediness, the desperation, but also the melancholy, the nostalgia of the act, as if Nico wanted to engrave every movement into his memory.

He didn’t need to read the note Nico left the next morning by his nightstand. He knew what it would say.

Nico was going to talk to Will, try to fix his marriage, and that meant last night would probably be the last he spent together with Percy.

Will Solace was getting used to returning to an empty home. It had been weeks since he had time with Nico, even longer since they had an actual, meaningful conversation.

So, he was both relieved and anxious when he opened the door to see Nico, sitting in the living room, looking nervous.

“Hey, babe,” he said softly, his chest filling up with hope. “It’s been a while.”

“It has,” Nico said, voice serious. “I think we need to have a talk.”

Will smiled.

“Yeah, I agree,” he said. “Listen, Nico, about the open marriage thing… it was a bad idea. I’m sorry I even suggested it.”

“It was very stupid,” Nico said, nodding. “But I don’t think it was a bad idea.”

Now it was Will that was confused. What did Nico mean? Nico had been the one with doubts since day one, at least until he found Percy. He noticed the two folders neatly placed on top of the coffee table.

Oh. Oh, no.

“Why wasn’t it?” he asked, already dreading the answer.

“It made me realize something,” he told him. “I’m not happy, Will. I don’t think I’ve been happy for a very long time.”

“Nico this isn’t… we can fix this! We can go back to how things were, go to counseling, talk it out!”

This couldn’t be happening. A simple mistake he had made because he wanted variety couldn’t be the end of it all.

“Open that folder,” he instructed him, pointing at the one on edge of the table with his foot.

With trembling hands, Will did so. Inside, there was a birth certificate and… a name change document?

Both were under Nico di Angelo's name, but the birth certificate had the birth year wrong, much closer to the present than it truly was.

“Did you know that in Italy, spouses normally keep their last names?” he asked. “I want to be Nico di Angelo again, and due to my circumstances, I couldn’t without some legal counsel with a lawyer that knew about the mythological.”

Will frowned.

“Should I change my name too, then?” he asked, confused. “If you want to be a di Angelo again, it’s okay, but I really want us to have the same last name. We’re a couple, a family. Changing all my documents at the hospital is going to suck, though… but I’ll do it, if that’s what it takes!”

Nico sighed and shook his head.

“You don’t get it,” he said, resigned. “You said you want things to go back to the way they were before the open marriage, and I’m here to tell you that’s not going to happen. Open the other folder.”

Will followed the orders mechanically. The second folder was a bit thicker, and also had two multipage documents separated by staples.

One was a postnuptial agreement, and the other… divorce papers.

“Nico…”

“I’m giving you a choice,” he sentenced. He looked too much like Hades for Will’s liking. “I want to visit the Underworld more often, I want to work with my father, fight monsters, earn my own money that way. The postnup states you are okay with all of it, and in case of divorce, we each keep what we earned.”

“That’s a step backwards for you, for us,” he said, trying to make him understand. “You would be in danger, I would worry myself sick. It’s not good for either of us!”

If Nico wanted to work, there were options elsewhere. Maybe he could be a barista, or work at a supermarket, at least while he studied for a career in college. Going back to demigod quests, Underworld demigod quests, at that, was just reckless and downright suicidal.

“That leaves the other option,” he said, pointing at the divorce papers. “I don’t mind playing house, being the stay-at-home husband, but I won’t ever again be the guy that lets life pass him by while his husband thrives. If you aren’t okay with this, we are better off splitting up.”

“You… you can’t be serious,” Will said, voice shaking. With fear, with anger, he wasn’t sure. “An ultimatum, really?”

“Yes,” Nico said simply. “I won’t take anything except my clothes and personal items if you chose divorce, I won’t ask for anything. I know this isn’t the married life you wanted, so I’m giving you an out to look for it.”

“With someone else.” He stated. Will felt empty as he stared at the documents. “While you go to Percy Jackson.”

It was obvious. It was so obvious. Because of his stupidity, he had allowed the son of Poseidon to sweep in and poison Nico’s mind, offering him the danger and excitement Nico thought he craved.

“What I do after is irrelevant,” he told him. “I want to give you the choice, though. I care for you, Will, enough to give this marriage a second chance, but it’s up to you. You can either sign the postnup, or the divorce papers.”

He offered him a pen. Will didn’t take it.

“What if I don’t sign either of them?” Will asked. “What then?”

“Going to court, long legal battles, we might end up resenting or hating each other by the end of it,” he said. “That’s what my lawyer tells me, at least.”

“Of course you consulted a lawyer for that option, too,” he said, scoffing. “Was it that one Fury?”

That made Nico laugh. It was an honest sound that almost made Will forget his anger.

“I wouldn’t let Alecto write this even if she paid me,” he said, shaking his head. “She would add her… unique flavor to it and make it worse. No, I went to a daughter of Dike that has her office in Astoria.”

Will glared and roughly took the pen from Nico’s hand. His husband didn’t even flinch at it.

He signed one of the documents quickly, closing the folder.

“If Percy Jackson hadn’t shown up, do you think we could have—?”

“Percy wasn’t the one who suggested an open marriage,” Nico interrupted him, voice cold. “But he was the one to tell me I deserve better.”

Percy Jackson drooled in his sleep. His nose scrunched up when he was confused. His sea green eyes were so deep it was impossible to guess his thoughts from them alone. The real way to know how he felt was his eyebrows, black and perfectly sculpted despite no beauty salon touching them. They shot up when he was surprised, furrowed when he was angry, softened when he smiled and meant it. He wasn’t a mystery to be solved so much as a catchy song difficult to memorize. A song that could become a favorite if someone learned to appreciate it.

Nico di Angelo found himself in that song, and he had learned to see Percy for who he really was. Not a hero, not the boy who had failed to protect his sister all those years ago, not a guy he used to have a crush on. He was a brave, funny, intelligent man that he could see himself falling in love with. But that wasn’t fair to either of them, not with Nico being married and Percy forcing himself to take what little Nico could offer him.

So, Nico di Angelo had pulled away.

Will Solace was an open book. He had no poker face to speak of, no secret tells because he tried to never lie. His appearance brought to mind a ray of sunshine, all blond hair, sun-kissed skin, a charming smile and baby blue eyes. The thing about rays of sunshine, though, is that they’re warm, cozy for a time, but the longer someone stayed under them, the more suffocating, uncomfortable, and even painful it became to be under their constant exposure.

Nico Solace had loved Will, but he had also been miserable with him for that reason. He had felt stifled, like he was a side character in his own life, while Will shined brighter and brighter. He still endured it because of some warped sense of duty. He had married him, after all, it had been a vow, a promise to stay together, to be faithful and loyal despite the hardships, and Nico, no matter what his last name was, kept his promises.

It had been Will breaking his part of said vows that killed Nico Solace for good.

Nico di Angelo was a son of Hades, though. Even if Nico Solace was dead, he kept his corpse around for longer than he should. He had a hard time letting go, maybe to the point of a Fatal Flaw (if he ever met with Bianca again, he would correct her that it wasn’t grudges he held on to).

Nico wouldn’t break a promise just because someone else did it first, it wasn’t in his nature. He had the obligation to give his marriage one last chance, but on his terms this time.

Ever since they got together, Will had been after an ideal Nico, or what he thought an ideal Nico looked like. It had been a long, arduous process, but Nico had finally gotten to a place where Will was not frowning or grimacing at any joke or comment he did anymore. He thought he was changing for good, but at the end of the day, he was just hiding himself away, and that couldn’t keep happening.

So, he had laid out a choice, and Will chose what was best for them both.

“You’re distracted today,” Percy mumbled against his collar bone. “Should I be offended?”

Will could have signed the postnup, but it would have been painful for them both. It would have been Nico staying with someone he cared for, but didn’t love anymore, for the sake of keeping a promise. It would have been Will chasing after Nico Solace, trying to bring him back from the dead against Nico di Angelo’s wishes.

“Just thinking back on how things got to this point,” he said, taking Percy’s face in his hands and pulling him up so they could kiss.

“Well, you got back from soul hunting for your dad with leftover adrenaline,” Percy said against his lips. “And I am a very, very weak man when it comes to your charms.”

Nico chuckled. He untangled his legs from Percy just so he could remove his underwear.

“Sure, let’s go with that.” He shrugged, rolling his eyes.

Percy pulled back and smiled. That smile that told Nico he was more aware than he appeared.

“You came to me when you needed me,” he told him. “And I realized I needed you, too.”

Nico nodded. At the end of the day relationships were that simple. You needed someone who needed you. You wanted someone who wanted you.

He didn’t need Will, and after the open marriage agreement, he hadn’t wanted Will.

That night, Nico had needed someone to be there, to remind him how much he mattered and… well, he had always wanted Percy. Even when he convinced himself he didn’t, it was only because he had wanted to stop hurting more.

“I love you, Percy Jackson,” he said, realizing how true it was as he said it.

Percy’s grin, with his eyes coming alight and his eyebrows rising ever so slightly, was everything Nico wished for.

“I love you too, Nico di Angelo,” he said back before kissing him again. Nico moaned into it, feeling Percy caress him all over with his hands, his mouth, his whole body. “Now, I think I was about to wreck you.”

Nico laughed again, pressing his forehead against Percy’s.

“Spoken like a true romantic,” he said sarcastically before pecking him. His legs hugged Percy’s waist once again. “Do it.”