@percicomicrofic | prompt: RAW | wordcount: 1, 302 | universe: post-TOA
For the first time in his life, Nico feels warm.
Maybe it's the weather. Maybe it's the itchy suit he's wearing. Maybe it's the fact that Percy and him have been dating for only a week and they're about to get married in less than an hour.
Nico stands in front of the mirror, adjusting his bow-tie for the millionth time that evening. He exhales heavily, fans his face with his hands, and adjusts his bow-tie again.
The past week, heck, the past month has felt like such a blur. When Nico and Percy had reunited for the last month of Camp's summer session after not seeing each other for almost a decade, neither of them had expected the month to end with their marriage. And despite Nico being utterly, irrevocably in love with a certain Percy Jackson, he still worries if their relationship is actually real or Percy's going to get bored one day in the future and walk out on him. To be fair, everyone had expected Percy and Annabeth to stay together forever - especially considering they fell into Tartarus together, and that place does things to you. Nico knows it all too well. And if Percy and Annabeth can't stay together, what chance do Nico and Percy have? What if getting married is a bad idea? What if Percy hates him?
Nico huffs and reties his bow-tie, then wonders if he should have chosen a sober tie instead. In the mirror of his cabin bathroom, he notices Hazel, clad in a beautiful black gown made by Underworld tailors just for the occasion, walk in.
"Is it really hot in here or is it just me?"
"I'm sure your cold feet will keep you cooled enough."
Nico grimaces, and Hazel sighs in that affectionate, slightly exasperated tone she uses only for Nico.
"Look, I would tell you that you're being silly for getting married so quickly, but I know you love Percy, and the guy loves you too. You're my brother. Don't think I wouldn't fight if I thought you were making a mistake." Hazel smiles. "And the guy in question is absolutely going insane out there, and I'm scared he'll blow up more toilets."
Hazel offers her arm and Nico smiles hesitantly. "Coming?"
The wedding is objectively beautiful. Camp Half-Blood is covered in a beautiful pink sky, slowly darkening from the impending sunset. A cool breeze tickles through the chattering crowds of various demigods and a random assortment of gods, spreading the sweet smell of blooming strawberries and summer wildflowers. The beach is decorated in rolls of streamers and balloons, with enough chairs for an army of guests. The ocean waves catch the glittering rays of the setting sun, and everything is picturesque.
Occupying an entire row of chairs for himself, even Hades is dressed for the occasion - which basically means he's adorned every individual soul that consists his robe with tiny flower crowns. Sally and Paul are alternatively bursting into tears even though the ceremony hasn't even started yet. Poseidon looks a little confused but mostly supportive.
Nico doesn't notice any of it, though. When he sees Percy standing in the middle of the makeshift altar in his brilliant cerulean suit, Nico can physically feel all his worries subsiding to the back of his mind.
The wedding is objectively beautiful, but in Nico's mind, all it can be reduced to is one overwhelming event of utter happiness, enough tears to last a lifetime, and an entire evening of staring right into Percy's eyes. Nico is living on a high and he doesn't want it to end.
The crash comes too, of course, the ill-fortuned shadow of every happy occasion Nico has ever celebrated in his life.
The sun has finally set, dragging the tapestry of the night into focus. The wedding reception is going well, but when Nico's worries get too much to handle, he escapes into a secluded corner of the Big House.
Nico paces in circles around the spot, incessantly tapping the long-empty wine glass. The streamers behind him rustle, but he takes no note of it. On his hand, the simple golden band sits like a weight of thousand tons, either signifying the best decision of his life or his greatest mistake. And that's the problem - he doesn't know yet. Percy has been sweet and loving and basically everything he's ever wanted all week but every happy moment feels like he's waiting for a bomb to explode or this dream to end or for Percy to pop up and say something like 'Yeah, I lied, we're getting a divorce and I'm taking our cat'. They don't even have a cat but Nico's overthought this exact topic so much that he's somehow managed to plan out their retirements.
"Are you having second thoughts?" a familiar voice says, and Nico turns to find a sheepish and worried Percy.
Nico plasters on a smile, about to say something to diffuse the situation, but bites his words back. This is Percy. They're married. He should know what Nico's going through.
"No, it's just... I'm worried. I'm worried that even though you loved Annabeth so much, you still broke up, and if you can break up with the greatest love of your life, what chance do we have?"
When Percy doesn't say anything, Nico bites his lip and sighs, hoping he hasn't gone too far.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have said anything - "
"No, I'm glad you told me this."
Percy sets Nico's glass on a random table and takes his hands in his. "I'm sorry I made you feel like you have to compare yourself to anyone, Nico."
"It's fine, it wasn't your fault."
"It kind of was," Percy presses on. "Please, I never want you to feel like you're... anything less, because you're special to me, Nico. You're amazing and I feel so happy when I'm with you and nothing, literally nothing can compare to finally marrying you today and having you be mine. Annabeth was... different. I loved her but it was the kind of love that fizzles out quickly, you know? And she definitely wasn't the greatest love of my life. You are. Please, don't worry about anyone else."
Nico chews on his lip, all worries not displaced from his mind yet.
"And our love? Is it the kind that fizzles out quickly, too?"
"Do you think it is?" Percy asks, then sighs when Nico still doesn't respond. "Look, I know we've made a very... hasty decision. And I've said this in my vows already, but this marriage, this ring, it's also my promise to you. I promise that every day we wake up, I make the conscious decision to put our relationship first. I promise that whatever happens to us, we'll always go through it together. Everything might be a little raw right now, but I promise, we'll build something so good you'll never doubt anything, Nico. Do you trust me?"
Nico hesitates, then a wide grin cracks across his face. Percy's right - adversaries and troubles are never far from them, but at least they don't have to go through everything alone. They'll always have a home to come back to, and Nico wouldn't give it up for the world.
Nico grabs Percy's face and presses a rough kiss onto his lips.
"I love you, Percy Jackson," he murmurs and he can feel Percy smiling against his lips.
"Percy Jackson-di Angelo now," Percy corrects, and Nico suddenly feels giddy. He's just gotten married to the love of his life. They have an entire lifetime of happiness awaiting them. And Nico knows that as long as they're in it, they're in it together.
"Come on," he says, dragging Percy to the dance floor. "We have a wedding reception to enjoy."
