Love in a Thunderstorm

“Well, hello.” Zach put his hand out. It wasn’t uncommon of him to get jealous of people. Envy though wasn’t an emotion he often felt. Money was never really an issue. Of course his money was someone else most of the time. He had friends, got on good with a lot of people. But losing battles. Since the monsters had flooded New Rome and Camp Jupiter, Zach spent more time at the gym. He worked harder. That had led him to earning more victories. Here comes along this kid, who was almost his age actually, and stomps over Zach. Julian didn’t meant it. His mischievous nature added fuel to the fire. Maybe Zach just needed to get that pranking-monkey off his back and scratch that itch.

    Taking another sip, “Yeah I kind of like keeping tabs on people, besides you are a wicked fighter so...how could I not?” other than he remembered Cora talking about training a few people one time at a coffee shop. Julian really hasn’t seen the daughter of Poseidon but knowing she was a big three and a legacy, he could safe assume she was worthy of her title. Following up with another sip he grinned as he listened longer. It was weird but ever since his first sip the boy grew vastly more thirsty than he was before but didn’t pay any mind to it. 

“Sounds cheesy and stupid, but a little Italian place down the road from the center of town. Something about it makes me think of the few memories I found of my mom.”

    Julian felt a a bit sad all of a sudden, like instantly the thought of his mother popped into his head, and though Nico may have had more memories than him it still stung. “Yeah, it’s not cheesy...at least for me. If I had a place to eat that made me think my mom I would do it too.” 

That sounded, if anything, promising. To Nico at least. Gods, this wasn’t what it was like around Percy right? It’d been awhile. Nervous, yet somehow smiling kept it all in. “I would love to. I was actually on my way to get something when I ran into you just hanging around.”

    “Well I guess it was fated then.” a charmed smiled curled on to his lips as his original color flowed back into his face, along with some godly ichor that calmed his nerves. “Where you headed to go anyway?” he walked aimlessly, just so they could not awkwardly stand in the middle of the archway. “I’ll just tag along, I’m not too picky really.” 

“Do I look like a demon to you?” She pointed her face. “You’ve made a deal with someone a shit ton better then some shitty lie told keep kids in line. And you even get to keep your soul!” Artie laughed at her own terrible joke. 

    “Rightttt.....” trailing off before making this quick so he could leaving. “Well whatever the deal is I assume you’ll find me, after all your dad was kind of like the bookie of the gods so I’ll trust that I can’t find from you.” looking down at the ground before back on behind her. “I’m going to find my brother but thanks again...Artie right? I remember you from the dinner now. Anyway I'll see you around?” he ended with a question unsure if he could leave or her favor was something immediately. 

Zach’s eyes were glued on one man. One nameless man. One man who was the brother of Jason Grace, which means he was super overpowered. Which totally wasn’t fair. Zach’s granddaddy was Zeus, so why didn’t he get any cool lightning blasting powers. His lycanthropy enhancement and natural athletics didn’t help him against Julian in the groups battle. He had lost, and Julian had showed him up. As they finished up in the showers, Zach swore that he’d get the guy back. Somehow.

     It was a victorious day, which modestly for Julian wasn’t everyday. Being the son of Jupiter had it’s perks and though when it came to training he was improving far faster than he expected. His stamina, his strength, and even at times his electromancy was becoming easier to control and to manipulate. So once everything melded into one, he found himself on top and on the winning side on today’s team building session. From the field, to the showers, and off to the barracks he felt like everyone was paying attention to him more. From quick congratulations from people in the shower to one of the barista in New Rome commenting about what she heard as he got a coffee it seemed everyone was team Julian---well perhaps everyone but one. For the young demigod sabotage or jealous has never been a thought for him, so naively he walked around assuming everyone was in the best interest of others....perhaps a fatal flaw of his, but none the less Zach’s scheme would definitely go unnoticed. 

Nico couldn’t help but pick at the boy. Straightening his shirt, ruffling his hair, straightening back out. It was ass soft as it had been the other night. He smiled, winking at Jules as he stepped back a bit to assess him. “Well, not like you’ve caught me at an awkward time. Yours just happens to be more embarrassing. Besides, if you don’t want me to flirt, what would you rather I do?”

    That was a loaded question if he’s heard any. “You could kiss me? You could tell me your darkest secrets? You could not make me light up like a marquee sign with how electrify I feel when I think of us.” were all devious and hurtful thoughts that popped into his head. That undying need to be loved and to love was always a problem for him, and being so young only made the fear of it all not being true that much harder. “You could walk me to get something to eat if you haven’t already. I’ve been up there for I don’t know how many hours.” answer answer he thought before leaning off of Nico as he tried to gain his composure. 

“Awesome! Pleasure doing business with you.” She smirked and began untying the knot until it was completely loose and undone. She then dropped the rope and looked expectantly at Julian. “That do the trick?”

    “Pleasures all yours.” replying swiftly, since by the time he could say it the ropes were off of him quicker than he could hazily remember them being tied up. “That should do it,” he wiggled once more before picking up the air around them to sever the last cord that hung him up and landed on his feet shortly after. “Thanks, even if I feel like I made a deal with the devil.” shaking his head while he rubbed the bounded marks on his wrist. 

Darkness crept along the stone, from behind the arch and in the surrounding. A swirling pool of dark matter that enveloped the pair and moved backward. The dark vortex releasing them into the light once more, Julian’s legs freed. Nico held him by shadow, and set him down gently with shadow, brushing the boy off as he stood on his own two feet. “Wasn’t so bad. You look a little purple turning pale now that the blood is leaving your head, but still just as cute.” Nico grinned, tapping the boy’s nose.

      The uneasy feeling stewed in his stomach once more while every source of light was being swallowed hold by Nico’s ability. Who knew that something so terrify could be so hot in the hands of someone you liked---really, like any sane person would turn the other way, though being the grandson of Cupid usually that meant running face first into problematic situations. Either way once dark laced tendrils lifted the boy into a the vortex, and in seconds he was right side up and being placed down he could feel it. That is his stomach, churning up once more until the bile felt as if it was floating inside of his skull. “Yeah I feel a bit pale--” he leaned into Nico, using his body as a support before finding a warm smile working across his lips. “You can’t flirt with me when I’m like this, it’s unfair.” 

“Babe.” Artie tutted. “Leave the comeback lines to me okay? I’ll bring the brains and you can bring the pretty.” She stood up, brushing imaginary dirt off her skirt. “Fine, you see I’m not heartless. But I do expect something out of this.” She stood up on her tiptops and let her hand waver over the knot holding him up. “Do we have a deal? I’ll help you, you do something for me?” 

     Staying quiet for a momentum he mulled over the offer knowing deep in his bones that he shouldn’t agree, that if Greek and Roman mythology has taught him anything making a deal with Hermes is sometimes worse than Hades....but he had no option. “Deal, deal, deal then! Just get me down.” they both silent shook hands in away while he tried to squirm a bit less for the girl. 

“It’s always like that at first. That’s mostly your fear though. All in the brain. Takes a while to get used to. It’s like… Well, for better lack of comparison, bottoming.. Wait, no, I got it. Like new shoes. Whew. Don’t have to go down that other route. You gotta break them in before you’re comfortable.” He chuckled, raising his arms and hooking them under the boy’s pits to catch him when he came loose. “Ready?”

    Thanks to Julian’s face being already kissed red thanks to his predicament, the flush on his cheeks were barely noticeable unless you were squinting. He could help but think about what the other said. Between the sexuality of it all, to Nico obviously covering that up, to Jules thinking about Nico naked entirely---it was surprising he was sparking a few hundred voltages at this point. “S-sure?” gulping before closing his eyes and waited with anticipation. 

“That was only a joke.” Nico laughed at the boy’s nerves and stopped pacing. He wasn’t allowed to have a weapon in New Rome, and he doubted he’d be allowed to take a knife from a restaurant. “Shadow travel might be your only route to freedom. You might pass out before I can get you down. Could have a heart problem and go into shock. I for one, hate needles. I can’t stand the sight of them.”

        “Right a joke.” murmuring lowly, but from this angle he couldn’t tell if Nico was smiling at him or just his normal face---part of him hoped it was the former. “Really? I always get queazy when we do that.” not to mention when ever he thought about shadow traveling he thought of that night. “Can I opt out for the needle part? I’m okay with passing out as long as you are around---” he froze up, “Not like, um like last time just know you...uh just um, if you are here in general.” 

“Damn it! Sorry! That water blob was supposed to catch you but I must have misjudged where you’d fall,” she gestured uselessly towards said blob before depositing the water back in her pouch. “Sorry,” she offered again with a hint of chagrin. Still, she couldn’t resist coming back to how she’d make a great lumberjack. “I dunno, I think I could definitely rock some serious flannel. That’s step one, right?” Coming closer to him, she gave him a purposeful once over looking for any possible injury. “You’re not hurt, are you? I can try and help if you are. And I won’t say anything to Jason. Scout’s honor.” Her fingers made the proper Girl Scout salute as a teasing grin came across her.

     “No it’s fine, but at least you have better control on your powers than mine...” grinning shortly before returning his normal expression. Embarrassment and anxiousness washed over his body as he stood, feeling a bit hung over or that was just from his exhaustion of being hung up for so long. “I mean I’d love to try it out with you. I’ve always liked flannel but never could rock it....plaid and colors on me at the same time is probably the hideous thing you’ve ever seen.” chuckling lowly. “Also thanks.” he’s said once or twice already, but he just needed to pepper that in once more. “Jason would have eaten me alive if he found me like this....”

    Out of anyone in this town or on this side of the hemisphere Julian hoped that Nico would be the last person to see him like this but since his life has been a running catalogs of how The Fates can humiliate him....he should have figured. “Hey man, what’s up....gu-good to see you.” he replied awkwardly. It’s been a week or two since they’ve spoken and since Reyna’s party, training beside him was a bit harder as well. “Uh...I’d like to keep my feet if possible. Though, no shadow travel please...”

Hunter frowned and deliberately brought his metal foot down a little harder than was really necessary. “Just ignore the foot kid,” he said with a slight growl, “if it is a real problem for you then find someone else to train with, but I’m not going to be an easy target if that is what you’re worried about.”

     The tension in the hair fell over them as it was apparent Julian offended the other, but none the less nodded in his response. “No, no problem after all I’m eager to train...besides aren’t you in my cohort?” he asked while strapping up his gloves, “I think I saw a picture of you hung up somewhere around our barracks...”