The Most Oblivious Person On The Planet

Summary: Wherein Nico courts Percy, Percy is oblivious and the girls can't believe their idiocy. Nicercy

Warning(s): Major Character Death (Annabeth), Some angst and Hurt/Comfort in first chapter

Author's Note: Don't you just love an oblivious Percy?

Prologue—So Finished With The Friendzone

Nico was somewhat frustrated with his situation.

Oh who was he kidding? He was so pissed that any dead thing within a meter radius of him started shaking, just that close to regaining consciousness, in tune with his obvious agitation. And who was responsible for his condition?

Percy "You're one of my best friends" Jackson, that's who! The person who Nico he lived for, the person he loved with all his heart. Yes, that was a cheesy statement, so cheesy that a dairy farm probably did not even own that much cheese, but it was the truth. It was his fault that Nico's power was going somewhat bonkers from emotional overload.

Well—Nico would concede that it wasn't actually Percy's fault per se. Perhaps the blame should be more appropriately shifted to Piper.

Let's start from the beginning.

It has been four years since the Giant War ended and all was calm. Much to the surprise of every demigod in existence, no other prophecy popped out from nowhere, no other foe was lurking in the shadows just biding their time (or at least Nico hoped not), and everything was normal. As normal as a life of a demigod could be, that is.

Which left Nico lots of time to contemplate his feelings for Percy, something that Nico actually did not appreciate. During the war it was quite easy to control his thoughts. Bring the Athena Parthenos to Camp Half-blood, return to the Argo II to help the chosen seven. Keep Hazel safe—he wasn't going to lose another sister.

But most importantly: Keep Percy safe at all costs.

Probably the most frequently thought phrase that passed through Nico's head daily.

And after the war was over, Nico hadn't sought romance with Percy either, for one simple reason—Annabeth had died. Leaving Percy heartbroken.

Nico helped Percy through his grief though. Percy had pushed everyone away the first year, much to the dismay of all his friends and family. Except for Nico.

Since Nico was the son of Hades and travelled to the Underworld on a regular basis, he had been the only one Percy was willing to talk to. With reluctant permission from his father, Nico had brought Percy down to the Underworld, to Elysium, to say the goodbyes he had never gotten the chance to utter to the daughter of Athena.

"Annabeth," Percy said in a broken tone, unshed tears shimmering in his eyes. The blonde gave Percy a sad smile and stepped towards him, lifting a hand to touch his face, only for it to pass through, as if her hand was never there.

"It's okay Percy," she murmured soothingly into his ear. "It wasn't your fault that I died. And I'm happy here. It's nice."

Percy kissed her cheek, or tried to at least, and Nico felt his heart ache, only to feel ashamed moments later when he realised how juvenile it was to get jealous over a dead person.

Annabeth had caught the flash of pain in Nico's eyes and turned to him with a look of understanding in her sharp grey eyes. "Take care of him for me, okay?" She said softly, too soft for Percy to catch.

Nico nodded solemnly and beckoned Percy to him. The limited time Hades had given Percy to stay was up and it was time to leave.

"Goodbye Annabeth," Percy said, and the tears he had been trying to hold back were slowly trailing down his face.

"Goodbye Seaweed Brain," she said, fondness evident in her voice.

"And word of advice Percy? It's time to stop hiding." Was the last thing they heard before Nico shadow-travelled them away.

When they had returned back to Camp Half-blood, Nico allowed Percy to cry in his arms, all the while muttering calming words under he finally fell asleep.

After the visit Percy had improved and started opening himself to others again. He had also spent more and more time with Nico, depending on him and telling him everything. And Nico had taken his role graciously, beyond glad with the amount of trust that Percy placed in him.

Percy had also—shocking everybody—came out as gay. He had admitted that he and Annabeth had faked their relationship so that they could each conceal their secret, and also because the entire camp had expected them to end up together. But even so, he hadn't gotten a boyfriend or showed any interest in the boys around him (much to both Nico's relief and disappointment).

Now, four years after the war, Nico had almost been resigned to a life of being Percy's best friend and only his best friend. But that was until Piper had started interfering.

You see, everyone with eyes had been able to see how much Nico loved Percy, besides Percy himself, and seeing such an obviously perfect pair that wasn't together had awoken the inner matchmaker in the daughter of Aphrodite. She knew that Nico just needed that extra push for him to start courting Percy and she had given said push.

Piper had recently started using Percy as her own personal Barbie doll, dressing him up in the most drool-worthy clothes she could find. Percy had allowed it—partly due to Piper's ability to charmspeak—and now dressed in clothes that accentuated his every positive feature.

Oh Zeus, Nico was in a dilemma! With such a temptation dangling in front of him, it was almost impossible to hold back and resist ravishing the perfect beauty.

But the final straw had been when the guys at camp had started coming on to his Percy, from asking him out on dates to outright groping him.

Percy had not accepted any of the offers (and the ones who tried touching him—let's just say that Nico took care of them). However, Nico dreaded the day when Percy finally did accept a date and ended up with someone that wasn't him.

Nico knew if that happened, he would completely crumble. He wouldn't allow anyone to steal Percy from him. Never.

And so here he was, coming up with ways to make Percy see him as more than his best friend.

He still had trouble with deciding the best course of action—honestly, he knew nothing about romantic relationships—but he had at least decided one thing.

No matter what it takes, Nico would make Percy his.