Children of Loss Ch. 44 pt. 1

Chapter 44

“You can't avoid the subject forever.”

“Twerp, if you don't stop bringing this up, you're going to get tied to my bed again.”

Nico smirked as he followed Luke down the hall after their daily practice session. A week had gone by since Nico's birthday, and the boy was relieved that everything now seemed normal again. Well, as much as could pass for normal at the Lotus Hotel. At least the fighting had stopped.

Luke spun around outside the door to the manager's office. He narrowed his icy blue eyes at Nico. “How many times do I have to tell you not to worry about it?”

Nico huffed and crossed his arms. “Would it kill you to let someone do something nice for you?” Luke just shrugged. “Jason and I are going to Disneyland tomorrow, do you want to join?”

A flicker of irritation went through Luke's eyes before he rolled them. “I'm not going to some park for kids.”

The brown-eyed boy scoffed as the blond reached for the doorknob. “Did you even have a childhood?”

Luke just grunted as they entered the office. Rachel and Leo were there, as usual, but it seemed that Kronos had currently stepped out. Not that Nico minded. Annabeth was also there, sitting on the edge of Rachel's desk. Luke walked over and dropped a folder that he had been carrying onto Leo's desk.

“Yay, more work,” Leo grumbled.

Nico poked at some of the paperwork. “What is all of this for?”

“Our busiest holiday is Valentine's Day, go figure.” The Latino boy worked to type something in on his computer. “Lots of paperwork to get rooms and stuff like that organized. Regular couples come pouring in to get our holiday specials on rooms.”

Rachel nodded casually. “Which means we have to section off about two or three floors for redecorating for the theme.” She let out a sigh and flipped the page of a document in her hands. “Which means that a lot of you will be working different places, including the cabana. But, lucky for you and Jason, you two have school.”

Annabeth chuckled at the smirk from Nico. “Don't get too excited, you'll still be given work once you're back. Plus the hotel's special on the holiday lasts all weekend, so you will probably end up working that Saturday or Sunday.”

“Or both,” Leo added.

“Joy,” Nico grumbled. He nodded towards the documents Luke had dropped off. “So what's all that for then?”

Luke sat down in an empty chair. “I was just picking it up for Leo. It's from the twins.” He placed his hands behind his head. “Just some requests by customers, plus a few new client requests for access to the top floor.”

Nico tilted his head to the side. “What do the twins have to do with that?”

Leo grinned at him. “Remember when we told you that the twins sort of scope out new clients and all that?” The Lost Boy asked. Nico nodded. “Well that's just what this is.” Leo held up a page from one of the documents Luke had given him. “Let's say that one of the clients has a strange request to have one of you come to their room at night. It's the job of the twins to evaluate the safety of the request. We obviously don't want to send you to the room of some lunatic that might try smuggling you out of the hotel and keep you locked in their basement.”

“Speaking of possible lunatics,” Rachel said. “What did that client get you for your birthday?”

Nico simply shrugged. “Don't know, never opened it.” He sat down next to Luke. “I stuffed it in the back of my closet.”

Annabeth ran a hand through her golden curls. “Well, I wouldn't be too worried, it's just a present.” She held up a finger. “But just keep in mind that presents are where the obsessions start.”

Rachel tossed a finished folder to the side of her desk as the door opened again. Reyna popped in with two more folders in her hand. The red-haired girl let out a groan and slumped in her chair. Reyna chuckled and handed it over to the other Lost Girl.

“That should be the last of it,” said Reyna. She crossed her arms. “Everything should be there from Aphrodite, Ganymede, Circe, Chiron, and Dionysus.”

“Yeah.” Rachel let out a groan and rubbed her temples. “Hazel just brought up the files from the kitchen, Esperanza, and the gym. Why is there so much work?”

Nico blinked. “Where's Kronos?”

“Dealing with some other stuff,” Leo grumbled.

Rachel let out a breath. “Well, the good news is that, if you guys stick around, we might can talk to Percy.” The room seemed to perk up at the name. “I've got to call the German branch about some things, so maybe he'll be around.”

The room quieted down as Rachel dialed the phone. She put it on speaker as it started to ring. Nico pursed his lips and sat on the edge of his seat. Aside from the conversation with Nico, Percy had been pretty absent from their lives. Other than Nico, he had only called the office once or twice to check in with Rachel and Leo. His excuse was always the same, though: he was busy.

The phone picked up on the sixth ring. “Hello?” Came Athena's voice. The room let out an audible groan. The woman on the phone let out a sigh. “Nice to hear from all of you, too.”

“Sorry.” Rachel scanned over something on her computer. “So, I just wanted to let you know that the files that Gaea requested should be emailed over by tonight, and we'll fax you over a hard copy first thing in the morning.” The Lost Girl leaned back in her chair. “There were a few concerns, but I'm sure Gaea will find them herself.”

“Good, good.” If Athena's voice was anything to go by, she was just as exhausted as Rachel and Leo sounded. “Is there anything else?”

“Is Percy around?” Leo asked.

“Sorry, not at the moment,” the European branch manager replied. “He probably isn't going to have any free time today. He's a little tied up in his room at the moment. I believe he's with our newest Lost Boy.”

Rachel tilted her head to the side. “You got a new one?”

“Not too long ago.” The sound of shuffling paper could be heard from Athena's end. “He's a natural, I must say. Quite the charmer, and already popular with a lot of the guests.”

Nico frowned, his brow furrowed. So Percy was too busy having sex with the new Lost Boy at the German hotel to come talk to them? What else could he be doing in his bedroom with a Lost Kid? It had to make Nico wonder if that was what Percy had been doing the whole time. Was that what Percy meant by “busy”?

In all honesty, Nico had been hoping for the best after his present from Percy. If he was right about something, Nico could only hope it concerned Percy's feelings for him. But now Nico just found himself irritated with the green-eyed young man. But, really, what was Nico expecting? Even if, by some miracle, Percy did like him back, nothing would change between them.

And that was even if Percy ever came back.

“All right,” Rachel sighed. “Well, when he gets done, tell him we called and that we miss him.”

“I will. I'll call back if we have any questions about your files.”

“Okay.” Rachel groaned as she hung up the phone. “That boy is impossible to get a hold of when he's in Germany.”

“Always?” Nico asked.

Annabeth nodded. “Whenever Percy visits Gaea, he gets distracted and forgets to call most of the time.” The blonde Lost Girl shrugged. “But I suppose I can understand. I mean, while he's here, he has all this work, but he can just relax while he's in Germany.”

“Yeah.” Nico let out a sigh and stood to his feet. “Well, I think I'm going to get something to eat and get ready for work.” The others waved at Nico, but the boy just lazily nodded his head. He knew that he shouldn't let what Athena said bother him, but it did. Why did things have to be this way? It felt like the universe was just out to keep him and Percy apart. That was if Percy really did like him back.

“Nico.”

Nico stopped at the elevator when he heard Reyna's voice. He turned around and quirked a brow at her. “What's up?”

The Lost Girl seemed a little irritated, it caught Nico off-guard. “Why are you getting upset?”

“What are you-”

“Back there.” She frowned at him. “You're upset at the possibility of Percy having sex while in Germany. Don't forget that it's standard over here. I was starting to think that you were past the concept of romance and sex being the same thing.”

“I am.” Nico narrowed his eyes. “I'm not mad.”

“Yes, you are.” The Lost Girl blocked the elevator when Nico tried to board it. “You're being a hypocrite. Why are you getting mad at Percy, when you're doing the exact same thing? Luke, Percy, Will, and even Jason; are you just going to string them along?”

Nico opened his mouth to fire back a retort, but nothing came to mind. She was right, so right. He was mad at Percy having sex while he was away, but Nico was doing the exact same thing. Nico's eyes slowly fell to his feet. “You're right,” he whispered. The Lost Boy shook his head. “I don't know what I want anymore. I don't even know what I'm doing.”

Reyna sighed and shook her head. “Well, if you do manage to snag one of the boys, try not to cheat on them. Sex is one thing, but you can't really go around and have it with others if you're expecting your partner to give you a committed relationship.”

“It doesn't really matter with Percy.” The raven-haired boy let out a breath. “He's just a hopeless dream.”

Reyna quirked a brow. “I love you, Nico, but you are kind of dumb when it comes to street smarts. Percy loves us all, but he's never put himself in danger before. Not to mention that you're the only one that he's called, aside from Rachel and Leo, which was primarily about business.”

“So, you want me to stop having sex with the rest of them, and just hope for the best with Percy?”

“Didn't say that.” The Lost Girl crossed her arms. “Sex is fine, Nico, just don't get irritated if Percy does the same thing you're doing. It doesn't bother me that you're doing it. What bothers me is that you're getting irritated when Percy does it. Not to mention that you don't even know for sure that he is having sex.”

Nico scoffed. “What else would he be doing?”

Reyna tilted her head to the side. “You're talking about the same Percy that has never propositioned any of us for sex, but only does it to conduct business with us. What makes you think he would go around doing it when there was no business involved?”

The elevator dinged behind Nico. The Lost Boy heard the doors open behind him and Reyna's body stiffened. A chill ran across Nico's body. He didn't even need to turn around to know who was standing behind him.

“Are you two going to stand around, crowding my hall all day?”

Nico gulped and turned around to face their current manager. Kronos frowned down at him. For the past week, Kronos had been less prominent in the Lost Kids' lives. While Nico wasn't sure if Kronos knew that he was the one that got the others to stop fighting, but Nico had made it his goal to avoid the manager at all costs. He didn't want to be near Kronos, just in case the young man figured out who took away his favorite source of entertainment.

“One of you is bad enough to being staring at.” Kronos narrowed his eyes at Reyna. “Why don't you make yourself scarce?”

Reyna eyed the two of them before putting her arm on Nico's shoulder. “We'll just be going-”

“No.” Kronos smiled sweetly at the two of them. “You go, he stays.”

Nico gave a silent nod. Reyna pursed her lips and boarded the elevator, leaving Nico alone with the lion. As soon as the doors shut, Kronos smirked down at Nico. Nico let out a sigh. “What do you want?”

The manager's lips only twitched. “Now, Nico, that's no way to speak to your superior. And I mean that in more ways than just the job.” Smiling, Kronos placed his hands behind his back and slowly paced around Nico. “So, as I hear it, your friends have set aside their differences and returned to their warm and fuzzy family nature.” He leaned over Nico's shoulder and whispered in the boy's ear. “You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?”

“Of course not.” Nico's eyes were dull as they stared at the wall in front of him. “I'm just pathetic little toy that Percy can play with.” He turned and blinked at the young man. “That's what you said, wasn't it?”

That didn't seem to bother Kronos at tall. In fact, he looked even more like a snake than normal. He placed his hands on the boy's shoulders and dusted them off. “Don't sell yourself so short, Nico. You're quite the valuable little toy. Well, to my brother. Which is why I'm just concerned about your well-being.”

Nico brushed the young man's hands away. “Please, you don't care about me. You don't care about anyone, aside from Gaea and Percy.”

Kronos shrugged and inspected his nails. “Well, I suppose you've got me there.” He snapped his fingers and pointed at Nico's head. “However, I did alleviate your bullying problem for you.” The young man's lips tilted up. “But, then again, I do detest damaged merchandise.”

“And that's where you and Percy differ.”

“Please.” Kronos rolled his eyes. “This again? I just find it amusing at how you try to defend him, but call me a monster.”

“You are a monster,” Nico hissed.

“If I'm a monster, what is Percy?”

“A good person.” Nico clenched his fists. “At least he tries to help people.”

“Uh-huh.” Kronos chuckled. “And how many people before you do you think he tried to convince to leave?” Kronos leaned in and lowered his voice. “I'm afraid the number isn't high. Actually, it's more singular than anything else.”

Nico slowly let out a brother. “For someone that claims to love Percy, you sure do put him down.”

Kronos's eyes practically turned to slits as he shoved Nico up against the wall. “Don't ever try to insinuate I don't care for my brother.” Clearing his throat, Kronos took a step back. “I just find it amusing that you can't accept that Percy and I are the same. You don't think he probably knows I've put you all to work in those kink rooms? You'd be lying to yourself if you thought he didn't.” Smiling, Kronos straightened out Nico's shirt. “In fact, he probably thinks you have encountered drugs while you were down there. Not that I told him. Or do you think he didn't know Persephone had started to see your father after your mother died? But he didn't tell you, did he?”

“You don't know that.” Nico glared up at the young man.

“Don't I?” Kronos said slowly. “Funny, since he had it on file. Or what about the part where he wanted to have Ethan and Clarisse bring your father to the hotel, so that he could...discuss the fact that it would be in Hades's best interests to never bother you again. Without your knowledge, of course. But, as you know, other circumstances came up before then.” Kronos smirked. “But, make no mistake, Percy was going to beat your father until he was nearly dead, all without your knowledge. Don't worry, though, because I let him know your father would no longer be an issue.”

Nico bit his tongue. He wanted to punch Kronos, even though he knew it was a bad idea. His teeth were clenched as he stared down at the floor. Percy was nothing like Kronos. Percy didn't go around saying things like this to the Lost Kids.

Kronos smiled and held up his hands. “Sore spot, eh?” He shook his head. “So sorry, truly I am.” The young man's dark eyes flickered with amusement. “What about your present, though? You think he gave you those checks out of the kindness of his heart? Not what he told me. According to him, he wanted you to leave the hotel. It was his way of trying to entice you to leave.” The young man rolled his eyes. “He wanted to protect that little innocence of yours.” Nico glared as Kronos snapped his fingers. “Oh, but how could I forget your classes. Have you not figured out that he wanted you to graduate early all along? Again, he wanted you to leave. He wanted you away from him, out of his sight.” Kronos leaned in with a grin when Nico glared down at the floor. “He told you how disgusted you make him feel just at the sight of you, didn't he?”

Nico slammed his hand against the elevator call button behind his back. He needed to get away from Kronos. He glared coldly up at the young man as the elevator arrived. “I need to go get ready for work.”

Kronos smirked and slid his hands into his pockets. He leaned in and brushed some of Nico's hair away from his ear, whispering, “Don't ever get involved in situations that don't concern you again, little dove.”

Nico shuddered and slid backwards into the elevator. He rapidly pushed the button for his floor until the doors shut, removing the sight of a satisfied Kronos from his gaze. Nico let out a breath and relaxed against the wall as he rode to his floor. He didn't know how much longer he could take being around Kronos. As the days passed, living with Daedalus seemed more and more appealing.

When he got back to his suite, Nico found Jason lounging on the couch. “Hello there, sunshine,” the blond greeted him.

Nico scowled at him as he took a seat on the couch as well. “Fuck you.”

“If you insist.” Jason stuck out his tongue and flipped the channel. He quirked a brow at the other Lost Boy. “What's wrong with you?”

“As if you even had to ask.”

Jason nodded in understanding. “Kronos tormenting your soul?”

Nico let out a sigh. “The devil should hire him to run hell.” Nico leaned his head back with a small groan. The aviator jacket sat on the back of the couch, right where he had left it after school. Ever since he got the present, Nico had made certain that Kronos would never catch him wearing it. He wasn't sure if the young man knew who the jacket had belonged to, but Nico didn't want to chance it. If Kronos saw him in it, there was no telling what he would do to Nico. Better safe than sorry.

The blond stretched his arms over his head. “So, are you read to journey on our Disney adventures tomorrow?”

Nico managed a smile as he rubbed his neck. “You have no idea. It'll feel so good to be away from here for a day.”

----------------------

Nico's dark eyes watched the blond man in front of him as he undressed. Nico just sat on the edge of the bed in his underwear, uncertain of how he felt about this. Out of all of his past clients, this one already felt very awkward. More so than most. Perhaps it was because this client used to date one of his friends. Perhaps because this client was Robert.

The blond smiled at him. “Excited?”

“You have no idea,” Nico mumbled, arching a brow.

Robert's green eyes shined down at him in the low lighting. “You'll have to try better than that, if you're going to convince me that you are.” Nico just stared up at him. Robert shrugged off his shirt. “But that really won't be necessary.”

“I don't get you,” Nico confessed. He tilted his head to the side, running his eyes over the blond's firm chest. He would give Apollo one thing, he had good taste in men—at least as far as appearances were concerned. “You've been so friendly with Apollo lately, so why request time with me?”

Robert shrugged, stepping out of his pants. “I will admit that you've interested me since we first met. Something about you just reminds me of the old Apollo.”

As if Nico hadn't heard that from plenty of different people concerning various people he knew at the hotel. “So why not just go for the real thing? Unless you just like them young, which makes me concerned.”

The blond chuckled. “Funny.” He stretched his arms over his head. “Well, Apollo was still in high school when we first started dated, and I was a sophomore at my university. I suppose it's not the worst political scandal out there, but I'm sure it could do some damage to my career.”

“Would it?” Nico smiled innocently up at the man.

Robert chuckled and shook his head. “Really, Nico, you're going to have to do better than that. I already know what you're after in here. Apollo and I agreed a long time ago that he would be compliant with my time with him, as long as I willingly gave up some information.” His smile truly stood out in the dark room, though Nico noted just how fake it looked. A true politician's smile. “No need for acting.”

“You're one to talk then, if we're being honest.” Nico leaned back on the bed, spreading his legs slightly. He bit down on his lip as he stared up at the blond from behind his bangs. “Politicians don't really have a habit of being anything but fake.”

“I suppose that's true.” Nico frowned as the man crawled on top of him. “So, how about this arrangement? You and I do what I paid for, and then I'll tell you something as we're getting dressed.” The urge to cringe screamed through Nico's body as he felt Robert's hand slide across his body. “Deal?”

“Whatever you want,” Nico practically purred.

Nico dipped his head to the side as Robert kissed along his neck, all the while sliding his hand underneath Nico's underwear. Robert was attractive and he seemed pretty good with this sort of thing—from what Nico had merely seen so far—but Nico was already not enjoying himself. On the bright side, though, Robert was probably one of the youngest clients he had endured, and one of the most attractive.

The blond hiked Nico's legs onto his shoulders and yanked off the Lost Boy's underwear. Nico smirked and traced his big toe down the blond's chest, stopping once his foot rested against the bulge in Robert's boxers. At least Robert was something to look at, Nico thought. Most of the customers at the Lotus were in their late thirties or above. And the few that were still in their thirties were very, very few. Robert on the other hand was still new to politics, still in his late twenties. It made Nico wonder how much Gaea had this guy by the balls, considering how much of a voice Nico heard Robert had in the political world.

Nico's mouth felt numb as Robert shoved his tongue into the boy's mouth. The boy chuckled a little as Robert pressed up against Nico. To be honest, Nico had not been pleased about this turn of events, and neither had Apollo. And what Robert didn't know was that Nico had drank a few shots before coming to the room. Not that many, though, as Nico was still trying to figure out how much alcohol he could handle.

It also helped to take Nico's mind off of the slight pain that shot through his body as Robert slid the first finger in. Nico was pulled into Robert's lap as the blond worked on stretching Nico out. The Lost Boy wrapped his arms around the blond's neck and moaned into his ear.

Nico could say one thing for Robert, though. He could last a lot longer than his other clients. Nico figured that the men that came by were too sexually repressed, or didn't get any at home, so they didn't last long. And the women were just left unsatisfied by their husbands. Either way, Robert lasted a whole lot longer than the other customers. Not including foreplay, Robert had lasted nearly forty minutes after penetrating Nico.

The blond smirked a little as Nico released a breath, running a hand through his hair. “So, as promised, I owe you some information.” He worked on buttoning his shirt as Nico sat up and grabbed his underwear. “Gaea wants to look into that judge that she had Percy get appointed the year before last. He's doing some deals under the tables that probably don't benefit the woman that put him there.” He winked down at Nico, slipping on his shoes. “Just a fair warning.”

“Thanks,” Nico breathed out. The Lost Boy leaned his head back. Out of all his times with clients, this one might have actually been enjoyable. Not that he would admit it. While it was good, it had left Nico with a weird feeling. Sort of like his first night. Perhaps it was because he felt like he was sort of betraying Apollo.

Robert pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his shirt pocket and offered Nico one. The boy shook his head. “Suit yourself.” The blond smirked down at him before heading to the door. “It's been a pleasure, Nico, we'll have to do it again. But, if  you'll excuse me, I like to have a smoke after good sex.”

The raven-haired boy rolled his eyes as the door shut. Though, he had barely gotten his shirt on by the time that it opened again. He didn't even have to look up to know it was Apollo. “Sup?” The brown-eyed boy asked.

“So, how did it go?”

Nico let out a sigh. “Not too bad. I'll give you one thing, you can pick a man that's good in bed.”

Apollo let out a small chuckle. “Well, he was good at that. Still a jerk.”

“Yet you've been talking to him lately.”

“Yeah.” Apollo wrapped his arms around himself as Nico slid into his shorts. “We're still a little complicated.”

Nico frowned and stood up. “You're not going to buy his bullshit if he tries to keep you on the side, like most politicians would, are you?” Apollo was rather quiet, staring at his feet. Nico narrowed his eyes. “Apollo?”

The blond let out a sigh. “You want to go down to my room? I could use a drink.” Nico didn't budge. “We can talk down there, come on.”

Nico rolled his eyes, but followed after the blond. While the sex had been good, it had left Nico with a figuratively bad taste in his mouth. If Robert had not been involved with Apollo in the past, if didn't know Robert was a dick, then Nico might have not been bothered by it all. But he was that guy, which made Nico feel a little unclean.