Children of Loss 7

Chapter 7

“You what?” Luke asked, eyes bulging. Nico looked back up at Percy, who was refusing to meet Nico's gaze. He had a frown firmly set in place and his eyes had become cold. He pointed his thumb over his shoulder, signaling Luke to get back to work. Luke gave Nico a final look of shock before walking off with his tray of drinks.

“Are you sure?” Percy asked. His tone was unreadable. His eyes fell back upon Nico. Nico thought they almost looked like they were begging him to reconsider. Nico nodded his head and Percy sighed. Percy held up his hands. “Alright, don't say I didn't warn you.” Percy walked over to a table and took a seat. Nico followed after him, sliding into a chair next to Percy. “I suggest you take notes.”

Nico's gaze travelled back up to the stage. Apollo and the twins were finishing up their performance. They had pulled a woman onto the stage with her chair, and Apollo was currently straddling her. Nico looked back at Percy, who was watching him intently. “Why did you keep me out of here then? Do I not have what it takes?” Nico asked.

Percy shook his head. “No, that's not it at all. I just didn't think you could handle it.”

Nico frowned. “Why not?”

Percy gave him a small smile. “You're sort of innocent, Nico.” Nico's frown grew. “I don't mean it in a bad way. It's cute.” Nico perked up. Percy looked back at the stage. “I'm sure you could use your innocence to get some customers, but there's more to this place than getting naked for some cash.”

Will walked up to their table. He glanced over at Nico and raised an eyebrow. “Want anything to drink, Percy?” Will asked, looking back at Percy.

“Yeah, get me a bottle of everclear and a shot glass.” Will had been looking down at his pad, but his head snapped up to look at Percy when he ordered. Will visibly gulped and took a step back. Will looked over at Nico. “He's not having alcohol.” Will nodded and walked off.

“Did you used to do this?” Nico asked. He watched as Apollo and the Stolls bowed before walking backstage.

“Yes, but that was several years ago. I don't do it anymore.”

“Why not?”

Percy arched an eyebrow at Nico. “Disappointed?” Nico blushed and shook his head furiously. “I have an image to maintain now. I can't go around taking off my clothes for all of these people.”

Will came back and sat a bottle and a shot glass on the table. “Let me know if you need anything else,” Will said with a smile before walking back off. Nico looked back to the stage when the clapping got louder again. A buff guy walked on the stage. His head was shaved and he had brown eyes. On each of his biceps were rainbows, circling around his arm. Like all of the other Lost Kids, he didn't have any body hair.

“Who's that? I haven't met him yet,” Nico asked over the music. Percy poured himself a shot and tossed it back.

“That's Butch, I'll introduce you to him later. Don't be intimidated when you meet him, he's not a bad guy at all,” Percy replied, pouring himself another shot.

“So, you and Apollo-”

Percy held up a hand. “Just business.”

“You never take an interest in any of the people you bring in here?”

Percy studied him for a moment. Percy took another shot before replying. “I've never had any interest in any of the one's I brought up here and put to work.” Percy poured himself another shot.

“Shouldn't you slow down?” Nico asked, glancing at the bottle.

Percy shrugged. “The stuff doesn't bother me. Besides, I need something to clear my head right now.”

“Why?”

Percy fiddled with the bottle for a moment. “I just do.”

Nico bit his lip. Had he done something wrong? Shouldn't Percy be happy he was willing to do this? He was trying to show Percy he was mature. “So, you have sex with all of them for business?”

Percy huffed. “If you don't like this life, I can always put you back down at the ba-”

“No! I didn't mean it like that! I was just curious as to why you do it.”

Percy took another shot. “Well, our group around here probably views sex differently than you do. It's just something fun. The Lost Kids have sex with each other if they want to, but it's business with me.”

Nico let that sink in for a moment before replying. It seemed a little odd to him, but at the same time didn't shock him that much. He knew they were very close, and it wasn’t surprising to learn they had all messed around. “Because they want better hours up here?”

Percy nodded. “It's all a game of seduction up here, and they try and show me they deserve to be up here. I start off giving them all the same amount of hours. They work to persuade me they should get more hours, those that don't end up working, end up suffering. So, I guess it's sort of a game to them.”

“That doesn't bother you?” Nico asked with a frown. He didn't really like the idea of all of the friends he had been making having sex with Percy.

Percy shrugged. “I'm indifferent about it. It's not anything special with them, so why should it matter?” He leaned closer to Nico. “Maybe if I felt something it would be different,” he whispered in Nico's ear. Nico felt his pulse quicken. His pupils dilated and he felt himself harden between his legs. Percy just smirked to himself and took another drink, fully aware of what he had done to Nico.

“S-So what happens now?” Nico stuttered.

“You'll start your training tomorrow.”

“Training?”

Percy snorted. “Yes, Nico. I don't think you possess the...art of seduction quite yet.”

“Who's going to teach me?”

Percy took another shot. “I'll have the boys work with you as a group for a lot of it, and I'll give you a more...private lesson after that.” Nico gulped at the emphasis put on the end of his statement. “Don't worry, Nico, I don't bite...much.”

“So, I'm going to be taught to dance on stage while taking off my clothes?”

“Well, that's part of it. This is all about knowing how to work your body to get what you want: money. You have to know how to move just right. You'll have to learn the right things to say.”

“How long before I'm up on that stage?” Nico asked.

Nico noticed Percy frown before taking another shot. “Whenever I feel that you are ready.” After Butch's performance had ended, Percy stood up and nodded over to a door by the stage. “Come on, I'll show you around backstage.”

Percy led him across the floor and they headed towards a door beside the stage. Percy pushed it open and guided Nico into the door. They found the boy's that were performing that night lounging around backstage. The twins had taken up a couch, with Connor leaning back against Travis. Nico covered his eyes as he spotted Apollo. The blond was currently naked, in the process of putting on a jockstrap.

“Nico!” the twins cried in unison. All the other boys stopped what they were doing to look in Percy and Nico's direction. Apollo slid on his jockstrap and headed over to the duo. The rest of the boys followed his lead and walked over.

Nico glanced over at Butch, who was staring down at him with a curious look. “Nico, this is Butch,” Percy said, gesturing between them. Nico flinched a little when he felt Percy's hand rest on his lower back.

Butch held out his hand and Nico shook it. His hand was almost as big as Beckendorf's. It engulfed Nico's hand. Butch definitely had a firm grip, and he could probably crush Nico's hand if he wanted to. “I finally get to meet the new kid,” Butch said, letting a smile spread across his face.

Nico glanced over at Apollo, who looked like a kicked puppy. Nico felt torn. On one hand, he was still mad at Apollo for having sex with Percy. On the other hand, he knew it was something Apollo had to do for his job. “I see you have no shame in hiding your body, Apollo,” Nico said with a smirk.

Apollo grinned at him, visibly brightening. “Well, it's not like everyone here hasn't seen me naked already anyways. So, what's the harm in hiding it?” Apollo said. Nico wasn't sure how serious he was being with that, after talking about it with Percy, it didn't seem improbable that all of the Lost Kids had seen each other naked.

“So, Nico, what do you think?” Travis asked.

“He's your new co-worker,” Percy said.

“Awesome!” Connor said happily. Apollo glanced over at Percy, and Nico noticed a slight frown briefly appear on Apollo's face. Percy just shrugged back at the blond.

“Training starts with him tomorrow, I expect all of you to be in the gym tomorrow afternoon. Make sure the others know to be there as well.”

“Roger, boss,” Connor said with a mock salute. Percy just rolled his eyes. “So, Nico, have you been enjoying the show?”

“Uh...well it's not what I pictured was up here. Though, it does explain a lot. I think it's interesting, to say the least,” Nico replied. He glanced up at Percy. “So, I'll be making the same as them now?”

The Stolls and Butch started laughing. “He's going to be-” Travis said while laughing, but Percy cut him off.

“No,” Percy said. “He's just going to start working the stage. Nothing else.”

“Is there more to this?” Nico asked curiously.

Percy sighed and ran a hand through his hair. “I'll tell you later. Right now, I just want you getting a look at your new job.”

“What else is there to look at?”

“I'm going to take you to see the girls in a little bit.”

“Are they down that other hall?”

Percy nodded. “Yep, we'll go see them soon. Just get situated here.” Percy pointed at the Lost Boys surrounding them. “Keep an eye on him for a moment. I need to go see Leo about some business.”

“We'll take good care of him, Percy,” the Stolls said with a grin. They wrapped their arms around Nico's shoulders as Percy walked off. He looked back to give them a pointed look, but they didn't seem bothered by it. They led Nico over to the couch and made him sit down.

“You two need to go finish getting ready,” Apollo mumbled. The twins groaned but walked off. Apollo plopped down on the couch next to Nico, who shifted uncomfortably. He was fully aware that Apollo was still only in a jockstrap. Apollo grinned at Nico and leaned in closer, placing his arm behind Nico. “Nico, you seem uncomfortable. This isn't distracting for you, is it?” Nico shivered as Apollo spoke. Apollo leaned back, looking proud of himself.

“Is everyone around here such a tease?”

Apollo shrugged. “It's what we're good at. Why not use our strengths to our advantage? You'll find that people are pretty easy to manipulate when you're naked in their bed.”

“Wh-What?” Nico asked in confusion. Apollo's eyes widened and he covered his mouth.

“You didn't hear that.”

“Why are you in their beds?”

Apollo sighed. “I really didn't mean to let that slip.” He ran a hand through his blond locks. “Oh well, Percy was going to tell you later anyways. We do more than strip. For the right price, customers can get some...private time with us.”

“You have sex with those people?” Nico asked in shock.

Apollo nodded. “A very expensive price, but yes, we do that sometimes.”

Nico thought back to his conversation with Apollo at the beach. “That's what your ex came here for, wasn't it?”

Apollo sighed and nodded. “Well, he didn't come here looking for me, but when he saw me, he paid Percy and had me go to his room. I hated him for it, but it was part of the job. I could have told Percy, but I didn't want to make a big deal out of it.” Apollo glanced over at Nico. “I'm sorry about the other night. You weren't supposed to see that.”

Nico shrugged. “It's okay.”

Apollo bit his lip. “You like him, don't you?” Nico sat there for a moment in silence. He nodded his head once to answer Apollo. Apollo sighed. “I'm sorry, Nico, but it'll be something you'll have to deal with around here. Even if you are lucky enough to draw Percy's interest, you'll never have him exclusively.”

“I know,” Nico whispered. The twins returned from their performance and headed over to get something to drink. Apollo stood up and grinned down at Nico.

“Well, I'm on next. Wish me luck.”

Nico tossed him a small smile. “Good luck.” Nico's cheeks darkened as his eyes traveled down to Apollo's exposed rear.

“Having fun?” Nico jumped at the sound of Percy's voice in his ear. He looked up to see Percy grinning down at him. Percy's eyes traveled over to where Apollo was walking out on stage. “Admiring Apollo's backside?”

“N-No,” Nico stuttered.

Percy leaned in closer, just inches from Nico's face. “I'll give you something better to look at tomorrow.” Nico opened and closed his mouth a few times, unable to find any words to respond to that. Percy laughed and pulled Nico off the couch. “Come on, I'm going to take you over to see the girls.”

Nico followed after Percy as he headed out the door. He followed Percy across the room and down the stairs. They traveled past Ethan and Clarisse, heading down the opposite hall. They traveled up another set of stairs and came into a similar room to the boys' side. The lights on the stage were off, only revealing the shadowy figures of girls on stage.

Percy pulled Nico over to a booth and they slid into it. Piper headed over to their booth, but Percy waved her off. Nico looked back at the stage as he heard snapping. One girl stood in the center of the others, who were all lying on the floor. The girls lying down all had an arm raised in the air and were snapping their fingers. The lights finally came on the stage, revealing Annabeth standing in the center of the girls. She was dressed in a black corset and white fishnet stockings, her hair had been curled to look even more like a princess.

The song Welcome to Burlesque started to play from the speakers. Annabeth let her hand play with the edges of her corset, as the girls on the floor sat up. Nico could make out Silena, Thalia, Calypso, and another girl that he didn't recognize. Percy leaned over to whisper in Nico's ear. “That's Hazel.” The girl was dark skinned, doubtlessly of African descent. She had long, curly golden-brown hair that fell around her shoulders. Her eyes looked like they were made of gold. She looked to be around Nico's height, maybe an inch shorter.

Annabeth guided her hand down towards Thalia, and seemed to pull the black haired girl up with an invisible thread. The girls all stood up and started swaying their hips with the slow music. They all stood around Annabeth, placing a hand on the girl. At the words “Give it to the band” they all stomped their foot in unison.

Nico was mesmerized by their movements. He could definitely see the entertainment in this. The girls all turned around and shook their butts as Annabeth raised a finger to her lips. Hazel walked up to Annabeth and bent over in front of her. A few words were changed in the song to fit better. They took out the triplets line and changed it to these girls, and the name Georgia to Silena. All the girls took a step forward and made a come hither motion.

Annabeth grabbed her breasts as all the girls struck a pose for a brief moment. The girls all crouched down around Annabeth and thrust their lower bodies forward at just the right moments. Each of them lined up along the stage as Annabeth walked behind them. Nico gaped as he watched Silena stick her leg straight up in the air. Annabeth grabbed it and stood next to the girl. They all struck a final pose as the song came to an end, clapping sounded throughout the room.

Percy pulled Nico's attention back to him by waving a hand in front of his face. “Are you sure you're gay?” he said jokingly.

“Yes, I'm sure!” Nico cried, cheeks darkening. “I've just never seen anything like this before.”

Percy shrugged. “You get used to it. Do you want to head backstage, or watch more?”

Nico shrugged. “It's up to you.”

Percy nodded and stood up. “We'll head backstage. It's getting close to closing time, and I have something else to show you after this.” Nico stood up and followed after Percy as he headed for the backstage door. Nico found himself in a similar room to the one on the boy's side. The girls were all sitting around at mirrors, fixing their make-up. As they walked past, Percy slapped Thalia on her butt. “Get a move on girls.”

The girls all looked their way at the sound of Percy's voice. “Nico!” they all cried in unison. They abandoned their mirrors and scurried over to the two boys. Annabeth strolled over to them and arched an eyebrow at Percy, who huffed. Hazel tugged on Nico's shirt, drawing his attention to her.

“Hi, Nico, I don't think we've had the pleasure of meeting yet, I'm Hazel,” the curly haired girl said.

Nico smiled at her and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you,” Nico replied.

Annabeth shifted her eyes away from Percy and looked at Nico. “So, Nico, I take it you will finally be joining the Lost Kids?” the blonde asked.

Nico nodded his head. “Yeah, I guess so. That was pretty awesome out there.”

Thalia smirked and flicked a hand through her hair. “That's ‘cause we are good at what we do.”

“You didn't have a problem with it?” Annabeth asked, raising a brow.

Nico shrugged. “No? Why would I?”

“Because we are strippers?”

“But you didn't take your clothes off.”

“For that number, next one, we show them what we're working with,” Thalia said, lifting her breasts. Nico's face darkened, causing the girls to giggle at him.

“Alright, whoever is up next needs to get a move on,” Percy said. Annabeth and Thalia walked back to their mirrors to finish getting ready.

“So, when is he going to go on stage, Percy?” Calypso asked.

Percy crossed his arms and shrugged. Nico looked up at him curiously. Percy was acting strange. He didn't seem happy. “Don't know. He'll start training when he gets back from school tomorrow. The boys are going to work with him all week. I'll give him a week or two, I suppose, and see how he does.”

Silena pinched Nico's cheek playfully. He scowled and knocked her hand away, making the girls smile at him. “He's so cute, I'm sure he'll bring in some big bucks,” Hazel stated.

Percy looked down at Nico, catching the way the smaller boy was looking at him. Percy sighed and uncrossed his arms. “Alright, all of you get back to work. I'm going to take him to the security room for the rest of the night,” Percy said. The girls winked at Nico before they cackled and walked off.

Percy walked off. Nico followed him to a black door in the back. Percy pushed through it and the two walked down a dark hallway. “What's back here?” Nico asked in a hushed voice.

“This is where the kids get their real money,” Percy replied. They walked down the dark hallway until they reached another door. Percy pulled out his keycard and slid it through a slot. He reached down and opened the door, gesturing for Nico to go in. Nico complied and walked inside. Percy closed the door behind them and sat down in a chair. Percy clicked on some buttons and the TV screens lit up. Nico sat down in a chair next to Percy and looked at the screens.

They were showing a bunch of rooms. Each of them had a bed in it. Some had weirder things inside them, like whips and gags hanging on the wall. Each of the beds had sets of handcuffs on the headboard and footboard. Each of the rooms also had a chair placed in the corner of the room. Nico really didn't understand what he was looking at. Percy had reclined back in his chair and propped his feet up on the control panel.

Nico's eyes instantly shifted to one of the screens as the door opened. Apollo strutted into the room, in his jockstrap, and plopped down on the bed. A man followed in behind him and shut the door. A red light appeared at the bottom of the screen as soon as they entered. Apollo motioned for the man to come sit on the bed with him. As soon as the man was seated, Apollo straddled him and started attacking the man's neck.

Nico looked away to look at Percy in question. “What is this?” Nico asked.

“The Lost Kids don't just strip. For the right price, you can get some private time with them,” Percy replied. He reached over and picked up a remote. He clicked a button on it to mute the volume on the TVs.

“Why is there a security camera in there?”

“Well, one reason is to make sure my employees aren't mistreated. Another reason is to collect information.”

“Information?”

“Yeah, these are important people. My boss values the price of information.” Percy looked back at the screen. “Watch.”

Nico looked back at the screen. Apollo had removed the man's clothing already. The man lay back on the bed while Apollo still straddled him. The man's hands were firmly in place on Apollo's round ass. Apollo leaned in closer to whisper in the man's ear. The man shrugged back and said something to Apollo. “What are they doing?”

“Apollo and the others have a job to do in there, besides giving them a good time. Their job is to extract important information from the client. It helps us keep leverage on the people that come here to do business.” Percy kept his eyes trained on the screen. “You'll find this is a very rough business. You do what you can to keep everyone else in line.”

“Am I going to be doing this?” Nico asked, gesturing to the monitor.

Percy's lips formed a thin line. “No. You are just going to go on that stage and do what you saw out there.”

Nico cocked his head to the side. “Why am I being treated different?”

Percy glanced over at him for a brief second before returning his eyes to the screen. “You are underage for one thing.”

“I didn't think something like that would bother you. Is that the only reason?”

Percy chuckled. “You know, maybe you got what it takes for this stuff after all. You're not going into one of those rooms, though.” Percy looked at Nico as the smaller boy frowned at him. “Why are you complaining? I'm keeping you from selling your body for money. I didn't have a choice like that. I'm giving you one. I expected you would be more appreciative of that gesture.”

“I-I am. It's not that I'm ungrateful. I just...” Nico trailed off.

“You just what?” Percy asked, leaning closer to Nico.

Nico shook his head. “Nothing.” He looked back at the monitor, but quickly looked away. Apollo and that man were already in the middle of sex.

“I really don't get you sometimes, Nico.”

“Why is that?”

“I figured you'd be freaking out the moment you found out this was a strip club, but then you said you wanted to do it too.”

“So? I'm not a little kid.”

Percy chuckled. “You're pretty much as innocent as they come, Nico.” Nico pouted at him. “Don't take offense, I didn't mean it in a bad way.”

“Do you see me as a kid?” Percy didn't respond. “Well?”

Percy sighed and ruffled his own hair.

Nico frowned but decided to let it go. “Can I get to know more about you?”

Percy glanced at him from the corner of his eye, clearly hesitant. “I suppose.”

“How did you end up on the streets?”

Percy frowned at him. “Who told you I was on the streets?”

Nico's eyes widened at the fear of having gotten someone in trouble. “I-No one. I-I didn't mean to get anyone in trouble. I-I was just curious.”

Percy studied him for a moment before opening his mouth to talk. “My mother died when I was really little. I didn't even know who my dad was back then. I didn't learn what had happened until after Gaea took me in. He had walked out on my mom when she was pregnant with me. She tried to take care of us the best she could, but she just couldn't make it one day. The little money she managed to pull in all went to feeding me. She starved herself to take care of me. The foster system came to take me in after that, but I ran away after the first home they sent me to.”

“How old were you?”

“I was about seven. It seems like so long ago. If Gaea hadn't pulled my birth certificate I wouldn't even have remembered how old I was. I just lost track of time while on the streets. All I knew was when it was day and when it was night. I knew when it changed seasons, but everything just kind of ran together in my mind. Keeping track of how old I was didn't seem important. All I cared about was survival.”

Nico unconsciously scooted his chair closer to Percy. “How did Gaea find you?”

“I think I was around fourteen when she found me. She just stumbled across me on the streets; a starving, savage kid that probably would have killed her for the clothes on her back, which would have sold for a lot. I didn't, because I was sick. It was the middle of winter and I had come down with a bad case of the flu. She didn't even tell one of her bodyguards to pick me up, she did it herself. Didn't even hesitate, just picked me right up and sat me in her limo. Carried me to the hospital and had me taken care of. She faked some paperwork and made it appear like I was her son.”

“She did that for you?”

Percy nodded. “After I was released, she brought me back here, which was the first hotel she had set up in America. She told me she wanted me to stick with her, that if I did, I could go places. She said I wouldn't have to live on the streets anymore, and that I would end up looking down on all of the people who refused to feed me or give me shelter. That I would be able to- uh, you know what? Let's not go into that.” Percy gave him a smile.

“What else do you have to hide? You've already shown me all of this, why keep being mysterious?”

Percy grinned at him. “Well, I think there's something sexy about the air of mystery, wouldn't you agree, Nico?” Percy said, leaning very close to Nico.

“I–I–Uh–I–”

Percy grinned and sat back in his chair. Nico's gaze traveled back to the monitors. Two of the other rooms had become occupied. Thalia had entered one room and Calypso had entered another. Thalia's room was one of the rooms with whips in them. She had changed into some tight leather outfit and was currently holding the whip from the wall in her hand. She cracked the whip and pointed at the bed. The man in her room cringed, but made his way over to the bed.

Nico looked back at Percy to take his mind off of what was happening. “You used to do all of this?”

Percy nodded, watching the monitors. “Yeah, up until Gaea left me in charge here. Now I don't have to.”

“But you still have to have sex with the Lost Kids.”

Percy shrugged, glancing at Nico. “Why does that bother you?”

Nico's face darkened. “N-No reason.” Percy smiled and rubbed his chin.

“Like I said, I'm indifferent about it. I don't go hunting them down to fuck. If they didn't come to me, I wouldn't do it at all.” Nico yawned, causing Percy to look away from the screens. “Tired?” Nico nodded. “Alright, let's get you to bed.” Percy clicked the monitors off, but Nico noticed the red lights stayed on. Percy noticed Nico still looking at the monitors. “The red lights mean the room is being recorded.”

“To make sure you get the information that is shared in the room?” Nico asked.

Percy nodded. Nico walked past Percy, out the door. Percy shut the door behind them and they walked back down the hall. They made their way back to the elevator in silence. Nico shifted uncomfortably in the elevator. Percy walked Nico to his door. Nico pulled his keycard out and slid it into his door, opening it slowly. He stood in his doorway to look at Percy, who leaned against the doorframe.

“Make sure you remember to get to the gym as soon as you're back from school,” Percy said, looking at Nico. “You'll train from the time you get back until it's time for work every day.”

  Nico nodded. He gave Percy a small wave. “Goodnight.” Percy smiled back at him and pushed off the doorframe. Nico watched as he walked down the hallway, sliding his hands into his back pockets. Nico shut the door and headed straight for his bathroom to get ready for bed.