Darkness & Sea Go Hand-in-Hand [Hiatus]

8

TW: Implied self harm warning

Annabeth slept soundly in the back seat as the sun cast a red glow to the earth around them.
Nico and Percy had switched seats, in case an actual cop pulled them over, so Percy was driving now.
Around five hours before, they drove pass a sign, and Nico felt his heart race.

Welcome To Mexico!

They were one state closer, one step closer, to Bianca.
...Or the one pretending to have her.

"How are you holding up?" Percy asked, turning the radio down a bit.

Nico shrugged, looking at the appearing stars.
"Surprisingly, despite our situation, I'm fine. Believe it or not."

Percy's mouth twitched into a smile.
"Good. I don't really like seeing you hurting."

Nico raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, I'll make sure to hide it more often then..."

Percy realized what he said and smacked himself in the forehead.
"Um, that's not what I-...ugh!"

The son of Hades laughed, the sound causing Percy's heart to flutter, even made sleeping Annabeth smile.
"I was joking, Perce."

"Holy Hera, Nico's laugh is so...so beautiful..." Percy thought as his face got warmer.
Everything about Nico, inside and out, he loved. The messy black hair, those dark mysterious eyes that he thought, if he got a closer look at, heald millions of stars. The way his sweet laughter couls lighten eveb the darkest room. Even his glares, the way he spoke when he was mad, heald a certain beauty to it he just couldn't place.
"Whoever he likes is lucky...he better love him back and treat him right..."

"Huh?"
The male in the passenger seat looked at the driver, confusion obvious on his face. "What did you say?"

Now Percy realized he said the last sentence out loud, his face heating so warm, he thought one could cook a nice sunny-side-up egg on his cheek.
"Um...nothing. Just mumbling to myself, I guess."

Nico didn't look convinced, but he sighed and looked out the window.

After a moment, Percy asked "How's he like? The guy you have a crush on, I mean."

Nico huffed.
"Don't call it a crush, it sounds childish. And, besides, why would you care?"

Percy began tapping the wheel.
"I just want to make sure you're possibly gonna be with someone who won't hurt you or anything. Or I might know if they're attracted that way or not. And I feel close to you. I really care about you, Neeks, believe it or not."

Nico watched as Percy tapped the wheel a bit faster.
"Why do you care about me? Yes, I see you as...as a friend, Annabeth and you see me as one but...but friends don't always care about each other. Just because you see me as a friend doesn't mean you care about me. Hell, I tried to kill you! Why would you care?"

Percy flinched slightly at the sudden outburst, Nico suddenly bringing his walls back up, as he started squeezing the wheel tightly. How did this kid go from joking and laughing, to angry and shut away in a matter of seconds?
"Well I do care about you, Nico! Deny it all you want, but I care..."

"And why would you care for me!? What have I done to make you care in the least bit!?"

Percy's breathing quickened, he scrunched his nose, and leaned forward slightly.
He was going to snap...

"Answer me, Jackson!" Nico shouted. "Why in Olympus would you care about me in the least bit!? How can you even stand me!?"

"Nico, stop..." Percy groaned as he pushed his foot down slightly harder on the gas, speeding the car.