love isn't always a drug

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Nico di Angelo doesn't flirt. He doesn't grin mischievously like Leo at Calypso when he's about to launch another teasing remark at her.

No, Nico di Angelo is a big ball of i-hate-rom-coms and why-the-fuck-do-people-bite-their-lips-it's-not-sexy-it's-wierd and ew-sharing-saliva-really?

Nico doesn't let himself get twerked on during parties. He doesn't really go to parties, to be honest. Too many laughing people who need to not act like themselves to have a good time.

However, against popular belief, Nico can love. Obviously.

He loves going into the CHB forest and coming back hours later with mud on his jeans and a sense of peace in his mind.

He loves sitting in the library, headphones on as he looks around at passers-by, pretending there isn't Yungblud blasting into his ears at volume 20 (out of 25).

He loves Italian coffee. The kind that's "as black as his soul": if you gave it to a kid and told him to go climb the Empire State building, the kid would be back half an hour later asking why there were big shiny people at the top wearing bed sheets and talking alien language.

He also loves his friends, even though you'd have a hard time making him admit it.

When Reyna treats him with respect, like he's someone worth her time. People often have to remind him that.

When he gives Piper Italian classes, ans she struggles a little but she's just so hard-working and dedicated that it's usually fun.

When Jason trusts him to have his back.

When Hazel treats him like her brother.

When Annabeth relaxes the mood by small-talking. She always makes thing seem so easy.

When Frank just sits with him, rambling on about Hazel and how wonderful she is.

When Percy... yeahno let's not get into that one.

But most importantly, there's him.

His curls.

His eyes.

His freckles.

His softness.

His strength.

His easiness.

His earnestness.

His loud-but-quietness.

His ability to to fill all the empty holes.

How his voice makes a breeze brush Nico's face.

How his hugs are like a blanket in January and his nose kisses are like raindrops in July.

So frankly, there is all the angst and trauma and pain and loss and darkness and... well, Nico can go on for a while like that.

But there are so many things to love out there.

And they're occupying him more and more.

And he's happier now.

It took a while, but he's calmer and lighter and brighter and he floats and flies without his feet leaving the ground.

It's enough to get a little smile out of anyone, even for Nico di Angelo.

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