Origins

Origins V

Hook's ship was flying through the water. In fact, we were going so fast we may as well have been flying. It was our 28th day at sea. I'd told Hook once that it should just be a flying ship and he threw me overboard again.

Not that it had any effect.

I was way too cool to fall into the water.

Because I can fly!

I walked over to the stern and stretched out my arms as the salty spray hit my bare arms and torso. I heard footsteps behind me. Based on the weight of the footsteps I knew it was Nico. He came and stood next to me, adopting the same pose.

"Can't sleep?" he asked.

"What's sleep?" I asked back.

"Touche!" he said.

We looked at each other, and burst out laughing at the exchange. It had been so long since we'd laughed together like that. In all honesty, after almost a month at sea cooped up on a small boat, Nico was the only person that I wasn't completely fed up with.

"So, why are you still up?" I asked.

"I was thinking."

"What about?"

"Mostly about how you don't get along with Hook at all. Like, you're both arrogant, so I thought that you two would hit it off well, but ever since then, it's been a power struggle."

"You're surprised? You've known me since we were three, and you've been in every class with me as long as I can remember. And you know how I was. Yet, you're saying that you're surprised about a power struggle?"

"It's not that. It's just...you're different, Pete."

"Don't call me Pete! You know I don't like that!" Nico smirked when I said this.

"Looks like not everythings different."

"Nico, you're my best friend. That's never going to change. No matter how old we get. No matter how far apart we are. You will always be my best friend. My...brother." I said.

I put my arm around his shoulder. He returned the gesture. I thought he turned red for a split second.

"Yeah, but you seem more irritable lately. At...everyone."

"I'm not irritated at you," I said. Nico turned the same shade of red at his hair; that is to say, very.

"Nico, you okay, bro? That's the second time you've turned red tonight."

He muttered something, but I couldn't hear it.

"I didn't hear you, can you say that again?"

"It's the third time. You just didn't see the first one."

"And why are you turning red all the time, now? Is your hair reflecting off your face?" I asked, running a hand through his hair. He turned red again

"Okay, that's four times now. What gives?" I asked.

"Pete," he started. I glared at him. He sighed.

"Peter. I've...I...I have a crush on you. I like you as...as more than a friend. I have for years now. But I was always scared of what my parents would say. What the others would say. But...I was always most scared of what you would say. I was scared you would reject me, or not want to be friends with me anymore. I just didn't feel safe saying it until now. Can you please not tell anyone? I want this to be a secret," he finished. We were silent for a while before I spoke.

"Nico, I want to make one thing very clear. Nothing will ever stop you from being my friend. Hell, you're more like a brother to me. Nothing can change that. And don't worry, I won't tell the others. You'll tell them when you're ready." I said. "Although, under different circumstances, I'd be teasing you about it," I added.

We were still for a while, and then I heard Nico say something. I turned towards him.

"Thank you," he said, and embraced me tightly. I returned the gesture. I doubted this would be the last time we hugged, not that I minded. He was still my best friend. Nothing in the world could or would ever change that.