Sacrifices

Losing You Is Like Dying

It had been almost an entire month since they had last seen each other, and Percy was going crazy. He starved Nico’s touch on his skin, missed the affirmative smiles he would only offer to Percy, and missed just being with Nico. 

    Being separated from the younger teen had him driving himself up the walls. School was about to start again for him, which meant even less time with the younger boy. And to add onto all of that, they still haven’t come up with a way to get out of the marriage. 

    Gabe had decided only yesterday that the day of the wedding would be in five months, December 1st. That gave Percy and his friends a set time limit with ways on how this entire occasion would burn out in flames. 

    Percy laid on his bed, his head filled with thoughts that were constantly changing. He stared at the ceiling, begging it silently for answers as he tugged harder at the small panda pillow pet that was clutched to his chest. He’s had the thing for a few years now, as seeing it was one of the first gifts Nico ever gave him. 

    They were at a carnival, just as friends at the time, and Nico happened to be deadly accurate when it came to tossing plastic circles around soda bottles. He had won the pillow pet, and offered it to Percy, admitting he wouldn’t have much use for it, since he doesn’t sleep with pillows anyway. 

    At the time Percy had thought it was absurd at the time. Because he’s never heard of someone who doesn’t sleep with a pillow. His mom had offered advice to him on the subject later that night, saying that most people who struggle with anxiety often don’t sleep with pillows. That opened his eyes a little bit to the world around him. 

    A gentle knock on his bedroom window sounded, erupting Percy’s memories of the night at the carnival. Out of all the time he spent with Nico, that night had been one of his favorite nights hands down. It was when he was oblivious to the fact that only he and his mom were able to make Nico smile so genuinely, and during the time he had started to realize he had feelings for the younger boy. 

    Percy got up from the bed, taking his sweet time to go to the window. Never in his life had someone knocked on his window, waiting to be let in, so he suspected it was some kind of murderer or something. He knew his delusions could get a little out of hand from time to time, but this time it only seemed logical to think of that as an option. 

    When he got to the window, a small breathless gasp escaped his mouth. Because that face that looked right at him was something he could draw in his sleep. It was the face of an angel, his own angel, his personal guardian that made his life better by just being present. 

    Without a second thought Percy opened the window, forgetting that his bedroom door was halfway open to let light flood in from the hallway. Nico clambered in, swinging one foot over the ledge to use his weight and swing his body through the fairly sized gap the window had to offer. Percy waited in silence, still slightly shocked that the love of his life was risking so much by climbing through a window to see him. 

    And, yes, maybe there was more to his gesture, maybe he had news to tell him, but Percy let the possibility of Nico just coming to see him overrule all of the other accusations his talkative mind could come up with. 

    “Nico… what are you doing here?” Percy whispered, back to the open door. Nico didn’t seem to notice it either. 

    “I missed you.” Nico managed to say, his voice hushed and slightly coarse. Tears sprang to Percy’s eyes and he imminently grabbed hold of the collar to Nico’s aviator jacket, pulling him in for a kiss full of hunger. 

    Nico didn’t protest to the action, and instead slung both arms around Percy’s neck, bringing himself closer to the taller boy. The kiss itself was passionate and starved, messy as they greedily mapped each other’s mouths, letting their emotions from the month apart come together all at once, battling everything out through the press of their lips.