When I Don't Remember You (Percico)

Chapter Seventeen: Our Changing Colors

Nico di Angelo

Percy looked stunning, but anxious (as usual) when I got back to his apartment after talking to Chiron.

Luckily, he doesn't care that I'm gone to hang out with Percy, he just wanted to check in and update me on the meeting I missed and make sure that I wasn't gone because of a declining mental health.

So in the end, I came out to Chiron and told him that I'm just dating somebody who lives in the city so between them and hanging out with Percy, it's a lot.

I'm not outing Percy to Chiron.

He wished me luck on my date, though, so that was cool.

Thalia was definitely in the room probably to tell him that she needed to return to the hunt or something, so I expect nothing short of chaos the next time I see her.

Back to the beautiful man in the doorway, though. He even had a little bit of makeup on, which felt like a good sign that he has a little bit more energy than usual! Or motivation.

"Hey!" Percy said, perking up a little, which made me smile. "We'll be back, Mom!"

"Have fun!" She yelled as Percy slipped his shoes on and then she made it so much worse as we were literally walking out.

"Make sure to use protection!"

I've never been to paralyzed by the words of Sally Jackson until she was telling her son and I to use protection.

Furthermore, I've never seen Percy so shocked by something his mom said.

"I-" but the door was already closed so he wasn't responding to her. "I was going to tell you that I finally told her that we're dating, but I think she told you that herself just now."

That made me laugh.

"Oh yeah, she sent that message loud and clear that she knows," I reassured Percy, putting my hand out for him to take. "Have I ever mentioned how much I love your mom?"

"Hmmmm you've probably mentioned it a time or two," my date figured as we started to walk down the hall towards the elevator (you should be proud of me for meeting him at the door and not at his window, I learned their apartment number). "Usually when eating her food or sweets."

"Hmmmm yeah that makes sense," I responded, pushing the elevator button because it's so cool for no real reason to me to push a button to make an elevator appear. "Have I ever mentioned how much I love you?"

And every time, without fail, it gets Percy. Makes him blush and get a little flustered and embarrassed and it's cute to see him remember that I would lose my mind without him just like he would lose his without me.

It's not one sided, and I remind him of that a lot because:

1. I like to.
2. While I know that a lot of his actions show how much he cares, he's more hesitant to connect my actions to feelings, so I have to be very verbal and direct about it because I don't want him to hesitate in knowing how much I care and worry about him.

Most of it is the first one, though. The second part is just an added benefit that allows me to be annoying about it.

"Um... Yes, you have," Percy answered as we got into the elevator. "a good amount of times, I think. I like the reminders, though, so it's okay. Have I ever told you how much I love you?"

I've been smiling a lot more since we got together.

"You have."

"Okay good, I want to make sure," he continued. "I love you. You like South American food, right?"