How Do You Say Gods- Battle of the Labyrinth

1 Nico Gets a Pink and Green Power Boost

Happy birthday Percy! Here's a teaser to the start of the next book!

Since I basically did the last two back to back though, I'd like a little more time off before I commit to finishing this one. This is not a nice way to start the book, but I'm still having a blast!

It'll officially kick off on Halloween, promise! Until then, enjoy...

PJOPJOPJOPJO

Will stood there tense in frustration. He wanted to barge into that door and promise Nico there was nothing wrong with him, but he said he didn't want to talk about it. With him. Because he'd never felt alone. Which he hadn't, he'd always had the support of his siblings in his cabin since he'd told Michal he had a crush on Connor Stoll and his big brother had told him a few very specific ancient Greek stories' about their dad. He wanted to be the one to tell Nico about those stories too, but he didn't want to keep pushing too hard.

He might know someone who Nico could talk to though.

Alex answered her door with multicolored playdoh under her nails, the lumpy mold in her other hand hadn't taken shape yet, but he'd gladly ask later.

Alex hip checked the door back shut and went back to her project while Will dithered. She had a tarp set up on the ground and an assortment of containers all half opened around her, the colors as bright and cheerful as they would be from store bought packages. Never mind they were all still casually chilling down here without air.

"Nico and Percy kill each other?" She offered as she began using a plastic knife to carefully cut up slices of green. "I'm not sure how much help I'll be burying the body out here, but I'll give it a shot."

Will swallowed and chose his words carefully, "I'd like you to ask Nico if he wants to talk, but I can't tell you why."

He felt horrible, like he was going behind his back asking the only other confirmed person on a pride flag was putting up a huge sign there was something to tell at all, and loathed himself if he was throwing Nico's secret under the bus, but if Nico just stayed in his room and refused to come out for the rest of these dang books Will would hate himself even more.

Jason was actually his preferred option, the two had been getting on as almost friends there for a minute, but his background was still a huge question mark and he didn't wish to imply Nico should share his secret with anybody else who also wouldn't get it! He'd spent the whole walk to this room wondering if 'going on a quest' was some weird code he still didn't know the meaning of. No, the guy still had to many complications to bring this to.

Thalia was to close in friends to both Percy and Annabeth to be a contender, plus seemed to have opted out of having a romantic life because of other obligations, not some inherent choice.

Magnus was a nice enough guy and had a stupid obvious crush on someone gender fluid, making him bisexual by default, kind of? He hadn't come out and said anything about it though and still seemed blushy over details, plus Nico had a predisposition not to like Magnus because of his relation to Annabeth, but was this any better?

Alex Fierro was snarky, out spoken, and very alone when she'd come in here. As flamboyantly colorful and extroverted as she was, there was a wall up Magnus had slowly been whittling away over time they'd all seen over their quiet ASL lessons.

It was a different kind of alone than Nico so clearly felt he was, and he was probably making a huge mistake-

Alex had looked up from her project and was studying him silently. "Remember how I said I didn't speak my experience for all genderfluid people," she reminded. "Whatever you think Nico's going through, I might not get it either."