𝐂œ𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐫𝐢𝐬é𝐬 [Percy Jackson]

128

"You and I have a lot in common. Don't let the homophobes get to you, Neeks"

Nico glowered.

"Did I push it, calling you Neeks?"

"What do you think?"

"Right, sorry. You get my point though, right? Be gay, do crime, whatever" Hadrian shrugged off his leather jacket, "And here, you'll catch a cold"

"I don't need your help"

"I'm not taking no for an answer di Angelo, I will stuff you into this jacket or so help me, gods"

Nico complied, taking the black jacket and slipping it on. He looked younger with it on. He reminded Hadrian too much of himself. Also, was it just him or was everyone on this ship hot?

"Also how do you feel about matching t-shirts that say— Percy Jackson crush club? Obviously, yours can be black, mine has to be pink, I think Annabeth likes blue, I'll have to double check"

"What?" Nico's eyes widened again. Hadrian just laughed.

"I think it was kind of rude of Bob to expose you and me both like that, but Percy was half unconscious and he's an idiot so it doesn't matter. And don't worry I'm not going to out you, I'm not my father. And for whatever it's worth— I don't approve of his method. Forcing someone to admit something they're ashamed of isn't love, it's cruelty."

Hadrian sighed. His throat still felt raw, his lungs too small for breath he couldn't quite catch. The Tartarus air had definitely affected him.

"Look at you di Angelo, one afternoon with you and I'm ready to fight my dad for you, you're a bad influence"

Maybe Nico wouldn't think of his words twice, maybe Nico would succumb to all the self-hatred. But Hadrian had done all he could. He patted him on his shoulder. "Also, can I point out that you and I both have terrible taste in men?"

Nico cracked a dry smile. Hadrian took that as a sign of victory. He'd win Nico over, he knew it.

"Percy is... well he was the first demigod I saw in action"

"Oh my gods, did he do the thing with riptide where he's like stabby stabby but also like whoosh?" Hadrian demonstrated a move Percy repeated a lot.

Nico gave an amused half-smile and nodded.

It felt good, to have someone else to talk to about this crush for once. Hadrian felt like he would explode if he kept it all inside.

It was Nico's turn to offer some words of comfort now, "It'll get better. It doesn't feel like that right now. But it gets better"

"That's the thing" Hadrian choked out, "What if I don't want it to get better?"

Nico didn't know Percy had kissed, Hadrian didn't want to tell him. He didn't want it to snowball into something bigger with more drama.

"He's like a whirlpool," Nico said, twisting a ring on his finger, "He just draws you in... he's... well he's Percy"

And that was an answer enough. He's Percy. And gods Hadrian was in love.

"I seriously hate my dad and Aphrodite" Hadrian rolled his eyes, "Percy? Out of all the people? I mean gods look at Annabeth— look at Jason— Look at... you"

"Me?"

"Yes you" Hadrian winked, "You know, if we survive this—"

"Hads, stop flirting with the Nico" Hadrian wasn't sure when Hazel had turned up. How much had she heard? Did she hear about him talking about Percy? Gods he hoped not. He tried, he really tried to stop his hair from turning bright pink. But even Nico snickered when it did.