PJO/HOO one-shots

Opposites Attract - Valdangelo!HighschoolAU!

Hey y'all! It's your author here giving a huge shout out to Kota (@-k-keroppi- )for the idea of a highschool AU for Valdangelo!  Thank you so much and I hope you enjoy this!

If anyone else would like to put in a request my inbox is always open. Now onto the story!

Within the bustling corridors of Half-Blood High, a tale of friendship and hidden emotions were about to unfold. Among the students stood out two in particular - Leo Valdez; a popular, fiery, extroverted Latino with an unparalleled sense of creativity and Nico di Angelo; an intelligent, introverted bookworm. As fate would have it, their paths crossed when their history teacher Mr. Chiron assigned them as partners for a presentation. Little did they know, this assignment would lead them down an unexpected path.

At first, their partnership seemed unconventional. Leo's colorful and avant-garde ideas clashed with Ryan's preference for structure and meticulous planning. Yet, as they delved into their research and brainstorming, the clash of their personalities gave birth to an unanticipated synergy. Their debates and project discussions became conversations of their likes, their hobbies, their life and their dreams. Nico realized Leo was actually quite the genius and hoped to be a blacksmith one day. Leo noticed Nico was actually pretty talkative and a very passionate person who cared deeply for his sisters Bianca and Hazel. Laughter began to punctuate their conversations and intellectual debates turned into friendly banter. The library, once a realm of solitude for Nico, became a hub of shared ideas and quiet camaraderie.

As they spent more and more time together, Nico's initial fascination with Leo's creativity evolved into something deeper. A secret crush took root as he learned more about him. His heart would rush any time the other male would smile at him and any time their fingers would brush each other accidentally. These emotions, kept carefully hidden behind a mask of friendship, became a source of both joy and inner turmoil for Leo.

Leo, now fully engrossed in their collaboration, noticed the subtle changes in Nico's demeanor. How he would suddenly become quiet anytime they talked about who they found attractive in school. How he would be so excited to see Leo and how sad he was when he had to leave. He noticed the frequent blushes and nerve-wracked chuckles. The Latino chalked it all up to the pressure of their pending assignment. Unbeknownst to him, his presence had become a source of comfort for Nico. Every shared moment was cherished and even the stolen glances that spoke volumes.

As the deadline loomed, Nico found himself facing a dilemma. The mounting pressure of keeping his feelings a secret was becoming almost as overwhelming as the assignment itself.

Leo gazed over at the pale male, his brows knit in concern as he asked, "Are you alright? You seem a bit flustered."

Nico forced a short laugh. "Just a bit tired from all this research, you know." Despite Nico's attempts to shrug it off, Leo wouldn't let up.

"You know, you aren't just my partner for this project. I see you as a friend, you can tell me anything," Leo reassured him. The brunette tried to place his hand on Nico's shoulders, sending feelings of electricity coursing through the younger male.

"That's exactly the problem," Nico muttered quietly to himself as he instinctually jerked back from the touch. "Can we just focus on the timeline please?"

With another look of worry thrown Nico's way, the Latino sighed and opened a textbook. "We should color code everything. I think it'd look really cool."

Nico looked up with a single raised brow, his expression one of impression. "Hmm... That could actually work. It's unconventional, but it might make the information more engaging."

It got to the point where being in the same room as each other became nearly unbearable for the Italian. All he wanted to do was to feel Leo. To hold him. To caress him. To kiss him... Oh, how many times Nico had dozed off during the Latino's rambles dreaming of just grabbing him and pulling him into a passionate embrace.

It was during one of those moments that Leo snapped at Nico. "Look, I get you got something going on that you don't want to tell me but you could at least listen to me when it comes to the project."

The younger male turned towards Leo with a dumbfounded expression. "What?"

"I said, you could at least listen to me when it comes to the project. I swear, Neeks, you've been so up in the air lately with your head in the clouds. Please, tell me what's going on." Leo set down the textbook in his hands next to Nico on the bed. "I want to help you. Please, let me help you." The Latino made his way in front of Nico and placed a hand under his chin. He forced Nico to look him in the eyes and that's when the wall that the Italian had built around him fell.

"I...I don't want to ruin what we have..." Nico spoke softly, not daring to break the gaze he was so entrapped within.

"How could you ruin what we have? You're my best friend! I'd do anything for you."

Nico jerked his head back as he gently shoved Leo away. "That's the problem, don't you realize?! I want to be more than that!" As soon as the words left his mouth he quickly rushed his hands to cover it. The chocolate-eyed boy waited for the other shoe to drop as he studied the Latino's expressions closely. A pause hung in the air, heavy with anticipation.

Leo's brows furrowed as they processed the confession, and then, a genuine smile spread across his face. "Now, why didn't you tell me you were gay from the start?"

Tears began to well up in Nico's eyes - a mix of relief and also slight rejection. While he wasn't angry, his devotion of love wasn't exactly accepted. "I... I don't know. No one has ever made me feel the way you do."

The older male sat down on the bed with him. He gingerly reached out a hand to grab one of Nico's. It took a moment, but eventually the Italian accepted. "Tell me exactly how you feel."

Nico took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. "I feel like...your hand fits perfectly within mine." He laced their fingers. "I feel like...every time we touch, you ignite a spark within me that I didn't know I had." His voice became quieter, more shaky and uncertain as the anxiety began to unfurl in his stomach. "I feel like...I can never get enough of you. I feel like I want more than our friendship... I just...want to feel your lips on mine. I want you to be my reminder of why I breathe. Why I live. I want you to make me feel alive..." Their eyes met once more. The tension in the air was palpable. "I feel like... I want...to do this..." The Italian leaned over, effectively closing the gap between the two males as their lips met with fervor.

Curious hands grazed lightly over skin, pulling on articles of clothing that were in the way. The pair let themselves fall back onto the bed, holding each other as close as possible while their lips moved rhythmically against each other. Not a spark, but a fire, was ignited in both boys. Soon, textbooks and clothes flew out of bed and onto the floor. Panting and heavy grunts rang through the room as the pair confessed their love physically.

Leo and Nico could never forget their first time. How much love and passion they both held for each other that had been suppressed for so long that it just exploded. Years later the pair still reminisces on what brought them together. Now, college graduates with their own apartment together and a wonderful dog, they still go to the library to recapture how it felt back when both of them were too scared to do more than play footsies underneath the table.

"Remember how we almost failed at deciphering those ancient texts?" Leo asked as he gazed up from their Mythomagic game.

Nico couldn't help but chuckle as placed down a card. "And that colorful timeline you insisted on turned out to be quite a hit."

Laughter filled the air as they recalled the nervous glances and the stolen glances. In the end, their story became one that was unexpected in many ways. They were polar opposites but somehow they fit together perfectly. But as the saying goes - opposites attract.