Percabeth Oneshots

Cousins & Crushes Pt.4

By me.

Thalia took a deep breath, trying to shake off the nerves that threatened to make her turn back. She couldn’t believe she was actually going through with this. Nico di Angelo, of all people, had her feeling like she was back in middle school, awkward and unsure of what to say. Get it together, Thalia, she told herself.

When she reached Nico, who was still sketching quietly on the bench, she cleared her throat. “Hey, Nico.”

Nico looked up, his dark eyes meeting hers. “Oh, hey, Thalia.” He closed his notebook, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “What’s up?”

Thalia shifted her weight from one foot to the other, mentally cursing Percy for putting this idea in her head. “So, um… I was wondering if you’d like to hang out sometime. You know, outside of school.”

Nico raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued but not giving much away. “Hang out?”

Thalia felt her heart race, but she wasn’t going to back down now. “Yeah. I was thinking of heading to the gaming shop later. It’s one of my favorite places, and I thought maybe… you’d want to come with?”

To her surprise, Nico’s face lit up—actually lit up—and he gave her a rare, genuine smile. “You like the gaming shop? That’s my favorite place too.”

Thalia blinked, not expecting him to be so enthusiastic. She usually had to drag her friends there, but Nico seemed excited. “Seriously?”

“Yeah,” Nico said, standing up and slipping his sketchbook into his bag. “I go there all the time. What games are you into?”

Thalia grinned, finally feeling her confidence returning. “I’ve been obsessed with the new strategy RPG that came out last week. You?”

Nico’s eyes sparkled with interest. “Same. I’ve been working my way through the campaign, but the last level is brutal.”

Thalia chuckled, feeling the tension melt away. “Tell me about it. Maybe we can work through it together.”

Nico nodded. “Sounds good to me.”

Before Thalia could respond, she heard a familiar voice behind her. “Well, well, well,” Percy said, strolling up to them with a wide grin. “What do we have here?”

Thalia shot him a warning glare. “Don’t even start, Jackson.”

But Percy, being Percy, ignored the warning completely. “Oh, I’m not starting anything. I’m just wondering when the wedding is. Should I start printing the invitations? Or maybe I can be the best man?”

Nico looked confused for a second, but then a light blush crept up his cheeks when he realized what Percy was implying. Thalia, on the other hand, wasn’t having any of it.

“Shut up, Percy,” Thalia growled, her face turning slightly red. “I swear, if you say one more word…”

Percy raised his hands in mock surrender, though his grin never wavered. “Hey, I’m just happy for you two. You’re already bonding over video games—it’s practically fate!”

Thalia rolled her eyes, resisting the urge to punch him. “You’re impossible.”

Nico, who had been watching the exchange with mild amusement, finally spoke up. “I didn’t know you were so invested in Thalia’s dating life, Percy.”

Percy feigned innocence. “What? I’m just looking out for my cousin! Besides, who wouldn’t want to see two of the coolest kids in school finally admitting they like each other?”

Thalia shot him another glare, but there was a hint of a smile tugging at her lips. “Stop it. You’re ruining the moment.”

Nico shrugged, a shy smile still lingering on his face. “It’s okay. I think it’s kind of funny.”

“See?” Percy said, pointing at Nico. “He gets it. I’m just here to celebrate true love.”

Thalia groaned dramatically, but a small laugh escaped her. “You’re not invited to the gaming shop, then.”

“Fine,” Percy said, holding up his hands again. “I’ll stay away and let you two lovebirds enjoy your date.”

“Date?” Thalia repeated, feeling her cheeks heat up again. “This isn’t a date! We’re just going to play video games.”

Nico shrugged again, his expression thoughtful. “It could be a date if you want it to be.”

Thalia’s heart raced at the suggestion, but she quickly brushed it off. “Let’s not overthink it.”

“Too late!” Percy chimed in. “You already agreed to go out with him. That counts as a date in my book.”

Nico chuckled, clearly enjoying the banter. “I mean, if it makes Thalia happy, I wouldn’t mind calling it a date.”

Thalia felt a mix of embarrassment and excitement. She had never been one to do things lightly, and now she was stuck in a situation she never thought she’d find herself in. The idea of going out with Nico—of it being a date—made her giddy and terrified all at once.

“Okay, fine,” Thalia said, throwing her hands up in defeat. “Let’s call it a date. But if you tell anyone, Jackson, I will make your life miserable.”

Percy saluted her mockingly. “Your secret is safe with me, milady.”

“Great. Now go away so I can enjoy my date with Nico in peace.”

Percy grinned, backing away dramatically. “Alright, I’ll be off to plan the wedding.”

As Percy walked away, Thalia turned to Nico, her heart pounding. “So, uh, should we head to the gaming shop now?”

“Yeah, let’s go,” Nico replied, a smile still on his face. He seemed more relaxed now, and Thalia found herself feeling the same way.

They walked side by side toward the gaming shop, the atmosphere between them light and easy. As they approached, Thalia glanced at Nico, who seemed to be deep in thought. “You really like video games, huh?”

“Yeah,” he said, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. “They’ve always been a way for me to escape, you know? I love getting lost in a good story.”

“Same,” Thalia said, surprised at how easily they fell into conversation. “It’s like a whole new world where anything is possible.”

Nico nodded, his expression growing more serious. “Exactly. I feel like we can be anyone we want to be.”

Thalia smiled at him, her earlier nerves slowly dissipating. “I’m glad you’re here, Nico. It’s nice to find someone who gets it.”

“Me too,” Nico said, looking over at her. “I’m really glad you asked me out.”

Thalia felt a flutter in her chest. “So, about that campaign… Do you think we can beat it together?”

“Absolutely,” Nico said, his enthusiasm growing. “I’ve got some strategies that might help.”

As they entered the gaming shop, Thalia felt a surge of excitement. This was exactly what she needed—a chance to be herself with someone who understood her. As she and Nico navigated the aisles filled with games and merchandise, she couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning of something special.

“Hey,” Thalia said suddenly, turning to Nico. “After we finish the campaign, we should do this more often. Like, every weekend.”

Nico’s smile widened, and he nodded. “I’d like that.”

“Cool,” Thalia said, feeling a sense of satisfaction wash over her. “Looks like I’ll need to clear my schedule for you then.”

As they continued to browse the store, Thalia felt lighter than she had in a long time. With Percy teasing them from the sidelines and her connection with Nico deepening, she realized she was no longer just the tough cousin who put on a brave face. She was someone who could be vulnerable, someone who could find comfort in another person.

And for the first time, she was genuinely excited about what lay ahead.