Butterflies

Chapter 2

Guys? Where did all my readers go? There was like a hundred of  you and now there's like twenty. Whatever, won't complain.  Hope you like the story fellow fanpeoples. I'm back in the game.
                              ~O~
    Nico was getting tired of butterflies.
    Like, come on. Will sneezed and they started tickling his stomach. No, worse than tickling. It was like the infestation was dancing to rock metal music, bobbing their little heads and flapping their wings to the hundred a second beat. It was torture, and it never stopped. Well, at least when Will was anywhere near him. Which was every. Single. Day.
    He was considering ingesting some 'Bug Away' just to rid himself of the little pest.
    Except that might only make him sicker.
    And stay in the infirmary longer.
    So that's a no.
    A knock on the door stirred Nico out of his thoughts the way a blender might stir a fruit salad. He jumped a foot, slipped on his blanket, and crashed to the floor. The knocker didn't wait to be let in, but opened the door and lowered his gaze to Nico cursing and holding his leg.
    "I honestly didn't see you as easily scared, Nico," the voice said, the reached down to pull Nico up.
    "I don't find you surprising, Jason," Nico replied, grasping the arm and using more of his own strength than Jason's. "You're actually quite predictable." He met Jason's eyes as the blond broke out in a grin. He wrapped his arms around Nico in a hug which Nico returned happily.
    "I'm glad you're okay, man," Jason said, then let go and stepped back. "And I'm glad I can finally hug you without being stabbed."
    Nico smiled a bit and corrected, "I never stabbed you. I just kind of grazed you."
    Jason laughed and sat down on the bed. "That's right, it was just a graze." Nico stayed standing  as he continued, "It's good to see you happy, Nico. I can only guess it was that doctor."
    Those pests came back mid-flurry, attacking his inner organs like a hurricane. Nico must have been blushing or at least looked shocked because Jason laughed again and look off his glasses to hold his face. Nico punched his arm but allowed himself a smile as well, sitting down next to Jason.
    "No, but seriously Nico," Jason turned and put his glasses back on. "Was it Will? I haven't seen you happy in, well, I really just haven't seen you this happy before."
    Nico turned his face away and murmured, "Is it really that noticeable?" Jason laughed again and bumped his shoulder.
    "Not to others, but I know you a lot better than you think, di Angelo. I can see the difference." Both boys sat in silence for a bit, their company enough. But eventually Jason had to break it. "Come on, though. Tell me about him. I want to know if this boy is good enough for my little death angel."
    Nico glared at Jason and he laughed a third time, pulling his legs up over the bed and sitting criss-cross turned towards him. He pulled his own legs up and hugged his knees, letting his toes curl around the edge of the mattress.
    "Stop it, Jason. He'll hear you," Nico complained in a low tone.
    Jason stopped and asked, "And you care if he does?"
    "Yes. Well, no. But kind of. Shut up thunder cloud." Nico huffed while Jason laughed a bit more, then stopped.
    "Come on, Nico. I want you to trust me." Will nudged Nico with his foot and the boy unraveled a bit.
    "Jason, I don't even trust myself with this information. And honestly, there isn't much information anyway. There's just-" Nico paused and stared down at his knees.
    "Just what?" Jason asked.
    "Just these butterflies!" Nico exclaimed, then glanced at the door to see if anyone heard. In a quieter tone he explained, "Every time I see him its like the winged beasts are torturing my insides. And it doesn't stop! Not when he's around. It's like it never stops and I am getting so freaking tired of them!"
    Jason blinked once. Then twice.
    "Butterflies?" he asked.
    "Yeah," Nico confirmed.
    "Like the blue pretty insects that little children draw?"
    Nico looked at him with a puzzled expression. "I guess."
    "You, Nico di Angelo, are getting pretty, cute little insect cuddles in your stomach when you see this boy?"
    "Yes, Jason. Didn't I say this?" Nico replied with an exasperated sigh.
     "I just don't see this happening," Jason said, shaking his head a bit.
    Nico scowled, "What did you expect?"
    Jason flopped his hands and exclaimed, "I don't know, like skeletal dragons or something! I just never saw you as a 'butterfly' kind of guy." He sighed a bit and let his arms rest.
    "Yeah well if I got a choice I certainly wouldn't pick them either. Their freaking annoying." Nico brought his legs up and folded them criss-cross as well.
    Chuckling, Jason replied, "That's adorable. You're adorable. Not wanting the butterflies Will gives you. So cute."
    Nico flamed in a very un-cute way as he growled, "Jason you little spark head, make fun of me again and a stapler won't be the only thing to scar your face." He sighed and lost the anger a bit. "Haven't you ever felt like this? I might feel better knowing it was something all guys got."
    Jason turned his face away a bit and murmured, "Well, I guess. But I was kind of thrown into a relationship at first. I didn't get the same pre-relationship jitters because there wasn't really any pre-relationship." He turned back and looked Nico straight in the eyes. "Don't get me wrong, Piper is the best girl of any to make a guy feel nervous, but I was so confused and scared when I first met her that it was hard to feel anything but a twisted gut." Jason placed a hand on Nico's knee and smiled encouragingly. "Trust me Nico, every guy gets nervous. Especially if their situation is as meticulous as yours. Will might not even be gay, that's got to be unnerving to have to think about."
    Nico scowled again and said, "Thanks Jason, your real good at making me feel better. I hadn't even thought about that, but really, thanks."
    Jason caught the sarcasm funnily enough and blinked once before replying, "Oh gods, Nico, I'm sorry. Gosh, I didn't even, man I'm really sorry buddy."
    "It's fine," Nico breathed and looked down at his hands resting in his lap. "But your right. I don't want another thing like Percy and I really don't want another thing like cupid." He sighed and continued, "I don't really want these feelings at all. I'd honestly rather give up the search than continue being heartbroken."
    Jason leaned forward and put his other hand on Nico's other knee. "Hey, don't say that Nico. You'll find someone, I know it."
    "Easy for you to say," Nico looked up and into Jason's eyes again. He couldn't help but compare them to Will's. Noting how Jason's were more fierce and sharp while Will's seemed like a calm sky. "You had two girls fighting over you before you even knew who they were."
    Jason held the gaze and replied, "Yeah, I did, but they were both amazing women I didn't deserve. You deserve this guy, Nico. You deserve a whole army of guys for what you've had to endure alone."
    Nico chuckled a bit and looked down with a small smile. Jason saw and he smiled too. "Thanks, Jason. I don't think it's true, but thanks." Jason patted his knees and then slipped off the bed, stretching a bit.
    "I'm glad I could be here, Nico. So that you could see what you deserve." He walked towards the door and paused in the doorway. "And even if you don't see it yet, I'll get you to eventually. You can trust me, Nico," he looked Nico straight in the eyes. "So trust me when I say you're worth it."