Percy felt a deep frown settle onto his face as Nico Di Angelo faded back into the shadows. Nico’s visits to camp half-blood were less frequent now, and Percy missed him. Percy had always felt the need to look out for him, make sure he didn’t get hurt. When Percy looked at Nico, he saw horrible sadness and anger. Percy remembered the hyper 10-year-old Nico used to be. He missed that Nico. He sighed and started on his way back to camp. It was almost curfew and if he wasn’t back soon, the harpies would be after him. On the way back, he tried to cheer himself up, but the frown on his face remained. Even Annabeth had noticed Percy had been more distant lately, mumbling to himself, going out into the woods and not coming back for hours. Nobody knew, but sometimes he’d take to spending a night in the Hades cabin. It smelled like Nico. That confused Percy. He’d never really noticed how Nico smelled before. But Percy guessed his unique smell was somewhere between darkness and roasted chestnuts. Percy didn’t really know what darkness smelled like, but if darkness had a smell Nico was probably it. Percy was cold. Inside and out. He couldn’t seem to get warm again. Even on the hottest days there was a chilly, empty feeling in his chest. Nothing could distract him from it. Percy had come to the conclusion that he was pretty much dying inside. It didn’t matter. Percy knew he needed something….or someone. But he couldn’t quite understand what, or why….
The Son Of Hades sighed and slumped against a wall. Another visit with Percy had ended. It was becoming harder and harder to look Percy in his sea green eyes. Scolding himself didn’t even waver Nico’s thoughts. He didn’t like it, but Nico was totally in love with Percy Jackson. But Percy seemed more distant. Probably his stupid girlfriend Annabeth. Nico thought Annabeth was nice when her first met her, but seeing as she’d stolen Percy from him he didn’t care for her company any more. Nico got up and repeatedly banged his head against the wall. Hard. “You-Had-To-Go-And-Fall-In-Love!” One bang for every word. By the time Nico was done, a bruise was already forming. He sighed. “Ouch” He new banging his head wasn’t going to do any good, he was still in love with Percy. But at least he could think clearly. Now Nico had to have a plan. He couldn’t just never tell anyone. He knew he’d need to tell Percy. Percy had almost gotten killed for less than an “I love you.” Nico owed him that. But he simply couldn’t find it inside of him to say the words out loud. Nico had an idea. A cowardly idea, but he wasn’t strong enough to just say it so here went nothing. He scribbled a short note on a piece of paper, and, though exhausted from already shadow-traveling once that night, willed himself to appear in Percy’s cabin. Nico appeared, next to Percy’s bed, exhausted. he sat down on the bed to rest for a moment. Then lie down and closed his eyes. I’ll just rest for a little while….. he thought, but soon he was asleep, note in hand.
Percy finally arrived from his trek back from the woods. He was pretty exhausted, so he headed toward his cabin. He opened the door and stopped inside as the smell of sea salt hit him. Percy smiled a ghost of a smile. “Home sweet home…” he thought t himself. He collapsed on him bed. “Ouch!” he yelped and jumped up. He had landed on something hard. His bed began to move. “errghhh…owwwww…..” Percy nearly had a heart attack. There was a person in his bed. He yanked the covers of his bed and switched on the light. There lay a dazed Nico Di Angelo. “N-Nico?” Nico squinted. “Shit..” he cursed under his breath, but gathered his wits. His head still hurt from banging it against the wall earlier. He remembered what he was here for. “Urghh….hi.” Nico was wide awake now. He slid out of Percy’s bed, handed Percy the note, and slid back under the covers, hiding. “Nico, get out of my bed!” Percy looked at the note in his hand. “And what the hell is this??” Percy didn’t mean to be so harsh with Nico, but he was tired and Nico WAS in his bed. Nico poked his head out from under the covers. “Just read it.” Percy unfolded the note and began to read. By the time Percy was done reading his jaw was on the floor, right next to his Nike shoes. “Nico?” he stepped forward and poked the bunch of sheets gently. “Just go away…” under the ocean colored sheets, Nico was as red as a tomato. “Nico, it’s okay.” He prodded the figure under the sheets. Percy didn’t know what to think. He LOVED him. Nico LOVED him. A dreamy sigh escaped his lips and Percy realized he loved Nico to. He sank down on the bed next to Nico. He gently pulled the covers off and there lay Nico, curled into a ball. Percy was so happy he laughed. The cold feeling in his chest was gone. He leaned over and kissed Nico’s cheek. Nico turned over. “Percy?” Nico seemed to drown in Percy’s sea-green eyes. Percy grabbed Nico and hoisted him into his lap, laying his head on Nico’s shoulder. Every thought in Nico’s head left him. He loves me back…. Nico thought to himself. Percy ‘s body was warm, and Nico was chilly so he let Percy hang on to him for a while. Nico turned around and wrapped his legs around Percy’s waist. Percy’s arms snaked around Nico’s torso and pulled him closer. Nico was thin. Very thin. And as Percy pulled off his shirt and aviators jacket, he realized he could distinctly see his ribs. “need to eat more….” Percy mumbled, his lips against Nico’s neck. Nico laughed and ran his fingers through Percy’s messy black hair. Percy kissed his ear, and his temple and took his face in his hands. He noticed the bruise. “What’s this from?” He asked. Nico just shook his head. “It’s for you Percy.” Percy kissed that too. Nico reached out and grabbed Percy’s orange t-shirt, in the process, Percy slid down on the bed into a horizontal position. Percy pulled Nico in a kissed his lips, and his nee and all over his face. Nico giggled. “I love you Percy”. Percy stopped his attempts and stared into Nico’s dark colored eyes, where a new flame was burning. “I love you too Nico.” They spent the night in the Posiden cabin, and Percy’s last thoughts were how he was going to break up with Annabeth in the morning.
