Light & Dark

Chapter 1

'So,' Nico said, 'since we're going to be spending at least a year seeing each other at camp, I think I should clear the air.'
Percy's smile wavered. 'What do you mean?'

Nico drew in a breath. No going back now.

'For a long time,' Nico said, 'I had a crush on you. I just wanted you to know.'

Understatement of the century. Nico had been utterly in love with him. But for Nico, admitting that would be a bit too far.

Percy stammered. So he really had had no clue. Nico smirked, enjoying the way that it was him making Percy speechless now, rather than the other way around. He gave a high five to Annabeth when she offered, then quickly turned and walked away before his rush of confidence subsided and he turned into a mortified mess.

He couldn't believe he'd just done that. He'd just admitted his deepest secret and greatest insecurity like it was nothing. It used to be his greatest fear, being found out. The calmness he was feeling was unnatural.

Looking back on all the time he spent in torture, trying to hide his emotions and pining after unrequited feelings for Percy, it all seemed a bit anticlimactic. He remembered the withered form of Akhlys crying before him, 'Child of Hades, what more could I do to you? You are perfect! So much sorrow and pain!' He had a feeling that Akhlys would not approve of the current Nico, nor was he entirely comfortable with his newfound peace. The feeling was not unwelcome, but it made him uneasy.

Of course, he still wasn't ready to let everyone in on his secrets. Telling Annabeth and Percy was the first step, but he didn't want to let everyone know just yet. All in good time.

Nico realised he had been lost in thought. He had nearly reached Will, who stood waiting for Nico in a relaxed stance with a coy smile on his face.

'Why are you smiling?' Nico asked suspiciously.
'Percy looks a bit Flabbergasted,' said Will, visibly enjoying the long word. 'I wonder what you could possibly have said to get Percy, of all people, all worked up.'

It was a perfectly innocent and understandable question, but Will somehow made it sound suggestive.
Dammit. He's onto me. Nico's pulse raced. He couldn't see a way to answer truthfully without giving away anything. So he did what Nico always does when he's nervous- he put up his walls and hid everything.

'None of your business,' He growled in reply as he lowered his head, hunched his shoulders and pushed past Will to the infirmary.