Sun Spot [Valdangelo/Leico]

One Wish

When thinking about a cute, romantic time with a guy, one usually doesn't picture a small Latino teenager watching Supernatural reruns with you. Nico, however, doesn't think it can get any better than that.

He's always loved Supernatural. It's the least romantic show on the planet, with all its blood and death. That doesn't stop Leo from his cheesy compliments, though. Nico is smiling miles wide now, listening to his boyfriend joke about Percy and Piper and the rest of their friends. He nearly bursts out laughing twice, which would make anyone else besides Leo scream with discomfort. Leo is the only one Nico can really be happy around other than Hazel. Hazel isn't around the Hades Cabin much anymore, unfortunately. She hangs around Frank more often, leaving the cabin to Nico and Leo.

"Leo, thank you for this. No one else would have cared about what I did on my birthday." Nico says, his nutmeg eyes now burning into Leo's.

Leo grins. "Well, I'm just being the best low-budget boyfriend ever. So, what else do you want, birthday boy? And don't say nothing. That's lying."

The son of Hades thinks for a moment before standing and walking over to Leo's side. Nico gently presses him down on the couch before sitting on his lap- their faces now only inches away. They can feel each other's warm breaths and they can hear both their hearts beating synchronously in their heads. The cold-skinned son of Hades kisses Leo's smoky lips softly, sweetly, then he pulls away ever so slightly, whispering, "I told you, all I want is you."

Leo gulps, positioning his hands on his boyfriend's hips. He can feel the smoke rising from his fingertips, but he manages to calm down once he looks into those milky brown hues. They're hypnotizing; he doesn't even realize Nico is about to kiss him again until a freezing hand comes in contact with his face, cupping it.

"Are you sure you still want to be together?" Leo interrupts, "Earlier today, you seemed kind of... distant? I mean- if people find out, you-"

"I don't care, Leo," Nico leans in and plants a kiss on his lips, smiling so hard it hurts him. "Let them say whatever they want. I all I want is us to be together, happy, for as long as the Earth is spinning." Leo melts into another kiss, and they spend the rest of the  afternoon in each other's arms. Huh, who knew a child of Hades could be this freaking happy?

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'

The sunset is particularly perfect on Nico's birthday. Admirable even for him, apparently. He begins to get lost in the swirling colors and clouds, when-

"How's being fifteen, Nico?" Hazel manages to sneak up behind Nico when he's standing in solitude; looking like he's staring at the Apollo kids shooting arrows and the Aphrodite girls spraying their swords with... oh my gods, is that perfume? Her half brother perks up a bit at the soothing sound of her voice, jerking his head around. His raven hair lands in his face in a funny pattern, which makes Hazel giggle and push it out of the way.

"Oh, perfect." Nico rolls his eyes. "I feel so much different."

Hazel laughs again. It's such a nice sound; one that somehow calms anyone within hearing range. "Anything special happen today?"

Nico flushes slightly at remembrance of what had happened earlier today with Leo. "Um, no. My friends got me some cool stuff, I guess. But that's it."

His sister seems to radiate sunlight with the smile she's making now. "Well, I hope you have room for some more gifts!" she reaches into her back jeans pocket and pulls out a small box. He takes it in his own pale fingers and smiles just a teensy bit. "It's not the most extravagant present, but..."

It's a little figurine of his precious Stygian Iron sword all tucked in nicely with white paper. Nico holds it up to the fading sunlight to watch it gleam, his smile growing.

"Check on the bottom of the box." Hazel points to the remaining paper sitting on the bottom. He unwinds it slowly.

To the best brother in the world, Nico,

People may judge you. People may hate you for who you are. Don't ever let them get to you. You are wonderful, and I love you no matter what. Never hesitate to tell me anything. All your secrets will be forever safe with me.

Happy birthday.

"Hazel..." Nico feels a bolt of guilt shoot through him. You don't know that I... He could tell her right now, and know if that was really true. He has to. He has to. A tear pushes its way out of his eye reluctantly, causing Hazel to rush forward and grasp his trembling hand.

"Nico? What's wrong?"

He sniffles, immediately wiping away the single tear. He takes a deep breath in, and thinks about how much she deserves to know. This will be worth it. If she hates him after this, she'll hate him. There will be no changing it.

"Hazel, I love you more than anyone. So that's why I need to tell you,  I'm-" he tries to spit it out. He really does. Her golden eyes bursting with compassion makes him so afraid of the possibility of her pushing him away for this. "I don't like girls in the way that most boys like girls." Hazel is taken aback, definitely not expecting that. Nico pushes it aside and continues, "I like Leo. We're- we're going out right now. I didn't want anyone- especially you- to hate me for it, so I never told anyone... I'm so sorry, Hazel." 

She stays silent for a long while, trying to take it all in. Nico feels like he's going to barf.

"Okay..." she finally says, nodding her head. "Okay." her arms wrap around him in a tight, comforting hug. "Nico, don't you dare think I would ever leave you because of who you like. I love you and Leo. As long as he makes you happy, I'm happy."

Nico hugs back weakly but surely.

"Thank you, Hazel."

His stomach swells up with the warmth of love and acceptance, the thought of coming out to his friends now sticking in his brain.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'

A/N: sorry it's a little cheesy, haha. had to make it work somehow.

dedicated to my best friend, licoandklainelover. her cat died today and even if it seems like a small thing, it's a feeling that stays with you for a really long, excruciating amount of time. i hope this makes you feel a little better.