DΣΜΙGΘD ΘΠΣ-SΗΘΤS, ΛU'S, ΛΠD SΗΘRTSTΘRΙΣS

Learning how to swim

Hi guys! More Percico fluffy thingy! This is about Percy learning Nico how to swim! No romantics...

Words: 2960

Pairings: One-sided Percico

Time: some time after the giant war...

Nico’s POV

Nico was sitting all alone on the beach, just staring at the soft waves, and the sun glittering in the water. His head was full of thoughts. It had been two weeks since they got home from Athens, and Percy was spending all his time– literally –with Annabeth. Annabeth had even started sleeping in the Poseidon cabin. Nico couldn't stand it anymore.

He looked down on the backpack at his feet. This morning he'd stuffed all his few belongings down in it, ready to leave. He'd thought about taking to Camp Jupiter, but he still wasn't sure; he just needed to get away from him.

Nico opened his bag and pulled out a little statuette. It was from a game called Mythomagic he'd been obsessed with as little; the statuette was of Hades, his father. Bianca had found it to him a couple of years ago, the night she'd died. Percy had given him it, when he'd told him about Bianca. Nico didn't blame Percy anymore for Bianca's death, but he still couldn't be around him; not just because of Nico's feelings, but also all the bad memories he'd had involving Percy.

"Hi Nico," a voice said behind him, startling him so much he dropped the statuette of his father. He turned around to see who it was. Percy was smiling down at him. "What are you doing?" he asked.

Nico shrugged. "Thinking."

"You like to think here?" Percy asked and Nico nodded.

"Me too," Percy smiled. "Can I sit?"

When Nico didn't answer, Percy took it as a yes and sat down. He gazed happily out over the sea for a moment, and then he said, "It reminds me of many good times. Does it remind you of anything?"

"No..." Nico answered hesitantly, but pictures swirled around in his mind; of Percy, the first time Nico had seen him, fighting the manticore; of Percy, telling him of Bianca; of Percy, when he defeated Hades army after his bath in Styx; of Percy's green eyes; of Percy's smile; of Percy, Percy, Percy.

"Oh, come on! It must remind you of something?" Percy said.

"Uh... Maybe... of blue chocolate cake?" Nico answered, picking the least emotionally of his memories of Percy. Percy grinned.

"That plan nearly cost my life, but it seemed to work out," he said, his green eyes the same color of the sea he was gazing at.

"You didn't die," Nico said, trying to fake annoyance. That didn’t went well. "My plan worked perfectly." Then he added, "sort of."

Percy laughed, which made Nico crack a little smile. Percy had such a nice laugh... He shook his head and gazed out over the water again, his smile melting.

"Does it remind you of anything else? Any good summer vacations at the ocean?" Percy asked.

Nico shook his head. "Nope, my mother never took us to the sea - or to any other places with water, except for the bathroom..." he told Percy. Percy glanced at him.

"That means you can't swim?" he asked. Nico nodded, keeping his gaze on the horizon. 

"Neither could Bianca."

Suddenly Percy rose to his feet and began to pull off in his t-shirt. Nico's eyes widened and he could feel his cheeks warm up.

"Uh... Percy...? Wha- what are you doing?" he asked, quite a bit frightened. Percy turned around as he tucked his t-shirt all the way off and threw it on the ground.