"Reyna, I'm bored."
Nico yawned as his eyes lazily skimmed through the paper work. He really was bored. And really sleepy. How Reyna could stand all of this, even with Frank at her side, Nico never knew. All the reports were just about some petty things like stolen socks, a missing cat, or something along those lines.
But he couldn't leave Reyna either. He volunteered to help, and from the bags under her eyes, the paperwork were stressing her a lot.
"It's fine, Nico," Reyna replied absentmindedly, her brows furrowed in concentration. "I can handle this. Just a few more stacks. . ."
He looked at the side of her desk. Few more, huh. . .
"Hey," he said, the idea in his mind too ridiculous. People always pegged him as the serious type, but to ease his boredom and cheer the praetor up, he would willingly give this a shot.
"Hmm?" Reyna clicked her pen.
"Uh," Wait, why was Nico doing this again? "Are you a parking ticket?"
Reyna frowned, then looked up at him. Her dark eyes made him want to quit this. "Um, no?"
"Because you've got fine written all over you." Nico felt heat rising up to his face. He'd heard Leo say those pick-up lines to Calypso, which earned him a sweet hug every time he came up with something this crappy. Being a curious and bored kid had it's disadvantages.
Reyna's expression was partly amused, partly, 'Here he goes again.'"Are you done?"
"Actually, no." Nico said. "Were you born in a farm? 'Cause girl, you look a-maize-ing!"
The corners of Reyna's lips twitched. "Nico, that is really terrible. Can we just get this over with?"
Nico sighed and shrugged. "Fine. Sorry."
"Now," she yawned. "I'd kill for some hot chocolate."
"Are you a planet?"
Reyna raised her eyebrows and took a deep breath. "Nico--"
"Because you have that sort of gravity. I keep coming back to you."
Reyna looked at him with a perfect poker face, then the corners of her lips tugged into a smile. She stared at Nico like he just made a really stupid comment and it made her want to laugh.
She took his hands and squeezed them. A shock went down Nico's spine. Nico was surprised, but he didn't try pulling his hands away. Normally he didn't like physical contact, but he can make another exception.
"Nico. . ." Reyna said gently, looking straight into his eyes.
He thought that this might be the moment. He really liked the praetor for a long time now, but he couldn't just admit it. And he'll never tell her. . . Well, unless it's the right moment.
And this might be it.
"Uh. . ."
"Are you a leech?"
Nico blinked, dumbfounded . Did. . . did Reyna just say a pick-up line? The bravest warrior he'd ever known. . .
He opened his mouth and closed it, gaping like a fish. "W-why?"
Reyna smiled at him. "Because you suck."
"Hey!"
"Now, don't expect me to say another one. It makes me feel childish."
