The Deep End

Chapter 13: Untoasted Poptarts

Percy

The teenage boys opened the front door quietly, careful not to wake up Sally. Once the door closed they visibly relaxed and soaked in the warmth of the small New York apartment. "Come on," Percy whispered dragging Nico to the couch. His wrist in Percy's hand sending heat up his arm. He tensed. Percy sat down on the couch pulling Nico to sit down. The weight of Percy's leather letterman jacket weighed in his shoulders. The warmth of the jacket overwhelmed him, but it smelled like Percy so he didn't mind. Lavender, and chlorine, although it didn't sound like the two didn't go together you'd be surprised. Percy leaned into the plastic bag and dug out the ice cream and tip toed over to the freezer. Normally, Nico couldn't eat in front of people. In fact, just the thought of holding food could make his stomach churn, but the normal queasy ness of his stomach wasn't bothered by hot Cheetos. Maybe he just liked them that much. Or maybe it wasn't a whole meal and just something you could eat in small bites, he didn't know. The comforting taste of the spicy snack hit his mouth. With the sheer amount of Cheetos he ate he wondered if he tasted like hot Cheetos if someone would ever kiss him. He knew no one would, if he didn't like himself how could anybody ever like him. He wondered what Percy tasted like, he imagined like sea salt, and Home. An extra hand snuck its way into the bag of death he held in his hands. "Hey, mine." Nico snapped slapping his hand against Percy's. "Dang, what are you a seagull from Finding Nemo," "Jeez, with your intelligence you'd probably fit the label better Kelphead." Percy chuckled, a dark expression cascading over his face. "Percy I," "No, it's okay just a sad memory," Although his words were sad, the truth was altered. He was always made fun of by his ex-stepdad, but when annabeth came into his life she just used those words as a joke. Percy learned to love being name called and it helped him forget about the harder memories. It was one of the reasons he loved annabeth so much, she helped him change the bad memories, not forget them, but now they were bad memories again. Annabeth was gone, and all Percy felt was pain and neglect. Then he remembered the dark haired boy next to him, and his darkened eyes, and frowning lips turned to light blue, and a small smile curled into his face. In the back of Percy's mind a small light thought maybe Nico could be the one to make the pain turn to happiness. Honestly Percy wanted to do the same for Nico.

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Nico

Nico was sat on the couch. The time must have been around 2-3 am, but he didn't care. He was with Percy and for that he would keep his eyes open even if he'd been given 10 Benadryl. Percy was sat on the couch. Coffee ice cream covered his face and Nico wondered if Percy knew where his mouth was, maybe he could show hi— No, no, no! Nico knew Percy wouldn't like him like that. Who would want an emo edgelord like him to date. The sounds of munching disturbed his thoughts and he saw Percy munching on a pop tart. "When did you get up and toast your pop tart?" Nico said thinking Percy was some kind of ninja (also Percy was tall and lanky he'd suck at being a ninja). "I didn't, I don't like heating them up." Percy dimples stated, crumbs dripping from his lips. "What! How, who, what kind of demon doesn't put pop tarts into a toaster, it's what their FUCKING FOR!" The poor small boy exploded. "Hey, shh my moms asleep remember idiot! Anyway, I don't like a lot of hot food, except meat, like why the fuck would you eat it cold even tho it's supposed to cooked like that chicken salad shit nah man." Nico rolled his eyes surprised to hear curse words roll out of Percy's mouth, "I thought you didn't swear?" Percy just smiled, his blue eyes creased a little, "I do. Just when other people aren't around, like I don't want any kids to hear me saying fuck or something." Nico let out a small giggle. "What?" "Sorry, you were serious about it, and all, but the way you just casually said fuck when I rarely hear you swear was funny." "What? Fuck." Percy spoke causing Nico to smile more, which Percy rolled his eyes at. "Oh, whatever" the talk one mumbled. Soon, Percy turned on the TV, Friends playing in the background. Nico let his eyelids droop and his body relax. Little did he realize it was Percy his back lay against, the letterman jacket made his body heavy and warmed him up. Percy, letting his instincts take over, let his hand fall onto Nicos head and played with the midnight waves that decorated his head. Soon, Nico was fast asleep with Ross being a dickhead in the background.
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