PJO/HoO Around the Campfire

The Secret

"Nico, you're staring." Piper sat down beside Nico at the Hades table. "Don't you think someone might notice? You could just tell them you know, that would be so much easier. Then you could sit with him at dinner instead of looking from here."

"I guess I could but I-, well, maybe I'm just scared." Nico said as he got up from the table and walked back to his cabin.

As he was passing the Apollo table he tapped Will on the elbow and hoped he would get the message. Nico didn't look back as he walked to his cabin, when he entered he just sat on the bed waiting to see if Will would come.

"Nico, did you want to see me?" Will knocked but didn't wait for an answer.

"Yes, if you are sure that the campers aren't, uh what's the word again? When they don't like gay people?"

"Homophobic?" Will put his arm around Nico as they sat on the bed together.

"Yes, that's the word. If the campers aren't homophobic then I think I would be ready for them to know." Nico was looking at his shoes and fiddling with his skull ring.

Will took Nico's chin gingerly in his hand and lifted his chin up. He kissed Nico, it wasn't passionate but they could both feel how much the other cared for them.

"When I came out most of the campers were accepting, but even if some aren't I can guarantee that there are some people who will love and accept you, no matter what. If you want to tell them today or in one hundred years, I'm good either way." This made Nico laugh and he kissed Will again.

They parted abruptly when they heard a noise outside the window. They went to see what was there but when they got to the window they didn't see anything.

"Will, what was that?" Nico asked.

"Hmm, I'm not sure, it's possible that it was nothing, maybe just the wind." Will was still puzzled but he left the window anyway. "I have to go back to my cabin now, my siblings will be suspicious. Will I see you at the campfire tonight?"

"I guess." Nico gave Will one more kiss and then gently pushed him out of the cabin.

Will went back to his cabin smiling the whole way. When he entered his cabin his siblings were already there.

"Will, were you at Nico's cabin?" Kayla asked.

"Um, yeah." Will could tell Kayla was suspicious by the look on her face.

"And?" Will just looked at her puzzled so she continued. "Are you two dating?"

"No, of course not!" Kayla didn't look like she believed him though and Will knew that he was a terrible liar. "Fine, yes we are, but you can't say anything. Nico doesn't want to share it yet."
Everyone in the cabin agreed not to tell anyone, they went back to what they were doing before and Will fell onto his bed. He hoped that everything would turn out fine, this was pretty stressful for him, but he understood what Nico was feeling. Nico grew up in the 30's, so Will understood the fear Nico was feeling.

Will spaced out while he was thinking so he didn't realize when it was time for campfire until one of siblings reminded him. They all went to the campfire but Will didn't see Nico.

"Hey Piper, do you know if Nico is coming?"

"I think so, Jason just went to check. So earlier when you were helping Nico with the arm injury and I came in, well, Nico told me you guys were dating. I kind of figured it out and he confirmed it actually. Well, there's a rumor going around that you are dating, I wanted to tell you in case you didn't know, also Nico probably doesn't know and might need support."

Will didn't know what to say, he was so mad. Who started the rumor? Why would anyone think that this was their business? He hoped Nico could handle it because he hadn't said he was ready yet. Mostly Will hoped that nobody here was homophobic.

As Will was waiting for Nico he noticed some people staring at him and some whispers going around.

Will noticed as Nico came up with Jason. It was likely that Jason had already told Nico of the rumors. When the two boys got to their group of friends Nico excused himself and walked over to Will.

"Hey Will, so...uh, I heard about the rumors. It's fine, I was almost ready anyway, i think I just need to be less scared about it. Times have changed and I don't want to hide this relationship anymore." Will was so relieved that Nico was okay with this.

"Thank the gods. I was scared you were going to break up with me or something."

"Of course not, why would I do that?" Nico kissed Will and dragged him to the group that he had left before. Nico was so happy he didn't even mind that the other campers saw when he kissed Will.

This one was a little short but I hope it's good and you like it :)
Thank you so much for reading this, it makes me really happy 😃

I think I'm going to start writing some PJO and HoO one shots, so if there is anything you would like to read just leave a comment, thanks :)