Perhaps it shouldn't have surprising. After all, both had always been unapproachable except for to one another. They had the same dark humor. Same obsession with Mythomagic…

Still, everyone turned heads the first time that Nico DiAngelo sat at the end of the Athena table… right across from Joseph Duskgem. Neither of them spoke much except for quiet mutterings too quiet for even Joseph's siblings to decipher. It wasn't too disturbing until, suddenly, Nico DiAngelo burst into laughter right in front of everyone. When he finally calmed, everyone was staring and his face flushed red. With a soft mutter, Joseph and Nico stood and hurried away from the tables.

Jason turned to Percy with a raised brow, "Should we follow? This is...interesting, isn't it?"

"Nah," Percy said, stabbing another bite of waffle with his fork, "Let Nico have his fun. You know how he rants about Joseph. He's been obsessed since he first saw him." Percy shoved the bite into his mouth and looked up at Jason, who tilted his head.

"I think it's the eyes. They're such a peculiar brown," Jason drawled.

Percy swallowed hard, "Amber. Nico always calls them amber."

Jason nodded, lost in thought, "Maybe he likes the glasses… Should I get ones like that?"

"What, trying to attract Nico, now?" Percy teased, kicking the blond beneath the table, "Am I not enough for you?"

"You're plenty," Jason responded quickly, "I just thought you'd miss our Friday nights?"

Percy blushed, "There's no reason Joseph couldn't join us as well."

"Hmm…" Jason smiled subtly, "Now that's an idea. Think Nico's bedded him yet?"

Percy shook his head, "I think they would have done more than just sit together if he had. He's probably preparing to right now."

"True, he likes using his embarassment to win over guys," Jason chuckled.

Percy just chuckled and went back to eating, letting his mind wander to what Nico and Joseph might be doing right now.

In all honesty, they weren't far off. Joseph was currently sitting on Nico's bed with him discussing the book he was reading in an effort to distract Nico from his previous embarrassment.

"Joseph?" Nico interrupted during a short pause.

Joseph upturned a brow and looked to Nico to continue.

"Well.. I was just wondering… Sorry, I'm just going to be straightforward. Do you like me?" Nico asked, hesitation not evident in his voice.

"Of course I do," Joseph answered automatically.

Nico searched his face, "Enough to kiss me?"

Joseph allowed his lip to twitch only minisculely, "Of course."

"Like...now?" Nico asked, but before the words were fully out of his mouth, Joseph's soft lips were pressed to his own. They moved together with the type of synchronicity usually saved for lips that have met before. It was new, but familiar, and soon both boys were pulling away, panting onto one another's lips.

Nico grinned, "That was so much better than I anticipated."

"Agreed," Joseph smiled softly, "Shall we try again?"

Nico answered by pressing his lips to Joseph's again and before he knew it, they had both fallen over one another. Clothes disappeared, and, just over an hour later, Nico and Joseph were curled together underneath Nico's comforter, catching their breath.

"Joseph?" Nico near-whispered.

"Yes?" Joseph asked, arms snaking around the smaller's waist from behind.

Nico closed his eyes as she spoke, "Can we...be together, now?"

"Of course," Joseph smiled, kissing behind Nico's ear softly, "I wouldn't want it any other way."