A walk
Setting: Camp Half-Blood, after the books (future)
Leo sat at the Hephaestus table, practically inhaling a slice of pizza, when he felt a sudden coldness behind him. Seconds later, Nico di Angelo slid on the bench next to him.
"Hey, Valdez."
"Hey."
"Have you finished your dinner?"
Leo quickly stuffed the rest of the pizza into his mouth. There was no way he was going to let the Ghost King wait.
"Sure."
"Then let`s go."
Together, the two boys left the dining pavilion. Over the years of fighting together, they had learned to respect each other and finally became friends. They were about the same age; both of them had turned seventeen a few months ago. Their walk after dinner – or, more precisely, after every meal – had turned into a kind of tradition. They used to head into the forest where no one would disturb them, so they could talk freely about all kind of things. Together, everything seemed more positive and both of them could forget their troubled lives for a while.
As soon as they reached the first trees, Nico pulled out a pack of cigarettes from the pocket of his aviator jacket.
"Want one?" he asked Leo.
The usual question which the Son of Hephaestus negated as always. He didn't really like cigarettes and even less he liked his best friend smoking them.
"One day you will die from lung cancer, you ignorant idiot." Leo grinned while thinking about all the times he had tried to convince Nico to stop smoking – without success.
"Yeah", the pale boy replied, "after you pegged out from all the toxic fumes of your machines."
Nico half-smiled. They always played this kind of game. He tried to seem unmoved, but deep down he really cared for the curly-haired mechanic. Though he would never admit this, of course.
Despite his protests, Leo summoned a tiny flame on his finger and lit Nico's cigarette. They continued their walk through the forest while the Son of Hades smoked, small rings of smoke rising from his face. The air was foggy and moist, but colder than it should have been in late October. Nico shivered in his thin, worn aviator jacket and Leo chuckled.
"Do you need some warming? The Leo-Heater is always there for you, you know."
The Son of Hades tried to suppress a smile by the stupid joke of his friend and let Leo wrap his arms around him, placing his chin on the other boy's shoulder. They stood like this for a couple of minutes, completely silent. Long hugs were also part of their tradition, and Nico needed them even more than the feeling of the cold smoke in his lungs. The Ghost King felt Leo's heat seeping into him. He could stay like this for hours.
Suddenly Leo tilted his head and before Nico knew what was happening, their lips were pressed together.
The mechanic gasped at the tingling sensation. Nico's lips were cool on his own. He tasted like smoke and something indefinable, something that was just Nico. Leo deepened the kiss, slowly moving his tongue along the younger boy's lips. Nico gave in and soon they were making out, both heavily breathing as the kiss finally broke apart.
"I'm sorry..."
Blood rushed to Leo's cheeks, and Nico felt himself blush, too.
"No, it's okay, really... I've wanted to do that for a long time."
They looked at each other and suddenly the air didn't felt so cold anymore. Somehow, they ended up kissing again.
On the way back to Camp, the boys walked hand in hand through the quiet forest. It was already dawning and for sure they would be late for the sing-along, but neither of them cared. The walk after meals was a tradition- and now, they were appreciating it even more than before.