I grab Nico's wrist, and yell:
"Listen!"
"Stop it!" Nico says, and for the first time in all the time I've known him, tears start to stream down his face.
"Look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of it! Hazel surprised me. I didn't mean to tell them, I just...I had to explain something to them" I say. Nico starts to kick me in the shin, and pull his arm away, but not as hard as I was expecting. He knows I'm stronger than him.
"I hate you, Jason Grace! You don't know anything about me! You had no right to tell them anything!" Nico screams.
"I'm sorry" I say, letting go of his wrist. Nico pulls away, but doesn't run. I look at him, his black hair dangling over his eyes, that are full of tears that are now staining his face. I take him by the shoulders, and kiss him, passionately. Nico squirms, but doesn't move away. He seems more startled at this, than angry. I put one hand on his cheek, and the other in his messy black hair. I can feel his tears against his cheek, slowly falling onto mine. I pull away, gently, and place my forehead against his. "I'm sorry, Nico."
"It's...it's...getting better" Nico says.
Maybe I should tell you the story of how we got here. I love this story, because it's ours. Mine and Nico's, or at least, how it got to where we are now.
A Week Earlier.
It had been four days since we set Gaea back to sleep, but it was not fun. Once Nico, Reyna and Coach returned the statue, Reyna stayed at Camp Half Blood. Not a long stay, just a few days. She was tired. Coach stayed as well, having finally gotten home to Mellie, and his new born child, a girl, named Amy. Nico returned to the Argo II to give his goodbyes. He was going to leave, but he ended up staying a lot longer than he expected. When Hazel saw him, she threw her arms around him, tightly, and talked to him about how much she missed him. Him was awkward around Percy, of course. Annabeth hugged him. Nico wasn't pleased with this, but he wasn't as mad as he could be. Everyone talked to him, until he finally got to me. I just waved, and said it's good to have you back. I knew Nico was planning on leaving. He told me that what seemed like months ago. I wasn't in love with the idea. Nico and I became friends over time, or at least I thought so. Nico, not so much, I guess, but he didn't hate me. He felt embarrassed around me, because I was the only one who knew about him. I don't care about that. I am fine. That doesn't change Nico at all, and I need to be supportive. If I weren't, Nico wouldn't have even returned to the Argo II.
We all talked, and exchanged stories. Nico explained about how Octavian had tricked the legion into believing that the Greeks were planning an attack against them at the moment, and the legion started the war. Reyna and the others got there just before anyone got hurt. She, Nico and Hedge pulled the statue with them, and they all stopped. Chiron was the one who stepped forward, and he declared that the war was over. Reyna than stripped Octavian of any leadership, and sent him to the lowest rank there was, where he'd have to spend everyday with Ryan Daniels, a child of Mercury, who was incredibly annoying, and untrustworthy. Nico was the one who escorted him out of the Camp, since he was now banned. He had almost started a war. Nico told him off later on. I almost hugged Nico at this point, but his face had dropped when telling this. I'm guessing it was because Nico was going to leave soon. I was upset about that, not going to lie. Nico and I had finally become friends. I wanted to be his friend at either of the camps, and showed him people can be supportive, and it is his choice if he wants to come out or not. But I just wanted to be his friend, that's all.
We told Nico our story, which he liked hearing about. He even smiled, when I explained about how cool a thing that Hazel did was. How she destroyed two giants at the same time. She had help from Aphrodite...er...I mean Venus, it was Venus that time. Hazel never told us why Venus had appeared. It was a secret, I guess. Venus just hit both the giants on the shoulder, both exhausted, and Hazel cut right threw them. Nico kissed Hazel's forehead.
"That's my little sister, everyone" He said, with a small grin. Hazel scoffed.
"I'm technically older than you. I died back two years before you were even born" She said.
"Yeah, well, I'm emotionally fourteen, and you thirteen" He said, quietly, dropping his gaze.
A few hours passed. Percy and Annabeth were sitting on the stairs of the deck, just out of ear shot, Leo in the control room, Hazel in the stables, Piper in her room, and Frank in the dining hall. I stood on deck, and Nico walked to me, standing beside me.
"So you're serious about leaving?" I asked.
"Yeah" Nico nodded. "But what ties me to here, anyway? Percy? Ha, like that is ever going to happen. I am not wanted. What's it to you?"
"You are wanted! By Hazel. By Percy, even if it isn't romantically. He wants to be your friend. Same with Annabeth. Same with me, man" I said.
"Thanks, but Hazel and I can see each other any time we want, so that doesn't count. Percy and Annabeth will quickly forget about me. And you have a lot of other friends. You'll forget about me, like everyone else" Nico said, with a sigh.
"You shouldn't jump to conclusions like that. I heard Annabeth talk about you lots when you and Reyna were returning the statue. Percy agreed on most. And I wouldn't forget about you. I'm not that kind of person" I say. Nico scoffed, and didn't say anything, until about ten minutes, he moves to look at the water from the deck.
"You haven't told anyone, right?" He asked. I nodded. "Good. I don't want anyone to know, especially him."
"I know" I said. "I know you probably aren't in the mood, but haven't you ever considered someone else? Like a guy from one of the camps?"
"Shut up! You don't understand that subject!" Nico yelled, with a scowl.
"It can't be that much different from liking girls" I said. "Just with shorter hair, and a lot less cleavage."
Nico let a small giggle slip, but than shut his mouth, and scowled again. "No, it's more than that."
"I know" I said, with a sympathetic smile.
"I don't need any sympathy from you! You have it all, now don't you? All the friends, the girlfriend of your dreams, all the chances, plus, you're a son of Jupiter! A lot less people hate you. You have it all" Nico said.
"Okay, I don't know what's it's like to be you. Not at all. Because I'm able to let people be friends with me! I'm able to fall in love and not be scared! I take the chances when they're thrown at me, and it isn't that often! And I can't control my parentage!" I yelled. "Yeah, you're right, I don't know what it is like to be you, so why don't you let me try? I want to be your friend, Nico! And I would be, if you let me!"
"Go to Hell, Jason!" Nico yelled, storming off the deck. I sighed. I don't even know why I try. Nico always gets mad at me, when all I want is a friendship. It's like that word is from a language Nico doesn't understand or something.
I walked to my cabin, a little upset with myself for bringing it up. I should know better by now.
The next morning, I walked to the dining hall. The only other person there was Hazel. She was reading a magazine, and seemed to not be enjoying it, and muttering to herself something about how she doesn't understand why Piper and Annabeth like it so much. I sit down. We are both silent. Hazel doesn't look up. Now, I like Hazel. We did that one awesome mission together with the turtle and the thief, but she freaks me out. She can control what we see, and what we can't see. We have become friends, but I'm still a bit weary around her.
"Morning" I said.
"Morning" She answered, not looking up.
"Watcha reading?" I asked. Hazel looked up, and gave me a look of pure hatred. I was taken aback, not sure why she seemed so upset.
"What could possess you to say something so rude to Nico, that he'd want to leave the ship? He wanted to get away from you, and he didn't tell me his reasoning! He tells me everything. And I mean everything. I convinced him not to, but don't you ever say anything to him again!" Hazel yelled. I sigh.
"I didn't say anything. I offered a friendship, and than...well, I told him the truth. He doesn't let anyone in" I said. Hazel rolled her eyes.
"You have no idea what my brother has been threw. Have you ever heard of Bianca?" Hazel asked, her eyes sharp.
"Yes, I have, actually" I say.
"Fine, but I remember that you were trying to convince the rest of the ship not to save him when we first found out about it. You wanted to go straight to the doors and leave my brother to die. If you ever say anything rude to him again, so help me I will tell him about it, and he'll be even more mad" Hazel said.
"Look, I'm sorry! I'm sorry I offended him, and I'm sorry I was considering that. I regret both of them" I exclaimed. Hazel nodded.
"Okay, that's all I wanted" She said. "What are you doing up so early? I thought Nico and I were the only ones who got up at this hour."
"What do you mean?" I asked. Hazel gave a dry laugh, still not completely forgiving me.
"Clocks broken again? It's 6:30."
"Really?" I asked.
"Yep" I heard a dark voice behind me. Both Hazel and I jumped, and turned our heads to see Nico di Angelo leaning against the doorway.
"Nice to know you care so much, Grace" Nico said, with a sneer.
"I...umm" I said. "I don't mean it, now!"
"I know. Just messing with you. Morning Hazel" Nico said, with the sneer still on his face.
"Good morning" Hazel said, after she shock left her. Hazel is more used to this than me. She's known Nico for at least a month or two longer.
Nico walked to the counter, and poured himself a cup. Than he got another, and poured the rest of the coffee into it. I looked at Hazel, noticing she already had a cup. I knit my eyebrows together, confused. Nico notices little things like who has a coffee cup and who doesn't.
"What do you take in your coffee, Grace?" Nico asked.
"Uhh..." I said, a little shocked. "Just cream."
Nico took both the cups and put one in front of me. He moved to the other side of the table, next to his sister.
"Thanks" I said. Nico nodded. Hazel looked from me to him, and than back and me, raising an eyebrow.
"What's going on, guys?" She asked.
"Friends. We're friends" Nico said. Hazel punched him in the shoulder. Nico let out a small squeal. "What the hell, Hazel?!"
"You don't have friends. You explained that very thoroughly when we first met" Hazel said.
"I do now" Nico said, clutching his shoulder. I'm pretty sure Hazel is the only person who is allowed to do that, or the only person who is able to get him to squeal like that. It is a lot more high pitched than I was expecting.
Hazel raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, something is going on right now. I'm going to figure it out. Maybe not today, but I'm going to figure all this out" Hazel said, standing up. "Gotta go mind the deck. Leo isn't up yet, and I'm the only other person who knows how to drive. Just a quick break. Bye."
Hazel left the room. I sipped the coffee, quietly, staring at the floor.
"She doesn't know, and she won't find out" Nico said.
"Huh?" I asked.
"You know" Nico said, uncomfortable. He looks like every single muscle in his body just tensed.
"I won't tell her" I said.
"Thanks, Jason. For everything" Nico said, standing up and taking his coffee with him. I nodded. I stared at Nico as he walked, not sure if to be shocked or not. Nico is so hard to figure out.
The next day, everyone was going to a restaurant, to celebrate. I was still getting dressed, as well as Nico and Frank. Frank got dressed faster of course, and headed down. All the girls were already there, so I was in trouble. This was a huge celebration for us, and they wanted to have a very formal kind of dinner. The kind where black tie isn't optional. My problem is I don't know how to put on a tie. I walked onto deck, in case any of the girls had come back. Nico was the only one there, fidgeting with his collar. He looked up and stopped when I approached him.
"Reyna's coming tonight" Nico blurted. "I Iris messaged her yesterday. She's on her way right now."
"Cool" I said. "Are any of the girls here? Annabeth, perhaps? I'm guessing they know how to put on a tie better than me."
Nico let a laugh slip, and walked up to me, and started to fix all the mistakes I did when I attempted it.
"You could have just asked, you know. I know I'm no girl, but my Mom taught me when I was younger. Not all girls know, though. Bianca didn't know. Annabeth probably knows, of course. Hazel is learned. It was in her school that you needed to know, even if you're a girl. Piper is a daughter of Aphrodite, so I'd be shocked if she didn't know. There." Nico stepped away, and gave a brief smile. I looked down. It was perfected.
"Thanks, Nico" I said. Nico nodded. He looked up, and sighed.
"You should style your hair differently. Don't tell anyone I said that, or did any of this. They'll never ever let me forget it" Nico said. He put his hands up, and without me eve questioning, he brushed up hair over to the side with his fingers. Nico smiled. His hands were warm, which is surprising because usually he feels very cold. Like when I picked him up to fly him over where we met Cupid. He was freezing, and it was warm out. But today, his hands were warm. Only than did I notice his fingers were still in my hair, and he moved them away, as if he were realizing that, too.
"Sorry. I just...when I thought I liked girls, back when I was eight, there was this really pretty blond named Jenna. I realized I only liked her as a friend, but her hair...you remind me of her" Nico said. Nico seems to get even more pale, if that's possible. "We should go now, the boat is making me a little sick."
I nodded, but didn't say anything. Because I liked his smaller hand in my hair. It felt really nice. Even nicer than when Piper puts her hands in my hair. I don't know why I liked it, but it just felt really good.
I followed Nico off the boat, and down the street. He walked quickly. I caught up with him, and he seemed to slow down more. We were both silent. Nico put his hands in his pockets, of his dark jeans. He didn't go as formal as everyone else, but he did try. Hazel convinced him to at least wear a button down shirt and a tie. Nico looked rather nice. Better than the others, anyway. The girls looked nice, as well. Piper was wearing a blue dress that went down to her knees, and her hair in a braid. The dress was elbow length. She looked beautiful, though. Annabeth wore a bright red dress, that also went down to her knees, but hers was sleeveless. Hazel wore a yellow skirt and white shirt. She had her hair down, but more organized. All three looked beautiful. I wasn't sure what Reyna was going to wear, but she always looked beautiful.
Nico kicked a rock as he walked. He muttered to himself about a few different things. I couldn't hear him, very well. I only caught snippets of words, and not much else.
"Are you okay?" I asked. Nico nodded, looking at the ground. He's not a very good liar. "Tell me the truth. Come on, I'm your friend, remember?"
"Yeah, but friends bud out, when they are supposed to" Nico said.
"But friends also try to help, when they need to" I said.
"Fine! I don't want to be going to this with Reyna" Nico said. "We agreed to be each others date for this. We liked each others company during the journey, but I don't want to go to this with her."
"I know" I said. "I have an idea."
"What?" Nico asked, with a skeptical glance. This is the first time he's looked up since we started walking.
"Take my hand" I said. Nico rolled his eyes.
"What? You'll be my date?" Nico asked. I nodded.
"Reyna and Piper can go together. They just won't know it" I said.
"This isn't...like...an actual date though, right?" Nico asked.
"Well, I don't know" I said, starting to look at the ground. We stayed silent for a few minutes. I could sense Nico's hesitation, which made my surprise even greater when Nico's hand slipped into mine.
"Don't tell anyone" He said. I smiled, and nodded. I didn't know what I was doing, or why I abandoned Piper like that, but all I knew is this felt right. It felt better than anything else. I have to admit, I still really like it.
End Of Chapter.
AN. I'm sorry, I ship this so much after House Of Hades, and so far, I'm the first to post a romance about them, post House of Hades. They are just so darn cute! I hope I wasn't to OOC, but this is a fanfiction. Not all the facts need to be the same, cause in this, Jason and Piper's relationship is starting to get pretty rocky. Please review! I feel like I'm the only one who ships this *cries.*
Coffee.
