"It's so different than anything I've experienced." Misty said to Nico, as they sat on top of a hill, near Oakley Cemetery. Oakley was located in New Orleans, the epicenter of dark.

"Well, I'm glad I found you." Nico responded, popping a grape in his mouth from the picnic basket that sat between them.

"I'm glad you found me. After my personal hell backfired, I went through seven phases of hell. When I got to number four, I soon discovered it was Tartarus. Who knew demigods existed?"

"Who knew witches existed?" Nico added.

Misty threw a grape at him, and he fell down on the soft blades of grass. They whispered against his skin, sending shivers down his spine.

"But no I mean it." Misty told him.

"Mean what?"

"That it's different. It's different to die and be brought back to the world by a… wait, I'm confused. Did you say people call you a goth?"

Nico laughed, fidgeting with his stygian iron sword. The wind whistled through his night hair, and his eyes seemed to dance in the sun.

"Some people refer to me as that, but Misty I'm just me. You can label a human being, but it doesn't make it true. You can label a person and it be true, but that doesn't make it right."

"Yeah. I was once burned alive because people labeled me. Our kind wasn't taken to very kindly."

Nico looked dead on at Misty. She looked back. Her golden hair curled down past her shoulders, her brown eyes glistened ever so slightly. She was a rose.

"There's something I want to tell you."

"Ok," She echoed. "Are you secretly a swamp firefly, because that'd be crazy?"

Nico laughed.

"No, but I am… gay."

Misty didn't even flinch. "I already knew that Nico. Geez."

"What!" He exclaimed. "How?"

"You're too sweet. Every man I know has something about him that makes him bitter. You are milk and honey. It's like chocolate. Think about it."

"Odd word association." Nico stated.

"Oh please, I'm as kooky as they come."

Silence came next. All they heard was the warm tune of crickets and cicadas.

"Have you met anyone?"

"No." He replied.

Misty scrunched up her face. "You ought to have. I mean look at you. You're smart, sexy, violent, and much more. You're the full package."

"Well why haven't you met someone?" He asked.

She laughed. "Easy one. I've been dead."

"No excuse." Nico grumbled.

"Ok, ok. Have you ever loved someone?"

Nico grew quiet. His eyes wondered, and met the fading sun. It was vibrant, oozing orange and red. Beautiful.

While looking, he nodded his head.

"Bad memories?" Misty asked.

"Yes and no," Nico told her in response.

Misty stood up, and held out her hand.

"What are you doing?" He asked.

"I want to dance with you." She said, using her free hand to fish out a radio and a tape.

"That's what you bought in Connecticut!" Nico announced, surprised.

"Yeah, and it was a steal."

Nico chuckled, standing on his feet.

"Ever heard of Fleetwood Mac? Stevie Nicks?"

"Ever heard of Falling in Reverse? Freaking amazing!" He responded.

Misty clutched his hand, and twirled several times. She landed in his arms and then she wrapped her hands around his neck and leaned on his chest. She breathed in the scent of Irish mountains and truffles.

'Truffles,' she thought.

"You secretly like chocolate."

"Who doesn't?" He asked.

"Nico, one day you'll find happiness. When this shit storm we call humanity grows a pair, we'll all have our happy ending."

"At least people partially accept your community."

"You'll get there," Misty sang. "You'll get there."

"I'm glad we're friends Misty."

"I'm glad too."

They fell to the ground watching the sun set. The sky grew dark, and they fell asleep to the endless flicker of fireflies.