A/N: Again, this is from my Tumblr RP account. I kinda liked how it came out, so voila.

Disclaimer: I do not own PJO, they belong to Uncle Rick. If I did, welllll, let's just say the outcome would be really different. Also Nico would most definitely have a happy ending.

Leo runs his thumbs over Nico's knuckles. The boy's hand is cold against his, though he really can't find it in himself to mind that much.

He watches the other boy carefully, from the way his brows furrow to the creases of his lips as he pouts. His pulse stutters and his hand unconsciously tightens their grip.

"What is it, Valdez? You've been staring at me for a while now and it's get-"

"Do you regret it?" He lets out in one breath, eyes screwed shut as if he were afraid of the other's reaction.

"What?" Nico stares at him strangely. "What're you talking about?"

"Me. Well, us. D-do you regret it?" Damn. Leo bites his tongue, eyes widening briefly before he fixes his gaze onto his worn shoes. He can feel the warmth from the tips of his ears to the apples of his cheeks.

"Look, Leo-"

"Ah ha, ha-ahem. Never mind," he mutters sheepishly, unlacing their clasped fingers. He tries to swallow back his humiliation but it settles uncomfortably in his throat. He mumbles a hasty and half-hearted excuse about going back to his Cabin.

Nico manages to catch him by his elbow before he can scamper off.

"Leo, gods. Just quit fidgeting for a minute, alright. Stop." He turns the older boy to face him, resting his other hand tentatively on Leo's shoulder. "Stop," he says again, a bit softer. "I don't regret anything, alright?"

"You d-"

"No." Nico leans in and presses a kiss on the curve of Leo's lip, uncharacteristically soft. "I don't regret a damn thing."

The goofy, if not endearing grin that twists Leo's face is almost worth the earsplitting whoop of joy that follows. Coming from the child of Hades, that might as well have been the closest thing to a confession.

"Come on, you big baby, let's go get some ice cream," Nico sighs in exasperation, trying, and failing, to hide his answering grin.