Disclaimer: I do not own these guys; they belong to Rick Riordan along with the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus books.

Pain.

That's all I felt those five days I was stuck in that jar. Pain everywhere. Pain from the monster attacks in Tartarus, pain from the hunger, pain from the lack of air. Even in the death trance, all I could feel was pain.

Then, after those five days, I saw a light.

I woke up to somebody shaking me awake. I opened my eyes and saw Leo. Why would he be in my room? I wondered.

"What are you doing here?" Leo and I had become good friends in the short time since we met, and I couldn't help but tell him things about me since I had learned so much about him.

"You seemed like you were having a nightmare, so I thought I would wake you up. Sorry." He started to leave. Something sounded off about that.

"Did I wake anyone else up?" He started shaking his head.

"No, I was already awake, and you weren't screaming or anything." Okay, now I was sure something was wrong.

" Then how did you know I was having a nightmare?" I questioned. "Were you watching me?"

Leo's face turned red. "No! I kind of, maybe, sort of woke you up because I wanted to talk to you about something." He was turning redder by the second, which made him cuter than normal. I then mentally scolded myself for thinking that way for the 57th time this week.

"Well go on." I asked, the curiosity welling up inside me.

"Well, I was thinking about what you told me about Percy."

"And?" I didn't like where this was going.

"Um, I was just wondering if you had maybe changed your preference."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Instead of responding, Leo leaned forward and gently brushed his lips against mine. His lips were soft and warm, the opposite to my chapped and cold ones. Even though it felt nice, and made me feel butterflies, I couldn't stop the tears from spilling from my eyes.

"What's wrong?" Leo asked once he pulled away.

"This better not be some cruel joke or bet or anything." I said bitterly. "Because if it is I swear I will…" I was cut off my Leo's lips yet again on mine.

"It's not. I really like you Nico. I just didn't know how to say it." I looked up at him, seeing sincerity in his eyes, and decided to tell him the truth.

"I like you too Leo. I kept it to myself because you're the first good friend I've had and I didn't want to ruin it." I smiled a little after I said that to lighten the mood, which really wasn't necessary because the situation was becoming good already.

Leo let out a sigh of relief, and kissed me again, softly. When he pulled away, he said something that made me feel an unknown feeling.

"So, I have nothing to do tomorrow. Want to do nothing with me?" There was only one way for Nico Di Angelo, depressed, supposedly emo, always alone, son of Hades to answer.

"I'd love to!"