Just focus. It's not that hard. You've done this for four years now. Get a hold of yourself.

Percy Jackson let out a huff of breath as he clutched his knees, sweat dripping from his skin. Annabeth was a skilled fighter—a much better one than him—and with the way a bare-chested son of Hades was dueling a new camper beside him, his eyes kept wandering, giving Annabeth a distraction at almost every turn. "Gods, Seaweed Brain. Just tell the guy you like him already."

The words seemed to snap Percy out of his trance as he stared into Annabeth's eyes. Her hands were on her hips and a frown was curled on her lips. Her cheeks were red—but Percy couldn't tell if it was from the summer heat or embarrassment. He suddenly felt bad that he hadn't tried to make his attraction to Nico less obvious to Annabeth—she still had feelings for him. But she was still, nonetheless, a friend before a girlfriend—and she had promised to support Percy whatever decision he made. "I don't know how."

"It's not hard. I can do it for you." Annabeth started walking forwards with a certain determination in her eyes, but Percy gripped her wrist and yanked her back.

"No, it'll look stupid if you do it. I need to do it myself."

"Then do it. C'mon, Perce, look at the kid."

And Percy did look.

Nico's hair had gotten so long in the past year that he was able to tie a small knot at the back of his head. His bangs hung in his eyes, soaked in sweat. A smirk gleamed on his lips and small cuts bleeding red littered his arms. He didn't seem too hurt by the small, measly injuries, but instead, it seemed to encourage him. His opponent laid collapsed under the tree, being revived by a cup of nectar from an Apollo kid. Since when did he become a good fighter?

"Tonight they're having the annual fireworks. And if you don't tell him your feelings by then, then I'll do it myself."

Percy nodded and was hesitant to get back to fighting, the image of Nico under a colorful array of lights almost too much to bare.

The fireworks display was pretty much the only opportunity for campers to be alone with their boyfriend or girlfriend, and Percy suddenly began imagining taking Nico out on a canoe and anchoring it to the bottom of the lake. It was an image that he wanted more than anything to bring to life, but as he stood at Nico's red painted door to his cabin, he found all courage he had earlier completely gone. Oh gods, I'll have to ask him on a date. How am I even supposed to do this?

Percy gripped the wrought iron skeletal knocker and clanged it on the wood. After three clangs, Nico was at the door, back in his typical black shirt, jeans, and aviator's jacket combination. He looked shocked, red even, that Percy was standing at his door. "Hey, Percy. What can I do for you?"

"Um… Nico, I need to talk to you."

"Uh… sure thing. Come in."

Percy stepped inside of Nico's cabin—more like cave—and didn't know where to sit. There was a chair that glistened gray and red in the candlelight, and a bed made from stalagmites and red silk. He glanced at the bed and then at Nico, and eventually decided it was best to sit on his bed. Nico sat across from him and Percy cleared his throat. "The fireworks are tonight."

"Yeah, I know. Kind of boring," Nico looked down at his hands, twiddling his thumbs. Hades. He's not going to want to go.

"Well… would it be as boring if… you went with me?"

Nico's head flung up and his brown eyes widened. "Like a date?"

"… yeah. Exactly like a date."

"Are you asking me out, Percy Jackson?"

Percy felt his face grow hot and he cleared his throat again. "I suppose I am."

"I'd love to go, then, if it was with you." Nico cracked a small grin, a little sliver of a smile on his lips. The fact that the seemingly unemotional son of Hades was not only smiling, but blushing up a storm, was enough to make Percy return the gesture. He grabbed Nico's hand hesitantly as he intertwined their fingers, pressing their foreheads together.