Percy awoke with a startled gasp, clutching Riptide. His breathing eased slightly as he became conscious of his surroundings. He was close to the sea, the familiar sound of waves rolling across the shore waltzing to his ears playfully. He rose, confused as a flashback gripped his consciousness. He had been standing on the deck of the Argo II when he had been hit by the urge to jump off the ship. He had no idea what had come over him, and last thing he remembered was Annabeth screaming his name as he wrenched his hand from hers. Now he was lost, hopefully not completely alone, he would even be happy if Jason was with him. He stood up and started exploring, Riptide in hand, always ready to spring. Making his way through the thick foliage he suddenly felt wrapped in. He heard the sound of a stream and rushed through the branches, going to the riverbank as fast as his legs could possibly bring him. He dove inside the rushing water and immediately felt the invigorating rush that his element always brought him. As he crawled out of the water, his raven hair plastered to his forehead, his clothes clinging tightly to his muscled frame he smiled, basking in the sun with such relish, that he forgot all else. He heard a twig snap and moved faster than any mortal ever could, faster even than most demigods, twisting sharply, Riptide in hand. When he saw whom it was he relaxed only just slightly, one never knew after all. Without sheathing Riptide he drank in the sight of the teen in front of him, looking for small imperfections that may betray an illusion of some kind. He saw the cobalt hair waving in the wind, the intelligent chocolate eyes that betrayed no emotion, the sharp cheekbones, smooth, alabaster skin and full rosy lips. He scanned through his form rapidly and the teen's eyebrows rose, amusement sparking in his dark eyes, "Percy come on, don't be stupid it's me" Percy exhaled all at once and flung down Riptide, rushing to the boy and wrapping him in a hug, relief clouding his senses. He felt the younger boy tense in his arms, then he relax and return the embrace. They pulled apart and Percy started ranting like a madman. "Oh Gods Nico, I thought I was alone! I was so freaked I had no idea what to do, how to get back to the ship, you know I don't like being alone; like, at all" "Percy!" Nico screeched. Percy cocked his head and looked at him, vaguely startled. "First off stop talking so fast, second I'm actually pretty glad I'm not alone, and the third, most important thing is that I've found a cave I thought I could spend the night in and you fish-boy can join either join me or freeze your ass off when the temperature drops." Nico finished evenly, his unnervingly calm demeanour strangely comforting. "Nico how long have we been here?" "Three days since you jumped off the Argo II." Nico's jaw was clenched and Percy noticed there was blood oozing from his side. "Dude what in the world happened to you?" Percy felt a stab of panic in his heart as he pressed his hands to the cut on Nico's firm abdomen. Nico took out a needle and thread from his jacket's pocket and handed them to Percy. The older demigod summoned the water to cleanse the wound and patched the boy up, giving back the unused needle and thread with a grin. Nico looked startled for a change and Percy shrugged "What? Didn't thou know I could do that?" Nico muttered something and cast his eyes downwards, not facing Percy, as usual. The sun had started to set so Percy fished a trout and they set off towards Nico's cave. Percy set a little fire on a pile of branches and cooked the fish, giving Nico most of it with a brotherly smile. "We should..." Percy cut off groggily, his luminescent green eyes heavy with the need to sleep. Nico nodded and Percy curled up close to him, his head resting lightly on Nico's shoulder as he dosed off. As always Nico was tense, and he wouldn't look at Percy for more than a millisecond. He knew that the younger boy hated him but he still made a point of trying to be friends.
Nico had been tired. Obviously, he had been before Percy had put his head on Nico's shoulder and fallen asleep. The mere contact brought to life every part of Nico's body, his every cell humming with energy. At last Nico couldn't help himself and he slowly raised a hand, running it through Percy's soft, wavy hair, making his way down on his face, over his even skin, brushing over every hollow and every mound. Nico stayed there for hours, staring in the dark, till Percy woke and murmured something incoherent. He sat upright and patted his shoulder, indicating it was Nico's turn to sleep. Nico was hesitant, but at last he leaned against the beautiful boy's shoulder and fell into the most wonderful slumber. When he woke it was morning, light dancing over Percy's cheekbones and making rainbows on his black hair. He sat up suddenly, realizing his head had been on Percy's lap. Percy turned to him and Nico gasped slightly, they were so close after all. He averted his eyes and Percy sighed bitterly, standing up stiffly and walking off. Nico scrambled after him, confused and found that Percy had already started talking.
"…. some kind of raft but I'm not sure" He broke off abruptly, raising a hand to stop Nico. Percy heard a rustle in the trees behind him and unsheathed riptide, pouncing on the semi-visible monster he had seen and deftly slitting its throat. The creature dissolved with a strangled gasp and Percy looked at it bitterly. He hadn't realized he'd been angry till he'd had the chance to spill blood, then he cursed foully, drat Nico, his hatred made him go crazy, nobody could hate him that way, it just wasn't right. He had been so deeply absorbed in thought that he started walking and crashed straight into Nico. The two boys tumbled to the ground. Percy twisted in mid-fall to act as a cushion for Nico and it worked, but it tangled their legs and arms. Percy was feeling a little out of breath, even though he didn't remember feeling that way before falling. Nico had never focused so long on him and that made his nerves tingle.
Nico had been thinking of Percy, of how good his skin had felt under his fingers the night hence and how much he wanted to feel all of Percy, not only his face, of what he wanted to do to Percy now that Annabeth was not around and suddenly, he had found himself lying on the older boy, who was scowling like an idiot. He was conscious of every single inch in which their bodies touched, he felt his blood starting to boil and he buried his face in Percy's chest, murmuring softly in the fabric of his worn shirt. Crystalline tears commenced racing down his cheeks, pooling on the cloth. Percy stroked his hair and cooed reassuringly; that's when Nico lost it.
Percy felt Nico's skin, he was scalding. His heartbeat quickened with worry and he whispered fiercely, "Nico tell me how to help you, what can I do for you?" Nico moaned a little and the sound jolted Percy, sending electricity through his body, "Nico please concentrate, gods your eyes are silver!" Percy had one instant to be confused before Nico's lips crashed on his own.