A/N: This was originally posted on my Tumblr, but I decided to post it here as well. It's not exactly my best writing, though.
Disclaimer: PJO and all its affiliated characters belong to Uncle Rick.
"I hate you," Nico murmured between kisses, his lashes wet with tears that he refused to acknowledge. "I hate you. Gods, I hate you. I hate you so much."
His shoulders shook with the effort to bite back his sobs, his fingers twisting fistfuls of Leo's shirt into his hands as if he were grappling for something solid, something to keep him grounded. The kiss was all teeth and the frantic movement of lips, as if the son of Hephaestus were chasing away every little hiccup that slipped past the younger boy's lips.
Leo's fingers ghosted over the curve of his cheek, tracing the wet trail of a stray tear. "I know, Nico, I know," he whispered back, placating, his warm breath dancing over Nico's parted lips. "But that doesn't mean that I'll stop caring about you."
There was a strangled cry that was lost between the press of their lips. Leo brushed his own over the corner of the Nico's mouth, the curve of his cupid's bow, and the tip of his nose. He mapped every freckle that dusted the bridge of Nico's nose with a kiss, soft and unsure.
"I wish you wouldn't care so much," the younger boy finally managed to mumble back, his brows puckered.
Leo let out a wry laugh, an exhale of breath that ruffled Nico's dark fringe. "It's a little too late for that, Casper. Why are you so eager to get rid of me, anyway?"
"So it wouldn't hurt so much if you left."
His voice was so soft, so broken and no matter what the older boy did, the son of Hades refused to meet his pleading gaze.
"Nico-"
"Don't you get it? Everybody leaves, Leo! They all do, eventually." The poor boy seemed to shrink into himself. Despite his effort to put up a strong front, the tears he had held back were now rolling down his cheeks. "It seems that no matter what I do, I just lose everyone I ever cared about. She's gone, Leo. S-she's gone."
Leo held his face between his palms, resting his forehead against Nico's. "I can't take her place, Nico but I swear to the gods I'll never leave you. You and me, we're in this together, alright? You're stuck with me now, di Angelo."
Nico's responding kiss had him envisioning stars beneath his eyelids, and feeling more than a little lightheaded. "Don't think this means I don't still hate you," the son of Hades hummed when they parted, their noses brushing.
"Wouldn't have it any other way, Casper."