Title: Slow Beginnings – What Couldn't Be More Obvious

Fandom: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

Disclaimer: I do not own PJatO. Rick Riordan owns it all. I just borrow his characters.

Warnings: There will be sex later on.

Main Paring: Nico/Percy

Side Pairings: Frank/Hazel/Leo, Jason/Reyna, Annabeth/Piper, Reyna/Annabeth/Piper, Thalia/Annabeth, Clariesse/Chris, Malcolm/Katie, Grover/Juniper

Summary: Percy and Leo are brothers. They tell each other everything, even who they're pinning after. Sadly enough, their secret desires don't seem to even notice them…at least not as far as they can tell.

This is dedicated to Takara Phoenix. She's inspired me so much! Even the format of this thing is inspired by her! Thanks for being the best FanFic friend ever!

Slow Beginnings

What Couldn't Be More Obvious

Chapter 2:

Percy blinked his eyes open and squinted into the light. "I've got it!" Leo Valdez exclaimed in a loud whisper.

"L-L-Leo! What time is it?" Percy asked groggily. His brain had just registered that his friend was shinning a flashlight in his eyes, which lead him to the conclusion that it was still dark outside which meant that it was still really early and that he should still be asleep.

"Roughly 2 am," the tinkerer replied. His brown eyes gleamed in the bright light of the flashlight. He hadn't slept at all. He'd been up building things and thinking.

Percy groaned and pushed the flashlight away from his face. "Can this wait until morning?" he asked.

"No," Leo replied with a pointed glare before returning to the prideful grin. "I've decided I'm going to spend a lot of time with Frank and Hazel and try to get them to like me back."

Percy nodded and pulled the covers over his head. "I'm going back to sleep. We'll talk about this in a few hours." He felt the weight lift from his bed as Leo got up and crept back to his cabin. Two hours later, he was being shaken awake by two giggling girls. "What?" he demanded as he sat up in bed, immediately hitting his head on bottom of the bunk above him. "Ow!" he said loudly. He cursed in Greek and glared at girls.

"Get up, seaweed brain," Annabeth said as she tossed some clothes at him. "Get dressed, we're taking you somewhere."

Percy made a face. "No!" he checked the clock "It's four am! I'm not going anywhere! I'm staying right he-"

He was cut off midsentence as Piper yanked him out of his bed. "Get dressed. We'll be on the porch." The couple walked out of the cabin, closing the door behind them. His tired brain registered giggling coming from the porch.

Percy groaned and fumbled around with the clothes. Ten minutes later he emerged from his cabin. "Where are we going?"

"Oh for Zeus' sake, Jackson!" Clarisse barked at him. "Straight your shirt and tie your shoes!"

Percy blushed and looked around his porch as he did what she said. In the dim light of two yellowish flashlights he could see Chris, Clarisse, Piper, Annabeth, and a grinning Leo.

"Don't be so hard on him, Clarisse, it's four A.M. Cut him some slack," Chris said.

Clarisse glared at him. "Just because it's four A.M doesn't mean that he can look like a slob."

"Does he look okay?" Annabeth asked just as Piper was saying, "He looks fine."

"Can I please know where we're going?" Percy asked above all the other voices and five people turned to shush him.

"You'll see!" Annabeth said with a giggle as she grabbed his hand and started pulling him towards another cabin. When they arrived, Leo the door and shoved Percy inside. He heard the door lock and groaned.

"Who's there?" Nico's voice said. Percy jumped. Nico's voice sounded scary in the dark when they were completely surrounded by shadows. Percy noticed there were curtains over all the windows to keep it as dark as possible. "Oh, just you Perce."

"Yeah, just me," Percy said, trying not to let his disappointment show that he was 'just Perce'.

Nico laid back down on his bed. "Is there anything you need?" he asked.

Percy shook his head. "Uh, Piper and Annabeth woke me up and then Clarisse made me tie my shoe laces and then Leo locked me in here. They woke me up at four A.M! I just want to sleep!"

Nico nodded, a little sad that Percy wasn't here because he wanted to be. "Uh, well you can sleep in any of the empty bunks," he said. "And if you need something to sleep in my shirts are in the drawers behind you."

"Okay, thanks," Percy said. He turned around to rummage through the drawers. A few moments later, he pulled out the Ghost King's favorite black V-neck. He took off his jeans and his t-shirt and put on Nico's. He climbed into the bed across from Nico's. "Night, Nico," he mumbled.

"Night, Perce," Nico replied, smiling to himself. He really loved the way the sea prince looked in his black V-neck. A small voice in his head was shouting that's how Percy should look climbing into bed. There was only one problem. Nico wanted Percy in his bed, not a spare one.

He watched as Percy closed his eyes and fell asleep quickly. He waited a good thirty minutes to make sure the son of Poseidon was asleep before throwing off his covers and creeping over to the other bunk. Percy was curled up against the wall, leaving enough room for another person. Nico carefully climbed under the covers. He wrapped his arm around Percy and snuggled close. He promised himself he'd only stay a few minutes and then go back to his bed. He checked the clock, 4:21 A.M. He turned his attention back to the sleeping boy in his arms. He watched as his chest rose and fell with each breath. The sea prince's tan skin felt so soft beneath his rough hand, calloused from all the training. His black hair fell in his eyes ever so slightly. "You're beautiful," Nico finally managed to whisper. He got out of the bed and took his first step towards his bed when he could have sworn he heard someone say, "Thanks."

Nico spent the rest of the night worrying about whether or not Percy had been awake and if so, if Percy would ever talk to him again.

[/break\]

Percy woke up in the Hades cabin. Just a few beams of light were able to sneak in past the heavy blackout curtains that were hung on all the windows. He stretched and yawned before rolling over. The sight that met his half open eyes was a sweaty Nico doing pushups, back flexed, arms flexed. He didn't have a shirt on at all. Percy's mouth hung open.

"Good morning, Sea Prince," Nico said five minutes later when he finally noticed Percy was awake. "Sleep well?"
"Uh-huh," Percy nodded numbly. His mind was still trying to register the fact that he had just woken up in the Hades cabin where a half naked (or half dressed depending on how you looked at it. Percy preferred naked Nico to dressed Nico.) was doing push ups and looking extremely hot.

Nico chuckled. "Sorry if I am being distracting. I couldn't find my favorite shirt this morning," he said as he stood. He stretched and walked over to the mirror. He couldn't believe Percy was waking up in his cabin. He was waking up for the wrong reason though. They had just been sleeping last night- er, this morning. Nico would have liked to do something much different. A wicked smirk appeared on his face as he thought about what he would have rather done to the son of Poseidon.

Both boys looked up as someone pounded roughly on the door. "Jackson! You're late!" Clarisse shouted. "Those little imps are starting to get on my nerves!"
Percy cursed and jumped out of bed, running to the door. He opened it and looked out at Clarisse who had a bunch of 11 year olds standing around her. "Yeah, sorry. I'll be right there," he promised. He grabbed his clothes, leaving the door open and ran to the bathroom to change. The demigods outside giggled and laughed at the sight of their teacher in his boxers and a way to big black t-shirt.

"It's kind of sad how big NIco's shirt is on you!" Clarisse called out after him.

Percy poked his head out of the bathroom. "It's because he has more muscle than me!"

This sent the 11 year olds into another fit of giggles earning them harsh glares from Clarisse and Nico.

"What can I say?" the son of Hades said. "I can't help being so muscular."
Clarisse scoffed. "Yeah, right. You do it on purpose."

Nico opened his mouth to make a remark before Percy came jogging out of the bathroom. The two boys waved at each other before Percy rallied the kids and hearded them back to the arena.

"That's all?" Clarisse asked, more than extremely annoyed.

Nico looked at her from where he was leaning against the doorframe. "Hey, I'm good but I' m not that good."

Clarisse rolled her eyes and turned to stalk back to the arena.