Percy didn't know what to do. Annabeth had hastily told him after dinner that she didn't think that they were meant to be with each other, but instead of feeling devastated, he felt relief fill up his heart. He sighed again, wondering if he should take a short swim to relieve of his stress. Ever since Tartarus, he (with Annabeth) felt that every exchange between them was one of siblings, or close companions, but nothing close to that of 'soul mates'. Grabbing Riptide from underneath his pillow, he quickly changed into a tank top and basketball shorts, resolving to forget everything for a short amount of time sparring with the arena dummies.

It had been one year since the Gaea war; the seven pus three have found bravely until the last moment, but when it came to the final stage of Gaea's defeat, sacrifices had to be made. Hazy images ran through the green-eyed teen's head, of Leo's death, Frank's death, the prophesy's completion, and the sorrow, yet joy that they had when they had come back to Camp Half-Blood and Camp Jupiter.

One decapitated dummy, three to go.

Throughout the self-sparring (if you could call it that) period, one scene really stuck out to Percy: It was a long night after the feasting, but something didn't go right with the son of Poseidon. So, naturally, he would go to the shore on Camp Half-Blood for refuge. There, on the shining sands of the beach, he was met with a shaking child of Hades.

Flashback:

"What's wrong, Nico?" He asked gently, rubbing circles on the younger demigod's back or comfort.

" The F-fates... are cruel... Taking my sister once... but t-twice?" The half-Italian's mouth was clamped on his closed fist, muffling all sobs that he had made. Percy gently enbraced the smaller teen and held him until on puffy eyes and stray cheek marks were left on his pale cheeks.

"It's okay Nico, it's going to be okay," wide chocolate one met with sea green one in challenge, "We're all here for each other and love each other. Heck, we saved the world twice." Percy chuckled sadly.

After a shared silence, Nico spoke up, still in Percy's arms.

"Percy? I... I r-really need to do something." The taller demigod cocked his head.

"If you need to use the restroom, you're allowed to g-"

"No, it's not that. Just... just promise me you won't hate m-me." His voice wavered bit, making Percy embrace the son of Hdes warmly again.

"Why would I ever hate you?" Nico laughed bitterly and without humor.

"Oh, if you knew the things that knew and thought, you would most definitely hate me."

"No, I won't, Nico. Don't be ridiculous." Their gazes met again, but in a slightly fierce competition. Nico laughed the same laugh again.

Silently, he leaned forward towards Percy, almost until their noses were touching.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, closing the space between their lips. Percy didn't know what to feel. Shocked? Surprised? Happy? Sad? Angry?

End of Flashback:

While cutting off all the limbs of the third dummy and prodding it in the stomach a few time for good mesure, Percy thought about the reasons why he would've done that. He would've done something in reply, but before he could even think of response, the younger had simply shadow traveled. Gone, just like that.

Somewhere far in the distance, probably at the front of Camp Half-Blood, someone yelled, "Ahh!" Without a second thought, Percy ran off, worrying and wondering if monsters had somehow gotten into camp boundaries. What he saw made him stop and gape.