Going to the nearest Burger King didn't seem like such a good idea anymore. Wendy's suddenly looked great. Huh, Nico didn't think he'd ever be saying that in his lifetime. He diverted their suggestion to ever so much as set foot in that take-out restaurant, but they eventually got suspicious. Of course they did. They were all happily oblivious, (hey, ignorance is bliss) Percy most of all, but they weren't complete idiots. Surprisingly, it was Jackson who pulled him over first.

"Hey, man, what's up? You've been dragging us over to Burger King for months, and now suddenly you're avoiding it like the plague. Is this some over the top attempt at trying to convince us you're not pining over a certain blond worker? Because Nico, no one cares that you're not straight, you came out like two months ago and all Valdez said was 'That's cool, can I date your sister?'."

Jason grabbed Nico's arm. He let out a very manly yelp, making Percy grin.

"Hey, you two, why don't you go to the arcade or something?"

He held out his wallet, which Leo snatched up in point seconds. Percy, however, protested.

"What are we, like five?"

"So you don't want my wallet to play some dance machine game thing?"

Valdez muzzled Percy with his hand, "Of course we do, Jackson's just being stupid."

"So nothing new," Nico piped up.

"Hrrrrummph!" was all Jackson contributed to the coversation. He tried, and failed, to pry Leo's hands from his his mouth.

Said Hispaniac teenager suddenly yelled and jumped back about a metre.

"Hey! Did-did you just lick my hand?!"

"You asked for it, Valdez."

"Guys, arcade?" said Jason, sounding like a tired single mom who was trying to seperate his (her?) bickering toddlers. So, not that far from the actual situation. Nico left him to it, moving towards the centre's exit. Jason, ever the parental friend, hurried over him.

"di Angelo, did you really think you could outrun me? You're like, half my size, so, shorter legs."

"Yes, Grace, I'm 5'4, you're 6 ft tall. But I'm closer to the ground and ergo that much closer to hell."

Jason leaned over to pat his head condescendingly,"I'm terrified."

He glared daggers at Grace. Hmm, daggers; he could go for one of those right about then.

"Anyways, that's not the point-"

"It's almost like I was avoiding the subject on purpose."

"-the point is, "Jason carried on like he hadn't been interrupted,"I thought you were pining over that blond waiter, fast-food server, whatever, forever, and as soon as he talks to you you start avoiding the place like the plague. Is it because of Percy?"

Nico went for the 'try and talk normally, like you're not flushing furiously, despite the fact that if you were a paint can, you'd be labeled "Embarassed Italian Teenager red" ' approach.

"Nah, I'm over Jackson. Maybe I'm just sick of Burger King. Why do you want to eat there, we eat way too much junk food? What's wrong with sushi?"

"I'm sorry, is Nico di Angelo giving me a lecture on eating too much junk food? 'Sides, you hate sushi."

"Pssh, me? I love sushi; in all its gross raw fish, seaweed, and mecury-poisoning glory."

"Neeks, you always order fries and a burger whenever we go to a sushi restaurant."

"Maybe- Fine, fine, I don't have an excuse."

"Is it Percy?" he repeated himself.

"No. I mean, kinda? I mean- Well, that didn't really work out too well, did it?"

"Come on, it's all worked out now. Besides, from the looks of things, I think it's mutual."

"Jason?"

He hummed in response.

"I am so not having this conversation right now," he scowled.

"Fine, fine," Grace held up his hands in surrender.

Jackson and Valdez came running over, "We need another two for Dance Central."
Nico groaned, he was so not up for watching those three idiots on an arcade dance machine. It was times like these that he wished he could, hmmm, use the shadows for instant transportation? Nah, too far-fetched. Fine, fine, maybe that he had enough height and ergo longer legs to outpace his inhumanly tall friends.

He was failing at reaching all the arrows in Dance Central as it was, causing the others the snicker quietly, until Nico sent a glare their way. And, of course, Valdez, to ignore his murderous looks and laugh uproariously anyway.

"He really does look like a kid that's up for killing a man at any time of the day."

"So, Chara?"

Psssh, I totally didn't just write a chapter just to make an Undertale reference...

(If you understood that reference, you get a very approving nod)

Sorry, gus, know this wasn't as good a chapter as last time, but that's all I've got for now. See you when inspiration hits again! And, as I said in my last fic,
I am not American. I am South African, born and raised, (yes, I can speak Afrikaans) and have never set foot on US soil, so if I make a mistake about how the States works in general, feel free to correct me. I don't bite, and I'll be happy to fix my mistakes. Thanks!