The next morning, Nico showered and dressed in a daze. Instead of leaving, Nico wandered around the forest until all the other campers had went to sleep and returned to his own cabin.
He had tossed and turned for hours, unable to get the sparkly, rainbow man out of head. Damen seemed to be his own personal ghost, representing all the worst moments in his life. But there was something so attractive-.
Nico stopped that thought before it could go any further. There was nothing attractive about the man.
Before he could question his own thoughts, he stormed out of his cabin, slamming the door behind him. He smirked at the two little girls who had jumped at the loud sound, and headed off to breakfast, praying to all the gods he could think of (except Eris) that he would get through the day.
He sat alone at his table, picking at the fruit that had appeared in front of him. He wasn't hungry, but he needed to make sure Annabeth hadn't told Percy anything.
As he bit a grape in half, he saw the cockiest blond demigod on the face of the planet stride up to the pavilion and settle himself at Zeus's table. Apparently the Romans that visited to see the fireworks had stayed overnight. Lovely.
Nico resisted the urge to throw a grape at the blond, or better yet a watermelon. While he was thinking of all the items he would love to throw at the son of Jupiter's head, someone walked up behind him.
Unfortunately, Nico knew exactly who it would be.
"Nico, you stayed!" Percy said with a smile in his voice.
Nico turned to see Percy standing behind him, his arm wrapped around a nervous looking Annabeth.
"Yeah, I couldn't really think of anywhere else to go." Nico hated the fact that that was true.
"Well, I'm glad you're here. You're still going to be on our team for capture the flag right?" Percy said.
Nico nodded, more interested in the blond girl's expression. She seemed to be avoiding Nico's eyes, which didn't make sense because she seemed way too happy with him last night on the beach. Was it just because Percy was there?
"Well, Annabeth told me what happened last night. Want me to beat Jason up for you?"
Nico's insides turned to ice. He looked back to the man who spoke of learning Nico's huge secret so casually. In the corner of his vision, he saw Annabeth hang her head. He realized why she had looked so nervous.
"She told you…" Nico whispered.
He saw Annabeth look back up at him, trying to tell him something with her eyes, but he couldn't tell what.
"Hey, it's not a bad thing. I'm just not sure why you told Jason of all people. You could've told me. I wouldn't have judged you for being gay. It's not like I judged Travis when he told me he was gay. Maybe you should talk to him. He would probably understand and could maybe help."
Nico knew Percy was out of comforting words when he started to ramble. He was trying to ignore how much he liked that Percy was trying to make him feel better. There was no reason to feel better though.
"Yeah but Percy it's different because-"
"Percy!" Annabeth interrupted him. "Go beat up Jason, I'll talk to Nico."
Percy gave her a confused look, obviously trying to figure out what he said wrong, but eventually turned and headed toward the first table.
Nico turned back to Annabeth and looked at her questioningly.
"Nico, I didn't tell him everything. He asked me if I knew why you left, and I hate lying to him. I just said Jason told me you were gay not that-"
"Thanks." Nico said, wishing people would stop calling him gay. He knew he was, but he only knew it as a derogatory term. Gay people were bad. A man married a woman and they had a family.
"I'm sorry Nico. Just try to remember how far people have come since you were born. Somewhere between 13-15% of mortals are openly gay. That doesn't even cover those-"
"Look Annabeth, I know you are trying to make me feel better, but I'm much better at handling this by myself. I've gotten used to it."
Annabeth turned away to watch Percy jokingly punch Jason in the arm and attempting to look stern. Then she turned back to him.
"One last thing, then I'll leave you. I don't think it's healthy to suffer in silence. Percy actually had a good idea, you talking to Travis. It's better to have someone who understands."
"I went through the deepest pits of Tartarus by myself, I think I'll be okay."
Annabeth sighed before leaving to break up the mock fight Jason and Percy had started.
Nico knew he wouldn't talk to Travis. He didn't know him very well and it would be akward. But he wondered if Damen might.
Rainbows+Glitter=Probably knows a thing or two about being gay. Nico thought.
A/N: Teehee that last part makes me happy. Well this is all I'm posting for now. And truthfully its all I've written so far. But please tell me if you think its a good start to an okay story. Or if you would even read it.
