Ancora?

Not often did Nico interact with other males aside from Jason, and Percy and Frank were such rare guests to have. And as a result, he clung to Jason whenever he visited camp, the way a child would if given the chance to meet their idol. Jason didn't seem to mind, as he patiently listened to Nico talk his ear off; he wanted nothing more than to see Nico content with himself. In Nico's naivety, he'd pushed Piper out of the picture, and fooled himself into thinking he'd hit it off with Jason. Despite the rotten feeling in his stomach and throat, Nico ignored the fact that he'd seen this pattern before, with Percy.

Though, the second time around, falling in love was more intense. It felt hot behind Nico's ears and burned like acid in his heart. Jason was like the warm sun on the first day of spring, and Nico couldn't help but melt. Between Jason's bright gold hair and luminous eyes, Nico submitted to his emotions. Additionally, Jason was a clueless person, and quite touchy-feely at that. Nico told himself to quit Jason, though he was like nicotine [( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)] . Each time Jason came and nonchalantly hugged Nico, or placed a hand on his shoulder, Nico fell right back in. He reveled in the feeling, and didn't want to withdraw from him. Wrong as it was, and impossible as it would be, Nico foolishly tried to hold on.

Not until the summer, when New York was warm well into the night, did Nico realize the flaws in his plan. Annabeth had visited for the night, and spent the evening in Nico's cabin. Unlike the other girls Nico knew, Annabeth was not as easy to confide in. Still—as was the case for many boys like Nico—confiding in a member of the opposite sex was simply more relieving. As straightforward as Annabeth was, at least she was honest. While she busied herself in notebooks and fidgeted with other Athenian obsessions, Nico mumbled about camp life and accustoming.

"Jason makes it easier for me," he stated. "He visits once in a while and hangs. I feel more welcome with him, more confident, too."

Annabeth chuckled. "Don't spend too much time with him," she joked, "all that confidence will go to your head."

Nico snickered in reply. "I guess," he said, "it's nice to have another guy to talk to when he's here."

Annabeth, astute as ever, paused what she was doing and prodded. "I'm glad you're enjoying, but don't let this become another Percy."

"Too soon, Annie," Nico muttered; Percy was not someone he spoke to often anymore. With a sigh, the girl rose from her seat at Nico's desk and sat at the foot of his bed.

"It's never too soon," Annabeth stated. "I don't want you to hurt yourself by aiming for something impossible. I hate to say it, but Jason is off-limits."

Nico curled up into a smaller position, knees pressed against his chest, resting under his chin. "I know, I know," he complained. "I just wish there was another way."

Annabeth groaned and stood, "I don't know what to tell you, Nico." She checked her wristwatch and peered through the window. "I should head back to my cabin now, before it gets dark…goodnight Nico."

"Goodnight," Nico said. Annabeth shut the door softly and strolled across the campus, towards the cabin of knowledge. Inside, Percy lied on her bed, staring at the ceiling. The other cabin members were busy at the camp fire, leaving a quiet cabin for the two of them. Annabeth sat aside him on the bed, and he rose to greet her.

He rested his chin on her shoulder and kissed her neck. "How's Nico doing?" He asked, "still emo?"

"He's doing great actually. Much better, peppier too," Annabeth stated, albeit disdainfully. "No thanks to your 'bro,' Jason."

Percy chuckled. "Wow," he returned, "there's a first."

"You're the worst," she said and stood by her dresser. "You could have at least accompanied me and greeted him."

"Well," Percy scoffed, "you know how it is between Nico and I."

"I don't care, Percy," she growled, "he still looks up to you. You're still his friend, yet all you've done lately is ignore him."

"Well, what do you want me to do?" Percy scorned, raising his voice. He stood as well, locking eyes with Annabeth, "I don't want things to be awkward between us just as much as you do, but I'm not the only one guilty of making it awkward!"

"But it's not about you!" Annabeth shouted and slammed her fist on the wall. "Nico is not like us, get that through your thick skull! He might outwardly be over his feelings for you, but he needs to hear it from you too. He's still hurt inside and won't understand why unless you talk to him too."

"Well what does he want to hear from me?" Percy growled. "That I don't like him `cause I'm not a fag? Or that Jason won't either? Why don't you tell him?"

"He won't believe me, Percy!" Annabeth snorted, "I've tried, but he insists that there's 'another way'! You have to tell him, before Jason can do worse."

"So, you want me to break his heart again?" Percy chagrined, "isn't that what you're trying to avoid."

"Fixing a misunderstanding now will save him from a lifetime of heartbreak," Annabeth said. "Nico doesn't have a strong male figure to look up to, and therefore doesn't understand what it's like to have that sense of brotherhood that you have with the other guys."

"But what's wrong with that?"

"The problem is that he won't understand the difference between brotherly love and romantic love."

Percy groaned and sat back down. His expression shifted from perplexed and chaotic to neutral and agreeing. "Fine," he said. "I'll talk to him tomorrow."

Annabeth sighed, "just make him remember why he looks up to you."

Percy breathed deeply and ran his fingers through his hair. "I…I didn't mean to shout at you."

Annabeth wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. Amidst all her fury, she didn't feel the trails that ran down her cheeks. "I know you didn't mean to."

Percy rose and made his way out. "Care to join me at the campfire? Before it ends?"

"Not tonight," she said.

Percy left her a tender embrace before leaving and waded his way through the soupy evening atmosphere. Though his heart still raced and he bore heavy shoulders, he found joy in sitting by the bonfire, singing with the other campers. Chiron and Dionysus watched from a distance, possibly surprised that the son of Hades decided to join this time. Percy was shocked as well, and took a seat with the Apollo kids. Nico laughed and sang along as well, for once donning the orange Camp Half-Blood shirt. Percy didn't realize his presence until he shyly waved from across the fire. Jason was at his side as well, in purple, singing into a burnt marshmallow and nodding to the cheery campfire songs. They sang well into the night, and Nico soon fell asleep on Jason's shoulder. Percy laughed and approached them, though only brave enough to exchange formalities.

"How long are you in town?" Percy asked.

"Two more days," Jason answered.

"Cool…"

"Well," Jason said, "I better get this guy back to his cabin."

"Yeah…yeah of course." Percy replied. "See you tomorrow?"

"Sure. If you're down to spar or something just let me know," Jason said and led Percy in a handshake before leaving. Percy watched as Jason carried Nico over his shoulder and disappear into the night.

Nico's cabin was dark; the black walls absorbing the moonlight. Jason kicked the door open and walked inside. He sprawled Nico about the pristine white sheets of his bed. Jason stared at him curiously. "New sheets…" He said, and turned to the pictures that rested on his dresser. In black frames were the old sepia photos of Nico and his sister, though in a white frame were newer pictures of him and Jason. Jason smiled and picked it up to look at it. "I didn't know he kept this…"

He promptly set the photo down when Nico stirred in bed. The boy groggily sat up. "You didn't have to carry me back here, Jason," he said, "I can walk perfectly fine."

"Don't worry about it. It's not like you're heavy," Jason chuckled. "Anyways, goodnight."

"Before you leave," Nico said, reaching for Jason's wrist as he approached the door. "There's something I have to tell you."

"What's on your mind?" Jason said. "Should I grab a seat?"

"No…it's just—Nico froze. Jason looked like stunning in the moonlight. The grey light shined across his lips in streaks and in his eyes like swirls. Nico felt light and unbalanced. Jason caught him by the shoulders and steadied him.

"Just tell me in the morning." Jason said, and propped him up on his bed. Instead, Nico gripped onto Jason's hands and grabbed him by the cheek. He pulled him close and planted a quick press of the lips onto Jason's. Jason shoved Nico away out of instinct. "Nico!"

Nico shoved back and coiled away out of fear. "I'm sorry, Jason," he scrambled.

"I'm sorry too." Jason said, and walked out. Nico stared with wide eyes and watched as the door shut. He began to sob, repeating to himself, please don't walk out on me…not like Percy, until the clutches of sleep drug him away.

The next morning, he awoke to a pillowcase hardened by tears and Jason sitting aside his bed. "I was beginning to think you wouldn't wake up," he said. "We should…talk."