Nico P.O.V
I couldn't move as I felt the rush of memories flood over me. His hair was still as wild as I remembered and his eyes still as mesmerising and everything about had a glow of hope that I had lost so long ago.
"Percy, what are you doing here?"
"I ran away Nico. I couldn't take it anymore. The same thing over and over and it felt so fucking wrong. The sex, the drugs and abuse I couldn't. It was only last week and I saw you in the park and it was so fucking hard to believe so I followed you here and I need you Nico. I don't know who else to turn to. Mom's gone, Dad's in prison. You're the only friend I have."
I leaned forward and hugged him like we always used to. Me on my tiptoes just so that my head could reach his shoulder and it felt so right and it felt like home even though we'd been through hell.
"It'll be okay." I whispered quietly into the crook of his neck and I felt him nod.
"Percy." Leo interjected, "You could stay here. I haven't got any more rooms but the sofas always free if you need it but no offense but dude, you need a shower."
I laughed and so did Percy.
"Fair enough. Thanks." Percy said. "So, how do you know Nico?"
"He's my room-mate" I answered before Leo, "Now come on, to the shower." I pushed Percy along to the bathroom and breathed a sigh of relief when I heard the water of the shower begin to tumble.
"Your room-mate." Leo said shortly.
"I'm sorry I just don't want him to know about us yet?"
"Why though? I cannot see any reason why he shouldn't know. Do you two have history is that it?"
I felt the anger begin the rise in my chest, spreading to my lung and limbs almost as if I were ready to breathe fire.
"Leo, it is so much more fucking complicated than that. You wouldn't understand or at least you'd get jealous and then get pissed again."
"Well, I am so fucking sorry that I clearly don't have the emotional range to understand the shit you've been through Nico. Honestly I am, maybe you're new fuck buddy or boyfriend or room-mate or what the fuck ever will."
"I called you a room- mate that's technically true. Why does this matter to you so much?"
He was silent.
"No, Tell me."
"Because I thought you'd finally opened up to me. I felt like I was getting somewhere with you."
He exhaled and grabbed his keys and his wallet.
"I'm going out. I'll see you later. Sleep in your own bed tonight."
"But Leo-"
"Save it kid. Just- save it."
And with that he left giving the door a slam on his way out.
My head felt fuzzy and my vision blurry as tears pricked my eyes. Stumbling over to the couch I began to wonder what Leo really was to me. He was a friend obviously but e nearly fucked because I wanted too. And I kissed him. And he let me sleep in the same bed as me. And he's known me for a day but was already concerned about me and what I was like and nobody had shown me that much attention before and it felt, strange.
The sound of Percy snapped me out of my bubble of wondering and forced me to realise reality. Leo would probably come home drunk and he would kick me out. I would have nowhere to go. I would have to go back to Jason's. Percy would have nowhere to go and he's follow. The tears came fast after that and it was only when I felt Percy's hand on my shoulder when I realised that there was at least one person who cared.
"Nico, what happened?" He said, still wet hair dripping onto his lap.
"Leo left. He got pissed and now he's going to get pissed and he'll probably kick me out and I don't want to give this up. Things are finally starting to get better for me and I've ruined it for me and for you and I'm sorry, I'm so sorry-"
"Ok shut up." Percy said with a laugh. "If Leo cares about you, he won't kick you out. If he knows about the shit you've been through then he won't because I bet he is a damn good friend."
"I guess." I said with a sniff. "Do you remember what Jason made us do?"
Percy froze for a second but then nodded stiffly.
"How could you forget of course? It was so fucked up. Being his favourite couple that is. It would be like I was betraying you when it was time for business. But I remember this one time when he promised me a day off if I played his little game with you."
"You got a day off? Lucky bastard" Percy laughed
"I know right. I was as shocked as you."
"You must have been his favourite. How could you not be, you're pretty fucking hot."
"Yeah, whatever you say Jackson."
I looked up at him and I remembered all the times he'd help me when the days seemed too long to bother to carry on, and the way his bed head sticks up and his sleepy eyes and his arm and his hips and-
"I missed you so fucking much when you left." Percy whispered
Before I could think of Leo I leaned and and kissed him.
Percy broke off first.
"What about you're room mate?"
"Fuck him, if he wants to get pissed, I might as well enjoy myself"
And we tore the clothes off trying to forget the desperation and the sadness and everything we had ever known.
