A/N: um i love writing this way more than i should


Percy held Nico close as they hit the water, although there was no splash or resistance as they submerged. A form of airtight space was automatic in forming around them as water enclosed the two, a night-like ocean blanket that didn't seem to effect them in such a bubble. Just dark.

Sinking yard after yard deeper, Nico looked up as he watched the reflections of light on the surface flow with the same weight and pattern of the waves. Unconsciously tightening his grip on Percy's sleeve, he felt claustrophobic in such an enclosed space, underwater, knowing he couldn't go anywhere now. Especially once it started getting darker, and darker... he was used to the dark, but not such overwhelming abyss-like black.

"Percy..." he muttered, keeping his voice steady with difficulty. "Are you sure it's safe, I-"

"You're okay, don't worry Nics." The demigod's reply was soothing, smooth. Nico felt his nerves relax, if even just a little, from the reassurance.

Percy exhaled sharply, after holding his emotion and words in for so long, burst open.

"First off, I don't care that you're here. With the Army. I'm not mad, or disappointed, just- confused, you know? And I know Luke has had some asshole grip in you because of me, so I- I just. I'm upset you played along with him, but I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at Luke. So- so this isn't about that."

Out of breath, he took a second to recover.

"Oh- well, ah..." Nico mumbled, "I'm sorry too. I didn't want to. I felt awful."

"It's okay. I just want you to know I'm not mad, I mean... I've never really been mad at you, anyways."

Although there were still many unanswered questions over the incidents of those nights, Percy was willing to ignore it. He needed to pick his battles, knowing this one would only end in further frustration for no good reason.

The son of Poseidon let go of his hold on the other boy as they hit a certain point where he didn't allow their comfort of air to sink any lower, somewhere near the middle of the reef depth. They were out of reach and sight as well as the ship's machinery, but not low enough to be pitch black or uncomfortable.

Well, Nico would be uncomfortable no matter what. Floating cross-legged, too nervous to be wondering how, he watched as Percy seemed to walk down stairs to where he sat, graceful and... oh, oh no... Nico groaned to himself. Looking anywhere but where the other demigod sat down in front of him- more floated to a stoic position at eye level, Percy kicking his feet back and forth as his hands rested on his knees. Cute.

Shut up, shut up, shut up-

"So..." A breath, complimented by the consistent drone of running water around them, as Percy rubbed the back of his neck.

Looking up with bright green eyes, the son of Hades caught his gaze on accident.

"So?" Nico repeated back. Quieter. Dreading the next few words to come.

"Are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"I... I'm sorry, I didn't want you to see, you know, that." Percy visibly bit his lip, worried and tense.

Nico almost laughed considering that Percy was apologizing for him seeing the tamest part of he and Luke's relationship. The boy had willingly seen a lot more. I'm so gross.

"See what?" He played.

"It's..." Percy blushed, looking away. "Look, I just- I'm not usually like that, I- I don't want you to... you know, see me differently."

Too late. The son of Hades blocked out memories of that morning after to avoid further bashful distress on both ends.

How funny that Percy was so embarrassed about that one, sliver of a moment that hadn't even exposed anything. What irony that in other circumstances, he was as helpless as a dog in heat to pleasure. And how quaint that Nico had found this out without Percy knowing.

The younger boy looked up, to the distant ripples of light on the water's surface, then back to his own hands anxiously lacing through his clothes.

"He's not good for you."

Percy didn't say anything.

Nico understood that the older demigod already knew this.

"It's alright. I mean- it was an accident."

Percy hummed, tucking hair behind his ear as he tucked his knees into his chest.

"I guess. But-"

"So that's it, right?" Nico stood up suddenly, finding his imaginary footing on nothing and looked up yet again, squinting. "This bubble thing is freaking me out."

"Wait, I-"

"I can go now?"

"No!"

"But we're done."

"Nico."

The younger boy yelped as a push of contained water had him back down on his knees again, eyes wide at the sudden display of force.

"Stop running away, just- talk to me," Percy begged, desperation eminent through his dimly lit expression. "Why are you acting so weird around me? Just forget about Luke for a minute, this is about us, not him, alright?"

Nico rolled his eyes despite still being shaken up about the whole show of force thing, stuffing his hands in his pockets.

"There isn't anything else to talk about."

"Well- you like me, right?"

Nico flushed a dark red.

"Shut up."

The older demigod hadn't expected such a hostile response- then again, what else would he have said? Percy went quiet for a moment, working up the will to say something else.

"Let me go." Nico stood up again, faster than before, going rigid as he held his hands by his sides. The surrounding water seemed to get even darker.

"Nico, I-"

"Get me out of here, stop it-"

"Please!"

"I said, leave me alone!" The boy shouted, voice cracking somewhere throughout his plea. The sound resounded throughout the water surrounding them, a school of fish speeding up to get away from the echo. Nico breathed heavy, but... was more sad than angry. And it was painfully obvious, written all over his face.

"I'm sorry," Percy tried, a whispered apology. "But we need to talk about this."

I know.

"Why?!" the boy hissed, just trying to be difficult for the sake of resisting. He knew it was inevitable at this point.

"You know why..." Percy crawled along air to sit beside Nico, just to be closer to him. "You're very important to me. I don't want you to get hurt, really."

What an asshole thing to say. Backhanded reassurance.

"I get it, right? You've got to take care of me, blah blah, it's your job."

"It's not my job, or my responsibility. You can take care of yourself, I know that." The older demigod offered a weak smile. "I care about you. So I want to make sure that you're okay; it's not cause I don't think you're strong enough."

Nico swallowed, mouth twitching down into an involuntary frown. That kind that foreshadows you're about to cry.

He didn't- couldn't - say anything. Merely nodded.

"So- I love you, right?" Percy said softly. He leaned forward, brushing a hand over Nico's forehead, cautious. "I'd do anything for you."

"Stop it," the boy groaned, nestling his face into his hands. "Good gods just- don't say things like that."

"Why?"

"Cause I love you, that's why! In a different way!" Nico choked out, gritting his teeth. Staring down, willing himself to hold together. "Like- I wasn't just shocked when I saw you two together, I was mad! I was..." A sniff. "You..."

"I know."

"No, I love you-"

"I know," Percy repeated quietly. "I know you do. And- you have to realize while I can't love you the same way, I do love you, just- not like that."

Nico felt a flush of rage take over his system, a short wave that caused him to grip his fingers tight into fists.

Why?! You don't even love him. You've never said you love him. Why him? Fuck, that ass doesn't deserve you, fuck...

He grit his teeth.

And then the wave passed, dropping into something a lot sadder. A dull, passive, awful feeling of dejection.

Why?

Percy inched forward, watching as a school of fish swam past, reflecting light across the water onto Nico's dark cheeks. Stained somewhat with a trace of salted tears, the younger didn't have the strength to hide it.

"I'm sorry. This is a mess, I know..." the older demigod sighed, "I wish this could have happened differently. You don't deserve this."

Nico sniffed, dazed and hardly listening. But it didn't matter what Percy said; he was sorry, he loved him, life was hard. That was the summary however the son of Poseidon decided to phrase it, Nico already knew.

"So... Just know I'm here for you, okay? I don't want things to be different between us. I can't change how I feel and I'm not about to ask you to change either, but... I just want you to be happy. Because I do love you. You're very important to me."

Nico could live with that. Kind of.

He hurridly wiped his face, staying quiet all the while.

"Thanks."

"I just want you to be happy," Percy hummed, relieved. "You're all I've got."

The younger was about to retort, then realized that Luke had Percy rather than the other way around.

At least Percy didn't know he'd been watching.

"Are we done now?" he muttered, embarrassed. "Seriously, I don't like being down here."

Percy snickered, laying back on his elbows.

"I don't know, it's pretty relaxing down here."

"Maybe for you," Nico rolled his eyes, "I think its cold. And wet. And not relaxing- really, Percy, I wanna go now."

"Alright," the son of Poseidon smiled, "As long as we're okay now..."

"We're fine, don't worry," the younger boy replied, giving a wavering smile in return. "Just- seriously, get me out of here."

Percy laughed, leaning forward in a sudden rush of warmth and pecking the son of Hades on the forehead. Quick, non-suggestive of anything, he smiled as he pulled away at Nico's shocked and flushed expression.

"Okay. Lets go, kid."

"I'm not a kid," Nico giggled. Ecstatic from getting a kiss, just a little one, but still. "Shut up, Percy."

"Come on..."

The two ascended at the rate Percy allowed them to, a pleasant air settling over them in their newfound satisfaction. Nico bashful in the freedom he now had, the weight lifted from his chest, lighter than before although they'd just talked.

"...Won't we be wet-? Like, when we get out, won't water splash-"

They broke the surface of the ocean waves before he could finish.

"I dunno. I haven't figured it out," Percy shrugged, breaching the surface first without the need for a gasp of breath, seeing as they were breathing fine already. Placing a warm hand against the side of the ship, Percy felt for a rope or a grip or something to get them back aboard. "Any help here?"

"What, didn't think this far ahead?" Nico laughed, the first time in ages.

"Nah," Percy smiled. "Who does in this day and age?"

He ended up grabbing Nico by the waist again, riding a purposefully large wave which rocked the boat slightly as they grabbed onto the rail, hoisting themselves over. And while Percy was perfectly dry, Nico was left sopping wet.

"That answers that question." Nico bit his lip to hide a smile, raising his arms by his sides so that two puddles began to form around him.

"Sorry!"

Percy made a gesture with his hand, the water soaked into Nico's clothes congealing into a ball and was thrown back into the ocean.

"Wow. Thanks."

Smiling, the older half blood hugged Nico one last time before they split off for bed. Nico slept by himself somewhere below deck, waving a bashful goodbye as he snuck back to his bunk, using the low floor lights to guide him. Percy watched him, turned, and realized where he slept was probably a lot nicer than everyone elses rooms.

Making his way back, in a surprisingly good mood, Percy made sure to note landmarks and numbers to try and remember how he'd gotten back. Minutes passed, and he stepped lightly, trying his best not to wake anyone in such an early hour.

Back to the room. Letting out a sigh as he recognized the labled plaque and all, relieved he'd kept in mind to leave the door unlocked. Opening it slowly, the mechanism clicking quietly as he did so, the demigod took one last glance around the empty hallway before entering the room. Shutting the door behind him, leaning back against the wood.

"Wher've you been?"

Percy jumped.

"When did you get back-?" he asked, catching his voice before it wavered. "Uh, from patrolling?"

"Doesn't matter." Luke's voice was deadly calm, on edge as he spoke. He sat on the bed back against the headboard, arms crossed. "Where were you?"

"Not that you should care, but I was setting things straight with Nico." Percy copied Luke in crossing his arms, leaning against the door he'd closed. "We talked. It's better now."

Luke rolled his eyes, letting out a curt laugh.

"Wow. How touching, Percy-"

"Oh, shut up," the demigod mumbled.

"So it's not like you, I don't know, decided to leave? Or got jumped? I'm surprised you came back at all; I thought you were gone for good."

Percy had to keep reminding himself why he was still even here.

"No." He thought it best to keep out his encounter with the Stoll brothers.

A silence for a moment, as the two stared each other down in an attempt to curb the other into saying something else. Whether that be to complain or taunt, they weren't sure.

"C'mere," Luke finally caved in, patting the mattress in front of him. He then settled with his hands behind his head, looking up to the ceiling. "I think I've figured out how to keep you here."

"Well- I mean, you already are..."Percy did as the other half blood suggested without question, slowly walking over to throw his weight onto the mattress, bouncing slightly as he did so.

"As in, so you won't be attacked like you were tonight."

Percy blanched, blinking with his mouth drawn open.

"How did you know?"

"I guessed," Luke smirked. "Who was it?"

"It doesn't fucking matter," he mumbled, frustrated. He hadn't wanted Luke to find out. "So?!"

"So," the son of Hermes was smug, purring his victory. "If you want to, oh I don't know, make sure you don't get jumped again, I'm going to have to tie you up for a little while. Percy dear."


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