Chapter 9: Santa Tell Me
Santa tell me if you're really there
Don't make me fall in love again
If he won't be here next year
Santa tell me if he really cares
Cause I can't give it all away if he won't be here next year
Feeling Christmas all around
And I'm trying to play it cool
But it's hard to focus when I see him walking 'cross the room
Let it snow, is blasting now
But I won't get it in the mood
I'm avoiding every mistletoe until I know it's true love
That he thinks of
So next Christmas I'm not all alone boy
Percy sighed. The blizzard had stopped and he had to work. Percy usually didn't mind work too much but today something just seems off. He kept trying to say hi to his friends but they were all busy. So Percy forced himself to sit down and get some work done.
His thoughts drifted eventually. They ranged from what to get everyone for Christmas to whether pigs would eventually be able to fly. Somewhere along the way he remembered the day he spent with Nico not too long ago. Percy remembered how his eyes lit up when The nightmare before Christ,as was mentioned. He also remembered the amazingly kind and thoughtful words that Nico had said to Percy in his darkest moment.
Percy remembered looking up from his pathetic position on the floor into Nico's black eyes. Nico had looked like a hero in that moment. Or possibly a dark angel, being sent down to Hell. He was so amazingly strong and powerful looking, yet the words that came out of his mouth were tender and made it sound almost as if Nico loved Percy.
Percy was bisexual. Not many people knew, only Paul, Sally, and Tyson were aware of it. And so when Nico seemed to be so loving and beautiful and powerful Percy fell hard. But Percy would never admit that.
Percy had, over the next few days, realized how much he loved all these little random attributes that Nico possessed. Whenever the younger boy's eyes would light up Percy couldn't help but smile. And whenever Nico started ranting about something nerdy he would start making wild hand gestures that Percy loved. And then once his ranting was done Nico would blush shyly and look at the ground. Percy always wanted to take his chin and lift his face, only for their lips to meet.
But alas, Percy refused to fall for Nico di Angelo.
Santa tell me if you're really there
Don't make me fall in love again
If he won't be here next year
Santa tell me if he really cares
Cause I can't give it all away if he won't be here next year
I've been down this road before
Fell in love on Christmas night
But I knew you say I woke up and you wasn't by my side
Now I need someone to hold
Be my fire in the cold
But it's hard to tell if this is just a fling or if it's true love
That he thinks of
So next Christmas I'm not all alone boy
Percy was perfectly fine with falling in love with a boy. That wasn't an issue, he stopped denying himself that pleasure a long time ago. It wasn't that he was too son out of a relationship. Percy had taken Nico's words to heart and no longer cared at all for Annabeth in a romantic way. It wasn't even that Percy was stressed about something or had more important things.
Percy didn't want to fall in love with Nico out of fear of how strong it would be.
The sea-green-eyed boy worried that he'd fall too far too soon and then Nico would leave him. Or even worse, Nico could be straight or interested in someone else. What were the odds of Nico liking Percy back. He wasn't good at math but he figured it was something like one out of 7,000,000,000.
Percy didn't think he could handle another heart break so soon. Annabeth's rejection had hit him hard. The two had been friends for as long as they could remember and started dating soon after. He knew her better than the back of his hand. Or at least he thought he did.
But then Nico had arrived. Nico had swept Percy off his feet without even intending to. He made Percy yearn for love like never before. Percy was running around trying to impress the younger boy. And Nico remained oblivious the whole while.
Percy sighed yet again. He looked at the foot tall pike of paper work on his light brown desk. He was in a somewhat roomy cubicle with beige walls. Percy was a big fan of the holidays so he put decorations up here and there in the walls. Someone put a bough of mistletoe on the wall separating Percy's cubicle from someone else. Every time Percy looked over to the plant it was occupied by his colleges.
Percy imagined himself pinning Nico to the wall and kissing him passionately.
Santa tell me if you're really there
Don't make me fall in love again
If he won't be here next year
Santa tell me if he really cares
Cause I can't give it all away if he won't be here next year
Oh I wanna have him beside me like ooh
On the 25th by the fireplace ooh
But I don't want no broken heart
This year I got to be smart
Nico walked up to the other man, interrupting his fantasies.
"Hey, Perce. Do you want to hang out after work?" Nico asked, blushing brightly. Percy broke out into a gorgeous smile.
"I'd love to," he responded whole heartedly. Suddenly an idea popped into his head.
"Hey, Nico? Can you go get me those scissors over there?" Percy said, pointing directly under the mistletoe. The boy in question shrugged and stalked over and looked around the desk.
"I don't see any scissors," Nico pointed out. Percy gained a mischievous glint in his eye and approached the other boy. Once he was standing next to Nico he pointed upwards and then hastily pulled him into a kiss.
Nico froze up so only Percy was kissing. It wasn't too long of a kiss, only about two seconds, but it felt like forever. The younger. Boy had no clue what was going on. Was Sally right about Percy possibly returning his feelings? And if so, why did he just kiss him now?
Percy pulled away, realizing that it had already been too long to right it off as nothing.
"Mistletoe," he said, somewhat cheekily. Nico blushed and looked down. So Percy didn't like him, he was only following traditions.
"I see."
Nico left, leaving Percy with his work and thoughts of how maybe it'd be okay if he fell.
Oh baby
Santa tell me
Santa tell me
Santa tell me
If he will be here
Santa tell me if you're really there
Don't make me fall in love again
If he won't be here next year
Santa tell me if he really cares
Cause I can't give it all away if he won't be here next year
Later, when the two met up after work, Percy couldn't help himself. Upon seeing Nico and his friends at the diner, he kissed the raven-haired boy on the cheek. Will and Lou started passing dollar bills under the table, Hazel nearly had a heart attack along with Jason, and everyone seemed to be giddy and anxious all of the sudden but Percy didn't notice. He only notice when he saw Nico give a small smile and kiss him on his cheek.
"Hey, Perce," he said right after. Percy was blushing.
"Hey, Neeks," Percy responded with a smile.
Percy could help but think that maybe, just maybe, if he fell it wouldn't be so bad if he dragged Nico with him.
Santa tell me if you're really there
Don't make me fall in love again
If he won't be here next year
Santa tell me if he really cares
Cause I can't give it all away if he won't be here next year