Author's note: Yeah, it's been forever since I've updated. I tried to chase the wrong plot bunny, got frustrated, then real life got in the way and I chose to devote my writing time to other projects. Sorry. Hopefully I'm not going to drop the ball again. Or not as badly, at least.

Also sorry for the short chapter, but I felt it was better to split it here than later.

Over the next week, Nico and Percy gradually found their mark around each other, figuring out a working dynamic. It wasn't a routine yet—it hadn't been long enough for that—but it was getting close, and it was comforting.

Their budding relationship with Percy was exciting, and Nico loved when there was no more responsibilities left to deal with and they could just play games or talk or snuggle; but he needed stability a lot more than all of that. And, he suspected, so did Percy, for that matter. So they moved at the slowest possible pace, never going beyond kissing and cuddling at night. Even their occasional make-outs were tamer than they had been, back at Camp Half-Blood.

Nico's teenage hormones made him ache for more, but he wasn't sure he was really ready for that. A part of him couldn't help but feel like he'd ended up at Percy's apartment out of necessity, and that having sex with him now would be out of gratitude more than anything. It was a small doubt, but he refused to have his first time, or their relationship, plagued with any doubts.

Percy hadn't pressed him, either. Whether he had his own doubts, just wanted to give Nico space, or something else, Nico couldn't tell. But he was grateful for that.

He met Percy's mom and stepdad a week after moving in. Sally had done most of the talking, and, after taking her son in a private discussion in what used to be his bedroom (and still was, since she hadn't repurposed it yet), had given them her blessing, although she also warned them to "be careful and take it as slow as you feel like, and even slower". It had been uncomfortable to sit through her rant, but she was right, of course. And to Nico, knowing an adult looked out for him once more was worth being uncomfortable.

As they were leaving, though, Nico caught a glimpse of pity in Sally's eyes. "Does she know about Bianca?" he asked Percy once they were alone in the elevator. Maybe Nico was wrong, and it hadn't been about his sister, but that look had wakened the question in his mind, and he needed to know.

Percy was silent until they were out on the street. "She knows about the accident, of course," he said, grim. "And that somebody died. I didn't tell her it was your sister, but mom probably remembers her last name. And she knows you were at the camp too."

Nico nodded."How did she react?" Percy's blank expression made him realize he's lost track of their conversation. "To the accident, I mean." He'd only had a glimpse of its impact on Percy's life so far.

"Not well, obviously. Especially since it was the second time it happened. I mean, there's a reason I don't have a car anymore."

"But—"

"Can you drop it?"

Startled by the outburst, Nico backed away slightly. "Sorry, I—"

Percy sighed. "No, I'm sorry. It's just— I'd rather not think about that right now. Couldn't we focus on something a little happier?"

Avoiding Bianca completely was impossible, however. The next morning, Nico woke up alone for the first time since being in Percy's apartment. Nico found the other boy at the dining table, in front of his laptop. A pile of books and papers rested to his right and a mug of coffee was abandoned to his left.

"What're you doing?"

Percy started at the sound of Nico's voice. "I didn't hear you coming. I'm— doing some catching up."

"'Catching up'?" Intrigued, Nico walked up to him, burying his nose in Percy's hair as he planted a kiss on his forehead.

Percy had a nervous laugh. "Yeah. I've been lagging behind for a few months. Well, most of last semester, really. And since it was my first semester in college, it didn't make a good impression."

Nico knew what he meant—since the accident. "And you started working again… because of me?"

"Well that's not self-centered at all," Percy teased. "But… maybe?"

Nico returned his grin. "'Maybe'? Care to elaborate?"

"Well, it's just… it's hard to focus on work when I'm too busy beating myself up mentally." Percy took a deep breath. "It's not like I never do it anymore, but— Your forgiveness is important to me, is what I mean. Even though I'm sure I don't really have it just yet."

"I'm pretty sure I'm a little too involved now to not forgive you." Nico had meant the words lightly, but seeing the look of dismay on Percy's face, he regretted them instantly. "I mean, I'm not going to ignore your mistake just because you agreed to go out with me. I would never have started anything with you if I hadn't forgiven you first. I thought we'd been over this."

"Maybe I just need to hear it over and over. I'm not very smart." His unwavering grin contradicted his self-deprecation, but Nico felt like taking it down anyway.

"Says the guy who got into an elite college."

"Only because my stepdad is a professor there."

Nico stared at him. "Are you seriously fishing for compliments? I thought this was a serious conversation."

Percy scoffed. "Geez, fine. Let's be serious. Maybe I really do need to be sure you're not here because you feel indebted to me."

"I'm not. I came here because my mom basically forced me out. But I stayed because I love you."

There was a moment of stunned silence as they both processed what Nico had said. It had come out in the spur of the moment, and Nico was pretty sure it was against all his resolutions—and Sally's advice—to go slow. But to hell with that. He did love Percy, and as the boy's stunned expression was beginning to vanish, Nico closed the distance between them to kiss him. Both to demonstrate he really meant the words, and to force Percy to think before speaking.

The latter, at least, was a success. Percy pulled away gently, his face still hovering close to Nico's. "I guess I could manage if I heard you say that over and over instead."

A petulant part of Nico felt disappointed that he didn't immediately return the words, but he suppressed it. "I love you." Should he try to make some heartfelt speech to explain it? No. It was corny, and it didn't fit. "I love you." The words were enough.

Percy's chuckle tore him out of the moment. "I believed you the first time. My turn now. I love you too, Nico."

Nico let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, anxieties vanishing in a strangled mixture of a chuckle and a sigh.

"But, as awesome as it is that we could say that to each other, I would also love being able to tell my mom I'm not failing again." He nodded towards the pile of books, that Nico had knocked over the table in his enthusiasm to kiss Percy.

Even that wasn't enough to kill Nico's smile—nor Percy's, apparently. "You know, I have homework too. Stay right there, I'll join you."

"Doing homework together. How romantic."

"You're the one who started it." Nico ignored Percy's complaints as he looked for his school bag.