Disclaimer:: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus or its characters. They are the property of Rick Riorden, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.


"Hey Nico wait up!" Nico stopped and turned, not that he had to look to see who was calling him. He would recognize that voice anywhere.

"What's up Percy?" He answered when the older boy caught up to him. Percy paused, eyes wide, like he had forgotten what he wanted to say. "Uh, Percy?" Percy blinked and looked down at his feet; Nico thought there was a slight blush on his cheeks.

"Right...sorry. What are you doing this weekend?"

Nico blinked, his heart started to race and his palms got sweaty. He gripped the strap over his shoulder tighter to try and keep his hands from shaking. "Nothing." He managed to choke out, thou it was almost a whisper.

"Cool. Well the sword club has a competition this weekend, in the city, and the gym hosting the event is holding sort of a convention. It's called History of Combat and Self Defense. They're going to have like exhibits and demos and stuff like that."

Nico waited for Percy to continue. What did any of this have to do with him? "Okay...?"

"Anyways, we managed to score some extra tickets and our staff adviser said we could use it to generate some interest for the club, and like invite people along we thought would be interested."

As much as Nico loved listening to his voice, he really wished Percy would get to the point.

"So what do you think?"

"About what?"

"I thought, you know, maybe you would be interested."

"In your club?"

"Yea."

"Why would you think that?"

"Well you collect swords right?"

"How did you know that?"

"Oh...well... I guess Thalia must have mentioned it to Jay or something."

Nico nodded, Thalia may have noticed the weapons he had in the display case in his room. Of course that's why Percy was talking to him, for his little club. Nico was mad at himself for hoping it was going to be something more personal. After all, hadn't he told Percy he had no interest in being friends?

"Teams aren't really my thing." He tried not to, but he sounded bitter.

"Well, it's not a team, it's a club." Percy smiled like he just solved world hunger.

"What's the difference?"

"Well, we don't have to work together; mostly we just hit each other with stuff. There's very little co operation."

"Thanks for the offer, but like I said. Not really my thing." Nico turned to go but Percy reached out and grabbed his arm. Nico froze and scowled at the hand. His arm was warm where skin touched skin, Percy's grip firm yet gentle. Nico couldn't help but think about those hands on his body. Nico pulled away. Percy frowned and looked at his feet.

"Sorry, I know you don't like to be touched."

Now it was Nico's turn to frown, "What do you mean?"

"Well, I noticed you tense up and pull away whenever someone touched you. So I try not to." Percy mumbled. Nico wasn't sure how to respond to that; 1) Percy noticed 2) He said he consciously had to remind himself not to touch Nico. Nico shook his head, it didn't mean anything. He needed to stop trying to find some special meaning behind everything Percy said and did.

"It's okay. Who all would be there?"

"Well the club is Frank, Clarisse, Reyna and I. Jason usually joins once football is over. Hazel with be coming with Frank obviously, even thou shes not in the club."

"So... Will Jason be there? With Piper?"

Percy frowned, why did Nico want to know about Jason? Or was it Piper he was interested in? "I'm not sure. I could ask them."

"Oh, okay. We'll I can think about it I guess."

Percy smiled, "Good. Look even if you decide not to join the club you should still come for the convention. It's only two nights and Mr. Ares will be there to chaperon..."

"Wait, over night?" Nico's breath was pulled out of his lungs.

"Yea, the school sprung for a couple rooms at the Holiday Inn. We got one for the girls and one for the guys, no entering each other's rooms ect ect. So your mom should be fine with it. Mr. Area is kind of a hard ass any ways."

Nico's heart started racing again. There was no way he could spend the night with Percy, in the same room. And there was no way his Mom would be fine with it, unless Nico managed to swing a spot in the girl's room.

"Yea, I don't think my mom would be okay with that. Sorry Percy. I'll see you tomorrow." Nico rushed away. Not trusting himself around Percy any longer.


Nico was sitting on his bed trying to study. His history books on his lap, a pencil in his hand. He was trying to distract himself from thoughts of spending the night with Percy. Needless to say it wasn't working very well. He had discarded his jeans for a pair of loose track pants and wore a navy blue zipp sweater with nothing underneath. He hair was still damp from his shower. His mind still swimming with the images that filled his head while he had tried to relieve some of the ache in his groin. He was starting to worry it was becoming an unhealthy obsession.

The sound of the doorbell snapped him back to reality.

"Nico,can you get that?" Nico sighed and pushed off his bed. When he pulled the front door open his his jaw dropped. What was Percy Jackson doing on his front step? He was so shocked he just stood there staring.

Percy didn't even notice. When the door opened and he saw the star of his most recent fantasies he was suddenly speechless. His track pants hung low on his hips and his sweater was open to reveal smooth olive skin stretched over tight muscles. Percy's eyes scanned the younger boys body unabashedly and he had a sudden urge to nip at his hip bones.

Mrs. di Angelo's voice shocked they both out of their trance. "Nico? Whose there?"

Both boys looked away in embarrassment as she came around the corner. She smiled kindly, but confusion was evident on her face. "Can we help you with something?"

"Uh Mom, this is Percy, from school." Nico said quietly trying to avoid meeting either sets of eyes.

"It's nice to meet you Mrs. di Angelo." He said in a very proper voice, reaching out to shake her hand. Nico's mother smiled as she took his hand. Percy turned back to Nico shyly, still avoiding his eyes. "I was hoping we could talk?"

Nico nodded and gestured for Percy to come inside. He took a deep breath and took his time closing the door. What was Percy doing here? And what could he possibly what to talk to him about? How did he even know where Nico lived? Nico's mother leaned in close and pulled his zipper up.

"I like him. He's cute and such a gentleman. Keep your door open." She gave him a wink and headed back to the kitchen. Nico felt his face heat up. Percy tried not to notice that Nico's mom told him to keep the door open. He remembered Piper saying they closed the door when she and Thalia had come over. He smiled.

Without a word he led Percy to his room, only braving to push the door closed half way. His palms were sweaty and his heart raced. Percy was in his room. Nico tried not to look at the bed as he waited for Percy to finish looking around and tell him why he was here.

"So...why are you here?" Nico winced inwardly, his voice sounded harsh again. Percy turned to him frowning. "What I meant was; what brings you here? What did you want to talk about?"

Percy was having a hard time concentrating; he couldn't remember why he was here. He eyes kept drifting back to the bed with its black sheets. They looked soft and inviting, the images of having Nico in that bed beneath him started swimming to the front of his head. He tore his eyes away and turned his back to the evil temptress, Nico raised an eyebrow waiting for Percy to start talking.

"I just, wanted to talk about that trip. You seemed really interested and I just, I don't know. Wanted to see if there was anything I could do so you could come." Percy shrugged, that wasn't exactly what he wanted to say but it was a start. Nico tucked his hand in his pockets and looked at his feet.

"I don't know Percy. I just don't think my mom would like it."

"So you do want to come?"

Nico shrugged, "It does sound pretty cool."

"Well, let's go ask her!" Before Nico had a chance to stop him Percy brushed past, rubbing gently against him and making him shudder, racing off to the kitchen to find Nico's mom. Percy was pretty sure he had figured out why Nico didn't think his mom would let him go; the gender based rooms would do nothing to soothe the nerves of the Italian Mother. Not with her (potentially) gay son in a room full of teenage boys. He took a deep breath as he entered the kitchen, mentally preparing himself for battle.