Sorry for the wait. I've had finals so I haven't had a chance to write much. This was just something I thought of after my English final. It was a little hurried, but I hope you enjoy.

PRACTICING

Sweat poured into Nico's eyes as he swung his sword and decapitated the straw-filled dummy.

"Careful there, Death Breath," a voice off to Nico's right called. "What did the dummy ever do to you?"

"It looked at me funny," Nico grunted, stabbing a dummy in the chest before he turned toward Thalia.

Thalia's eyes raked him up and down. He suddenly became self-conscious that he wasn't wearing a shirt.

"Well, I'm looking at you funny. How 'bout you practice on me?" Thalia asked, going over toward the weapons wrack and picking up a spear. She flicked her wrist and her shield, Aegis, spun out. Nico gulped at the sight. He had seen her shield so many times, but it still brought a little jolt of fear to his heart when he saw it.

"Alright, Death Breath. Let's spar."

Thalia rushed Nico before he even had a chance to prepare. He staggered back in surprise at the onslaught of strikes. He quickly gained his composure and struck back.

"No need to pull your punches," Thalia joked as she parried another blow. Nico struck out harder and faster. Soon the clang of metal and the loud exhales of breath were all that was heard. Thalia lost her spear, but quickly pulled out a knife and kept up with Nico strike for strike.

Nico's strikes became messier and his parries more desperate as the fight wore on. Thalia hit his blade right above the hilt and with a clang, sent his sword flying across the arena. Thalia pressed him up against the wall with her knife. Nico's heart sped up at the feel of Thalia's hand against his chest.

"I win," Thalia stated simply.

"You always do," Nico said, staring at her. His heart pounded in his chest as he thought about leaning forward the few inches separating them and kissing her.

"Always?" she asked sceptically.

Nico, not trusting himself to speak, nodded. Thalia raised her eyebrow and smirked. Then she leaned forward and kissed Nico. Nico's eyes widened, but he soon melted in the kiss. His heart soared as she wrapped her arms around his neck and he brought his hands down to her waist. She pulled back and looked at him.

"It looks like I won the hottest guy at camp's heart," Thalia said, smiling.

"From the moment I saw you," Nico whispered, pulling her back in for another kiss.