"Come on Nico, time to get up." Percy whispered into his ear.
"Don't wanna." Nico snuggles in closer, burying his face in Percy's chest.
"Come on, I have to pack. I leave tomorrow." At that, Nico bolted upright.
"Leave? Where are you going? Where am I supposed to go?" he asked frantically. Percy just laughed and ran his finger through Nico's soft black hair.
"I'm going back to camp silly; this was just supposed to be for a couple days around my birthday. And for where you're going, well," Percy scooped him up bridal style as he carried him to the kitchen. "You're coming with me. If you want, that is." They both blushed at his forwardness. Nico wrapped his arms around Percy's waist, his arms around his neck, and his fingers playing with his hair. He gave him a soft peck on the lips.
"Of course I'll come with you. But…" He trailed off with a scared look in his eyes.
"But what?"
"What if people find out? They don't like me enough as it is…"
"We don't have to tell them until we're ready." Percy kissed his forehead gently. "But that means we're going have to be careful in public, you know that right?" Nico nodded his head in understanding. "I'm still going to sneak you away for a bit of fun though." Percy winked
"I wouldn't have it any other way." And with that, they were both entwined in a loving embrace, their kisses becoming more passionate with every passing moment. Finally they pulled away, breathless. Percy grabbed Nico's hand and led him back to the bedroom, Nico's heart racing with anticipation.
"We need to pack." Percy said with finality.
"Percyyyyy!" Nico whined. "I thought this was going somewhere else!" He exclaimed with a pouty look on his face.
"Sorry Neeks." Percy laughed. "But it will have to wait until we're back at camp. It's already getting late." He gestured to the sun that was sinking low in the sky. "And I want you to be rested for tomorrow."
"Fineeee." Nico agreed, sighing dramatically. "But I'm holding you to that." He winked, and then they set off to find some clothes of Percy's that suited Nico's taste, since Nico hadn't brought anything with him.
The next morning they stood at the edge of the woods, giving one last look to the house where everything had started. Percy clasped Nico's hand in his own, stroking the back of his hand with his thumb. "Come on Shadow Boy, do your thang."
"Don't talk like that." With a whirl of darkness they were transported to the woods lining the camp, right near the edge.
"Nico, I thought you didn't want people to know yet." Percy said worriedly.
"Yeah," Nico shrugged. "I guess I don't really care anymore. As long as I've got you, it doesn't matter what others think." Nico squeezed his hand reassuringly. Percy turned to look him in the eyes.
"Okay…I'm scared though…I mean, I haven't even told my mum." He stammered. He kept rambling on and on until Nico shut him up with a kiss. They heard a gasp behind them, and turned in time to see a random camper run off in a flash of orange. They laughed uneasily. "Well, I guess we don't have a choice now." Percy said, biting his lip.
"Come on Seabrain, let's go back to my cabin and unpack."
"Who said we're staying in yours?" Percy put his hands on his hips and posed sassily.
"Because," Nico lifted an eyebrow, "I refuse to enter yours in the state and smell it's in. At least mine's clean." Percy heaved a sigh and smiled in defeat, following Nico. They didn't hold hands, but were brushing against each other the entire way there. And it wasn't entirely unnoticeable to the other campers when they saw the two boys going into Nico's cabin alone, not even emerging for dinner. Later that evening, they made their way down to the beach where they had called all their friends together. Even Annabeth came; it turned out Percy drunkenly over-exaggerated their break up. It was pretty mutual. So there they stood in front of all their friends (excluding Hazel and Frank, who were back at camp Jupiter), fidgeting nervously beside each other. All of them looked genuinely confused, Jason raising an eyebrow in question at Nico. Nico gave him a look to say, you'll find out.
"Guys," Percy started but was cut off by Leo.
"Get on with it already!"
"I'm trying!" Percy said in exasperation. Nico covered up a tiny snicker that escaped his mouth. "Anyways, I was going to tell you guys…I'm gay." Their eyes widened in utter shock.
"So am I." Nico chimed in. Now those eyes turned to him, but they didn't have to look too far considering Percy and Nico were standing very close to each other. They reached for each other's hands, finding them in the fading daylight. "And we're together." Neither of them could contain their smiles as they looked at each other lovingly.
"I knew it!" (Leo)
"Finally." (Jason)
"Eeeee!" (Piper)
"Looks like it's not your brain that's full of 'seaweed'." (Annabeth, with a wink at them both.)
"Mpojewh!" (Grover, choking on a can.)
"So…yeah." Percy concluding, spreading his free hand. Suddenly the two were enveloped in a group hug so tight Nico thought he was going to black out. Everyone pulled away from it with tears in their eyes. The rest of the night was filled with questions, laughter, and most of all hugs that came with speeches of acceptance. They never let go of the others hands.