Day 19: Friday

He felt him joining him in bed and instantly leaned back against him.

"Somebody seems to have been awaiting me."

Nico felt a smile tugging at his lips.

Strong arms wrapped themselves around Nico, a face burying itself at Nico's crook of the neck.

"You're so nice and warm, Nico.", the person muttered, snuggling closer and entangling their legs.

Nico sighed contently.

He felt soft lips kissing him at the side of his neck and shifted, offering him more of his neck.

The person chuckled.

"Don't tempt me, Nico. I will leave a mark.", he warned.

Nico completely wouldn't mind.

He presented his neck willingly.

He felt his lips on his skin again, softly kissing down his neck.

Then he gently nibbled at one spot.

Nico huffed.

Nobody had ever done something like that to him.

He now understood why Jason had been so distracted after their neck-nibble dare.

It felt damn good.

He felt the person's tongue flicking over the spot as he gently bit it, sucking tentatively.

Nico moaned, shifting slightly.

The person continued, then licked over the spot gently, chuckling, before slowly pulling back.

"Now everyone will see you're mine."

Nico smiled. He liked the thought of that.

"I love you, Nico."

He turned his head and felt the person's lips on his own, kissing him as his arms held him tightly pressed against him.

"Stay with me?", Nico asked quietly in his half-sleep.

The person hesitated.

Then he placed another kiss on his lips.

"I suppose I can stay for a while."

"Till I wake up?"

"If you give me a sign so I can leave before you are completely awake.", he said hesitantly.

Nico touched his arm, squeezing slightly.

The person chuckled. "Is that the sign?"

Nico nodded slightly, snuggling back against the person's chest.

It felt so nice and comfortable.

"Ok, then. Until you wake up. Nico?"

"Hm...?", Nico was already drifting back to sleep, too comfortable in his arms.

"I love you. I really do."

"Hmm...", Nico hummed, smiling and fell back asleep.

When he began waking again, he had turned around, his face against the chest of his admirer.

It took him a moment before he realized that he was actually still there.

He had really stayed.

Nico smiled to himself.

Then his hand searched for the person's arm, squeezing it slightly.

The person shifted, seemingly asleep.

Nico squeezed again.

The person woke, not saying a word, but Nico could hear it in the way he breathed.

He shifted, slowly removing his arms from around Nico and placing a soft kiss on his forehead.

Then Nico could hear some rustling and the sound of scribbling.

He smiled to himself.

He knew he could open his eyes right now and find out who exactly it was.

He really wanted to do it as well.

But he didn't.

He felt the person coming closer again, his hand stroking through Nico's hair one last time before turning away and hurriedly leaving the cabin.

Nico waited a bit longer before opening his eyes.

It was already 6:30 in the morning.

His admirer had just spent the night at his cabin just for him.

He grinned to himself like an idiot and grabbed his pillow, hugging it tight in an attempt to let out part of that amazing feeling of happiness surging through him.

He looked at his bedside table.

There was a small note and an oddly shaped package.

He smiled, pushing himself up to a sitting position and gingerly taking the note as if it was something fragile and precious – to Nico, it definitely was.

[Dear Nico,

you are the best that has ever happened to me in my life.

I love you!

Hope you like today's gift.

Sorry for not writing more, I have to scram before you wake up completely ;)

Thanks for the squeeze.

Have a nice 19th day of December.

6 DAYS TO GO!

I love you,

Your secret admirer

P.s.: We definitely have to repeat what we did tonight.]

Nico chuckled.

Yes, they definitely had to do that again.

Nico was feeling better than...pretty much ever.

He had actually stayed with Nico.

Even though Nico could have easily found out who he was.

Even though so many things could have gone wrong.

Nico fell back into his bed, clutching the note to his heart.

He loved this person.

Even though he had no idea who he was.

Was it creepy? Yep.

Should he be worried? Most likely.

Did he care? Nope.

He chuckled to himself and turned his head towards his bedside table once more, looking at the odd package.

It looked a bit like a jar.

But what would he do with a jar? Make jam?

Maybe it was a cookie jar.

He didn't eat cookies though.

He smiled to himself.

He had never really been able to guess his gifs.

Yet he had always liked them.

It made him wonder how that person knew him so well.

He pushed himself back up and put the note to the others.

He was so going to put them all into his photo album and have a picture at the end with him and his secret admirer.

He would always remember this.

This was the best thing that had ever happened to him.

'You're the best that has ever happened to me in my life'.

He grinned stupidly and took the gift.

It felt a tad heavy, too.

And it was slightly warm.

He blinked, wondering what could stay warm like that for several hours.

Maybe a thermos?

What did he want with a thermos?

He wouldn't mind one, but he didn't really think he'd need one either.

He slowly removed the green ribbon.

He loved these ribbons.

He had no clue what he was going to do with them, but he couldn't get himself to throw them away.

Not the ribbons, not the wrapping paper.

Nico slowly removed that, too.

As he pulled the inside out, he laughed.

"Oh gods, really?", he asked the empty room and held up the object.

It was a jar, alright.

A jar with a small fire dancing inside it.

It was like a small night light that gave off warmth as well as light.

On the lid was writing.

[Here's some light for your shadows, my Ghost King!]

Nico held it tightly against his chest, smiling.

He didn't like the darkness much.

And his admirer had just gotten him something to help him keep it at bay.

He gently put it on his bedside table, adoring the way it softly lit the room.

Then he fell back into his pillow, clutching Mrs. O'Leary Jr.

Could he just lie here and close his eyes and wait until it was tomorrow so his admirer could come again?

.

"How does this thing even work?", Will asked, mesmerized by the jar of fire.

Jason and Percy stood right behind him, staring at it in wonder as well.

Nico was just lying on his stomach on his bed, smiling like an idiot, clutching Mrs. O'Leary Jr.

"I have no idea whether this would be something from the Hephaestus or the Hecate cabin.", Jason muttered, shaking his head.

Nico still smirked.

"It's so beautiful.", Percy uttered, stunned.

Nico rolled around in his bed, pushing down the urge to squeal.

His admirer had stayed with him until he had woken up.

The three looked around at him.

He instantly put on an indifferent expression, looking at his hands.

All three smiled and came over, sitting down on his bed.

"So, what did you two do last night that made him practically worship you and turn you into such a mess?", Will asked suggestively, but Nico just grinned broadly.

"Wouldn't you love to know.", he teased, rolling away from them, Mrs. O'Leary still pressed tightly against him.

He was wearing his Christmas jumper again.

It simply felt too comfortable.

He was so going to wear it on Christmas.

Percy and Jason chuckled.

"Somebody is in a good mood again, today.", Jason muttered.

"That admirer does him good.", Percy agreed.

Nico turned around and looked at him.

The others did as well.

Percy blushed. "I didn't mean it like that! I meant he makes Nico happy!", he defended himself, causing them all to chuckle.

Then Will turned to Nico.

"But you two aren't actually doing it, right? Remember, he's cruel for letting you wait so long for him. Give him a good case of blue balls."

Nico threw his pillow at him, unwilling to sacrifice Mrs. O'Leary Jr.

"Shut up!", he exclaimed, though he was laughing.

The others were, too.

He looked at them fondly.

Sadly, he had no idea whatsoever who of them was his admirer.

He'd love to know.

Yet he always let the chances pass.

Maybe he didn't want to know?

It was an inner conflict of his, really.

He wanted to know, but he was worried what would happen when he found out.

He would date him.

That was without question.

Nico looked at his friends again.

Did it really matter who it was?

Nico's gaze fell on him, again.

He pushed the thought forming out of his mind and locked it firmly away.

It didn't matter.

He wanted his admirer.

The person that made him feel good.

Nico wanted to make him feel good, too.

He wanted to be with him and spend time with him.

Actually date.

Nico's insides churned.

He was one sappy guy.

Could it really be true that there was somebody who could actually love him like that?

To just do something like this in the hope of getting a chance with him? To make him happy?

Treating him like something precious, something desirable?

He gazed fondly at the jar of fire.

Apparently, there was.

Percy and Jason grinned at him.

"Come on, let's grab breakfast.", they said, pulling him out of bed.

He wailed and held on to his bed post, but they still pulled him out mercilessly, dragging him with them towards the door while Will laughed and got his shoes and aviator's jacket.

"Don't wanna~, can't we all just go back to bed and forget it's day and act like it's night?", he asked hopefully, making them all laugh.

He pouted, slipping into his boots and putting on his jacket, though he really didn't want to go outside.

It was cold.

It was snowy.

It was cold.

He looked back towards his bed wistfully.

"Nico, seriously, I think your admirer will come cuddling with you first chance he gets, again. Judging by his note he wants it as much as you do.", Will reassured him, patting his shoulder.

Nico felt his ears turning red as he fixed his hair in a quick ponytail.

He had really gotten the hang of that.

"By the way, nice hickey.", Will also added, nodding towards Nico's neck.

Nico flinched and touched the mark lightly, having forgotten about it completely.

Jason and Percy shot around.

"Hickey?", both asked, stunned.

Nico blushed and took his hand away.

Both boys gaped at him.

Percy's expression turned suggestive.

"My, my, Nico. Remember what I said, keep the lube ready.", he said, winking at Nico.

He blushed harder and put on his scarf. "Shush."

"Oh, you like it, don't you deny it.", Percy teased.

"It is a bit surprising though, isn't it? Leaving a hickey?", Will asked, looking at the other two.

Jason shrugged. "Probably wanted to prove he's his. After yesterday, I wouldn't be surprised."

Percy nodded. "He probably went like: 'Yo bishes, y'all kno he's mine. You touch = you dead.'", he exclaimed all gangsta-like.

Nico chuckled uneasily.

Seriously?

"Actually, I wanted this.", he then said quietly.

They all looked around at him in surprise.

He only shrugged with a lopsided grin and walked out his cabin door.

They hurried after him a second later, wrapping their arms around him and ruffling through his just fixed hair, laughing and telling him they hadn't expected him to be so lewd.

Nico only laughed and pushed them away playfully as they made their way to the dining pavilion.

.

During breakfast, Bill had come up to Nico, asking him shyly whether he'd be training today again.

Nico hadn't planned on it, but since Bill had taken up the courage to approach him, he couldn't very well say no.

He still remembered how Bill's new friends had stood some feet behind him, all looking stunned and impressed.

Percy happily hacked away at him, while Jason was slashing at dummies, showing kids how to decapitate monsters in all possible ways.

Other 8-year olds spent their vacations drawing and playing video games.

Here, 8-year olds spent their vacations learning how to use any sort of weapon from dagger to scythe, bows and slingshots obviously included, to chop off different body parts the most efficiently.

Nico blocked Percy's blows effortlessly and checked on Will, who was showing off the locations of all the vital organs on a big dummy the shape of a telekhine.

He had already shown off his skills with the bow earlier, leaving no doubt he was worthy of being son of Apollo.

Then again, with him being the awesome healer he was, nobody doubted that in the first place.

The other kids around them cheered for either Percy or Nico in their little duel.

Of course, there were way more people cheering for Percy, but that was to be expected.

Nico was surprised to have anybody on his side at all in the first place.

He blocked another blow and counterattacked, feigning for Percy's right and going for his left.

Percy of course realized and blocked the blow at last moment, making everybody hold their breath.

They smirked at each other.

For a moment, they lowered their weapons.

"So, enough warming up. Ready for the real battle?", Nico asked casually.

Percy grinned broadly. "Bring it on, Ghost King."

There was a murmur of astonishment going through the rows.

Had they really thought this was the best the two could do?

Well, they were about to find out they were wrong.

Percy and Nico went into their stances again.

Then they were at each other, slashing and stabbing and blocking and feigning at top speed, making several kids gasp and all of them move back to give them more space.

Nico and Percy practically danced through the arena, not holding back whatsoever.

There was no need to.

They were pretty well balanced.

Nico tried to corner Percy, but all he succeeded in was cutting into Percy's Camp Half-Blood sweater, making him gape at Nico in mock shock before throwing himself at him again.

"You better not harm my sweater, Percy, or I'll have to impale you!", Nico called warningly and blocked attack after attack.

Percy only laughed.

"Wouldn't want to damage it for the life of me. Looks too good on you, Neeks."

Nico shook his head grinning and went on the offensive again, pushing him further and further across the field, passing Jason and Will who were also watching quite curious.

Percy feigned at Nico's left and aimed at the right, narrowly missing Nico's sweater.

"Ok, this is it.", Nico hissed, jumping back.

Percy blinked, wondering what he was going to do, but next moment, Nico had taken off both his scarf and his sweater, folding them neatly together into a pile on the floor.

Percy chuckled. "Really?"

"You're too careless. Plus, I don't want them to get dirty from your sweat."

"Whoa, that's rude."

Nico only grinned.

Nico didn't care that he was standing shirtless in front of tons of kids.

He rather had that than a slice through his gifts.

Then they were at each other again.

Him being shirtless seemed to have two major advantages.

1. He could move much better and didn't have to worry about damaging anything

2. Percy was most definitely distracted, constantly looking him up and down with a rather curious expression.

Nico grinned to himself, definitely pleased.

They fought for what seemed like forever, dancing across the arena again.

People were completely nuts about them.

By now, Nico had almost as many cheers as Percy.

Percy made a face, knowing he was being pushed into a corner.

"Maybe I should take off my sweater as well.", he called.

Nico laughed, shrugging as he slashed at him again.

"Be my guest."

He pulled back and shook his head laughing as Percy actually did it and discarded the piece of clothing on the floor uncaring.

Though he couldn't resist letting his gaze travel over Percy's naked upper body hungrily.

Just for a splint second.

Percy smirked knowing at him and wriggled his eyebrows.

Nico raised an eyebrow and pointed his Stygian Iron Sword at him.

Percy chuckled and raised his own and they were at it again.

There was muttering in the crowd now, several girls practically cooing and swooning.

Nico and Percy ignored them, their eyes fixed on each other.

"If there was some water nearby you'd be screwed.", Percy called as he narrowly missed a wide slash from Nico, who only laughed.

"And if I were allowed to use my powers you would have been dead a hundred times already."

"Lies. You couldn't harm a fly."

"Flies, no. You, yes."

"Aw, now you're hurting my feelings."
"Oh, sorry, Perce. You know I don't mean it.", Nico said with a broad grin.

"Nah, I know you love me."

Nico rolled his eyes and they kept slashing at each other.

They danced through the hall again twice, passing Jason and Will again and again who only stood there with arms crossed, watching them bemused.

Nico was beginning to wonder if they were ever going to finish this.

Then Percy stepped into his own sweater and slipped.

Nico, who had been intending to slash at him, redirected his blow in the last second, though it came at the price of his balance and he toppled after Percy onto the floor.

Or better, said, onto him.

They stared at each other stunned for a moment.

Then they both started laughing and Nico got up, holding out his hand to Percy to help him up as well.

"Really? You slipped on your own sweater?", Nico asked, laughing hard.

Percy had burning red ears and collected his downfall off the ground and shaking his head, laughing himself.

"Yeah, rub it in, Neeks. I swear, I'm so going to beat you just this once."

"And there I thought you'd say something like 'I'll make sure I fold my clothes neatly from now on'."

"Nah, impossible."

"But beating me is?"

"Absolutely. I have a really awesome plan."

"You? A plan?"

Percy made a face, raising his weapon. "I have plans too!"

"Yeah, but they never work."

"Lies!"

They rushed at each other again, slashing and hacking away.

"Guys, make it quick! I'm starving.", Will called over.

Nico and Percy looked around incredulously, still slashing at each other.

Will lifted his arms defensively. "Ok, I'll go alone, then. Want me to bring anything?"

"Blue pizza!", Percy instantly called, sidestepping Nico's attack.

Nico therefore tripped him, making him stumble sideways slightly but catch himself, just to throw himself at Nico, who swirled around him easily and attacked his back, but Percy brought his sword around just in time.

"I'll have some pizza, too. Haven't had junk food in ages.", Nico then called.

"You had McDonalds two days ago and ate Jason's fries last night at dinner!", Will exclaimed, making Jason and Percy laugh.

Nico swirled around Percy again so he could face Will.

"Exactly!", he then called and Will rolled his eyes, leaving the arena with Jason.

Percy and Nico concentrated solely on each other again.

"I'm going to beat you today, Neeks."

"I'd love to see that."

"Yeah? Good, cause I'm going to play dirty."

Nico blinked.

Then he grinned.

"Bring it on, Seaweed Brain."

Percy's eyes narrowed ever so slightly and his grin widened.

"Ok, get ready, Neeks. Here I come."

And with that, he lunged himself at Nico.

Nico blocked and attacked and blocked again, forced to move backwards as to not get flattened by Percy.

Percy laughed heartily and slashed away at him with a ferocity that made some of the campers gasp in terror.

Nico only bared his teeth in a mock grin and kept him at bay, though barely.

Then Percy threw himself at Nico again full force and Nico couldn't get out of the way quickly enough.

They barreled into the floor and Percy brought his sword down right next to Nico's neck.

"Gotcha."

Nico looked surprised for a moment.

Then he laughed.

Percy sat on his midriff, panting heavily, looking down at him with a broad grin on his face.

Nico shook his head unbelieving and let it drop back onto the floor, breathing hard.

"Fine, you win. For now."

There was a roar in the crowd and people cheered and squealed and went completely nuts.

Nico turned his head and found Bill also cheering, though still for him, which surprised Nico.

He had kind of lost after all.

But he only smiled and winked at the Ares kid, who instantly beamed at him and turned around to the girl Nico had noticed before, the one that looked at Bill in that affectionate, admiring way.

Nico chuckled and looked back up at Percy. "So, you're going to get off me or do you enjoy it too much?"

Percy smirked down at him, then got up slowly, holding out his hand to Nico.

"Now put your sweater on, I can see half the kids here drooling all over your abs.", Percy scolded and shoved Nico in the direction of his clothing pile.

Nico laughed.

Yeah, of course.

He watched Percy slipping into his own sweater, looking around to him.

Their gazes met.

Then they smirked and looked away again, at the oncoming masses of kids wanting to know this or that move and congratulating them.

Nico had his hand on his hickey absent-mindedly, touching it softly as he watched Bill approach with his friends.

"That was amazing! Seriously, when I get older, I want to fight just like you do.", he said adoringly, making Nico all warm inside.

"That...that is really cool. How's the work with the spear going? Will told me you were making quite some progress."

Bill practically beamed at him.

"Want to see?", he asked, taking the spear off his back.

Nico shrugged. "Sure, want to fight me?"

The kids gaped at him.

Bill was all for it.

So then, Nico let Bill fight against him.

Of course, it wasn't difficult to evade him, but Nico let him hit some blows anyways, encouraging him to go on.

He wasn't half bad.

Nico had met quite some dead soldiers who had had more time with a spear and still sucked at it.

Bill's friends soon joined the fight, each with their own weapon, charging at Nico.

Nico blocked them off one by one, telling them to improve this or to do that in that situation.

It was like learning by doing, just literally learning more as they did.

It was quite fun.

Then they took a break because the kids were completely outpowered already.

"Is that hickey from your girlfriend?", the girl asked when Nico looked around to Will and Jason coming back with the pizza.

Nico hesitated.

He hadn't really come out to the Camp yet.

His friends knew, but he had no clue how other people would take it.

Also, it wasn't as if he actually had a 'boyfriend' yet.

He had a to-be-boyfriend in the form of his admirer, but could he just say boyfriend?

"Nah, that's from his secret lover.", Percy announced behind him, bringing Nico his pizza.

The girl got really big eyes and giggled, looking over to Bill.

Nico and Percy exchanged meaningful glances.

Then they both chuckled and Nico opened the napkin. "Really? Why am I having blue pizza, too?"

"You know you love it. Stop complaining.", Percy laughed.

Nico made a face but still took a bite.

.

They spent the entire rest of the day in the arena, though this time they just dueled with each other and a few groups of kids instead of teaching them the theory or moves in general.

It was actually quite fun.

All in all, Nico couldn't even imagine how his life would be without his three friends.

What if he hadn't decided to stay at Camp Half-Blood?

He shuddered just thinking about it.

Even though he wasn't really a Christmas person, he absolutely loved this one.

He had never laughed more.

Never had more fun.

And the admirer just added to it all.

Last year around this time, he'd been heartbroken about Percy, wondering if he'd ever be happy in his life.

So much had happened this year.

His time in Tartarus, his time locked up in a jar, the fight against Gaea, the renovation of his cabin (because that had been right up there with the top pains in the ass).

But now, he had a home, he had friends, he had people actually accepting him.

And he had a to-be-boyfriend.

In the inside, he was squealing again from all the pent-up joy.

A boyfriend!

Three weeks ago, he wouldn't have thought it possible.

He grinned into the distance as they walked across the snowy Camp towards the cabins, their stomachs stuffed with even more pizza from dinner.

Jason looked around at him.

"What are you thinking about?", he asked quietly, mustering him curiously.

Nico glanced at him. "Just about all the stuff that has happened and how you really never know what's coming. Like, seriously, you think you'll never get accepted anywhere in your life, and suddenly you're in the middle of everything and life is just going great."

Jason chuckled. "Christmas time is also the time of wonders, you know.", he said quietly.

Nico laughed. "Yeah, it's been full of wonders, all right."

"Absolutely.", Percy chimed in, popping up from behind them to walk next to Nico.

"I agree.", Will stated and walked next to Jason.

Nico and Jason chuckled and they made their way to drop each other off at their respective cabins.

Nico looked up at the darkening sky.

The day was finally over.

Tomorrow, it would only be 5 more days and he'd finally know who the secret admirer was.

It was scary and amazing at the same time.

And, hopefully, the admirer might sleep with him tonight.

He blushed.

Sleep in his bed with him.

He grinned to himself stupidly, still slightly pink in the face.

He loved the Christmas Season.