Day 23: Tuesday

Nico woke up with arms tightly wrapped around him, a face pressed against the side of his neck.

He chuckled, keeping his eyes closed and freeing his arms from the embrace to squeeze the arm of his admirer gently.

He heard a deep sigh.

Nico chuckled again, feeling hair tickle the skin at his neck.

Soft lips followed suite.

Nico smiled broadly to himself.

His admirer must have seen, because he heard an indignant huff and another kiss to the side of his neck, followed by some more.

"Yes, yes, I get it. Shoo with you before I peek.", he laughed and pulled the pillow over his head.

He felt the body leaving his bed and heard the usual scribbling.

But this time it took a bit longer and he felt a hand touching his gently, taking it and placing a piece of paper on the inside.

Then the hand retreated and he heard his admirer hurrying out his cabin.

He lifted the pillow, looking at the paper in his hand.

'I love you'

Nico chuckled.

"Yeah, I love you too.", he muttered to himself, looking around to his bedside table.

On it was the note and a cellophane bag of candy. So, Tuesday's really were the candy days, huh?

With a jolt, he realized this was the last Tuesday before Christmas. Only two days left!

He sat up, checking the time while picking up the bag to inspect it.

It was 6:45 am. Oh great, he'd have to hurry up then. They wanted to leave for Camp Jupiter at 8:00 am and he had intended to take a shower and pack.

Yeah, somehow he hadn't gotten around doing that yet.

Blah.

He looked at the content of the cellophane bag.

Someone must have paid really close attention to what Nico had eaten the past times.

Because the bag contained all his favorites from the other packs.

He put the bag down on the bedside table again and picked up the card.

[Dear Nico,

I love you!

You must have been pretty tired, because you didn't even wake up at all tonight.

Hope you didn't mind that I stayed anyways.

I hope you liked the flower. Never forget its meaning, Nico.

Hope we'll get to Camp Jupiter safe.

See you later.

And Nico: I love you!

I love you,

Your secret admirer

P.s.: I want to kiss you. Badly.

P.P.S.: ONLY TWO DAYS LEFT!]

Nico chuckled and put the card to the others, collecting them all and putting them in the envelope he had gotten on the first day.

He'd definitely take these with him.

.

"Wait! I think I forgot something.", Nico called and they had to stop – again.

Percy turned around, laughing. "Seriously? You said that three times now. What is it this time? Your camera, your Christmas gifts-…"
"The gifts!", Nico yelped and hurried back inside. How could he have forgotten?!

The others looked stunned for a moment. Then they all laughed.

Nico looked sourly around at them and slammed the door shut in their faces, hushing about his room. He had clothes, his jar of fire, the flower (because he didn't want to leave it here alone with the Stoll kids around), his candy, his Mrs. O'Leary plushie, his Christmas blanket, his camera, the photo album, his laptop...was it just him or were most the things he owned things he had gotten from his admirer?

He decided not to ponder on that as he pulled out the gifts from their hiding place beneath his bed and put them in a bag carefully.

Then he put the bag into a bag and that one into a bag as well, each bag closed completely.

With the boys, one could never be too cautious.

When he came back out, the others eyed him bemused. "Got everything now?", Jason asked, grinning.

"Shush. I just want to make sure I got everything."

They only chuckled and left for Thalia's pine to leave the Camp. The smell of breakfast wafted over to Nico, whose stomach immediately rumbled.

The others looked around at him with their best 'Are you serious?'-faces. He pointedly looked somewhere else and marched on.

"Are you sure you don't want to at least pick something up? Who knows when we'll be able to stop for something to eat?", Percy asked, walking next to him and looking around at him worriedly.

Nico shrugged. "I'll be fine. We got to get on our way."

He noticed how Percy, Will and Jason exchanged meaningful glances. Nico ignored them and hurried up the hill, then down the other side towards where his zombie chauffeur was waiting for them.

When he got there, however, he noticed they were missing one person.

"Where's Will?", he asked frowning and looked around. Percy and Jason opened the trunk of the cab and put their stuff inside. "He's getting you something to eat, Neeks."

"What? I said I'm fine." His stomach rumbled otherwise. They chuckled and took his stuff, though he kept the bag with his Christmas blanket in a firm grip.

Percy raised an eyebrow at that, but didn't say anything. Which was good, because else Nico would have probably murdered him on the spot.

His blanket.

The two grabbed him and put him on the backseat in the middle, with Jason to his left and Percy to his right.

Great.

Sadly, he had already agreed to this on Sunday, so there was nothing he could do.

Nico yawned.

Jason chuckled. "I kept you awake way too long yesterday, didn't I?"

"Maybe a bit. But it was fun."

"What did you two do?", Percy asked, glancing Nico up and down quickly.

Nico was about to reply, but Jason got there before him. "We had passionate sex on the roof of my cabin."

Nico choked on whatever he was going to say, while Percy looked at them horrified for a moment, speechless and gaping.

"Just joking. We were stargazing.", Jason laughed and patted Nico's back while he still coughed.

Percy groaned and put his hand in front of his face. "Dude, don't shock me like that. Gods, for a second I really thought…"

He looked around at Nico for a moment and Nico blushed. "I wouldn't do something like that with a friend!", he huffed indignantly.

Jason still chuckled. Percy sighed. "I know you wouldn't. You didn't let me make out with you, so why would you let Jason do it?"

That shut Jason up and made Nico blush a dark shade of red.

"That…you…I…", he stammered and racked his brain for the right words.

Then he scowled and hid his face in his hands.

"Just shush, both of you. I'm not making out with anyone except-…"

"Me!", Will called as he hopped onto the front seat and slammed the door shut behind him.

"No.", Nico glared.

"No?", Will asked, looking back at him.

"No.", Nico confirmed.

"Aw. And if I give you food?", Will asked, holding out some folded napkins with food.

Nico's stomach rumbled.

"…Maybe..."

Jason and Percy looked around at him, stunned.

Nico took the food and noticed Will was looking rather surprised as well.

"…if you're my admirer, that is.", Nico finished the sentence and bit into his toast.

Will made a face and turned away again, crossing the arms in front of his chest.

"You'll see.", he only claimed and Nico smiled.

By now, Will was the one with the least arguments against being the admirer.

But he still didn't think it was him.

It simply didn't fit. Why would he go through so much trouble? And how would he know him so well?

He knew Will had noticed him before Nico had even really acknowledged his existence, but still, how would he know so much about him?

Two days left.

Only two days.

Two more long days.

Gods, how much he wished it was already the 25th.

He really wanted to know.

Though, at the same time, he was anxious to find out who it was.

He sighed deeply and found all three sets of eyes on him once more.

"You ok?", Jason asked.

He leaned back in his seat, staring at the road.

Hey, they were moving already. He hadn't even noticed.

Taking another bite off his second toast, he sighed again.

"No. I want to know who it is. It's infuriating."

"Who would you want it to be?", Jason asked quietly.

Nico made a face. "I am not going to say that."

"So you thought about it?", Percy asked, sitting up a bit.

"Of course I did. I dare you not to think about it when you get 23 gifts and love notes in a row."

Percy lifted his arms defensively, though he chuckled.

"So then, who do you think it is?", Will asked, curious.

"I won't tell.", Nico muttered, crossing his arms and huddling into his seat.

"Hey, but I didn't even ask who you'd WANT it to be, I asked who you THINK it'll be.", Will complained.

Nico sighed. "Why are we having this conversation, exactly?", he asked, though to none in particular and tried to look out the window, but Jason and Percy looked back at him from both sides.

Blah.

He wished he had a window seat.

.

Of course, they got held up in one traffic jam after another.

Nico had pulled his legs up on the seat and his blanket wrapped around him, his back against Percy's side, who seemed to not care, staring out his window with half-closed eyes.

Jason was looking outside as well, though rather curious, as if he enjoyed watching other people while not being able to be seen himself.

Will on the other hand kept talking, telling different stories from the infirmary and other kids at Camp, even though nobody was really listening anymore.

Nico pulled out his candy from his bag and opened the bag, offering it to each one of them.

"So you got candy today? Is that, like, a Tuesday thing?", Percy asked, frowning.

Nico shrugged and popped one in his mouth. "Seems like it. Two days more and you can ask him why."

He made a face. "What tells you it's not me?"

"You hate writing. You are straight. You are-…you are impossible!", Nico yelped as Percy scowled and grabbed the piece of candy Nico was about to eat, just to pop it in his own mouth.

"And you are unbelievably dense.", Percy said annoyed and looked out of the window sourly.

Nico stared at him in disbelief. What the hell was wrong with him? He looked almost as if he was mad at Nico now.

Nico looked around at Jason, who only looked from Percy to him and back, then shrugged.

"Percy, you ok?", the blonde asked tentatively after a while.

Percy sighed, but didn't look around. "Yeah…sorry, Nico. I'm just a bit tired, that's all."

Will looked around at him. "Yeah, I've noticed you look a bit pale today."

Nico glanced at him. He didn't look very different to him.

"Want my blanket?", he offered – which was a really special thing, because this was HIS blanket from HIS admirer, after all.

Percy looked around at him surprised for a moment. Then he looked away again. "Nah. I'm ok."

Nico rolled his eyes and pulled the blanket off himself, throwing it over Percy instead. "Sleep.", he ordered, crossing his arms and daring him to argue.

Percy sighed. "Nico, I…", he started, but then hesitated. Then he looked around at Nico once more.

For a moment, there was silence. "I would, but I can't sleep while sitting. Can I put my head on your lap?", he then asked, way too fast and enthusiastic to be authentic.

Nico raised an eyebrow.

Really?

But Percy started doing his baby-seal-face again, so Nico just rolled his eyes and repositioned himself. "Fine. Go right ahead."

Percy looked rather surprised, though he then moved and adjusted instantly, pulling his legs up slightly and putting his head on Nico's lap, the blanket wrapped around him.

"You're…surprisingly comfortable.", Percy muttered, turning his head slightly to look at him.

Nico gazed down at those sea-green eyes…and promptly pushed Percy's face back sideways. "Go to sleep."

"Yes, Master.", Percy chuckled and Nico raised an eyebrow.

"Don't tempt me."

The other two laughed and shook their heads, looking back out of their windows.

Nico noticed he could now finally gaze out of the window as well.

Sadly, he was now too occupied with feeling all those unimportant little details, like the way the heat seemed to radiate from Percy in waves, warming Nico's lap and sending shivers down his spine. Or the way it actually felt quite good having Percy on his lap.

Or the way his hair felt beneath his fingertips…wait what?

Nico pulled his hand back. Treacherous hand. What the hell was it doing in Percy's hair?

The dark-haired glanced up at him for a moment, blinking. Then he smiled slightly and closed his eyes again.

Nico felt his hand twitch. Really?

He tentatively put it back onto Percy's head, stroking through his hair gently.

Percy sighed with a smile on his face and looked rather content.

Nico rolled his eyes and kept his hand there, of course not enjoying it whatsoever.

Ok, maybe a tiny little bit.

.

When he awoke hours later, Nico wasn't very surprised to find himself half laying on Jasons lap with Percy laying between his legs, his head on Nico's chest.

Great.

He looked outside. It was beginning to get dark.

"How much longer?"

"We're almost there, Neeks.", Jason informed him, looking down at him fondly.

"Really?" He'd have liked to see for himself, but he didn't want to wake Percy.

Just the bit of shifting he had done now lead to Percy protectively wrapping his arms around Nico's midriff, putting one hand on Nico's butt unconsciously, much to his embarrassment.

But the others didn't notice and he didn't want to squirm, glad that Percy was able to rest.

"Yeah, I'd say give and take an hour or two. Jules-Albert took all the shortcuts he could and neglected all the speed limits whenever the situation allowed it. I'm still surprised though. Usually, the trip takes at least two days, doesn't it?", Will told him and Nico smiled.

His chauffeur sure was awesome.

He looked up at Jason. "Thanks for letting me sleep on your lap."

Jason grinned down at him. "You're welcome. You fell asleep shortly after Percy did and then kept falling against me so I moved you slightly. Percy and you then adjusted by yourselves like that." He nodded towards Percy lying between his legs and Nico blushed slightly.

"Yeah, you two were completely knocked out. Seriously, that you'd be tired I understand because you were up stargazing with Jason and all, but Percy?"

Nico shrugged. "Maybe he's having nightmares again and couldn't sleep.", he guessed.

"Or he was trying to spy on you two and stayed up the whole night to wait for you to return to your cabin, Neeks.", Will suggested smirking.

"Ha-ha. Why would he do that?", Nico asked sourly and stoke through Percy's hair absent-mindedly.

He also noticed how Jason was doing the same thing with him.

Nico shifted slightly, getting more comfortable.

No wonder Percy had fallen asleep so fast. Jason's hand in his hair felt really nice.

He closed his eyes, sighing and wondered if he shouldn't just go back to sleep.

.

He did.

When he woke up an hour later, they were roughly 30 minutes away from the entrance to Camp Jupiter.

Nico looked down sleepily to check on Percy, just to notice he was wide awake, his arms folded on Nico's chest, his head resting on them and his gaze fixed on Nico.

"Hey there, sunshine.", he greeted cheerily.

Nico blinked. Sunshine? Him?

He looked around at Will and Jason, but they were sound asleep in their seats.

Percy chuckled. "Yes, I mean you. Don't act so surprised.", he said, ruffling through Nico's hair, though not getting off him.

Nico made a face. "How am I sunshine? I'm the Ghost King. Know your place, servant.", he said and Percy laughed quietly.

Then he wrapped his arms around Nico's midriff again and pushed his face against Nico's chest.

"W-What are you doing…", Nico muttered, baffled.

Percy rubbed his face against his shirt. "You're so comfortable…I'll just stay like this forever."

Nico blushed slightly and felt his heartbeat quickening.

With Percy's face against his chest, that might not be the best idea.

"You…are impossible…", he muttered weakly.

It felt so good. Why did it feel so good?

He made a face and pushed himself up slightly.

"No~, Nico, why do you have to be so cruel…", Percy wailed playfully, pulling himself off Nico reluctantly.

"Oh gods, my back is going to kill me…", Nico moaned as he stretched. His back felt horrible.

Percy chuckled. "I can massage you when we get to Camp if you want."

"Uh, no. Thanks, but I'll be good."

Percy made a face. "Aw. I'd have liked that. You know, as a thanks for letting me sleep on your lap…so…it's kind of my fault if you have a bad back…"

He seemed to be pouting.

Nico sighed. Seriously?

Still, a massage did sound nice.

But it also sounded like there'd be a big chance for another really awkward moment.

Plus, all he wanted to do once he got to Camp was flop into bed and wait for his admirer.

Hopefully he'd come.

Percy stuck out his bottom lip. "I bet if Will offered a massage you'd say yes."

"Gods, Percy. Fine, you can massage me when we get to Camp.", Nico said, rolling his eyes.

This guy.

Will bolted upright. "Massage? I give better massages! Who is giving massages?", he exclaimed, turning around to look at them.

Percy grinned victoriously. "I'm giving Neeks a massage."

"No way."

"Yes way."

"Nico, how could you? I told you ages ago if you ever need a massage, you just have to come to me."

"I don't need a massage, Percy insists on giving me one because my back hurts.", Nico defended himself, blushing.

"Your back hurts? Not surprising, given your sleeping position. And how does that make you NOT need a massage? Percy, let me give him a massage. I can fix him right back up."

"Are you mad? This is the first and most likely only time I'll get to do him, I'm not gonna let that slide!", Percy exclaimed, grabbing Nico and pulling him against his chest protectively.

Nico blushed a dark shade of red. Did Percy have to phrase it like that?

Seriously?

Will scowled. "You just wait. Nico, the next massage you ever even think about will be from ME."

Nico was about to reply when Jason shifted. "You guys have the whole car ride time to argue, and you choose to do it when I'm asleep? That's hardly fair.", he muttered sulkily and looked around at them out of tired eyes.

They looked around at him guiltily.

Oops.

.

It was unsurprisingly quiet at Camp Jupiter. Reyna, Frank and Hazel came rushing towards them the moment they got through the entrance tunnel, helping them with their luggage and wrapping Nico in one big hug – which was kind of awkward since none of the other three received a hug (nor did Jules-Albert, for that matter).

But he enjoyed it nevertheless, holding onto Reyna and Hazel tightly and patting Frank on the shoulder, rather surprised at his open display of affection towards him.

He instantly got taken in their midst and watched as Reyna eyed the guys warily, her eyes stopping on Will, who smiled meekly and raised a hand in greeting.

She only narrowed her eyes, glaring at the lot.

Then she whipped her head around, put her arm around Nico and off they were towards where they'd be sleeping.

Reyna had arranged for rooms for them in New Rome, which was quite something to pull off, especially since it was Christmas time. They gave their weapons up at the entrance and Will eyed the city in wonder.

"Whoa…now I know why you wanted to go here, Percy. This is awesome.", he muttered, looking around at the decorated houses. People had decorated them in normal Christmas decorations, as if this was a normal mortal city.

It was really beautiful.

The streets were still quite active given the time, but nothing compared to the past times Nico had been here.

They reached a house at the far end of the main road and Reyna showed them inside, getting them to their respective rooms.

Nico was worried they'd be on different floors or something, but instead they had four rooms right next to each other. Instantly, there was a heavy discussion going on between Jason, Percy and Will about who'd get to be in the room next to Nico.

Reyna ended it.

The first room would go to Jason, the second to Nico, the third to Percy and the fourth to Will, because she trusted him least, much to his dismay.

His argument about having to sit in the front seat during the drive because the other two 'didn't want to let him get at Nico' didn't help persuade her whatsoever, either.

.

So now, here he was, lying in his bed on top of his Christmas blanket, shirtless, only clad in his pyjama pants and was getting a massage from Percy, while Will and Jason sat on chairs at the window and watched them with crossed arms.

"Why can't you guys leave us alone?", Percy asked for what felt like the 100th time already and still pouted about it.

Nico only rolled his eyes and put his head on his arms, looking towards the two guys and tried to just enjoy the massage by itself.

But seriously, how was he supposed to relax with Percy sitting on top of him like that?

"No way. Who knows what you're going to do once we're gone.", Will said sulkily. He was still upset about the whole massage thing.

Jason merely watched them through half-closed eyes. He seemed to be half asleep already.

"Hm, let me think…maybe…massage him?", Percy suggested sarcastically.

Nico rolled his eyes. How long was this going to continue?

He looked over at Jason once more.

Now he was dozing off.

Nico sighed.

"Will, could you get Jason to bed please? It's not like Percy is going to do anything. I promise you can massage me the next time, ok?"

Will made a face, but then sighed defeated and got up. "The things I do for you, Neeks. Fine, I'll leave you two alone then. But remember, I'm in the room right next to you, Percy. I'll be waiting to hear your door."

Percy chuckled and Nico groaned.

Will helped a sleepy Jason up and the two left the room, with Nico listening to the sound of their distancing footsteps and the doors opening and closing.

Percy sighed. "You really have the most protective friends, Nico.", he muttered, continuing to massage down Nico's spine.

Nico turned his head, looking up at him. "You're no one to talk, you know." Percy only grinned down at him, then massaged a spot right beneath Nico's shoulder blades.

Nico groaned and turned his head away again.

That had felt so nice.

"Am I hurting you?", Percy asked, halting for a second.

"No.", Nico muttered, closing his eyes as he continued slowly.

"Oh? So it feels good?"

"…Yes.", Nico admitted quietly. Percy chuckled and worked his way up and down his back.

"Are you falling asleep?", Percy asked after a while as Nico just began dozing off.

"No, I'm completely awake.", he muttered, though his voice sounded quite drowsy.

Percy snickered. "How's your back feeling now?", he asked as he slowly pulled his hands away from Nico's skin.

Nico wished he could just continue doing this all night long. It had felt so nice.

"A lot better. Thanks, Percy."

"No problem. Anything else you want me to massage while I'm at it?"

Nico stiffened.

Percy laughed. "I meant places like your head, you dirty-minded person!", he said and Nico felt like he was going to die right there.

So embarrassing.

As Percy got off him, he sat up as well, looking around at Percy flustered.

"I have no clue what you're talking about."

But Percy only winked at him. "Of course you don't. So, do you want me to?"

Nico closed his eyes, his face flushing again.

That guy.

"Yes, please do me.", Nico then said absolutely serious and raised his eyebrows, grinning as Percy's face flushed.

Percy shrugged sheepishly and came closer, sitting down in front of him on the bed again and put his hands on Nico's head.

They just stared at each other while Percy began to gently massage his scalp, making Nico shiver every now and then.

Then Nico moaned softly and let his head drop forward, hiding his face while allowing Percy's hands to move better.

Percy chuckled quietly and came a bit closer, continuing the same movement that felt so great.

"You're…actually pretty good…", Nico muttered to get rid of the silence in the room.

"Thanks. See? Not only sons of Apollo are good at massaging."

"I never said that.", Nico instantly replied, looking up at Percy sternly.

Percy grinned at him. "I know you didn't. I just wanted to point it out."

Nico made a face, then he felt Percy's hands slowly retreating. He found himself following them ever so slightly, mourning the loss.

Percy noticed, of course, raising an eyebrow at Nico. "Want me to continue? I have all night."

Nico pulled back. "No, I'm ok. If you stay too long, you'll have to endure Will's wrath. Thanks, though. That felt really good.", he said and Percy chuckled again.

He did that a lot lately, it seemed.

"I'm glad you enjoyed it. And don't you worry about Will. He's probably already asleep anyways. I bet you just want to get to bed, hoping your admirer is going to come over."

Nico looked away.

"I don't think he will, though. And if, then he won't stay long."

Percy blinked. "Why do you think that?"

"The doors."

Percy looked thoughtful for a moment. Then he shrugged. "Can't really say anything to that. But I'm sure he'll stay for a while if it's important to you. How long does he usually stay?"

Nico hesitated. "A…few hours…"

Percy raised an eyebrow. "Really? What do you guys do?"

"Well…we…talk…and…touch…"

Percy raised both eyebrows now, looking at him rather surprised.

"You guys are chatting and making out every night and you still don't know who it is?"

Nico blushed and pursed his lips. "I am usually half asleep and when I wake up in the morning I give him a sign so he can leave."

"That's…unexpected. And you're ok with that?"

"I love waking up with him. So I guess it's only fair to let him go. It seems important to him to finish this, after all. And it's only two more days…make that one.", he said as he looked at the time.

Percy looked at him oddly. "You love it?"
"Yeah, I do. I really do.", Nico instantly replied, then halted, blushing.

Percy smiled at him fondly. "Then I'm sure he'll stay the night. No matter the odds. As you said, it's only one day left. I don't think he cares whether anyone else knows he's the one as long as you don't find out before he has the chance to tell you himself.", he then said reassuringly and got up.

Nico watched him walk to the door and look around once more.

"Good night, Neeks."

"Night, Percy."

He smiled at him fondly, then closed the door quietly behind him.

Nico listened to the footsteps slowly walking away from his door and heard the door next to his room open and close.

He sighed deeply, falling back into his pillow.

Hopefully, Percy was right.

He'd really like to have his admirer next to him in bed again.

But at the same time he was thinking that it was a way too big risk to take. He could hear the footsteps and the doors opening and closing as if it had happened right next to him (well, as a matter of fact, it kind of did).

It would be way too easy for him to be able to tell what room his admirer belonged to – and thus he'd know who it was.

He sighed and got beneath his blankets, wrapping his Christmas blanket tightly around him.

As long as his admirer would come at all, it'd be ok.