A/N: So far I am very happy with this story *knocks on wood* So I am going to do my best to continue it. Though I would love some feedback on my OC idea, because the character was conceived as a group effort of some of my coworkers one boring night at work, and I am very proud of our result. Well, all that matters is that you enjoy :)

Nico couldn't believe how quickly word could spread at camp. He knew it wasn't just his imagination; not one person walked by him without staring at him. He was so used to the crowds bending around him to avoid him, but all the eyes leering at him made him uncomfortable.

He was walking toward the arena, hoping to find someone to spar with. He was hoping to find Jason so he could knock him out or give him another scar.

Okay, maybe that was a little too far, but Nico could still feel the anger he felt towards the blond coursing through him.

As he entered the arena, he saw that it was empty and sighed. Maybe he could just hack up a few straw dummies.

Nico went to the closest dummy and was about to start hacking away.

"Nico!"

Nico groaned. Damen was right, his life was sucky.

"What can I do for you, Travis?" Nico said in a sarcastically polite voice before slicing the dummy's head off in one slash of his sword.

He turned to face the man so he could speak.

Travis looked slightly uncomfortable, but cleared his throat and stepped toward Nico.

"So, Annabeth told me I should come talk to you. She told me about what happened and said I should try to help." Travis said.

"Yeah, I gathered all that already." Nico spun and sliced the left arm off of the dummy.

"I know you don't want to talk about this to a complete stranger, so I'm not going to make you talk. I'll tell you my story. Because sometimes it helps knowing that someone has gone through what you're going through."

Nico sighed and lowered his sword.

"How could your story possibly make me feel better?" Nico said, attempting to conceal the anger bubbling inside him.

"Just sit down and listen. Besides, what do you have to lose?"

Nico couldn't argue with that logic, so he sighed and returned his sword to its dark sheath.

"Fine, but make it fast." Nico sighed as he sat as far away from the son of the god of thieves as possible without being rude. Not that I care if I'm rude or not.

"Okay. So I guess I should start by saying: I didn't know I was gay until I got to camp and met... someone. He was totally straight, but I idolized him. I thought I was in love."

Travis looked down at his hands, wringing them together. Nico started to feel even more uncomfortable.

"I couldn't even tell Connor, because I was terrified he would think it was disgusting. Or worse, that I was disgusting. So I pined away in silence. When I found out Luke betrayed us-"

"Luke! You were in love with Luke?" Nico cringed at how incredulous he sounded. But was it really any worse than his own love?

"No. I wasn't in love, but I thought I was. I didn't know what love was. After I found out... Connor started to notice how different I acted. He knew it was more than the shock of his betrayal. He asked me if I was gay and I couldn't lie to him. But he was just happy I finally told him. I mean he still teases me, but that just means I tease him for being straight."

Travis chuckled, making the corner of Nico's lips twitch.

"No one here is going to judge you for being gay. And certainly no one will judge you on your taste in men. Actually, I'm pretty sure half the straight guys here would totally f-"

"Travis!" Nico shouted, shocked.

"What? Its true. He's an attractive guy."

"Yeah, he's the freakin most powerful demigod to ever exist! He killed titans and giants and not even-"

Nico stopped abruptly when he heard the sound of a sword clattering to the ground.

"Hello?" Travis called.

No one answered, so Nico grabbed his sword again and snuck to the edge of the bleachers.

His heart dropped into his stomach when he peeked around the corner and saw the retreating form of Percy Jackson.

"Oh shit," Travis muttered behind him.