DO NOT LOOK DOWN UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THIS WARNING. NICO HAS QUITE A MOUTH IN THIS CHAPTER.

WARNING: Lots of F bombs because poor Nico is stressing out. There now no one can get mad at me for the very first line :)

"Fuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuckfuck." Nico repeated this new mantra over and over.

"Dude, language. There are kids around. It'll be okay. He probably didn't hear anything." Travis attempted to console the younger boy.

"You're kidding, right? Oh gods, what the hell do I do?" Nico was starting panic.

"You should probably talk to him."

"No." Nico said flatly.

"Look, you have until after dinner to think of what you will say. You won't see him until it's time for capture the flag."

Nico looked at his feet.

"Yeah, you're right. I can do this. It's been long enough, he should know."

Travis nodded, and they left the arena.

Nico paced in his cabin, shaking from head to toe. He had skipped dinner, not having an appetite anyway.

"So, Percy, I don't know how much you heard, but...

"Well, I know you heard me talking to Travis and yes...

"Percy I'm in love with you..."

Nico spun and punched the dark wall of his cabin.

"Fuck!"

He cradled his hand, cursing again. Why is this so difficult? I thought this only happened to people in movies.

He glanced at his clock. It was time to go.

Nico checked to make sure he had his sword, and left his cabin.

He followed the streams of campers on their way to the forest. He tried to remember which cabins had the flags, but he didn't pay enough attention. When he played he usually just covered Percy and Annabeth's backs.

The closer he came to the group of demigods adjusting their armor, the more he was regretting his decision.

Nico looked around and saw Annabeth helping one of her sisters tighten a strap on her armor.

"Hey, have you seen Percy?" He asked her, trying to hide his nervousness.

Annabeth looked up at him, surprised. She nodded and pointed over to where Chiron stood at the edge of the forest talking to Percy.
Nico thanked her and started walking towards the two.

"Nico."

He sighed and turned back to the blond.

"What are you doing?" She asked lightly.

"Probably just fucking my life." Nico responded and headed towards certain doom.

As Nico approached, the two seemed to be done talking and Percy walked toward him.

"Nico!" Percy greeted the raven-haired boy. "You ready?"

"Not quite yet. I wanted to talk to you real quick. I know you heard Travis and me talking."

Percy looked down and scratched the back of his head nervously.

"Yeah, sorry about that."

"It's fine. But I thought I should tell you-"

"Yeah it is fine, Nico. I said I wouldn't judge you and I don't. You like Jason, and I certainly won't make fun of you or anything."

"Wait, what?"

"Nico, you know I heard you."

"Yeah, but I don't like Jason. Ew."

"But... then, who do you like?"

Nico gave him a dark look.

"Sorry, you don't have to answer that." Percy repented.

Nico realized they had almost walked back to the rest of the group. Suddenly, he didn't want to be anywhere near them. He wanted to run away.

"It's you," he muttered.

Then he ran.

A/N: So that's our stopping point for tonight, but tell me what you think. Hopefully, more soon, but I won't make any promises of regularity. I know better than to do that.