Disclaimer: My name is not Rick Riordan. Therefore I do not own any of these characters pr places (though I wish I did).

Enjoy! Please review. :D

Don't worry if you get hysterical at any point in this fanfic. I got hysterical and I am the author. So it's normal.

Nico's P.O.V.

It would be Percy. I know he would try to stop me. I know I should leave anyways, but I can't. I stay because he calls out my name, sounding so sad to see that I am leaving.

"Nico! Wait up! Why are you leaving we just for everything fixed up? At least tell me why you are going?" Percy calls out to me. But I know, no matter how much I want to, I will never be able to tell him the truth about why I am leaving. I don't have the courage for that, never have, never will. So once again, I am going to lie to him and push him away. Not wanting him to know the truth of me being a freak. Of being gay.

But no, it's worse than that, not only am I gay. I love him. I love Percy Jackson. I have loved him since the beginning. Ever since he protected me from the manticore. I even loved him when I blamed him for Bianca's death. But I know he will never love me back, all because of that bitch. Fucking Annabeth Chase, she gets to hug, hold, and kiss him whenever she wants. But not me, I just have to watch him from a distance. Wanting the best to happen, but I know that it is impossible.

I feel a hand on my shoulder and I turn around quickly. I blow out a sigh of relief and annoyance because it's just Percy. "Whoa!" Percy exclaims. "I didn't meant to scare you!" I roll my eye. "I am a demigod, dumbass. You know we are always getting hunted down and shit. Of course I am suspicious of a random hand on my shoulder." Percy laughs and I want to smile, but I know that smiling is not a part of my usual personality. So instead I flip my hair out of my eyes, and then look at Percy while trying to look bored as hell. But honestly, I was extremely happy to be able to talk to Percy by himself. Especially since that slut wasn't glued to his hip.

"Anyways, what's wrong? Why are you leaving?" Percy asks me, his face clearly showing the amount of concern he has for me, it felt as good as it did bad. It was nice that he was concerned about me and my safety. But at the same time it hurt because it was probably the kind of concern you get for your little brother or friend.

A warm breeze paces by, which shouldn't be possible near the end of October. But when you are a demigod, you get used to crazy shit. So, I don't think much of it, until I remember who is a friend of spring breezes. Cupid.

I don't want to be right, but I know I am when I see him as I turn my head to the left. There he is. Cupid. In all his glory, the fucking douche bag himself. With his bright red eyes, handsome face, and goddamned wings. Fuck, I think, perfect timing asshole. Here to tell him my secret? Best fucking news I have heard in a long time. Just fuck off and don't tell him anything. I think violently at him. But sadly, I don't have the force meaning no magic Jedi mind trick for me.

When Percy realizes that I am not looking away from him but at someone he turns around to face Cupid. With my perfect fucking luck Cupid decides to open his fucking big ass mouth. "Do you really want to know what's wrong?" He mocks, "why he's really leaving? Do you really want to know Percy?" Cupid smirks the moment he stops talking and I find it both attractive and scary.

Percy gets a wild and protective look in his eyes and lunges at Cupid. He grabs riptide out of his pocket and uncaps it. The sword grows to its full length as Percy grabs Cupid's shirt. Percy pushes Cupid onto the nearest surface. Which just so happens to be Thalia's tree. Lastly, he put riptide's edge less than an inch away from Cupids throat who only looks amused.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Percy snarls his lip curling as he speaks. His tone clearly saying that he is prepared to hurt Cupid in the worst possible way. I almost feel sorry for Cupid. Almost.

"I am Cupid and what I want to do is tell you about your friend, Nico." He says smirking again. It's like he just doesn't give a shit that there is a sword ready to slice his throat. "why do you want to mess with Nico?" Percy snarls his voice heavily laced with both anger and defensiveness.

Cupid glances at me and then back at Percy. His smirk widens and I realize what he's about to do. He's about to tell Percy that I love him. I panic and want to shout, 'don't trust that lying bastard! Don't believe a damn word that comes out of his mouth!" But I know that won't work, if anything it will make Percy believe Cupid. So, I try to shadow travel away. I feel a light tug in my gut and fell the cold shadows come closer to me.

But a split second before I escape, Cupid laughs and it feels like my powers are ripped away from me. I feel weak and vulnerable. I can't defend myself and I can't run, I can't hide. I can't escape. Cupid is forcing me to face the truth, and I hate it because I am not ready. I will probably never be ready.

Before I can yell, Cupid tells me in a completely honest but cruel tone, "don't worry. Your secret is safe with me." He laughs cruelly before he continues to talk in his cruel tone. ""I won't tell him Nico. That's your job if you ever get the guts to tell him." He laughs again. "I am just here to have a little fun right now. I want to mix things up."

"Why can't I leave then?" I ask tired of his fucking petty games. "Because you are a part of my games. A vital piece to my plan. The only catch is that as I say these next few words you have to keep your mouth shut."

I start to say, "over my dead body," but I realize that no sound is coming out. I am breathing just fine. I just can't speak and it is pissing me the fuck off.

Percy looks back at me and realizes what just happened. He turns back to Cupid and, furious that he has done something to me. "What the fuck did you just do to Nico?"

Cupid laughs. "Nothing serious it will wear off as soon as I am done talking to you. Because after all Perseus, I came all this way to mess with you. Or more truthfully, make you realize what's going on in that mess of a head you've got there." He laughs and then continues. "Because if you think that you've got a good hold on love," he pauses. "You're wrong."

As soon as he says the word wrong, everything disappears into a warm summer breeze. I blink and when I open my eyes Percy is right in front of me. The fucking bastard switched places with me, I think. Sure enough, when I look around Percy, Cupid is standing exactly I where I had been only moments before.

For some reason, Percy is frozen in place and looks both guilty and ashamed of something. I am not sure what he is upset about until I feel something warm run down the side of my neck. I almost laugh because it's such a small nick that I didn't even realize I had it until now. But what stops me from laughing is the look of guilt in his eye. Easy to see in Percy's beautiful sea green eyes. "N-Nico," he stutters. "I didn't mean to hurt you. It was an accident, I swear. I- I thought, I- I mean I didn't know he was trading you places."

The sincerity in his voice shocks me. So, I answer back with just as much sincerity and honesty, when I realize that I can speak. "Percy, it's okay. I know you would never hurt me intentionally." Just like that my ability to speak is gone and he just continues to look at me with concern.

We just stand there taking in the moment. Breathing in the cold October air. Percy moves riptide away from my neck. But his hand stays where it is, holding onto the front of my shirt tightly. The part of my shirt that is right above my heart. His face is only inches away from mine. Close enough for me to feel his warm breath caress my skin. His green eyes shining and his cheeks are light shade of pink from the cold breezes. All I want to do is kiss him and pull him close to me. Then suddenly Percy starts to slowly lean towards me. I don't know what is about to happen and quite frankly I couldn't care less because he is so close to me. So close to brushing his lips against mine. I close my eyes and wait to feel his lips on mine.

At this moment Cupid decides to be a dick head and coughs and makes us both jump, and reminding us that we have a stuck up god in our presence. Percy let's go of my shirt and faces Cupid. "Sorry to interrupt such a romantic moment." Cupid says sarcastically. "But… I've got places to go, errands to run." His wings flap once in an impatient manner before he continues. "So, I'll just get to the point."

He looks at Percy with a wide smirk on his face. "To be honest," cupid continues." This is all about you Perseus. All about you and how you really feel. About the people you love. Not the love you give to your friends and family. No, the ones you love with all your heart. The ones, or really one, you fantasize about Perseus." I feel my face start to grow hot hearing that Percy fantasizes about someone.

"I don't know what you are talking about!" Percy snarls, looking both extremely furious and embarrassed.. Cupid just laughs. "You can't lie to me Perseus. Your friend Nico tried to. That didn't work out; he still ended up telling me the truth. With a little help of course."

Percy lunges at Cupid, but it was useless. Cupid just disappears and reappears just a few feet away from where he is before. "You just can't seem to get a hold on love again, can you?" Cupid mocks. "Every night you are left wondering where Annabeth is. Because she completely avoids you unless it's necessary for public appearance."

Percy looks like he has given up now. All because the truth is right in front of him, he can't hide and avoid it anymore. I feel so uncomfortable listening to this conversation. Hearing all about Percy's issues with her.

But I still can't say or do anything thanks to Cupid. I have to watch him suffer, and it hurts so badly. All I want to do is help him, and I can't because I am frozen right where I am.

Cupid decides that he hasn't hurt Percy enough and continues to pick at him, causing more emotional wounds. "You don't even fantasize about women anymore. They don't interest you, in any way anymore." He laughs when he glances at me and sees how ted my face has become. "In fact, the man. Or more accurately, boy you fantasize about is in your circle of friends."

Percy look devastated as if the worst possible thing about him has been told to the entire world. I am still completely red, but hearing that he has started to become interested in guys… Well, it gives me some hope that somebody he likes might like me. Until I remember that whoever he likes is in his circle of friends. Which as far as I know, I am not a part of.

"So, for all you know," Cupid says as he walks towards Thalia's tree where I am still stuck. Percy turns around toward me and Cupid as he leans on the tree next to me and finally continues to speak. "Your next true love," he pauses. "Could be standing right in front of you."

Percy blushes and looks at the ground like he is studying his shoes. It takes me a moment, but I realize why. I am the one standing directly in front of him. Now, I start to blush too. I look at the ground to hide my face and pretend that what he just said doesn't bug me.

But it does bug me, because I don't know if Cupid id being serious or just taunting me. I mean he doesn't like me like that, does he? If he does that's fantastic, but not going to do anything even if he does like me. All because he is a loyal, caring person and he just wouldn't hurt Annabeth like that. I mean that's the reason I fell in love with him in the first place, because he is such a funny and loving person.

I see a flash of movement behind Percy, who is still staring down at his feet. I look up and around him and I see Cupid. Cupid is a good yard or two away from Percy. He has his bow string pulled back and an arrow aimed right at Percy.

I remember how much pain the arrow had caused me. Even though it wasn't physical pain but emotional, it still hurt twice as bad as any physical injury I have ever had. That arrow just takes your worst memories of love, and makes you relive them.

I later heard from Jason that he had seen my memories and had felt my feelings. To be honest, I hate that he did but because of that I gained a new ally. But Percy is already my ally, and I don't want him to go through that. Even though I don't want to go through that again, I want to protect Percy from that more. If it means that Percy finds out that I love him, so be it. I am not going to let him go through any more fucking pain right now. Especially any pain that would be caused by that asshole, who just so happens to be the god of love.

So without thinking much I grab Percy's shoulders and switch him places by pushing him against Thalia's tree. I hold his shoulders down. So that when he struggles against me, I won't have such a hard time fighting to keep him against the tree. It takes Percy longer than I thought it would take him though. Because at first he just stares at me in shock, and then he notices Cupid's arrow pointing straight at me.

That's when Percy starts to struggle and trade places with me as he shouts and panics. "No Nico! Don't do this! I can take the arrow myself!" Suddenly he stops fighting me, but continues shouting telling me not to do this.

Cupid laughs, as if everything is going according to plan. Truthfully, I didn't care that he was getting what he wanted. I just wanted to do one last thing for Percy before I had to leave. This time for good because then he would know that I loved him, and things would never be the same.

Cupid, instead of making things easy and just shooting me, had to talk. "Percy stop moving, if he wants to take the arrow for you, let him." He laughs. "It might be a lot worse than last time Nico. But, then again, I don't know. I have never shot someone with my arrow twice. You sure you want to take the arrow for Percy?"

When I don't move or answer, Cupid takes it as me agreeing or saying yes despite Percy's protests and lets the bow string snap. I prepare for the worst and put my forehead on Percy's shoulder near his neck. But then I feel like my powers return to me, I think of Cabin Thirteen as I pull the shadows towards us as I grip Percy's shoulders tighter so that the shadow traveling wouldn't be as bad on Percy. I hear Percy scream, and probably at the last possible second I zapped us away into the shadows.

As we travel trough the shadows, I feel Percy start to slip from my grip. I panic and pull Percy closer and move my face into the crook of his neck, leaving absolutely no space between us. Percy gasps as this happens, I don't know whether that is a result of me pulling him closer, my face being in the crook of his neck , or him realizing how close to being lost in the shadows he was.

When I can see again, I realize pulling Percy closer to me in the shadows, placing my face in the crook of his neck, and shadow traveling to my cabin might have not been the best idea. The reasons I say this is I am in my cabin with Percy. Alone. My hands on his shoulders and my face or more accurately my lips barely millimeters away from the exposed skin right next to his shirt collar, and there is no space in between us. All I want to do is kiss him or his neck. It also doesn't help that his breathing is ragged probably from the shadow traveling, but I just can't help thinking what if he is breathing so hard because I am so close to his neck. I want to kiss his neck so bad just to see his reaction, good or bad.

But I don't, instead I just bring my head back and look up into his eyes as his breathing starts to return to normal. He looks back at me and does something I don't expect he places his left hand on my waist and I struggle not to gasp, or worse moan because of the feeling it gives me. Then he puts his right hand behind my neck.

This time I couldn't help making a sound, and it was bad almost a dead give away to how I felt. Not only did I gasp loudly, but I also softly moaned and at the same time my body acted on its own accord. My nails dug in to his shoulder for a few seconds and Percy softly moaned into my ear, which in turn made me move my face back near his neck, breathing hard.

I feel Percy smile as he whispers into my ear between hard breaths that do not help my breathing. "Thanks… for trying to save me… back there…. Usually I am… the one saving…. People…. But next time you try…. to do… something nice for me... Don't … put yourself….. in danger for me." He chuckles and his breathing calms as he says the next couple of sentences. "I actually thought that you were going to let yourself get hit by that arrow. I should have known you would have shadowed traveled us away at the last second."

I just bury my face into the crook of his because I actually didn't have that plan. But, I don't want him to think that I would have gladly taken that arrow for him any day of the week. I really hurts that he thinks that I was just messing with him. Without realizing it, I had started crying, soaking the collar of his shirt. Percy strokes my hair as he asks the question he should have asked before he said that I was messing with him. "You really did plan to take that arrow for me didn't you?"

When I nod into his neck, Percy sounds shocked and stops stroking my hair. "Wh-why didn't you plan to shadow travel?" I answered him reluctantly. "I literally could not have shadow traveled before that moment. I think that Cupid somehow took my powers away from me." Percy starts to stroke my hair again, and for some reason I find it very calming.

"You were really prepared to take Cupid's arrow for me. Knowing very well what it does and that it could have been ten times worse than last time." He makes me face him by pushing my waist a little and guiding my face with his hand under my chin. Then he carefully wipes the tears off of my face.

We stand there in silence until I say honestly and with all my heart, "yes. Yes, I was prepared to take that arrow for you. And I would do it again in a heartbeat if I needed to. Percy smiles slightly at that.

Without any warning he starts to lean towards me. My heart and thoughts race. I think, is this really happening. The moment I have been waiting years for is finally here. I close my eyes and lean in towards him. I can feel his breath on my face and we are inches, no, centimeters away from kissing.

Then something ruins it, there is a knock on the door and my eyes snap open. He is literally only half an inch away from kissing me. Even though someone knocked, we stay right where we are. I don't know what he's thinking, but all I want to do is close the small space between us and kiss him.

Then we hear the sound of my door opening, and just like that, the best thing that could have ever happened to me is ruined. Because we both jump away from each other just as Jason walks into my cabin.

"Hey you guys alright? We saw some sort of fight on Half-Blood Hill. Was that you?" Jason asks with concern. The first thing out of my mouth is a lie. "No." Jason then gets a confused look on his face because Percy said no too. But he said it with a kind of panic. Jason apparently decides to let it slide because he says, "okay. Well I'll go and tell everyone that nothing major happened."

Percy responds to him nervously, "yeah. I should probably help you with that. See you later Nico. Hope you decide to stay at camp." The last sentence is still laced in nervousness, but it also sounds completely honest. With that last sentence ringing in my head, Percy walks out the door. Once Percy is gone, he gives me a quick "sorry" look and then follows Percy out the door, making sure that he shuts it behind himself.

I sit down and cover my face with my hands, because if Jason gave me a "sorry" look, it means he pieced everything he just saw together. It also means that Jason is going to subtly, not so subtly tell Percy that if he hurts me that something bad is going to happen in some way shape or form.

But I think back to how close I was, how close I came to kissing the guy of my dreams. Then Jason had to walk right in like he owned the place. For the second time that day, I think, fuck, perfect timing asshole. My dream almost came true. But, with my luck, that's the closest I will ever get to my dream.