Chapter 3.

When Nico felt Percy come closer, he swallowed again. Even though this was his dream, that Percy would come up close to him, feeling his breath on his face and the warmth from his skin, Nico hadn't imagined it to be this spectacular. He could feel his legs shaking, but he hoped Percy couldn't see it. But Percy wasn't looking at Nico's legs, he was looking straight into his eyes and Nico thought he would drown in the blue green eyes once more. He tried to catch his own breath when Percy opened his mouth.

"Chiron needs us at the big house." He said, and then he laughed. "Hey what's wrong anyway Nico, you look like you've seen a ghost or something."

Nico felt like he fell a thousand feet, but when he looked at the ground he was still standing, even though his legs were shaking. That's it? The moment they're close, he leans in and he tells him a message? A message from Chiron? Nico couldn't believe this, his body was shaking now, but because of other reasons than before.

"So hurry up you." Percy said, and got ready to walk by him. "You know he won't be happy if we make him wait."

Percy walked away and Nico twirled around. He felt anger built up inside him and before he could stop himself he shouted, at Percy's back.

"So that's it then?"

Percy turned around and gave Nico a puzzled look.

"Well that's what he told me. Why are you shouting?"

"You're such a fucking jerk sometimes, you know that right Percy?" Nico spat at him and felt his face getting red and flustered from the anger. Percy looked even more confused and took a step back to Nico again.

"I don't even know what you're talking about." He said, his voice speeding up as well, because he didn't like being called a jerk without a reason. Nico's breathing got heavy, as he watched the son of the sea god.

"You know damn well what I'm talking about." Nico said, trying not to yell. "Unless you're completely stupid."

"Then I am stupid." Percy said and got closer to Nico again. He looked furious now, and Nico thought that it would be intimidating but it wasn't, it just made him want the guy more. Oh fuck.

"Yeah" Nico said, clutching his fists. His whole body was shaking now. "You're just a fucking tease aren't you? Trying to get me all tangled up in you. Not gonna happen. You're not fucking playing me anymore."

"Playing you?" Percy said and his body was shaking now, too. "I am not playing anyone. What are you on, Nico?"

Nico didn't know what to say. Really, it didn't really feel like it was him anymore that did the talking. Like something had taken over his body, or at least his voice. A part of him wanted to stop and run the other way, because he could feel that Percy was much likely to strike him down now. But he couldn't instead he just felt anger flooding out of his mouth like an uncontrolled river. He tried to breathe again, calmly this time but it wouldn't work. Instead he just looked at Percy and tried not to get all jelly legged again. He opened his mouth to reply but now, no words came out. Percy watched him silently but he looked very focused, as if he waited for him to make a move, give him another reason to strike him down. Nico waited. Damn, Percy looked hot. How much easier it would be to just walk away, if Percy was a short guy with a big nose and a wart on it. Or something like it. But no. of course he had to look like he'd just stepped out of a magazine, all perfect. Now he looked at Nico like he was unsure of what to do, and then his face cracked up in a smile.

"Fucking unbelievable." He said and laughed as he shook his head. "Seriously Nico."

Nico felt like the most stupid person to walk the planet, ever. For a moment he thought of commanding the earth to open up and swallow him whole, but he didn't. instead he scratched his neck and tried to laugh it all away.

"Eh oh you know… I just… eh."

Percy came over and moved his arm, for a moment Nico thought he was going to hit him even though he was laughing now, but Percy didn't punch him. He just nudged his arm and Nico felt like electricity went through his body like a lightning bolt had struck him, but it wasn't the work of Zeus, it was the work of Percy's soft fingers touching his bare skin. Nico looked up into his eyes, feeling more shy than ever.

"I know." Percy said, and just as Nico was about to ask what it was that Percy knew, he leaned in closer to his ear.

"I know what you want." He whispered and Nico really hoped it wasn't true. He tried to ignore the warmth from Percy's breath. To stay calm.

"What is it that I want?" he asked, trying to avoid shaking. Probably failed, though.

"Oh, you know." Percy blinked and backed away from him. "But it's not like we can discuss it here. Do you want to meet me later?"

"Meet you… later?" Nico didn't really believe what it was he was hearing. Percy just nodded and then turned away. As he ran down the hill he turned his head and shouted back to the confused Nico di Angelo.

"Buy me a coffee and then we'll see."

And Nico watched him disappear into the big house. He sat down in the grass and wondered where in hell you could get a coffee at this hour.