Disclaimer: I don't own these books.
A/N: Here's another drabble for you all! I love this one, I think it's pretty good but it's rather long. Enjoy!
Maybe it was hormones, or maybe it was pure, innocent love, but Nico di Angelo couldn't get one person out of his mind.
It was everything about him. The way he walked with a slight swagger, playing up the subtle confidence he displayed. The way the corners of his mouth lurched up into a dazzling, lopsided grin almost all the time. How his long fingers never seemed to be still, always giving purpose to useless pieces of scrap. The raspy laugh that rang out whenever he said something witty. His thin, tan body with the hint of definition of his muscles. The way his messy brown hair never seemed to untangle itself. His carefree personality, like a leaf floating aimlessly in the wind.
He had acknowledged his feelings for the older teen only a few days ago, and since then his mind couldn't stop obsessing over every detail, every flaw that made Nico's heart thump faster whenever he was around. He was head over heels in love with Leo Valdez, and there was no use denying it.
But there were complications. The 14 year old was ashamed to show emotion in front of anyone, most of the time. He rarely smiled, only when he was with Leo or when someone screwed up miserably and looked stupid in the process. Plus, the two were best friends, and Nico couldn't help but act extremely awkward whenever he would sit next to him during meals on the Argo II, or when the two would have Dance Dance Revolution competitions late at night when neither of them could sleep. That's when the demons came out, anyways.
He knew that the Latino was broken on the inside like he himself was. He knew that he worked through the late hours of the night and the earliest hours of the morning because he was terrified of sleeping. He sometimes heard the sobs that came from the watchtower when he went above deck to clear his head. And his heart melted with sorrow whenever he would hear the older boy talk to himself in Spanish, knowing he was talking to his long-deceased mother. Nico did the same in Italian, to his sister when he thought no one else was around. One night, however, he wasn't alone.
"What are you doing?" a hoarse voice laced with a deep Spanish accent called out from somewhere in the hall. A curious Leo poked his head out, examining the surroundings then slowly walking into the room. His hair stuck out at all angles, and dark circles ringed his eyes from insomnia. He wore only his work jeans, which were oil-stained and burnt and torn all over.
Nico jolted his head up, shocked. He had been curled up in a corner of the living room with a blanket and a pillow, trying to sleep. He turned away to face the wall and shook his head.
"Nothing." he lied, daring to meet Leo's warm, chocolate brown eyes. They had something flickering in them as they seemed to bore into his soul. Worry? Disgust? No, neither of those.
The 15 year old strode closer, his work boots clunking against the wooden floor. Plunking down next to Nico, he grabbed his arm and turned his body to face him again. "Nico, I hope you know how close Italian is to Spanish. Give me a solid 20 minutes and I can translate." Nico almost smiled at that, the corners of his lips twitching slightly. He knew how ADHD Leo was, though the mechanic was a complete and utter genius.
With a sigh the younger boy looked up at him, his eyes swimming with emotion that he couldn't control anymore.
"I talk to my sister, Bianca. In Italian. All the time." he mumbled, tears pricking the corners of his nearly-black eyes. Leo frowned and tilted his head back to lean against the wall.
He stayed like that for a long while, but when Nico looked closer, he saw how glassy his eyes were. The Hispanic's breathing had become shallow and ragged, as though he was choked up and trying not to burst into tears.
He snapped out of it and wrapped an arm around his friend. "I do too, when I think I'm alone. Not to Bianca, I mean, with my mom." he assured the other, tightening his grip. Nico silently thanked the gods it was dark in the room, because the blush that crept to his cheeks was probably the reddest shade of red imaginable.
He couldn't hold back anymore. He was sick and tired of the tough-guy act, and figured if he had to open up to someone, he'd definitely pick Leo. He melted into Leo's side, crying silently. The mechanic pulled the blanket higher over the two of them and embraced the son of Hades.
"Uh, it's okay. I miss my mom too." he mumbled, rubbing small circles into his back. Eventually the Ghost Prince calmed down, and with a shudder, relaxed a bit.
"Gods, you're freezing." Leo whispered, his hot breath washing over Nico's ear and sending shivers down his spine. His skin was already tingling from the close contact, and his vulnerability continued to thrive in the atmosphere.
Then Leo did something that was completely unexpected. Nico looked at him, shocked as he pressed his warm lips to his temple.
"Come on, sweetheart. You're gonna come get some sleep with me." Leo mumbled, picking up the younger demigod in one swift motion. Nico didn't go willingly, he let out a few half-hearted cries of protest but finally accepted it. Leo walked into his room and shut it behind him, carefully laying the Italian down.
Nico's eyes felt like they were being weighed down, and he involuntarily closed them. This was good for Leo, seeing as he had to change into something suitable to go to bed in. Soon after, the Hispanic boy crawled into bed next to the object of his affections, gazing lovingly at the face of the younger boy he'd fallen for.
Leo couldn't quite explain it, he didn't understand why he so craved his affections. But he knew he felt something for him, something he really didn't feel whenever he'd flirt with Hazel or Piper. This was stronger, enough to take his body under a spell he couldn't undo. Thoughts were spinning around in his head as he curled closer to him, and Nico turned on his side to face him.
The tips of their noses touched, and both of their eyes leapt open. They gazed into the other's eyes and in that moment everything became clear.
Nico smiled shyly and closed his eyes, but Leo had another idea. He planted a quick kiss on the young teen's lips.
"We were both thinking it so I did it, now goodnight." He blurted out, and Nico merely giggled, kissing him again.
"Goodnight, Leo." He mumbled, smiling and cuddling up against him. There was a long pause before he added; "Oh, and I want another kiss tomorrow."
"Will do, hon, will do."