Nicos's thoughts were interrupted by knocking. He pushed himself up and went to open the door. Percy and Annabeth were standing outside. Things had been a lot less tense between them these days. Occasionally a turn in conversation or an innocent remark would still make Percy shift uncomfortably, earning him a punch in the arm from Annabeth or another reassurance from Nico himself that things were good between them and he didn't have those feelings for him anymore. The two had grins plastered across their faces. "Hey! We're heading over to the rock wall for a climb, want to come?" Percy asked. Nico considered. He could use the exercise. He'd spent most of his time recovering and helping Will out the past few weeks. He'd only just gotten back to weapons practice. It'd be a good idea overall to get back into peak fighting condition, especially since you never knew when you'd be attacked.

He shrugged. "Sure." He fell into step with his friends as they made their way down to the field where the rock wall stood.

Annabeth gave him a sidelong glance. "So what did Will want?" She asked innocently

"Huh?"

"We saw him leaving the Hades cabin when we came to look for you. It's the only reason we didn't check the infirmary first. I mean, you've been spending so much time there lately. We figured if there was someone visiting your cabin you must have been there instead. You like him don't you?"

Nico was caught off guard. "What?! I mean... yeah. I guess." He stammered.

Annabeth smiled triumphantly. "I knew it! You always get a look when you see him."

"I do not get a look!" He argued.

"Do too. I think that's great! You two would be so cute together."

Nico blushed again and stared at the ground as he walked, his hair hanging down to hide his face. "Can everyone tell but me?"

"What do you mean?" She asked.

Nico sighed. "Will just... he kind of... asked me out just now. On a date actually." He admitted sheepishly.

Annabeths eyes widened and her grin grew. In her excitement she punched Nico playfully in the arm. He flinched. She hit a lot harder than anyone would expect, even when playing. Percy winced in sympathy. Annabeth bit her lip. "Sorry."

The corner of Nico's mouth twitched up. "No problem. Whats a few bruises between friends?" He joked. He turned to Percy, "I feel sorry for you, she's vicious."

"You have no idea," Percy chuckled, earning him a glare from Annabeth.

"Anyway, that's great! You did say yes, didn't you?" She asked.

Nico rolled his eyes in annoyance. "Yes, I did. Why do you care so much anyway?" His voice was tinged with suspicion.

"Because we're your friends," She chided. "And we're happy for you."

"So what kind of date is it?" Asked Percy.

Nico shrugged. "He didn't say." He sighed heavily and stopped in his tracks. "What am I even thinking? I've never been on a date in my life. I have no idea what I'm supposed to do or how to act or anything. What if I mess it up?"

Annabeth stood in front of Nico, put her hands on his shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "Just be yourself Nico. Will's not expecting anything more than that, count on it. You have to stop worrying so much. All that negative stuff is all in your head. You'll be fine. I promise." She hugged him and the three campers headed off again, Annabeth on one side of Nico and Percy on the other each with an arm around his shoulders. The rock wall loomed ahead, a massive stone edifice three stories tall. At irregular intervals lava erupted to ooze down the rock face and catch climbers off guard. They stopped a few feet away and Annabeth and Percy broke away and began to stretch. Nico stared up at the steep, treacherous monolith. He rolled his shoulders and stretched his arms above his head. There was a twinge in his bicep. He rubbed it idly, feeling the knotted scars through his tee-shirt. He wondered for a moment if he was pushing himself to hard to fast before brushing it off. As a demigod you had to be ready for a fight at any opportunity. A slight pain from his battle with Lycaon was nothing worth paying attention to. At least they were healed now. They'd still been raw and burning with pain when he'd entered the fight against Camp Jupiter to save Camp Half Blood and defeat Gaea. "Race you to the top," Annabeth challenged.

Percy grinned. "You're on!" The three friends lined up at the base of the wall. Annabeth counted down, "3, 2, 1, go!" and launched herself at the wall with the two boys hot on her heels. She found handholds easily ad quickly propelled herself upward. Percy ad Nico were slower to start, making sure their grip was sure before moving on. Still they managed to close the distance between them and the daughter of Athena.

They were nearly two thirds of the way up when Nico's foot slipped. The rock bit into his fingers as he scrambled for purchase and regained his toe hold. A shout from Annabeth made him look up just in time to see the lava flow that was headed straight for him. The lava was moving faster than it seemed to from the ground and he knew it wouldn't be as easy to avoid as he'd thought. He frantically reached out with his right hand, feeling for a new hand hold. He found a small protrusion and held on for dear life as the lava came ever closer. With his grip secure, he swung his right leg in the same direction. His foot scrabbled against the stony surface only a couple of times before he managed to wedge the tip of his sneaker into a crack. Annabeth and Percy were climbing toward him even though they must have known there was nothing they could possibly do to help.

Nico could feel the intense heat on his arms and face now. If he waited any longer it would cover his hand and he'd really be in trouble. He tightened his grip and let got with his left hand. As he did, he pushed off the cliff face with his left foot. For a brief moment he hung there like a door hanging open on it's hinge. The lava now floed freely over the space he had once occupied. He reached up with his left hand to find a grip and cried out as his right, moist with sweat, slipped. He heard Percy and Annabeth shout after him as he tumbled to the ground. He squeezed his eyes shut in anticipation of the impact. It never came. As he fell, a warm gale blew up below him and carried him gently to the ground. It swirled around him and in the breeze, just on the edge of hearing was a voice. "Be true to your heart, son of Hades." And then it was gone as suddenly as it had appeared. Favonius.

Percy and Annabeth were nearly to the ground now and they leaped off the wall and rushed to Nico's side. Annabeth punched him in the arm for the second time that day. "Ow!" Nico rubbed the sore spot on his bicep where he was sure there'd be a bruise by tomorrow.

"You aren't supposed to fall off, idiot." He voice was shaky. She pulled him into a hug. "You're just lucky you're ok or I would have had to kick your butt for being so stupid." Typical Annabeth. If you made her worry about you and feel her wrath. She let go and jabbed at him again for good measure.

"What just happened?" Percy asked.

Nico shrugged. "Climbing isn't my strong point. I'm a lot better below ground than above it. Or did you mean your girlfriend threatening bodily harm if I were injured?"

Percy shook his head. "No. I meant the flying thing. When did you learn to do that?"

"I didn't. I wasn't flying. I think..." he though of what to say. "I think an old friend wanted to help me out." He didn't need to explain everything to them. I can still have some secrets, he decided.

"Cool. So you never have to worry about falling?" He asked.

"Something tells me this was a one time thing." People were starting to converge on the rock wall and stories were being passed around. Nico didn't feel like being the center of attention and knew that if he hung around he'd end up getting and earful from Chiron so he excused himself and wandered off to be alone.