COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

Nico groaned and buried his head in his hands. Thalia looked up from where she sat doing paperwork on his bed.

"What's wrong, Death Breath?" Thalia asked. Nico shook his head and gave a muffled reply. "I didn't catch that," she said, setting her papers on the bed beside her.

"I don't know what to major in," Nico complained.

"Just go in undeclared," she offered simply, slipping off the bed to come stand beside him at his desk.

"I can't do that," Nico said, shaking his head. "My father would kill me. It's easy for you. Business management is exactly what a child of Zeus would do. I wish they had a sword fighting or monster slaying major. I would be great at that."

"Unfortunately, Chiron is making us go to a mortal university instead of the one at the Roman camp, so we have to major in mortal things."

"They'd never let me go there anyway," Nico said dejectedly. "There's only so much trust that you can put in a son of the Underworld. And only so much love discussions with my sister I can stand."

Thalia nodded. "Same," she agreed. "There's only so many lovey-dovey things between my brother and his girlfriend that I can stand."

"It's not like we haven't done any of that," Nico said slyly, glancing up at her. "And worse."

Thalia spun Nico's chair around and got close to his face. She looked deep into his eyes before moving so she could whisper in his ear.

"And I can still do so much worse," she whispered seductively.

Nico shuddered at the thought. He inhaled sharply. "Mm," he hummed.

"But you're getting none of that until you figure out your major," Thalia said, pushing herself back up and sauntering back over to the bed.

Nico threw back his head and groaned in frustration. "We're going to be here forever," he complained.

"Then you'd better get cracking, Corpse King," Thalia said, already turning back to her papers.

Nico continued to stare up at the ceiling. The only sound was Thalia's pen moving across her paper. Suddenly, Nico sat bolt upright in his chair.

"Corpse King!" he shouted.

Thalia jumped slightly, drawing a long, black line across the page she had been writing. She glared at the back of Nico's head. "Yes," she said angrily. "You're the Corpse King."

"Exactly," Nico enthused, finishing writing something with a flourish and turning back to Thalia. "And as the Corpse King, what better major to have than history? I can talk to the historical people any time I want."

Thalia cocked an eyebrow. "That's genius."

Nico nodded and stood up. "I know," he agreed, crawling onto the bed and starting to kiss Thalia's neck. She moaned slightly and tilted her head back, pushing her papers off the bed. "So," Nico said between kisses. "I finished figuring out my major. What's my reward?"

"I've got a few ideas," Thalia replied, breathlessly. Nico grinned as she grabbed the front of his shirt, pulling him down on top of her.