So, on my story Break Myself, I offered a short story written for the 366th reviewer. WhenDayMeetsDark got it, and asked for something rather like this. I don't think it's exact, but I had a hard time trying to get it this going. So hopefully, this works. I hope you enjoy.

Adelheid: I can see dark as being something warm - like the darkness around a campfire or at night when you're curled up under a warm blanket and falling asleep. Nico's a child of the Underworld, which has several levels comparable to Heaven, Hell, and middle grounds. So he could be correlated to any of those.
Apocalyptic-Chicanery: Thank you, and yes we have converted another to the darkside :P

Again, as a reminder, while the stories in Heat can be read as a continuous story within itself, some of the scenes can be cannon or stand-alone. Or at least that's what I was trying for. Enjoy.

Heat 5

Nico was so exhausted he almost tripped right into the bed as he stumbled out of the shadow portal. He caught himself in time, hovering only inches above the still-sleeping Percy. The dark haired boy stirred a moment, but didn't wake.

Nico regained his balance, frowning as he leaned back. Percy's brow was slightly creased, like it did when he worried. Nico always grinned whenever Percy tried to claim he had a poker face – Nico could read him like a book. …maybe that analogy didn't work so well, he amended to himself as he slipped off his shoes, since dyslexia made books a well-hated mutual enemy of demigods. Nico had once almost skewered a book Annabeth lent him. Who cared what Sun Tzu said about war? Annabeth, apparently. She threatened to skewer him with his own sword, which he had laughed at.

His sword felt heavy as he unstrapped it and gently leaned it against the nightstand where RipTide lay, capped. The concealed weapon spoke as much of Percy's ownership as the grey-black of the Stygian steel did to Nico. While other demigods used the typical bronzed swords and spears, theirs were definitely identified to them. RipTide was loyal to Percy and returned to him after a moment, while no other demigod could lift Nico' sword. Percy had tried once, and couldn't get the thing to budge. When Nico had triumphantly lifted his own sword with no effort, Percy wrapped his arms around Nico's waist and lifted him.

Nico smiled fondly at the memory as he slid out of his jacket and tossed it across the end of the bed. He was still ticklish to a fault – a childish trait that made his cheeks burn at the thought of anyone else finding out – and Percy loved to abuse his weakness. That specific time, it had been with his tongue… Nico blushed, and was thankful Percy was asleep so he couldn't see it.

As he thought of weaknesses, Nico noticed Percy's nightshirt had ridden up and his back was exposed. The patch of skin was lighter than the rest, most likely unnoticeable to others, but it blazed as if on fire to Nico. He carefully slid across the bed and tucked himself up against the son of Poseidon's back to cover the weak spot. Percy didn't wake, but rolled in towards Nico and pressed up against him. With a sigh the wrinkled in his forehead vanished, and Nico smiled.

Nico propped his head up on his hand, and slipped his free fingers into Percy's hair tenderly. Nico's own hair was too long and shaggy, hanging into his eyes as they roved Percy's sleeping face. But Percy's strands were shorter, and they curled lightly around Nico's fingers as if trying to hold on to him like Percy did each time they had to part. Percy was nothing if not… possessive. The invulnerable thing got to him a little too much in Nico's opinion. He was convinced that since he couldn't get hurt, everyone else was a fragile as glass. Especially Nico.

It was weird to have someone freak out over him. He didn't remember his mother, and his father wasn't into the whole expressing himself thing. His sister had looked out for him, out of the responsibility that went with being the older sibling. But he knew she had seen him as little more than a nuisance she had to take care of. Once they had gotten to Camp Half-Blood, and Nico could be someone else's problem, she ran off to join the Hunters.

Nico's mind immediately averted away from the memory of her death. He had forgiven Percy long ago, before the big war, and knew it wasn't Percy's fault at all. But her death still hurt – never being able to tell her goodbye, or that he loved her while she was alive. He had never heard those words, and she hadn't either. It meant more to him now to be able to tell her that. Just so she could hear it from someone, because it was painful to never hear it. It seemed stupid, but…

Nico thankfully raked his gaze over the sleeping Percy. Whenever Percy got over-protective, it could be annoying. But he was grateful for it. Someone cared for him enough to freak out over even a tiny injury and scold him for not dressing a wound. Annoying, but… Nico didn't want it to stop. He liked it far more than he thought he should. Right here, cuddled up against the person who cared about him and he cared about himself, this was his home.

Percy rolled over to face Nico, sighing as he opened his eyes. Nico loved the drowsy look on Percy's face, followed by the sleepy smile.

"Hey you," Percy whispered.

"Hey you," Nico teased back lightly, before leaning down and kissing Percy. Percy mmmed into his lips before he pulled back. Percy tucked his arm under his head and put his hand up to Nico's cheek, stroking lightly with his thumb.

"When did you get back?"

"Not long ago," Nico replied, putting his hand against Percy's and turning his face into to kiss his palm.

"Watching me sleep?"

"Well when you say it, you make it sound stalkerish." Percy chuckled lightly, then slid his hand back around Nico's neck and pulling him down sharply into his chest. He rolled over so Nico was under him and nuzzled his neck.

"Percy!"

"Shh, going back to sleep."

"Percy let me up!"

"Nope. Request denied."

"Let me up or I'm going to fart!"

"You're awfully noisy and wiggly for a pillo-Nico!"

Nico grinned wickedly as Percy released him, then hit him with a pillow. Percy sat up and beat him a few more times, Nico laughing and rolling in on himself to avoid the attack. "You know, this would be a lot more – fair you owned more than one-freaking-pillow!"

"All's fair in love and pillow fights!"

"That's what you would call this?"

"Yeah, I would! Why else would I let you fart on me!"

The laugh dried up in Nico's throat as he realized which part of the phrase Percy had been replying too. The pillow blows stopped landing as Percy realized it too.

Nico looked up at Percy, who had a flushed face. Too late to back-peddle now. Percy released the pillow and sighed.

"Nico, I know… you haven't said it. And neither have I–" Percy's face got even darker. "But I… I don't believe in… playing around. I don't, I just don't do that. I mean I have to have feelings first…"

Nico just kept staring. His mouth was failing him. He never expected to hear something like this in his life – ever.

"Nico," Percy started, "I…"

"I love you," Nico blurted out. It was Percy's turn to stare and Nico's to blush. "Percy, I love you."

Nico felt frozen under Percy's gaze, the whole moment had stopped. He wanted to take it back. He wanted to say it was a joke. He wanted… anything to happen right now.

But he wasn't expected Percy's breathless, panted laugh or him collapsing into Nico's chest. "…Perc?" Nico asked hesitantly.

"You jerk, you said it first," Percy chuckled, before tilting his head up and capturing Nico in a kiss while wrapping around him tightly. When he finally released, he left Nico gasping desperately for air. "I love you too, Nico." He kissed Nico again.

Nico clutched desperately at Percy. He hadn't thought of it before – never hearing those words from anyone in his entire memory. But now he felt like he had an ache for all those years that Percy filled with those simple words. Percy pulled back hesitantly, his eyes wide with concern. "Nico? You okay?" he asked carefully.

"Wha?" Nico asked blearily, still trying to catch his breath.

"You're crying," Percy whispered softly.

Nico blurted out a gasped laugh, and pulled Percy back down. Percy moved his mouth to work at Nico's neck. "Say it again," Nico murmured as his hands buried in Percy's hair.

Percy smiled as he pressed another kiss to the soft juncture of Nico's neck and shoulder. "I'll say it as often as you want – as long as you do too."