I really hate my writer's brain. I was trying to go to bed and he's like "oh, they could do this, and Nico could do this to get Percy's attention…" Grrr, sometimes I hate him. I know it's a him because no female on earth will bug you that much at bed time (sorry to my male fans but it is true).

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Percy's POV

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We arrived at the restaurant after a very tense, awkward silence filled ride. Nico seemed to be pouting, and Oliver acted like a kid who'd been grounded. Nico's behavior I was used to, and he could get away with it more because he was three years younger than all of us. But Oliver was being a royal pain in my ass right now, and this whole date would've gone better had he not been there. Or Jason too, for that matter.

"Something goes on between you two," Jason hissed to me as if reading my mind. I leaned in closer so the boys up front wouldn't hear. "You and Nico are awfully close. Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen either one of you around camp without the other. You're practically glued at the hip." I chuckled lowly at the comment. It was a pretty accurate one.

"We're here Percy," Nico sang to me in that sing-song voice he got. He and Oliver climbed out, followed by Jason and last me. I waved to Argus, who waved back, the eyeball on his wrist winking at me. He sped off and left us to our own devices. Jason laced our fingers together as we led the way into the restaurant. The person behind the pedestal glanced at our small group.

"Reservation for Jackson," I said. He nodded once, grabbed four menus, and led us to a table in the middle of the dining area. "Enjoy your meal," he said pleasantly, floating off. We all took our seats, but when we were all situated, Nico's lower lip began to tremble. "What is it buddy?" I asked, looking around. "Oh." I was seated across from Oliver, which meant Jason was across from Nico. "Trade me places," I said, rising. Jason shrugged and switched seats. Nico's face cleared and he stared at his menu, swinging his legs under the table. "Nico," I hissed. "Don't do that here." He stopped, staring at me. I buried my head in my menu. Honestly, nothing looked good. But I had to order something because for the last few days I hadn't eaten anything.

"We'll both take steak," Oliver said, handing Nico's menu over. Nico scowled at him, and I quickly looked over the selection.

"Chicken for me," I said, knowing Nico would eat that. He loved chicken. His face lit up when he realized what I was doing. Jason glanced at me and continued to stare at his menu.

"Salmon," he decided, and we also handed out menus over. Nico watched as they set glasses of water in front of us. "Cool," Jason said. "Percy, you could drink this without a straw or raising the glass." I smirked and picked it up the old fashioned way. "Alright then," Jason said, clinking his glass against mine, then taking a sip. Nico stared at his glass with distaste.

"Nico sweetie, drink up," I said gently, pushing it toward him. He took a sip and looked at me. "Good boy," I mouthed, taking a sip out of my own glass. Mine and Jason's food arrived first, and Nico's stared at mine until his came. He scowled at his steak. I knew he couldn't eat steak, not after the cattle ranch. But I could. I swapped our plates, tucking in hungrily. Nico began sawing bits of chicken off and stuffing them in his mouth.

"What's this?" Oliver asked, glancing at Nico's food. "That isn't what I ordered for us. Eat yours." He swapped out plates back, and Nico pushed his chair back, crossing his arms and acting like a two year old refusing to eat. Oliver then made the mistake of grabbing Nico's arm and hauling him up. Nico cried out in pain, and as Oliver let him go, he sank to the ground. A stain of red began to form on his sleeve. I shoved my chair back and ran around to the other side of the table.

"Nico!" I cried, rolling up his sleeve. Oliver's finger nails had dug into Nico's tender flesh, and he was bleeding from the marks. "Nico, shhh," I said, rocking him as he sobbed into my shirt. "Jason, pay them. Let's go." Jason dug my wallet out of my pocket and laid forty on the table. I cradled Nico to me as I carried him out with Jason close behind me. Oliver followed at a much slower pace, knowing full well what was about to happen. "Here," I said, handing Nico gently over to Jason. Nico clung to him and I took a deep breath.

"Percy, I…" Oliver began.

"What were you thinking?" I roared, and the tall male actually took a step back. "He's just a kid! He also happens to hate steak, which is why I traded meals with him. What the hell kind of stunt was that that you pulled? You're lucky I don't beat your ass here and now for what you did to him. You're very lucky I'm in a nice mood tonight, or you'd be nothing more than a splatter on the street!" When my rant was finished, I whirled around and took Nico from Jason.

"Prince!" he wailed, fisting my shirt. It was getting all wrinkled, but at this point I didn't care. Nico was hurt, and if he needed to do that to feel better, then so be it. He pointed one trembling finger at Oliver then at me. "You promised he wouldn't hurt me! You said you'd be there for me and you couldn't stop him from hurting me! I hate you! I hate you both!" I set Nico down and took a step back.

"You…you hate me?" I asked, my voice breaking. "Okay then." My head dropped lower than his dad's palace. "C'mon Jason, let's go somewhere else and finish our date." Jason shot Nico murderous looks as we walked away. Though why he did, I wasn't sure. As I said, Nico was just a kid.

…

We never actually went anywhere else. We wandered around together until we came to Central Park. Jason shoved me into it, and we sank down on a bench. That was good because I don't think my legs could hold me up any longer. I was beginning to feel the effects of Nico's words, where before I just went numb. Without a word, Jason pulled me close.

"It's okay, Percy," he soothed. "Don't cry." Cry? I put my hand up to my cheek and it came away wet. So I was finally crying about what Nico told me. I could handle a lot of things. Big, scary monsters, thousand foot free falls, even the gross food they served in the school cafeteria. But Nico saying he hated me? That hurt like you wouldn't believe.

"Thanks Jason," I said, sniffing. "You're a good pal." I sat up and dabbed my eyes, getting rid of the last of the tears. "Say, why don't we continue this date some other time? I think without two extra people, it would be enjoyable. I'd like to get to know you better." And I meant it. Maybe it was best that I forget about my Prince of Shadows, even for a few hours. Jason smiled and hugged me close, kissing my forehead.

"I'd like that Percy," he replied. "I'd like that."

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Nico's POV

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I sent Argus and Iris-message when Percy and Jason left. I told him to take me and Oliver home now, and he did. When we arrived at camp, I told Oliver I didn't want to see him ever again and if he came anywhere near me I'd use my underworld powers and turn him into a ball of sludge (I couldn't really do that but he didn't know that). Oliver ran off so fast I just caught his smoke line. I smiled momentarily before wandering down to the cabins.

"Princess!" I cried, pounding on the Athena door. I should explain. I call Percy Prince , and since Annabeth is one of his best friends, it seemed fitting (to me at least) to call her Princess. Annabeth threw open the door and bundled me inside. "Princess, I told Prince I hate him!" I wailed, burying my head in her chest. Next to Percy, Annabeth was the second person I went to when I had a problem. She was very wise and normally had the answer for everything.

"What happened Nico?" she asked, trying again to shush me. I looked around and noticed some of her younger brothers and sisters already asleep. I did my best to stifle my cries, and Annabeth smiled, kissing the top of my head. "Okay, so start from the beginning, okay Nico? What happened?" I took a deep breath.

"We got to the restaurant and we all sat down. But first Percy had to trade with Jason so he could be across from me. We all ordered. Oliver ordered steak for us both but I hate steak. Percy ordered chicken and Jason ordered salmon. Then our food came and Percy traded cause he knew I'd like chicken. Then Oliver traded them back, and when I wouldn't eat, he grabbed my arm and gave me these." I showed her the nail marks on my arm, now turning a sickly purplish color. "Then we all went outside and I told Percy I hated him." The tears began to fall again. 'I made a mistake Princess. I don't hate him. I... I love him." Gods, did I really just say that?

"I'm sure he loves you too little buddy," she said, smoothing down my unruly hair. I shot her looks. I knew she was just talking about the brotherly kind of love, but that wasn't what I meant. I let her keep thinking that though. I didn't want things to get to complicated. "Come on Nico, you know Chiron's room," she continued, carrying me to my cabin. "All young demigods down by nine thirty." I hated that dumb rule. I waved as she walked back to her own cabin. I sighed. Without Percy to tuck me in, it would be a long night.

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Nightmares plagued me all night long. I tossed and turned and woke up in cold sweat more than once. I couldn't go talk to Prince either, because he probably didn't want to see me right now. The Hades cabin was creepy in the day, but at night, it was downright terrifying. I shivered and pulled my blanket up to my chin.

"They're just nightmares Nico," I scolded myself. "You don't need Percy to fall asleep. You don't need him for anything.

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Percy's POV

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Sleeping was impossible. Without the warmth of a small body pressed up to me, I tossed and turned and generally stayed awake. I sighed and sat up, bumping against something. Nico's sword. I picked it up off my mattress and held it in my hands, running my fingers over the black metal. I put it on the table beside my bed. If he came back, he could retrieve it then. Making some quick decisions, I sneaked out of my cabin and tiptoed to the Hades cabin. I peeked inside. Nico was curled up in the corner of the bunk he slept in (when he slept in his cabin at all. He'd discarded his jacket and black t-shirt and was currently in black pajama bottoms.

"Aww, you look so cute, my precious Prince of Shadows," I whispered. "Why do you hate me buddy? I mean, I know I broke my promise, but still…" I stopped. I did break my promise to him. I told him Oliver wouldn't hurt him on our date, and he did just that. If I saw Oliver in the next few days, I would beat the shit out of him for harming my shadow prince. "Night buddy," I whispered, slipping back into my cabin. But right now I felt more awake, and more alone, than ever.

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Dun dun duuuuuh! What will happen between Percy and Nico? R&R!