I'm glad people like Nico's turn around. You have to realize that Nico never really got to be a kid, so he's trying to make up for it now. But as Leo said, he won't be thirteen forever. Now he's going to start maturing. Do you think Percy will like that?
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Percy's POV
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I didn't see Nico much after that, and when I did, he was with Leo. Here's the thing. Nico didn't skip around him. He didn't jump into his arms or climb onto his back. He basically acted like any other thirteen year old, and half the time I wondered what happened to my little buddy, my precious shadow prince. I didn't want him growing up too fast (although dropping the temper tantrums would be nice).
"Oh, don't look like that," Jason said, elbowing me in the ribs. "They're just friends. You think I like this any better than you do? Your old best friend stole my old best friend." I kept forgetting how close Jason and Leo were. I guess I've never really seen them around the camp before. We were sitting on the docks, talking and trying not to get sprayed with water. Jason had shed his shirt and was sitting in just shorts, and I admit he looked good. Though I knew the real motive for it, and it sure as hell wasn't for me.
"Leo isn't looking," I said with a scowl. Jason shrugged and leaned against one of the posts, closing his eyes and enjoying the sunshine. I couldn't enjoy it today. Something was eating at me, and I couldn't quite place a finger on what. I wiggled in place, then stood and paced for a bit. Jason opened one eye half way and watched me for a while.
"Oh relax Jackson," he said with a sigh. "Your precious Prince of Shadows will come and talk to you eventually. Just give him some time to sort things out. He's obviously making an effort to act older. Let him get used to that. He might want to get your attention with a different tactic, such as showing you how mature he can be." I glanced sideways at Jason. No offense to the blonde boy, but he never acted that smart before. As if sensing what I was thinking, he shrugged. "This is important stuff," he said simply.
"Right, right," I mumbled in agreement. "Wanna go do something other than sit here?" He looked at me like the very idea was crazy. "Man, I'm ADHD. I have to move or do something other than sit here and wait for something to happen." Jason sighed and stood up.
"Let's go do the rock wall then," he said, retrieving his shirt. Orange Camp Half-Blood that was slightly too small. "That'll keep you on your toes." I wrinkled my nose. The rock wall was fine and all, but I didn't want to do that.
"I was thinking of a spy mission," I replied. "On Nico and Leo. I know you said they're just friends, but I want to be extra sure that that is the case." Jason shrugged. There were two things demigods were good at. Fighting and spying, not in that order of course. "You could watch for Leo," I added meaningfully. Jason seemed to perk at the idea. I knew getting him to follow Leo would work, because I've come to realize that Jason is absolutely crazy about Leo.
"Alright Jackson, you made that sound very appealing," he said, slipping his shirt and sandals back on. I retrieved my sneakers and we jobbed down the path towards the cabins. I noticed Nico had his sword in his hands, and Leo was facing him. They were circling each other, looking fierce.
"Holy Zeus," I hissed, moving forward. Jason grabbed the hem of my shirt and hauled me behind the Aphrodite cabin, where we continued to watch.
"Calm down Jackson," he hissed back. "They're not actually fighting. Leo's teaching him to fight better. He relied heavily on you before, you know." Jason had a point, and as I watched, it appeared that Leo wasn't out to harm the shadow prince. Quite the opposite actually. He made no move to attack him at all, and Nico was the first to lunge and begin a series of sword strokes. I blinked. If I'd of known that he was capable of that, I wouldn't have messed with him, ever. His movements were smoother than I remember, and when Leo went to counterstrike, the smaller boy nimbly danced away, and both boys laughed. "They're enjoying themselves," Jason whispered with a frown. Neither of us wanted to watch them get along.
"Yeah," I agreed, also frowning. "Nico has gotten better with that sword of his. He never told me he wanted sword practice…" I was really beginning to hate Leo, mostly because he was taking my Prince of Shadows from me. I watched as Leo heartily smacked Nico's back. Before, if someone had done that, the smaller boy would've collapsed, but now he stood firm. He even grinned up at Leo. Nico was getting stronger every day.
"Nico's looking good," Jason said to me. "He's losing that little boy look and gaining muscles. He's shed those clothes and wearing something more sophisticated." The idea set my teeth grinding. He was doing this all for Leo. Leo handed Nico a water bottle, which he drained half of. Nico drinking water? He hated plain water (I love the irony in that as well). So Leo was changing him in more ways than one.
"Leo's got the looks too," I replied at last, more for Jason's sake than anything. He bit his lower lip and watched as Leo slid his shirt over his head. Nico laughed and gently touched his chest, and when Leo flexed, Nico laughed more. Leo rolled his eyes and patted Nico's shoulder, sliding the smaller boy's shirt off him as well. I sucked in a breath. Nico was definitely beginning to show muscle, even getting a small six pack of his own.
"Damn," Jason breathed. "We sure know how to pick 'em Jackson. Just look at our beauties." I glanced at them both, each now trying to douse the other with bottled water. Nico threw his head back and laughed loudly, and his black hair flicked out of his eyes. He had great eyes…
"We sure do, Jason," I replied half-heartedly, "We sure do. I just hope my Prince of Shadows doesn't grow up too quickly. He's thirteen, not thirty."
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Nico's POV
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"Thanks for helping me with my sword practice," I said to Leo as he took his shirt off. I don't know why he did that, but it made him happy, so I never said anything. One thing I was leaning, part of growing up was making sure others were also happy. I drank my half of a bottle of water (which I was beginning to like a lot), and sprayed Leo with the other half. He laughed and sprayed me back, and then all-out war began. I ran away from him, occasionally stopping to squirt him with my water bottle. Then I danced away as he tried to squirt me back.
"Uncle!" Leo cried after a few minutes, laughing. "You're pretty good at that Nico," he said, slapping me on the back. I staggered a bit under the force (I don't think he realized how strong he was) but I managed to stay on my own two feet, which was something. I was definitely getting stronger. Leo took my shirt off me. "Hey look buddy, you're getting muscle," I looked down at myself and noticed the six pack starting to come in, as well as some extra bulk on my arms and around my chest. I was very pleased.
"Thanks again for helping," I said to Leo. "Do you think Percy will like the new, buff me?" I flexed for him, and he laughed.
"Yes buddy," he said, smacking my back again (it was starting to hurt). "I'm drooling, and I don't even want to date you. You have this part in the bag. Now we need to work on your attitude." I pouted at him.
"What's wrong with it?" I asked, putting on my puppy dog stare. "Is it bad?" He laughed out loud and shook his head, resting his hand on my shoulder.
"No, no," he replied. "I'm just going to help you channel it a little, so it's not overwhelming. Wanna do it tonight?" I nodded. Tonight would be perfect.
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Percy's POV
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"Oh Goddess, accept my offering," I mumbled, tossing a gold drachma into the little rainbow my fountain made. The coin dissolved. "Show me my mom's apartment," I said wearily, smearing a hand across my face. The image flickered, then revealed my mom sitting at our kitchen table with Paul, my stepdad. They appeared to be eating dinner. "Mom!" I called. Both she and Paul jerked up and looked where my image was. A smile lit her face as she abandoned the dinner and came over to talk.
"Percy!" she exclaimed. "It's so good to hear from you sweetie. How's Annabeth? How's Nico?" I made a face at Nico's name. "What's going on honey?" she asked, the smile melting.
"Nico and I got into a fight the other night," I said. "Mom…he said he hated me. But I can't live with that because… I think I love him." I covered my face with my hands. There were few things that scared me in this world. Telling my mom I loved someone was one of them. "More than as a little brother or friend," I continued. "The way that would have him with me always."
"Percy honey, I know," she replied. I yanked my hands away and gawked at her.
"What do you mean you know?" I accused. "And why didn't you tell me you knew?" She grinned at me.
"I was waiting for you to figure it out yourself honey," I said to me, and my anger instantly dissolved. Once a mother always a mother. "It's not a big deal Percy. I mean, your fight is a big deal because you guys have gotten close. Closer than any two people I know. Closer than you and Annabeth even." She made a good point. Before this, Annabeth was one of my best friends, and she still was. But Nico was my best friend, and he would continue to be, unless he was my boyfriend, which I hoped he would be. "Just give him so cool off time Percy," my mom continued. "You know how he gets." At that I had to smile.
"Yeah mom, I know," I replied with a chuckle. "Well, I'd better get going. Jason and I have plans tonight. He's my new friend!" I said before she could interject. "Bye!" I slashed through the rainbow, cutting out our connection.
…
Talking with my mom helped a lot. She was right, and so was Jason. Nico couldn't really hate me. He just needed some time to cool off before he talked to me again. At least Leo was getting his mind off his horrible date last week… Had it really been a week already? Time seemed to fly by. Nico would come by on his own terms, and hopefully he'd be slightly more mature than what he was now. But not too mature. As I said before, he's thirteen, not thirty.
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Nico's POV
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Percy hadn't even looked at me this whole week, and that made me sad. I know Leo said not to cry as much anymore, but as I lay in my bunk, I couldn't help but let the tears fall. Leo was in his own cabin tonight, which meant I could cry in peace. I was missing my Prince of the Sea more than I realized. Not talking to him was driving me crazy, but I wasn't quite ready to face him yet. I wanted to build up my strength and learn to channel my cuteness more first. Leo said I was making huge strides, but it would still be a week or two before I was in peak physical form, and learned to tone down my cuteness and work on my attitude.
"I miss you Prince," I whispered, swiping at my eyes. "I miss you a lot. I'll talk to you soon, kay." I held out my pinky to my dark room. "Pinky promise."
…
Aww, poor Nico. He misses his Prince. Told you that it wouldn't be gone for good. R&R!