If you haven't read House of Hades yet, don't read the rest of this, as it has spoilers, You have been warned. As I said, I am loving House of Hades. I can't believe in the book Nico actually had feelings for Percy. It just made the fangirl in me jump out and do a little dance around my living room. It was the highlight of my Christmas. Now these two are even more perfect for each other than ever!
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Percy's POV
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"Slumber party Prince! Slumber party!" Nico said, bouncing up and down. I smirked at his childish behavior. He seemed to sense he was overdoing it and stopped jumping, taking deep breaths and mouthing to ten. "I mean," he began once he was calm. "That you should come and spend the night in my cabin. I sleep in yours a bunch, and I'm lonely in that creepy cabin all by myself." I chuckled softly as Nico watched me with expectant eyes.
"Sure buddy," I replied. "I'll come over tonight. It sounds like fun." He jumped around a little again and ran off, most likely to find Leo. I'd gotten use to the fact that they were the best of friends right now, and that Leo's motives were purely of the helpful variety, rather than the I'm-going-to-steal-the-love-of-your-life variety. I'd never seen Nico more in control of his emotions, and so happy. He was even happier than when Oliver first took an interest in him. Speaking of that asshole, I hadn't seen him since the date, which was probably a good thing.
"Sounds like you're in for a fun night," Jason said, swooping down from some horseplay. It still amazed me that Jason had that kind of control over the wind. He rather enjoyed the time spent in the skies. He landed softly beside me. "I heard from up there. Nico sounded so excited. I bet it gets lonely in that big cabin, especially one as dreary looking as that." Without actually meaning to, he began to hover.
"Jason, quite being a showoff and get down before you hurt yourself," I said with a sigh. He came back down and crossed his arms, studying me. "Yes, I know he does. He's told me a hundred times at least. And he's never invited me over before. Is this good?" Jason shrugged.
"Dunno," he replied. "You're farther along on the relationship train than I am. Leo and I hardly talk anymore since he began hanging out with Nico."
"You should see if he wants to go to a movie with you or something," I said, and I saw him rolling the idea over. "Don't call it a date. Just say you want to hang out like you used to. That way, you guys can have some alone time." He grinned at me.
"Thanks a bunch," he said, flying off. I sighed. Show off son of Zeus.
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"Mom, Nico asked if I'd sleep over in his cabin," I said. I'd Iris-messaged her to ask if I was doing the right thing by saying yes. It seemed suspicious to me that Nico suddenly wanted me in his cabin. Paul waved easily at me in the background, and I grinned. I liked my stepdad. He was cool. I waved back then looked at my mom again. "He's never asked me over before. I don't know if this is a good thing."
"It's good Percy," she said, smiling. I breathed out a huge sigh of relief. I'd never tell my mother this, but I really wanted to spend the night in Nico's cabin with just Nico. We'd had plenty of sleepovers in my cabin before, but somehow this one seemed more significant. It would be the first one since Nico's apparent interest in growing up. I smiled a little. I remembered the excitement rolling off him in waves as he asked if I would spend the night.
"That's good to hear mom," I said. "Because I missed having sleep overs with my little buddy. He's grown up in the last couple of weeks." I suddenly remembered mom didn't know about Nico's transformation. "Oh, you don't know that yet. Well, he's acting older. More is age, sometimes more so. I'm glad he's taking an interest in dropping his childish ways, but honestly, I don't want him to give it up entirely."
"Temper tantrums included?" my mom asked. I let out a short laugh and shook my head.
"No, I'm happy to see those go," I replied. "But his enthusiasm I'd like to keep. Which is part of the reason I said yes to this sleepover." The other part being so I could stare at Nico's abs, but there was no way in Hades I'd tell mom that. She'd come running to the camp and demand I come home so her precious little boy wouldn't be corrupted, or something like that.
"Have fun sweetie. Paul and I will be on call all night. We love you." I smiled at the mist as I cut the connection. Then I found my Waterland backpack and began putting in clothes, a sleeping bag, and other necessaries for tonight.
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Nico's POV
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"Percy is going to spend the night!" I exclaimed to Leo as we walked around in the woods. Every now and then a pile of bones appeared in front of me, showing how excited or nervous I was for tonight. "It's our first one since my date, and I'm excited. And nervous. Hey, how's yours and Jason's relationship going?" Leo sighed and kicked a stray rock away. I had a bad feeling.
"It's not really going anywhere," he replied, and he sounded a little choked up. I bet if I looked, I'd find traces of tears beginning to form in the corners of his eyes. Leo never cried, so he must be pretty broken up about this. "I don't know what to do anymore Nico. If he's by himself, he's either distracted or flying. And he's not normally by himself. That sea brat is with him." I let him have a neatly placed punch in the stomach. He doubled over and gasped for breath.
"Don't talk that way about Percy," I said. "I could say the same thing about that storm brat, but do I say that? No, I call him Jason. I expect you to do as such." Leo straightened up and grinned easily at me.
"Yes yes, sorry," he apologized. "Got a little carried away there. Anyway, I don't know how to approach Jason on dating me. I mean…why would he date me anyway? I'm just big, clumsy Leo." I flicker of doubt, I could see, was beginning to form. I patted his shoulder and brushed away some stray bones with my foot.
"Don't be silly Leo," I soothed. "I happen to know Jason thinks you're great. He thinks highly of you and I think you should just go and ask him out. Why not? What have you got to lose?" Leo perked and grinned at me again.
"Thanks for the advice Nico," he said, running off. "You're a pal." I rolled my eyes and laughed to the trees. At least he was happy.
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I spent most of the afternoon picking up and tidying the cabin. I swept and dusted, then rearranged my few belongings on my dresser. Then I opened up every curtain on every window so there was as much light as possible coming in. Gods in Olympus, getting the cabin prepped for Percy's stay was a lot of work. After dinner, I ran back to make all the bunks (Leo and I destroyed their good looks during his last visit). I heard someone walking up the steps, and when I threw the door open, Percy grinned at me.
"Hiya Prince of Shadows," he greeted. I moved aside and motioned him in. He moved passed me and I saw him looking around. He whistled softly and turned to me. "Nice place you got here," he said, coming over and picking me up. "How long did it take you to clean up?"
"Awhile Prince," I replied, starting when I realized I'd used his nickname. I'd been trying really hard to call him Percy, but old habits die hard. "Sorry," I mumbled, looking at the ground (made harder by the fact that I wasn't on the floor right now). "I've been trying…"
"Don't you dare stop calling me Prince," he interrupted. "I love that nickname, okay? I love that you call me Prince. Please don't stop calling me it." I kept looking at the floor. Despite what he said, I was still kind of upset that I slipped up and called him that.
"It's just…" I began. Percy crashed out lips together, and I shut right up. I think he was just as surprised as I was because he fell over backward onto my bunk with me on top of him. We pulled away and stared at each other for a long time, neither of us daring to move. I jumped around inside. He kissed me! He really did kiss me! Just like I'd dreamed.
"Well, if that's all it takes to get you to shut up, I'll have to do that more often," he joked, but his eyes gave away how confused he still felt. He obviously didn't expect that kiss any more than I did, yet I think we were both happy he did it. I couldn't help it, I yawned. Percy immediately rolled onto his side and let me stretch out beside him. Once I was comfortable, his arms snaked around me and pulled me close. Once again, I fit perfectly in the curve his of body. That little fact made me drowsier, and before I knew it, I was out.
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No one's POV
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"Yes!" Jason whispered. Behind him, Leo pumped his fists in the air. They'd been watching through the window as Percy and Nico talked. Then they witnessed their first kiss. It looked so unexpected, and then both Percy and Nico curled up together and fell asleep, both still in their street clothes. But Jason suspected that they didn't really care.
"They kissed!" Leo whispered excitedly, dancing around. Jason laughed. Leo wasn't intentionally being cute, but watching the big boy dancing around lightly on his feet pleased Jason. It reminded him a little of Nico's enthusiasm (or at least what he was willing to show). "They've certainly come a long way," the bigger boy continued, stopping in his tracks and staring at Jason. "Are you watching me dance?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows. Jason flushed deep red and found something fascinating on the ground between his feet. "Oh my gods, you're embarrassed!" Leo exclaimed, clapping.
"Shhhh," Jason hissed. "You'll wake them up." He looked up and jerked a thumb at the Hades cabin. He led the bigger boy away from the cabin. They crouched behind the Aphrodite cabin, and Jason continued to watch Leo. "Alright, yes, I was watching you. I've never seen you act that light on your feet before. I was just watching you have fun. Hanging with Nico has done wonders for you it seems." Leo heard the bitterness in Jason's voice when he said the shadow prince's name.
"It has," Leo said, gently taking Jason's hand in his. "He's been coaching me in addition to his own studies. He's taught me to be lighter on my feet as well. I'm not as clumsy as I used to be." He smiled easily at that. "Say, why don't we go somewhere? Like, the movies or something. It'll be fun. Just like old times sake." Jason threw back his head and laughed softly. It was late after all.
"Sounds great Leo," he said, moving and hugging the bigger boy. "Friday, okay? Promise you won't forget?" Leo smiled and held out his hand, pinky extended.
"Pinky promise," he replied, kissing Jason's forehead as the storm lord's son wrapped his own around the blacksmith god son's.
"Pinky promise," he echoed with a smile, finally figuring out that Nico did pinky promises too.
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Okay, so for the next chapter, I want to get away from Percy and Nico for a while. The next chapter will be Jason and Leo's date on Friday. Then after that it'll just randomly go back and forth between the couples. But mostly it'll be Percy and Nico. But we have to have updates on Jason and Leo, right?
Okay, fangirl moment. They kissed they kissed they kissed! Okay, fangirl moment done. See you next chapter.
