Chapter 3

Percy stayed in the water until the sun began to rise. He somehow managed to find his clothes on the shore, put them on, then he disappeared into the ocean and lay on its sandy bottom. He didn't know what to feel. He wanted Nico, but Annabeth… He'd never felt so torn. Nico probably hated him now. He confessed his feelings for the Ghost King, then went and fell to pieces when Annabeth broke up with him.

Percy couldn't believe he'd been so stupid. Of course Annabeth would walk by. She did every night. Percy knew that. He really was a seaweed brain. At this thought, Percy fell apart again, his tears mixed with the salt water.

Nico had spent a sleepless night. He wished Percy would come, but he knew he wouldn't. He probably hated Nico now. Finally he dragged himself out of bed and into the shower, washing away the salt from the day before. Then, he dressed and went outside. It was a beautiful day and the whole camp was down by the lake having a picnic breakfast. Nico, however, went to the beach. There was no sign of Percy. Nico sat down, tears stinging his eyes.

Finally he couldn't bare it anymore. Getting to his feet, he walked to a little cliff over the ocean. He stared down at the water below and tried to gather his nerve. Dare he jump? There was nothing for him. His mother and sister were dead. His dad hated him. Percy… Tears burned in Nico's eyes. Without another thought, he jumped.

Before Nico hit the water, something collided with his side. The water rushed around him, but he was pulled to the surface by Drosia. The hippocampus had the back of Nico's shirt gripped in her teeth.

"Let me go!" Nico yelled at the fish horse, struggling wildly.

Drosia shook her head, flinging Nico from side to side, then yanked the boy under the icy water, swimming fast not giving Nico the chance to drown. The icy water bit at Nico and he wondered why Drosia was doing. They neared the ocean floor and the glow of Drosia's scales revealed the outline of a demigod very familiar to Nico. Nico gasped when he saw Percy and swallowed a lot of water. Percy glanced up when he sensed Drosia's presence. "Drosia, go awa- Nico!"

Percy burst into motion, pulling together the minuscule air bubbles around them into one large bubble and pulled Nico into it. Nico couldn't breath and his vision had blurred. At least Percy would know what happened to him even if he didn't care. Percy began to panic. Nico was dying! NO, he couldn't let this happen. He pressed his hands against Nico's chest and started doing compressions.

"Come on, Nico, stay with me!"

They weren't working. With a gulp of air, Percy opened Nico's mouth, held the boy's nose, and forced air into his lungs. He did this several times until Nico coughed, spitting up water. Percy exhaled and pulled Nico into a bone crushing hug. "If you ever do that again," He murmured into Nico's ear. "I'll kill you myself, Sunburn."

"I said don't call me that." Nico muttered.

"And I said I liked you. Looks like neither of us is very good at listening." Percy smiled though his heart still hammered in his chest. Nico laughed then broke down coughing again. Percy waited for him to stop, his hand resting on his back. "Don't you try something like that again." He repeated.

Nico frowned. "How are you going to stop me?"

Percy smirked. "I'll lock you in my room."

Nico started, his heart thumping uncomfortable and his cheeks burning. Percy smiled and pulled Nico into his lap, crushing his lips to his. Nico squeaked in the back of his throat, then melted against Percy. Percy wrapped his arms around him, pulling him closer. He placed one hand on the back of Nico's head and kept the other moving up and down his back. Nico shivered, his arms around Percy's neck. Percy felt his back hit the sand. He shoved his hands under Nico's shirt, smiling at the muscles he found there. Nico moaned, his skin tingling where Percy touched. Percy tugged on the shirt, wanting Nico to take it off. Nico let him pull off his shirt, blushing deeply. Percy smiled and mumbled against Nico's lips. "Sunburn."

"Shut up." Nico muttered.

Percy smiled more and kissed Nico again. He ran his hands over the muscles on his back, loving the shiver that went through Nico's spine. Nico pressed closer to Percy, tilting his head to deepen the kiss. Percy pulled away and yanked off his Camp Half-Blood shirt. He loved the feel of the sand on his back and Nico on top of him. He'd never felt this way with Annabeth. Nico blushed yet again now Percy was shirtless and pulled away slightly, nervous. Percy looked questioningly at Nico. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I've just never…you know."

Percy tilted his head. "No…"

Nico rolled his eyes. "Made out with someone before."

Percy blushed. "My mind was going down a different path…"

Nico blushed. "Oh. Um… I'm fine with it, Percy. After all, we demigods don't have very long."

"Not here." Percy stood up, dusting the sand off his back. He grabbed his shirt and jerked it back over his head. Nico pulled his shirt back on to and stood next to Percy who smiled. "I know the best place." He grabbed Nico's hand, intertwining their fingers and leading the way to a dark underwater cave. Percy stared at Nico with an intense look. Then, he told him to hold his breath and let the bubble collapse around them. Percy swam upwards, keeping a firm grip on Nico's hand. They broke surface in the small hole in the cave opening. Nico gasped and spluttered, holding tight to Percy.

Percy lifted Nico onto the ledge and then climbed up himself. He fumbled for the box he usually kept there. Finding it, he pulled out a match and scratched it against the ground. It caught fire and Percy stood and lit a touch attached to the wall, then blew out the match. He used the torch to lit several others that were set at intervals around the room. In one corner, there was a bed made of things you'd find underwater. Against the opposite wall was a handmade dresser with an orange Camp Half-Blood T-shirt hanging out of one of the open drawers. Several of Percy's things lay scattered around the room.

"What is this?" asked Nico.

"I don't like how big and empty the Poseidon cabin is. So, some nights, when Tyson isn't here, I come down here and talk to the fish and hippocampi." Percy sat on the bed, looking lonely. "I've never showed anybody this."

Nico walked over and sat next to him, looking around. "It's nice in here."

"Avra made the bed. She's kind of a motherly for a seahorse. It's modeled like a hippocampus's nest." Percy laid back on the comfy bed. Nico blushed a little seeing Percy laying on a bed. Percy was staring at the roof. "Don't tell Chiron please. Campers are supposed to be in their cabins at night."

"I wouldn't. But only if I can join you." Nico said.

'Join me?" Percy sat up and looked at Nico. "What do you mean?"

"Here. At night."

"Oh. Yeah, sure." Percy smiled, then thought for a moment. "How do you plan on getting down here without me?"

"Shadow travel, of course."

"Right. Sorry, keep forgetting you can do that." Percy stood and walked over to the hole in the floor. "I'll be right back."

Nico watched him go. Percy soon returned with a small dresser. "Here ya go." Nico gave him a questioning look. "Well if you're moving in, you're gonna need somewhere to put your clothes." Percy sat the dresser next to his. It was wooden with three drawers stacked one on top of the other. Nico blushed a little.

"So, Sunburn." Percy dusted his hands off on his pants. "Wanna go get your stuff? I haven't shadow traveled in a while…"

Nico smiled and held out his hand to Percy. Percy clung to his arm. "I don't remember liking this." Nico smirked and shadow traveled them to his cabin. Percy's nails dug into Nico's arm. When they landed in the Hades cabin, he fell over. "Yeah… I definitely don't like that. He groaned. Nico laughed as he grabbed a pack and started stuffing some clothes and other items into it.

"How can you stand that?" Percy rolled over and sat with his back pressed against the bed.

"I'm the Ghost King." Nico said smirking and slung the pack over his shoulder. "Ready to go back?"

"No…" Percy got shakily to his feet.

"Shall we walk then?" Nico offered Percy his hand.

"No… everyone is still by the shore."

Nico rolled his eyes. "And you think Annabeth hasn't told everyone about us."

"Annabeth isn't a gossiper. She hates gossip."

"OK, how do we get back?"

Percy sighed and reluctantly held out his hand. "Shadow travel…"

Instead of taking it, Nico wrapped his arms around Percy's waist. "Hang on."

Percy hugged Nico's shoulders and closed his eyes.