A/N: A big thank you to my beta Marygami12! Also a thank you to all the reviews, especially SnowyIce who demanded a new chapter. I'm not sure if I will continue, I'm not sure where else to go. If you have ideas review and let me know? Thanks :) - SpeshKay1995
When I awake my body aches. I lurch myself into a sitting position and my head.
"Oh gods!" Nico's voice exclaims beside me, "Percy!"
I look up to meet his tired obsidian eyes. He jerks from where he was slumped against the back rest of his seat to sit at attention.
"How are you feeling?" he questions.
"Terrible," I admit, "What happened? Where's Hazel?"
I feel hysteria bubbling in the pits of my stomach.
"You took a blade through your chest for her," Nico explains, his voice… soft? "It was poisoned. Apollo and his kids have been working non-stop to cure you."
"Is she okay?" I demand, gripping his arm tightly.
"Hazel is fine," Nico assures me, "You made sure of that."
"Where is she?" I ask shakily, still panicked.
"At dinner," he answers and I immediately move to get out of bed, "Why do you- Percy! Get back in bed!"
I ignore his protests and stand. His hands seize my arms and stop me from exiting the room.
"Percy," He states, "Stop. I promise you, Hazel is fine. Please, just get back in bed before you hurt yourself."
I know I can't win against him, despite the age and body weight difference I am weak, so I let him guide me back to the bed.
"What's with the sudden protectiveness?" Nico grunts at me.
"Hazel needs to be okay," I tell him, "I can't let her get hurt. Not again. I can't let another one get hurt."
"Oh," Nico states, tightly, "This is about Bianca."
We sit in an uncomfortable silence.
"You know," he almost whispers, "I don't blame you."
"But I do," I mutter back, "That's what made you hate me."
"Hate you?" Nico repeats, "Percy, I don't hate you."
"Well, what then?" I ask, confused, "If you don't blame me, and you don't hate me, why do you act like that?"
"Like what?"
"Like I kick puppies for fun!"
Nico then does the last thing I expect. He leans forward and kisses me. His lips are chapped but surprisingly warm against mine. His hand threads into my hair as he draws the kiss out. The pain in my body fades as his lip pulls away. A wrinkle between his brows forms, watching me carefully.
"What do you think?" he asks sheepishly.
"Your lips are warmer than I thought they'd be," I reply without thought.
"Of all things," Nico sighs and throws his hands in the air, "Gods you're oblivious."
"Just tell me," I shrug.
Nico closes his eyes for a moment, before reopening them. His mouth comes down on mine again, warmer and more forceful than before. My breath catches in my throat. My body responds to him almost automatically, my lips moving back against his. He only pulls away when we're both breathless with cheeks flushed red.
"Percy," he whispers, "I'm in love with you."