Chapter 20

*Nico*

I walked around camp dejectedly. I knew what Rachel had planned and I didn't like it. On one hand, I appreciated the gesture. After losing Bianca, Rachel had become more than a friend, almost like a third sister. However close I was to Hazel, I thought she would accept the coffee-colored boy. Bianca had, hadn't she? She somehow knew of the events just beginning to transpire.

I considered going to see what Leo was up to. Chiron wanted him to make a pedestal for the protection we had acquired. Maybe I could help? It would kill some time and Leo had become a friend. Maybe I could talk to him about Nick. Try to figure out if I really loved the boy, or if I was just attracted to him and the way he understood me implicitly. He was a child of the underworld after all.

But Percy was the messenger and I had no want to be around Percy. He had confused me. And in so doing created a rift between me and Nick that I wasn't sure would ever completely dissipate. Nick was extremely self-conscious for reasons of his own. It may have a lot to do with his time in the insane asylum. He didn't like talking about that time in his life, understandably.

I decided to just head over to the sword arena. Unfortunately, Clarisse was already there. Hacking a dummy to pieces.

"Hey." I said, to the imposing daughter of War.

"DiAngelo. Care to take a shot at me?"

"You're on. No crying when you lose."

"Why don't we place a little wager?"

I frowned suspiciously, "What kind of wager?"

She shrugged, "We'd owe the other a favor."

I thought about that for a moment. There was no way I'd lose.

"Deal."

We shook on it. Despite how gruff she was and everything between us, she had become a grudging friend.

I pulled out my sword and took a deep breath. Here we go…

She lurched forward slashing at me. Caught off guard, the blade sliced into my arm. I hissed, feeling a stinging pain shoot through my arm. However, I quickly recovered. I arced my blade in a wide sweep and moved forward. Though she blocked my strike, I was already bring my sword around in fluid fighting style Nick had taught me. It wasn't Greek…or Roman for that matter.

I smiled to myself, as her footing faltered. I would drag this out. I would enjoy my victory. I stepped back, "Is that all you got?"

Cliché? Maybe. But it fit the scene playing out. I almost laughed, thinking of the time Nick had taught me these moves. It was the first time I thought I might like him as more than a friend. The only thing that had ever made me happy in the Underworld, and it was thanks to him. If he was there the Underworld didn't seem so dark, nothing seemed as bad. Even almost dying…

Clarisse growled, bringing me back to the moment. She began a quick series of attacks. Almost too fast to block. Not good.

I feinted to the right, before swiftly bring the blade around to the left, cutting her cheek. She stepped back shocked.

She actually smiled. "Oh, you're good, DiAngelo. But if you think you're better than me…think again!"

She kicked forward, shoving the air from my lungs. I turned to the side coughing and gasping. She brought the hilt of her blade around in a move worthy of her Father. Darkness…

"Nico?" I looked up to see Nick, frowning down at me worried.

I sat up quickly, "What's wrong?"

A smile lit up his face, his eyes followed suit and I began getting lost in them once again. It was if the Universe was sucking me in. To the depths of his soul. The funny thing was I wanted it to, I didn't want to fight. I felt like a part of me had been missing for so long, and this boy in front of me, the coffee-colored boy, was the answer to all that and more. I felt…complete.

"What's wrong? You've been unconscious for nearly four hours. And now you wake up, worried about me? Gods, I love you."

Silence followed his statement. It hung in the air. Did he really just say that? Tears stung my eyes. I struggled to keep them inside, my emotions in check. A single tear fell from my eye. Nick leaned forward wiping it away.

"I-"his voice broke, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to let that slip out. I've loved you since the moment I saw you, but…I know you have feelings for… Percy. I know I can't compete with the Savior of Olympus." His tone had turned sarcastic, as he stressed Percy's name.

I swallowed. Had I caused this? No. It was Percy who had caused this. If he wasn't careful, he would be back on my list of revenge. I had forgiven him for Bianca's death. In reality, I had come to see that it had never been his fault. I had grown up, and with it I left behind the crush I had for Percy. It was so hard being around him when Annabeth and he had gotten serious, but I had been forced to move on. Now, Percy had brought that all back. Confusing me. Confusing himself.

"Nick…" I wasn't sure what to say. He was here, not Percy. That meant something didn't it? I realized then, there was only one thing I could say to that, to him, "I love you too…"

It was a whisper, barely a breath.

He looked at me disbelieving, "You're just saying that."

"No…" I said. It wasn't even until I had spoken the words did I realize it with utter certainty. But I loved him. With all of my being. He called me back from the Underworld, hadn't he? He was my true love. I didn't completely understand it, or even why this had happened…but it felt right…safe. I hadn't felt safe in a very long time, since Bianca had died, at the very least.

"I mean it Nick, I love you. I didn't even know it, until I saw you worried about me, 'till I said it. But I have never been sure of anything, quite like I'm sure about you, about us."

He pulled me into a hug. Pain flared through my head and I felt Nick's tears on my neck. I released him quickly, almost pushing him away. He looked hurt, "My head," I said through the pain.

I saw his eyes' cloud from pain of his own, and worry. His voice tight, clear, yet emotional rang out, "Will! Nico needs you. Now." He snapped.

I almost smiled, but it made my head hurt even more. Will rushed over, checking me over.

"It's just his concussion. I understand you're worried but please keep the hysterics to a minimum," he said coyly.

Nick shook his head, looking angry or frustrated, "I wish I could help you. I wish I could take away your pain," he said as Will cantered away once more.