A/N: Well hello there everyone. I just thought I would warn you that this chapter is pretty long. Well, it's not that long, but I usually don't write chapters this long. Anyways, I hope you like this chapter. I have a question though. Who do you think Nico should end up with; Leo or Percy? I would love to here what everyone thinks. Oh, I almost forgot. Thank you for reading! See ya next chapter! :D

Love Me Forever Or Love Me Never
Chapter 15: Shipping Out

Slumping down in his seat Nico gazed out the window hazily. He didn't know what to expect anymore. The guilt ate him away inside and was tearing him apart. He liked Leo, a lot, but Percy was the one he had always wanted to be with. He loved Percy and he loved Leo. He couldn't see how his life could get any worse.

Well, I could be dying. Then things could be worse, Nico thought bitterly. Loping his head to the side Nico gave a light sigh. There was a shifting sound beside him and Nico glanced over at his older sister. Bianca quickly turned her head to the side, taking her eyes off her brother. Nico watched her anxiously as she once again began to turn his way, but hurriedly decided against it. Sighing again Nico sat up straighter in his seat. He hated the way he had been treating Bianca lately. One moment he and his sister were best friends and then they became mortal enemies once again. It was like they were running around in circles, unable to find the end or a closing. It didn't matter how many times they fought and argued Nico really did care about his sister. Even when she didn't think that. Wrapping his arms around his chest tenderly Nico looked over at Bianca again. More guilt washed over him as he gazed at his sister's distressed face; the same face she got when she was worried about something.

"Bianca," He spoke up suddenly. He swallowed hard as he realized how strained his voice was, "I need to talk to you about this."

Bianca made a sound that Nico could describe. Maybe it was anger or maybe it was sadness. He could tell.

"Nico, I know you're going through a hard time right now, but I have to know. What's going on with you and Percy?" Bianca glanced over at her brother with a frown pursed on her lips.

Nico gave a breathless laugh. He wasn't sure why, but the way she said that made his snicker. Leaning back in the seat Nico turned his face down, "Do you want the total truth?"

Bianca sighed, "I guess I'm ready to hear everything."

Nico shrugged his shoulders, "Well, you know where it started, right? With me kissing Percy and him rejecting me. You know about the cutting and the tears. You know about how he made me cry at school. You know how I went to that party with Thalia." Bianca nodded slowly, unsure where he brother was going with this. "There's a lot more to it than that. I guess I should start with what happened at the party. You know that guy Luke, right? From school."

Nico took a deep breath, knowing he would need strength to finish this. It had to end here. Bianca had to know everything. "He came up to me at party and just started being…a complete ass. He threw beer all over me, which is what dad smelled on me when he thought I was drinking. Anyways, this boy named Leo is the one that stopped him. We automatically had something going on there. I liked him from that first second. No… I think I love him. He took me upstairs to the bathroom and helped me dry off and we just started kissing. All of the sudden Thalia came to me and started freaking out over the fact that it was passed twelve or something. She was grabbing my arm and tried to get me to go with her and I just pushed her away. That's when she fell."

Nico froze when he heard the deep intake of breath from Bianca. He was terrified by his sister's reaction, but he had to tell the truth. There was no way around it. He thought it was a relief to tell his parents about this when he wasn't even telling the whole truth. Now that everything was coming out Nico felt completely free.

"When I pushed her away she stumbled and fell. She ran out before I could help her. I never meant for anything to happen to Thalia. She's a good friend and I wouldn't do anything bad to her." Nico once again paused, taking a deep breath. "Now here comes the truly important thing. After Thalia left I started crying. I felt completely awful. Then Leo came to me and gave me the strength I had to get up off my knees. He made me feel worth something. Then he took me into his bedroom. We lay on his bed, we kissed, we hugged, and I told him the honest truth about everything. I told him the whole story. Then he just lay there with me, holding me. I fell asleep and when I woke up it was extremely late. Leo automatically took me home, but…"

"Did you and Leo do anything bad?" Bianca asked quickly, her voice become high from stress.

Nico looked over at her with a confused expression, "What do you mean "bad"?"

"I mean did you have sex with him, Nico?! Did you and him have sex?! Did he take your virginity? Well, if you're still a virgin." Nico blushed as Bianca said the words: sex, virginity, virgin. This was not what he wanted to talk about with his sister. It was not! It was completely and utter uncomfortable for him.

"N-No, I didn't….we didn't have sex." He watched Bianca as she nodded, excepting the answer. She wasn't going to ask the question about him being a virgin again. She wasn't she wanted the answer.

"Well, after he took me home and the fight, I went up to me room. I felt awful and I thought about…to tell you the truth I thought about cutting my wrists open again. I don't really care anymore. I didn't though so don't worry. Instead I jumped out of the window and tried to run away," There was a hint of bitterness in Nico's voice that he quickly tried to suppress, "After that I opened my phone and was about to call Leo to come pick me up from the woods, but I realized I had six missed phone calls. I called them back and Percy answered. I told him I was going to run away. He told me to go to the old tree house and he would be there in a minute. I didn't really believe him, but I did go to the tree house. I mean it wasn't very likely that he would come by. I fell asleep in the tree house and when I woke up Percy was standing over me. Then he just sat down beside me and started talking. The first thing he asked me was if I cut my wrists. I did and he freaked out. He started screaming, yelling at me about it. He grabbed me around the waist and at first I thought he was going to hurt me, but he kissed me instead."

"He kissed me harshly and he….he put his tongue in my mouth. Yes, it was a French kiss. Shortly after that we left and before I could do anything Percy got down on one knee and he started talking about how he loved me and wanted to spend eternity with me. Then he pulled out a ring and asked me to be his boyfriend. I think a marriage proposal would have been better, but what can I do? So, that's pretty much everything. After that I came home and the story continues. That's why I am coming to his house right now. I love him! But I love Leo, too! I just don't… aahhhh!" Nico put his head down against the dashboard of the car and sighed. Bianca on the other hand didn't say a word. It was killing Nico; the silence. He waited, but instead of her saying anything she stopped the car.

"We're here." She said in a monotone voice. Nico looked in front of him and saw that they were parked in front of a familiar house- Percy's house.

"Bianca…." Nico started before he was automatically cut off.

"Just go. I want you to go. We can talk about this when I get back. Just….. If you love Percy go to him. I want to talk about this later, but now you might want to go talk to him first."

"Alright." Nico whispered quiet to his sister as he opened the door and slide down from the seat. He looked through the windshield, staring at Bianca as he moved towards Percy's front door. He then turned away from the car. He didn't want Bianca to be mad at him for this. He didn't want her to shun him again like she would do at times.

Walking up the front steps towards the door Nico tried his best to forget the conversation with Bianca. He gently reached up and knocked on the door. The first time he knocked the door was snatched open. Standing before him was Percy. Nico couldn't be sure if the boy was just around the door at the time or if Percy was actually waiting to opening the door for him.

"Nico!" He called happily to the boy, ushering him inside. "Come on. Come in. Let's go upstairs and talk. Come on!"

Nico smiled to himself as Percy took his hand and automatically began dragging him up the stairs. Nico didn't mind the fact that Percy was being so pushy. Nico had missed him so much over the time that they had been separated and want to make him happy. He wanted to allow him to smile and just do whatever they wanted together.

Percy pushed Nico into his bedroom before shutting the door harshly. Not even a minute had passed before Percy grabbed the other boy around the waist and kissed him, dipping him backwards like they always did in the movies.

"Hello there." Percy whispered quietly to Nico as he pulled away from the boy, gazing down at him as he was leaned back slightly. Nico just gave a small laugh and shook his head, tearing away from Percy's strong grasp. Percy laughed as well, watching as his boyfriend paced around the room. For a moment he stopped. Nico was his boyfriend. Boyfriend- that word was so insignificant yet it meant so much to him. He loved Nico. He wanted to be with him for eternity. He just wasn't use to calling him boyfriend.

"So, what was it that we need to talk about?" Percy asked as he moved forward once again and slung his arm over Nico's shoulder.

Nico ducked his head away quickly, hoping Percy wouldn't notice as his smile dissolved, being replaced by a grimace. When he heard the slight intake of breath from the other boy Nico knew he hadn't been so luck.

"Well, you know how I've been in some trouble lately," Nico began. Percy shook his head slightly. "A while after you left my parents sit me down and we had a talk. They think I've been in too much trouble lately."

"Yeah, what do you mean by that?" Percy asked, his throat constricting as he listened to Nico speak.

"Well, they have decided to send me away for a few weeks. I'm going to go stay with my aunt Hera. I don't have much time to even talk to you before I go. As soon as I get home I need to start packing." Nico watched as Percy's face fell. His skin became slightly paler and his lips drew together in a hard line.

"So you're leaving." Percy whispered quietly. Nico nodded bitterly before allowing Percy to continue., "Well, let me give you something to remember me by over these next few weeks."

He leaned forward before kissing him on the lips. Slowly he pressed his tongue against Nico's lips, begging the boy for entrance. There was a moment of hesitation before Nico's lips began parting. Percy's tongue darted into Nico's wet cavern, pressing his tongue against the roof of Nico's mouth. Warm hands danced across cold flesh as Percy slipped his hands under Nico's shirt, running small circles over the boy's flesh. A whimper left the smaller boy's mouth as Percy dug his fingers into Nico's stomach. Nico took a deep intake of breath as he was being shoved harshly against the wall. There was no hesitation as Percy slipped his hand into Nico's jean.

Percy slid his hand down to Nico's groin area, massaging in a way that made the boy cry out. Percy hadn't expected Nico to make such a noise. He wasn't sure how the boy produced such an erotic sound; something caught half way between a purr and a moan, a sound that immediately caused Percy's body to become hot.

More…! That was the only thing Nico's hazy mind could process as he struggled to gain control over his emotions and physical being. He was unsure how far he wanted to go with this. To tell the complete and utter truth, Nico was terrified by the idea of sex. The very thought of committing such an act with Percy made a lump form in Nico's throat. He wouldn't admit it (due to embarrassment), but he was a virgin and he wasn't exactly sure he wanted to give that up at sixteen. He had heard guys at school boasting about how they had gotten laid over the weekend and banged some girl- he always looked at those kinds of people in disgust. He didn't think it was right.

Percy pulled away from Nico, a string of saliva stretching between the two of them. He gently moved his head to the left before nipping at the side of Nico's neck. Kissing the smooth skin harshly Percy began sucking on Nico's neck. Nico let out a slight gasp as he felt Percy's hand slide out of his pants and began fiddling with the belt around his waist. He slowly undid the buckle before grabbing the zipper of Nico's pants. That's when he determined that things were going too far.

"Per-Percy…Stop." Nico muttered quietly.

There was a moment of silence as Nico gazed into Percy's eyes, holding tightly onto the other boy's arm. There was a slightly, breathless laugh from Percy as he pulled away from Nico. Taking his hand away from Nico's body and laying his head gently against the other boy's forehead, he gave Nico a tender kiss.

"I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to take it that far. If you didn't want me to do that than you should warn me. I'm so, so sorry. I just wanted to do something special for you before you leave. I want to…. I wanted to show you that I love you. I do love you. I just wanted to do something special for you, something that can only be shared between you and me." Percy gave Nico a small nip on the side of his neck before backing up and sitting down on the bed. Nico grinned wildly as he heard that. It was something that no one had ever said to him. No one had ever wanted just him. It was great to hear those words and it was even more special that it was said by Percy.

Nico smiled like a mad man, wrapping his arms around his own body and trying his best to get a leash on his own emotions. Sitting down on the open windowsill Nico just gazed at Percy, head cocked to the side and face overwhelmed with contentment and pleasure. Percy stood up once again and moved towards Nico.

He stopped suddenly when he saw the car parked in his driveway, or more importantly, who was sitting in the car's driver seat. Walking up beside the window Percy gazed out around Nico.

"Is your sister in the car?" Percy knew the answer was yes, but he just wanted to ask. He could see the young girl sitting there with black hair and large brown eyes just like Nico's. He had seen the girl more times than he could count. Every vacation they had spent together, every time Percy had been over to Nico's house. He knew Bianca well and even after the conversation they had had the day before he still loved her like she was his own sister.

"Yeah," Nico whispered quietly.

"Does she still hate me?" Nico gazed at him with wide eyes. He didn't know what to tell Percy. He didn't want to say yes but he didn't want to say no.

"Not really."

"Well, let's give her a reason to." Percy said suddenly. Nico gasped as strong arms wrapped around his waist, pulling him across the windowsill and holding him tightly in his arms. Percy held him tightly, hugging him while stroking the back of his head and his back. Percy nudged his head into the side of Nico's neck, kissing and nipping the skin gently. He wasn't being harsh with Nico. He wasn't doing it to show off to Bianca. He just wanted to show her that he truly did love Nico. He knew that she would never trust him, but he wanted to show everyone how much he really cared for the boy even after he had put him through hell.

"I love you." Percy pressed his lips to Nico's ear as he told the boy that. He bit the tip of Nico's ear slightly, causing the boy to whimper. "I truly do love you. Please don't go. I'll miss you so much. I d- don't want you to go."

Nico was surprised by how much pain was in his voice, how much guilt and sorrow. It was surprising to see someone who Nico looked up when he was little, someone he had always loved and thought of as so strong being so torn up by him leaving.

"Percy, p-please don't do this. I- I just…..I don't want you to be so upset over me. I love you, too and trust me I don't want to leave. I'll miss you so much, but I don't want to hurt you. You need to calm down and just remember I'll only be gone a few weeks." Nico pleaded as he ran his hands up Percy's back, letting his fingers slide up and run through Percy's hair. He loved the feeling of just touching the boy, being able to hold him and feel him. It was the best thing he could have imagined.

"I've been without you for so long. I've been missing you so bad. I don't know why I did those things to you. I know I was awful to you. Completely horrid. I don't know why this happened. I don't know why I trusted Annabeth. She's a bitch! I don't ever want to be with her again! I just want you! I don't want to waste any more time without you!" Percy held tightly to his boyfriend, clutching his shoulders, nudging his head into the crook of Nico's neck.

"Percy…," Nico continued running his hands up and down Percy's back and shoulders, trying his best to calm the boy. Turning his face away Nico looked out the window. His eyes locked on his sister who was staring up at them through the windshield, watching them as they sat by the open window. Bianca's eyes were wide and her mouth was formed in an "o".

Percy let go slowly, loosening his grip slightly, before backing away. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he sat down on his bed. Looking up at the boy before him Percy slowly realized tears were forming in the corners of his own eyes. He reached up and wiped them away. He didn't want to feel so weak, but he didn't know how he would be able to lose Nico again, even if it was only for a few weeks. He loved Nico and he felt awful that it took him so long to realize it.

"Percy, come here," Nico said quickly. Percy looked up at him when suddenly Nico sat down in his lap, straddling the boy as he held on to Percy's shoulders, kissing the boy tenderly on the cheek. "I love you, okay? I love you so much and believe me when I say I would never hurt you. I'll miss you so much. I need to leave soon though. I have to pack and everything. I'm pretty sure I'm leaving tomorrow. But I have one more thing to tell you, okay." Nico's stomach tightened as he watched Percy's face turn slightly pale. He didn't want to talk about Leo, but he didn't want to lie to Percy. He didn't want to hurt him, but he knew he would have to tell him.

"Nico, just promise me one thing. Please don't break my heart. Please, please don't do this to me! Don't cheat on me with anyone! I love you so much and I don't think I would be able to do this if I knew you loved someone else!" Percy's eyes widened as he held Nico tightly around the waist. He gently kissed Nico's cheek.

"I-I…Percy…..I won't. I promise I won't. I just want to tell you that…I love you. I'm going to miss you. Percy, I think I have to get going. I really need to pack."

"Alright. Promise me that you'll be sure to call me while you're gone. I need to hear your voice every once in a while. I love you, Nico. I'll miss you." Percy bent forward and kissed the boy on the tip of the nose. Nico blushed at the way he did that, pulling back with that goofy smile that made him melt. Nico slowly slide away from Percy, getting up off his lap. He took the boy's hand in his own.

"Do you want to walk me out?" Nico asked softly.

"Of course I do." Percy stood up slowly, before pulling Nico closer to him, holding the boy against his side. Opening the bedroom door Percy took Nico down the hallway, bending his head sideways every once in a while to nip at his neck or kissing his cheek. They walked down the hall together and towards the stairs. Percy was surprised when his mother leaned out from her bedroom door and stared at the two of them. He could read her thoughts as they walked on. Percy gently leaned over and kissed Nico's cheek before the two disappeared down the stairs. He took Nico to the front door before opening it for him and waiting for him to step outside. Nico blushed as he did so.

Walking out the front door Nico turned back, eyeing Percy lovingly. "Bye," Nico whimpered slowly before leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.

"Goodbye, Nico. I'll try to stop by your house tomorrow and tell you bye before you leave. I love you." Percy whispered as he watched his boyfriend wave slightly and started towards his car. Percy hesitated before closing the front door.

Nico walked sluggishly to the car before climbing up into the passenger seat. He waited for Bianca to start the car, but instead of starting the car she just sat there. There was a light smile playing on her mouth before it quickly turned to a frown.

"I saw you two upstairs through the window." Bianca glanced over at Nico before shaking her head and starting the car. She backed out of the driveway without saying another word. Nico didn't know what was going on beside the fact that Bianca seemed slightly angry about that. Bianca waited until they were completely down the street before speaking up again. She felt odd about seeing Nico with a boy. She had never seen her younger brother with a boy and definitely not kissing a boy. She always imagined him with a girlfriend instead of a boyfriend.

"Nico, trust me when I say I don't mind the fact that you're gay. I really don't. I mean I've always thought of you with a girlfriend, but that doesn't make me hate you. I know I can't change the fact that you love Percy and that you care about Leo. I don't mind you loving a boy, but just remember this. If Percy ever hurts you again, don't stand for it. He hurt you so bad in the past and I don't what to see that happen again. If he does hurt you, go to Leo. From the way you talk about him he sounds like he cares about you a lot. I know Percy has had problems with you in the past and I don't want you to just put your heart and soul into this relationship. If you ever need to talk to someone, go to Leo. Or you could always come to me. I swear to god if he ever, and I mean ever, makes my baby brother cry again I will beat the living shit out of him! I will kick his fucking ass!' Bianca laughed slightly to herself before glancing back at Nico. He looked up at her with wide eyes before his face softened, a large smile spreading across him face. Before Bianca could even reply Nico leaned across his seat and grabbed his sister around the neck. He hugged her tightly from the side.

"Nico, I love you, but get off before I wreck!" Bianca cried. Nico retracted his arms from her neck.

"Oops, sorry." Nico grinned at his sister before leaning back in his seat. Then sudden a thought dawned on him, "Bianca, just promise me one thing. Don't tell mom and dad about Percy until I leave. Promise me you won't. After I leave you can tell them anything you want. Just wait till I'm gone, okay?"

"I promise." Bianca whispered after a moment, a small smile crossing his face.

"Okay," Nico said quietly to himself, wedging a final pair of socks along the edge of his suitcase. "I need to go over the list one more time."

Picking up the wrinkled paper that he had wrote yesterday from beside him on the bed he raised it to his face, " Wallet, cell phone, charger, Percy and Leo's phone numbers, laptop, laptop charger, headphones, seats of clothes, jacket, running clothes,
mouthwash, razors, deodorant, toothbrush, cologne, shaving cream, dental floss, comb." Nico rustled through his suitcase looking at everything.

He also had another suitcase that wasn't quite as large as the first one. He had a few personal things in the second bag such as; books, DVDs, a picture of him and Percy (which he kept just because he knew he would miss the boy), the ring that Percy had given him, plus other things. There was also something tucked deep in the bag that he didn't even want to think about, but he knew it was a great idea to take it with him. Stuck in the side of his suit case, on the inside pocket, there was a glass's case with a pair of black rimmed glasses shut inside- ones which Nico hadn't worn in years. If he remembered correctly the last time he wore them was in the second year of middle school. Finally, he stopped wearing them. Sometimes things were still a little blurry to him, but his eye sight had gotten significantly better since then. Shutting the suitcase, crumbling the paper up and tossing it in the trash can beside his desk; Nico zipped up the bag and sit it on the floor. He grabbed the handle quickly and rolled it out of the room. He wasn't sure where his parents were, but he was still slightly peeved at them. He hoped he wouldn't have to see them. He was slightly happy that he would get to get away from his parents for a while. It was like they didn't even care about him anymore. He felt like he was worthless every time he talked to them.

Running down the stairs Nico pulled the suitcase along behind him. He was half way down the stair when he saw Bianca standing in the door way, running back into the house. They looked at each other for a moment before a passing happened between them. He prayed that Bianca understood what he wanted her to do. She promised she wouldn't tell her parents anything about what was truly happening between him and Percy until he was already gone.

Continuing down the stairs Nico passed by his sister before smiling up at her. Bianca looked back, grinning at him hopefully. She wanted what was best for him and hoped that this would help Nico deal with everything. Stepping outside Nico saw his father standing beside the car, bending over as he reached for something under the seat. Nico paid him no mind as he walked passed him and opened the trunk of the car. Heaving up the suitcase, Nico pushed his suitcase into the back, heading into the house again as he went to retrieve the other bag. It took him a minute to get the second bag down stairs as he ran into Bianca once again in the hallway upstairs. Once he was outside Nico also put the suitcase in the back.

Once all his stuff was packed up and in the car Nico wandered back into the house, unsure of what to do anymore. He waded into the living room before sitting down on the couch, staring at the blank TV in front of him. There was a commotion from the front door as Hades came back inside the house.

"Bianca! Maria! We have to leave soon if we want to get there on time! Hera is expecting us there before night!" Hades called before heading into the living room. He stopped in the doorway looking at his son who sat there staring off into space.

"Nico…. It's time to go." Nico glanced up at his father bitterly. He didn't want to move from that spot. He wanted to fade away into the couch and become part of the fabric.

Suddenly, he clambered to his feet, "Fine!" He stormed out of the room angrily, moving out into the hallway before heading through the front door. He hated everything. He felt like his life was being destroyed right in front of him. Although Bianca forced him to see the reality of the situation and that it wasn't that bad, Nico knew that he would miss both Leo and Percy. Standing in the door way Nico looked out and saw his mother and sister standing beside the car, waiting for him and his father to come out. Suddenly, there was a honking sound of a horn that cut through the silence. Nico near jumped due to the fact he thought that it was their car at first. Then he realized it was a car parked across the street.

Gazing across the road he saw the boy standing beside the red car, his brown curls shinnying in the evening sun and a devious smile crossing his face. Nico's mouth formed an "o" for a second before he smiled. There wasn't any way to keep the smile from his face. His mother and Bianca stared at him like he had lost his mind. Nico didn't give a second thought before dashing across the yard towards the boy. He stopped momentarily at the side of the road, looking for any oncoming cars before continuing. Nico felt as though he was in a movie, running towards the man he loved. Literally jumping at Leo, Nico hugged the boy tightly. Leo caught the boy in his arms before pulling him up and forcing Nico to wrap his legs around Leo's own waist. He held tightly to Nico, holding him there in his arms while the boy wrapped his arms around his neck. Pulling back Nico ducked his head down and kissed Leo harshly on the lips.

Finally, Nico dropped his legs from Leo's waist and pulled away. "I'll miss you." Nico whimpered under his breath before kissing Leo once more. He could feel all three sets of eyes burning into his back; his mother, his father, and Bianca. Leo gently pulled away from Nico, only moving his face back a few inches.

"I really think I love you. You know that. Please remember that when you're gone. I know you're still trying to figure these things out, with me and that other guy, but don't be taking on any one else while you're gone." Leo pulled further away from Nico before pulling the boy forward and hugging him tightly to his chest. Nico loved the sound of Leo's hear viciously pounding in his ear as they embraced. It was amazing.

A shiver ran through the boy's body as Leo kissed Nico gently on the side of the neck before ducking away and kissing him on the center of the forehead, "I love you, Nico. I'm going to miss you so much. I know you need to go soon, but I don't want to let you go."

"I have to, you know that. My parents are actually staring at us right now." Nico smirked to himself.

"I know. I saw them only a few seconds ago. They're staring at us, but I don't mind. I love the way they can't do anything about it." Leo smiled sweetly before his arms fell away from Nico's waist. "I guess this is goodbye, for now."

"For now…" Nico trailed off before backing up away from Leo. "I love you, too. I'll see you when I get back. I'll call you as soon as I get to my aunt's. I'll call every day alright?"

"I won't mind it." Leo said before leaning back on his car. Nico smiled for a moment before turning away and walking back across the street. He didn't want to leave Leo behind, but he had to. He hated it so much, but there was no other way.

Nico glanced back at Leo as he opened the car door and slid inside. He wasn't sure what his parents or Bianca would say to him, but he figured he would have a lot of criticism considering his family got into the car already. Despite all that had happened in the last few moment no one said anything besides Nico's mother.

"So that's the boy you're dating? Leo?" Maria turned to face her son for a moment as Hades started the car.

"Yeah…" Nico muttered as they started down the street. Maria simply nodded as she listened to her son and watched him blush in the back seat.

"Well, he's kind of hot." Bianca piped up. Nico looked over at her before falling sideways, leaning his head against the window as he blushed profoundly at the comment. He didn't know what to do beyond that point or what to say with the next comment, but luckily no one said another word about the subject. Although his mother did snicker after a minute.