Disclaimer:: I don't own Percy Jackson and the Heroes of Olympus or its characters. They are the property of Rick Riorden, and are not my intellectual property. There is no financial gain made from this nor will any be sought. This is for entertainment purposes only.

Part of Nico was praying for Percy to kiss him before they went their separate ways after arriving back home on Sunday. But another part of him was very glad he just gently brushed his lips against Nico's temple. It would be easier that way.

Monday morning Nico woke up full of dread. What was going to happen at school today? What was Percy going to do? He felt sick. He wasn't ready for this. He would have to make sure Percy knew that the holiday was over, that it was time to go back to reality. He grabbed his phone and sent out a text.

Meet me before school? Percy's reply came quickly. :) Yes please!

Nico felt like he was going to be sick. He hated what he was going to do, but he knew he had to do it. At least he had the decency to do it away from the school and prying eyes. After sending off a quick reply for Percy to meet him at the coffee shop a few blocks from the school Nico rolled out of bed to get dressed.

Percy stood outside the coffee shop and bounced in place. He was so anxious to see Nico, to talk to him, and oh how he wanted to hold him again. When he saw the other boy coming towards him he couldn't stop the grin from stretching across his face. God's he was beautiful.

"Good morning, Nikki." He reached out to pull him into a hug. Nico tensed and stepped out of reach, eyes darting around.

"My name is Nico, Percy." Percy frowned, but followed the younger boy as he led him inside to a table at the back. After grabbing two coffees they sat in silence. Percy studied Nico's face. He was tense, and his eyes were sad. Percy worried, wondering why Nico wouldn't look back at him. Percy reached out and put his hand over Nico's.

"What wrong Nico?"

"Don't touch me. Please, just...don't. I can't do this Percy, I just...I'm sorry. I just can't." Nico stumbled on his words.

Percy leaned back in the booth, "We're back to this. Come on Nikki, you have nothing to worry about." Percy leaned forward again, his arms on the table. "No one is going to care. I've been out since freshman year, everyone knows and they accept it. And those that don't are smart enough to keep their mouths shut."

"They accept you Percy. You're not...you've been with girls. To the other kids you're just that hot jock who's experimented. They ignore the rest of it because of who you are. It's different for guys like me. People look for reasons to start trouble with me."

"Nico, no one's going to mess with you. I got your back, we all do. I thought you saw that this weekend."

"I get that you don't understand this. I get it that this is hard for you; it's hard for me to. But I need you to understand that I'm not ready for this." Nico still looked down at his cup. "I appreciate everything you did for me this weekend; really, you have no idea how much it meant to me. That you...were there." Nico sniffled and his voice cracked. Percy got out of his seat and slid in next to him taking his hand.

"Hey, I was happy to do it. Nico, listen to me; I really, really care about you. And I get that you're scared, I have no idea what you've been through and I couldn't even begin to imagine. I just, I want to be there for you. I want to help you through this but you keep pushing me away."

Nico slid away from him, nearly pressing himself against the wall. Percy had a sudden flashback to the way Kronos had him backed against the wall. Percy slide the other way, his heart aching.

"If you care, you'll accept this. Just let it go."

Percy sighed and leaned back against the bench, "I'll let it go and I won't tell anyone, I swear to you. But I won't give up on you. I can't go back Nico, now that I've had a taste I can't give that up."

"What are you talking about?"

"I held you Nikki. I held you while you cried and I held you while you slept, and there's no way I can forget how it feels to have you in my arms. I can't go back to pretending we're just friends."

"We ARE just friends." Nico pointed out.

Percy's jaw went slack, "Fine." He snapped, "But that's not what I want and I'm not going to pretend it is. I'm not going to deny how I feel about you."

"Percy, you promised." Nico hissed at him.

"I promised I wouldn't say anything about you, my feelings are my own to express. And I'm not going to hide or deny that you're the one I want."

"Gods Percy, do you even care how hard that's going to make things for me?"

"Do you know how hard it's going to be, how hard it already has been, to see you every day and not be able to touch you? You get squirrely every time I even talk to you. Do you know how hard it's been to watch you every day, to want you every day and to be rejected by you every day? I can't give you up Nico, I won't give you up."

Percy stood, "I'm sorry Nico, I guess I'm just too selfish to let you go." With a sad smile Percy walked out of the coffee shop without looking back. He didn't want Nico to see the tears that were slipping out. He knew he was being harsh, pushy even, but he had to show Nico that he was serious about this. That they were safe to be together. Percy wiped roughly at his eyes, he had to pull himself together before he got to school.

Nico sat in the booth, a now cold cup of coffee in his hands. His chest ached and his eyes burned. He wasn't sure what he was feeling or if that conversation achieved what he had hoped. He felt so sad to have let Percy go, to have told the older boy they couldn't be together. That he wouldn't feel those strong arms around him, the gentle way Percy would brush his lips against Nico's forehead or temple. He was angry at Percy for pushing him, for not accepting that he needed more time. He was angry that Percy was so arrogant to think he knew what was right for Nico. And still a part of him was overjoyed that Percy cared so much. That Percy wasn't willing to give up on him He was terrified as to what that would mean. Nico sighed and pushed himself out of the booth, he was going to be late if he didn't get going. He dumped his untouched cold coffee in the trash on his way out the door.