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.

Nico had led Luke into the change room and made sure it was empty.

"Alright Luke, spill."

"What you talking about?" Luke asked, his fake confusion very unconvincing.

"You have been talking shit about Percy since I started here and it's time you fill me in on what exactly happened to make you hate him that much." Nico crossed his arms over his chest, "And what do you mean he doesn't handle rejection well?"

Luke sighed and sat on a bench, "It was freshman year. Percy just didn't act right; the way he looked at me and talked to me. I know you get it, he does it with you too." Nico frowned, so Percy had been coming on to Luke. "Then we were at a party and he was all over me. I had to tell him to fuck off."

Luke nodded as if he was finished. Nico squinted in confusing. What did he mean by 'all over him'? Did Percy really have feelings for Luke? Did Luke really hate him because he was homophobic?

"So you hate him because he was hitting on you?" Nico asked.

Luke stood and stepped closer, "Don't you get it?" Luke looked panicked, "He's a fag Nico!"

Luke opened his mouth to say something else but all Nico could hear was the blood rushing in his ears as his fist shot out and connected with Luke's face. The blonde boy was on the ground in front of him, leaning against the bench, blood dripping out between the fingers that were clutching his face.

"Don't you ever use that word around me again!" Nico hissed, "Especially when referring to my boyfriend!" Before Luke could respond Nico, realizing what he had done, spun and fled from the change room.

Percy wondered the empty halls looking for Nico. He had waited outside the change room after lunch but when the boy didn't show he began to worry. He stepped out the front door and glanced around. He was surprised to see Nico sitting on the ground leaning against his car. Percy rushed over, Nico had his head in his arms and his small frame was shaking. Percy knelt down next to him and put his arms around the smaller boy. Nico flinched and began to pull away until he realized who it was, then he pulled Percy close and clung to him as he cried. Percy held Nico close for a minute and tried to calm his own panic.

Finally Percy pulled him from the ground, "Come on darling, you'll catch your death sitting out here like this." Opening the door Percy ushered Nico into the back seat and slid in next to him. He wrapped his arms around the shaking boy and held him close. "I'm here. I got you. Everything going to be okay, I got you." He murmured into Nico's ear. He had no idea what happened but if Luke had anything to do with it...

"No, I messed up. Big time. They're going to throw me out. They're going to send me away. Percy, I don't want to go." Percy could barely make out what Nico was saying, his voice muffled against Percy's chest and broken with sobs.

"Hey now," Percy pulled Nico slightly away. He looked down at him and gently wiped his tears. "Nikki, slow down, tell me what happened. I'm not going to let anyone send you away. I just got you; you think I'm going to let you go?"

"I hit him. Right in the face." Nico mumbled.

"Who? Luke? I bet he deserved it." Percy tried to give Nico a small smile. Nico just shook his head.

"He did. But that doesn't matter; they never care about the why. I got in a fight and it's over. I was finally happy and then I go and mess it up. I guess everyone is right, I'm just a screw up." Nico wiped his face as the words rushed out.

Percy grabbed his shoulders and turned Nico to face him, he lifted the smaller boy's chin with his fingers, "Don't you dare. You are not a screw up and don't you ever let anyone convince you otherwise. You are amazing Nikki, alright? Fucking amazing." Nico nodded slowly, even thou he didn't agree. "Tell me exactly what happened."

"I tried asking him why he hated you so much, he said that back when he was a freshman you were hitting on him, and he...he called you ...a ...a fag. I've been called that and similar so many times I didn't even think, I just hit him." Nico whispered quietly, tripping over the word. "Also, I may have called you my boyfriend." He said with a flinch.

Percy smiled, "And you think I'd be upset about that? Gods Nico, I hope to Hades I'm your boyfriend." Nico couldn't help but give him a small smile and nod, there was no point trying to deny it any longer. "Good. Now look, not all is lost. Let's go talk to Brunner. He's a pretty understanding guy, I'm sure we can figure this out."

"I'm on behavioral probation."

"I'm not going to let them throw you out for sticking up for me. Especially to Luke, that guy has been gunning for me for years. Besides, there's more to that story then he shared with you."

"What really happened?"

Percy shook his head, he so didn't want to tell Nico about the incident with Luke, but he knew eventually he would have to. "Let's go talk to Brunner. Deal with one thing at a time. And next time, you call me, okay? No matter what, I'll be there."

Nico nodded and let Percy lead him back to the school.

Percy knocked on the Principal's door and poked his head in, "Mr. Brunner? Can we talk to you?" the secretary told them he was alone, Percy was surprised Luke wasn't there.

"Percy, Nico, come right on boys. What can I do for you?" The boy's sat in front of his desk awkwardly. Percy reached over and took Nico's hand squeezing in encouragement. Nico allowed it, but kept his face on the ground. He gripped Percy's hand tightly. Mr. Brunner raised an eyebrow questioningly.

"Mr. Brunner, Nico is a little upset. He had a confrontation with Luke Castellan, and things may have gotten a little...physical."

Mr. Brunner removed his glassed and looked hard at the two boys, "Why don't you tell me what happened?"

"Nico isn't a trouble maker Mr. Brunner. I know what his records say, but that's not the whole story." Percy paused and looked at Nico, his jaw was clenched and he was shaking a little bit. Percy knew he wasn't going to say anything so he continued. "Nico has been being bullied for years. No one seemed to care at his first high school; you know kids will be kids mentality, until Nico started fighting back. When he tried to defend himself no one listened, they didn't care why the fight started they just cared that Nico was the one left standing. So at the next couple school he didn't even try, but he refused to stand there and take it. They labeled him a trouble maker, a fighter, when really he was just standing up for himself."

Mr. Brunner studied Nico and nodded, "What does this have to do with Luke? Nico, was Luke bullying you?"

The small boy shook his head. "Percy."

Mr. Brunner's gaze shifted to Percy, "You were there?"

"No, Nico was standing up for me. Because Luke called me a fag." Mr. Brunner nodded as he looked at their hands clasped together. He understood. "Nico panicked and took off, because he's scared that you're going to kick him out. If things don't work out here, they are going to send him to military school."

"Well, I'm very glad you came in here to talk to me. I'll be honest, I know about the fight. Luke's sitting in the nurse's office with a bloody nose. Nico, I'm going to have to ask Percy to wait outside while I talk to you and Luke." Nico nodded slowly and pulled his hand away from Percy's. Mr. Brunner stood up and walked to the door to fetch Luke. He could have called; Percy knew he was giving them a moment.

"Just tell the truth Nikki," he said as he brushed his lips against his boyfriend's temple. "I'll wait for you; I'll be right outside those doors. Don't worry darling, we'll get through this alright?"

Nico nodded, "Thanks Percy."