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 sat in history class tapping his pencil and staring at the clock. Lunch couldn't come soon enough. He wanted to see Percy. It had been a full week since his confrontation with Luke and so far things were going well. Luke had kept his word about keeping things civil and Nico had kept his word about keeping Luke's secret. Their friends were all aware Percy and Nico were together but much to Nico's relief Percy agreed to keep the PDA out of the public. He still wasn't 100% ready to come out. He knew Percy was frustrated but Nico just wanted to take things slow. They hadn't even spent any time together outside of school. A quick kiss in the car when Percy dropped him off after school was all they got. Sure they texted almost constantly, and Percy called Nico every night to say sweet dreams, but it seemed like they were both waiting for the other to make the next move.

"Hey, Nico" Nico looked up and saw Drew standing over his desk.

"Drew."

"How have you been?"

"Ummm...fine."

"That's good. So what's new with you?"

"Nothing. What do you want Drew?"

"Oh come on, I thought we would be friends now. You know since you and Percy..."

"What?" Nico glanced around nervously, his face burning.

"Percy? Your boyfriend?" He was sure her voice got louder as she spoke. A few kids glanced over obviously listening in.

"Leave him alone Drew." Luke's voice cut in, he was slouched in his seat and sounded bored but his eyes cut into Drew's fiercely. He had become even more protective of the dark eyed boy recently, glued to his side when ever Percy wasn't around. Sometimes it felt like the changing of the guards when one would show up whenever the other had to leave.

"What? I'm just trying to make friends with Percy's boyfriend. Is that so wrong?"

Nico slid low in his seat and groaned. He knew she was egging him on, trying to get him to deny it. Which he knew would hurt Percy. She was forcing him to choose: Percy or keeping his secret. The bell rang and Nico glanced into the hall. Percy was waiting in the hall, like he did every day, leaning against the lockers with his hands in his pockets. When he caught Nico's eye his face lit up and a huge grin reached across his face. Nico smiled back, courage filling his veins. Grabbing his bag he pushed past Drew and walked with determination to his boyfriend. Percy took his hands out of his pockets and pushed himself off the lockers. Nico loved the way his eyes shone as he tilted his head.

"Hey Nico. How was class?"

The hall was filling with students on their way to lunch. Nico knew more than a few eyes would be on Percy, there was always someone watching the green eyed boy. He also knew Drew and Luke were standing in the doorway of the class room because in the back of his mind he could hear them arguing quietly. Nico dropped his bag next to Percy and reached up towards him. Percy gave him a curious look but didn't pull away and Nico wrapped one hand on his hip while the other stretched up to entangle in his hair. With determination the smaller boy pulled the taller one towards him and pressed their lips together. Percy didn't move for two heartbeats but quickly recovered from his shock and gripped Nico's waist as he kissed his boyfriend back. Even thou their lips were pressed together hard and their hands were clutching roughly it was a slow and gentle kiss. There were a few catcalls and Nico heard Luke's laughter fill the hallway as Drew squealed in anger before the click of her heels retreated down the hall. Breathing hard Nico pulled back and Percy rested his forehead against the small boys.

"Wow. What was that?" Percy asked quietly, "I mean, don't get me wrong, yay and everything. But I thought you didn't want any PDA?"

Nico blushed, he could feel the eyes of everyone in the hall on his back and the whispers were frantic. His courage slipped away.

"Drew."

Percy cocked an eyebrow, "You kissed me because of Drew?"

Nico nodded but didn't meet his boyfriend's eyes, "She confronted me in class, started asking about us. Loudly. She was trying to out me or make me deny you. I started to panic, bad, but then I saw you. Just standing there, waiting for me. And I knew I couldn't let her push me around. I don't care anymore Percy, about people knowing. I... I want people to know you're waiting there for me. I want people to know, that your mine."

With one hand still on his waist Percy reached his other up to grip Nico's chin gently forcing the younger boy to look up at him.

"Well, then I guess I owe Drew a nice big thank you. Do you have any idea how hard it has been to keep my hands off you?"

Nico laughed and hit Percy gently in the chest. The older boy reached down and took Nico's bag slinging it casually over his shoulder as he put his arm around Nico's. He gently pulled the boy close and brushed his lips against his temple.

"That was awesome!" Luke came up beside them, "I mean really, you should have seen her face. Man was she pissed." The happy couple laughed. "I bow down to you Nico, really."

"Umm... excuses me?" The boy's stopped and turned to the girl who had approached them. She was a small girl with frizzy red hair and green eyes. "My name's Rachel and I just wanted to say that was really brave. I know there's a number out kids in is school but we haven't really had an actual couple. So, yea, I think it's great."

"Thank Rachel!" Percy said with a big smile. "We appreciate the support." Nico just smiled, he didn't feel brave. In fact the closer they got to the cafeteria the more he thought he was going to puke. When they got to the doors Rachel gave a small wave as she headed away. Percy felt Nico tense up and dropped his arm from his shoulder. Instead he reached over and gently took his hand. Everyone was looking at them whispering in hushed tones.

"Relax my Nikki," he whispered, "I'm right here."

Nico nodded and let his boyfriend lead him over to the table he shared with the jocks. Luke split off bumping Nico's shoulder in farewell as he headed over to his own group's table.

Percy threw his leg over the bench sitting sideways pulling Nico down to sit next to him.

"Sooo... I take it your relationship is out in the open now?" Jason said leaning over the table. "Stories of your show in the hallway are spreading fast."

Percy couldn't help but laugh at the wide eyed look on his boyfriend's face. "Show?" The younger boy chocked out.

"Well, you know how these things go." Jason said with s shrug.

"One kid told me it was a slow romantic kiss, and then you stared into each other's eyes with your arms wrapped around each other." Reyna said as she slid in next to Jason, scrunching her face in disgust.

"I heard it was all hot and heavy with grinding hips and wondering hands." Leo giggled next to Percy, patting him on the back.

"Well, we heard it was a little rougher than that." Conner said with a wicked grin from across the table.

"Sweet little Nico here, apparently pushed Percy roughly against the locker." Travis added, edging Nico in the ribs.

"Roughly devouring his lips. Also, I heard there was tongue." Conner finished with a wink.

"Devouring?" Nico groaned burying his face into Percy's chest.

"I think that's my favorite story. Sounds hot." Leo wiggled his eyebrows.

Percy rubbed his back and chuckled. "Aw don't worry about it; things will quiet down by the end of the day. He gripped his hands in his lap and tried to ignore the roll in his stomach. He was officially out.