(Disclaimer, I'm feeling unoriginal, so no wonder Percy Jackson isn't mine.)

Muttering Monsters:

PoV: Nico di Angelo

Nico lay in his burgundy bed, with his burgundy sheets and pillows in the Hades cabin listening to a quiet nothingness. It was 11:00 am or maybe noon. Perhaps even afternoon. Nico didn't care. He had been replaying last night –Annabeth's party– over and over in his head. Thinking of what it had meant.

This had happened:

After the "Surprise!" everyone had shouted at Annabeth after she had entered the clearing around Zeus's fist, the Stoll brothers had immediately turned on a stereo which blared loudly with music no one really listened too.

Nico himself had stood by the side, debating with himself if he should be at this party at all. I mean who would ever think to look for Nico di Angelo. Son of the lord of death. Weird zombie dude. The guy who had turned a boy into a nameless spirit.

"Death boy," Will had emerged from the thick crowd of bodies dancing to the rhythmic music. "What are you doing here all by yourself?" He had asked, his voice raised so that Nico could hear him over the music and laughter from everyone.

"Why do you care?" Nico asked, his voice raised equally, hoping feverishly that Will couldn't hear the triple summer sault that his heart had just done. Will shrugged his shoulders.

"Do you want a drink? You look like you could use a drink." Will was gone before Nico could even begin to object. Seconds later he emerged carrying a coke for Nico. He thrust the drink into Nico's hand and said, "Drink. You could use the sugar levels." So Nico had done as Will had asked, wondering why Will cared so much for Nico.

Suddenly like an unannounced guest at a tea party, the Truth or Dare game popped into his mind. Again. Nico couldn't (and wouldn't) really want to stop thinking about it. Did it mean that Will liked Nico? Probably. Did Nico like Will back? Definitely. Would he ever say so to anyone? Never. Smart right? Very.

The sugary taste of the coke filled Nico's mouth and he coughed slightly as the bubbles filled his nose.

"You okay Death boy?" Will asked.

Nico had given Will a glare that could kill and said, "Do not call me Death boy."

"Whatever you say." He had smiled, Will was very infuriating. Especially when he was so sure of himself. He was so sure that Nico wouldn't hurt him in any way. Nico's question was, why? Why was Will so sure that Nico wouldn't just pull his stygian iron sword on him and stab him. Or turn an army of skeletons on him. Nico was dangerous. Or so he'd been told.

Sugary drink still in hand Nico had stalked off, back towards his cabin, he wasn't sure what he was gonna do there but it was better than being stuck with Will provoking him. And the drone of the music. And the tightly packed crowd of campers. Yep, his empty cabin and beautiful burgundy bed sounded really nice right then.

As Nico pushed through the crowd, he inevitably ended up in the forest. He walked in the benevolent darkness, with the smell of wild flowers and burbling of the familiar creatures hidden within and behind the shadows. Nico felt so at peace that he started when he heard other footsteps besides his own. He turned on his heel to see the son of Apollo.

"Leaving already?" Will said, in a prodding voice.

Nico turned back around thinking he wouldn't have anything to do with Will and his stupid games. He simply wanted to walk in peace and quiet on the way back to his cabin. Maybe steal a bowl of grapes on the way. He heard the steps hurry, but didn't look up when they fell into step behind him.

"Come on, Nico," Will pleaded, "It's Annabeth's birthday, your seriously going to be a party-pooper and leave early?"

Nico didn't answer. He simply kept walking focusing on the smell of flowers. Wild Gardenias for sure. What else? Bachelor Buttons. What else?

"Hey, you can talk, you know?" Will said. Nico still didn't say anything. His heart was racing in his chest. Damn the wild flowers, he couldn't focus on that. Will placed a hand on Nico's arm, to slow him down, but that was when Nico snapped.

"Don't touch me!" He burst out. Will jumped back like some prey animal. For a second everything stopped. the monesters and insects holding their breaths to see what was to happen to next. When nothing did for several moments everything resumed. The moment(s) forgotten. "Sorry." Nico mumbled, rubbing the place where Will had sent an electric current up his arm. He surly hadn't meant too.

Will just stared at Nico, his blue eyes big and innocent. Also iridescent. Stop it, Nico had thought, you can't think like that. It's dangerous and risky and it's going to blow up in your face. Nico had physically shaken his head, trying to change his thought. No such luck.

"Nico?" The blonde boy had tried. "Are you okay?" He was worried now.

Nico looked up. The iridescent pair of eyes met the brown, hollow pair. Nico wouldn't talk. Was it safe to ask a question though? Just do it. Ask him.

"Why did you kiss me. At Truth or Dare, why did you kiss me?" Nico asked.

Will shrugged. "I like you, Nico." Nico cocked his head to the side trying to figure out what that meant. It seemed as if they stood there for ages. The monsters and insects very much alive, their muttering and buzzing never quiet slowing or stopping.

"Why?" Nico managed at last.

Will shrugged. "I don't know. It's not easy liking you. But I do."

Nico looked away from Will's unwavering gaze. He felt as if Will might drill a hole through him. Or worse, see inside him. Nico di Angelo was too messy for a boy like Will Solace.

"It's not easy liking you either." Nico said at last. Will's eyes lit up, and Nico swore it lit up the whole night. His twinkling blue eyes belonged right up there with the stars. In fact, Will's eyes' carried the stars inside them. Will crossed the distance between them with less than three steps.

Then,

Nico bled into the shadows.

That was what had happened at Annabeth's party. Nico now lay in bed an thought he would do so for whatever remainder of the day. What would Will've done if Nico hadn't left? Would they've kissed? The idea shook Nico, making his heart pound all the way down to his tiny toe.

Anybody watch '13 reasons why'? Damn, that stuff is heavy. And who watches Riverdale? (I absolutely love Bughead in the last episode. And finally Archie and Veronica are getting somewhere.) Sorry, rambling, I'll stop.

Adjö, mina strålande läsare.