Nico glanced over for a moment and smiled, "Hey." he went back to looking deep in thought. "There's orange juice on the table next to you." he said, not moving his eyes away from the window. Percy sat up and took the orange juice from the table. He hadn't felt Nico leave the bed to get it, but then he wasn't all that surprised because Nico was notoriously stealthy.
"What's on your brain?" Percy asked after drinking a sip of the orange juice. He knew it was the expensive kind just from the taste, and he had never had the expensive kind. Nico finished his glass and looked over at Percy.
"Just thinking too much as usual." he said and gave the other man a peck.
"Abouuuut?"
"You, duh."
"Hmm."
Nico raised an eyebrow, "What?"
Percy shrugged, "Nothing." He knew the other man was lying, but wasn't willing to break the mood just then.
"Well I need to get working outside before the sun gets too hot. How good are you at digging holes?" Nico asked as he got out of the bed and started to dress, laughing at Percy's bewildered look, "You can hang out in here if you want, but I have stuff to do." He had gotten an idea and had to start it right away. He handed Percy his clothes, which were neatly folded and smelled fresh.
Percy got up and quickly dressed, feeling slightly shy now that everything was said and done. Nico sensed this and politely turned away.
"So uh, what kind of holes are we talking about?" the taller man asked, starting to feel nervous when Nico turned to him with a smirk.
Nico wasn't getting much work done. His attention didn't stay on task for very long with Percy shoveling just a few feet away. The son of Poseidon's white shirt was thin enough to show off his physique, and Nico found himself continually looking away from his project to watch Percy's back muscles working under the cotton fabric. Every so often Percy would pause and use the bottom hem of his shirt to wipe the sweat from his eyes, and Nico would get a glimpse of the lean stomach underneath. A part of him felt bad for making Percy work so hard in the hot sun, but he knew the demigod could take it. The bad part of him also took a little bit of pleasure in it all, and he bit his work glove to keep from smiling naughtily. The other man felt the stare and turned around to look at Nico, leaning on his shovel for a small break.
"I don't understand how you're not dying of heatstroke in that black shirt."
Dark eyes looked over, moving up and down Percy's form. He turned full to face the other man, looking away to adjust his gloves as he said, "One, I'm in the shade." he pointed to the wall of the workshop, "And two, it's an old school trick."
"But you have long sleeves on and it's a zillion degress outside." Percy protested.
"How do you think I maintain my milky white color?" Nico joked and then turned back to his brick pile, "Better get back to digging. That's for you, you know."
"What?" Percy hadn't exactly heard what the other man had said because he had turned away.
Nico turned back around long enough to say, "That hole, it's going to be something for you."
Percy bit his lip in nervousness and looked down into the space he had created. For a passing moment he pondered Nico's homicidal tendencies until he heard the other man laugh, "It's a pool, you dork."
Percy looked around the area he had been digging in, "Oh."
"What did you think it was?" Nico asked, abandoning the bricks to walk over.
"Er... nothing. I just figured you were giving me busy work."
The other man's mouth curved up sheepishly, "It kind of is. I can easily move all of this dirt in a matter of minutes. I just thought it would be neat for you to have a part in starting it."
Percy knocked his shovel over, "I knew it was busy work!" he dashed toward the unsuspecting Nico and they both fell to the ground, play-fighting. It didn't take long for Percy to pin the smaller man to the ground, but the look in Nico's eyes made his hold waver. Before he could even think to say anything, the smaller man was kissing him frantically. Percy was quick to respond and they briefly made out on the dirt not 3 feet from the hole he had been digging for the better part of the day. When it was over Nico ran a finger down Percy's face, "I think it's time to quit for the day and get some food. I totally forgot about lunch."
"Hmm..." the man above him purred, tracing a finger across Nico's torso, "I can think of something I want to eat." he had to laugh when Nico blushed. So, he could dish out some flirting, but couldn't take it? Lucky for the smaller man, his stomach growled, pausing Percy in his thought to tease him. He reluctantly got up off of the smaller man and helped him up, "So what's for dinner?"
"I feel so cliche right now, but I don't care." Nico said as he pointed a fry at the sky. The sun was quickly setting, and he and Percy were sitting on a worn wooden cattle fence, watching it.
"Yeah, burgers and fries are pretty romantic." Percy joked before taking another bite of his cheeseburger. The two fell into silence as they continued eating and watching the stars beginning to appear.
"Is it fucked up that we're eating burgers on a cattle fence?" Nico asked as he placed the trash into the paper bag the food had come in and crumpled it to fit into his cargo pocket, "Like, what if a cow came up and was all, 'Moo. That was my husband!'?"
Percy laughed, "I love your weird brain." he said, moving over to try and kiss his boyfriend. His foot slipped and he nearly fell off of the fence, but he did a frantic body wiggle and balanced himself. Nico closed the rest of the distance for the kiss and Percy could feel the smile on his lips, "You laughin' at me?"
"Maybe." Nico replied in a gravelly tone that Percy was coming to know as his "comfortable" voice; it was the tone he had when he was most satisfied and happy. The tone he seemed to use only with Percy. The son of Posedion thought back to when he had spied on Nico and Tyler. He couldn't remember ever hearing Nico use that voice with the kid, but maybe he just had a convenient memory.
Nico hopped off of the fence and offered Percy his hand, which seemed almost luminescent in the half light of dusk. The other man took it, smiling to himself when Nico didn't let go as they made their way back to his place. When they got inside Percy had to use the restroom and Nico laid on the couch to wait. When the other man got out of the restroom Nico was fast asleep and Percy smiled. His boyfriend was just adorable. Percy smiled again. His boyfriend. He couldn't believe that Nico was his. He hadn't comprehended it until that moment, but now that he did he felt calm and happy and it was the greatest feeling in the world. He had a thought to just put a blanket on Nico and let him sleep where he was, but he didn't think that would be very comfortable, so he gently picked him up and took him over to the bed. The smaller man was half conscious and mumbled something as he gave a half-assed attempt at taking his shoes off. Percy took the other man's shoes off, but paused at his belt. He felt weird about undressing Nico when he was half asleep. When the other man sleepily started to unbuckle he took charge and finished the job, carefully pulling the jeans down and tossing them on the floor. He pulled the covers up over Nico and kissed his forehead before returning to the couch. He just didn't feel right about just assuming he could sleep in Nico's bed with him, especially in just his boxers, so he stripped down and curled up on the couch with the dinosaur blanket.
Percy woke up feeling heavy. He didn't remember the blanket being that thick. He slowly blinked his eyes open and was greeted with a head of black hair. He smiled. Apparently during the night Nico had joined him in sleeping on the couch. He heard the sound of joints cracking and then Nico was looking at him with tired, slightly weirded out eyes.
"I hate waking up in weird places and having that panic swoon." he said, rubbing his eyes.
"But it's adorable when you do." Percy said. Somehow Nico had gotten even cuter with his sleepy eyes.
The smaller man laid back down, "Can't move."
"Then don't."
Nico obeyed, staring at the back of the couch. They laid there like that for quite a while, but then Percy really had to use the bathroom, so he carefully wiggled out and put the dinosaur blanket over Nico. When he came out the other man hadn't moved at all.
"You ok?" Percy asked, noting the melancholy in Nico's eyes.
"Yeah. Just really tired for some reason." Nico stopped when Percy sat on his legs and started to run his hands up and down his back. When the son of Poseidon applied pressure Nico's vertebrae cracked in succession to the palm running up and down his spine.
"Holy shit. It's like massaging concrete." Percy thought out loud.
"I know." Nico said, sounding distraught, "I'm so tired, Percy. Just tired."
Percy leaned forward and kissed Nico's neck, "Hey, it's okay to feel like that sometimes. Don't let it make you feel badly and make it worse. Here, we can just hang out all day, okay?"
"But I have to work at the shop."
"Do you really?"
Nico hesitated. No, not really. He just knew he'd feel like a lazy bum if he didn't actually do anything all day. "Keep doing what you're doing." was all he said, and Percy was smart enough to shut up and do it. After a while he noticed how quiet Nico had gotten. He hadn't even moved for a good five minutes. Percy stopped the massage and looked at his boyfriend, who was fast asleep. He carefully stood up and covered the smaller man with the dinosaur blanket, kissing his forehead before sneaking off to shower. When he got out Nico was still out like a light. Percy was worried. He couldn't decide if he should wake Nico up or just let him sleep. He knelt down and looked at the other man's face as he slept. He didn't look sick or anything, just exhausted, so Percy decided to just let him be.
After dressing he walked downstairs, nearly tripping over Marbles who had come to greet him halfway. Percy walked into the kitchen and started looking through drawers, trying to find something a non-cook like him could make for his lover. Nothing. Didn't this guy like cereal? He didn't bother with pancakes because they'd had those a few days ago... plus he had no idea where the griddle was or how to use it. Percy sighed and then something caught his eye. Keys to the truck. He was about to grab them when he heard Nico enter the kitchen.
"Percy."
Percy turned. Nico was wrapped in the blanket and looking confused.
"Come upstairs." he said.
"Aren't you hungry?" Percy asked. This whole day felt weird already, like something was going to happen.
"If you are we can go get something."
Percy really wasn't. He was too filled with worry about his boyfriend. He went over to Nico and they started upstairs. Percy tried to wait by the couch when Nico went to grab some clothes for the day, but the smaller man grabbed his hand and took him along. Percy could tell that Nico didn't want him to be too far away. What was up with him? Percy was about to ask when he was pulled over to the bathroom. He was nervous until Nico grabbed his toothbrush. The taller man sat on the counter to Nico's left and watched him get ready for the day. Later he watched the other man struggling with a cowlick in his hair and snickered.
"Come here, I'll fix it." he said, moving Nico to stand between his knees. He wet his hands and ran them through Nico's hair. "Pity you cut all your hair off." Percy thought out loud.
Nico shrugged, "Just needed a change. It's grown out a lot, though." He closed his eyes as Percy ran his fingers through his hair, "That feels really nice."
"You're not going to fall asleep on me here, are you?" Percy teased.
Nico smirked and opened his eyes, "No." he leaned forward to kiss his boyfriend, "When do you have to be back at camp?" he suddenly asked, holding onto Percy's knees as he looked up at him.
"I should probably head back today or tomorrow. Tomorrow probably." Percy hated to leave, but he did have responsibilities at home.
"Aww. You'll visit me whenever you can, though?"
Percy smiled, "Of course." He wasn't stupid enough to suggest that Nico come back and stay with him. He already knew the answer. On another thought, Nico seemed to be cheering up. Maybe he just wasn't a morning person.
"Good." Nico kissed him again... and again. He pressed up onto his toes as Percy grabbed him closer. He loved the feeling of being wanted that Percy gave him.
After a while Percy came up to inhale deeply. Until then he hadn't even realized that he had been holding it as they kissed. Nico looked up at him with his dark eyes and squeezed Percy's hips, "Want to go to my room?" he whispered. Percy came down from the bathroom counter and pecked Nico quickly, "Mhm." he replied, knowing exactly what Nico was meaning by asking. Percy was strangely calm about the idea, as if it had happened a million times before. Nico grabbed his hand and they went over to the loft area that was Nico's room. Nico threw the blankets to the bottom of the bed and Percy laid down, the smaller man quickly following to lay on top of him.
Every so often Percy would feel Nico's teeth graze his lips, or his nails lightly scratch his skin. He could tell Nico was trying not to do those things because he knew Percy didn't like it. His thoughts were interrupted when his shirt was pulled up over his head and then he heard the distinctive sound of his zipper opening.
"Don't think." Nico whispered against Percy's lips as he pushed his own pants down. He stood up and shimmied out of them before tugging at Percy's pant legs. Percy was a little bit bothered with the skill Nico had at taking someone else's clothes off, but then he was naked and Nico was looking at him and he stopped caring. Instead he felt himself flush red and then a relaxed feeling swept over him as Nico covered his body with his own...
"So how do you feel?" Nico asked later as he rested his head on Percy's chest, his head began to bounce as the son of Poseidon sobbed. Nico quickly looked at his lover. Oh shit, had he hurt him? "Percy, are you okay?"
Percy covered his eyes with his hands. He had no idea what was happening to him. It was like suddenly out of nowhere all of these different emotions just hit him. "I don't know." he admitted, not moving his hands from his eyes. What was he, some sentimental girl?
"You're not hurt, are you?" he heard Nico ask, sounding afraid.
Percy gave a little smile to calm his lover, "No." he sniffed, "I think you punctured whatever I used to hold my emotions in, though." he moved his hands from his eyes to rub the tears away and saw Nico smiling at him.
"Aww, you are so fucking adorable, Percy! Come here." Nico pulled Percy up into a hug. He secretly thought it was hilarious that the son of Poseidon had cried after his first time, but it was also so sweet and vulnerable of him to do so that Nico knew better than to tease him about it. Percy just held onto him for a while until he finally pulled away and flopped back down onto the bed.
"I've just been fucked." he said, staring up at the ceiling, "I've just been fucked by Nico di Angelo."
Nico laughed, "Would you like me to make you a shirt?"
Percy looked at him and laughed, "No." then he got serious again, "Do you think people at camp are gonna know?"
The other man shrugged, "Some might be able to figure it out. It's up to you who you confirm it to. Besides, fuck it, who cares?"
"I care." Percy sat up to look Nico in the eyes and the other man looked nervous. Percy grabbed his face in both hands, "I want everyone to know that I'm yours." he kissed the smaller man, "In every way." he kissed him again.
"Yep. Making you a t-shirt." Nico teased, "On the back can it say, 'And I liked it?'"
Percy pretended to think about it, "No. I loved it."
"Even better."
They both laughed and then Marbles jumped up on the bed. Nico picked him up, "Pervert cat. He was probably watching the whole time."
"I wonder if he minds that you're holding him naked."
As if understanding what Percy said, Marbles began to wiggle out of Nico's hold. "Pervert cat." Nico laughed.
"I'm glad you're in a good mood now." Percy said, watching Nico laughing, "I was worried for a moment."
Nico sat down on Percy's hips and pet the other man's hair, "I just get that way sometimes. I'm glad you were here this time."
"Me too."
"Well, better get some clothes on and do something with my day." Nico said, getting off of Percy and searching for the pants he had been wearing about 45 minutes earlier. Percy just watched him and Nico turned to him as he buckled his belt, "You can just hang out here if you're not feeling up to it."
Percy blushed, knowing that Nico was meaning if he was too sore. He felt fine, though, so he also moved from the bed and put his clothes back on. He stole a kiss from the other man and it turned into another kiss, and another. Percy sat back on the bed and Nico was about to crawl back between his legs when Percy's stomach growled.
"Maybe we should eat something before round two." Nico laughed, pulling Percy up. He still couldn't believe he had topped Percy. He had to admit that it made him feel pretty alpha just then. Still, there was plenty more he wanted to try with his boyfriend, and he was wondering how much they could do before he had to go back to camp.
"As much as I'm not much for camp, I must say that I've always enjoyed the smell of it." Nico said as he stepped out of the shadows by Percy's cabin.
Percy smiled and kissed Nico, "You crack me up."
"Hey Percy! Long time no see." Grover said, clopping up to the two, "Uh, nice shirt."
Percy's ears turned red. He had forgotten that he had put it on after Nico had made it for him. He had intended to just wear it to bed sometimes. "Thanks." was all he managed to say.
Annabeth came over to join the group, "Oh hey guys. Nice shirt Percy." she laughed.
"Yeah yeah yeah. Laugh it up."
"Hey, what you two do is none of my business... unless you put it out there for everyone to see. Which you have."
"It's not like people aren't going to assume anyway, right?" Percy said, starting to walk across camp. The shirt was a bright blue that made people check it out, and then bright green block letters proclaimed, "I just had sex with Nico di Angelo."
"What about the little ones?" Annabeth glanced around at the onlookers nervously.
"One, they probably don't know what it means, and two, they don't know who Nico is." Percy said, though his voice wavered a bit.
"Er..." Annabeth pointed to Nico's shirt, which read in bright yellow, "I'm Nico di Angelo." When had he put that on?
Nico laughed evily, "Come on sweetheart, let's change your shirt." he started to steer the other man over to his cabin. Percy wanted to tell the other man that he didn't have any shirts in the Hades cabin, but he knew that wasn't really what Nico was saying. They departed from the other two and made their way to the Hades cabin. Once inside Nico opened a window in the common room area to let some air in, then he grabbed Percy's hand and led him into the bedroom. "Hmm, better take that offensive shirt off." he smirked, tugging at the blue fabric. Percy looked nervously up at the windows he knew people could see through. What if Annabeth and Grover were watching them? The smaller man grabbed his chin to regain his attention and Percy saw that he was already almost undressed. Nico sat on the bed and started working on Percy's belt as the son of Poseidon kept glancing at the windows.
"You seem nervous about something." Nico commented as he pulled down the other man's jeans.
Percy tore his eyes away from the window, "It's just weird not being in the middle of nowhere anymore."
Nico smirked, "Afraid someone might hear us?"
"No." Percy blushed.
"Riiight." Nico pulled the other man down onto the bed and looked up at him, "Well I promise to do my best to stay quiet." he flashed an up-to-no-good smile and grabbed Percy's hands, placing them at his waist. Percy took the hint and pulled Nico's pants off. He glanced up at the window one more time, but then Nico grabbed him by the neck and he focused on more important matters.
"Have you ever been so comfortable and satisfied that you don't want to move from that spot, because you know nothing will ever be better than what you're feeling right then?" Nico asked after he caught his breath.
Percy pushed up onto his arms to look down at Nico. He did indeed look the happiest the other man had ever seen him. Nico kissed Percy's arm and pulled him back down to lay on top of him. "So I take it that means I did a good job?"
Nico sighed contentedly, "Better than a good job." he ran his fingers through the other man's hair, "I didn't think you'd ever be into the whole bitey scratchy thing."
"I'm not. I just had a suspicion that you were, and you being turned on turns me on."
The smaller man snickered and went quiet for a moment before he stopped petting Percy's head, "Percy, I have a confession."
"Hmm?"
"I know you watched us that one night."
Percy sat up, beet red and trying to stutter out an explanation. Nico sat up and held him by the neck, "Percy, I don't care. Who do you think I was performing for?"
"What?"
Nico's evil little smirk made its way onto his face, "Tyler wasn't that great, but I knew you were watching, so I put on a show just for you." on the last three words Nico drew a finger down Percy's nose, "Of course that was before I knew you were into me. I was just doing it to embarass you. Obviously that plan backfired."
"Now I'm embarassed. I don't want you to think I'm some creepy voyeur or something."
"I don't. I just know you're too curious for your own good sometimes. I should spank you or something." If possible, the taller man turned an even darker red and Nico laughed out loud, "Oh, your face! Don't worry, Percy, I'm not into that. I'm just messing with you."
Percy sighed and moved to lay next to Nico, "Why do I put up with you?"
"Because I'm cute?"
"Works for me." he kissed the other man, "Well, I guess we'd better clean up and get back out there." He started to get up, but Nico grabbed him.
"But I have to leave tonight. You sure you don't want to stay here just a little longer?"
Percy was a sucker for those big dark eyes, "Okay." he held Nico closely in a spooning position, running his hand up and down the pale skin, "You're so pretty." he thought out loud.
Nico snickered, "You're adorable, Percy. Stoppit."
"Can't help what comes naturally."
"Hmm... comes naturally..."
"Pervert."
"Naturally."
A knock at the door stopped their banter and Nico ungracefully rolled off of the bed to see who it was. Percy thought to inform Nico he hadn't any pants on, but by then the smaller man had opened the door just enough to peek his head out.
"Er... I heard Percy was back and wanted to speak to him." Percy heard a voice on the other side of the door say.
"But he's going to be here all the time and I go home tonight. I want to be selfish just a little while longer."
Percy heard the other man laugh and knew that it was Bastien. He had missed his strange friend who seemed the opposite of Nico in many ways. He pulled his pants on while Bastien argued that he was leaving soon as well.
"Why?" Percy asked, replacing Nico's spot in the open crack of the door.
"Oh Percy, hi. I was just hoping to talk to you about some things, but I'll let Nico have his time with you. See you at dinner, yeah?" he gently pushed the door open enough to see Nico, who was now hiding behind Percy, "I'll see you around, Nico."
Nico reached around Percy to push the door closed and the taller man turned to face him, "Are you still mad at Bastien over the flowers?"
Nico turned and walked to the bedroom, where he pulled his own pants on, "Mad, no. Wary, always. I'm not going to be one of those people who tells you not to be friends with someone just because I don't like them, just... be careful with him. I don't trust him."
"Wow. Do you even know how many people said the same thing about you?" Percy didn't say it angrily, just as an observation.
The smaller man pulled a new shirt over his head before looking at Percy, "True, but in my defense I didn't introduce you to drugs."
Percy stayed quiet, unable to argue that point. Instead he decided to change the subject, "So, do you have a shirt I can borrow?"
Nico smiled evily, "You have your own stuff in your cabin, dork."
"But that's so far away." the other man pouted, knowing that it would work on Nico's evil glee. Sure enough the smirk faded, but the answer was not what he was expecting.
"Too bad. Guess you'll have to stay in my cabin indefinitely, or wear the shirt I made for you. Either way I win, so whatever you choose is cool with me." Nico was now laying on his stomach on the bed, looking up at Percy.
Percy sat down next to the smaller man, who moved to his side to better look at his lover. Percy ran his fingers through Nico's hair, "Your powers of manipulation scare me a little bit."
Nico sighed and closed his eyes at the other man's ministrations, "I don't mean to."
"Well, in a fucked up way I think I kind of like the fact that you scare me sometimes."
The up-to-no-good smile returned, "Hot." Nico sat up, "Okay, I've started to feel bad. Go see Mr. Bastien, and I'm going to go home and work on that project in the backyard."
"Really?" Percy was surprised at how quickly he had changed his mind.
"Yeah. If he's really leaving soon like he says, then I think he needs your time more than I do."
"What happened to you being selfish?"
Nico shrugged, "You're turning me soft I guess."
Percy smiled and just pulled his lover into his arms. They stayed that way for a while, and then Nico pulled away, "Well, back to the real world I guess."
"Nooo. Five more minutes." He hugged Nico tightly.
"What about your friend?"
Percy sighed, "I guess you're right." he loosened his hold on the smaller man and looked down at his face, "When will I see you again?"
"I'll come back next weekend."
"Promise?"
"Yes."
The pair shared a few more kisses, and then Nico finally pulled away, "See you next Saturday." he said before walking into the dark bathroom and disappearing. Percy sighed again and picked up his blue shirt. It was inside out. He smiled as he put it on that way. Technically he was still wearing the shirt Nico had made for him, but without offending anyone for the moment. After checking his hair in Nico's mirror he went out of the cabin to search for Bastien.
Percy found Bastien at the end of the dock, kicking at the water with his feet.
"If I were the type, I would totally just push you in."
Bastien turned around slowly, "But you wouldn't, even so." he patted a spot next to himself, "Come and sit, unless you need to get back to Nico soon."
"No, he went home. I'll see him next weekend." Percy said as he sat down, feeling happy to be in a familiar place again.
"So you're going to try and make things work long distance?" Bastien asked before taking a marshmallow from a bag and eating it.
Percy shrugged, "I guess so."
"So is he going to come to camp eventually, or are you going to go be with him wherever he is or what?"
"We haven't thought that far ahead."
"Maybe you should."
"Why? We've just barely started dating."
Bastien shrugged, "Just something to think about."
Percy laid down on the dock, "So why are you leaving? Summer vacation?"
"Going back to my dad's." Bastien looked back at Percy, "Going to see what he wants me to do next."
"Like what?"
Bastien sighed and looked away, "Oh you know, manipulating people and junk, but not really."
Percy sat up, "Yeah I don't know what those words mean."
"Okay, so you know how I was asking you a while ago how sometimes you see people who are obviously into each other and you wish you could just lock them in a closet until they get together?"
"Er maybe kind of sort of yeah."
"So think about that for a second and what it has to do with you."
Percy looked across the water in thought, and then horror struck his face as he looked at Bastien, "You mean me and Nico?"
Bastien nodded, "Mhm. What's with the look, though?"
"We were your project? You put us together?"
"Woah woah, hold on here. Let's get everything straight. You two already liked each other. It was just my job to get you to do something about it."
Percy covered his eyes, "I'm confused."
"I'm supposed to help love become realized, you know, so it doesn't go to waste. Unrequited love is one thing, but when it's equal on both ends and isn't dealt with, it's just like this ball of energy that makes everyone agitated. Now, I can't just tell y'all to get together, but I can help you come to the conclusion on your own and then help you figure out what to do about it."
"Couldn't we just do that on our own?" Percy asked, uncovering his eyes to look at his friend.
Bastien laughed, "Please, you two were the most difficult I've had. You didn't even have it on your brain until I said something and Nico was so busy trying to get with others to deny his feelings about you that he was never gonna make a move."
"I feel cheated now." Percy pouted.
"Why?"
"Because I like to think that it just happened and is all cute and romantic like the movies."
"It still is. I could lead you to the water, Percy-horse, but I couldn't make you drink."
Percy pouted again, "So were we really friends, or were you just doing your job?"
Bastien sighed and took another marshamallow from the bag, "You sure you don't want one of these before I tell you?"
"Dude, no. Are those like the lotus cookies?"
"Maybe."
"I'm not gonna do that to Nico."
"Fine. Well, you probably won't like me anymore after I tell you everything."
Percy took a deep breath, "I'm ready for it. Give me the truth."
"Okay, so first of all I'm not really sixteen."
Percy had been able to keep calm until then. Suddenly he was feeling dizzy, "What?"
"I'm really nineteen. I never went to camp, so that was true. I just had to get in here to help you two along in your relationship."
"What about Tyler? What if it worked out between him and Nico?"
Bastien shrugged, "Then I would have failed and had to move on to the next one, but I would have to know for sure that it would work out, even in a dysfunctional way."
"How do you know for sure?"
"I don't know, it's just a feeling I get."
Bastien knew the question was coming before Percy even asked, "Are Nico and I going to make it?"
"You know I can't tell you that."
"But do you know?"
The blonde nodded, "Yup."
Percy studied the other man's face for any hint of the answer, but didn't find any.
"So old man, were you really my friend?"
"Actually yes. I didn't have to befriend you to make things work. It made things easier for sure, but you're a cool kid and I actually like hanging out with you. I'm sad to have to go."
"Hmm..." Percy didn't really know how to respond. He was hurt and confused.
"You ok?" Bastien nudged the other man.
"Bleh, I don't know." That bag of marshmallows was starting to tempt him. Bastien seemed to sense this and nudged the bag toward him. Percy pushed it away, "No. Dude, I think you have a problem."
"Duh." Bastien took another marshmallow from the bag, "Though, you are the first person to actually mention it." he went for another marshmallow and Percy stopped him.
"Why?"
"Because people are probably uncomfortable with it."
"No, I mean why do you have to be high all the time?"
Bastien sighed again and looked up at the sky, "Oh wow... I guess because it feels good."
"Why do you need to feel good?"
Blue eyes looked into sea green ones, "It dulls the ache. People are always thinking that they're in love with me. It makes it hard to find someone who genuinely likes me for me. I'm lonely, Percy."
Percy looked at his friend. Upon thinking about it, he realized that Percy was the only one who really "hung out" with Bastien. He softened a little.
"Well... I'm not in love with you."
Bastien laughed, "Well thanks I think."
"By the way... which way do you swing, if you don't mind me asking?"
The blonde made to eat another marshmallow, but then thought better of it, "I like the ladies. I mean, like who you like, I don't judge, but I prefer someone with different bits and pieces."
Percy laughed, "Well, that's good to know I guess. I think Nico gets a little bit jealous sometimes."
"Cute. Not enough for it to be a problem though, right?"
"Nah. He's pretty secure."
"Just be careful. Long distance can be tough."
"Ok..." The way Bastien said it made Percy nervous. Did he know something? He knew asking would be futile, but the seed was planted. The two sat on the dock, looking at the water. Bastien put the bag of marshmallows away and Percy smiled at him in encouragement. As the sun started to set Bastien stood up.
"It's about time for me to go."
"Will I ever see you again?" Percy asked, feeling stupid at how he sounded.
Bastien smiled, "Maybe. I actually kind of like it around here."
"Good. I hope to have you back here soon. Maybe you can be a counselor or something." Percy winked.
"Yeah... Relationship counselor." Bastien muttered. The two laughed and then Percy stood as well. They said their goodbyes and then Percy found himself alone on the dock. He hadn't been alone for a long time. He was glad that he was near water; it made him feel calm as he processed everything.
The son of Poseidon took off his shoes and socks and rolled up his jeans so that he could dip his feet in the lake. He needed more, so he took off his shirt and jeans and slipped into the cool water in just his boxers. He would have gone all natural, but there were still kids in canoes on one side of the lake. As Percy dove into the water he enjoyed the silence. He could finally think. Everything was jumbled up, though; he couldn't decide what to process first. He and Nico were boyfriends, he was no longer a virgin, Bastien had influenced his and Nico's relationship in a way he wasn't sure about, Bastien was a drug addict, Bastien knew whether the relationship would last and not once but twice warned about distance. Percy came up to the surface to get some air and then dove back down into the silence. He finally concluded that he and Nico were happy at the moment and that was really all that mattered as far as their relationship went, and there was really nothing he could do for Bastien now that the boy was gone; all he could do was hope that he got the help he very much needed. When he came up for air again he saw a shadow on the dock.
"Bastien?" he whispered into the dark.
The form said nothing, but reached out a thin, pale hand, which Percy took and was pulled toward the dock, where he met Nico's pale face. Percy figured he wouldn't have been able to see the boy under the hood were it not for his beautifully pale skin. He pecked the face in front of him, "What are you doing here?"
"I lied. I'm not ready to be away from you yet." Nico said before helping Percy out of the water. He moved to give the other man his hoodie, but Percy already had his shirt on before Nico was fully unzipped.
The taller man smiled and pulled Nico into a hug, "I'm glad you came back."
"Me too." the smaller man hugged him closer, breathing in the son of Poseidon's beachy smell, "Have you eaten yet?"
"Nope. Bastien just left."
"How did that go?"
Percy shivered, "Can we talk about it later? I need to change and then we can eat and then uh... go back to my place." he nudged the other man.
"Cheeky."
"I'm joking."
"I know." Nico pecked Percy again, "Let's go eat. I really want some mac and cheese."
"Really? You've been here 3 minutes and you're already being too adorable to let you go?"
"Why would you let me go anyway?" Nico raised an eyebrow. Percy just pecked his cheek and then they made their way to the mess hall.
"Your cabin is way too open. It's giving me reverse claustrophobia." Nico said, wrapping himself in Percy's blue blanket. He had just taken his clothes off only to realize how much privacy was lacking in his boyfriend's cabin.
"Afraid someone will see us or something?" Percy smirked at how the tables had turned.
"Maybe."
"Have you ever seen me walking around naked in my cabin?"
Nico bit his lip as he thought, "No, but then I'm not a peeker, unlike some people I know."
Percy laughed, "I don't know if it's like the Mist or what, but nobody can actually see inside of here."
"Hmm..." Nico loosened his grip on the blanket and it fell to reveal his shoulders, "Are you sure?"
Percy stretched out on the bed in all of his naked glory, "Positive. Now come here." he pulled the smaller body over to sit on top of him, effectively getting his boyfriend out of the cacoon of blue blanket. Nico looked down at him and moved in to kiss his lover.
Later that night found Nico going through every thing in Percy's room as the other man watched with an amused expression. "You're as bad as Marbles." he told the smaller man, "Have to investigate everything."
"Meow." Nico said as he opened what looked like a shoe box with shells glued to it.
"One of the younger campers made that for me last year." Percy explained, noting the other man's expression. Nico pulled out a dusty lotus flower cookie from the box and Percy's stomach dropped. He had forgotten about that.
"Why do you have food in your keepsake box?" Nico asked, careful not to sound accusing just yet.
Percy swallowed, "I think that was one he put in my pocket and I put it in there for later. You can throw it away, though."
"I will. That reminds me, what did Bastien have to say?"
Percy told the younger man everything that Bastien had said. Nico just sort of bit his lip as he listened. When Percy was finished the smaller man sat on his bed, "Sooo okay... Bastien didn't put us together, but he steered us that way?"
"Apparently."
"And he's an addict because he has to make other's romances come true, but can't have anything like that himself. Rough."
"Yup." Percy wasn't sure what Nico's reaction was exactly.
"Well, I suppose it's all rather poetic or something."
"So are you weirded out or what?"
Nico crawled back into the bed with Percy, "I've been on a kind of 'live for the now' kick, so as far as I'm concerned we're together and I like you and that's all that should really matter right now. If we worry too much about what's real, or if it'll work out we won't have any time to just be together."
Percy pulled Nico close and wrapped an arm around him, "That's why I like you, Nico. Straight and to the point."
"Straight? Not so much. As far as to the point..." Nico reached down and cupped Percy in his hand.
The son of Poseidon took in a breath, "Yeah I think that's another reason why I like you." Nico just giggled and kissed Percy on the lips. "So does this mean you're spending the night?" the taller man asked.
"Oh but Percy, that's against camp rules." Nico smirked.
"I won't tell if you won't."
In answer Nico cuddled up closer to the other man. He planned to stay the night with Percy. He wanted to stay with him forever just then. He had a passing thought of doing so, but then he realized that he had classes and other things to take care of. Maybe when his classes were over. He didn't like camp much, but with Percy there with him it wasn't that bad. The way Bastien talked it seemed that their distance could be their undoing, and Nico was willing to do what he could to make sure that wouldn't happen.
x.x.x
I've decided to just go ahead and finish this story up. I've become disenchanted with it, plus I'd like to start on another branch of The Blackness. This took forever because I'm just not into it anymore. I think I wrote like 3 words a day at most there for a while. I tried not to half-ass the ending, but I just started running out of ideas. It was really just something to work out my frustration with my own Tyler, and it's done that. I like my lil universe that my other stories seem to all connect to. This one is outside of that universe and just yes I don't like it anymore.