Nico di Angelo

I knew that Leo had figured out my crush on Percy. I'm not sure if he knew we were sort of a thing or not.

But Piper didn't seem to know and Percy's not out yet, so I'm keeping it that way.

Until he's comfortable.

Then I'm going to hold his hand so hard around our friends and be so happy and not give a shit about any of it because I'm happy and he could be my boyfriend.

We're getting there.

Slowly.

But we are.

Times Square was fun. Crowded as all hell, but still fun. And pride is coming up really soon, which I was excited about. There was a store with a whole pride section and like, Leo wandered over, curious.

I could see it in Percy that there was this patch he wanted, but he was terrified to even look at it for too long because of the others.

Of course, I doubt they'd actually notice. And if they did, they'd be alright with it. Leo is bi, after all. He's basically drooling right now just in the pride section of this place. But I get why he's afraid. It's not like I'm exactly out. Jason basically outed me, but I must've been a damn good actor.

They didn't believe it. Well, Leo knows because he was here when I dated Will very briefly. Him, Jason, and Percy. That's it.

As far as I'm aware, at least.

So, like the amazing boyfriend I am, I grabbed it so he wouldn't have to.

"Nico you..." Piper remarked, slightly confused. "man, I know that you like rainbows and all,  but unless you want guys asking you out and what not, I'd steer away from that. The order..."

"I know what it is, Piper," I assured the daughter of Aphrodite and saw Leo smile a bit when he noticed what I was holding. I don't know if he connected the dots about Percy and I, or if he was just that happy that I was okay telling Piper. "I'm not stupid, were in the pride section, it's a gay pride thing."

"But why would you...?"

"Because I'm gay...?" I suggested for a response. "It's your fault for not listening to Jason when he told you guys. He wasn't lying, so... That's on you, not me."

With that, I walked over to the clothing section because I'm a slut for sweaters.

And if either Percy or I get a sweater, it's mine.

•••

Leo

Catch me out here trying to figure out if Nico likes Percy.

Also, if Percy's bi. I'm confused, but it's not about myself. It's about my friends. And poor Piper looked lost.

The daughter of Athena looked at me, seeming unsure if Nico was just joking with her or if he was legit about being gay. They all thought Jason was joking, so why not Nico? It seems stupid to me, but it's happened.

"Is... Is he serious?" Piper asked.

I nodded, it wasn't complicated.

"Uh, yeah," I answered for her. "he hasn't been hiding it much. He didn't until Bianca and Hazel got back to camp. They kissed earlier? Remember? I don't know if they're like, dating, but... He was going to tell Hazel, but Bianca... She's really homophobic."

"Oh, whatever, she wouldn't leave her brother like that."

I sighed.

"Maybe not now, but... It's a maybe." I tried to reason with her. "would you really want to make that risk if you were him? It took him like, a long time to be okay with it. If Bianca wasn't okay with it... It would set him back a lot and he'd lose all of that self confidence and sometimes you know, family isn't always blood."

I paused for a second, glancing over at Percy and Nico. I've never been able to read Percy that well. He seems like he'd be such an open book, and in a way, he is.

But at the same time, I'm never sure. He seems happy right now, but you never know.

Percy claimed that he'd be alright at the funeral and it was believable. But he was suicidal. He wanted to kill himself.

Bottom line, both of them are good at hiding secrets and emotions. So it's hard to read them, but they both seem happy in their situation. Or at least, happier.

They both don't look nearly as tired.

"But she raised him and—"

"Sometimes, your blood isn't worth shit," I went on, bringing up a personal example. "I mean, after my mom died, my aunt blamed me and if she really thought I could do that, than it was probably better off that I left. Sometimes, not always, but sometimes it's better that you walk away."

She opened her mouth.

"Let him walk away, Piper," I told my friend, not wanting her to get too far into it. "it's his choice, let him make it. He can always go back, but we have to let him walk away."

Sighing, Piper admitted defeat.

We joined the other two once again and checked out, making our way towards the subway. It was getting late, and while we had fun, Chiron probably wants us back soon.

The reason he let us leave was to convince Percy and Nico to come back, but I saw how happy they were and...

It's not my place, you know?

So we got on our own trains at the station and made our way back to camp. When Chiron asked if they'd be back once school was out, we just said that we mentioned it, but they didn't make any promises. It was progress.

Of course, we lied.

But they were happy in the mortal world, and both of them deserved it.

I don't know how they ran this place, because it's hard. What am I supposed to do when everyone is here? I'll go crazy.

Chiron never leaves me alone, and I hate it. Chiron's cool, but he needs to chill out.

Jason caught up with me when he saw we were back and we had dinner together. The table rule is basically gone because of the Romans, which I don't mind.

"How was Percy doing?" The son of Jupiter asked me. "Did he get upset when you asked about camp or...?"

"We didn't even bring it up," I explained to my best friend. "He was in a good mood, I didn't want to ruin it. I figured he'd say no as it was."

"That's fair," Jason agreed, nodding hid head and looking down for a moment. "Did he mention Nico? I've tried calling him a few times since he left, but he doesn't answer."

I shrugged.

"I didn't hear him mention Nico outside of maybe an old story." I answered, because it was the truth. If he said Nico's name, it was to Nico. But Nico doesn't want us telling everyone where he is. "And even if he knew... I'm sure Nico asked him to not tell everyone where he was."

"I suppose, yeah," Jason remarked and sighed. "I'm just worried about him, man. He missed Bianca, sure, but he appreciated the ability to come out a lot more. I heard that him and Will were...?"

"They used to be," I clarified for my best friend. "they broke up, I don't know when or why. Will would uh, probably tell you. He's out."

"I'd what?" Will questioned as we walked by him, so he joined us.

"Oh, Jason asked if I knew anything about Nico," I clarified for the son of Apollo. "with him being gone and all and I was hanging out with Percy in the city. I don't know anything, but he asked about you guys and so I said you guys broke up. Don't really know why or when but... I mean, you'd know."

"Oh, uh, yeah," Will remarked. I did know that Nico broke up with him. Will still likes him. Like, a lot. "It was a little before the funeral. I guess I don't really get why, it probably had something to do with death. But he was super vague about it. With Bianca back... It worries me that he's going to let himself go again. He made a lot of progress, mentally and physically. He was finally healthy and now Bianca is back and she's openly homophobic so I don't blame him for not wanting to be here. But if Percy doesn't know where he is..."

Will paused.

"That's really bad," he insisted. "The last few times he'd just leave, he would stop at the Jackson's apartment. He's really close with Sally. They talk a lot. Plus, I've been pretty convinced that he liked Percy for years."

"Well... Yeah." Jason said. "He does. Uh... I'll be back."

Jason wandered off, leaving Will with me.

"So you don't know anything?" Will asked again, and I sighed.

"Well... I do," I admitted. "but Nico doesn't want Jason knowing because it's Jason, so I've kept it away from most people. He doesn't want Hazel or Bianca knowing, either. But he's in the city. Sally's actually making him move into their spare because he's been on the streets and all.  I guess Percy's been in a shitty place mentally so he's trying to like, help him out and what not."

Will slowly nodded his head.

"Yeah, Percy's gotten progressively worse over the years." The son of Apollo told me as we walked towards campfire. "He came from a really... Bad spot. Like, his mom's ex husband was abusive to both of them and Percy was gay. I knew because we went to school together when we were little. Well, my older brother went to school with them. For like a year. But he was openly gay until... I don't know what happened exactly, but he went back in the closet. Gabe fucked him up and yeah. He's been getting worse, coping."

"Percy's gay?"

Will nodded his head.

"You're the only other person here that knows beyond me," he confirmed. "and I knew because be dated my brother, so... Yeah, he's gay. We talk about it a little here or there. He was planning on breaking up with Annabeth before she died and then she died and she's back so... I think they broke up?"

Nodding my head, I agreed that I was sure I'd heard about that.

Especially after the kiss.

I know so many things.