Nico

Dinner started off a little weird. It was silent at first. But once we got to talking, we didn't stop. It actually made a lot more sense as to why he didn't talk to me.

But this turned out as a date because fun fact, he did like me. And we got back to my cabin because it was late and we agreed that we weren't going to deal with Hazel.

It was a night, trust me. I won't go into detail.

But the next day, of course, Jason was up my ass about it. And of course he has to ask.

"Was he any good?" The son of Jupiter asked me. "Last night?"

I gave him a weird look. I knew, but he didn't need to know what we did last night.

"Even if I knew," I responded, "why would I tell you, Jason? You have a girlfriend. Enjoy her in bed."

He turned red as I walked away to get food. Which just so happened to be when Percy went up to get food.

We were smart and left his cabin at different times because I'm not out. I left out the back earlier and pretended to wake up in my cabin because Hazel was still there. She hasn't asked yet. Why I was gone.

He gave me a hip bump as he just piled pancakes onto his plate. His stomach is an endless pit, I'm convinced.

"Are you sore?" Percy asked me, referencing to last night, giving me a smirk.

"Not as much as you," I remarked, "your walk is starting to give you away. I'll just have to go easier next time."

"If people ask me, it doesn't mean I have to out you." The son of Poseidon explained, taking one last pancake. "I can make up some crap about a guy at school. You think I've never had to cover for guys at camp before? Trust me, Annabeth wasn't my first. We never even had sex."

I gave him a hesitant look.

"For the sake of you not telling me more," I responded, unsure if I should believe that story, "I'm going to believe you and go sit with my sister for breakfast."

Walking over to my table, Hazel had just started eating. And we didn't say much at first. Once she was almost done with her food, she spoke up.

"What we're you doing last night?" Hazel asked me, knowing it wasn't common for me to just go out for a night. "I don't remember you saying anything about going out for the night."

"It was last minute," I decided that she should know like half of the truth. I didn't have to tell a total lie. "After that meeting, Percy texted me wondering if I wanted to hang out and patch things up. So we went to the city for a while and it was late when we got back. The lights were out, so I assumed you were sleeping."

"Probably," she responded, slowly nodding her head. "You guys are chill then?"

"I think so, yeah."

"That's good," my sister said, taking another bite of her food. "The less everyone argues, the best. Especially now that Percy and Annabeth broke up. Did he tell you why?"

I shrugged.

"Just a little bit of everything," I told her what I knew. "They were too good of friends to date."

Well today was the first day that battle regulations were lifted from camp for the first time in a year and a half. So all new Demigods and Romans that we're here finally get to see what Camp was like when we get to have fun. When it's regular activities. We haven't had arts and crafts or any educational classes in a year and a half. It's been constant training.

We haven't had campfire in over a year. And I've never actually been to a campfire. But everyone insisted we go because they've never been to one, so we went. They were curious. Percy was already there. He was excited for this. He loves campfire.

"Well what's it like?" Leo asked me, expecting I knew. And I shrugged.

"I've never cared to go," I explained to them as we left the cabin. "So I wouldn't know. But I think they're having a bigger deal tonight. Like a part or something, to celebrate the end of the state of emergency. So there might be karaoke? I don't know, the Stolls can do a lot of things for a good party."

"Alcohol?" Leo questioned.

"Why else would Pollux stay here?" I responded as we got closer to the building where all parties are held at here. "We always have a 21+ group here. They willingly stay, and end up running all the alcohol for parties. Be never been to one of the parties. But I've heard many stories."

We got inside and Leo went to get everyone a drink as we went and found Percy. He seemed sober, which was weird. He's been here for like an hour. But either way, I didn't care. He was nice company.

Now I had told Leo that I didn't want to drink right away so he got me a Shirley Temple but everyone else got whatever Leo thought suited them to drink.

"Alright," Leo said as he started handing them out for us. "For the young lady, a Smirnoff Witch Potion, and for the other lady, a Caribbean Rum Punch. For Frank, a Northern Lights Cocktail, and Jason gets a Kiss On The Lips."

When Leo said that, Jason was confused as he took his drink but never got a kiss. He didn't get that that was the name of the drink.

"Reyna gets a Blackberry Mojito," Leo carried on anyways, handing her the Mojito, "Nico gets a Shirley, and Percy gets a Jack Frost."

I don't think any of us expected Percy to the down a free drink. Especially one like a Jack Frost.

But he did.

"Thanks, but I'm good." Percy insisted, surprising us. Especially Leo. Because Leo was a got bartender. This Shirley wasn't half bad.

"Dude, I made you a Jack Frost," Leo remarked, wanting him to take it. "And you're turning it down? Jack Frosts are amazing!"

"Then you can have it," he told the son of Hephaestus, shrugging it off. "I don't drink."

"You won't until later?"

"No," Percy shook his head. "I don't drink at all. Thanks for the offer, but I'm good."

"Got it." Leo said as took the drink for himself. "Suit yourself."

Frank

Of course, I woke up not remembering most of the night. But I ended up crashing at Hazel's place. We got back before Nico.

I glanced into Nico's room to make sure he made it here last night. We kind of disbanded from the group not long after the drinking started. So I wanted to make sure.

And he made it. He was at least half naked. Due to the blanket, I didn't know if he was actually naked and I didn't want to know.

Because there was bound to be alcohol involved if he hooked up with Percy. Who was also in the bed. Possibly naked.

Knowing Hazel would freak, I closed the door and when Hazel came out, I told her Nico wasn't here, he must've crashed somewhere else. It got her out of the cabin so I could get the others here. I wasn't hungover, which was good. Nobody else seemed to be when they got here. I kind of woke them up. Everyone aside Leo, that is.

"You sounded like you were going to have a heart attack," Piper remarked as she came inside. "Where's Hazel?"

"Anywhere but here right now," I explained to them. "Because even though alcohol was involved, if she sees him, she's going to kill him. She'll kill both of them."

"Why?" Reyna questioned. "Did he hook up with someone? Because if so, it happens."

"I got up this morning," I told my friends. "As in like 15 minutes ago. And thank gods I was up before Hazel. Came out here and peeked into Nico's room to make sure he made it back last night. I wasn't sure how heavy he was drinking. But he brought a friend with and they must've been pretty wasted because there's a lot of reasons why it wouldn't happen sober."

"Who are we talking about?" Jason asked me and I let them peek into Nico's room. Of course, they noticed that they were naked. Just like I had.

Jason looked like he was going to scream.

And the conversation just goes on.

"You made Nico a Shirley," Reyna had recalled everyone's drink. Percy had to be drunk, he had a Jack Frost. "He had quite a few of those last night. Like four of them. What goes into a Shirley?"

"A Shirley Temple?" Leo responded and she nodded her head. "Reyna, a Shirley Temple is 7Up, Cherry Grinadine, and a cherry. There's no alcohol in a Shirley Temple."

"So Percy must've been really—" I assumed and Leo cut me off.

"Percy doesn't drink," Leo reminded us. "Remember? He turned down the Jack Frost I made him because he doesn't drink? They were both sober. That happened sober."

We all just kind of thought about that. Because like...

How long have they been hiding it?

Since when are either of them into guys?

Jason

It was only right to tell him. We had all agreed that we weren't going to say anything because forcing someone to come out is rude. We'd give them time.

For me, it wasn't a big deal. I already knew about them. But before lunch, I texted Nico about it.

Jason: Hey, Nico, I have to warn you.

Jason: I have no idea what really happened last night. But whatever happened, you kind of gave yourself away.

Jason: Frank woke up this morning in your cabin and he went to get a snack being everyone missed breakfast. And I guess he peeked into your room to make sure you got back to your cabin. And he saw you.
Jason: and Percy
Jason: Naked
Jason: Under sheets

Jason: Luckily, he knows Hazel and told her your crashed somewhere else so she didn't look. She left the cabin, I guess. But he kind of called the rest of us, freaking out because he didn't know how late you guys would sleep but he also didn't want to wake you guys up.

Jason: so everyone saw you guys. Everyone aside Hazel. And between Leo and Reyna, they established that neither of you were drunk so there was no way to blame drinking on you guys 'hooking up' which I kept my mouth shut for because I already know.

Jason: But we agreed that we weren't going to ask either of you about it. Mainly because we saw on accident. So I'm still going to keep my mouth shut, because the others are still trying to figure out it out. They know, but they don't really get the situation.

Jason: if you want me to tell them, I will. But for now, my mouth is closed. You might want to consider coming out, though. Percy, too.

It took him a minute to respond, and I felt really bad. I'm glad Hazel wasn't there for it. But I was one of the last to look and I felt terrible because Nico has struggled with being gay for a long time and this wasn't how he wanted to come out. And I imagine Percy's going to feel the same way.

Nico: Um, okay. Thanks I guess? But at this point in time, you might as well tell them. We were going to go on a date for lunch today, anyways. Percy's technically out. He's like Leo. He won't hide it, you just have to ask or catch him at the right time. So he doesn't care. I'll just have to deal with it. Tell Hazel, too. That way Frank can like reassure her and keep her calm.

Jason: Are you sure you don't want to come out yourself?

Nico: No, I never really wanted to in the first place. I came out to you, Percy, and my dad. Well, I didn't come out to Percy. He just... Knew. But either way, I don't like going through the whole process of telling someone. So go for it. You can show them this, I really don't care anymore. It was my fault for thinking we wouldn't get caught in my cabin.

Jason: Okay, I'll tell them at lunch. Good luck on your date. Not like you really need it.

Nico: Thanks. Good luck with outing me.

I headed to lunch and the table rule was now gone. Which made this a lot easier. We all sat together.

It was Hazel who made the remark that both Percy and Nico must've had a lot to drink or partied really hard if they're still not awake. And nobody said anything. But Leo noticed how my reaction was a little different than the others reaction.

"Jason," my best friend remarked, sounding a little worried, "you okay?"

Now I understand why Nico didn't want to do this. This was actually really stressful.

"Yeah..." Piper was giving me the look like I need to keep my mouth shut. But I wasn't going to because Nico didn't want me to, and I'm honoring that. "I'm fine. But there's some shit you guys should probably know."

"What?" Hazel was lost, and everyone else would probably kill me.

"I'm doing this with permission," I got that out of the way so they wouldn't yell at me for it. "I know we said we weren't going to. But you guys really don't know much about what you saw this morning."

"Like you do?" Frank questioned. "Hazel is—"

"He wants her to know, Frank," I insisted, sighing. "He wants you here, too. And everyone else. Surprisingly, yeah, I do know more about it."

"What are you guys talking about?" The daughter of Pluto questioned, more confused than anyone else here. Which makes sense. She missed out. "What did I miss this morning?"

Frank grabbed her hand to reassure her as I explained the entire thing to them.

"It's a long story," I started off, putting my fork down as I knew I had their attention. "But this summer while we were in Europe, something happened. It was while Percy and Annabeth were in Tartarus. It was the day that Nico and I went on that mini quest thing."

"That was two months ago."

"I know," I assured her. "Just bare with me here."

"Anyways," I went on, letting out a sigh. "You guys always insisted we left out something from that day and you're right, we did. We actually ran into Cupid that day. Cupid, Eros, whatever you want to call him. And he was an asshole. He left me alone for the most part. But he gave Nico hell and I assumed it was because he liked Annabeth."

Somebody said okay, I'm not really sure who. I was focused on just telling them.

"It wasn't," I didn't even try to confuse them on that. "At all. Cupid tortured him until he admitted everything he didn't want to. Nico didn't really have a choice, though. Cupid cornered him until he admitted that he's gay. And we had all assumed that he liked Annabeth, when it went the other way, he liked Percy."

I let that sink in for a second.

"He uh... Well when that was over I tried to make the best of it," it was really hard to tell them this, and I didn't know why. I'm not coming out. I'm outing him. "I suggested that he come out the day I found out. Maybe wait until Percy and Annabeth got back if he wanted to. He didn't have to say everything. But if he came out, nothing bad would happen. Hell, you're bi, Leo. Nobody gives you shit for it. But he didn't even consider it, he shot the idea down right away. He didn't want me knowing when I found out, much less anyone else. Nobody knew and he wanted to keep it that way."

I paused to take in a breath.

"So I agreed to keep my mouth shut and to help him out," I explained to them and I saw Frank squeeze Hazel's hand. "He really wasn't confident in himself and he hadn't really come to terms with it quite yet. So I kind of bugged him about it here and there once I knew he had come to terms with it probably a few weeks after I found out. And he never did anything because he just never had the guts. But after that meeting, the one where Percy and Annabeth broke up that night because of what happened, it got weird. It was the other day, really. And Percy texted Nico."

That received many oh's. Which sounded about right, being Percy and Nico have never cared to talk or get along much until this week.

"Yeah," I agreed, sighing. "I was hanging out with Nico, and it threw him off, too. But I guess Percy wanted to talk about what was referenced at the meeting. How they've always had this weird relationship and I guess it was just getting to Percy that Percy has been trying to reach out to Nico and be his friend for years but Nico was always weird about it. Sometimes he gladly accepted it, but I guess most of the time he pushed Percy away."

I glanced down at my phone. It's been an intense few days.

"I guess he just wanted some form of clarity from Nico," they figured that made sense, at least, "which I get. And I guess they started to talk and Nico explained to him that like he didn't hate him, he's just really bad with his emotions. And I don't know how the entire conversation went down. But they continued to talk about what happened between them over the years and a remark was made and then from that Percy kind of teased him, asking if Nico was having guy problems. Somehow, without Nico coming to him, Percy already knew Nico was gay. But Nico did admit to having a crush and so Percy wanted to guess and he's describing him and he said he was straight. It made sense, he dated Annabeth."

"Well duh."

"So Percy didn't get it at first," I started the end of this story. "And if took a little longer, but he finally got it and of course he wasn't expecting that Nico liked him. But he didn't like freak out on him or anything. It was awkward at first. And then Percy corrected Nico, saying he wasn't straight, he was bi. Very openly, I guess. Apparently he's dated guys before. Just not at camp."

"Okay?"

"The conversation didn't go much longer after that," I told them. "But Percy asked if Nico wanted to go out and kind of talk it out face to face, like it should be done. Which is where they were the other night, Hazel. They went out to eat and patching things up turned into a date and I guess they crashed at Percy's and Nico did the whole go in through the back door and seem innocent thing."

I sighed, finishing it off.

"So if they were sober, and they were, for what we saw happen to happen isn't that far fetched. Percy's bi, Nico's gay. From what I know they like each other. Nico just wasn't out to do anything in public. I told him what we saw because I knew it'd be weird at lunch and I told him it wouldn't be such a bad idea to start to maybe hint at being gay or to just get ready to come out because we know. And after that he told me to just tell you guys. He wasn't even going to be here for lunch. Him and Percy are out on an actual planned date for lunch. So yeah. Please don't kill your brother, Hazel. Or Percy, for that matter. You had a lot to do with him not coming out."

She just nodded her head, taking it all in.