Nico's shoulders shuddered as he spat up his lunch into the toilet. With crinkled eyebrows and a frown, he wiped his mouth with a cloth and took deep breaths to try to hold back the rest of what he'd eaten.

"Nico, I really think you should go to a doctor..." Percy said, rubbing Nico's back on the ground behind him.

Nico shook his head, "I'll be fine... just a little unsettled."

"You've been throwing up for an hour," Percy corrected, "That's more than 'a little unsettled'."

Nico shrugged, "I'll go to the doctor if I'm still having trouble tomorrow, okay? Stop worrying, you're going to get forehead wrinkles."

"No, I'm not!" Percy covered his forehead, "And that's the least of my worries."

Nico stood up shakily and Percy followed, holding his arm in case he felt weak.

"I need to lay down," Nico admitted, and Percy walked him back to his cabin bunk, laying him down and pulling a blanket over him gingerly.

Nico covered his eyes with his arm, feeling dizzy when he looked up at the ceiling. "Is it just me, or is it incredibly bright in here?"

"Just you," Percy said a little too quickly. "It's normal daylight."

Nico exhaled, "I think it's a migraine coming on."

"Have you been drinking water?" Percy asked, motioning towards the unopened case of water bottles that Percy had brought him.

Nico gave a sheepish, lying grin, "Totally, all of the time."

Percy sat down on the edge of his bed, "You need to. Maybe you're dehydrated."

"I feel fine, just tired," Nico complained, beginning to roll around under his blankets to get comfortable. "Besides, you're here, so I feel a hundred times better already."

Percy motioned for Nico's hand, taking it and rubbing his thumb across his knuckles. "You don't take care of yourself, Neeks."

"It shouldn't worry you," Nico reiterated. "I'll be fine in the morning. Promise."

However, come morning, Nico was in even worse shape. His head was pounding, his muscles felt weak and achy, and he had been throwing up over the side of his bunk into a large bowl for the past half hour.

"Nico," Percy cooed, "I'm going to call the infirmary."

"No..!" Nico complained, spitting out leftover regurgitation. "I just need a day, okay?"

"You had that yesterday."

"Another one!"

Percy sighed, holding his arm and keeping his hair from falling down, "At least drink some nectar."

Nico heaved into the bowl, but after another minute or so he nodded, "Fine. Nectar tastes good anyways."

~ Time Skip to that night ~

Nico laid on Percy's chest. He wasn't throwing up and his headache had lightened, but he still wasn't feel good. His stomach ached like a mf, his arms crossed over it gingerly, and his couldn't get rid of the feeling that he was spinning faster than the speed of light in a million circles.

"Babe..." he whined, pouting. Percy never knew Nico got so needy when he was sick.

"I'm right here," he reassured nonetheless, spooning Nico from behind. "Try to get some sleep."

"I don't feel well enough to sleep," Nico explained, even though it didn't make any sense.

"Um..." Percy started, unsure of what to do. Too much nectar and Nico would burst into flames, but he couldn't convince him to go to the infirmary. "A lullaby?"

"I do not want to hear your singing," Nico said.

Percy smirked, "Yeah, me either. What if I play some music?"

Nico groaned in defiance, exhaling against his pillow afterwards. Percy kept his arm around Nico, holding him gently as their bodies cupped each other. They'd been moving around slightly throughout their time laying down, which Percy assumed was due to Nico's lack of balance or comprehension of gravity for the moment.

"A movie?" he suggested, looking up at the demigod-safe tv the Hephaestus cabin installed.

"Just silence..." Nico mumbled, though he didn't mind if Percy talked.

Of course, Percy didn't know that, so he kissed Nico's head and held him in silence for a few moments, doing his best to be there for him.

I wonder how much he hates me seeing him this vulnerable, he thought to himself, but he pushed the thought away and figured if he ought to know then he'd find out.

"I love you..." Nico mumbled, sounding drowsy.

"I love you, too, Neeks."