Nico stared blankly at the wall. You focused on him.

"What're you thinking about?" You questioned.

He looked back at you with conflicted eyes. "Just... something."

You moved closer to him, sitting with your leg pressed next to his. You made direct eye contact with him, giving him a single reassuring smile.

"Tell me," you urged.

After a moment of contemplating, he sighed, and relaxed his head on your shoulder.

"Just something Percy said to me. About my sister."

"Hazel?"

"No, Bianca."

You didn't reply, knowing you were walking on egg shells when talking about Nico's passed sister.

"He told me" he continued, "a little more about what happened on his quest with her. I couldn't listen before but... I don't know, since she chose rebirth..."

You nodded, "I understand. It's okay."

You kissed his cheek reassuringly.

He sighed again, "Yeah."

You placed an arm around him, letting him rest against you. You knew that this was all the reassurance he needed, so you let him process what he needs to with the comfort of doing it with you.

After a while, he's feeling a bit better.

"You're the best [boyfriend/girlfriend/joyfriend] I could've asked for," he says.

You blush darkly, partially because he usually doesn't say these things, he'll let you know by the way he touches you or the gifts he gets you, but also because he used your correct gendered preference. Of course he would, but he's one of the only people that actually see you for who you are.

Tears brim your eyes, but he can't see because you're resting your cheek on his shoulder still. "Thank you. I try," he say softly.

Nico turns and kisses the top of your head, "You succeed."

(A/N This isn't finished. I tried finishing it, but I just don't know what I had planned and I'm not really dedicated to making it work since I'm not sure about continuing this book or not - read my Update chapter for more - so please take this and I hope you enjoyed ♡)