Paul

I felt pretty stupid when 2 + 2 clicked and I realized what was going on between Percy and Nico.

Then again, it's not like Sally figured it out before I did.

"Sally," I said to my wife as I walked out to the kitchen and dining room area of the apartment. "Have you noticed anything with Percy and Nico the three days he's been here?"

She shrugged, taking Tenaya out of her high chair to play for a bit before nap time. It was still early and I know the boys were up late last night, so I wasn't going to bother trying to wake them up. It's only 10, but Tenaya was up early today. With me. So it's almost her nap time.

"I don't know," she told me. "I guess I haven't paid too much attention. They've been getting along, I know that. The tension between them that was there the last time he visited is gone. So that's good. Why?"

I thought about it. Because it might just be me thinking it. Nico is gay, Percy told us that a while ago when he found out. And I know that Percy is bi. He's dated guys before. He dated this really nice guy his freshman year and they went to formal together and they were a nice couple.

But, obviously, it didn't work out. They agreed that it didn't work and he moved anyways.

And Annabeth... I knew that would fail.

Hopefully, if it's actually a thing, this doesn't. They would be a really nice couple. Maybe Nico would actually help with some of Percy's problems, unlike Annabeth, who made his anxiety a lot worse than what it was when I met him. Made him feel like shit most of the time.

I had never seen Percy smile so much until Nico came over.

I just want them together, okay?

"I don't know," I answered her question. "You're right, the tension is gone. Percy just seemed happier than normal the past couple days. Considering he's in a slump again. It might just be me, though."

"No, you're right." Sally insisted. "He has seemed to be doing a lot better. I just figured it was because he wasn't at camp. But Nico might have something to do with it. I just never thought too hard about it."

When Tenaya started to cry, though, that woke Percy up and he came out. Tenaya wobbled over to him, murmured something, and hung onto his leg. No longer crying.

That fixed that problem.

Percy picked her up, put her on his shoulders, and proceeded to get himself breakfast.

And then he realized I was still home.

"I thought you worked today." Percy remarked as he got stuff out for pancakes. He makes good pancakes.

"I do," I told him. "Just not until after lunch. Is that a problem?"

"Oh, no!" He insisted. "I just thought you worked earlier today."

Nico came out.

He was shirtless. Something I haven't seen out of him yet.

He was skinnier than fuck. He looked just about anorexic. And I've met plenty of anorexic kids in my life as a high school teacher.

Seeing us, Nico turned around and went to put a shirt on.

Sally and I shared a look that sort of said the same thing: Did you see how skinny he was?

Nico

Sally and Paul probably think I starve myself now. But I don't anymore. I used to. All I would eat is pomegranate. That's it.

I mean, now I love food. It's amazing. I eat it a lot. And I've gained some weight. Because of camp, it's slow going. I try to eat a lot of carbs and what not to gain the weight. But I've gained ten pounds. Which puts me at 103.

For my height, that was bad.

And I could hear Paul talking with Percy after Sally left for work.

"Do you know if Nico throws up his food?" Percys step dad asked him. "I've seen a lot of anorexic kids over the years and..."

Percy laughed.

"I promise," Percy assured him. "Nico isn't anorexic. He was just small to begin with and after Bianca died he was on the run and he didn't eat much at all and yeah. He never threw up his food unless he had the flu. If he wanted to starve himself, he wouldn't eat the food. But I wouldn't worry. He started eating normally probably a year ago. Camp just works you out so much, it's hard to gain weight. He has gained. I don't know how much. But I wouldn't worry at all."

Paul took a minute to think.

"Who was Bianca?"

Percy

I thought I told Paul about that. My mom knows about Bianca and what happened to her.

He must've been at where he lived before he moved in with us.

"Bianca?" I repeated and he nodded his head, saying he's never the name.

Oh.

"She was Nico's older sister." I explained to my step dad. "Um, after their Mom died way back when, she took care of both of them. Hades left them, not by choice. And she took care of them and when we found them, she joined the Hunt and that upset him a little bit and there was a quest and she went on it and died on it. When he found out, he freaked out and left camp. It happened over Christmas break the winter you and Mom started going out. I met you like a week after this all happened."

And then I think he remembered the day we met, because I was a mess that day. It was my first day out of the house, the last day of break, since I got back from camp. I just felt so shitty about what had happened. I blamed myself for everything. We had gone to his house for Christmas. I met him on Christmas.

"So that's what had you so worked up that Christmas," Paul remarked. "That makes a lot more sense."

And then he had an idea.

"Nico's mom is dead?"

I nodded.

"Why doesn't he move in with us?"