I stared into Nico's eyes, considering my options.

I let my fake mask fall off.

I was suddenly tense and my hands kept inching towards my weapons as I let the paranoid part of me show itself.

I let go of the curtain over my eyes and revealed all of the pain, sadness, regret, scared, anxiety, nervousness, anticipation, insanity, love, and all my other emotions.

I had, for the first time in many, many years, finally showed someone who I really was.

The sad-and-very-paranoid-little-boy-who-grew-up-way-too-fast.

I kept studied Nico's eyes for what he was thinking.

To say he looked surprised would've been an understatement.

"Oh, Percy," he whispered. "Oh my gods, Percy."

I smiled sadly.

I reached out and wiped off a tear from Nico's face.

It was water. . .

But for once I didn't care.

Because I'm doing it for someone I love.

"Percy," he whispered. He opened his arms and I leaned forward and hugged him.

I buried my face in his chest.

I felt tears leaking out of my eyes for the first time in many, many years.

Nico rubbed my back.

"Percy," he whispered. "Percy--- oh Percy."

After what seemed like hours, my tears slowly subsided.

I pulled away from Nico and looked down.

Nico lifted my chin up and I met his eyes.

"Percy," he said. "Crying doesn't mean you're not strong. It means that you've been too strong for too long."

I stared into his eyes for a while, then leaned forward and kissed him with all my heart.

~•~

Nico and I had decided not to go back to sleep. We walked down to the common room and talked for a while.

"Percy," Nico said after a moment of silence. "I know you're scared of water, but is there anything that can be done to make it so that you're not afraid of it?"

I thought about it.

"It's not like I'll be able to avoid water for the rest of my life," I said finally. "I think that I can get over it. I did wipe away a tear earlier. . .

"And there is water in the air we breathe. . ."

I looked out the window at the lake. I remembered the nice squid that tried to talk to me.

Did I hurt it's feelings by ignoring it, by a asking if I could go around it? It was a nice squid.

Maybe I'll start getting rid of my fear of water by visiting it later.

I looked back at Nico and gave him an actual smile.

"Thanks, Nico," I said. I stood up and went upstairs.