Percy Jackson

I love overthinking my appearance.

Or at least, my brain loves it. That's it's favorite activity.

And despite the fact that I'm not out to her, I sent Rachel an IM because I needed help and I knew she would help.

"Wh— Percy! Hey!" Rachel said as I saw she must've been in a middle of a painting or something, she was wearing her apron and barely knows how to cook, so. "What's up? Are you okay? Do I need to come over?"

"Hm? No, you can stay home, don't worry," I insisited, momentarily forgetting that she knew that my mental health is bad now. "If it was that kind of bad I'd probably just show up at your place or be in bed so... I do need help, though."

"Oh?"

I nodded my head.

"So I've been looking in the mirror and debating for like, at least a half hour now," I started off and then realized that that sounded bad and like a different issue. "Not like... Not like last year's looking in the mirror issue but like I don't know what to wear and I'm really anxious and I can't make a decision right now bexshse I might combust if I do."

That's a lot of information, though, which I get, so her not responding immediately was fine.

She then pointed out the important part that I neglected to tell her, though.

"You... What's the event?" Rachel questioned. "Are you getting your parents from the airport or meeting up with the guys to skate or...? What are we planning for?"

"So, it..." But I'm anxious and coming out is hard and my brain is just chugging along at a little too fast so coming out is hard and I already said that. "Dinner. Not super fancy dinner but like, nicer than McDonald's."

That's still vague, though.

"Dinner?"

"Dinner."

"With...?" She needed more context, though. "friends? Family? I need the reason for dinner, dude."

"Oh!" But no shit she needs that, I'm stupid. "Me and—"

But I'm not outing Nico because that's not okay, so I stop myself and correct my words that I'm telling Rachel in order to get her help.

"Date," and reasonably, this shocks Rachel and she ended up spilling her paint cup because she accidentally hit it when she jumped. "It's a date."

"YOU HAVE A DATE!?" But above all, Rachel's like one of my best friends so it excited her. "OH MY GODS, WITH WHO?"

"I... Am not allowed to say yet," I tried to explain.

Rachel doesn't know about my queerness, though, so that catches her off guard.

"Wh—why not?"

So I came out.

"W... Well it's not like..." I tripped over almost every word I could in order to get my message across. "H... He isn't like— he's not out."

But then I got more nervous and could start to feel my bones.

Which, according to Rachel and even Grover, is really bad.

"I mean I'm also not out— well I guess I sort of am now since I said that but not to everyone, but he isn't really at all and so I want to tell you who it is but that would be really mean because we agreed to not out each other and the date was sort of a last minute plan but he's going to be here soon-ish and I have no idea what to wear and—"

"And we're going to make sure he knows how hot you are tonight," and being smart, Rachel stopped my ramblings. "What's his vibe? Can we go all in or not?"

"Um..."

It took me a second, but Clarisse being nosy came in handy.

"Remember when Clarisse said the closest she could pin to my type was Thalia?"

Rachel nodded her head.

"Yeah, she had the right," I confirmed for the Oracle. "So like, it's all free reign."

Nodding once more, Rachel completely went into a wing woman mode that I didn't even know she had as she looked at all the clothes I'd pulled out along with my accessories and master crafted an outfit like she was a daughter of Aphrodite before helping me calm down and breathe until I got a knock on my window, which made my body restart.

I walked over to the window, though, seeing him in the fire escape per usual.

"We have a door, you know," I reminded the son of Hades, who shrugged as he slid inside, handing me a small pouch that had a heart pin that was like, blue and teal and green and all of the colors I like.

"I know," he assured me with my favorite smile. "I just thought the fire escape was more romantic. I saw that when I was checking out, though, and you already like blue and blue adjacent colors, but apparently it's also the gay colors so... Subtle but on brand."

So yeah, it didn't take long for him to get me to smile, especially when he showed me that he also got one and so I put mine on and we matched and it was reassuring.

We definitely took a few photos together after that and stole a couple of before deciding that we should go because both of us have to eat because that's a thing people need to do and sometimes it can be a good thing.

It was the cheesiest thing I've probably ever done, but Nico and I went to a place a few blocks away that was a restaurant and arcade because he is somewhat familiar with arcades because of his time at the Lotus, but he's never actually been to one.

So naturally I spent too much money winning him a little stuffed opposum and then on his first try he got the roundest seal I've ever seen and was very nice and almost made me cry in a good way when he said I could have it.

I crushed him at skee ball, though, to make up for the money I lost at the claw machine.

Overall, it was a blast. We left there at 10:30 and my phone had been exploded by then from just Rachel, wanting to know everything but his name because she knew that was classified.

I couldn't help but laugh as I saw the messages, though.

redhead: how's it going???
redhead: hello?
redhead: Percy is ur phone seriously on mute rn?
redhead: ok fine I'll wait a while
•••
redhead: any updates?????????
redhead: hey did you die or???? We've been working on making sure that DOESN'T happen so ur not allowed to date some sort of serial killer :(
redhead: Percy??????????
redhead: can I PLEASE give some form of an update:
redhead: every juicy detail?
redhead: well besides his name but like that was established earlier
redhead: my guy it IS 10 PM WHAT ARE YOU DOING STILL
redhead: if you don't use protection istg i know ur not that kind of guy but you also never know so please don't get an std
redhead: will I get an update before 11 so I can find out if I need to leave to kill this guy or?
redhead: percyyyyyyyyyyyyy

Nico also thought they were hilarious when he asked what I was laughing about as we walked back to my place.

jackieboy: omg relax you sound like you're going to die of anticipation
redhead: HI PERCY HEY HOW DID IT GO DO I NEED TO CHOP HIS DICK OFF OR NO?
jackieboy: please let him keep his dick Rachel stay away from the sharp things
jackieboy: but it went super duper well!!! We went to the restaurant/cafe place that's not far from the apartment which is why I'm only responding now
jackieboy: were walking back to my place rn tho so I'll update you in the morning with the full story! But it went really well :)))))))))))))
redhead: AHHAHAHAJCIA YOU BETTER
redhead: use protection ;)
jackieboy: shut up

With that, I shoved my phone back in my pocket.

"Parents checking in?" Nico asked as we turned the corner for the block the apartments is on, holding hands now that I've updated Rachel.

"Nah, it was Rachel," I corrected him. "I called earlier asking for help on what I should wear so she knew I went on a date with a guy but that's all she knew so she blew up my phone wanting updates."

He chuckled.

"At least she's supportive," my date figured, which was true. She's been overly supportive ever since I told her about the date. "Did... Were you out to Rachel?"

I shook my head, grabbing my key as we headed inside the apartment.

"No, I wasn't, actually!" I clarified. "You were the like, only person until I told her earlier, so... She's also super chill, though, just generally speaking. Her dad doesn't really like me, but... I guess I get it."

"Hm... I think he's stupid for not liking you," Nico responded, which was nice to hear and it made me crack a smile, although I knew that Mr. Dare was generally a lot smarter than I'll ever hope to be. "Speaking as somebody who once tried to no longer like you— given it was a different kind of liking, he's stupid for thinking that's possible."

"You—"

And as much as it wasn't the most surprising thing to hear because I honestly thought Nico could barely tolerate me until recently, it was odd to hear it so directly.

"When?" I asked.

Pondering, Nico shrugged.

"Just like, after Bianca died," he told me, which means that he's liked me for like, a really long time. "Because I, you know, misunderstood and what happened and thought you somehow killed her and was trying to then kill me?"

"Oh yeah...."

That day sucked when I broke the news to him.

"Yeah, my logic wasn't all there, but I tried my hardest to no longer want to be around you and that failed so... Obviously. We just went out on a date for dinner."

And once again, hearing it said is kind of wild.

"We did just go on a date!" I repeated back to him as we returned to my humble abode that Rachel has been calling the depressing hovel lately, which isn't totally wrong. "I had a blast, we should definitely to that again. Are you still okay with like, staying over or... Like a lot has changed since you said you'd be okay with being here tonight so I just want to double check that—"

"Percy, I am more than okay with having a sleepover," Nico very patiently reminded me, giving my hand a well needed squeeze. "I'm very excited, actually."

"Okay, cool, I just like... Want to make sure."

Giving my hand a squeeze, which was a reminder that we were holding hands for me actually, Nico told me that he was heading to the bathroom quick and then it was just me in the living room, processing.

I just went on a date with a guy I really like.

And now we're going to have a fun sleepover so that way maybe I won't feel dreadful when I wake up tomorrow.

Maybe.