[ in the quiet moments that it takes Nico to decide on an answer, he wonders if he's yet again overstepped his boundaries. maybe he has. it's not really any of his business why Nico wants to celebrate Christmas and he isn't under any obligation to answer Percy. it just seems safer than asking why he hasn't celebrated it in forever because the answer is semi-obvious and it'd probably do more harm than good. he stops himself from saying nevermind out loud by reaching for the bag of flour and opening it up, doing his best not to cover the entire counter in it.

he's partially successful. ]

Newsflash: he's not the only one that would be mad. But I think you know that already. From what I can tell, you've made a lot of friends here. [ not being alone goes with the territory. friends don't let that happen. if he needs Percy to reconfirm that he's not alone when he's already standing in the kitchen with him, ready to make blue pancakes ( a tradition that he shares with his mom ), then he's going to have to say so because Percy thinks he already gets it. ]