[ wouldn't that be something? if nico's the one that loses total control of himself first. percy would probably still think it was hot. he doesn't hold as tightly to the idea that he's inadequate because he's less experienced. obviously, they're both having a good time. it's a nice little boost to his ego. he can do something right. the city doesn't need him to leap into action, doesn't need his quips in the face of adversaries, but apparently this he can do without screwing it up somehow.

maybe that's wrong.

maybe he is screwing with nico's head, leading him on, giving him hope with his hand over percy's heart. they don't have a future. nico is with the son of apollo and he's happy, and percy is with the daughter of athena, also happy. or will be, some day, when this is all over.

where can this possibly go between them? what's he even doing besides holding a shovel and burying them both deeper and deeper in this hole? it can't go anywhere. it never will. but nico's staring at him with those same dark eyes that have demanded a promise from him in the past ( he's done the same to nico - twice, actually ), and he can't seem to find the strength to pry his hand away.

somewhere aphrodite and cupid are high-fiving and drinking mojitos. percy hates them.

nico leans forward and bumps their foreheads together and it's such a small affectionate gesture that it makes his chest feel tight. how does he know percy needs that from him in that moment? it's likely he needs the contact just as much. it's funny though, to imagine nico as the kind of person that needs anything from anyone. that's an old perception, he reminds himself, and it's only a part of who the son of hades is. he can go it alone, that doesn't mean that he wants to. percy owes it to nico not to hide from him and so he doesn't look away, doesn't glance down to follow the path nico's fingers are taking. he remains steady, touches their noses together, but doesn't kiss him. if not kissing and not touching is their way out of the hole, then percy feels himself slipping, unable to find purchase on the walls as long as nico's playing with his boxers.

don't lean into him, don't move. the instructions are quite simple to follow once he's caught off guard by what's being confessed to him. it's his turn to try on the wide-eyed look. he knows that nico has feelings for him and that it's been a winding and confusing journey and he's had to find his footing on his own. he knows that nico must have struggled endlessly, wanting to be near percy but also not wanting to be anywhere near him, all the while hoping that maybe, some day, under the right circumstances that he might reciprocate. he knows because it's how he'd felt for annabeth, waiting, too uncertain of his own feelings to ever make a move. never knowing if he'd live through the next day, let alone to see the prophecy play out. hearing that he's the person nico's always wanted to be with intimately just makes his ears turn red. he has to say something with nico shaking his head like that. ]

Hey. I told you already. I'm not going anywhere. [ if he needs reminding, so be it. looking at nico, he does his best imitation of a guy that has his head together. ] You were pretty good at cards once, right? Play these ones right and maybe it won't be that long.

[ feel free to smack him in the head with a pillow any time, nico. ]