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Nico flinched back. “Ow, Hazel.”
“It wasn’t even close to your eye.”
“Was too.”
“It literally wasn’t, stay still.” Hazel shifted on her knees, bringing the black eyeliner pencil to his eyes again.
Nico let out a sigh. Hazel drew back.
“I can stop if you want.”
Nico glared at her. She smirked back at him.
“That’s what I thought,” she said smugly, leaning back in.
Nico stared at the ceiling as she gently lined his waterline, the feeling of glitter on his cheeks and pencil on his eyes unfamiliar. “Whose idea was this, anyway?”
“You didn’t hear?” Hazel asked, brows furrowed in concentration. “It was Annabeth’s.”
“Annabeth?” Nico said, trying not to let the shock show on his face. “She suggested this?”
“More like, she approved it, and once Annabeth approves no one will object,” Hazel said, leaning back on her haunches to survey her work.
“Perfect,” she said, her eyes gleaming, and Nico fidgeted under her scrutiny. “One more thing.” She dug in her bag, pulling out a red lipstick.
Nico grabbed her wrist. “Hazel,” he said. “No.”
She glanced at the colour in her fist. “Not this one,” she said. “I have one, though, I can make it really subtle – “
“Hazel,” Nico repeated.
“Aha!” she ripped her wrist free and brought up a tube, a dark burgundy red.
“No,” Nico said, deadpan. “No lipstick.”
“It’s lip tint, not lipstick,” Hazel said. “I’ll show you what I’ll do, okay?” She glanced over at her handheld mirror, and gently dabbed the applicator in the middle of her bottom lip. Using her finger, she smeared it across the lip, then pursed them together.
“See?” she said, looking over at him. It was a slight difference, more noticeable because Nico had seen without any lip product. It looked like she had been eating berries seconds before.
“But won’t it –” Nico gestured. “Transfer?”
Hazel rolled her eyes. “Everything will be transferring. You’ll probably look like this by the end of the night anyway.”
Nico flushed, trying not to think too hard about it. Hazel grinned as she leaned in to apply the product to his lip.
“Is that blush for anyone in particular?” Hazel prodded, her eyes knowing.
Nico glanced away from her eyes.
Hazel’s expression changed as she watched him. “You two haven’t – like, he isn’t – “
“No, we haven’t,” Nico said.
Hazel paused. “But you are dating?”
“I don’t know,” Nico said honestly. Hazel rolled her eyes.
“You guys sneak away practically every night.”
“He needs help harvesting the moonflowers for his remedies.”
“Didn’t moonflowers stop blooming in August?” Hazel asked innocently.
Nico glared at her. “We just talk, Hazel. He hasn’t made any moves.”
“Not yet,” Hazel muttered.
“How did you and Frank agree to this anyway?” Nico asked, changing the subject. “How did anyone agree to this?”
Hazel shrugged. “It’s just a bit of fun. Makes the bonfire more interesting. And besides, Frank can kiss whoever he wants, I know he’s mine.”
Nico looked down at the bed, his stomach twisting uncomfortably at her words.
“Won’t it be fun to see the most random people kiss each other?” Hazel pressed. “I heard Connor and Travis have a bet on the number of refusals they can get.”
Nico laughed, the weight lightening slightly.
The stood up to look in the cabin mirror. Hazel’s deep burgundy toga fit her perfectly, her dark curly hair running down her back, gold circling up her arms and down her legs to her sandals. Black eyeliner framed her brown eyes, gold lining her crease and fanning out into a wing.
“You look good, Nico,” Hazel said, looking at him appreciatively.
Nico’s eyeliner was less impressive, likely due to his fidgeting, but it still did the trick. Black lined his eyes, dark under his fringe, and Hazel had dabbed black glitter under them, trailing down his cheeks and reflecting in the light. His silver leafed circlet sat on his curls, mirroring the silver fabric that cinched his black toga at the waist. His shoulder exposed, paler in contrast to the pitch of his toga, and he glanced over at the residue of black and silver glitter that had gathered there.
“Oh, leave it, it looks good,” Hazel said. “Calls attention to your arms.”
Nico scowled at her. “There’s nothing to see.”
“I beg to differ,” Hazel said. “That sword of yours ain’t light.”
The bonfire was burning brightly in the dark night, lighting up the forest clearing in a glow. It must be passed midnight by now, but the clearing was still bustling with the older campers. Nico approached cautiously, Hazel tugging on his wrist to lead him into the fray.
“Happy equinox.” Nico heard. He turned to see a camper had run up to him. They looked a couple years younger, and Nico had seen them staring at him while sparring in the commons.
“Uh, you too,” Nico replied. Their face fell as they turned away.
“Good call,” said Hazel.
“I didn’t know how many people would be here,” Nico said, scanning the crowd and seeing unfamiliar faces.
“We can just stick to our people,” Hazel said. “Speaking of…”
Frank approached them, his broad shoulders emerging from his purple toga, the SPQR logo stamped on his chest. “Happy equinox,” he said, grinning at Hazel.
“And a merry Mabon,” she replied. Frank leaned in and kissed her, his large hand spreading across her waist.
They broke apart and grinned at each other, before Frank turned to Nico. “Happy equinox?” he said questioningly.
Nico shook his head. “Not after you just kissed my sister.”
Frank laughed, “Fair enough.”
“Come on, let’s find the others,” Hazel said, taking Nico’s hand and pulling him into the crowd.
They were stopped far too many times along the way, campers shouting ‘Happy equinox’ at them, some not even bothering to reveal themselves to claim their kiss. Hazel and Frank stopped for the people they knew, trading kisses with an Ares camper and a few giggling Aphrodite campers. Nico kept his mouth shut, only accepting a kiss from Naya, a Demeter camper that had helped him with the camp cemetery over the summer.
Nico pulled back to look at her. “Isn’t this weird?” he asked.
Naya shrugged, “It’s like shaking hands,” she said, leaning in so he could hear her over the noise. “Unless it’s someone you actually like, then it’s the perfect excuse.”
“Are you thinking of anyone in particular?” he asked.
She grinned. “Maybe. There’s this pretty one in Apollo I think I’ve got my eye on.”
Nico fought a blush. “Sounds like a good plan,” he said.
“Thanks!” she said. “I’ll update you on how it goes.”
Nico nodded and she disappeared in the crowd. He glanced around, attempting subtlety as he scanned the faces around him.
He had seen Will that day. He had been walking up from the lake after one of his dunks with his cabin, rivulets trailing down his chest as he towel-dried his hair. He had jogged to see Nico, asking if he was attending the fall equinox party tonight with a gleam in his eye. Nico remembered watching a drop of water trailing over his tattoo, and somehow yes had escaped his mouth. Will had grinned, and told him to come find him when he arrived.
Nico turned back to Hazel and Frank, carefully blanking his disappointment when he didn’t see Will in the crowd. He caught the end of a kiss between Hazel and Drew Tanaka. Drew gave Hazel a shy smile before disappearing into the crowd.
“That was flirty,” Frank commented. “Wasn’t that flirty?”
“It was, yeah,” Nico said.
“It’s not personal, I’m just her type,” Hazel said, but she was grinning. “This is fun, isn’t it?”
“Not too much fun, I hope,” Frank said.
“Hey! I looked the other way when that girl from Hephaestus put her hands on your –”
Nico glanced around again, praying for an exit to the conversation. His eyes fell on a group of gold, and his heart nearly stopped.
The Apollo cabin was gathered around a table, littered with cups and chips. Will leaned his forearms on the table, his golden cuffs and bands on his upper arms glinting in the firelight. His toga was off-white and shimmery, falling off his shoulder and leaving his side bare. He laughed at something Cecil had said, shaking his blonde hair, only a few shades lighter than his gold skin, before looking up. His eyes caught Nico’s and time stopped.
Nico watched as Will’s eyes trailed over his face, his shoulders, down his body to his black sandals and back up, much the way Nico had just done. The laughter faded out of Will’s face, leaving something darker, more intense. Their eyes met again, and one side of Will’s mouth curved up in a small, wicked smile, as if he knew something Nico didn’t.
“Nico!” he heard a call. Nico startled and turned, his eyes adjusting to the darkness of the edge of the clearing to see more familiar faces gathered in the shadows.
“Are you guys hiding out here?” he asked as he approached.
“We underestimated how popular these ones would be,” Piper said, rolling her eyes and gesturing to Jason, Annabeth and Percy. Nico glanced over them, easily seeing how they would get mobbed. They all looked ethereal, their muscles shadowed in the campfire light, their circlets and cuffs eye-catching. “Happy equinox?” Piper questioned, her own toga stunning and light pink, her hair caught in braids laced with silver.
“And a merry Mabon,” Nico replied. She grinned, pushing up on her toes slightly to give him a peck, her lipgloss sticky against his lips.
“You’re saying that as if you weren’t swarmed the moment we stepped in,” Jason retorted. He turned to Nico, his blue eyes lined in gold. “Happy equinox?”
“And a merry Mabon,” Nico replied. Jason leaned down, tilting Nico’s head up slightly to make sure he landed. He smelled like the summer wind.
“I think they were swarming me because I was next to Annabeth,” Piper said. “Have you seen her calves in those sandals?”
“Yes,” said Percy, as Annabeth rolled her eyes at them.
“I’m surprised you approved this,” Nico said, turning to Annabeth.
“I’m surprised too,” Annabeth said. “But the tradition was brought up at our meeting, and Quinton – you know, the new head counselor of Hebe – said something about how gross it would be if guys had to kiss other guys –”
“Which led to Leo leaping across the table to make out with me,” Jason added.
“-- and it just made me mad, so I said we were doing it. Obviously, we set up the consent system, so no one will kiss anyone they don’t want to, but I don’t think I actually expected it to happen.”
“It seems like a hit,” Nico commented, glancing around.
“The night is not over yet,” Annabeth said gravely. “Anyway. Happy equinox, Nico.”
“And a merry Mabon,” Nico replied automatically. Annabeth leaned in and gave him a light kiss, her palm warm against his shoulder.
“Rachel!” Piper called, waving. Nico turned, watching Rachel Elizabeth Dare walk towards them, green vines trailing across her white toga and weaving over her arms.
“Hi guys!” she said. She turned to Nico, closest to her. “Happy equinox,” she said.
“And a merry Mabon,” Nico replied automatically again.
Rachel leaned in to give him a peck, her hair tickling his cheek. “Your father must be thrilled Persephone is returning to her throne.”
“I’m sure he would be, if he ever showed any emotion besides annoyance,” Nico said. He took a deep breath, feeling a little lightheaded.
“Or murderous rage,” Percy joked. Nico looked up to see he had gotten closer to him during his kiss with Rachel. Percy’s eyes were glancing between Rachel and Annabeth, even as he got closer to Nico.
“Uh, happy equinox,” Percy said to Nico.
“And a merry Mabon,” Nico replied, his chest tight. Percy grinned, his sea green eyes reflecting in the firelight as he leaned down to kiss Nico. It was somehow underwhelming; his lips were slippery as they pressed gently against his, before pulling away.
“Sorry,” Percy said quietly. “I mean, not sorry, it’s just, I wasn’t sure how Annabeth would react to me kissing Rachel, so I thought you were the safer option. But maybe she wouldn’t have minded,” Percy said, laughter in his voice. Nico turned to see Annabeth and Rachel kissing, their hands in each other’s wild curly hair.
“Maybe not,” Nico said, his head still spinning. He looked down at the ground, willing himself to take deep breaths, but he couldn’t get enough air.
“Hey,” Percy’s hand landed on his shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Just, ah, overwhelmed,” Nico said, his voice strained.
“Come on,” Percy said, pulling him out of their circle of friends even further to the edge of the campsite. Nico stared into the darkness of the woods, finally able to take a deep breath away from the mayhem.
“Sorry,” Nico said. “I felt smothered.”
“The noise? The people?” Percy asked.
“And the kissing,” Nico admitted. “They keep being sprung on me.”
“Ah, I’m sorry Nico – “
“No, no, it’s not you,” Nico said dismissively. “It’s just a lot of kissing in one night, you know? Like I open my mouth to breathe, and it gets blocked by someone’s lips.”
Percy laughed. “I haven’t kissed anyone besides Annabeth and Frank, so I don’t exactly know what you’re talking about, but that makes sense.”
“Really?” Nico asked.
“Yeah. You can slow down. No one will be mad if you say no.”
“It’s not that I mind kissing anyone,” Nico said. “I guess I just need a break.”
“Of course,” Percy said. He paused for a second. “Have you, uh, asked anyone yet tonight?”
“What do you mean?” Nico asked.
“I mean, everyone’s been asking you,” Percy said. “Have you initiated?”
Nico paused, thinking. “I guess not.”
“Maybe that’s a solution,” Percy said. “Take the power back.”
“Maybe,” Nico said, his eyes flicking to where the Apollo campers were gathered. As he glanced over, he saw Will’s head turn away. Had he been watching them?
Percy clapped his shoulder. “Let me know if you need anything,” he said with a meaningful look.
Nico nodded distractedly, still looking at Will, who had completely turned away. Percy slipped back towards the group, and Nico took a fortifying breath, his feet leading him towards the Apollo campers, praying he didn’t get ambushed before he got there.
The Apollo campers were laughing at a story Kayla was telling, and Nico noticed from up close that they all had reflective tattoos on their bodies, suns with rays stretching down their chests and over their arms. Will was a little off to the side, his mouth pinched, his eyes on the table.
Nico walked over to his side of the table and cleared his throat.
“Will,” he said. The Apollo campers quieted. Will looked up. His was expression hard, and little angry, as he fidgeted with the cup in his hands,
Nico took a deep breath. “Um, happy – “
Will slammed down his cup, not letting Nico finish his sentence before closing the distance between them and kissing him. He kissed him deeply, searchingly, his fingers curled in Nico’s hair, grasping tightly.
And this kiss wasn’t smothering. This kiss was like breathing.
Will pulled away gently, his hands still in Nico’s hair, palms warm against his cheek. His lips were a shade darker, and he was panting lightly, his bright blue eyes searching Nico’s. Nico put a hand on his wrist and used it to leverage himself up for another kiss, covering Will’s lips with his own.
Faintly, Nico heard someone cough. “Uh, I don’t think that’s how it works.”
The Apollo campers erupted in titters, and Will broke away at the sound. He glanced around, taking Nico’s hand.
“Come on,” he said softly, pulling him away from the ring and towards the forest. Nico nodded, following until they reached the treeline, when Will pushed him against a tree and kissed him again.
Their kisses weren’t chaste, or gentle, or slippery – they were warmth and heat and intensity, filling Nico to the brim and down to his toes. He flattened his hand over Will’s heart, where he knew his sun tattoo laid underneath. Will’s hands grasped his middle, almost desperately, holding him close even as he broke away.
“Are you mad?” Nico asked, remembering the glare from earlier.
“Not mad,” Will said, his voice breathless. “I just – I saw you kiss Percy, which is fine, but then he pulled you into the shadows with him –"
“He was helping me calm down –” Nico interjected.
“I know, I know, he’s a great guy, I just –I know we’re not like, officially anything, so I don’t have the right to –”
“Is that what you want?” Nico asked, cutting him off.
“Huh?”
“To be officially… something?” he asked, his hands sliding to Will’s shoulders, fingers digging in as if to keep him there.
Will’s smile was slow and all-encompassing. “Are you asking me to be your boyfriend?”
Nico’s throat tightened, his stomach suddenly in free fall. He glanced away from Will’s face, wanting words to come out but unable to force his body to speak.
“Nico.” Will said, his hand coming up to his shoulder, getting Nico to look up at him. His thumb traced the hollow under his collarbone, where the glitter must have been falling. “I would love to be your boyfriend.”
Nico could finally take a breath. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Will said, grinning.
Nico grinned back, pausing for a moment to take it in. He reached up to brush the glitter off Will’s cheek. Will chased his hand, kissing his palm.
“Do you want to get out of here?” Will asked, voice muffled against his hand.
Nico nodded. “I’ve had enough of this party.”
“Me too,” Will said. “Though I’ll have to thank Annabeth one day.”
Nico glanced over at their group, in the shadows across the clearing, and he thought he could see a few cups go up to him in salute.
“Not today,” Nico said.
“Absolutely not,” Will said, tightening his grip on his ribs. “So, ready to harvest some moonflowers?”
“We haven’t found moonflowers in weeks,” Nico said, deadpan.
“Shoot! You’re right,” Will said, lazily running a hand up his exposed arm, over his shoulder and up to his neck. “I guess we’ll have to find something else to do.”
Nico shivered, a small smile twisting his lips despite himself. Will grinned back, clasping his wrist and pulling him back into the darkness of the woods.