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Nico had never seen so much color. The bright blues, greens, pinks, and violets made the grass and the sky look dull, like a faded memory pulled from his mind. And they stood out against the white fold out table he, Will, and Kayla had just set up in front of the Apollo Cabin, in the form of flags.
Nico knew, in technicality, that there was a lot he didn’t know—especially in terms of sexuality and gender identity. He remembered the day Austin had told him he was aromantic and asexual clearly, the way he nodded in support despite having no idea what the young son of Apollo meant. He had had asked Will later that night.
Despite knowing this, it still blew his mind as they organized the flags in little piles, a giant progress flag hung on the front like a banner. There were so many, so much more than Nico had ever thought was possible. All being celebrated.
When Nico had been a kid there were no flags at all. People like him were shipped away to Concentration Camps, or forced to endure hours of Conversion Therapy. They’d lose friends, family, jobs, and themselves over something they couldn’t control. He had lost a friend once too, a small off handed comment. And he’d lost his family too, even if it had been unrelated. But, to a ten-year-old’s mind, it sort of felt like karma.
Nico was snapped back to reality by something on his shoulders, and he looked up to see his boyfriend tying a flag around him like a cape. Like a protective layer to ward off bad childhood memories and homophobia. It was the first flag Nico had learned by name, barring the traditional rainbow flag. He had a few items with the gay flag, or the mlm flag as Will had referred to it as; mostly gifts and paintings from Hazel who had jumped at the idea of showing her support for her brother, but there was something different about having it around him, where the whole camp would see. Even if he’d already publicly come out at camp.
He met Will’s eyes when the latter had finished tying, and Will’s grin was so bright, Nico had to squint. “You look adorable!” Will gushed, his arms still on Nico’s shoulders.
“Shut up,” Nico mumbled under his breath. He could feel Kayla’s presence nearby, as she flung a pink, yellow, and blue flag around her shoulders. “Where’s your flag?”
“Wait a second!” Will stepped back, and Nico only had a second to mourn the loss of Will’s warm hands on his shoulders before he ran back, a pink, purple, and blue flag flying in the wind behind him as he tried to tie it around him as he walked. “Ta Da!” The flag untied and Will had to scramble to hold it up.
Nico laughed, which he attempted to stifle behind his hand. “Come here, you dork.”
Will rolled his eyes, but handed the flag to Nico so he could tie it around his neck like a cape.
Will gave him a lopsided grin, taking a step back so he could bow. “Why thank you, kind sir.”
Nico lightly shoved his arm. “Actually shut up.”
They almost missed Kayla calling their names from the sound of their laughter, at the table. “I’m not handing out all these alone.” Kayla shouted. “People are starting to come.”
By “people”, Kayla meant the rest of the Apollo Cabin, who were all just grabbing their respective flags with no regards for the perfectly formed rows the three had spent a painstaking ten minutes on.
“You need music,” Austin commented, the sunset aro/ace flag thrown over his shoulder as he grabbed the respective aro and ace flags. “I have a good pride playlist I can set up.”
“Does it have Girl in Red?” asked Gracie. Even her outfit matched the lesbian flag in her arms, something no doubt coordinated by her girlfriend of nearly a year, Lacy. “It better.”
“What do you take me for, a savage?” Austin quipped back. “Obviously.”
“Good.” Gracie gave him a wide grin before bolting off in the direction of the Aphrodite Cabin.
“If you get a speaker, you can set it up,” Will told him, and Austin grinned brightly at his older brother.
“Come on, Jerald, help me.”
Jerry grumbled something about that not being a name as he threw a progress flag over his shoulder. “Coming, coming.”
As the two scurried off, Will moved to help Yan with their flags, as well as Lianna and Francis, a set of nearly thirteen year old twins from Anaheim who’d been claimed at the beginning of June bringing the Apollo Cabin’s camper count up to eight. Yan had the genderqueer flag as well as a bi flag, like Will’s, Lianna had an omnisexual flag, and Francis had a polyamorous and a mlm flag, which shimmered like Nico’s when he spun.
“All set,” Will said, stepping back from Francis, who grinned brightly as he gripped his polyamorous flag in his hand.
“Thanks, Will!” chorused Lianna and Francis, both with wide grins. Nico couldn’t help the small smile that sketched itself onto his lips. He remembered being their age and hating himself, and seeing them so bright and confident gave him copious amounts of joy. The two skipped off in some direction, spinning and giggling, likely off to show their new friends their flags.
Yan, on the other hand, moved so she sat on the steps of the Apollo Cabin, a collection of Sappho poems on their lap.
Austin and Jerry returned, a few of the Cocoa Puffs following behind them. Since it was the summer, the cacodemons had the tendency to hide in either Cabin 7 or 13, not fully comfortable yet with the amount of people, but had found comfort in most of the Apollo kids. Nico’s theory was that it was because they knew Will well, after nine months of his presence, and all Apollo kids had the same undeniable sunny glow to them.
“We’re back,” sang Austin, placing a little speaker on the edge of the table, while Jerry set an identical one on the other end. “The Cocoa Puffs decided to come though. Isn’t that right?” Austin grinned as one of the Cocoa Puffs wrapped their arms around his waist. “Probably wanted to spend time with their favorite uncle.”
“Lies,” Jerry said, a few Cocoa Puffs hanging from him as well. “I’m clearly their favorite uncle.”
“They probably just follow you because you sound funny,” Austin told him.
“Oi!”
“Just saying.”
At one point in his life, Nico didn’t think he’d ever smile again. But, it was days like these where he found his cheeks burning from how wide he was smiling.
“They adore you both,” Will said, moving to pick up the little cyclops cacodemon who’d taken a liking to him. “And they’d adore you more if you set up the music.”
“Mean,” mumbled Austin, but he set up the speaker anyway, and She by Dodie began playing through the speakers. “Well, Jerry and I’ll be off. Someone has a date I need to third wheel.”
“It’s not third wheeling when you invite yourself,” Jerry remarked.
“I plead the fifth.”
“I’m not American!”
“I don’t care.” Austin smirked. “But Olivera loves me, so it’s alright.”
“Ollie’s just to kind to tell you to fuck off, mate.”
“Swear Jar,” Yan shouted, not even looking up from their book.
“I know!” shot back Jerry. “This family, right, Henry?”
The Cocoa Puff whom the Apollo Cabin had unanimously named Henry seemed to agree, following Jerry as he made his way across the field to Cabin 6. Jerry stopped and turned around, seeing that more than just Henry had followed him, most of the Cocoa Puffs, barring the one with Will had followed, and Austin as well. “Phoebus Apollo,” he mumbled. “Am I babysitting too? I thought Austin was enough!”
“Hey!”
“You don’t have to,” Will called back. “I can take them.”
“Nah, Ollie and I were just going to walk by the beach with Austin, we can take care of a dozen kids too. I know they want more time with their favorite uncle.”
“Bring them back if they become too much.” Will said.
Jerry responded with a thumbs up, before making it to the Athena Cabin.
Nico was thinking about the Cocoa Puffs when he was elbowed in the ribs. He looked up at his boyfriend, an unamused look on his face. “What, Will?”
Will whipped a fake tear. “Look at our kids, spoiled rotten by my brothers.”
“I still can’t believe your whole cabin just accepted a bunch of Cocoa Puffs as their nephews.” Nico commented. “You’re all mental.”
“We’re demigods,” Will commented, “We’ve seen weirder.”
“And,” Kayla grabbed the only Cocoa Puff still with them, the little cyclops whom Will had named Sunny. “They’re cute.”
Sunny nestled themselves against her. “See, adorable.”
“Takes after their father,” Will commented.
“Ew, gross,” Kayla scrunched her nose, “Keep that away from your child.” She used the Pan Flag to shield Sunny’s eyes.
Feeling slightly snarky, and since it was only Kayla and Yan around, Nico smirked. “What about this?” He pulled Will down by his shirt, right where the bisexual flag was tied, and pressed a kiss on his lips.
“Uhg!”
Will and Nico both broke down laughing, and Yan was chuckling behind her book.
“Come on, Sunny.” Kayla said, still shielding the cacodemon from the two boys. “Let’s go to where we’re appreciated.”
“You’re supposed to help with the flags,” Nico reminded her.
She was already almost in the Cabin though. “You’ll figure it out! Come on, Yan. Sunny needs a bedtime story.”
“Coming!” Yan shut their books and followed her older sister into the Cabin.
Will leaned against the table. “So, we’ve been abandoned.”
“Truly a tragedy.” Nico’s grin was growing by the second.
“No need to sound so sad.”
Nico cocked his head slightly to the side, watching Will in the sunlight. His curls were more defined than normal, and framed his face like a golden halo, and his blue eyes shined bright like some of the flags in front of them. “Of course not, I wouldn't want to give anyone the wrong impression."
Will chuckled, and wrapped his arm around Nico's waist, pulling him close. Nico melted into his side, not caring that anyone at camp could come and see them.
Except maybe the two who saw them.
Piper and Leo were running in their direction, waving wildly and grinning broadly, racing like young children. Piper reached the table first, needing to use the table itself to slow her momentum. "Nico! Will!"
Leo wasn't as lucky, barreling into the progress flag at bullet speed. He bounced off, the wind knocked out of him. "Uhg," he mumbled, clutching his chest.
Nico laughed, clutching his own chest as he watched Leo. Leo's complaints of betrayal only set him off more, and the other reason he hadn't collapsed was Will's arm around his waist.
"Ignoring the fact that Leo's brakes are broken," Piper said, looking over the flags, "Gracie came over to my cabin wearing a lesbian flag as a cape and I want a flag now."
"You've come to the right place!" Will told her, "We've got literally every single flag we could think of. Which one do you want?"
Piper tapped her chin in thought, before grabbing a pink and white flag with a purple flower in the center. "I'll take the Sapphic one." She flung it over her shoulders, and tied it "I feel like a Sapphic Superhero." She struck a pose.
Leo managed to stand up, though his breathing was still labored. "I'd feel like a superhero if I could breathe. Holy Hephaestus."
Nico managed to stop laughing enough to ask, "Do you want a flag to cheer you up."
Leo glared at him. "You've got some act, di Angelo."
Nico shrugged. "I try."
"But, you know what, I will take a flag."
Will immediately jumped into salesperson mode. "Like I told Piper, we've got an array of flags to hopefully encapsulate everyone's experiences."
Leo grabbed an orange and blue flag, throwing it over his shoulder. "I'm impressed at your collection"
"You're aromantic and asexual?" Nico asked, staring at the sunset flag Leo was tying like a cape.
Leo's eyes widened, and he stared at Nico. "You know what that is, di Angelo?"
"My brother's aro/ace," Will cut in. "We've also got the aro flag, the ace flag, the oriented aro/ace flag, the angled aro/ace flag, and both demiromantic and demisexual flags if you identify with any of those. Plus a bunch of others."
Leo crossed his arms, looking around carefully before picking up a small aro flag and small ace flags, the former he tied around his forehead like a bandanna, and the latter he put in the lapel of his button down. "You're right, Pipes." He said, "I do sort of feel like a Superhero."
He reached over and grabbed two small lesbian flags. "Would you mind if I grab these for my moms?"
"Go right ahead!" Will smiled. "You can take one for Shel too, if you like, Piper."
"Good idea!" Piper grabbed a lesbian flag and handed it to Leo. "Put this in your belt."
"Am I your personal handbag?" Leo questioned.
"Obviously."
Leo bumped her with his hip. "Come on, let's go and show off our new looks."
Piper jumped up, the Sapphic flag flying behind her like a parachute. "Let's go!"
The two ran off, nearly bumping into a confused Percy and Annabeth, who were walking from the Athena Cabin, hand in hand.
Nico stiffened as they approached; as comfortable as he'd become with his sexuality, he still had trouble broadcasting it in front of Percy. They'd barely seen each other in the two years since Nico's awkward confession, most of it spent with Nico at Camp Half-Blood and Percy at either high school or college, and the latter hadn't even seen Will and Nico hold hands since his return to Camp Half-Blood following the conclusion of his freshman year of college, much less standing behind a table giving away pride flags with pride flag capes and Will's arm around Nico's waist.
Annabeth smiled lightly when they arrived, stopping unlike Piper and Leo. Percy was looking around the table, purposefully avoiding Nico's gaze. "This explains why Ollie's boyfriend came into the cabin with a flag cape."
"All the Apollo Cabin's got them," Will told her, "You can have one too, if you like. We have loads. And if you aren't feeling the cape, we have little flags too." As if to demonstrate, Will picked up a small bi flag and waved it.
Annabeth grabbed an identical one and put it into her ponytail. "Do you want one, Seaweed Brain?"
Percy surveyed the flags. "I don't exactly label my sexuality."
Nico tilted his head to the side, as Will jumped in. "And you don't have to! You can just have the regular Progress flag or Rainbow flag, or if you want we also have the Unlabelled flag in a bin here somewhere."
"I'll take the Progress one," Percy said. He grabbed a large one, unlike Annabeth, and flung it over his shoulders. "Are you sure you don't want a large one, Wise Girl?"
Annabeth looked at the larger bi flag, sighed, and grabbed it. "Malcolm'll probably come by soon," Annabeth informed Will and Nico. She didn't tie her flag like a cape, instead just wore it like a shawl. "He wanted to finish something first, but he mentioned wanting one when your brother came over."
"We'll be here all day," Will said.
Nico rolled his eyes. "The rest of the Apollo kids bailed on us."
Will kissed his forehead. "I know, how homophobic of them. In pride month too!"
Annabeth chuckled. "We'd love to stay and help, but I promised a group of Nike kids I'd teach them dagger skills and Percy here is going to be my dummy."
"You mean assistant?" Percy asked.
"I think dummy's more accurate." She gave him a slight smirk and marched off, leaving a gobsmacked Percy in her wake.
Nico chuckled, something younger him would've marveled at, especially as it was in regards to Percy and Annabeth. "That little—"
He let out a sigh, a lovesick look on his face. "Sometimes I wonder why I'm in love with her."
"I ask myself the same thing about Will," Nico said, which apparently warranted a flick in the arm.
"You know, Nico?" Percy's voice was soft. "I don't think I ever told you how happy I am for you."
"What?"
"I mean, two years ago you couldn't even say the word 'gay' and here you are now, wearing a pride flag as a cape and giving more flags away. You've grown a lot from the little kid I met all those years ago, and I'm happy for you."
"I—" Nico paused. "Thanks, Percy."
"Anytime." He looked over his shoulder. "I should head off before my girlfriend judo flips me, or worse, sends a bunch of Nike kids after me by saying I promote Adidas."
Percy didn't wait for a reply, he just bound off.
The flags were a success in Nico's book. Nearly every Cabin had a flag hanging from it, and even the Aristaeus Cabin, which was currently being built, had one extended between two beehives.
By lunch, most of the demigods had stopped by the table, and the other Apollo kids had returned briefly: Jerry had come to pick up a Sapphic flag for Olivera's mortal mom, and Austin had followed the pair, along with most of the Cocoa Puffs. Nico did thank the trio for watching them before they ran off again, the Cocoa Puffs in close pursuit. Lianna and Francis had come with a large group of newbies who grabbed an array of different flags, chattering happily amongst themselves, proclaiming they'd never seen their sexuality represented before, and Kayla and Yan had come for a flag for Kayla's dad, Sunny tucked in Kayla's arms, their eye closed and Yan's genderqueer flag used as a swaddle.
Kayla did help them close up right before dinner, putting the remaining flags in boxes to be put in the Camp Store if people ever wanted more.
"I'm glad we did that," Will said as he and Nico walked to the Dining Pavillion hand in hand, flags still tied around them. "Did you see how excited Lianna and Francis's friends were at seeing their flags?"
"I wish I could've seen something like that at their age," Nico mumbled, kicking up dirt.
Will's smile faltered for a second. "Well, I'm glad we can give them what we needed. Make the world a better place, and all."
Nico looked up at his boyfriend. "I am too."
He didn't care that people could see, he got up on his tiptoes and pressed his lips against Will's.