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"Hey Percy, I saw what happened- Jesus-" Nico began coughing as he was enveloped in smoke.
"Shit," Percy frantically flapped his hands around in an attempt to clear the air. "Fuck. Sorry Nico, I, uh, wasn't really expecting company?" Percy awkwardly stuck his hand with the cigarette as far away from Nico as he could manage, which ended up with his arm straight out behind him. He peered behind Nico, back into the cabin where the lights were still pulsating, the people were still partying, and the room still smelt of stagnant liquor, and turned around on the edge of the Hermes cabin deck and took a drag.
"Didn't know you smoked," Nico said half-heartedly, walking to the edge of the deck, next to Percy.
"Didn't know you drank."
"I don't," Nico responded, still gazing out at the dark clearing as Percy eyed the red cup in his hand. "this is apple juice. Alcohol is a carcinogen. It's really fucking bad for you."
Percy laughed, his shoulders relaxing. "Will, huh?"
Nico took a sip. "Nah. Seen too many, and been lectured by too many dead people with liver disease."
Percy smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he stubbed out his cancer stick and threw it in the bin.
"I've also seen a lot of dead people with lung cancer-" Nico smirked
"Oh my gods, shut up." Percy chuckled, lightly shoving Nico. "It's not like I'm a chainsmoker. Only when I, uh, need to destress."
"Judging by Leo's party plans, you should probably find a better stress reliever."
"You're probably right," Percy chuckled softly.
"Where's Annabeth?" Nico asked after a beat of comfortable silence of nothing but crickets chirping.
"I'm hiding from her." Nico raised an eyebrow, "She wanted to stay with me for the whole party, and she would have. It would have been boring for her. I don't want her to miss out on having fun with her friends just because I'm a fuck up-"
"You're not a fuck up for having bad experiences with alcohol. Anyways, you okay? That's why I came out to find you."
Percy sighed, looking up at the dark sky dotted with stars. He grimaced, as he cracked his fingers and rested his elbows on the wooden railings. "I'm fine, just...freaked out when Leo shoved that drink in my face. It brought back so many shitty memories." He laughed without humour, "That sounds really stupid. It's not even that big of a deal. I don't even know why
"Thalia's the same."
"Thalia?" Percy exclaimed. "How do you know?"
"She's my friend too, you know? The world doesn't revolve around you." Nico teased.
"Haha, very funny." Percy deadpanned, rolling his eyes and glancing back into the cabin.
"Yeah, her mom-Shit I probably shouldn't be telling you this, should I?" Nico shrugged. "It's probably fine, she probably won't care. Anyways, her and Jason's mom was a raging alcoholic. Majorly abusive. I think it's normal to react that way to alcohol if you've been abused by an alcoholic." Percy winced at abused.
"It wasn't really abuse for me," Percy started.
"It's really none of my business." Nico interrupted him, smiling at him. "You don't owe it to me to tell me anything."
Percy turned to look appreciatively at Nico. "You're so wise for what, a fourteen year old?"
"Fifteen."
"Same thing." Percy smiled at Nico, and reached out to ruffle his hair. "You're a good kid. Will's a real lucky guy."
Nico scoffed and batted his hand aside. "Shut the fuck up. If we're talking literally, I'm actually-"
"Yeah, yeah, no one cares." Percy waved a hand and rolled his eyes. "Let's go back in. I think I see Will and Annabeth over there?"
"That's not Will, the fuck? Will's blond."
"Right, yes. Blond Will. Yes."
"Did you seriously fucking forget what Will looks like?"