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“Hey Leo, when’s your birthday?”
Leo paused for a little too long, his hands stilling from where they had been playing with Nico’s hair.
They were in the Hades cabin, sitting on the bed. It had been relatively silent until Nico asked that question, save for their soft breathing. Nico had his head in Leo’s lap, letting him see the conflict in Leo’s eyes, the way his lips pursed ever so slightly.
“Uh, this month?” was what Leo finally said. “You’re already thinking about getting me something, di Angelo?”
Nico looked up at him, really looked at him. Leo was fidgeting, more than he usually did. His eyes were darting around, scanning the cabin, fingers twisting some strands of hair around itself from where his hands were in Nico’s hair.
Nico pushed himself to sit up, letting Leo’s hands drop out of his hair. He watched as one immediately started tapping on his thigh, drumming restlessly.
“Obviously,” Nico said, though his voice was softer. “I’m surprised I don’t know your birthday by now, considering we’ve been dating for months. So when is it?”
“This month, July.” Leo said again, the tapping against his leg becoming more rapid.
“What day, Valdez?” Nico asked with a small laugh. “It’s not something like you were born on Friday the 13th, right? Because then-”
“No, I…” Leo trailed off, looking away. When he looked back, his voice was shy and hesitant. “I… don’t remember…?”
Nico blinked. Once. Twice.
“You… don’t remember?”
“Don’t make fun of me.” Leo said defensively, to which Nico held his hands up. “I wasn’t! I just… how come you don’t know?”
“Well…” Leo said slowly. “I spent, what, seven years of my life on the run? You don’t exactly think, ‘Oh, gee, it’s my birthday! I wonder what I’m getting!’ You’re thinking about where you’ll find food, where’s the best place to sleep for the night, escape routes in case the cops find you, the next city you’ll go to…”
He glanced back at Nico. “So yeah, it didn’t even cross my mind for years. I really only remembered that it was in July, which when I was on the quest against Gaia, I kept thinking, ‘Oh wow, that’s hilarious, my birthday’s the seventh month and I’m the seventh wheel!’ I usually just celebrate my birthday on the last day of July, so would that technically be my birthday, or…”
He blinked, then looked up at Nico, who had just been listening. “Am I rambling? You can tell me to stop if you want to.”
“No, you’re fine.” Nico immediately reassured. “I like listening to you talk.”
Leo looked at Nico, as if doubting him, before he placed his head on his hand. “I think it’s kinda funny that a guy who spent seventy-plus years in a freaky magic hotel remembers his birthday clearly while I, a guy who spent seven years on the streets, can’t remember the day.”
Then he laughed. “Seven years, seventh month, seventh wheel… that’s a pretty funny joke from the Fates, huh?”
“I didn’t remember my birthday until after the Titan War.” Nico said. Leo looked at him incredulously.
“I’m serious.” Nico continued. “I bathed in the river Lethe after I was taken out of the hotel. I didn’t even remember the month of my birthday, much less the day, I just remembered it was somewhere in winter. Then after the war, Hades gave me back my memories.”
Leo huffed, crossing his arms. “At least you got to remember your birthday.”
“How about we give you a new birthday then?”
“What?”
“Like say that one of the days in July is your birthday.”
“Uhh, okay? What day?”
“Hmm… tomorrow?”
“Nico, are you serious?”
“Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because you can’t just-” Leo waved a hand. “-do that? Shouldn’t there be a couple days in between?”
“Who’s making rules on when birthdays are?”
“Me! I’m saying you can’t just put my imaginary birthday tomorrow!”
“Why not?”
“Because- Because I said so! They’re too close!”
“So what do you want tomorrow?”
“Nico, are you fucking serious.”
“Do you like chocolate or strawberry more?”
“Nico!”
“So chocolate?”
Leo groaned and flopped onto the bed. Nico laughed as he watched Leo cover his face and groan even louder.
“Why are you like this?” Leo asked, not bothering to uncover his eyes.
“...So do you want a cake or-”
Leo grabbed the nearest pillow and smacked it against Nico’s face. Nico let out a small yelp as he fell back, nearly falling off the bed before throwing the pillow back at Leo.
“I don’t want no damn cake, I want a different birthday!” Leo yelled, this time tossing the blanket at him, though he couldn’t hide the smile beginning to form.
“Too bad!” Nico yelled back with a grin, catching the blanket. “I think I’ll buy you a cake and take you out! I’ll pay the bill!”
“Well then I’ll just buy the cheapest thing there!” Leo yelled as he lunged forward, pillow in hand, beginning to smack it over and over at Nico.
Nico laughed almost crazily as he was hit over the head with the pillow again and again. And without warning, he reached his hands out, positioning his fingers at Leo’s sides and pressing just lightly enough to make him feel it.
Leo stilled as he felt it, his eyes widening with something almost like horror as he looked at Nico.
“Nico, please…!” Leo begged. “Anything but-”
And then Nico was tickling him, and a laugh broke free from Leo’s mouth. He fell onto his back, laughing and squirming as Nico got on top of him.
“AH-HAH! NO, NICO- NICO STO-OHP! I- HA-! CAN’T- HAHA-! FUCK, STOP!” Leo laughed under him.
Nico’s grin widened, and he doubled his efforts. “Guess what, Leo? I’ll find the fanciest restaurant in New York and reserve the best spot there! Then in the morning, I’ll sing happy birthday to you! Actually, I’ll sing to you right now! Happy birthday to you-”
“STOP!” Leo nearly screamed, mixed with his uncontrollable laughter. “HAHA- I CAN’T- FU- HAH! CAN’T FUCKING- HAHAHA-! BREATHE!”
“Only if you let me celebrate your birthday tomorrow, birthday boy.”
“OKA-HA-HAY! TOMORROW!” Leo yelled. “PLE-HAHA-EASE! JUST STO-HAHA-OP!"
Satisfied, Nico lifted his hands. Leo panted as he laid boneless on the bed, arms crossed over his stomach to protect his sides. “You… Nico di Angelo… are the most… evil person I know…” he said breathlessly.
Nico grinned at him. “Be quiet before I decide not to get you your gift tomorrow.”
Leo sighed in defeat, and Nico could see he knew he wasn’t getting out of this. “Fiiiiine…” he dragged out. “Guess my birthday’s tomorrow. July 7th.”
He paused. “Really?” Leo said, sitting up. “July 7th? Did you do this on purpose?”
“I would have loved to,” Nico said. “But I didn’t.”
Leo scoffed. “This is a really funny joke from the Fates, huh? Seven years on the run, born on the seventh month of the year, seventh wheel on the biggest quest known to the world, and now I’m born on the 7th day?” he asked, putting a finger up for all the sevens he listed. “This is just my lucky day, huh?”
“Lucky day, huh?” Nico repeated. “Seven’s a pretty lucky number, you know.”
“I don’t feel lucky.”
“Well…” Nico smiled at him. “You’re my lucky charm.”
Without warning, Leo doubled over, clutching his chest as he started coughing madly. Nico’s eyes widened, gripping Leo’s shoulders. “Leo?! What’s happening?!”
“Nothing, I…” Leo panted raggedly. He lifted his head, a wide grin on his face. “I nearly died at how corny that was!”
Nico’s mouth was wide open in shock. Leo burst out laughing, falling onto his back again. “Oh my gods, you should see your face!”
Nico forced himself to close his mouth, his expression darkening. His fingers found Leo’s sides again, ready to put him through another torture session. Leo’s eyes widened as he saw this. “Nico, no-”
“Nico, yes-”
Just as he was about to begin, Leo grabbed his shirt collar, bringing him down for a kiss. Nico squeaked, before melting into it. His eyes fluttered shut, a hand coming up to cup Leo’s cheek.
He almost forgot about what he was going to do to… until he felt their positions being flipped.
Nico’s eyes flew wide open as he felt hands on his sides, Leo grinning above him.
“Payback time.” was all Leo said, before he began tickling him. Nico damn near squealed as he was tickled, thrashing and howling with laughter. He couldn’t even form words to cuss Leo out.
“You know, since you’re spoiling me on my birthday, that means I get to spoil you, right?” Leo asked. “I could have Festus fly us over New York. We should bring a picnic, too, maybe. Imagine us on top the Empire State Building, watching the rest of the world while we eat some tacos made by yours truly! Doesn’t that sound romantic?”
Nico was unable to speak from laughing so hard, especially since Leo didn’t let up a bit as he planned his own birthday. Yet, he couldn’t help but agree with him, despite the torture he was putting Nico through.
Finally, Leo released him, and Nico fell to the bed, wheezing. Leo laid beside him with a smug smile. “There, now we’re even.”
Nico couldn’t even speak, so he just laid there, letting his breathing slow and even out. They laid like that for a bit, in silence, and Nico felt Leo interlock their hands.
Finally, Leo turned to look at him. “Do you really think I’m lucky?” he asked. “After everything that has happened to me?”
Nico thought about it for a minute, staring into Leo’s eyes, then squeezed his hand. “I do,” he said. “Because despite everything, despite dying one time, you’re still here.”
A slow smile creeped up Leo’s face, and he squeezed back. “Well, I’ve got a good luck charm now.” he said, lifting Nico’s hand up to kiss it.
Nico smiled back. “Happy early birthday, Leo.”