Chapter Text
Percy POV
I walk out of the Big House, crying. I had just watched Nico run out of the Big House, in denial about his sister, Bianca's death. If only he would have let me explain everything would have worked out. Maybe I would have been able to explain what happened to her.
"Percy?" Annabeth calls
"Yeah?"
"Are you okay?" she asks.
"No, not really." Annabeth walks over and puts her hand on mine. I snatch it away. Annabeth has a perplexed look on her face, and I know that she is thinking of all the possibilities as to why I had just done that.
"You're worried about Nico, aren't you?" she says.
"Yeah, I guess you could say that." I had wanted to come out for months, but just couldn't sum up the courage to tell anyone.
"You know what, I'm just going to say it. I-I...I'm gay," I admit.
"WHAT?!"
"Yeah, I have been for a while. Since I met Grover to be exact. You see, I, uh, started getting feelings for him when I got to know him, and I realized that I liked guys. That probably explains why I feel awkward around Nico all the time. I finally realized that I didn't like him like that, but I knew that I liked Grover for sure."
"Oh, Percy. Why didn't you tell me? That would have made things a lot easier for me."
"I guess I was scared to say it out loud." "
Percy, you do realize that there are a lot of girls that...have feelings for you," Annabeth says, choking back a sob.
"What? I didn't think that I was that likeable."
Annabeth responds by getting up and leaving. I sit there for a few more minutes, and realize that he should probably go find Nico. I know that his favorite spot is in the Dark Forest, so I run towards it. That's when I hear a sob. I look around and saw Nico with his knees to his chest.
"Nico? Oh, thank the gods you're still here."
"GO AWAY!" Nico shouts.
"Nico, listen to me. Bianca told me to tell you that she loved you so much, and that she wished that she could have been there for you more. She said that she never should have left you here, and that she's so so sorry."
"W-What?"
"Yeah, she said that. That was honestly a little unexpected."
Nico responds by rocking himself back and forth.
"I'm sorry Percy. I never should have run out on you. I know that it wasn't your fault," Nico manages to choke out.
"You don't need to be sorry," I say, settling next to Nico. "I wasn't the one who lost the most important thing to him."
"Huh, yeah," Nico said, wiping his tears on his black hoodie.
"Do you want a hug," I ask, feeling awkward.
Nico nods his head.
I give Nico a hug, and tell him that everything will be okay.