"Nico!" Sally opened the door and threw her arms around Nico. "How are you doing?"
Nico accepted the hug from Sally, one of two people he would ever allow to hug him. "I'm doing okay. Is Percy around?"
"He's in his room." she let him go and ushered him in before closing the door. "Are you hungry?"
"No, I'm okay." Nico insisted.
"Have you eaten today?"
Nico sighed. "Well, no..."
"I'll make a snack." she decided. "Percy's in his room."
Nico knew he'd never win a fight about food in this house. "Thanks, Sally."
"It's no problem." she disappeared into the kitchen, leaving him to head to Percy's room. He knew his way around by now.
"Percy?" Nico knocked on the bedroom door before coming in. The blue bedroom was the definition of nostalgia. That old bed, the smell, the mess. Percy was on his bed, laptop out and music playing. "Can I come in?"
"Neeks!" Percy paused the music and gestured him in. "What's up? You haven't visited in weeks."
Nico sat beside him and leaned back against the wall. "Life's full of shit."
"Yeah, but what's new?" Percy asked.
Nico rolled his eyes. "Dad's remarrying to this lady who's probably with him for his money. And she's got a son my age."
"Is he cute?" Percy asked.
Nico groaned as he felt himself blush. "Shut up, Percy."
"I was right," Percy grinned. "So you like him? Is he gay?"
Nico reluctantly nodded. "And that's one of the big problems."
"How is that a problem?"
"He's going to be my brother in law," Nico explained. "Legally. And our parents are already calling us brothers. So what are we supposed to do?"
"Oh," Percy blinked. "I get it, now."
Nico rolled his eyes again. It always became a common occurrence when he was with Percy. "Took you long enough."
"Okay, okay." Percy closed his laptop and sent it aside. "Have you actually talked to him about this, though? And what's his name?"
"Will Solace." Nico ran a hand through his hair. "And yes...we've talked about it..."
"So he knows you like him."
"Well, I'm hoping the kiss gave that away."
Percy's eyes widened. "You didn't tell me you kissed him."
Nico grinned, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "I didn't?"
"Nico. Full story. Now."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nico picked at the food Sally had provided them. "Why does your mom always make healthy stuff?"
Percy shrugged. "I thought you'd be used to it by now."
"I am, I am." Nico looked around the bedroom. "You never change this place, do you?"
Percy ignored the question and finished his plate before setting it on his desk. "So what are you going to do?"
"About Will?"
He nodded.
"I'm not sure yet." Nico glanced away. "I...What could I do? Honestly?"
"Tell your dad." Percy shrugged. "I mean...how bad could that get?"
"Bad. Very bad." Nico admitted. "He's changing, Percy. He's not the same guy you once met. He's sick of women leaving him or dying. And he doesn't trust me anymore."
"How do you know he doesn't trust you?" Percy asked.
"He told me flat out." Nico laid on the bed and spread out. "So we have to keep it hidden, right? I already told Will we did and he accepted that."
"But he would rather be public, wouldn't he?"
Nico nodded. "Yeah."
Percy ran a hand through his hair before sighing. "Your life is always so complicated, Nico."
"Trust me, I know."
"Well, maybe you can tell your friends." Percy shrugged. "I'm fine with it. Annabeth probably will be, too. And you can tell Hazel and-"
"I'm not telling Hazel." Nico shook his head. "No way. Never."
"Why not?"
"She's a horrible liar," Nico said. "You know that. What if dad asks her something and she spills it? Not to mention the stress it'll put her under."
Percy held his hands up in surrender. "Okay, then we won't tell Hazel. But your friends are here for you."
Nico nodded in acceptance. "Thanks, Percy... Do you want to meet him?"
"Yeah, I'm meeting him." Percy got up to get his phone and wallet. "Come on, we can go to Cinco's. Leo's working today."
Nico sat up. "I don't know if Will likes Mexican food."
"Invite him anyway."