Nico was crying.

He didn't know why, it just happened a lot. He'd be fine, laughing even, then suddenly he'd feel that hollow weight in his chest, like nothing would be okay again, like his world was tumbling down.

He'd promised Leo awhile ago he would stop doing those terrible things to himself and he did, he did because he knew it hurt Leo. He still felt like he deserved it though, because how could he not? Nico messed up literally everything, surely he deserved a punishment for it?

They'd been at a party in the Hephaestus cabin, laughing and talking, flirting shyly and even helping out the Stolls with a new prank, but Nico had felt so separated, so out of touch; he didn't belong.

Nico recalled when Leo had come to him and confessed that he often felt like a seventh wheel with everyone, and even the words of Nemesis who had confirmed his fears. The son of Hades had told Leo the truth: he mattered, and he mattered a lot. They'd hugged, and Leo seemed a little more hopeful after that, but Nico would still see an occasional shadow in the jubilant boy's eyes.

Nico felt such things on a deeper scale, his anxiety pressing into his head and making him feel like a cat trapped in a corner. Somehow, he found comfort in that corner and in that isolation. It felt better.

The only times it hadn't was when he loved Percy and oh, what a mistake that had been. Percy couldn't ever love him, Nico knew that now, but after he met Will, he didn't need Percy's love anymore. There was another falling out with the Romans, though, and Will was killed in the battle. Now, Nico was more alone than ever.

Leo had always been there with him though, through it all; a great best friend, Nico decided. Leo had lost Calypso when he nearly died from the gods sending him to her island, and thus they pulled him back into reality. Leo was too valuable, the furthest thing from a seventh wheel.

Nico had no such luck. The gods simply continuously took away everything the son of Hades loved, even his own father who seemed to disown him more and more every time they met. He did, however, have himself, and he knew that he could never lose that. Not truly, anyways.

So, the son of Hades thought of all this, back pressed against the outer wall on the side of the Hephaestus cabin, tears streaming solemnly down his face.

I tried Leo, I tried to be brave.

Nico was just about to get up and go to his cabin and end this all here when the front door opened violently and panicked footsteps ran toward Nico. He could do nothing but hang his head, allowing his dark halo of hair to fall into his face and cover his tear-stained cheeks.

Arms were quickly wrapped around him, and before Nico could stop himself he was hugging back, face buried in Leo's neck.

"Mi amor, what's wrong?" Leo asked after a few moments, pulling back to study Nico's face. Leo was constantly worried about the younger boy. Nico was so sad all the time, and he hated seeing such a beautiful person endure so much pain.

"Everything," Nico whispered shakily. Leo held him tighter for a moment before pulling back again and smiling at him.

"Hey, shh look at me," Leo mumbled softly. Nico hesitantly looked up at the son of Hephaestus, and Leo was taken aback at how pretty Nico was. His eyes were not simply brown, no, they were like a sunset, mixed with hazels and ambers and musky colors to create a glimmering color scale that ranged from red to gold. Leo simply couldn't imagine anything more stunning than the eyes of Nico di Angelo.

"Wait here," Leo said with a grin. He had been waiting for Nico's birthday, January 28th, to go through with this plan, but now was a better time. Leo gathered his supplies and set up quickly on the other side of the cabin from Nico. Leo summoned burning flames into the palms of his hands, allowing himself just a moment to be entranced by their beauty, before lighting the woven fuses.

Leo rushed over to Nico, and smiled at the boy.

"Look up." Leo whispered before wrapping his arm around the smaller boy's waist. Soon enough, lights erupted in the sky, letting out whirring shrieks and trills before booming into a brilliant explosion of color and light. Leo was somewhat of a pyromaniac and had managed to make the fireworks into shapes of skulls, hearts and even two swords battling.

When Leo looked into the eyes of Nico, he found something even more incredible. The light bounced off of his friend's glassy, tear-filled eyes and made them even more beautiful than before.

Now, instead of being enticed by real fire, he was enticed by the one in his heart; the one he felt for Nico.

The fireworks soon died down into a colorful wave of smoke that filled the horizon like rainbow fog. Nico looked at Leo in awe.

"That was absolutely beautiful," Nico whispered, leaning his face closer to Leo's. Leo brushed away Nico's tears and pressed his hand to the side of his crush's face and gazed into his gorgeous eyes.

"You're beautiful," Leo whispered before leaning in completely. Their lips melted together perfectly, their bodies pressed together easily like they'd just been waiting for this to happen; well, Leo knew that he'd been waiting for this to happen at the least. Nico's frail arms wrapped around Leo's neck, and Leo's wrapped around Nico's waist. Sparks traveled along Leo's lips every time Nico brought them back together. Air was still important though, and it wasn't long until Leo needed to breathe because Nico had literally taken his breath away.

"I love you," Leo said, his breath labored. Nico pressed his forehead to Leo's.

"I love you more," Nico said with a small smile.

"I love you most," Leo mumbled before embracing the small boy.

Leo realized in that moment that fireworks weren't always in the sky, because he felt them in his heart.

He felt them for Nico.

-

Leo saved Nico's life and they were all lovey awh awh how adorable lol well vote n comment and all and tell me if you want more of these, I was bored idk lol love you guys

Until next time,

-Callie