"So... I understand that you won't be taking speech therapy anymore?" Miss. Chase tilted her head, raising an eyebrow.

Percy simply nodded.

"May... I ask why?"

Percy glanced at the floor.

Miss. Chase sighed, taking a pen and sliding it over to him with a piece of paper.

'Talking doesn't matter.' is all he wrote before standing up. He picked up his backpack and turned to go.

"I heard you won Prom King. With Nico." Miss. Chase said.

Percy just stared at the door.

"You have achieved what my friends and I made possible back in the day." she took off her glasses, gently setting them down on the table.

Percy looked over his shoulder back at her.

"Or.. at least have gotten close to it. Sit."

Percy shook his head, turning to leave.

"I said sit, Mr. Jackson."

Percy froze, slowly turning around with a sheepish smile. Okay, so she was a little scary.

Okay, so terrifying. Not like anyone would want to defy Miss. Chase, not even Principal Zeus.

"We carved our names into that tree... that was our mark. A tree. A safe place, for kids to talk, and to chatter. To express their feelings to each other, freely. A place for coupley moments, a place for friends. My friends and I never saw ourselves as... popular. But apparently we were. Course, I prefer the term... well-known."

She looked at him, leaning back in her chair.

"You hide your face, Mr. Jackson. You hide your eyes. The window to your soul, the things that usually show your true emotions. Sometimes you will show one, other times you will just cover them up completely. And with that.. You cover up your feelings."

She sighed, "I've seen so many kids come and go out of here. I know what love looks like, and you've found it."

Percy looked up at her in surprise. Today his hair was swept to the side, covering just his left eye.

"However. I have also seen many relationships- platonic or romantic, fall apart many, many, many times. You wanna know what one of the biggest causes for fall-outs are?"

Percy slowly shrugged.

"Miscommunication." she said. She leaned back over her desk, folding her hands in front of her.

"People don't talk to each other. They... rely on... looks or information from third parties. But they never talk to each other. They don't... confront, so they can talk with the other person, find out their side of the story and possibly work it out. A simple look can be very misinforming, and a simple action causes others to shut out everything. Don't be one of the ignorant fools who lets whatever they have built die because they chose not to communicate."

Percy slowly reached forward, grabbing the pen and writing something on the paper.

'You know too much.'

Athena smiled, "I know I do." she hummed cockily. "I a rather intellectual person. But... as I understand, so are you. Which is why I believe whatever you do, will be the best for you."

Percy bit his lip, glancing down at the desk before looking back up at her. "Th... th... thank... you." he said, half smiling.

"Just doin' my job." she hummed. "And by the way." she reached into her desk, pulling something out before throwing it to Percy.

Percy jumped slightly, quickly catching the thing- an eyepatch.

He blinked, looking up at her.

"It's always your left eye. No matter what, it's always your left eye." she said simply, grabbing the book that was sitting on her desk.

"T.. thank you... a-again." Percy said softly.

She smiled, opening her book. "And you thought talking was useless."

Percy smiled sheepishly, saying nothing in response. He quickly spun around in his chair so he was facing away from her. He brushed the hair out of his face before putting on the eyepatch. If he was being honest he'd say he felt pretty cool wearing it. Of course, why would he admit that to anybody?

He glanced back at Miss. Chase, who had proceeded to start reading her book. He half smiled, standing up and heading for the door.

His hand just reached the doorknob when he heard her speak.

"His home." Miss. Chase hummed.

Percy frowned, looking back at her in confusion.

Miss. Chase simply glanced up at him from behind her book before looking back down at it. "He's at his house. Didn't come in today."

Percy blinked, slowly turning the doorknob and opening the door. He walked out of her office, feeling a bit creeped out.

Sheesh, it was like she could read minds. She seemed a little too... intelligent to be just a school teacher. Maybe she was secretly part of the CIA. Maybe she was a spy for some secret government plan.

Or maybe she just learned how to observe and learn about people at a very young age.

Probably both.

Sheesh, growing up she must've been quite the force to reckon with. Probably most definitely still is. She was one hell of a bookworm.

Percy shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. Okay. Okay. Was he really thinking about doing this? Nico... completely bailed on him, on what was supposed to be the best night of their lives.

Maybe he read him wrong. He probably did.

Besides, Hazel and Bianca were being oddly quiet about what happened when they went out to talk to Nico.

'Just talk to him.'

'Go talk to him.'

'We can't say anything.'

That's all he had heard that whole night. He hadn't even bothered to try to text him over the weekend or anything. All he could feel was just... anger. Besides, his ridiculous foster mom wasn't doing jack for his temper.

Boy was he still mad, but... Miss. Chase did have a point. Most arguments could be resolved if people just talked, and listened.

But what the hell was there to talk about!? Nico left him, standing there, humiliated. That was one of the most embarrassing moments in Percy's life, and GOD had he had a lot of embarrassing moments.

"Hey!" Leo grinned, jumping in front of Percy. He was practically glowing like a freaking lantern- probably because of his date with Calypso the other night, and the night before that. But he was in a good mood, so. Good enough to try to scare the living daylights out of Percy.

Percy yelped, stumbling back and smashing into Miss. Chase's office's window.

Miss. Chase simply looked up at them. She slowly put her book down, getting up and walking over.

Percy and Leo both flinched away, expecting her to yell at them or something.

Nope, she just closed the blinds on her window.

The two blinked, looking at each other.

"Uh. Well." Leo said slowly. "I... don't know what I was going to say."

Percy shrugged.

"OH RIGHT!" Leo yelled, making Percy jump again.

"I was gonna ask you about your wicked awesome eyepatch!" Leo grinned. "Like, where did you get it?"

Percy pointed behind him at Miss. Chase's office.

"Ahhhh." Leo nodded. "Why don't I get a cool eyepatch? I want an eyepatch too!" he whined.

"I can give you a reason to wear an eyepatch." Calypso hummed from behind him.

"WHAT THE F-" Leo leaped into the air, moving away from them. Percy snickered. Karma man.

"JESUS WOMAN CAN YOU PLEASE GIVE ME A WARNING NEXT TIME!?" Leo shouted.

"Mmm... see I would... but then you would be... aware of my next move. Can't have that can we?" Calypso smirked.

"Whatever." Leo rolled his eyes, walking back over and wrapping an arm around her with a puff. He acted reluctant, and so did she, but they clearly liked each other, a lot.

Percy frowned a little, is that what everyone saw when Nico and him were together? Perhaps it was... But he didn't... even... why was he so mad anyway? He didn't really like Nico, just a small crush. Not like...

Realization hit him like a brick.

Before Nico had reached out his hand of friendship Percy hadn't felt anything in a long time. He felt nothing, and he also felt like a nothing. Always, always he had just felt... numb.

It didn't matter how many times he scarred himself, he didn't feel a thing. It didn't matter how many times he threw himself into the wall or how many times someone hit him, he was still numb inside.

That... cold feeling was always around his heart, it was always in his chest. That feeling of hurt, but... not. He tried to reach out for any emotion there was besides sadness and numbness. But he always found none.

The feeling was... almost near indescribable. You'd think after years he would eventually feel something, but he didn't. He knew what words like happy, like, love, joy, and anger meant. In his brain he knew what they were, he knew their definitions. But he never actually felt them, never could sense them. He forgot what it felt like... to feel.

But with Nico... he sparked a whole line of new emotions.

The spark of curiosity and confusion when Nico started talking to him.

The feelings of amusement and joy he got whenever Nico cracked a joke or said some really ridiculous thing.

Even unimaginable anger. Percy hadn't really felt that since... the day of the murders. But even then a majority of that was sadness and fear.

Nico ignited all of these intense... real emotions. Not something that was temporary or something that went by so fast Percy couldn't even tell what it was. It was real feelings.

Including...

Yes, yes. Yes. Including love.

He loved Nico.

He... really... really loved him. Not as something to just hold onto, but as a companion. As someone he wanted to stay with for the rest of his entire life.

He got this weird... giddy, butterfly like feeling when he thought about him and Nico being together. Walking down the halls with their hands intertwined...

Percy couldn't believe it.

He was in loving with Nico mother f*cking Di Angelo.

Ah crap.

"Hellooooooo?" Jason waved a hand in front of Percy's face. "Hey! Earth to Percy!"

Percy blinked, looking around. He was surrounded by a majority of his friends, all of them staring at him.

Friends.

He had friends.

F

R

I

E

N

D

S.

Odd.

But good.

"I..." Percy took in a breath. God he was really gonna do this.

"I.. go." he pointed to the door.

"You... need to go?" Hazel asked and Percy nodded.

Piper slowly grinned, "For what reason exactly?"

"Make-up make-out with your boyfriend?" Jason smirked, nudging him.

Percy dramatically rolled his eyes- eye- eyes, walking through them and heading off.

"WHOO-HOO GO GET SOME SON!" Leo whooped.

Intolerable embarrassing pricks...

Percy covered his face, which was now burning red in embarrassment. But it wasn't a bad... embarrassed. If that makes any sense.

Sure he was a little humiliated because they couldn't stay quiet- and they were all making kissy noises as he walked away, but he smiled despite it all.

Ridiculous doofs.

"Oh wait!" Jason ran after him, gently tapping him on the shoulder.

Percy paused, looking at him.

Jason gave a crooked smile and held up his skateboard. "If you're going where I think you are, you'll need this. It'll get you there faster. Just don't fall, we all know how clumsy you are."

Percy let out a soft chuckle, "T-thank you." he took the skateboard, smiling.

"Anytime bro. Now go seduce that Di Angelo until he cracks!"

Percy blinked.

"Or let him seduce you until you crack I don't know who does the seducing in that relationship."

Percy groaned, letting out quiet laughs as he walked out of the school.

He set the skateboard down on the sidewalk, looking at it.

He blinked, slowly placing one foot on it. He shrugged, couldn't be too hard.

He moved to place his second foot on it.

Splat.

Percy puffed, rubbing his head. Ow, okay, so the concrete, not a friend right now.

He slowly got to his feet, examining the skateboard.

He tried jumping onto it as a mount.

Ended up falling into a bush.

He tried crawling onto it and then standing up.

Fell onto a pole.

He blinked, looking at the pole.

Finally he managed to get on the stupid thing, using the pole as a support.

Sheesh, too much work.

Skating on the skateboard started out a little rocky at first. Well, okay, very rocky. But eventually he started to get the hang of it, good enough to get to Nico's house in about three quarters the time it would have taken him to get there via walking. And that's counting those little wipe outs at the beginning.

Problem: He did not know how to properly stop. He had built up quite a bit of momentum and was hurtling towards his house.

Solution: Leaping onto the grass and praying he doesn't die.

His solution worked- however he had to travel a few houses down just to grab the skateboard, but nevertheless, he got there, alive.

Slowly, very slowly he made his way back to Nico's house, almost running into a car that was in his driveway. He set the skateboard down near the doorstep, taking in a deep breath.

He gently pressed the doorbell, almost cringing when it began ringing. This was it. This was his choice.

It was a stupid choice.

Nico swung the door open, probably expecting the pizza man or something. But when he saw Percy he froze in his spot, his eyes going wide.

"I- oh... Percy- it's- hello." he stuttered. "What.. are you doing here?"

Percy pointed inside.

"Oh- here? You wanna come in?"

Percy nodded.

"I-" Nico sighed. "If you came to yell at me or furiously write down upper case letters on a piece of paper I'd rather just stay here or... have you go."

Percy instead just pushed past him, heading into the house.

Nico sighed, glancing back at him as he slowly shut his door.

"Why are you here? Don't you have school or something?" Nico muttered, heading over to his living room where Percy had taken a seat.

Percy simply shrugged, leaning back in his chair. They sat down across from each other in two chairs that were facing each other, a table in between them.

"Why?" he asked after a few moments. He looked up at Nico, cocking his head to one side. The look on his face wasn't particularly sadness, it was just... sort of... confusion, perhaps dismay.

"I... don't..." Nico leant forward in his chair, clasping his hands together. He looked down at the ground, taking in a deep breath. Okay, he had to do this. He was going to do this.

"I don't know what you mean." he muttered. God he just needed more time to phrase it.

Percy gave him a look that said 'I don't believe you in the slightest. Stop messing around.'

"I truly, really don't know what you mean." he said, trying to avoid direct contact with Percy. Instead he decided to look past him and at the wall. Maybe it could look like he was actually making eye contact when he really wasn't, because he sure as hell did not want to be looking at Percy when he said what he was planning on saying.

"Wh..." Percy huffed, breathing in and exhaling deeply. "Why... did... you... run?"

"Because." Nico muttered. He leant forward a little bit more, placing a pen on top of a notepad and sliding it towards Percy. He had been keeping notepads and pens handy ever since he and Percy started becoming friends.

He looked back down at the ground and pulled, pulled from that place in his mind he had promised himself he would never visit ever again. That one that had hurt so many people, that had pushed so many away.

The one that pushed back his father. The one that scared away his sister. The old him.

Images flashed through his mind. Pictures of old him, dark eyes, hard expression, bored demeanor, and cocky stand. His hair was different, wilder, looser, to go with his personality. Washing blood off of his knuckles, crying faces...

His head snapped up and he looked Percy dead in the eyes- eye.

Right when his head popped up there was an expression on his face Percy had never seen before. It was... stiff, distant, but... scary. He looked so calm and collected, but at the same time beyond intimidating. It sort of reminded him of Jason and Leo, though they showed emotions more towards the joy side when they got that look.

The glint in his eyes was what helped tie it all together. They were cold and not... no, they weren't emotionless.

They were just empty.

"I didn't want to kiss you." Nico said flatly, getting a sort of disinterested look on his face. He shrugged and looked at the wall, as if the patterns on the wallpaper was more interesting then the conversation they were having.

Percy just stared at him, his mouth slightly agape in surprise. Well okay, he was sort of expecting an answer kind of along those lines, just not as blunt.

Nico turned his head back to look at him, leaning back in his chair.

"I've been friendly, I've been overly friendly. But don't confuse that with the possibility that I might have a crush on you, because I don't. I've been generous, and I've... let you in. You've done good with my friends, and this school. But I simply didn't want to kiss you, the end."

Percy slowly crossed his arms, looking back at him. The two just stared at each other for a while, saying nothing.

A couple weeks ago Percy would have bought that speech. He would have believed Nico and walked away. He would've walked right out.

But.

After spending lots of afternoons, mornings, and late nights with Nico he found out he had a similar defense to him. He saw the pictures of Nico in the past, and he even watched Nico from the past.

He was... quite surprised at how smoothly Nico had pulled out that old attitude of his, dusting it off for one last act.

But it was an act.

He saw Nico's eyes at the night of the dance. He saw the regret and the sadness. He saw his look of joy and excitement before the dance.

Plus, his performance wasn't as flawless as thought.

It was minor, but there was a falter. Maybe Leo or Jason wouldn't have been able to catch it, but Percy noticed. He had become very keen on observations over the years, and there was a break in Nico's act.

He didn't mean a single thing he was saying.

Percy rose to his feet, walking around the table and stopping at the side of Nico's chair.

Nico let out an exasperated sigh and stood up, holding out his hand for a handshake.

Percy grabbed his hand and suddenly yanked Nico forwards, and towards him.

Nico's demeanor broke and he yelped, managing to stop himself before he completely ran into Percy. They were so close he could basically feel Percy's breathing. They both subconsciously squeezed each other's hand, not moving away from each other in the slightest.

"L.. Leave." Nico whispered, looking back at the ground. "I want you to leave."

Neither of them made a move.

"I said leave. Now."

Nothing.

"Goddamnit Perc-" Nico looked up and Percy immediately wrapped his hands around the back of Nico's neck and crashed his lips against his.

Nico tensed, almost pulling back so he could shove Percy away from him and storm off. Almost.

Instead he just melted into the kiss. He wrapped his arms around Percy's waist, trying to pull him in even closer.

The kiss was fueled by every emotion they could possibly feel about each other in that very moment. Fury, confusion and more rage, but what trumped it all was passion.

They fit so perfectly together, and everything just felt right. It felt... indescribable. Like he had finally found the one that completed him, that could match him and see through his phony little acts.

Eventually the two separated, their breathing slightly labored. They just looked at each other for a few seconds, processing what had just happened.

Percy slowly smiled.

Finally the thought of what just happened hit Nico and he stepped back, clearing his throat.

"I- just- I can't do this. You can't do thi- I can't do this to you." he sputtered, giving Percy a hopeless look. "Love isn't for me, not this kind of love. I liked the kiss I really did, but you... you need to go."

"Lo-ove?" Percy asked, a cheeky expression slowly dawning on his face.

"I- no, I didn't say love. I meant attraction- NO, I meant-"

Percy stepped towards him again, closing the space in between them.

"I love you." he said softly. Finally, for once one of the phrases he said was clear. His voice sounded... delicate, and amazing.

They both slowly turned their heads, leaning in closer to each other by the second.

Nico stopped, looking at him. "You'll just end up hurt." he whispered.

"I don't care." Percy said firmly, gently brushing against his nose with his own.

Nico swallowed, tilting his head up slightly.

"Fine then." he muttered, closing the gap between their lips.

Eventually they ended up sitting next to each other on the couch, watching a movie. Nico had his arm around Percy and Percy was just cuddling up against him.

If they were both being honest neither of them was really paying attention to what they were watching. For some odd reason it was incredibly difficult for either one of them to concentrate. The TV just became a sort of background noise to their minds.

Percy's brain was clicking and buzzing, slowly processing what had happened. On a normal day basis he would have never initiated the kiss, and he probably wouldn't have said anything. But it was just this... unexplainable rush. He just went for it. He threw all of his cards down on the table, and luckily got a positive (ish) response.

Honestly?

He was overjoyed. Really, truly overjoyed. Obviously he was a little terrified when he did what he did. There was a chance he could've been wrong, and there was a chance he could've only humiliated himself further. But it had turned into then or never.

Percy tilted his head up a little to look up at Nico, a small grin appearing on his face.

"Hey Percy?" Nico looked down at him.

Percy raised an eyebrow.

"I love you too." Nico smiled down at him, gently kissing his forehead. He chuckled, wrapping his arms around him tighter. He pulled him in even closer, gently kissing his neck.

Percy let out a little happy hum, resting his head against his as Nico pulled away.

Perfect.

--

"OH MY GOD LOOK AT THEM!" someone shrieked.

Percy jerked awake, looking around in alarm. Jesus freaking Christ what the heck was that noise!?

"HeEEELLLOOO LOVER BOYS!" Leo yelled, grinning. A majority of their friends were standing around them, all of them grinning.

"See!?" Selena squeaked. "It was totally going to happen I knew it!"

Nico groaned, slowly opening one eye. He glanced at Percy, who was looking at him desperately, like he wanted him to say something or to just... fix this horribly awkward situation.

However Nico wasn't really gonna do that. He was used to his friend's antics and being put into situations like that, and he wasn't as awkward about it as Percy clearly was.

So he just shrugged, "He's a good kisser." he hummed before planting his head back down on one of the couch pillows and closing his eyes again.

Percy's mouth dropped, his entire face turning a bright red as a bunch of whistles and 'oohs' following Nico's statement.

"Idon'tlikeanyofyou." Percy whined quietly, curling up back against Nico and covering his head.

A low chuckled came from Nico and he wrapped his arm back around Percy, pulling him in close.

"They're so incredibly cute! Why don't we do that?" Leo looked over at Calypso.

"Because you say things like that and then I have to do things like this." she deadpanned, punching him in the gut.

"...fair point." Leo groaned, clasping his hands over the spot where she had hit him and falling to the ground.

Doorbell.

"DOORBELL!" Jason shouted, sprinting towards the door.

"Jesus he's like a dog." Piper muttered, walking after him.

Jason swung open the door, his grin immediately dropping.

His gaze hardened and he straightened, staring at the guest.

"What are you doing here?" he snarled, his lips twitching into a scowl.

"Who is it?" Bianca asked, the others slowly making their way to the door. Except Leo of course. He was still recovering.

"Trash." Jason said, glancing at them. He looked back at the person.

"Why are you here, Will?"

--

A.N: Sorry if some of these scenes are bad. I'm not good at fluff >.< that's not a thing I'm good at

Anyway. Hope you enjoyed!

P.S. The Killer is currently a 216 paged book ^>^

Original Song: Here For You by Devin Williams [Nightcore]

Changed to: Let Me Love You by Justin Bieber [Cover by ARC, Alex Groot, and KHS Cover] [Nightcore Vers]