Fix You (Percy Jackson Fanfiction) (boyxboy)

The Saddest Kiss

AN:// Sorry for the delay. I hit a slump. But I know where I'm heading now for the final adventure of this story.

Maybe we'll look at sequels later, but we've still got a long ways to go with this one so don't worry just yet.

Oh did anyone else watch the Brits? Ed Sheeran ripped my heart out and chewed on it. That man shouldn't be allowed to growl. I almost died. Stunning human that.

Anyways. Read. Review. Enjoy. =)

"I'm leaving."

Leo's eyes bulged and his heart sank. Those two words-- that simple phrase had haunted him since the day he fell in love. Since the day he woke up with a fluttering heart and an unstoppable smile, he had been haunted by the fear of being left behind. He should have known, but he'd done it again: gotten his hopes up. Suddenly Leo felt lightheaded and unsteady. His eyes burned, itching to be cleared by a stream of tears, but he was also angry.

"Excuse me?" he bit out breathily, fists clinched tightly. A tremble rocked his hands as he dug his nails into his palms. He looked up with fury in his eyes and saw Nico's already pallid complexion pale even more as he watched his love take in the news. If you can imagine the horror of seeing a lit match hit a barren wasteland, the instant combustion racing to ignite everything in its path. The news he'd given was the match and Leo the dry and dusty landscape, ignited in an instant. "Not forever! I wouldn't- I'm not-," Nico rushed to paste over his poorly thought through approach to all of this.

He'd decided he needed to step away from Camp Half-blood for a bit and visit Reyna at camp Jupiter. He needed to get away. Ever since Nico had lost Bianca he'd been free to go where he pleased and do as he wished. He savored the opportunity to breathe and clear his head. He couldn't remember the last time he'd shadow traveled and just got away.

Of course the issue would be Leo. He loved Leo. He loved being with him-talking with him-loving him. It gave Nico life. Honest. But Nico was wasting away. He was torn up over the inevitable fate of his lover. He hadn't processed everything he'd seen and experienced on his quest to save the mechanic. He needed wisdom. And wisdom was something Reyna possessed. She would tell it to Nico straight- no bias or fear of his responses. And he couldn't bring Leo along when the boy was the topic of his issue.

"I need to go to Camp Jupiter for a few days," Nico said in a soft tone, hoping to placate the aggravated boy. "I have business to attend to with Reyna. I've put it off too long and I can trust now that you're okay. Right?" It was a jerk move but Nico knew he'd have to challenge Leo's independence if he was going to get the kid to stay behind. If he could get Leo rattled, defending his own maturity and stability then he could get him trying to prove it. Nico knew his plan worked when a flash of indignation passed through Leo's doe eyes. His lip jutted forward and his eyebrows pulled forward. As poor as his timing may be, Nico couldn't help but admire Leo Valdez. His skin still held deep tones despite the season. Curly hair tangled about in confused patterns, but in the most attractive manner possible. His arms were tone from his mechanical work and his hands were large, calloused. They'd seen many days of work. Leo pulled the son of Hades out of his reverie as he threw his hands in the air and even had the audacity to stomp.

"Of course I can! Doesn't mean I want to! I happen to like being with you Nico diAngelo! But you aren't my babysitter. Shit you should've left a week ago," he griped and Nico rolled his eyes, huffing in annoyance. By now Leo was pacing a hole into the floor and ranting about codependence and lack of trust and something about a mustard seed. Nico couldn't be certain. When the ranting didn't slow, the scrawny lad stepped forward and grabbed hold of the mechanics flailing hand.

Just that simple touch changed everything. Leo's shoulders drooped and his head swung low, shame painting his cheeks. Nico couldn't get a look into the boys' eyes because they were hidden by a curtain of chestnut locks. That simply wouldn't do. He stepped closer, close enough to bump knees. Slowly he lifted his hand to comb through the thick hair and push it back away from Leo's face. When he did this, Leo glanced up. He couldn't help it. He couldn't help, but look at the amazing boy before him. He couldn't help but dive into his dark eyes. Right now they weren't full of mystery or anger or irritation. They were soft and caring, full of love. "Hey," Nico whispered softly, afraid to snap the moment they were having. "Hey," he repeated once more, stepping even closer, their waists connected. "Hey Leo."

Their eyes sought each other out, digging for trust, seeking out love and appreciation. They found all three and so much more. With Leo relaxed (and his temperature somewhat normal once more) Nico spoke once more. "It won't be long. It's going to feel like eternity. I hate being apart from you. Those two weeks were pure agony for me. And this won't be better. But I've got to go and I've got to do this alone. But I promise you. I swear I'll be back before you know it."

Leo had been reeled in by the speech, but at Nico's promise his head flew up hard enough to render whiplash. He swallowed thickly as he shook his head. "No," he growled and Nico paused, clearly baffled. "What? What's wrong?" he ventured to ask, but Leo was still shaking his head adamantly.

"I'm gonna let you go Nico, I can't stop you. But don't make promises you can't keep. Don't do that to me." Realization settled on Nico and his chest clinched tightly. He ran both his hands through Leo's mess of hair and down his neck to his shoulders, eventually snaking down to smooth out the shirt clinging to his chest. "You're right," he admitted. "But I can promise to do everything in my power to return to you. I can swear by the River Styx that I would give my last breath to crawl home to your arms. And don't call me out for being foolish because that's the truth of it Leo. I do want to be with you. I do want to come home to you."

He leaned forward and pressed his lips to the taller boy. It tasted sad, the kiss. Nico had never known a kiss to taste sad, but this one did. He didn't particularly like it, but he wouldn't exchange it for anything. He'd leave in the morning and he'd be back in no time at all. But for now he'd soak up every bit of this boy he could.

"I love you so much Nico diAngelo," Leo whispered against Nico's mouth. "And I believe you. I truly do." If anything their next kiss was even sadder, heightened by the fear of impending tragedy, intensified by the threat of separation. They kissed slowly, fiercely. It was the saddest kiss.