We've all got bruises. (Leico)

In which Percy is Percy

As the days went by, the intensity of Nico and Leo's friendship became obvious to everyone who saw them, no matter how well they knew them. They were inseparable, and Hazel had never seen her brother smiling more. The only awkwardness in their newfound relationship had been the night after they bonded, when Nico had taken a deep breath and said to Leo "I'd understand if you wanted to move."

Leo blinked. "What are you talking about? Why would I want to move?"

Nico flushed. "If you don't want to be roommates with someone like me, I understand," he said quietly, looking at the ceiling.

"Someone like- oh! You mean the fact that you're gay?" Nico flinched at the word. "No way man, I'm cool with that. Seriously, it's fine. Doesn't change anything." If he noticed the way Nico sagged in relief at his words, he didn't say.

It had been about three weeks since that night when Nico found out the truth, and as the days grew colder so did Nico and Percy's relationship, to the point where you could hardly stand to be in a room containing Nico and Percy without choking on the awkwardness. It wasn't from lack of communication, either. Percy had come to Nico's room with every intention of talking it out, only to be strictly ushered away by his newest guard dog, Leo.

"He's sleeping."

"Leo, I know he's not. I saw him come in 30 seconds ago."

"He was very tired."

"Leo!"

"Please, Perce. Leave the poor guy alone, Kay? He doesn't get over things as big as this like you do. He doesn't talk about it. He sits there, and he thinks. And I need you to respect that."
Percy's jaw almost dropped at how entirely serious Leo was.

"Since when have you become a Nico expert?" he asked softly, not really thinking.

Before Percy's eyes, Leo's entire face dropped and hardened. "Just because I know more than you about Nico does not make me an expert, Percy. It just makes me a better friend," he replied coldly, before shutting the door in Percy's face. Percy stood there for a while, staring at the white door, which was slowly being decorated like the others.

Granted, there were only about three pictures up, and a couple stickers of skulls and wrenches, but it was a vast improvement over what it had been.

One of the pictures showed Leo and Nico grinning (well, Leo was grinning. Nico's lips twitched up in the corner, which was like him grinning) in the cafeteria with a huge ice cream Sunday in front of them. Leo ate four of the five scoops. It was the first picture anyone ever took of them together, if you don't count the one Piper snagged when they were cuddling on the floor.

Eventually he stopped staring at the door and walked away, apparently realizing it did not hold all the secrets to the universe. Including the one that solved the mystery of why Leo had appointed himself Nico's head of protection.

Inside the room, Nico sat with his legs drawn to his chin on his black sheeted bed, watching as Leo dealt with Percy.

"You didn't have to do that," Nico said simply, sitting on his bed.

"Yes I did," Leo countered. "God, I love Percy and all, but he really is a Seaweed Brain. Who does he think he is? Coming in here an demanding to talk to you! Why-" Nico shushed him and held up a finger.

"Let's not talk about that. Let's talk about......this!" He held out their old project on Mrs. O'Leary, which had a big A stamped on in red ink.

"No way!" Leo cheered, giving Nico a high five and clapping him on the back. "It looks awesome."

Nico smiled. "I think it'd look good right up there." He pointed to the shelf above Leo's bed, where they kept all their assorted shared items. They'd made it in shop. The pile on it had grown considerably in the few weeks they'd been friends.