Started as a Mistake (pernico/perico)

Nico POV:

I was deep into a tense round of Mythomagic on my phone when a notification startled me out of my focus. Dammit.

*DING*

I glanced over and saw Percy's name on the screen. My heart skipped a beat. Percy?

I opened the message and typed back, trying to play it cool.

Nico:

oh hi percy

how are you?

Percy:

not the best, thanks for asking

you?

Nico:

oh whats up?

Percy:

you haven't heard, i guess?

annabeth and i broke up

Percy and I weren't exactly close; we had a few classes together and exchanged greetings in the hallways, but that was about it. His text was unexpected, to say the least.

Nico:

oh i am so sorry

are you doing alright?

Percy:

as fine as someone can be after that 

Nico:

if you need to talk, i'm free whenever

Percy:

thanks for the offer :)

I smiled at his text. I made my way downstairs for dinner, and sat down with Hazel who looked like she just started eating as well.

"Hey Nico, you finally eating?" she asked with a warm smile.

"I was caught up playing Mythomagic," I replied. 

I sat at the dining table, eating while Hazel texted her boyfriend Frank. "You know, apparently, Percy and Annabeth broke up."

"Hmm? Oh yeah, poor them," I shrugged. Hazel glared at me.

"Not the time to the sarcastic," she swatted at my arm. I shrugged.

__

I made my way back to my room, and sat at my gaming set up, ready for another few hours of gaming. Just as I settled in, my friend Will FaceTimed me. His cheerful face popped up on the screen.

"Hey Neeks!" he greeted brightly.

"Hi Will," I replied wearily.

"Guess which couple just took each other's pictures off of their feeds?" Will asked, giddily. Will and his boyfriend, Leo, always knew all the drama.

"Oh yeah, Percy told me," I nodded. 

"Percy told me," I said, my focus on the round of Mythomagic.

"Really?" Will's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "He texted you about it?"

"Yeah," I confirmed, unsure of where this conversation was heading.

Will leaned closer to the screen, his voice lowering slightly. "Why do you think he texted you? What if he's into you?" He said the last part as a shriek.

I blinked, caught off guard by the suggestion. "What? No, Will, we're just... acquaintances. Besides, he's just been through a breakup. He's probably just looking for someone to talk to."

Will shrugged nonchalantly. "Maybe. Or maybe he's been waiting for the right moment to make a move."

I scoffed, feeling a mix of amusement and disbelief. "Yeah, right. Percy Jackson making a move on me?"

Will chuckled. "You never know, Neeks. Stranger things have happened."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "Well, not in my world, apparently."

"Hey, you never know," Will repeated, flashing a mischievous grin. "Anyway, I just wanted to check in. If you need to talk about anything... or anyone," he added with a suggestive wiggle of his eyebrows, "you know where to find me."

"Yeah, thanks, Will," I said with a small smile, appreciating his attempt to lighten the mood.

"Oh Leo is calling, I'll call you later." Will signed off with a wave.

I ended the call and leaned back in my chair, mulling over our conversation. The idea of Percy having any romantic interest in me seemed far-fetched, to say the least. But the fact that he had reached out to me about something as personal as his breakup with Annabeth... it made me wonder.

I shook my head, trying to push aside the thoughts that were spiraling in my mind. Percy was probably just venting to someone he vaguely knew. There was no deeper meaning to it. Deciding to distract myself, I launched into a game of Mythomagic, losing myself in the strategic battles and fantastical world. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, Percy's message lingered in the back of my mind, refusing to be ignored.