Ship: Valdangelo
Type: Fluff, slight Angst

Nico took a deep breath, leaning against Leo's work bench as he sat in Leo's chair. Leo leaned over him, resting his arms on Nico's shoulders as he hovered.

"You're so cute. What project are you looking at?" Leo asked, wanting to tell Nico all about whatever little gadget on his table had caught his boyfriend's eye.

Nico shook his head, "You."

Leo snorted, "I'm behind you, duh!"

Nico shrugged lightly, "Doesn't matter. Still got you on my mind."

Leo blushed. He then smirked, "Yeah, baby?"

"Don't call me baby," Nico reminded, staring at his work bench still, but with a light smile now.

Leo huffed, taking a chair next to Nico and resting his head on Nico's shoulder, "Why? You never told me."

Nico swallowed, "The last person who hurt me like that hurt me. Bad. I don't ever want to compare you to them."

Leo reached for Nico's hand, realizing this was not a time for jokes. Nico's voice was edged with confidence, but hesitation.

"I understand," Leo said. "What about sugar? Or boo? Or honey?"

Nico smirked, shaking his head, "Definitely not."

"Awww!" Leo pouted. "But I want to call you something!"

"Call me Nico, your boyfriend," the son of Hades offered.

"Something special, that only I can call you," Leo clarified.

Nico shrugged yet again, "No pet names."

Leo sighed, a tiny spark of fire beginning to dance on his knows. He hit his face to put it out, then cringed, smacking his nose too hard.

Nico laughed, making Leo roll his eyes playfully, "It was on purpose!"

Nico hummed, "Sure."

After a moment of comfortable silence, Leo pulled out some wires to fiddle with.

He piped up again, "What about Neeks? Or Ni? Or angel, like your last name?"

Nico shook his head. He took a deep breath, "Leo... I feel like calling me by my first name is intimate. It means you see me."

Leo bit his lip. He set his wires down, "Oh. That's kind of cool, actually."

Nico blushed, but kept his frown because he was stubborn, "Yeah. So just call me Nico."

"Yes, sir," Leo smiled.

Nico blushed darkly, dark enough to cover his face, "Sir is for the bed only!"

Leo cackled, "Okay, okay!"