[ nico did indeed blush as he was scooped up, but his arms wound around vex's shoulders anyway. this was very much where he belonged at that moment. he'd find will ( and maybe percy ) with time, but at that moment, vex needed him.

his fingers curled in the hair at vex's nape and he sighed softly. ]

I'll make sure you'll have access to my room in the palace. But I don't want to think about you dying right now. We're alive, in this moment, so let's savor that.