[Nico stops, not missing Percy's catch and all the more grateful for it. He turns back to him, gaze on the ground.]

You didn't. [That's not what he's feeling bad about.]

I just know how shitty it is to speak the truth when you're being forced to and this was bad timing. [His eyes are far away, remembering that stupid day. He doesn't ever want to make anyone feel the way Eros had made him feel and even if Percy said it's okay, he doesn't like not being able to tell for sure.]