so uh if you read my drabble collection fic, this is the beginning to the second chapter...so yeah. woo jasico

the song is Calm Before the Storm by Hollow Point Heroes. You should listen to it.


A flame. Everything starts with a flame-a spark. Be it life, be it death, be it love. Everything does. Everything will. Even a self destructive path has a beginning. And this particular one, starts with a very literal spark.

XxXxX

Sulking in the shadows. Nico didn't do much other than that. He never wanted to go to any parties, especially not after that night, but he sure as hell couldn't let his sister go alone.

Sure his sister had Frank. Sure his sister was only his half-sister. But Nico couldn't stop himself from wanting to protect Hazel, from wanting to be there for her. Her mom died, and their father was never around. Nico had lost people, too. And Hazel was simply too innocent to be abandoned for a third time.

And Nico couldn't bear having to relive that night. So when Nico saw Hazel all dressed up and about to fly out of the door, he freaked a bit.

"Hazel!" he gasped, rising to his feet and turning off the TV. "Where ya going?" he asked, stepping forward a little. He cocked his head slightly in confusion, but there was a small inkling of fear churning in his stomach.

"I'm...going on a date with Frank," she lied through her teeth.

"Hazel," Nico said, shaking his head. "You're the worst liar ever and I'm your older brother. So where are you really going?"

"It's...it's a party…" she said quietly.

Nico felt something grab hold of his heart. "A-a party?" he stammered.

"I mean, it's still technically a date with Frank…"

"Where is it?"

"It's at Dylan's house," she said reluctantly.

"Dylan? Dylan Sutnev?" Nico demanded angrily. "He's a senior, Hazel. A senior!"

"So is Frank!"

"So what? You're a freshman, Hazel!" Nico found himself yelling and swallowed his anger. "It's just...I don't want you to get hurt."

"I have Frank," she offered, seemingly trying to dig her toes into the floor.

"Frank is as harmless as a butterfly and as cuddly as a stuffed animal, Hazel. I'm not letting you go-"

"Nico!"

"-alone," he finished. Hazel looked a little dumbfounded as a "what" passed through her lips. Nico sighed and walked over to rest a hand on his sister's shoulder. "I'm not letting you go alone," he repeated. "So I'll go with you."

Nico walked to their side door and grabbed his coat on the way out. He turned around to see Hazel still standing there. "What the hell are you just standing there for?" Nico grabbed her hand and led her out of the door where he saw Frank sitting in his car. They walked down, Nico still dragging Hazel. He knocked on the passenger window. Frank rolled it down. "You have another pickup," he said simply before opening the door and guiding Hazel in. Then he slid into the backseat.

Frank looked at him a little warily, as if he was nervous around him. It was funny because Frank was still two years older than him. "Well?" Nico said. "Let's go to that stupid party."

This. This was his mistake.

XxXxX

The party went looked like Nico thought it would. Tons of people, girls all over guys, loud music, and lots and lots of kegs of beer. Once he took a sweep around the house, he saw Jason Grace, Piper McLean, Leo Valdez, Reyna Avila-Ramirez Arellano, and Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase.

Percy Jackson and Annabeth Chase.

Percy Jackson.

Nico tried to stay away from them.

He watched as his sister and her big, cuddly boyfriend began to walk away after a tense conversation between the two siblings.

"I don't want to leave you," Nico said, a little distressed.

"Nico, you don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine."

Nico hesitated. He didn't want to leave his sister alone, but he wanted her to have a good time, too. Finally, he relented. "Fine, but stay close to Frank," he had said. "And don't get into any trouble. No alcohol. And I'll want to check up on you sometime. Also, we have to go home at a reasonable hour." Hazel agreed to these rules. Before she left she turned around.

"Nico," she said. "Are you going to be okay?"

Nico nodded. "Course I am. I'm the older brother." He gave her a weak smile. She smiled back before grabbing Frank's hand and walking away to talk to Leo. He sighed heavily before scanning the room to find a dark shadow to sit in. He ended up slipping through the throng of people and finding a dark spot in the corner, near a long hallway with various rooms spotting the walls.

He slipped into the kitchen briefly and got a red solo cup filled with lemonade; he vowed not to go near alcohol after that night. He watched as people made out, and fought, and cursed, and beat each other up in friendly and non friendly ways. He thought he could actually get through the night.

Foolish, really.

He was about to throw his cup away when a guy stumbled up to him, stoned like nobody's business.

"Yo, kid," he slurred. He took a cigarette out of his pocket. "You gotta try this." He held the stick in front of Nico. He looked at it and made a face at the smell of the object and the guy's breath; they were both horrible. He could also smell something laced in there that was vaguely along the lines of the scent of alcohol.

"I don't smoke," he said simply.

"C'mon, bro. It's amazing."

Nico was about to neglect it for the second time, when he saw the golden couple. Percy slid a hand up to Annabeth's cheek and leaned in to kiss her. She laughed halfway through and he smiled right back. It made Nico feel sick. He guessed he never truly did get over that whole I-fell-in-love-with-an-idiot-who's-undeniably-straight-and-in-love-with-someone-else-and-also-happens-to-be-my-neighbor thing. May he should also mention that he's loved him for four years ever since he saved him from those bullies that one fateful day.

His stomach churned and he looked back at the guy who was offering him the cigarette. "Give it," he said, grabbing the stick from between the guy's fingers.

The guy smiled drunkenly and took out his lighter. He lit a small flame, a spark, and the cigarette was burning. Nico stuck it in his mouth and inhaled. He tried to do it like they did in the movies, but ended up almost choking to death on the smoke. He coughed violently.

"Shit," he gasped.

The guy still had a dumb, high grin on his face. "Woah, dude. First timers," he said, shaking his head a bit.

Nico rolled his eyes and tried again. This time he was more successful, but it wasn't perfect yet. He was barely able to get the smoke out of his mouth before he coughed harshly. He tried a third time.

He was finally able to do it fairly right, and he was amazed at how much he liked it. He blinked a few times before doing it again.

"Dope, ain't it?" the guy said, his eyebrows dancing on his head.

Nico could only nod. "Thanks, guy," he said to him. He was about to turn away when the guy placed his hand on his shoulder.

"Here," he said as he gave him the lighter and the pack of cigarettes. "For later. And here," he paused as he scrambled for a pen and wrote down a number on Nico's hand, "is my number if you ever need any more." He gave a sly grin, and then was off.

Nico stuffed the box and the fire starter in his jacket and walked away, cigarette between his lips. He kept smoking, tapping the end and watching as ash fell to the floor. He started to feel high in his head. He decided that he should get some fresh air.

He sat down on the front lawn, and breathed in the night air. He laid back on the hard Earth, and took another puff from his cigarette. Funny, he never thought he'd get this low. Not again, at least. And he'd been doing so well…

He heard the front door open and close. Nico panicked and threw the stick away from him. He didn't move other than that, though.

"Nico?" came an all too familiar voice.

"Grace."

"What are you doing out here?"

"Too many people. I needed to get away." He left out the part about him smoking. "What are you doing out here?"

"Same as you, I suppose." Nico heard as the blonde sat down next to him. He crossed his arms behind his head and used them as a cushion. "It's a beautiful night."

Nico just nodded.

"Do you smell that?" Jason asked. "It smells like a cigarette."

Nico shook his head. "My bad. This dude came up to me, high as Mount. Everest. He was smoking. Guess his stench is still on me. A good shower will help with that."

Jason nodded, seeming to buy Nico's story. "Doesn't surprise me. Everyone seems high here."

"It is a senior party."

"Very true."

Nico felt at a loss for words; he had no idea what to say. The silence seemed to grow louder and he could almost feel it pounding in his ears. "So...where's Piper?" Nico asked at last. The ravenette looked to his right and straight at Jason's face. He saw the way to moonlight sifted through his hair. His crescent scar. Deep, blue eyes.

"She's still inside. Last I saw her she was talking to Reyna and Annabeth."

"Cool. Things going good between you guys?"

Jason nodded. Nico looked back at the sky. He sunk his hand into his jacket pocket, fingers brushing across his newly acclaimed box of cigarettes. He came out with his phone. He hit the home button once, and took note of the time. 12:04.

"Shit," Nico mumbled. "It's that late already?" The boy stumbled to his feet and gave a tiny stretch for his muscles. "I'd better go find Hazel. It's really late. Nice talking to you, Jason," he said as he walked quickly back into the house. His back was facing the blonde, and he didn't see Jason's tiny wave as he uttered out a quiet, "Bye, Nico."

Nico shut the door behind him and looked around the room. He tried to find a big, Asian dude and his sister. His eyes settled on Percy and Annabeth. Again. Kissing. Again. Were they ever not kissing?

Suddenly, there was a buzz in his hand where he still held his phone. He lifted it to his face. a message from Hazel.

hey, Nico. where are u? I couldn't find you and I got really scared at the party. Frank said he'd take me home. We asked Leo and he said he watched you leave the house. we're back home. r u still at the party? I'm worried.

~ Hazel

Nico sighed and ran a hand through his hair. Great, now he'd have to walk home. He shook his head and turned around, marching to the door. He was about to reach for the handle when it swung open and slammed into his nose. Nico staggered a few feet backwards, holding his face with his hand.

"Ow! What the hell?" he said, eyes shut in pain. People paid no attention.

"Shit, Nico!" he heard Jason say. "I'm so sorry! Dammit, I'm really sorry." Nico felt hand on his face and his shoulder. He shrugged them off.

"Nevermind it, Grace. I need to go."

Nico began to walk away but Jason grabbed his wrist. "Wait! Are you walking home?"

"No. I'm flying home, dumbass. Yes, I'm walking home!"

"Let me give you a ride! I just damaged your nose. Let me drive you home."

"I'm fine. Besides. What about Piper?"

"Piper? Oh, she's staying over at Reyna's for the night. They said something about watching a movie. Dunno how they're going to stay awake, though, seeing as it's already past midnight."

Nico wanted to decline, but his nose was throbbing and he was starting to feel after effects of his first time smoking and he really just wanted to get home and sleep for a few hours. He nodded reluctantly. "But I don't owe you anything!" he said. "Because you hurt my precious nose."

Jason let loose a pitiful laugh, and Nic had to resist the urge to scrunch up his nose in disgust; he didn't want anything to do with goddamn pity. He allowed Jason to lead him to his car where he hopped in, still reluctantly.

The blonde put on the radio, but Nico turned it to a rock station. Jason didn't object. He let him off at his house where the raven haired teenager quickly checked up on Hazel to breathed out her worry and hugged him, tight, before he dragged himself to his room where he collapsed on his bed.


this is also on so yeah. give me a review! please. I plan on taking this far. or at least i hope.