Flying High

A few days had pasted since Nico di Angelo had joined the group on the Argo II. Leo still didn't trust him. All the others had accepted him full heartedly. Piper and Hazel both treated him like he was their little brother, constantly needing to be watched. Jason and Frank both loved him. They thought he was hilarious despite his gloomy attitude and constant grumbling.

Leo would never see Nico as a friend. Only a enemy. There was just something about the boy, something that wasn't right. Like Nico was always trying to hide something. He was just so closed up, almost as though he had locked himself in his own Pandora's box along with all his pain and regret.

But there was something else about Nico that Leo noticed, although he wouldn't admit it. Nico was fascinating. From his looks to his story Leo was captivated by Nico. He was exotic. Unique. The ultimate puzzle that Leo couldn't wait to figure out.

All the mystery and exoticness lead Leo to not trust him. How can someone be so fascinating even though they seem so somber and dull? Nico was like a candle. At one point in his life Nico had been burning brightly, so full of excitement and wonder. Then someone had snuffed out his light, leaving him with faint trace of burning embers. That's all his memories were. Burning embers that had been put out long ago. Now he was dark, unable to spark that light once more.

Until one night, long after the sun had set, Leo gets to see that Nico's light is still blazing, brighter than ever before.

Leo awoke in the dead of night. Tears fell from his eyes, soaking his cheeks. A sheen of sweat covered his body causing the sheet around his waste to cling to him like a extra skin. He hated having nightmares.

The one on this night hit him hard, leaving him with a heavy heart. In his nightmare he could hear the vicious screams of Nico and Hazel as Percy and Annabeth were dragged into the dark depths of the pit. Spider webs shot out of the void entangling around their arms and legs pulling them down. Leo stood in front of them, but he couldn't move. His body felt heavy and sluggish as he reached for them. He saw the terror in their eyes as the two were pulled over the edge and into the chasm. Gaea's laugh boomed around him, taunting him, laughing at his misery. Unable to fall asleep Leo began to wander the Argo II. Within minutes he found himself on deck.

Leo never expected to see someone else on deck at night. A overwhelming feeling of shock over came him as he saw the form of a person sitting on the deck. As he approached the figure, he could make out more details. Nico sat on the Argo's II deck a cigarette clutched between his fingers.

"I didn't know you smoked." Leo said quietly. The wooden boards squeaked loudly under his bare feet as he made his way towards the son of Hades.

Nico jumped. The cigarette slowly slid from his finger, landing on his pant leg. The cigarettes tip broke off, smearing the fabric with ashes and burning a hole through it. Nico cursed loudly as he quickly grabbed the cigarette and whipped the substance from his jeans. His eyes drifted up to Leo. He smiled warily.

"I didn't know I did either. It use to be a really bad habit of mine. Back when I did have any where to go I smoked. A lot. Did it as some kind of stress reliever. Thought I kicked the bad habit a long time ago, but I guess it's back." Nico said. He took a long drag on the cigarette before exhaling through his nose.

"You ever smoked a cigarette Leo?" Nico asked looking up at him.

Leo shook his head quickly. He never had and was unsure if he wanted to. Slowly Nico raised his hand up, offering the other boy the cigarette. Leo took it in his hand, being careful not to get burnt. That's when he realized something. Even though fire didn't harm him he was still afraid of it.

"Try it." Nico said. His eyes shimmered, light reflecting in those dark orbs.

Leo slowly raised it to his lips. Taking one quick drag he dropped the cigarette, coughing wildly. Nico chuckled, but didn't say a word. Slowly he stood up. Walking forward he stepped on the cigarette, extinguishing it's light under his boot.

"I never pegged you as the kind of person to do something risky." Nico said. He chuckled again and pushed past Leo. Stopping in the center of the deck he turned back to Leo.

"You know what, Valdez? You and me have a lot in common." Nico said.

"We are nothing alike." Leo spat at him. A sudden wave of anger rocked his body.

"Of course we are. You and I both know the true meaning of pain. Of struggling to get through life."

"Is that so. What have you struggled with, Nico?" There was venom in Leo's words.

"Losing my sister, losing my mother, losing Percy and Annabeth, not being cared about. Gods, if only you had lost a sister you and me would be exactly the same." Nico shook his head as though he found the thought funny.

Suddenly, Leo surged forward, getting up in Nico's face.

"Listen to me, Nico. You and I will never be alike. Just because you lost your mother and so did I doesn't mean a single thing. Some people may look down on me. Some may not care about me, but I don't care about them either. I don't even see how you could use that as one of your reasons. Your life is perfect. Everybody loves you!" Leo shouted pushing the boy back.

Nico snorted. Quickly he looked away from the boy, rage coursing through out his body. "Yeah my life has definatly been perfect. I lost my mother, I lost my sister, I lost my best friend! Everone at Camp Half-Blood thinks I'm a freak! For so long I though my dad didn't give a shit about me! Yeah, I sure have a great life!"

Leo was about to reply when he stopped. He hadn't noticed before, but Nico was crying.

"Nico…"