Author's Note: This is a really sad fanfic, so if you don't like sad stories, you are told beforehand.
Him
He loved him from the time he saw him. Percy had his sword, later learning its name was Riptide, out, glowing in the darkness and poised to attack the manticore suddenly springing out of Dr. Thorn. Percy's green eyes shone in loyalty to his friends.
Bianca died. He hated him then, for letting the only person he was close to die. But he couldn't. He tried, and failed, to hate him, because he just can't. Instead, he allied himself with King Minos, and set out to capture Daedalus' soul and exchange it for Bianca's. When he heard that Bianca had blocked herself from him, but was talking to Percy, a wave of anguish swept over him. When Percy misunderstood that he wanted Percy's soul, he almost fainted. Of course he wouldn't do that, Percy was too precious to him.
After finding out the Curse of Achilles, he quickly told Percy, who seemed uncertain. He harshly kept reminding him, because he didn't want Percy to die.
Then Annabeth got to him. After watching Percy and her laughing together, holding hands together, almost every day, he retreated into the darkness.
Percy disappeared from his cabin. He couldn't believe it. His heart was hurting every time he saw possible scenarios of Percy chained to somewhere and tortured. Finally, one day... At Camp Jupiter, he saw him again. With no sign of recognition in him.
Somehow, he got pulled into Tartarus. Barely surviving, he grew paler and thinner than could possibly ever happen. He couldn't stand the others, who constantly glanced at him sympathetically. Because they won't understand.
They thought he liked Annabeth. He didn't bother correcting them, because a guy liking another guy was just plain bad to society. He'd never fit in.
They thought he was jealous of Percy. Thing is, he was, just of Annabeth. He didn't bother correcting them about that either.
Percy fell to Tartarus with Annabeth. He sent Bob the Titan down to help him, as anonymously as he could, the only thing he could do. He'd like to jump down too, but the others need help too. And besides, Percy made him promise to open the Doors from the other side. Any request by Percy he'd gladly do.
Percy and Annabeth made it out. They almost looked like him now. He had to stop himself from reaching out and touching his gaunt face.
Now it was almost time for Gaea, that stupid earth goddess, to awaken. He knew many demigods would die. He, self-conscious of his foolishness, hoped that Percy wouldn't be one of the fallen. Annabeth, too, because she was all of Percy.
They thought he liked Annabeth. They thought he was jealous of Percy.
They would never understand.
He would love Percy forever, and hate himself for that.
He radiated darkness. Everyone was afraid of him.
His greatest secret would never be told (except by Jason, he already knew). It would be kept in his heart, until the day he gave up his last breath.
Unless, he was forced to, he would never confess his love to Percy. Because Percy can't know about this.
He'll lose his friendship with Percy, who will always think of him as an oddball even more, but will mask it under his nice personality. That's why he likes Percy. He's nice.
But still. He can't risk his friendship because of this.
Nico will love Percy forever, no matter what. He'll just keep it deep in his heart, for no one to see.
~Finish~