"Close your eyes, I know what you see,
The darkness is high, and you're in ten feet deep,
But we've survived more terrible monsters than sleep,
And you know I will be here to tell you to breath."
-Soldatino, Paola Bennet
Bianca smiled. It used to light up the room, but now it darkened it, draining any sliver of joy from the air. Nico could remember how even when he was upset, Bianca would comfort him. She would hug him and say that it's okay and for that span of time he believed her.
He learned the truth.
Now he knew better. He knew that life wasn't fair, that happiness was just a fabricated thing meant to distract him from reality. Nico would have loved to run from the truth, and he had managed to for a while. But just like everything else, it eventually caught up with him.
Don't hold grudges.
Nico couldn't believe those were her parting words. He was hoping Bianca would say something to ease the pain, something that would warm him up from the inside like a cup of hot chocolate. He had no such luck, but she should have known better.
She was his biggest flaw.
Nico tried to let all of his anguish out, but it did nothing to help him. The few condolences he received filled him with a deeper anger, a burning flame. Pity made him feel weak, and he definitely wasn't weak.
He became a dark prince.
Now he hid his emotions, letting none of his true feelings shine through. Nico started to avoid anyone who tried to help, and it wasn't hard. Not many people wanted to help a son of Hades. In their eyes, he was a freak. An outcast. The worst part? He believed him.
He started to break down.
He couldn't hold it in any longer. He was tired of keeping his stoic expression, he was tired of playing strong. Overall, he was tired of life. Something inside of him started to unwind, slowly falling apart like a machine would without oil- and he was out of oil.
He needed a saviour.
Nico knew he needed help, but he wasn't willing to come to terms with his needs. After being alone for so long, he knew that he could do everything on his own. He had made it this far with no companions. He could go on. He would go on, because life wouldn't wait for him.
He should know.
Life didn't stop for him to grieve over his dead sister. Life didn't stop when he was trapped in Tartarus. Life didn't stop when Jason learned his secret. Why? Life wasn't fair to him. He was used to being pushed aside, left for dead, which, he realized, might have been a good thing.
He pushed away everyone.
People were a distraction. An added weakness to his already mortal body. Why add more vulnerable attributes while he was already full of them? If he didn't love, he couldn't be tricked. He couldn't be coerced into ridiculous things that were sure to get him killed. He was stronger this way.
He wasn't the innocent kid he used to be.
Disclaimer: I don't own PJO.
Author's Note: This is my first fanfiction, and it was really fun to write. I feel so bad for Nico. :3 He seriously needs a hug.
I also wanted to give a small advertisement. If any of you like Harry Potter as well as this fandom, check out my crossover rollplay forum. The link is on my profile.
By the way, you should check out the song in the beginning of this one-shot. It made me cry, then fangirl, then cry again.
Thanks for reading!
