A/N: So my original idea for this was Nico and a female OC, but then I read HoH, and after my screaming fangirl moment I simply switched my characters gender. So my plan is to post the first few chapters of this story along with a few other (not PJO) stories and see which ones people like. The ones with a good reaction will be continued and the others possibly finished, deleted, or put up for adoption.
And now without further ado, I present to you: "Living in Chaos"!
Nico di Angelo was pissed.
He stormed away from the demigods grouped on the beach of the lake towards the shadows. He needed to get away.
He couldn't believe Jason would tell Annabeth his secret. How could he? Jason promised he would never tell, and he told the second worst possible person to tell. Thank the gods he didn't tell Percy. Nico would never be able to speak to him again. Or any of them.
He bit his lips to make the stinging in his eyes go away. The forest was close, but he could sense the footsteps following him were closer.
"Just leave me alone." Nico groaned as he turned to confront his pursuer.
He gasped when he saw the one and only mortal son of the sea god striding towards him. How could his luck be any worse?
"Nico, what's wrong? Why are you leaving?" Percy asked him.
Maybe they haven't told him yet. Maybe he's just worried. Nico inwardly scoffed. Why would Percy Jackson ever worry about me?
"Don't worry about it Percy. Just leave it alone," Nico said darkly.
The lighter haired teen tilted his head like a dog.
"Honestly Nico, I just want to help," he said, raising his hands in an attempt to show his innocence.
Nico sighed. "Well you can't Percy. You never have and you never will. So go sit on the beach and cuddle up with your girlfriend so you can ooh and aah over Leo and Nyssa's amazing fireworks."
Percy shook his head and reached out to touch Nico's shoulder, which he immediately recoiled from.
"Look, if you need anything at all, you know where to find me," Percy smiled and turned back to return to the beach.
Nico bit his lips again as he watched the only person he ever loved walk away from him yet again without turning back.
Apparently his brain didn't think this was enough pain, because he continued to watch as Percy did exactly what Nico told him to. He saw Percy's strong arms wrapped around Annabeth who was cuddled between Percy's legs with her head resting on his shoulder. They stared up into the sky in anticipation. Just before Nico was finally able to turn away, he saw Percy lean in to kiss her forehead.
In the forest, Nico was much more at home. The shadows wrapped around him, cocooning him in their freezing embrace. He wasn't quite sure where to go yet, so he wandered along the edge of the trees. The few monsters he saw ignored him, as usual.
Nico sighed again and swallowed the remaining tears he refused to allow to fall.
He did wish Jason had chosen a different night to betray him. Nico loved the camp's annual fireworks. Something about the bright flashes chasing away the shadows always made him forget his troubles.
But of course Jason just had to tell Annabeth tonight. And Annabeth just had to come running up to where he sat ready for the fireworks and reassure him that she didn't hate him. Of course that was even worse than if Annabeth had gotten angry and yelled at him. Even she knew there was no chance in the world of the two boys ever being together.
Nico followed the tree line until he could see the bright flashes reflecting against the trees again. He emerged from the forest on the other side of camp to see fireworks flashing across the sky. The campers were still there, but they were only small dots in the distance. He knew if he looked too long he would be able to identify each dot, so he steadfastly focused on the pretty lights.
A few moments passed before Nico noticed the presence behind him. One hand slowly drifted to the handle of his sword before he swung around to confront…
"You!" he shouted in surprise.
A/n: I actually had a really tough time coming up with a title for this. Believe it or not, this is my first non-Dramione fic. All of my Dramiones are titled after Avril Lavigne songs, so what song was I supposed to use for this? I finally named it after this song by The Offspring. Not as well known, but hopefully some people will get it.