"Gods Nico! How much did you drink last night?" Percy asked as he pushed Nico back up to the bed.

"Not much. I guess I'm just angry about you STALKING me?!" Nico growled "Look, just help me get back to my cabin. Try to do it secretly, I don't want Jason knowing I drink."

Percy shook his head in amusement. Of course he would not want Jason knowing. He didn't want anybody to care for him. Percy would do that for anybody else because he knew they would take care of themselves. However, Nico was not going to do that. Nico would go to his cabin, hide in the dark, and go right back to that bar when he was better.

"Nico, you should stay here until you feel good enough to get out of bed with head-butting me," Percy began.

"Drinking doesn't exactly work that way, Percy. I thought you of all people would know exactly how it does work" Nico hissed.

"No, Nico, I don't know. Neither do you. You may drink a lot, but if you saw what I am seeing now you would stop! Is this what Will would have wanted?" Percy cried.

"I don't know! Maybe when you get out of here and find him, we'll know!" Nico exclaimed wearily, as tears formed in his eyes. "I know he is not dead! I can't summon his ghost so he isn't dead. Get out there and find him!"

Nico began to melt into tears. All the emotions that he had tried to drink away came boiling up. Percy didn't know what to do. He didn't know whether to try to console him or to leave him with his space. So he stood there. They stood there, Nico's sobbing echoing off the walls, for what seemed like an eternity, when Percy finally decided to walk out.

I should go explain to Annabeth Percy decided.

He had seemed pretty secretive when she came over demanding to go in. He hadn't given any details. The only thing he had said to her was "I'll have to explain later, but this is really a delicate situation." Her face showed hurt. They weren't supposed to keep secrets, even if they were temporary. He walked to the Athena cabin and nocked. When Annabeth answered, she did not look very pleased to see him.

"Um-uh I think I owe you an explanation of why I pushed you away from my cabin, and kept some stuff from you," Percy stuttered. Annabeth scared Percy. It wasn't the fear of being yelled at, or being accused of lying. The fear came from the knowledge of her absorbing what you say and judging whether to forgive you or forget you.

"I believe you do. Start with the part where you followed Nico last night." Annabeth started coolly and smoothly as if she had rehearsed it. Knowing her she probably did.

"Wait. Y-you saw that? I have my reasons for not asking you to come with me-"

"No Percy! I'm not concerned about why I can't come! I want to know what you did. When you came back Nico was unconscious!"

"Woah, Annabeth. What really happened was I followed him to see if he has been sneaking off to drink away the memories of Will. Which he was. I took him back here and I've been watching him. He's like my brother, I can't let get hurt. Especially because he is too young. fifteen is way too young!"

Annabeth fell silent. Her gray eyes studied Percy. Percy fidgeted with Riptide in his pocket. This was the truth. Well, almost. Nico didn't really feel like a brother. Nico seemed to connect with Percy in a slightly different way, but it wasn't quite clear how.

"Fine, I believe you. However, you should really take better care of him if he is like your brother. Perhaps Reyna or Jason could take care of him for you," Annabeth concluded and shut the door without bothering for a kiss from Percy.

Percy let a breath out. It could have gone better, but it also could have gone worse. He walked back to his cabin. When he walked in he saw Jason sitting on the bed giving soup to Nico and fussing over him.

"Jason stop! I promise I am fine!" Nico said as he moved to the opposite side of the bed.

"Nico, you most certainly are not fine. You look awful and you aren't telling me what's wrong. Did Percy hurt you? Is that why you're here?" Jason fussed.

"Actually Jason," Percy interrupted "I believe I was doing a fine job caring for Nico. The door is behind me. I'm sure Piper wouldn't mind you giving her all this attention."

Jason went to speak but Percy had started to walk over. Jason got up and thrust the soup into his hands. As he walked out, he mumbled something about how he was going to make Nico happy again.

"Why are you back? Have you found Will yet?" Nico questioned.

"If you're going to treat me like that I will kick you out and give Jason an excuse to fuss over you again" Percy threatened.

"Fine."

Percy went over and sat down next to Nico. He hesitated but place a wary hand on Nico's shoulder. Nico didn't move away. He sat with his face in the opposite direction of Percy.

"Vuoi uscire con me?" Nico whispered.

Percy had no idea what he said but he memorized it. He would ask Annabeth later. He let Nico's voice fill the space of the silence for as long as he could.