Percy tackled his cousin, realizing only after how stupid it was; it was all too possible both demigods would end up dead. "Nico, you're coming back to camp," Percy ordered. Before Nico could argue, he did a strong cab-whistle, "Blackjack!" he called.
"Percy, you know Blackjack hates me," Nico sighed. But at least he tried to hide it, even if it was only for Percy's benefit.
"No he doesn't, and even if he did, I don't care; you're coming back to camp," Percy was not about to let Nico try shadow travel while he was this weak, and he really couldn't think of another way to get back to camp. A few seconds late, a dark shape descended on them from the sky. Hey, boss. Need a- oh dang, you got Death Boy with you? Alright, where you two be goin'?
Just back to camp, Blackjack. Thanks. Percy knew why Blackjack wasn't very fond of Nico; he smelled like death. But the Pegasus would never leave Percy or his friends stranded.
Hop on, Blackjack said in Percy's mind. After giving Nico a boost, Percy hopped on back, making sure Nico couldn't "accidentally" fall off.
Nico was breathing heavy when he dismounted; he'd figured he must have asthma or something, because it was happened a lot. Nobody had noticed they left; aside from dinner, Percy hadn't missed any activities, and nobody had even known Nico was at camp. After being lead back to the Hades cabin (Percy figured Nico would be more comfortable there), Nico asked, "What do you want me to say, Percy?"
"Why did you do it?" Percy questioned, "What was so special about yesterday?"
"Nothing, really. I'd been thinking about it for a while," Nico admitted shamefully, ignoring the tears stinging his eyes. "Nobody likes me. My entire family is dead. And you can't seem to get it through your thick skull that I don't need a babysitter twenty-four seven!" Nico added angrily. Some tears escaped, and he was getting harder to understand, "You need to understand that I'm not a little kid anymore!" Nico accepted that might not seem very convincing in a room full of McDonalds Happy Meal toys and card-game figurines, but he couldn't really find a fuck to give.
"I like you. Annabeth likes you. And Grover-"
"Give it up, Percy. I know you three only talk to me because you still feel guilty about Bianca." He threw himself down on his bed, which looked more like a coffin to Percy. He was about to go over and comfort his cousin, when he heard a knock at the door. "Should I get that?" Percy asked uncertainly.
Nico flung a hand in the air in a gesture that looked like, "fine", so Percy stalked over to the door and found Annabeth on the other side. "Uh, now's not really a good time Annabeth," Percy said nervously, not bothering to wonder why she was visiting Nico in the first place. He wasn't entirely sure how she would react to the situation, or if Nico even wanted her to know.
Ignoring Percy's warning, Annabeth peered into the cabin. "Why is Nico crying in a coffin?" she asked, "Oh, gods, is that a bed?" She walked over to the boy in an attempt to soothe him. "Nico, what happened? Did Percy say something stupid?" She added that last part as a joke, but Nico took it seriously.
"Why must you always assume it was Percy's fault? Am I not capable of making my own mistakes or something?"
"Um…" Annabeth stuttered. Usually Nico managed to stay calm, and if he did blow up like that, it didn't last. "Come on, what's up? You can talk to me, you know that, right?
"I tried to kill myself," Nico said bluntly. He watched as the news sunk in.
"But… Nico, you of all people should see the value of life," Annabeth replied. She sounded unsure; even the daughter of Athena didn't know what she was supposed to say.
"The only reason people behave in life is so they can be blessed in death," replied Nico, "I've been in the Fields of Punishment. A week helping Sisyphus push his boulder wasn't nearly as bad as being a wallflower on Earth," Nico countered. He'd put a lot of thought into this, and did not appreciate being undermined.
Percy was taken aback. "Nico, how long have you been thinking about this?" Percy asked, hoping for answers.
"I still don't see how this is any of your business," deflected Nico.
"Your dad asked me to talk some sense into you. And you told Annabeth yourself," Percy replied. Finally, a fight he could win. "Now talk to us."
"What do you want me to say? I'm a useless loser with no friends or family. I'm practically a zombie, and I'm not even welcome in the one place all demigods are supposed to be safe!" They would never understand. Those two were too important to realize that some people just... weren't.
"Nico, of course you're welcome here. You have a cabin, right?" Percy replied, trying to calm his cousin; more people could come if they heard yelling, and that would probably just make things worse.
"Yeah, because you twisted Zeus's arm," Nico shot back. Percy could be really dense sometimes. Nico stood up quickly, intending to leave the cabin, but the prism on his dresser lit up before he got halfway across the room.
It was a collect I.M. Upon tossing in a Drachma, Nico was greeted with his Hades's ever-glowing face. "Father?" he knelt and bowed his head reverently before saying more, which seemed like overkill to Percy and Annabeth; god or not, Hades was Nico's dad.
"Did I send good help?," Hades asked. Was it Percy's imagination, or did he see real worry on the god's face?
"Yes Father," Nico agreed, "Percy's been very helpful."
"And the girl?" Hades pushed.
"You sent Annabeth? I thought…" Nico trailed off, looking hurt.
"You did not send me! Annabeth argued. I heard yelling and-"
"Do you really think you'd be able to hear Nico's childish screaming while you were half asleep in the Athena cabin?" Hades reasoned. "You may have chosen to come on your own, but I'm the reason you knew there was something to come to. Now, give me a moment alone with my son."
