Okay, it's me again.
Sorry for absent for a while guys, but I really have a logical excuse. My laptop was crashed down, all of my files disappeared, so I have to reproduce them all over again. Besides, I did have trouble in writing Nico, since there's so much information, begins with the dance in Westover Hall, ends with the heart-wrenching fall into Tartarus (sob) . I needed to reread all those details again, gather them around, collect what's needed and what's not, shorten, lengthen, and come up with a story of mine. Walla! Here comes the Nico you've been all waiting for.
Warning: This is going to be looonnngggg…
P/S: Congratulations! An applause to the amazing KaraokeLeo. You know what I mean. Ethan Nakamura would definitely be up next.
And to my dear lovelies, I'm looking forward to 30 reviews for chapter IV, so please don't let me down. Your all comments are so precious to me, and so they are to every author. Please R&R. And for question of the week:
Who will fall after Ethan to the pit of desprate love for Miss Chase? The answer is up to you!
It's bad enough being a demigod.
It's even worse being a child of Death.
But nothing, nothing's more sorrowful than being a loner.
All your miserable life, people seem like they always push you away. When you were five, your mom died. Then the oh-so-powerful father of yours abandoned you and your sister stucking in a place for a time of who-knows, all because of a stupid family's issue that happened between him and your oh-even-more-powerful uncle.
Oh, don't be sad, Nico, he rescued you after all. Yes, he did. He rescued the two of you out of there, only to trashed you again in a military school. With a Manticore. But seriously, you don't even care. Because what could you expect? An honest apology? A father-and-son hug? A heart-warming reunion? No, thanks. You've got Bianca. She's your only family. Besides, what could actually bother you, a boy with pure spirit and careless heart, whose hobby is digging his head in a bunch of cards and tiny statues?
Those are two main reasons why you didn't feel like shit for the first twelve years.
But honestly, there is something you should be thankful, neither blame that horrible, cold-blooded parent. Because if it wasn't what he had done, you didn't get the opportunity to meet her.
Her, the girl who's like you, has a tough past.
Her, the girl who teaches you how to fall for somebody.
And her, the girl who (you hve to deal with the fact so achingly), never be yours.
The first time you met her is in Westover Hall. She and her friends rescued Bianca and you from the Manticore. You didn't pay much attention to her at first, just noticed a minor detail that she's very pretty, 'cause you were too busy enjoyig the magical new world that just had welcomed you in. it's not love at first sight, jeez, please. Like what have metioned above, you were still a boy, youthful, pure and careless.
You are left behind again with a huge 'Why?' Because that's Bianca. Why does your own sister want to leave you? Why not just once, but twice? That's when it came. The Dark Nico. It makes you penetrate that you are all, completely, definitely, a perfect loner. It digs a black pit in your heart, forces you to grow up, so fast, so instantly, by the pain. Despite the ache and the annoying feelings, it does help you a little bit. You start to notice things, like real things, rather than those stupid cards which you used to love so much. And that's when you really think of her.
At first, those thoughts come to you with a rush of anger. You curse that blonde hair, those gray eyes, 'cause he had prefered saving her to saving your sister. But after some occasionally 'accidents', you are enlightened, and so you find there's no one to blame. Naturally, the older girl in front of you, walks in a different light.
You still remember the day, in every detail of it.
It supposed to be a warm summer day, with sun shining and nymphs laughing, but instead, deadly silence filled the air of Camp Half-Blood. Percy Jackson was missing.
You were sitting by the lake, torturing yourself with the boredom as she appeared, and took a seat next to you.
"May I…?", she asked, her voice was no louder than an exhale.
"Sure.", said you, and everything went back to silence.
You two just sat there, eyes glazing at the lake in front of you. There're sometimes, her hand found your hand, and quietly squeezed it. The simple gesture stirred something inside you. Yes, of course you know she didn't mean anything, she was just sad and lonely and needed a company. But why couldn't you stop the chill behind your back when your skin touch hers? Why couldn't you stop the beads of sweat that were flowing across your neck? Why couldn't you stop the strange heat that suddenly makes your heart runs for a thousand miles?
It was the first time ever, you paid a closer look at her. Her hair was like be abandoned for days, red and purple rings gather around her big grey eyes. She looked a lot skinnier and paler, but strangely, you still found her beautiful. You like the way she flips her hair to one side, accidentally reveals her long slender neck. You like the way she looks down, to read books or to do anything, so you can take an adventage of that to count her golden eyelashes. And when you look into her eyes, you surprise by how they reflect your own feelings: sadness, hurt, betrayal, lonesome. And loss. She's just like you.
The boyish innocence that still lingers in your soul is nothing but a blind-fold. It covers your eyes, fills your path with darkness. It doesn't tell you, that as you walk further step, as you fall deeper in the love to her, till there's no way out. And doom. You're finished. For the rest of your life, you'll be trapped in a prison named Annabeth Chase.
Leading him to the River Styx is… confusing, you guess. You do know about the prophecy, you do know that he might be that hero, but still, you feel the bitter on the toungue, so as the urge to punch someone. Dark Nico, the nasty version within you, rises again, and it keeps murmuring in your head, toxics your mind with those horribles hopes and wishes:
- Somehow, you wish he could pay for the times he made her worried, all the times he freaked her out, all the times he made her cries, all the times, he hurted her.
- Somehow, you wish he could just disappear.
- Somehow, you wish yourself could stand in his place, because you would never, ever do such things as he di to her. You can comfort her, cheer her up, erase from her mind the memories of him, free her from the posession of her Seaweed Brain.
- Somehow, you wish he could be destroyed in the River, that Styx could burn him into dust.
You wish, you wish, you wish, and you wish…
But obviously, despite those skeletons, your wish isn't anyone's command.
He's alive. She saves him.
You watch in silence as the lovebirds get together, as natural as it should be. Percy belongs with Annabeth. Annabeth belongs with Percy. What could possibly be more perfect? Who could ever complain about it?
'Me,' the you inside screaming. 'I am complaining. He has hurted her so bad! How can he still have the right to be with her?'
What a shame, those words can't find the way to get out of your mouth. They're just stucking there, in your eyes, burning bright, but nobody see them. They are too busy throwing the brand new couple to the canoe lake, with hands entertwine, happy laughters, loving and endearing looks. The sight's killing you, but you can't even move, not talking about run away. Your legs feel like stone now.
You don't need pity. Being ignored is some thing you 've known all too well.
You're on your own.
The night hovers above your head, as it swallows you into the black of darkness.
'Nico, have you heard anything from Percy?' she askes you, her eyes plead you, the sound of her voice begs you. Her boyfriend, yet, missing again.
You swallows a hot-white lump. 'Sorry Annabeth. I don't know anything.
Or your lieing skill is well improved, or her sharp suspicion is well damaged. Desperation can do stuff to people. Because after that, she simply just turn away from you.
You frown, 'Coward…' as you remember that harsh, cold voice of your father. 'Do not tell anyone about either camps, or you will cause trouble. And believe me, child, that trouble is not some price that you want to pay.'
'Why did you tell me this, Father?' asked you, confusing.
'Because my children will play an important role on this quest, and believe me, child, there's no one that is more apropriate in keeping this secret more than you. People don't notice you. They ignore you. That's an adventage.'
How honor. Being recognized as a loner by your own father, carrying a great and dangerous top secret to one's self? No sharing?
What's to be mad about? That's exactly what you do best. And it's not like for ever. They'll figure it out soon enough.
Still, you feel lieing to her is absolutely one of the worst things you've ever done. As if you can hear Dark Nico whispering to you, its voice mocking you, 'Smooth, Nico. And you were sure you wouldn't hurt her. Now look what you've done?!'. 'Shut up,' says you, yeah, like shut it down was something possible.
If someone ever askes you what you miss the most when all of these, quests, battles, giants, Gaea, are over, you'll answer: the reunion of you with Percy and Annabeth in Tartarus.
You don't remember how you got there, you don't want to. Everything has work to do with the battle, is sure something you'd want to forget. All of you would.
But you can't take off your mind that little conversation with Percy, as you were sitting by the little fire, taking charge for the night, and was lying on the other side, his arms encircled around the sleeping Annabeth.
At first, you only stared at her, admired her beauty. Falls of golden hair, flushing cheeks, slender arms and legs, the peaceful music of heart and breath, which is only found while people are asleep, as her soft chest rose and fell.
Your eyes raised higher and found Percy, was looking at her too, his sea green eyes were dreamy, and his finger was twirling a blond strand, delicately toying with it.
You sudden memorized a couple of days ago, about an offer of your father. That made you think, maybe, maybe you still have a chance with her.
So you suggested Percy, tried to make it sound half-joking half-serious,
'Uh, Percy? Can I ask you a question?'
'What?', he said, eyes didn't look up on you.
'If Annabeth dies, I mean, after years from now, not right now, so please don't panic. And there's someone, who wants to…take care of her, like, Luke, for an example, then…Is there any chance that you'd give her up?'
'No.'
'Why? She's dead. There should be someone who can take care of her in the Underworld. So she won't be lonely? Anymore?'
'No. She won't die before me. If she does, I will follow her, though I want it or not.'
'How can you be so sure? You know I'm a child of death, right?'
'Believe me, Nico, I know. And also I know that I will die before her, or die with her. I sincerely need her in my life. She's like…she's like my breath now. And how can a person's alive without breathing? How can I'm alive without her presence?'
She's like my breath now, How can I'm alive without her presence. How cheesy it seems, but when those lines be spoken by him, they didn't sound cheesy at all. You just saw honest, respecting, and loving for her in every word he had said.
A bitter grin crooked on your mouth as the both of them drifted to sleep, holding on to one another like a lifeline. In spite of the dark, no one could have seen your expression.
'Pathetic.', you thought to yourself.
After all, everyone gets what they deserve. The wheel of Fates continue to spin normally again.
About your father's offer, he still leaves it open. For turning you to immortal, he wants you to stay by his side, being his left-arm, second in command. And the funniest part of all, he askes you to join his family.
Is he a fool or something, for not seeing how much his wife hates you?
But you still accept, anyway. It's not like you have a choice. You're not Percy Jackson. Everything isn't different for you. Your life will always be a lonesome life, this way or that way. Lenghthen it? Not a big deal.
Which is why now you are sitting on the edge of a mountain in the Underworld, eyes glazing to the Golden Gates of Elysium. In front of them, an old man, with gray hair and sea green eyes, is waiting for someone.
An old lady walks to him, smile on her. Her hair is snow white, and wise gray color sparkling in her eyes.
The closer they get together, the younger they are. His hair darkens as her hair's thicker, softer and blonder. Their wrinkles magically disappear. Their steps become stronger, lighter, and faster. And as their hands entertwine, it turns out to be Percy and the girl who has stolen your heart, Annabeth.
The process doesn't stop there. Their appearance continue to change, from the day of their first time together, to the day when they are thrown to the canoe lake, to the day of their wedding, to the day they fall into Tartarus, to the day he propose to her, to the day their first child is given birth. That's what wonderful about the deaths. Their ages are made by memories.
You're there, as silent as you were years ago, watching two teenagers race to the Golden Gates of Elysium, happy laughters fill the air.
The night hovers above your head, as it swallows you into the black of darkness, as silent as you are. Two lonely passengers, walking side by side, journeying together, doing everything together, but they're still on their own ways.
Lonely.