Title: Forget-Me-Not Black
Summary: In trying to help Leo get back to the camp, Nico incurs the wrath of a certain vengeful goddess and overuses his power. Now, not only is the son of Hades fading physically, he is also fading in the memories of everyone he ever knew. SolAngelo
Chapter VI
Nico figured that something was terribly wrong when he woke up, gasping and panting for air as he curled into himself clutching at his burning shoulder. The wound, although it should have closed from Calypso's medicine and the ambrosia and nectar he'd taken just in case, was throbbing, making itself known and reminding him of a certain sorceress' unfinished curse. He grunted and sat up, gritting his teeth just as someone knocked on his door.
Nico was ready to ignore the knocking in favor of not letting anyone see him like this and fuss over him when a familiar voice on the other side made him freeze.
"Nico? Hey, it's me, Percy. You awake yet, man?" The voice of his ex-crush made him stare at the door in wide-eyed surprise for a moment. "Um, hello?"
His mind warred inside of him. He knew that the inevitable talk with Percy about his confession was coming and he had sworn to himself he was not gonna run away from it this time but it couldn't have come at a worse timing. He breathed in deeply wincing at the fact that even the small movement made the wound on his shoulder ache.
There was a pause on the other side of the door as Percy spoke, "I guess you're still sleeping so, I'll come back later or something…" The fact that Percy was saying this out loud made Nico believe that Percy knew he wasn't sleeping at all. This, more than anything, gave him the strength to stand up and head to the door, opening it to a certain son of Poseidon's surprise. Sea green eyes blinked at him before Percy raised a hand warily, "Hey?"
His hesitance probably had something to do with Nico's scowl of pain, so the son of Hades tried to make his expression turn into an indifferent one as he said, "Sorry, not really a morning person." Thankfully his voice was thick enough with sleep to be believable. "You need something?"
Percy's face took over a look of determination that would have once made his stomach do flips but now it just made him nervous with what could that possibly mean. "Yeah, can I come in?"
It took every ounce of Nico's will (heh) not to wince as he opened the door and let the swordsman in. He closed the door and watched as Percy sat on an unused wooden chair on one of the desks by the darkened corner. The son of Hades crossed his arms, "So, what's wrong?"
The son of Poseidon gave him a steely stare that automatically made him stiffen in worry.
"I've always thought of you as my little brother." Percy began in a careful but determined tone. "When we brought you into Camp Half-Blood, I thought of you as my responsibility and my family. When you told me to keep Bianca safe, I would have carried the world on my shoulders for all eternity just to do that because I didn't want to disappoint you, not when you looked at me like I could do anything, not when you believed in me. I wanted to protect her and I wanted to protect you and I'm sorry that I failed at that."
Nico stared at him with wide, dark eyes. Whatever he was expecting, it wasn't this. "Percy…"
But the son of Poseidon held up a hand, signaling for him to let him finish. "You've been driven into revenge because of me, you ran away from Camp Half-Blood because I wasn't strong enough to protect what was important to you, and when you betrayed me to your father I didn't have the right to be angry but I was anyway because I didn't know if I could trust you even though it was my fault in the first place. But you tried to make amends and you had to pick up our friendship by yourself. You helped me even after everything I've done, after disappointing you so much, and I would have died if you hadn't told me to take on Achilles' curse, if you hadn't let go of your anger of me and told your Dad to help the other gods."
Percy took in a deep breath, "So what I'm trying to say is…" He hesitated and he said in a softer tone, "Nico… thank you."
The son of Hades' form was loose with surprise now, his hands had fallen to his side somewhere along Percy's speech.
"I don't know if I ever told you that, which pretty much tells you what a horrible person I am, I guess." Percy laughed a bit but it was a self-depreciating sound, not suited for someone as strong as him. "But you know, thank you… for a lot of things. For always being there and helping us even though you had every right not to, for always getting us out of sticky situations, for being friends with me even though I'm a pain sometimes, for leading everyone to the Doors of Death even though it must have hurt to go back there again…"
The green-eyed teen let out a sigh, "And I'm sorry too. For a lot of things, maybe for everything, actually. Because maybe if I had been stronger or braver or maybe even smarter, everything would turn out better and you- you wouldn't feel like you didn't belong or maybe you wouldn't have distanced yourself from us so much."
"It's not your fault." Nico couldn't help but say, "It was my choices which made me unhappy."
Percy gave him a sad smile, green eyes warm, "If I'm not allowed to blame myself then you can't either."
Nico blinked before shaking his head with exasperation and choosing not answer.
The son of Poseidon stood up, dusting his jeans looking down. Nico noticed he was avoiding looking at him now. "And one last thing, about- about what you told me and Annabeth a week back."
The Ghost King froze, this was the moment he had been dreading.
Percy cleared his throat as he straightened before looking his cousin straight in the eyes. "Thanks."
Whatever Nico was expecting, it wasn't that. He gaped at the sea god's son and said, "What?"
Percy scratched the back of his head, looking uncertain. "You know, for liking me- I mean for liking me before." He amended, "Although I don't understand why I'm not your type because I'm everybody's type."
The statement was enough to make Nico snort and that eased something in Percy. The older teen gave him a crooked smile.
"You're a great person, Nico. You're strong and brave and a lot of things I'm not and after everything I've done, you still liked me and I'm grateful for that." Percy said simply, "But I'm sorry too because I know that at some point liking me must have hurt you a lot."
Something thick was stuck in Nico's throat and he just looked down at his feet, not acknowledging but not refuting the statement.
"And I know it may sound stupid and maybe I sound like a jerk but, I'm glad you don't have a crush on me anymore." Percy said, "I don't want you getting hurt because of me. You deserve someone better." And Percy meant it, he could see that.
"And Annabeth doesn't?" Nico joked weakly and Percy's smile turned sad.
"She does. She deserves a lot better than me." And Nico could see that he truly believed that. Percy shrugged, "But she picked me and I thank the gods for that, everyday." The son of Hades' shoulders slumped and Percy reached out uncertainly before firmly placing them on his shoulder (the uninjured one, thankfully). Nico tried not to flinch, "I'm glad you liked me." He said firmly and then he joked, "I don't know why though, I'm nothing special. But Nico, you deserve an even greater hero than me, someone who wouldn't hurt you and would make you smile for the rest of your life."
The Ghost King nodded but said, "I don't think someone like that exists."
"Jason doesn't think so." Percy said nonchalantly as Nico gave him a surprised look. Was he and the son of Jupiter talking about him behind his back? "I don't think so, Annabeth, Piper, Hazel, Frank, Reyna, and I'm pretty sure everyone at camp doesn't think so. There's someone out there for you."
"But they don't know-"
"It doesn't matter to us who you like." The son of Poseidon said in such a serious tone that Nico was inclined to believe him. "You have a lot more people supporting you, backing you up on this than you think. We're willing to unleash the fury of the gods on anyone who would give you trouble."
Nico swallowed drily, "That's what you say-"
"It's the truth." The son of Poseidon said, "We'll prove it to you if we have to."
From his sheer disbelief and surprise at what Percy was saying to him, the son of Hades could only nod numbly. Percy flashed him another smile and he patted him on his shoulder before letting go. "I'll get going then, I have a bet with Travis about archery."
Nico tried to regain himself and was even able to roll his eyes, "If you bet on yourself, you'll lose."
Percy made a slightly hurt sound as he said defensively, "I'll have you know that I've been practicing!"
The son of Hades made a sarcastic yet serious look on his face, "I'm sure."
Instead of sticking his tongue out or doing something equally childish, the son of the sea god gave him a bright grin that made his heart squeeze a little less, "Thanks, Nico." He said sincerely before making his way out of the door.
As Percy closed the door behind him, the son of Hades realized that in that span of ten minutes or less, he'd forgotten about the pain in his shoulder.
Nico was aware of the strange looks he was getting as he sat by the camp's docks, swinging his legs as he looked out into the lake. The breeze ruffled his mussed up hair and he tried to ignore several campers' wary looks. He tried to ignore them, used to reactions like that but something seemed off about the way they look at him and he couldn't pinpoint what. They seemed to look at him as though just seeing for the first time. True, he didn't really bathe under the sun much but seriously, reactions like that were a bit too much. It's not like he was a vampire or something.
The son of Hades didn't mind them, closing his eyes and tipping his head up towards the sun. He wasn't used to the warmth against his pale skin but it was a welcomed change to the coldness and shadows. Suddenly, laughter not far made him open one eye and tilt his head. He watched curiously and saw a blushing Will spluttering and waving his hands in the water, blonde hair plastered to his forehead as he glared at one of his sisters, Kayla from the looks of it, laughing at him.
The son of Apollo got to the shore, pouting heavily and Nico couldn't help the twitch of his lips at the other's expression. He could feel a helpless smile stretching across his face.
At that moment, Will turned to him, blue eyes meeting dark ones. Nico's smile widened when Will looked away, his face redder than before as he tried to push away his wet hair from his eyes. He trudged to the shore, trying to squeeze water from his shirt, which clung to his impressive build.
A pretty brunette, about their age, from the Aphrodite cabin rushed forward with a towel and shirt, fluttering her eyelashes at Will flirtatiously. The son of Apollo gave her a grateful smile.
Nico didn't realize he was standing and walking away from the place until he noticed himself getting nearer towards the cabins. He saw a few people flinching away from him and he felt a scowl on his face. He frowned and tried to make his expression indifferent.
He always thought that jealousy was a childish emotion. That, however, did not stop him from being jealous of Annabeth whenever Percy was looking at her (and only at her) or when Percy mentioned her or even thought of her. But then again, he was a child back then and now, well, he's still technically a child but he's older and had experienced at least one heartbreak, so shouldn't he be wiser?
To be jealous of a girl that only batted her eyes at Will Solace, Will Solace of all people! His perfect counterpart. Where Nico was always in the dark, Will was literally the child of the sun and light. You can't find an even more mismatched pair than them! It's pathetic how he couldn't control how the skeletal butterflies in his stomach turned his insides into a mess or the smile on his face or the way his hands shake or his eyes shift when the other got too close…
Of course, thinking as deeply as he did about his predicament, it wasn't really much of a wonder that Nico ended up colliding with somebody. He grunted as he fell to the ground and looked up to see the ex-counselor of the Hephaestus Cabin, Jake Mason, looking down at him.
"I'm really sorry about that." Jake said as he extended a hand as he squinted down the son of Hades who was about to take his hand. Nico ignored his expression and took his hand, being hoisted up easily.
"Thanks, Jake." Jake seemed surprised by the words and Nico looked at him curiously, "Jake?"
"I'm sorry, but do I know you?" Jake asked warily. Dark eyes widened and Nico sharply took back his hand. He narrowed his eyes at the other counselor who looked honestly confused at the moment.
The son of Hades growled and Jake took a step back, "You have got to be kidding me."
"Wha-"
"Did the Stolls put you up to this?" The son of Hades shook his head in disgust, "Look, I get that some of the campers don't want me here but to go as far as to pretend that you don't know me?" He pushed the stunned son of Hephaestus away, "I didn't think you guys would stoop so low."
Jake stood there, eyes wide as the son of Hades stepped on a patch of shadow and dissolved into darkness. He stood there for several seconds before his face paled as recognition flooded his senses. "Oh gods," He placed a hand on his forehead, looking thoroughly ill, "Oh gods, that was Nico! Nico di Angelo, son of Hades!"
He groaned and buried the heel of his palms against his eyes. "How could I forget that?" He told himself, "What the hell is happening?"
The pain in his shoulder was blinding. Nico stumbled out of the shadows, slumping down on stone benches. He looked up and realized he was in the camp Amphitheater. Thankfully it was quiet and no one was there, everyone had their classes and camp activities either at the climbing wall, the archery range, or the arena.
The son of Hades gasped as he fell to the ground, clutching at his shoulders. He could feel his eyes burning and he hissed as he curled into himself. The cold stone made his old wound throb and he looked down at his shaking hands, eyes widening when it faded for a few seconds before solidifying.
What's happening? He thought fearfully and he curled into himself even more. He shuddered when he felt the coldness in his blood ad he could feel himself flickering out of existence before coming back again.
Yam ouy eb enog rof ytinrete, hsinav, reven ot eb nees, nettogrof neve ni yromem!
May you be gone for eternity, never to be seen, forgotten even in memory!
Nico let out a cry of pain as the burning in his shoulder reached unbearable levels. He let out one shuddering breath before abruptly passing out, the hand on his shoulder falling to the cold concrete.
Dna enon llahs evas ouy…
And none shall save you…
A few demigods entered the amphitheater, talking amongst themselves about the big Campfire with Camp Jupiter at the end of the month. A few spotted Nico, pointing curiously at the demigod seemingly asleep on the concrete benches. One asked who he was while the others looked blankly at where they were poiting. The others passed by him like they couldn't see him, not anymore, while others eventually forgot he was there.
… nda enon llahs erac.
… And none shall care.
Somewhere in San Francisco Bay, California, USA…
Hazel suddenly collapsed to the ground clutching her head and wincing.
"Oh gods, Hazel!" Frank called as he ran up to his girlfriend who had been sparring with one of the members of the Fifth Cohort. The daughter of Pluto had suddenly frozen just as she was about to parry and got hurt on the head by the blunt side of her opponent's blade. "Are you okay?" The praetor asked as he helped her up.
"I'm fine." She insisted as she waved away the gathering of demigods around her. Dakota and Bobby stayed to help. Dakota was the one carrying the first-aid kit. "I think- I feel something's wrong." Her eyebrows furrowed, "It's like- something's happened- I don't-" She sighed and tried to concentrate.
Frank looked worried, pursing his lips, "Did something happen to the others? Percy or Leo again?"
"No, no I think they're fine." The young teen said as she looked up at Frank with her golden eyes, "I think it's Nico."
Frank blinked at her, "Nico?"
"Yeah, I know it's ridiculous, Nico's strong and everyone's keeping an eye out for him ever since the Athena Parthenos incident but-"
"Should I be worried about this Nico?" Frank tried to joke and Hazel blinked.
"What?" Hazel asked, "Why wouldn't you be worried about my brother?" She asked in a dangerous tone and Frank gulped before realizing what she said,
"What? You have a brother?" The praetor said surprised, "Why haven't I met him yet? Or wait, is it one of those relationship things where I have to wait-"
"FRANK!" Hazel yelled making the other close his mouth. Through the nervous and panicked energy thrumming in her veins she managed to ask in a calm tone, "What are you saying?" Seeing her boyfriend's confused look, she revised, "Why are you acting like you haven't met my brother?"
"Uh," The most powerful Zhang seemed lost for words and he seemed to be weighing the right answer e with the wrong one before finally deciding to be honest instead, "Because I haven't?" He answered weakly.
Hazel looked at him and just kept looking at him until Frank squirmed.
"Uh, Hazel?"
The daughter of Pluto realized that no matter how long she waited for the 'just kidding!' it wouldn't come. First of all, Frank would never kid about something this serious and second this probably had something to do with the bad feeling fluttering in her stomach ever since she finally got a clear Iris message from her brother. The unpleasant feeling in her stomach intensified.
She turned towards Dakota and Bobby who had been watching the two like a tennis match going back and forth, "Bobby, Dakota?" She aid, gaining their attention, "Do you remember Pluto's ambassador? Nico di Angelo, my brother?"
Dakota seemed to think about it while Bobby asked, "Pluto has an ambassador? Your brother must be one powerful demigod to serve as his ambassador."
Hazel looked hopefully at Dakota whose expression was pondering, "Sorry Hazel, I've never seen this brother of yours before."
The teen's heart sank and she gaped at them in horrified found herself standing up to everyone's confusion.
"Hazel?" Frank asked worriedly.
"I need to go see Reyna." She said determinedly, "I think a visit to our sister camp is in order."
Frank exchanged looks with the other members of the Fifth Cohort, "Why?"
Hazel gave them all a stern look, "I need to see my brother."
Leo was walking around the camp, looking for a certain son of Hades. He knew he had to go find Nico after Jake Mason stumbled to him, all pale-faced and horrified as he gave the new head of the cabin a note in a crumpled sheet of paper. The words were written in thick black ink and a messy scrawl as though Jake had been trying to mark the paper permanently with his words.
Nico di Angelo, son of Hades
Don't forget.
Leo didn't understand why he had a bad feeling in his stomach when he read this. He turned to his brother and tried to ask him what the note meant but Jake looked at him blankly, not knowing what he meant by his words.
"I didn't give you any note." Jake said with an expression that asked if he hit his head while trying to fix Festus again. "Anyway, I need to go help Nyssa with the engine." He said before leaving. Leo stared at his brother's back in confusion before shaking his head and leaving to look for Nico.
And so, this was how he found the son of Hades, sleeping it off in the cold concrete benches of the amphitheater. He sighed and shook his head. Unfortunately, his magic tool belt (which Calypso helped in putting back together again) did not have an automatic heater blanket programmed inside.
He was about to leave and get one but then he glanced at Nico's face and got a mischievous idea. He took out a marker on his tool belt and leaned in to scribble something on the other's face. He knew that if Nico woke up before he could draw a skull on his cheek, he'd be six feet under before he could even apologize.
However, his eyes widened when the tip of the pen went through the son of Hades just as he leaned in.
Leo dropped the pen in surprise and watched as Nico's form flickered before solidifying. He stared at him for a few seconds as though fearing that if he looked away, the son of Hades would vanish.
"Nico!" He called as he reached out to shake him awake but he feared that his hand would go through again, so he settled with yelling the other's name. "NICO!"
The son of Hades was unresponsive and Leo remembered that he probably needed to call someone, maybe Calypso or Will, to help. He also realized that Nico was probably cold and just in cases they couldn't be able to move him like last time, maybe he needed get a blanket too.
Leo looked at Nico and said, "I'll be right back." He seemed to be assuring himself more than the son of Hades. And so, he bent down and picked up the pen, pocketing it before running off in the direction of his cabin, urgency thrumming through his veins.
Behind him, Nico grunted in his unconsciousness, shoulder twitching in pain. His form flickered again as he slept, unknowing.
Leo stopped in front of his bunk in the Hephaestus cabin, staring at nothing in particular with wide eyes. In his arms was a wad of thick blankets and he looked down in confusion, trying to remember what he was going to do with the thick wool.
"Oh, you were here." Nyssa said when she got inside their cabin and noticed him just standing there. "You okay?"
"Huh?" The tinkerer said as he blinked before laughing, "I'm fine, I just-" He looked down at the blankets. "Hey sis, do you know what I was going to do with this?" He held up the blankets.
Nyssa shrugged before her expression became teasing, "Maybe you were going to wrap your girlfriend around that to remind her of your smokin' hot love."
Leo snorted in laughter, "Your puns suck and you're as bad as the Aphrodite cabin."
His sister shrugged, "Eh." She turned, "Well, anyway, if you're done with your blanket crisis we need your help with fixing some of Festus' melted gear. You know which ones to use and are a better fit for him..."
At the mention of his mechanical dragon, Leo nodded. "Yeah, I'll be right out."
"I'll wait for you outside."
The door closed behind her and Leo looked down at the blankets again. He had that heavy feeling in his stomach telling him he forgot something very important.
The son of Hephaestus stared at the blanket for a few more seconds before shrugging. He bent down to arrange it over his bed again. That's when he felt something in his pocket nudging at his leg. He put down the blanket and pulled out a black marker, eying it in suspicion, not remembering even using it. He wondered if this meant that he was turning into an old man already.
He was so distracted with the marker that he didn't notice a piece of paper falling to the ground hwn he pulled the marker out.
"Leo!" He heard Nyssa call outside. He hurriedly placed the pen in his tool belt.
"Coming!" He said as he tripped on the blankets before kicking them away and heading outside. The note lay unseen and forgotten on the ground.
Nico di Angelo, son of Hades
Don't forget.
.
.
.
Don't forget.
Author's note: The concept of Nico's fading is a mystery. There's a part in Rick's book where Nico's sword-belt sheath thing kept slipping and all the while I was thinking: Uh, how about his belt made of chains or his clothes, how the hell does that work? Technically the sheath-belt is a part of him like his chain belt but it went through him (and his belt stayed around his pants) but his clothes doesn't go through him too? XD His pants and chained belt doesn't slip down his legs? XD hahaha, I know I think up weird things, it happens.
And with regards to the Percy part, some of you may disagree with me, but I really don't like the fact that some people blame Percy for Nico's suffering. We've been with Perseus for five books, we know he didn't hurt Nico on purpose, he didn't know, heck we didn't know (but then again it was last minute). I'm okay with the funny side little revenges on Percy like Will shooting an arrow at him and Nico getting mad (I find that cute) but the fics where will outright despise Percy? Or Nico does? Rick put that part where Nico says 'Percy is not his type' to show that there was no hard feelings, that Percy liked Annabeth and Nico as okay with that. So yeah, that's my opinion.
(gosh I might lose readers for that)
No offense though, that's just me rambling.
So, Jake Mason, hehehehe.
Well, thanks and I updated I'll Stay With You too, check it out. Thanks!