I am NOT Rick Riordan, thus I own none of his properties (or talent).

Learn To Love Again

The Depressed

~3rd Person's P.O.V.~

The next day was two days till Thanksgiving. Yet no one in the household could put themselves in the spirit of the holiday. A sheet of gloom settled over every individual. But none were as affected as Nico.

Though constantly cold, he flinched away from body heat. Though he tried to eat light meals, anxiety always forced the substances back up. Will had taken to keeping sharp objects away and hidden from him, just in case.

Will would have normally stocked the fridge for the upcoming holiday, bur felt too down to cook the traditional meal.

Jason was always near Frank, charting his recovery. He had been invited to celebrate with Leo, and was grateful for his endless cheer through the dark time.

Percy had begun seeking more and more comfort from Alabaster, to the point that the prostitute set a firm 'no' to Thanksgiving before Percy could ask.

Percy felt pure guilt around him, as well as Nico. He asked the boy several times if he could mend his bruises, but he refused.

"I'm sorry." Percy finally said.

Nico stared at him for a long moment, then looked back out the window. "You should see the other guy."

Both of them cracked a small smile.

In mid-afternoon, Will left to seek comfort from a walk in the woods. At the same location he had found Nico, something else laid there. After checking to see if it was still alive, he picked it up and brought it home.

Will knocked on Nico's door, and soon heard the small invitation inside. He opened the door and saw him and Percy sitting on the bed, Percy holding a bucket as Nico ate.

"I have a surprise." Will stated and handed the idem to him.

"Is this . . .?" Nico examined the phone in his hand and saw that it was indeed his, as well as worked, and had charge. He let out a breathless laugh. "It still works. How'd you - never mind. Thank you." He smiled brightly and Will took his leave.

"Nine missed calls, four texts, two voice mails. . . all from the same Virginia number." Nico looked at Percy, who smiled. "Would you mind if I called them back real quick?"

"Of course not. Go ahead." Percy eagerly moved the food and such from them.

Nico put it on speaker as it rang. The line picked up after three tones. "Hello?"

"Annabeth, hi. It's Nico."

He pulled the phone away as shouting and such filled the phone. "Reyna, get in here! Nico's on the phone!" She finally screamed. Nico was grinning like crazy.

"Nico, are you there?!" Came Reyna's voice.

"Yes, hey."

More screaming. "Where have you been? You went completely AWOL! How are you? How's Luke?"

Nico cringed, the excitement leaving his face. "I. . . Okay. Listen closely, alright?" His voice was small. "Luke. . . we aren't a thing anymore. Permanently. He-he hurt me. I mean, like, intentionally. In fact, I almost died. Wait, I did die, but I'm okay now. These people saved me, and I'm staying far away from him. I trust these guys, and they're helping me a lot."

Percy felt a flutter of happiness from his statement.

The other end was silent, and Nico knew the girls were looking at each other with concern, they way they always do.

Suddenly, Annabeth asked, "What are you doing for Thanksgiving?"

Nico looked at Percy hesitantly. "I don't plan to intrude on theirs."

"We're not having one this year." Percy pointed out. Nico corrected himself.

"We're flying you down, then. Call us tomorrow, I'll give you details, and bring down as many of your new friends as you can." Before Nico could reply, they both said bye and hung up.

As Nico informed his caretakers of his plans and their own invitations, he was made aware that Jason was to be with Leo, Will was going to his teacher Chirons' house, and Frank had to go back to work by the holiday.

Leaving only him and Percy.

When Nico told his friends of the fraction of men available, they had no problem with that and insisted the two of them came down and dined with them. And so the men had no choice but to agree.

The next day, both males were packed and waiting for the cab to pull up. They were standing in the front entry room, waiting with bags beside them.

"I . . ." Nico began. "I'll admit, I'm a little concerned."

Percy looked at him. "Why?"

"The last time I went to Virginia and came back, my life had destroyed itself and turned on me. What's to say it won't happen again?"

"I am." Percy said huskily. "I promised to protect you, remember?"

"And we saw how well that held up, huh?" Nico stated without hesitation. Then he saw his mistake.

Percy took a step back, looking as if he'd been hit in the face.

"Percy, I didn't mean that." He tried to mend. But Percy looked away.

He spoke with a faltering voice. "Yes, you did. And it's true. Damn, I'm just words without action. What the hell am I useful for?"

"Many things." Nico said softly.

"Oh? What? I can't protect you. I can't cook well. My power is uncontrollable and harmful. I'm physically hideous. I can't keep you warm. I just . . ."

"You are fine, Percy." Nico said harshly. His hands began to tremble, and a hardness grew in his eyes. "Your magic and your appearance are beautiful, your cooking is great, and you are the warmest being I've ever touched."

Percy wasn't listening anymore. "I couldn't protect you."

"It wasn't your fault." Nico said weakly.

"What good am I?" Percy repeated, worry etching his face.

"Stop." Nico managed.

"If this is the best I can be, I. . ."

"Stop it." Nico's eyes widened.

"I shouldn't even exist."

"Shut up!" Nico screamed. His hand flew up to Percy's face violently. He grabbed the frail boy's wrist and stopped the action. Startled eyes met Nicos' own. But instead of bright green, he saw dark blue.

Nico cried out and the other hand flew to cover his face. His body cringed away all it could, only restricted at the wrist.

Percy sobered quickly. "Nico."

The pale boy lowered his arm and slowly straightened his body. His head stayed dipped and his eyes wondered everywhere but to Percy's, including out the window for the cab. It wasn't there.

"Nico." Percy repeated. He lifted his hand in a slow manor, letting Nico see it as it rose up.

After a cautionary glance, he turned his head away slightly. But Percy persisted. He cupped the boy's cheek into his hand, and waited. It wasn't long before Nico leaned into it, sighing. He relaxed, resting into the large hand.

"I would never hit you. Never." Percy spoke in the softest voice he could, but it still sounded loud against his own ears.

"I know, it's just. . . I didn't see you." Nico put a subtle emphasis on you, speaking in a similar volume.

"I understand." Percy whispered.

He removed his hand and the two waited in silence.

The cab pulled up a few minutes later, and Percy started to gather the bags.

"Percy." Nico said, making him freeze. "You said you power is unmanageable, yes? And you explained that your mistakes were constant. But ever since the other night, you haven't had a single accident, have you?"

Percy stared at him as he thought about it. Nico was right.

But instead of saying this, Percy straightened and kissed Nico on the forehead. "Thanks to you."

With that, he picked up their bags and went outside.