A/N: Sorry, this is a little short. The future chapters will be longer, I promise.

Enjoy!

Here's a rainbow cat for your wellbeing. ﾐ(o*･ω･)ﾉ

(No idea why I think it's a cat. Guess that's just how my mind works hahahaha.)

Warning: Suicidal themes and actions, nightmares, self harm for the entire story. If you're triggered with these things, please read with caution. Don't hesitate to PM me for a summary of the story if you have trouble reading any of this. You have been warned!

———

I stand a hundred feet

But I still fall around you

Show me an open door

Then you go slam it on me

Percy turned back at Nico, his expression as cold as the winter air.

"Go back to your father," he said, "Tell him that he owes him for letting him go. Find out what's going to happen to Mount Olympus and convince him to help."

Nico stared at Percy, a wave of overwhelming disappointment washing over his emotions. "I-I can't. He'll hate me now. I mean...even more." The truth hang in the air, sending a wave of shivers down Nico's spine.

"You have to," Percy said, and his expression didn't change a single bit, "You owe me, too."

Nico's heart twisted shamefully. Desperate already, he managed, "Percy, I told you I was sorry. Please...let me come with you. I want to fight. "

Not only that, he wanted to stay by the son of Poseidon's side. He wanted him to fall in love with him, not Annabeth. He wanted to travel the world with him, wanted to do anything with him...

"You'll be more help down here."

That single line cut through Nico's heart like a razor-sharp knife, so cruel yet so true. The son of Hades looked down, giving up.

"You mean you don't trust me anymore."

Silence. The sentence rang in the air, echoing onto the River Styx, his misery and pain strolling miles away.

"Just go back to your father," Finally, Percy spoke up again, his tone softening a little, "Work on him. You're the only person who might be able to get him to listen."

Nico tried to shut down the disappointment. "That's a depressing thought." He sighed deeply. "All right. I'll do my best. Besides, he's still hiding something from me about my mom. Maybe I can find out what."

"Good luck." A ray of hope seemed to shine in through his heart with the two words, but it got shut off immediately when the next sentence left the older boy's mouth. "Now Mrs O'Leary and I have to go."

"Where?" Nico asked.

Percy turned his head to study the cave entrance. "To get this war started." The way he said it, so cool and so stylish, made Nico's heart clench as a faint blush developed on his face. "It's time I found Luke."

With that, he turned back to Nico and waved at him briefly. "See ya around, zombie dude. Good luck." Before Nico could respond, he ran towards the entrance, Mrs O'Leary at his side.

Nico stared at the sight of Percy's back, his young face showing emotions impossible for anyone his age to experience. Tears slowly filled his eyes. Frustratedly, he wiped them away. "Stupid," he mumbled fiercely. "I actually thought it would work. Stupid."

He ran back to his stepmother, Persephone's garden, where a ghostly light shimmered on trees and flowers. Angry at himself, Nico kicked a tree, hard, and sit down under it, hugging his knees and putting his head in his lap.

"Is it the son of Poseidon, again?"

Nico stood up so quickly that all the blood ran up to his head, momentarily blinding everything around him in black. In front of him, in a silvery white dress, stood his stepmother, ultimate annoying relative, Persephone. Realizing who she was, Nico grumbled and sat down again, putting his head against the tree trunk. "What?" He mumbled, unsure what she just said.
Persephone's expression didn't change a single bit. "You're acting moody again, stepson. Is it the son of Poseidon, again?"

Nico froze in motion, fear trickling into his brain. Had it been that obvious?

"W-what are you talking about?" He managed, laughing bitterly. "I don't know what you're talking about. "

An utter silence stretched between the two, making the rustle of leaves and flowers louder than ever. Persephone smiled faintly.

"Gods know when mortals are lying. " She said plainly, and melted in a cloud of shimmering dust. Nico stared at it, a feeling so empty no nectar or ambrosia could heal. He swore loudly in a combination between Greek and Italian, and stood up, heading towards his father's temple.

Nico stuffed his hands in his pockets and hang his head low, deep in his own thoughts again. The descant rushing of the River Styx sent an odd scent of liveliness over the underworld. Shadows clang onto Nico's sword tip as he walked deeper and deeper into the place; soon enough the twelve-year-old was covered in a cloud of black smoke, making him look like the creepy ambassador of darkness - which he sort of was.

Those words are knives that leave scars

The fear of falling apart

Truth be told I never was yours

———

A/N: Our poor Italian son.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter uwu. Have a nice day!

Chapter two comes on March 10th. Hey