A/N: So here I am, my finals looming on me, yet I chose to raise to a classmate's dare. To write the same type of death in different ways. Oh well then. Enjoy anyways then.

This is my first PJO fanfic, and also my first actually first-hand unfinished fanfic, because I want to hear your ideas for the other deaths and couple-y things to do! [Seriously. I have absolutely nothing against cute little couples. I just... feel Shakespearian.]

I ship all canon couples in PJO, but I'm open to suggestions prompts. Couples like Jeyna and et cetera, I do not ship, but do not particularly hate. Exceptions are two: Octachel and Thalico. No offense. Just not my cup of tea, no?

Demigods here are not fighting any particular war or battle. Monsters just keep fighting demigods. Rick Riordan just keeps owning every character and place here. I just keep staying pessimistic. Same idea, same logic.

And so it starts...

"Go, Nico!" Will screamed desperately as he pulled his bow taut and let go, letting four arrows fly at the same time, hitting three targets, the fourth arrow whizzing away out of sight. "Go! You have to help Percy! The defenses are failing! We can't hold here!"

Nico hesitated, then nodded firmly and gripped his Stygian iron sword. He glanced back at Will, trying to get one last word out before leaping into battle.

His blond hair was now grimy and tangled, his face was smeared with streaks of dust, and his arms had some bound cuts, but he was still Nico's angel, his secret angel. Will glanced in Nico's direction, fired another five arrows, and shouted somewhat harshly at Nico: "Well? Go ahead! We're fighting a war here!"

Nico bit his lip, hurt but determined. He was fighting a war. His friends needed him. A silly crush shouldn't be a main concern now, or ever. He raised his sword and plowed into battle, letting out a defiant cry, heading for the top of Half-Blood Hill where plenty of demigods were trying to hold defense.

He dueled a dracaenae who challenged him, sending her sword flying before jabbing her in a snake trunk, vaporizing her on the spot. Then he slashed an Earthborn into heaps of mud. A random sword slashed a deep cut his right biceps, and he used his left hand to tear a strip of his tattered shirt to hastily tie around it. He was just done before a gryphon swooped at him from the sky and he raised his now bloody arm to defend himself. He forgot how many monsters he had mowed down, nor how many cuts he received himself; only that he had to get to the top of the hill, and that Will was counting on him.

A sword flat caught him on the ribcage. Nico flinched and cried out in the pain, slackening his grip on his sword to hug his chest and wheeze. The empousa that smacked him took this as an advantage. He raised his sword weakly in anticipation, but the blow to the ribcage and the cut on his arm was too much. He started running, picking up pace as he parried with the demon, managing a few grazing jabs at the she-demon but unable to make the kill. His sight was blurry from the pain. He saw Thalia's pine just a few yards away. He ran as fast as his feet would allow, and the empousa hobbled behind, surprisingly fast, taunting as she tried to strike: "Chickened out, have you, demigod?" She sneered the last word. "Too scared?" Nico gave no reply as he kept running, his breath ragged wheezes as he battled both the demon and his own pain.

He could see Thalia's pine up ahead, Peleus the dragon swiping enemies down wave by wave, only to have more rush up against him. The golden fleece shimmered down from a branch, giving Nico hope. "I'm getting there." He muttered to himself, sweat beading his forehead. "I'm getting there."

The empousa whistled, and a hellhound bounded out of nowhere from the shadows, Nico raised his Stygian sword as commandingly as he could, and it retreated a few steps, whimpering. Nico launched in, strength suddenly surging in his legs, and plunged his sword into the hellhound's flesh, and it disintegrated with a howl. Nico retrieved his sword shakily, the sudden burst of strength gone, and leaned against Thalia's pine, searching for Percy and the others. Immediately he spotted Annabeth's blonde hair swaying wildly as she slashed and hacked, and only had the time to shout out "Annabeth!" when he was knocked to the ground.

The empousa took the advantage and was ready to pounce. Nico raised his sword shakily, trying to defend himself, but he was too late.

Crunch.

The empousa sunk her fangs into Nico's collarbone, and immediately he was racked with excruciating pain. He struggled feebly against the empousa's iron grip, dark spots dancing in his eyes. He could feel his blood flowing out of him rapidly, and his ears buzzed with the dreaded sound: a harbinger of death. In this case, it was himself that was dying. He was listening to himself die.

Suddenly the pain lessened slightly, and a grim Annabeth stood, her dagger still frozen in the position where the solid empousa's stomach would be. As the demon's remains got scattered by the wind, Annabeth quickly ripped a rag from the hem of her jeans and pressed it to Nico's wound. "Healer? Will? Will Solace! It's Nico!" She screamed frantically, spinning around, her voice ringing out throughout camp.

The figure Nico always longed to see had raced up the hill, kicking up dust, absentmindedly parrying away strikes with his bow as he knelt by Nico's side and gripped his hand. "Oh gods, Nico," He murmured into Nico's pale skin, his eyes wide with shock. He started to mutter a prayer to Apollo.

Nico wanted to object. He knew he was dying, and he knew how much the hymn would tax Will out. He was needed in battle. Nico opened his mouth, finding that he didn't have the strength to muster any words, and struggled to keep his eyes open as he looked into Will's sapphire eyes, his gaze unfocused. He was dying; he could cope with that. The only thing he couldn't…

With his last effort, Nico rasped out his final words.

"Will, kiss me."

The blond boy obliged without a word, meeting his lips fiercely, holding Nico in a too-tight embrace. The two pairs of soft lips were filled with passion, love and grief as they locked together, as the bridge between Nico and Will hung on its last thread, then broke with a small snap.

And these soft lips were the last things Nico felt before his world plunged into darkness.

So of course we have to start with my OTP, Solangelo!

Did you enjoy? R&R, anyways. PLEASE PROMPT or I won't be able to update! And we'll probably be on a few weeks' hiatus since I really should study :-( Finals suck, but I'll live to make at least another update IF YOU PROMPT! -Ctenophore.D

P.S. I'ma save Percabeth for the last cause they're the biggest PJO couple here! LOL!