Chapter 3: Released
Hey again. I'm doing Leo's thing definitely next chapter. This is the last part of this Nico chapter group.
Nico
Freedom. Nico sprinted into his cabin. He locked the door and collapsed on his bed, tears streaming out.
Percy knew. Percy actually knew. He would never look upon the child of Hades the same. Never. Nico found the will to stop crying.
Freedom. There was nothing to hide any more. Nothing at all. Everyone on the ship knew! No one else hated him...
His happy thoughts plummeted immediately. Percy would hate him. He hated gays. Remember? Way to go Nico!
He had hoped to get rid of the feelings and become friends with Percy but... now... he would be hated. Scorned by the only one he could think of calling his friend.
What had he to live for? That's right... nothing. Time to go to father's domain. Nico took out his Stygian Iron sword and put the blade lightly on his chest. That's when he heard knocks on his door.
Percy. It had to be Percy. Here to take back everything he had said earlier about being friends.
Percy
Nico had run down the stairs. Who knew what he was feeling... what he would do. Percy sprinted after the shorter teen. He knocked on the door.
Receiving no answer, Percy sidestepped and peered in through the window (the last time the Percy had been in Nico's cabin, he made sure to keep the shades up so as to get Nico to be more social: he mentally thanked the gods that he had done that). What he saw took his breath away.
Nico was holding his sword at his chest. Suicide! No!
"Nico!" Percy screamed through the glass pane, knocking constantly on it. His eyes met the onyx eyes of the son of death. His eyes... oh gods his eyes. They usually showed a barrier or apathy... but now, it was nothing but sadness and rejection. "Nico!" He tried again but Nico looked away.
Nico
Percy was at the windo—Why were the shades up?!—anyway Percy was at the window. Honestly, Nico had expected him to be angry or something in that zone; worry, he was not expecting.
When he saw Percy's eyes through the window—again, why are the shades up—and looked at Nico with worry and pleading. He even called out a few times.
"Nico! Please! Let me in!" Nico ignored and put the sword closer to his chest, taking a deep breath, ready to make the stab.
"Don't do it! I beg of you!" Nico stopped and looked up to meet Percy's eyes. Maybe he doesn't hate me... no that's ridiculous. He said it himself... but maybe.
Nico gave in to the temptation. He walked slowly to the door and unlocked it.
Percy/Nico
Percy opened the door and threw himself in faster than a mouse and threw his arms around Nico, which Nico obviously didn't expect.
"What are you... why..." Nico managed to ask this. Percy ignored, still hugging his best friend. Wait. Best friend? When did that... The truth hit him. He IS my best friend. There's no one I would trust more than him.
"Nico... why the hell... dude... why suicide?" Nico obviously hesitated.
"I... I thought you would hate me... I originally thought I would say it to get the feelings out and then we could just be friends again, but... then you made that joke." His voice cracked, causing Percy to pull him in closer.
"E-Everyone seemed down and Leo wasn't there to make a joke so I... I... did it. I didn't mean it Nico... I'm so frikkin sorry man." Nico's eyes seemed to lose some of the sadness as he pulls away from Percy.
"S-So you don't..." the shorter boy struggled to meet his eyes. "... hate me?"
It was Percy's turn to look incredulous. "You're my best friend! How could I ever... hate you?! I know we may have fought a few times but... you never really wanted to hurt me! Well... I hope." Nico quickly nodded to assure him. "So we're cool. No need to do anything to hurt yourself." Nico resisted the urge to cry with happiness.
"Th-Thank you..." he weakly sunk to his knees. Apparently the secret had been causing some physical tension as well. Now that it was all gone... Nico couldn't find words to describe the feeling.
About a minute later, Percy offered him a hand, which he gladly accepted. Nico found the strength to get to his feet. He smiled. An actual smile. Not the kind he had faked for so many years.
"Perce... just know that it was years ago. I don't feel that way any more." Percy nodded and returned the smile, saying nothing.
"You mind if I hang around?" Nico could find no objections. The son of Poseidon lightly closed the door and settled next to his friend on his bed.
"So... how you been?" Percy was surprised. Nico wasn't usually a conversation starter.
"Well ya know. As calm as we demigods can get." Nico gave him a sympathetic look. Even if two demigods never met before their meeting, they would share the strong bond of both having to fight for their lives from infinite monsters. Nico reached out and laid his arm around Percy's shoulders.
"And how's Annabeth? I haven't seen her in a while."
"Of course you haven't. You trap yourself in this..." the less than articulate demigod responded "... dark place." Nico chuckled at Percy's inability to find the right word.
"Oh of course. I stay in my dark place all day long." Percy lightly punched him on the shoulder.
"Well anyway she's as normal as ever."
"That's good. I still have to tell her. She's the only one left." Nico said this with a confidence the taller hero didn't expect.
"Uh... you sure you wanna do that? She might not be... thrilled to know." Percy's gaze shifted nervously, causing a grin from Nico.
"Of course I'm telling her! She's your girlfriend. She deserves to know. Plus she's my friend too I guess."
"Don't say I didn't warn ya!" said the son of the sea god, far too familiar with the results of Annabeth's rage. Still, Percy couldn't suppress the growing smile on his face.
This was the happiest he had seen Nico. Wow the secret must have really weighed him down. I'm glad he's free now. Nico reached out for his sword and examined the blade.
"Perce you mind if I borrow Riptide for a bit?" Percy took the pen out of his pocket and handed it to Nico, who uncapped it and held it in his other hand. The son of Hades compared the two swords.
Stygian Iron was rare. Only children of Hades (and a few other exceptions) could wield it. Percy had to admit he was envious—not jealous—of the child of Hades in question; doubtless Nico deserved it. He was probably one of the most powerful heroes Percy knew. Annabeth and he had barely escaped Tartarus... with the help of a Titan and Giant. Nico had done that alone. Brave guy.
Nico held the swords side by side. Riptide and Ghostwalk(Heck yea. I named Nico's sword.) started glowing simultaneously. Percy nearly fell backward onto the bed, but Nico quickly managed to catch him while keeping both swords up.
"Just as I thought."
"Wait what?!" Percy was about as confused as possible. "Nico?"
"Our swords are linked. That's why we're stronger when we fight together." He smiled up at Percy.
"Cool! Power ups!" Nico frowned at the other's shallowness.
"Percy. We represent Poseidon and Hades... but it's always the three. There must be something of Zeus. It could be Thalia's spear... but it's probably a sword." The two looked at each other. Simultaneously they said one word. "Jason."
"It has to be the coin thingy he carries around." Again Nico frowned.
"It's called Ivlius... I get why Annabeth calls you Seaweed Brain." Percy punched him on the shoulder again, causing Nico to laugh. "Well then we'd be best when the three of us stick together." Percy nodded.
"Sometimes I wonder how you got so smart... been around Annabeth too long? Are you related or something?" Nico rolled his eyes and showed his gratitude by putting Riptide and Ghostwalk both at Percy's throat, grinning.
"Watch it. I have both swords right now." Percy gulped and slowly put both hands up.
"H-Hey watch where you put that sword!" Nico smiled and gave Percy some breathing room as he capped Riptide and tossed it back into its owner's hands.
"Calm down you know I can't bring myself to hurt you." Percy smiled.
"Thanks. I like to not be hurt." Nico sighed.
"Thanks Perce... I... never knew how it felt to have a friend." The son of the sea god looked at the happiness in the onyx eyes beside him. He hadn't seen it before. Never. He decided he liked it better this way.
"Don't thank me... you're not a bad guy. Especially when you open up. I'm lucky to have you as a friend." Nico smiled even more. Wow it was better this way. "And I'm... sorry about Bianca."
Nico faltered. "Dude it wasn't your fault. I was a young and deluded idiot. I'm sorry I attacked you."
"You actually managed to open a huge cut in my arm when you opened the earth and hit me." Nico looked down in guilt. Oops. "And yes. You were an idiot."
Nico rolled his eyes. "Oh thanks. I can feel the love." He hesitated then found the words to continue. "I never really tried making friends before. Everyone seemed to hate me... avoid me. Especially at Camp. Anywhere I went, it would be empty within seconds. I'm that... freak... the illegal son of Hades."
Percy could feel the rage bubbling in him. How dare they... "Nico." His commanding tone startled Nico, who seemed surprised. "I'm as much an illegal child as you are. The campers are assholes. Screw them. They used to treat you like a freak and me like a king. It's not fair. Nico I swear it's changed since the Titan War. You know the one that you saved my worthless hide in? Yeah that one. Since then, they might not be as open to speak to you, but they definitely think of you as a hero. As much as me. Because you deserve it."
Nico's mouth was open. His eyes were wet. Dang it... I can't keep crying. He quickly used his jacket sleeves to wipe the tears before they could form. He looked up at Percy who was smiling at him. Somehow, he found the ability to smile back.
Heeey again. Sorry this took about an extra day than it should have. But yes next chapter will be centered around Leo. There will be a bit of Calypso, but I won't focus on it. Mostly it will be about the seventh-wheel stuff.
Thanks for reading. Please review!
Well ... bye till next chapter!
