Chapter 3

It had been four days since the meeting on Olympus. Percy was doing better, but he never smiled. Never. He tried to, but his eyes didn't hold that sparkle. That spark of genuine joy was gone. Poseidon had begged Zeus to let him take his son to Atlantis in order to give Percy a change of scenery.

Zeus had given Poseidon permission. Now Percy was going to live during the school months in Atlantis. He was going to an Academy, or something, there. During his summer and winter holidays, he was living with his mother and step.

Nico knew he had to work fast in order to keep Percy with him. He sighed and relaxed on his bunk. There was a light knock on his door.

"Come in."

Percy walked in slowly. "Hey man."

Nico got off the bunk. "Percy." His fist clenched around the catcher.

The light from the amulet caught Percy's eye. "What's that?"

Nico shrugged on a shirt. "Just an amulet that my father gave me. Keeps the harsher spirits away. You know, the ones who want to take control of your body?"

Percy nodded. "Like those wheat spirits…?"

Nico nodded. "Yeah…so, what's brought you here?"

Percy shrugged half heartedly. "I've been thinking it over. I guess you didn't have much time to even think about anything much less calling for a medic. I saw it. It happened so fast. One minute, she was getting off the ground and the next, a sword stabbed her.

The sword had actually missed, but Nico took that opportunity to suck her soul into the catcher. Annabeth's last words weren't for Percy. They were actually something else entirely. Cussing Nico out. She knew what Nico was going to do to her.

Nico nodded. "I'm…sorry."

Percy sighed. "Yeah…we've both lost people we loved."

Nico patted a spot next to him on the bed. He acutely felt the amulet against his skin and chuckled inwardly. If only Percy knew the truth.

Percy sat heavily onto the bunk with a sigh. "I still can't believe she's gone." He rested his head in his hands. "One day we're planning our wedding, arguing over what the color scheme we should have and the next…she's…gone…" Percy's voice cracked. He gave a sob. "I still expect her to walk into my cabin and call me Seaweed Brain and berate me for not cleaning up after myself…"

Nico touched Percy's shoulder. "The grief won't go away, but the emptiness will begin to feel less aching when you start filling it up with something else. More memories. Good ones."

Percy nodded. "Athena gave me a book that's suppose to walk me through the grief. It's in Greek. That goddess thinks of everything." He gave a dry, humorless chuckle.

Nico smiled. "This whole thing has forced me to realize just how short our lives really are…" Percy nodded. Nico continued. His voice pitched a little lower. He moved closer to Percy. "It makes me feel foolish to still get hung up on petty issues of the past. Little disagreements, and misunderstandings…" He slipped a hand onto Percy's back. "What I'm saying is, maybe I could, you know, be there for you. I know grief. I know what it's like to have my world inverted and shaken up like a snow globe. I could help you. We could be closer. Better friends…that is…if you'll let me…"

The amulet against his chest became warm. He smothered a rising smirk. Maybe Annabeth could hear everything after all. Oh the irony! Nico had spent years watching in the background as they loved each other, now it was Annabeth's turn.

Percy was looking down at the floor. He nodded slightly. "I'd like that. Thanks…man."

Nico gave him a side hug. "I'm your friend. It's all I can do."

Percy heaved a sigh and leaned into his hug slightly. "You're a good guy, Nico."

Nico chuckled inwardly.

Nico edging his way into Percy's life and good graces… Perhaps I'll let Nico win? Maybe Percy will discover the truth?

Ink...