A/N: I really need to complete my stories faster. So without farther ado, I give you the FINAL chapter of Through An Open Book. Hope you enjoy!

I didn't notice that Nico's point of view was in first person. Sorry for the instant switch, but I think it's better this way.

Warning: Remember, this is Pernico. No Solangelo or Percabeth. Personally, I don't mind any ship as long as the story is good, you know?

Song: Let Your Tears Fall, by Kelly Clarkson


IV: NICO

Let Your Tears Fall

I spent the last three hours with Will Solace lecturing me. I could hear parts like "no more shadow-travelling"—"eat three meals and a snack—"three days still" but mostly zoned out.

When I made my way up the hill to finally tell Percy, he was gone. I swear I just saw him, like, a moment ago. My ears couldn't help but catch his laugh a mile away. His aura—it was strong, smelling of sea and . . . blue cookies?

I looked around a final time, before arriving back to Will.

"Nico?"

I looked over to see Will's concerned expression. "Sorry, I . . . I was just thinking."

Will's expression softened. "You have some visitors. Jason, Hazel, and Frank."

"Hazel and Frank?" I questioned. The both of them were supposed to be in the Roman camp by now.

"Hazel heard about you, and came straight back, pulling Frank along."

"Oh."

The door opened, and the daughter of Pluto and son of Mars rushed in.

"Nico? Are you okay?" Hazel asked frantically. "Sorry, but we had a run-in with birds."

"They were nasty," Frank grumbled.

I stared at the both of them. The Romans were covered head-to-toe with white feathers, and looked like they went through a pillow fight.

"Oh, hi, Will," Hazel said to the blond.

Will nodded, looking uneasy. "I'll leave you alone with Nico."

"Wait—! Sorry!" Jason zoomed in, wind literally whooshing around him. He crashed into Will, who was knocked to the ground. "Sorry, Will."

"No problem." Will got up on his feet. "Next time, I should put up a sign: No running in the Infirmary. Oh, wait, there is one. Which all three of you broke!" Will was trying to keep a straight face, but revealed an amused grin. That disappeared when another body crashed into him. And once again, poor Will went down.

"Sooo sorry!" cried a familiar sea-green eyed boy. "Uh . . . Will? Can you hear me?"

I watched Percy hold out a hand to Will, slightly feeling jealous. If I fell on the floor, will Percy . . . ?

Will accepted the help, letting out a sigh. "Obviously this is not my day. The infirmary is supposed to prevent injuries!" He gave a disapproving look, but it was only temporarily. It was kind of a funny sight—the younger demigod was lecturing older demigods. "Nico, I'll be out for a while to check out more patients. I'll leave you with your visitors."

As he went, Percy's eyes flickered into mine.

I looked away, focusing on Hazel and Frank exchanging looks. "What?" I asked them.

"We have to leave," Hazel said. "You know, catch up with Annabeth. We'll talk to you later."

Before I could object, Hazel left with Frank, but not before I caught her winking at Jason. What was this all about?

Jason glared at Percy. "If you hurt him. . . " he threatened, yet didn't finish as he followed Hazel and Frank out the door.

Percy gave a nervous laugh. "Oh-kay. Don't know what's wrong with them." He pulled out the chair Will previously used (for applying cream for my wounds), scooting up at the end of my bed. "Are you okay?"

"Honestly, I'm feeling fine. Solace is just a worry-wart." I slowly registered my words, flushing. Did I really just say 'worry-wart'? To my crush? Arggh, no, Percy is not my crush! I'm over him!

But then why was my heart saying the opposite thing?

"I think he likes you. Will Solace, I mean."

"No, we're just friends. I mean, we're both gay—well, he's bisexual—but that doesn't mean . . . " I stopped. I just said my sexuality! I spilled everything! And Percy was probably meaning the friendship bond, not referring to romance. He didn't look that surprised, though. "Why are you here?"

Percy winced. "Listen, Nico, I had no idea that you hurt this much. I mean, Jason did say you carried a heavy burden, but you don't have to do it alone. We talked, and —"

"You guys talked about me?" I scowled. Of course. That's all Percy will ever see me—a little brother. And Jason betrayed me by telling my secret.

"I'm bad with words. Honestly, I don't even know what I say most of the times. But most of all, I'm oblivious to things."

That was true, so I just nodded while crossing my arms over my chest.

"I've got all these expectations set, and people think for me, like Annabeth. But I want to make decisions of my own. It's been a while since I've had time to gather my thoughts. Ever since Hera took away my memories, it worried me so much. Who was I? But when I met you, I had a thought nagging. I know you."

I raised my eyebrows. "Yeah, I gathered that when you said 'I know you' to me."

"No, its just that while I was staring, I could hear words. "I'm scared". You said that to me when we first met, remember?"

Of course I remembered. I swallowed hard, as I saw Percy stand and lean in closer to me. His lips were a light pink—perfect. They curved into a smile. One that was forever endearing and left my insides melting. He's with Annabeth, I reminded myself. He's unattainable. Besides . . . he's just — being friendly. "Actually, I wasn't speaking to you when I said that. I was speaking out loud."

"Way to ruin the moment. Then what did you say?"

"Directly to you? Well, you did comment on my collection of Mythomagic. You said 'Big collection'. I replied something like, 'I've got most of them.'"

Percy groaned. "That's my big moment? 'Big collection'?"

I smiled a bit. "I guess so. Um, so, why are you here again?"

"I know you have a crush on me," Percy blurted out. "Well, maybe once."

Anger and humiliation surged through my body. I never felt this vulnerable before. It hurt just to face this. This was finally the moment I had to face. I felt confident earlier, but right now? No. "H—How? Did Jason —?"

"From a book," he explained. "It was called The House of Hades. I read the part when you and Jason went to get . . . Die-to-cretin's scepter?"

I was all too upset to correct the half-blood. "Who would write a book about that? Why —"

"No! I'm not mocking you or anything. I just wanted to say that you were brave. I know how gods and goddesses love to confuse and see pain in demigods. It's, like, their daily activity."

I looked into Percy's eyes. It was filled with so much feelings and thoughts that I never knew he could hold. He was showing his life. He gasped a little, as if realizing I could see him—uncover him, but he didn't avoid my gaze. His life was filled with equal or even more pain than mine. Percy watched his own friends die, and tried all he could to rescue or hold onto anything. Since Hera washed away his memories, it was the scariest experience for him.

He will do anything for friends, family . . . one time he was innocent, but ever since he was put in the half-blood life, he became more dark and filled with misery. His title was Hero . . . but he didn't want to be one if that meant so much sacrifice.

"Diocletian's scepter," I whispered. "That's what Jason and me went to find. When I kept the secret—about me having a crush—I felt angry that I had to tell. Especially to the god, Cupid. You already know that I'm a Loner. It's because when I started using my powers, I couldn't control them, and I didn't have anyone to turn to for help. I was afraid that I might hurt someone. I can kind of control them now, but I don't attach myself to a person just for that reason.

"My past didn't at all measure up to what I am doing this time. Getting trapped in the jar, that was mostly embarrassing. Being stuck in the Lotus Hotel—I could manage. I was with my sister Bianca, so it made it easier. Maybe it was stupid to keep the pain with me, but I don't trust people that easily. When I met Reyna, she really understood. She knew about rejection. Hazel was helpful, too. She had to bear with her curse.

"When I met you, I couldn't help but think that you were everything—my role model, someone who was amazing. I saw that you carried a burden, too. Yet you had friends, were happy . . . I don't focus on the present. I go back in my past to face whatever I have left. I know you didn't kill Bianca, and I wasn't mad at you. I was just angry at the thought that no matter how my life gets at least a little better, something worse comes along. It destroyed me completely. That was the final thing that changed me from the happy kid to a more . . . "

"Dark emo kid?" Percy offered.

"Yeah, dark emo kid." Angry tears slipped down my face, but I refused to wipe them away. If I could spill my whole life story to a guy I had a crush on, why not? Despite the tears, I was smiling a bit at the attempted joke. "Percy . . . I understand you're with Annabeth. So, I'm happy for you both."

"No," Percy said, "Correction—gods, I've always wanted to say that to someone—I'm not with Annabeth. We did plan to go to New Rome, but I wanted to stay here. Family and Camp Half-Blood is my priority, and Annabeth's plans are not what I want. I'm the Head Counselor for the Poseidon cabin, after all. And I seriously need to visit my mom and step-dad." He gave a wry smile. "I haven't visited them in a while."

"But . . . how can you relax?"

"The Gaea War is finally over. I know there will be more quests, but right now, I want to enjoy what time I have. For example, Nico, how about we do a little sword-fight?"

"I'm in the infirmary, apparently not allowed to use my powers, and can't fight that well."

"Okay . . . " Percy reached in his blue hoodie front pockets, pulling out a deck of cards. "How about we play Go Fish?"

"Fine, but you're going down, Principe mare bellissimo." I couldn't resist. I tested those words out, my spirits lifting. When I was younger, I always wanted to call Percy that.

"You called me what?" Percy wondered.

I hid a smile. "It's a secret," I said.


A/N: I doubt Google Translate is actually correct, but Principe mare bellissimo is supposed to mean 'beautiful Sea Prince'.

Update: Thanks to Sophia Elric who corrected me for the Italian sentence :)