Chapter XXI NICO

Over the next few days, Nico tried vainly to get better. Being linked to Percy didn't help matters. At one point, he felt like he wanted to cough up a lung. He was on his back, gasping for air. He looked up at the blue sky and laughed humorlessly. Calypso spotted him and hurried over.

"What's happening?" she asked in alarm.

"I thought you were getting better!"

"I- was." Nico wheezed.

Once that attack ended, Nico told Calypso about the connection he had with Percy.

"So, basically every time he gets hurt, you suffer as well?" Calypso asked.

Nico nodded and Calypso said,

"Well, that doesn't seem very fair."

"Who ever told you life was fair?" Nico asked coldly.

"Because, please, introduce me sometime."

As soon as he said it, Nico knew it was the worst possible thing to say. Of course Calypso knew life wasn't fair. Look at what she got landed with! Calypso looked downward and nodded.

"I'll take my leave." she said, standing up.

"No, Calypso, i didn't mean it like that-" he started.

Calypso looked at him then and she nodded resignedly.

"You know what you said." she said softly, walking away.

Nico sank down to the ground, hugging his knees. Then he told himself to snap out of it. She meant nothing to him. nothing at all. It was just his guilty conscience getting to him. That was all. Nico nodded resolutely. Now he just needed to figure out away to get off of this gods forsaken island and back to the Argo II. He wasn't letting Percy down again.

So, Nico made it his goal to get stronger. He started doing work-outs, push ups, sit ups, jumping jacks, anything his weak body could withstand. It was agony for awhile, but eventually he got the hang of it. One afternoon, Calypso was watching him getting some sword practice in. Nico wasn't bad with a sword, definitely not a match to Percy or Jason, but he could certainly hold his own.

Nico lunged forward, feinted to the right and then stepped backward, wincing as his sore shoulder muscles screamed in protest.

"What are you doing, Nico?" Calypso asked, sitting on a rock to watch him.

"Practicing." he said shortly.

"I can't let myself get weak again."

Calypso looked downward at her hands. She already knew why he was training; to get his strength up so he could leave. Nico ignored her sad demeanor and kept on practicing.

Once, Nico wasn't watching where he was going and tripped over a tree root. Cursing, he fell to the ground, his sword falling out of his hand. Nico spat some sand out of his mouth and heaved himself to his feet. He saw Calypso holding his sword awkwardly out to him, muscles trembling with the strain of lifting the Styxian iron. Nico took it from her and nodded his thanks.

"Thank you."

He saw blood seeping from the the outside of Calypso's hand and before he thought of what he was doing, grabbed it,

"What did you do?" he asked accusingly, turning her hand over and seeing a long graze on her palm.

Calypso pulled her hand out of his grasp and said,

"Nothing."

"Doesn't look like nothing." he countered.

"You cut yourself on the sword, didn't you?"

Calypso nodded shamefacedly, her pale face flooding with color.

"You must think I'm a total dunce." she muttered.

Nico was alarmed by the amount of compassion he felt. But feel it he did. No wonder Calypso hurt herself with a weapon. No one had probably ever taught her how to handle them correctly. And with a father like Atlas, you couldn't go up to him and say,

"Hey, Daddy, can we please have some sword fighting practice today?"

Because you know, Atlas was kept busy with other things. Like holding up the weight of the sky, for example.

"Not a dunce, just in careful."

Calypso smiled slowly and Nico took her uninjured hand.

"Come on, I'll teach you."

"What?" Calypso asked fearfully.

"Just the basics." he assured her.

Then he grinned.

"Like how to not hurt yourself with your own sword."

Nico had no idea what he was taking on. Calypso could barely lift the weapon, let alone fight with it. Eventually, she managed to raise her arms and Nico quickly corrected her posture. Her stance was unbalanced, so the moment he put a hand on her shoulder, she almost went toppling over. Nico fought back a sigh. He wasn't known for his patience.

Calypso saw his face and sighed herself.

"This is hopeless."

"No, it isn't. Here, let me help you."

Calypso raised the sword again, and Nico stood in front of her.

"Attack me."he said, spreading his arms out wide.

"Wha- No!"

"You won't hurt me. Go on."

Looking unsure, Calypso swung the sword. Nico jumped out of the way and it missed him completely. Calypso blew her hair out of her eyes in frustration and tried again. Nico couldn't help admiring her for her perseverance.

This went on for awhile, Calypso getting more frustrated and tired as time wore on. Eventually, Nico stood still.

"You've done well for today, Calypso."

Calypso nodded and turned to go. Then suddenly, she whirled around and pointed the sword at Nico's chest. He blinked in shock and she grinned.

"Finally! I managed to scare you somehow!"

Nico grinned too, happily surprised by her ingenuity by attacking him when he was off-guard. Calypso lowered the sword and handed it back to him.

"Thank you, Nico. Truly."

The son of Hades nodded hurriedly and she walked away. Nico ran a hand through his hair and exhaled slowly.

"No, no, that's not going to happen." he berated himself.

"Get a hang of yourself, di Angelo!"

*Aww, bonding over weaponry :) Doesn't get much cuter that that, does it? Hahahaha jk, a LOT of things are way cuter than that :)*