Title: Promises

Pairing: Percy/Nico

Disclaimer: I do NOT own any Percy Jackson characters, they all belong to Rick Riordon.

Warnings: boyxboy

A/N:Sorry for all the mistakes you find :)

Also if anyone wants to be my beta and beta this, i'll be more than grateful!

Chapter two

A month had passed by, and still no sign of my powers. I was growing frustrated each passing day with no results. That didn't stop me from practicing with the sword and other various training workstations set up throughout camp. Though Chiron had forbidden me from the more strenuous actives, going as far as saying a flat out no to sword practicing with Percy. I could train with any other camper. I secretly rolled my eyes at this. I wasn't some fragile glass figurine.

Hades was first to contact me at camp. He had heard from Persephone about what was going on with the disappearing of demigods around the world. Even though he never asked, I told him I was alright and nothing major had happened (a total lie) besides not being able to visit the underworld for a while and staying at camp. He told me he understood, and in his own standoffish way, to be careful.

I didn't understand what he had meant with that comment because I was stuck at Camp half-blood. What could possibly happen here? Percy didn't seem to share the same sentiment and stuck to me like glue. Campers started joking about having my own personal shadow. Annabeth didn't like it, and even though she didn't say anything against it, I noticed the tips of her ears turn red whenever someone mentioned it.

At first I didn't mind Percy following me around like a lost puppy, having connected his behavior as concern for me just coming out of the hospital and a big ordeal. Then it became amusing when he would flush scarlet when campers younger than him called him my shadow and some even went as far as calling him my boyfriend. I always laughed at him then when he tried explaining there was nothing going on between us and the camper he was talking to always looked at him like he was a liar. Now it was just grating on my nerves. I was never alone. During the day I had Percy, and at night I had Mrs. O'Leary.

Right now I was alone. I had escaped from Percy's watchful eye to hide in the small oasis on the beach. I'm sure by now he had noticed my absence and is going on a rampage searching for me, and yes I did feel bad, but he has to understand that I needed space. I needed to think. About everything that has happened.

About me being suddenly human again.

It was little to no surprise that I couldn't enter Camp half-blood when I was released from the hospital. Come on, I had no powers; something was bound to be wrong. It took a while but Chiron got me permission to enter camp again. That was another blow to my hopefulness and even Percy was forced to acknowledge that maybe I was never going to be a demigod again. The first one to still be alive rather than dead.

I forced air out of my mouth in a sigh, looking at the setting sun on the horizon on the ocean. It was beautiful. Soon it would be dark, a waxing moon, and another night full of restless sleep. I've been having nightmares lately that I have no remembrances of when I wake up. Percy has noticed the circles under my eyes but every time he tries to bring it up, I always steer him away from the topic. Sooner or later he is going to corner me and force me to tell him what's up, and I know that he's doing this out of concern but damn it! I would like to forget them. Forget that I can't sleep well and that for once, everything is okay. If not, I will snap and I don't want that to happen least I chase away the only friend I have at this camp.

A sharp bark behind me made me jump. With heart racing fast, I whipped my head around, seeing a black bulking mass sprint down the shore. It was Mrs. O'Leary. She found me. I frowned. Percy must have sent her to find me. Of course he would.

The shadow dog skidded to a halt, sliding a few feet away due to her momentum. Once she got ahold of herself, she trotted up to the flat rock I was sitting on and plopped her butt down. She was panting and drooling all over the warm rock. I made a face at the mess, but nevertheless patted the black fur. I couldn't be mad at her for finding me; she was after all under orders. If I think about it, I was being illogical for being mad at Percy for feeling concerned. But still, he didn't need to know every single thing that was wrong with me.

Patting her massive head one more time, I stood up, prepared to head back to camp. Mrs. O'Leary licked at my fingertips in a goodbye before melting into the shadows that have gathered. (Was it wrong to be envious of a hellhound?) It was almost sunset by now, getting darker by the minute. I hesitated in whether I should leave or wait to watch the sun sink below the ocean horizon. Feeling the need to immerse myself in nature's beauty, I walked away from the cluster of palm trees just enough to see the sun clearly.

"Nico!" Percy called, running from the same direction Mrs. O'Leary had come from. There was a hint of anger within his tone. He was mad at me for disappearing.

He was panting when he stopped in front of me. I held in the urge to flinch when I saw his green eyes dark and cloudy with emotions and the added glare he threw at me. I opened my mouth to tell him something, anything, but I didn't know what. It didn't matter anyway because as soon as I opened my mouth Percy had started speaking.

"Where were you? Do you know how long I was looking for you? How worried I was when I turn away for one second and the next you're gone? Gods Nico..." He carded his hand through his dark hair. "Don't you dare ever do that again you idiot!"

Maybe it was because of everything, or maybe I just wanted to release some of my pent up energy, but I felt my previous anger return.

"What I do is none of your business! If I wanted to disappear I could very well do so, and I did! I needed time to myself Percy, and not being babysat by you or Mrs. O'Leary!"

He flinched at my choice of words, and in hindsight, I knew I shouldn't have phrased what I did like that. I just really wanted to be alone and a nobody, and pretend for just a moment that I didn't exist so I could forget reality. I wasn't going to tell Percy this; I didn't want to find out how he would handle it.

"Nico..." The son of Poseidon sighed. "Nico. I'm sorry for going overboard but I didn't want- I just..." He cut himself off, trying to find the right words to say.

"Percy. I get it okay." I told him, reminding myself that he was just worried. Even if I didn't remember what had happened the time I was gone, he did. And if I was being truthful, what he-everyone-went through was undoubtedly much worse than me. "You're worried about me I know, but lay up a little bit on shielding me. Whatever you may think, it's okay. I'm safe here at Camp. I don't need you looking out for me like a little kid. I appreciate the notion, but please."

"No! It's not okay Nico! You got kidnapped, and I don't know what they did to you, but you are human now. More so than before, and I worry even more because of the fact you don't have your abilities to help you out if you get into trouble. I'm not trying to treat you like a kid or degrade you or anything; I just don't want anything to happen to you again."

"What's going to happen to me Percy?" I asked him, leveling him with a sharp glare.

"I don't know Nico, but I just don't want you to be alone, especially right now when you're vulnerable."

I bristled.

"I can take care of myself just fine Perseus! I still have my sword skills and common sense. What is it you truly want from me?"

He was silent for a while now, just standing there staring at me. I was becoming unnerved under his gaze; becoming on edge.

"You haven't been sleeping." He finally spoke, calming me down a little.

"What the hell does that have to do with anything?"

"I want to know why."

That threw me for a loop.

"W-what?"

"I want to know the reason why you can't sleep."

My eyes searched frantically his face, trying to figure out what he was getting at. What could he possibly gain from knowing what troubles me at night? He must have seen my hesitance and surprise as he raised an eyebrow, silently telling me to answer him. I open my mouth to tell him but then close it, thinking a little on what exactly to say.

"It's not important you know."

"Says you! You have dark circles under your eyes Nico! You've obviously have not been sleeping well." His voice trickled into a mutter towards the end, green eyes narrowed at my response.

I didn't deny his claim.

"Everyone has nightmares Percy."

"You're not everyone."

I scowled. "That's all I'm telling you about that." I told him next to nothing. "Drop it."

I stared into his orange lighted face. He was tired and weary. His anger still lingered in his eyes, but not nearly as much as earlier. A warm breeze passed through us, ruffling our hair. Percy's glowing green eyes slanted away from mine to look at the small scar just under my ear on my jaw. I could see Percy's brows wrinkle in discomfort and the remaining anger be chased away with what looked like pain.

He raised a hand to touch the scar, but halfway up to my face he changed his mind and instead let the limb fall back to his side as a fist. Compelled, I reach my own hand to my face, middle finger tracing the silver indention lightly.

"It doesn't hurt you know. I can't even feel it let alone see it." Percy nodded at my words and swallowed. He was still tense.

"We should go back. The sun has set and soon the harpy's would be out." Without looking back to make sure I was following, he turned and headed back to camp.

He was right. The sun had settled without me noticing. Glancing out into the ocean one last time, I slowly followed Percy back to camp. That night, Mrs. O'Leary slept outside my cabin.

Blah! I didn't really like the way this turned out, but oh well, we'll see what happens next :P Let me know what you think!