of half-bloods and happenings
funny
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It's funny, really. How once upon a time death was something Nico dealt with every day but now it makes his head pound and his heart flutter and he can no longer trust the shadows that flank his every footstep.
How nameless creatures and nameless things whisper to him while he dreams and how he can never sleep with the lights out because they'll find him, they'll find him, they'll find him and tear him to pieces and there will be no-one there to hear him scream.
It's funny, really. How his Stygian iron sword slips and slides in his grip and how he can't shadow-travel anymore because it makes him nauseous and reminds him of there.
How his smiles are barely seen and his eyes are lacklustre and his skin is all the paler because sometimes he can't bear to venture outside and face the world.
How Percy has Annabeth and Annabeth has Percy but when Nico stays awake during the bitter watches of the night (because he's too afraid to close his eyes) all he has to keep him company are the moon, the stars and his own ragged breathing, until dawn seeps through the sky and he can finally (maybe) let his guard down (not really, not at all, never again).
It's funny, really. How he's the son of the god of death and yet is afraid to die.
(It's funny, because if he dies there will be no sunshine and no laughter to keep the darkness at bay.)
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Author's Note: Can I just say…91 REVIEWS? WHAT IN THE CRAZY MOTHEREFFING WORLD? Um, wow? THANK YOU. One hundredth reviewer gets a spesh one-shot *gasp!* all to themselves! And um, yeah, about this chapter; of half-bloods and happenings was lacking some SERIOUS Nico angst, so…
Dedication: For The Ace of Owls who's now The Indie Flower; thanks for stickin' with me through it all. xx