A/N: Thanks for everyone's patience. I do not own the characters aside from Nick Ryder. They are Riordan's. This chapter was written to the song Iris by the Goo Goo dolls. I recommend reading this while having that song play. You will see why. Please let me know your thoughts on this chapter or the story over all. You can always PM or review.

Chapter 18

**NICO**

"Awesome!" Percy said enthusiastically before grabbing a seat and turning on the Xbox 360. "Nico, wanna play Halo 3?"

I smiled, "One game. Death Match. You're going down Jackson."

"Pssh. In your dreams." Percy replied.

As I sat down to play, I noticed Nick slip off into a room of some kind and shut the door behind him. I made a mental note to go see what he was doing after this game.

"I wonder how long it will take us to reach New York. Will we need to take a cab?" Percy mused as I got a head shot with a Sniper from across the map.

"No fair." Percy pouted as I pulled out that crazy energy sword and hid in a dark corner of the map.

"Eh. About 5 hours." I said absently. "Nick will probably have transportation waiting for us."

I stabbed Percy in the back gaining yet another kill.

"How do you even know that?" Percy asked.

"Huh? Oh, I have been on a plane a few times, Perseus." I replied switching back to the sniper. "Crap!"

"Ha. Not so tough now are you?" Percy gloated with a headshot from an energy pistol. An energy pistol! Well two can play that game, I thought. I quickly collected two human pistols and went all commando, throwing frags and bullets alike in a chaotic dance of disharmony.

"I win." I said, thoroughly enjoying the moment.

Percy sulked. Again. "One more?" he asked his eyes alight with excitement. His ears pricked up like a puppy starved for attention or maybe affection, I wasn't sure.

I shook my head, heading towards the closed door behind which Nick had disappeared into.

"Fine, I'll raid the mini-fridge. Yes, we have CHOCALTE. Ooh and blue M&M's!" Percy almost squealed with delight. I shook my head before slowly opening the door. The sound from the room immediately hit me a slow meaningful guitar played over the speakers.

"And I don't want the world to see me. Cuz' I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken. I just want you to know who I am…" Nick sang. It was beautiful and haunting. So much emotion was poured into this song. I wondered what he was thinking about. I personally loved this song. It was Iris, by the Goo Goo Dolls. I slowly, quietly shut the door behind me as not to disturb or frighten him. I was enjoying this performance.

"And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming, or the moment of truth in your lies. When everything feels like the movies. Yeah. You bleed just to know you're alive!" Nick belted out eyes closed, feeling the music.

I felt it was time to make my presence known so I joined in. No one had ever heard me sing before. It was a closely-guarded secret. I mean the son of Hades, a singer? I would never hear the end of it.

"And I don't want the world to see me. Cuz I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken. I just want you to know who I am." I sang in a higher pitch than Nick to be sure, but still pretty good.

Nick stiffened and stopped singing as he turned around. He visibly relaxed upon seeing me. We just stared into each other's eyes as the music played. Smiling, he continued after the guitar instrumental ended,

"And I don't want the world to see me, cuz' I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken. I just want you to know who I am…and I don't want the world to see me cuz I don't think that they'd understand. When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am… I just want you to know who I am…" Nick continued, holding my eyes that were locked with his.

"I just want you to know who I am." I finished as the song ended.

I walked forward slowly and hugged him. I wanted this boy. He made me feel alive. He made me feel normal.

Nick hugged me back and whispered in my ear, "You're good. Keep singing you could be amazing someday".

I kissed him on his cheek, "You are amazing. You could teach me."

He chuckled. "We'll see. I'm not that good."

"You know, every year the Apollo's cabin holds a music contest. A performance of sorts and the winner's cabin gets no chores for the entire summer. I think you should perform. You really are good," I said smiling as we looked into each other's eyes.

"And I assume the fact I'm staying in the Hades cabin has nothing to do with that right?" Nick smirked at me, his eyes glinting with magick and mystery.

I laughed and pulled him closer to me biting his ear. It elicited quite a response. "That might have something to do with it" I all, but breathed in his ear, quite seductively if I do say so myself.

"You're such a tease." Nick said breathily as I continued nibbling his ear. "P-Percy is in the next room."

"Does it look like I care?" I said quietly.

"Fuck." He said barely audible.

The door opened quite abruptly,

"Nick, the pilot said we will be landing-Oh!" Percy said as we were almost to the bed. I groaned in frustration and pushed Nick away gently.

Nick growled at Percy, "In about ten minutes, I know, now get out Fish Face."

Percy, red as a tomato, spun around comically, his face almost becoming intimately acquainted with the door frame. I laughed loud and long, "If only he had walked in 5 minutes later, I'm thinking scarred for life would be accurate."

Nick chuckled devilishly,

"Scarring Percy Jackson for life sounds like a worthy cause."

Nick sighed, "We should get ready for a drive to Camp though".

I nodded trying not to show my disappointment. I entwined our hands, "Let's get seaweed brain and get outta here."

Nick cocked his head to the side, "Seaweed brain. I like it. It works with his whole dumb surfer thing he's got going on."

"Esattamente" I said, "Exactly."