I do not own the song. It is by Paula Bennet, called 'Soldatino' and written by her for NICO as something his dead sister was supposed to sing him. if you haven't heard it, you're dead to me.
One day, eleven hours, twenty-seven minutes and twelve seconds. That's how long Nico'd been sitting still, unblinking, as he sat by his boyfriend, the beautiful, in-a-coma, Percy Jackson.
He'd just sat there, an emotionless mask covering his face, even as the children of Apollo removed the arrow from Percy's back, even as Percy bled, twitched and shook violently. The only time a gap in his emotionless mask appeared, was when he'd heard Percy scream out in agony, unknown to Percy, breaking his heart.
Jason, Thalia, Hazel, Annabeth, and the others, visited, their faces ashen as they took in Percy, sending piteous glances at both of them, unable to fathom what either was going through, and frankly not wanting to.
Finally, it was Jason who snapped him out of his stupor.
He plopped on the chair next to Nico.
He turned his head slightly, but enough for Nico's eyes to flicker to him for a moment, even if his body did not move.
"It's a mess," said Jason, "Without Percy everything's in chaos. Campers wandering around aimlessly, looking lost, newbies unable to cope without someone they could trust, and therefore running out of camp, of course, Triton, Annabeth and the others stopping them. And don't even get me started on your kids, Sebastian keeps crying, Amarilla and Alethia aren't half as cheerful as normal, and Jack, well…"
"Why are you telling me this?" asked Nico, suddenly, startling Jason.
"Huh. Oh, well, I figured you'd want to- you know…."
"Don't you think I know what happens when Percy's MIA, when he's gone, injured, near-dead!?" his voice was croaky and raspy, Jason doubted he'd been drinking any water, but before he could ask Nico continued, "I think I finally understand what Annabeth goes through- what she went through. All those years, having to watch him suffer, to lay in the infirmary, and in some cases even the infirmary wasn't enough. In some cases he required a Titan, heck, once even a GIANT to do it," and for the first time, Nico cried.
He actually cried.
Jason, taking a big risk on Nico's no-touchy rule, enveloped him in a hug, not even minding the big, wet, salty stain developing on his shirt.
Will knocked, having heard the conversation from outside, Nico straightened, red eyed, and nodded.
Will walked into the room, looking relieved, yet sad.
"The good news: he'll live."
Nico nodded, as he felt his heart envelop in warmth, rather than the cold it'd switched to in the past few days.
"The bad news, however, he, well, he lost a lot of blood. And, er, I guess what I'm trying to say here is, he's in a, um, coma."
And the warmth vanished, only to be replaced by cold, pure dread.
Will walked back out, grateful for the head still attached to his neck.
Nico collapsed next to Percy, and traced his face with his finger, willing with all his might for the beautiful, oceanic eyes to open. But alas, it was to no avail.
"Well," said Jason, "at least he's getting better…"
Nico nodded, straightening up. Jason was right, he had to start acting like a man. No sense letting the little ones despair, Percy would never forgive him for that.
"You're right," he said, now standing, "Come on," he sighed sleepily, "I-I" he yawned, "should probably relieve the others. Then get some sleep. Lots and lots of sleep," and there was the yawn again, followed by a grumble in his stomach.
Dang, when was the last time he ate!?
Jason nodded, standing up. The two headed for the door, Jason going through first, then, with one last glance at Percy, Nico shut the door behind him. he immediately recoiled to the bright light, but as his eyes adjusted he took on the sight before him.
Camp was a mess to say the least.
Not physically, in fact, physically it was in tip-top shape, emotionally, however.
As soon as stepped out he saw a little kid, roughly four, hiding behind a slanted wooden plank. Sighing, knowing it was always Percy who did the motivation/pep talks- the thought of him sending a wave of cold despair which he quickly shook off, no time to be sad now-, he headed over to the young child.
As he approached, his heart stopped. That wasn't just any kid, it was his kid! He sprinted across the lawn and lowered himself to the ground, scooting in next to his obviously scared son, Nico decided to take the road that his mother/Bianca would've taken.
*sigh* he thought, women are lucky, they're born with comfort in them, then froze, did he just call Percy a woman? He shuddered, if Percy ever found out…. He gulped.
"Hey champ, what's wrong?" he asked.
"Everything," jack said, throwing his arms up in exasperation, "Mommy's dying, the twins are scared, they wont talk, wont eat, wont sleep, Sebastian keeps crying, and you're depressed!" he said, his voice raising, tugging at his hair, before lowering to a whisper, "And I'm-I'm scared dad, mom can't die, she- er, he just can't" he said, his voice wavering, as though he may cry.
Nico took one long look at his son.
The lip biting, the expression, the eyes, heck, he would bet his left foot that if he looked close enough, he'd see a light- but there- shade of grey over his son's eyes, the same one- the same one as his mother.
Nico mentally slapped himself. Of course. The child who looked like his mother, acted like his mother would- or would've without the dyslexia; not that Percy didn't read books in Greek, hence Sebastian's name… it was just so obvious that a child who was literally a mini-Percy would hide it. not let anyone in. conceal it, try not to feel it- wow Nico'd been listening a little too much to 'let it go', he should probably avoid the next movie night- or not, since Percy was so cute when he was asleep.
He suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of grief. He, the father hadn't been there when his kids needed him the most, and poor Jack had had to fill in for him whilst he was grieving as well. How, how could he bestow such a heavy duty on someone who, regardless of how old and mature they seemed, was still physically and mentally only four?
Without another word, Nico pulled Jack into his arms, holding him tight, resting his chin on the boy's head.
"No, Jack, don't-don't worry about it," he said, voice cracking, "mommy, she-er, he'll be okay," he sniffed, "he's getting better, uncle Will said it'd be a few days at best, two or three weeks at worse," he reassured the boy, whilst really just trying to reassure himself, refusing to break down in front of his 4 year old son, regardless if he and Percy shared a face or not, "mommy'll be just fine, Jack, you'll see."
He hoped his tone didn't give away any of his doubt or worry, but if Jack noticed it, he didn't show.
Jack nodded, a single tear- Nico observed- having broken free.
He sniffed, "thanks dad, you-you might want to freshen up first."
Nico nodded before heading to the bathroom he'd installed in the Hades cabin, like every mini-big three had.
He took a look at the mirror and cringed.
His face was dirty, hair splayed everywhere, with bloodshot eyes and some stubble. All in all, he looked like an overworked-overstressed man who'd been drinking coffee as a substitute for sleep for a week. So in other words, he did not look good.
He sprinkled some water on his face, before brushing his teeth, all the while his thoughts drifting to Triton.
He hadn't seen the god visit at all. And he definitely wasn't helping with the kids.
Sighing as he shaved his stubble and adorned sun glasses, he pretty much pieced together that triton was currently the only thing keeping the campers from going insane.
He headed down to the Athena cabin, where he knew Amarilla and Alethia would be.
He spotted them and rushed over.
They were sitting on a bench outside it, looking at the pond, gazing at it, as if hoping their mother would emerge from it as he had plenty of times previously.
"Hey Ama, Ally," said Nico, sitting next to the girls.
"Hi dad," they said in unision drearily.
"Hey, don't be like that, your mom will be fine, he just needs some….. sleep. Yes. Sleep, to, um, recharge his energy. He'll be up and about soon, so why don't we go get some grub, huh?" he asked.
Amarilla and Alethia nodded, having slightly perked up when they heard their mother was going to be alright.
"Okay, well, Jack should be down there, you run along, I need to grab mon petit-déjeuner," he said, referring to Sebastian.
Alethia and Amarilla sniggered.
"What?" he asked, confused.
"Ummm, dad, I think you meant votre enfant," said Alethia, Amarilla still sniggering.
Nico pouted,"'ts not fair," he pouted, "Percy can speak French fluently, why can't I?"
Amarilla placed her hand on her father's arm, "Look, daddy, momma has been stalked by the Aphrodite cabin since he was twelve, added to the fact that his great-grandma is Aphrodite…"
"Wait…." Said Nico, "So he's related to piper, as well? Is there anyone he isn't related to?"
"No," said Alethia, "I would've said you, but you two are married a.k.a related. I think."
Nico sighed, "just go to the pavilion, I'll meet you there," and with that, he sprinted off to the Zeus cabin, where he knew Hazel, Frank, Jason and Piper would be.
He heard crying, even from twenty meters outside!
He opened the door, "Gimme my baby!" he demanded, holding out his arms.
Hazel chuckled, though it was croaky. He felt horrible that she'd gone through this because of him, but she was smiling so it was okay.
"Awww," pouted Piper, "do we have to? We were gonna put him in this pretty dress," she held up a pink frock and it was a wonder Nico didn't vomit.
"I would've let you keep him," he yelled, over the baby's now intensified crying, "but after the pink-thing…."
he took his child from Hazel and began rocking him.
he hummed out a tune to the little one,
close your eyes, he hummed,
I know what you see
The darkness is high
And you're in 10ft deep
But we've survived
More terrible monsters
Than sleep
And you know I
Will be here
To tell you to breathe
He hummed the chorus,
Tu se il mio soldatino
La ragione per cui vivo
Non ti scordar di me
Io veglierõ su di te
The baby stopped crying, looking up at Nico with dark, dark eyes, quite like his own. It occurred to him that the baby was listening to him, wholeheartedly. He wondered if he did this often to the baby, if he or Percy would hum him lullabies till he fell asleep.
Slowly, the little one yawned, earning coos from all the girls, before falling asleep.
"Gotta hand it to ya Neeks," whispered Hazel, "you are good with kids."
"Yeah," said Nico, smiling down at his son, who he was gently rocking in his arms, "'guess Perce's been rubbing off on me, huh?" he said, tears in his eyes.
The others nodded.
"I-I gotta go to lunch, the other little munchkins are expecting me," and then he left.
On his way to the pavilion he bumped into Acquilla.
"Hey Quill," whispered Nico.
"Hi uncle Nico," whispered Acquilla back, "Have you seen Jack? I haven't been able to find him since two days ago. He left his fluffy bunny at my place. And he cant sleep without his fluffy bunny," he pouted.
Nico didn't know why, but he suddenly felt a surge of fondness for the boy.
"He's at the pavilion, I'm headed there now, come on."
Acquilla nodded. And together, the three (seb's there too, remember?) made their way to lunch.
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
long chapter, which I can now do seeing as I finished The Maze Runner. Yeah, watched the movie right after it at the first showing, because I'm a loyal teen wolf fan. The movie was…..um, okay? Honestly I was kinda disappointed. They changed quite a few things, added things, left out things.
e.g. they left out the part where Thomas figured out what the maze was doing and he, Theresa, Newt and Minho used his method to get the key words.
Or, the fact that they said the changing was because you got stung, when in reality it happened once you got the serum, which was a cure sent up with the supplies every WEEK (not month, week)
Or maybe it was the fact that Alby did Newt's part.
The truth is I could rant for hours on how the book was better, but you'll only figure out by reading the book. It's by James Daeschner. Anywho, bye.
-httyd4eva
peace out yo ;P