Nico meets Batman

8

Nico was getting restless. Bruce, Tim, and Dick were babying him. Finally, Tim left the room momentarily for a cup of coffee. Nico sprang up at once, trying to remeber his way to what looked like a gym. (No, it's not the batcave or anything near it.) Nico finally found the room, and took a look around. There were weapons, long range and short range, and equipment from training dummies to archery targets. He went over to the weapons area, and looked through it. A silver glint caught his eye. It was at the back, hanging on a loose hook. The leather grip fit right in Nico's hands, and the blade was perfectly balanced. Engraved along the blade was The Reaper in italian.Coincidence? I think not!And as Nico got into a fighting stance in front of a dummy, he didn't notice Jason stading in the shadows, narrowing his eyes at the small boy.~~~What was he doing? Nico was attacking the dummy at an inhuman speed, even with the newly healed wound on his leg. Jason watched in awe as the nine year old boy tore the dummy to shreds in the span of thirty seconds. Nico went on to the punching bags. Jason couldn't believe what he heard next.Nico was humming to a song Jason couldn't recognize. The tune was sad and slow, and as he was more into the song, Nico started to mumble the lyrics.The Lyrics switched from Italian to English back to Italian.Jason caught a word."Soldatino."Now, Jason wasn't a moron. Soldat meant "soldier" in russian. Why was Nico singing that song? Was it even a published song? Jason decided to interupt right there. ~~~ Nico thought back to the wars. Bianca's death, Nico's anger towards Percy. "I'm sorry Nico." "What do you mean?" But Nico already knew.Nico hit the bag harder and faster, and instead of getting tired, his emotions fueled his energy.Negitive energy.The punching back turned into various people that Nico hated.Eros.Hades.Dr. Thorn.Artemis.Tartarus. Alcyoneus."I'm sorry, Nico. She didn't make it.""Go die!""What a freak!""You're not wanted."Nico was aware of his tears streaming down his cheeks.Anger. Sadness.Nico started to feel his knuckles getting raw, but he dismissed it. "Your sister would do better!"Nico swung his fist one last time, and the bag exploded. Nico panted, trying to prcess what happened. "Di Angelo? What are you doing?" Jason called his name. Nico didn't respond. Jason called his name again, and started to get impatient. That was when he realized something was wrong. Nico's eyes were glazed over, as if lost in his own mind, and Nico didn't react to Jason at all. Blood from Nico's fists started to get all over the bag, but Nico made no sign that he cared.PTSD, Jason realized. Jason didn't know what to do at the sight of the torn boy in front of him.Tears started to fall as Nico continued to hit the bag. This went on for a minute, when a final punch from Nico ripped the bag apart, leaving him panting."Di Angelo? What are you doing?"He whipped around, his eyes wild and lost.Jason wanted to ask him if he was alright, but his pride stopped him."Um, nothing. Just blowing off some steam... h-how long were you standing there?" Nico asked, still slightly shaking."Long enough." Jason said. "And long enough for them too." Jason gestured to the family behind Nico, who were staring at Nico in concern. Nico looked like a deer in headlights."Hi?"