What The Nefarious Carnival Does To You (Percy Jackson Fanfiction)

Chapter Eight: Something Short

Author's Notes: *sigh* I apologize for almost abandoning this fic. My laptop's broken again and I only rarely get to use the pc. My files and everything were stuck there. I had something special planned to make but the files are there and maaaybe I won't be able to get them back. Also, I'm sorry for the short chapter. I'm getting writer's block and agh it sucks. I'll make up to it somehow. But I'm not abandoning this fic.

Disclaimer: I do not own the characters. All rights go to their rightful owner.

What The Nefarious Carnival Does To You

Chapter Eight

Something Short

He's done. He's had it up to here with the man who mysteriously popped out of nowhere. Nico gritted his teeth unnoticeably. Piper was looking in awe at Anteros. Rachel and Hazel smiled, staying by her side. And Percy, well, he looked confused.

"So a man shows up, says he coincidentally found his way here, and claims to have freaky powers like us. Coincidence? I think not." Percy contemplated. Soon two other carnies came into the room-them being Jason and Leo.

"We heard a scream," Leo looked around the room. Piper waved him off telling him there was no need to panic. Jason sighed. "Then what's going on?"

"She was just freaking out on finding her love guru. False alarm, guys." Rachel reassured. Piper snorted. "It's called fangirling but whatever."

"Love gu...ru?" Jason drawled.

While the others babbled, Nico slipped past them. Fate just had to pick on him, did they? He glumly made it into the main house and entered his room. Whoop, case solved. The man was cupid in disguise who came to haunt Nico. He flopped down on his bed and stared at his ceiling.

The past few days tired him out, he realized. After getting Hazel out of his supposedly-not-occupied crater of doom, he had taken a liking to her. Not in the way of romance but something akin to a sibling relationship.

Hazel is a strong girl. She's been down that hole since gods know how long. Her soul was clinging onto life even though the rest has faded. Nico pitied her the moment he sensed her. He knew he just had to give part of his life to her. What else does the Necromancer have to live for? Nico rubbed his face as if rubbing the sleep from his eyes.

A knock interrupted his train of thoughts, fortunately. He heard the door to his room open so he turned his back to whoever came in. He wasn't in the mood to deal with anyone as of now. Steps neared his bed and Nico forced his eyes closed, pulling the shadows towards him as a sign to tell off the intruder. But knowing the carnies, there could only be one among them brave enough to set foot in his room. His creepy dark room that shouts death to guests. And that's...

"Are you going to hide under that blanket of shadows of yours all day? I plan to actually talk with my best friend and I don't think leaving now is a choice." Nico groaned at hearing Jason's scolding tone. Or, you know, it could've been worse. It could've been Percy but thank the gods it wasn't. Opening his eyes, he looked down at the layer of darkness that enveloped him. Jason raised an eyebrow amusingly.

"So, you like being in a darkness blanket burrito. Huh, interesting." Nico rolled over and shooed the shadows back to their places. He didn't even have the energy to retort to that statement. Maybe being in a darkness blanket burrito is nice. And maybe he might do it again. Once they cleared, Jason sat on his bed.

"Now, tell me what's bugging you." He started.

"To start off... You." Nico deadpanned.

Jason ignored his comment. "You know how I can bear to hear all your complaints-"

"You asked for them." He lifted an eyebrow.

"-even though I burden you with mine about... Leo. So lay it on me, Neeks." Jason said.

Nico eyed him warily before relenting. It was Jason, after all. It was luck he landed a good friend in him. And who else could Nico talk to? Hazel needn't be exposed to his problems because he doesn't want her worrying about him too. Percy is definitely out of the equation. Leo? They were good acquaintances. So Nico grudgingly poured his heart out and told Jason how Anteros had made him feel jittery inside. It hasn't been two days and simply just being under his gaze made Nico feel like he was being examined. He told Jason of what a happenstance it was for a "love expert" to come at a time like this. Quote the sarcasm.

"I get you think this is all planned out because you and Percy have been... tip toeing around each other lately. But even I am as confused as you are. Then there's the infatuation I have with our little fireman." He grumbled. Nico smirked lightly at that.

"Speaking of which, what happened with your little fireman? Is the fire there? Can he feel the spark too?" Nico hummed, proud by his puns. Jason's glare was ruined by the ever-noticeable blood rising to his cheeks. It's only fair he gets to embarrass the blonde as he persistently burrowed himself into Nico's space.

"I wouldn't call it a spark or a fire. He's just confusing me sometimes. Giving me different signals and shrugging them off." He grumbled. Taking his mind off Percy and Anteros, Nico sat up intrigued by his friend's encounter and asked for him to continue.

"I can't believe I'm about to tell you this like some kind of gossip girls do when they get crushes." Jason averted his gaze.

"Well, are you going to gossip like girls do when they get crushes?" Nico mocked, leaning forward.

He didn't fail to see Jason's chagrin and hear his deep sigh. For the time he didn't talk, Nico seriously thought he'd up and leave. So when Jason opened his mouth, he had to force down his laugh as his friend indeed started to complain about his infatuation with a certain mechanic.

"I thought nothing of it first. Of course, that's where we all go wrong. I would catch him stare at me time to time whenever he thinks I'm not looking. I'd go do something, he tags along. Most of the time. He never lets dead air get between us even when there's nothing to talk about in particular. We could be sitting in a room without anything to do and he could start up a conversation about how hot lava is compared to his skin. Although I might show how frustrated I am with him, I really am just gushing inside about how adorable he can be. He could prattle all day about his new fire-proof goggles or this little mechanical dragon he made in his free time and I wouldn't get tired of it." He twiddled with his fingers, Nico noticed, as a sign of nervousness.

"Wow, you're in it deep Grace." Nico mumbled. "You're wading in so deep, you use the term "gushing" when you fan over him."

"I do not fan over him. I just said he's really adorable especially when he's working on Festus and he's so focused he doesn't even care about the little curl that strays in front of his face until he tries to blow it aside in frustration." Jason blinked.

Nico snorted. "Fan. And I assume Festus is the mini robot dragon you said he's working on." Jason nodded.

"That clears it. Congratulations, you're in it bad as I am with Percy." Nico groaned and buried his face in his pillow. He felt him lay a hand on his back comfortingly.

"It's not the end of the world for you, Neeks. You have a fifty-fifty chance when you go up and tell him."

"Fifty-fifty chance of what, exactly?"

Jason shrugged and stood. It gets annoying whenever Grace leaves him wondering for his own good. Then again, it's probably for his own good. It's good to rely on someone but sometimes, you just have to depend on yourself. We are the only people we could trust anyway. Nico sighed in frustration and got up.

Well it seems Jason's feelings might be reciprocated. Who knows. At least he isn't the one suffering memory loss.