Set In Stone (Thea X Nico)

"Her name was Bianca, and she was taken from me."

(Thea's POV)

I didn't know why I started crying in front of Nico, I barely knew the guy but he seems so open and understanding. Like he's been in similar pain, losing someone you loved. Nico stared at me blankly as I contemplated the 'Are you okay?' Was I ok?

"I'm sorry, it's been 6 months now since losing Timothy and when losing that picture of him. The last picture I have of him..." I stammered, trying to find the words for how I felt without scaring Nico away. I whipped my tears. "I thought if I had lost it I would forget his curly red hair, his green eyes, the small patch of freckles across his nose, the laugh that made me happy I just couldn't live with myself if I forgot him."

Nico loosend up now looking at his shoes.

"I know exactly what you mean." He looked up, his eyes were broken like he did know exactly how I felt. Had he lost someone close too?

"What happened?" He started to talk but then froze. He frowned and then bit his lip.

"I don't want to talk about it Thea." He said my name harshly like he was disgusted. He turned around heading for the door. I let him walk, it wasn't like we were friends and I didn't want him to feel uncomfortable. I watched as he walked to the door, tears falling from my eyes. He stopped at the door holding the handle.

"Her name was Bianca, and she was taken from me." He said it cooldly and slammed the door behind him as he left the cabin. He did feel my pain, he knew exactly how I felt, that's why he's so distant and cold. I hid my pain but he owned up to it wearing it for everyone to see. I wish I could show pain. Timothy always taught me to smile through the pain so you'd forget why you were even hurt in the first place. And I've done that ever since. I ended up laying on my bed looking at the picture of Timothy and hugging his bear which now smelt like me which made me sob even more, making me fall into a deep sleep.

(Nico's POV)

She was broken. Her eyes watered making her green eyes shimmer. Even when she was sad she seemed so confident. She didn't shy away or slouch, she stood tall and almost proud that she was even able to cry. She hid her pain unlike me who made sure everyone could see my anger.

"I know exactly what you mean" I said looking up at her all I could think about was Percy giving me the news and breaking his promise to protect her.

She looked at me even sadder then before when she realized I did know what she meant.

"What happened?" she whispered looking into my soul trying to figure me out. I was going to tell her, to spill everything, it felt almost right but I'm Nico Di Angelo I don't just tell my feelings, I want people to fear me. They all fear me either way.

"I dont want to talk about it Thea" I said it with all my anger building up. Her name tastes sour on the tip of my tongue. Why was I even talking to this girl? I wanted to get out of here, she'll see right through me. I headed for the door stopping when I grabbed the handle. I heard her sniffle then sigh. Ugh why did I feel obligated to tell her?

"Her name was Bianca, and she was taken from me." I opened the door and slamming it behind me. A cold breeze touched me as I walked to the woods, I pulled my hoodie around me tighter walking into the night hoping I could just walk off this anger that now boiled in me. Why did this girl seem so different? Why could I easily open up to her? I felt almost warm in her presence even if I wasn't close to her. She glowed an aura of warmth even if she was crying. I kept walking into the woods not stopping till I was at Zeuses fist. It was a cold night, a light breeze broke through the trees, the full moon left moonlight on the ground around me as I leaned on the fist. I slowly slid down the fist with my back and sat down falling asleep thinking of Bianca.