『〔Solangelo One Shots〕』

Bronze Jar

What if Nico was stuck in the bronze jar longer? Pitying the demigod, the gods granted him a voice in his head to act as a companion, showing illusions and what his friends are or might be doing back at camp.

Voice will be called "Void" because I can't think of anything.

Time flies differently in the jar.

Psychological. Woohoo!
Picture is irrelevant.
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[Happy Birthday, Nico Di Angelo.]

My birthday? How long have I been here?

[You have been in here for years.]

Any idea of how many?

[1,673 years.]

Haha... what would they do if I was there right now? How would they celebrate?

[... commencing scenario]

The old bronze sheet Nico has seen for who knows how long changed to a bright blue. His dark eyes never once showing an ounce of happiness. Campers walk up to him, wishing him a happy birthday, Percy, Annabeth, Will, Jason, Leo, Hazel, Frank, Piper, Rachel, Reyna, everyone. Singing around the bond fire, however Nico remained solemn.

"Void. Cancel scenario," Nico muttered.

[Canceling scenario... does Nico Di Angelo not wish to see his friends?]

"I do. I wish of it everyday, I just can't keep wishing for something that won't happen," Nico replied as the scenery changed back to bronze.

[I am sorry.]

"There isn't a reason to be," he sighed. "This was inevitable."

The silence stretched far.

"Happy Birthday, Nico," Nico smiled as tears ran down his face.
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When Nico awoke, he was in the infirmary. Odd...

"Neeks! Oh my gods, you're finally awake!" Will hovered over him.

Nico had dark eye bags, darker than usual, his skin seemed paler, almost sickly, and his body was... so thin.

"W-what? What's happening, this- what?" Nico breathed. "What's the date?!?"

"You were inside the jar for three days," Will replied.

"Three... days...?" Nico scoffed, unbelieving what Will was saying.

"Percy found you in the jar, and brought you back here... you okay, Nico?" Will answered.

"Three days? Those 1,673 years was a lie? Me being stuck in that jar for decades was a lie? I HAD TO GO THROUGH THAT SHIT ALL OVER AGAIN!" Nico yelled.

"Nico! Nico, it's okay," Will reached his hand out, but Nico slapped it away.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!"

"Nico..."

"Void, cancel scenario... void! VOID! VOID! STOP IT! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! STOP IT, I HATE THIS, I HATE IT! STOP IT! STOP IT!" Nico screamed, his nails digging into his face.

"Nico, stop! You're okay, you're safe!" Will pulled Nico's hands away from his face.

"SHUT UP! THIS ISN'T REAL, THIS IS JUST ANOTHER STUPID ILLUSION, VOID, TURN IT OFF!" Nico continued to scream. By this time, more campers entered the infirmary, including Chiron. "STOP USING MY MEMORIES AGAINST ME, I'M SICK OF IT!"

"Will-" Chiron started.

"THIS IS FAKE! THIS IS FUCKING FAKE!" Nico cried, "THIS IS A LIE, EVERYONE HERE IS A LIE!"

"Nico, we're real-" Will said.

"STOP FUCKING LYING!" Nico yelled at him. "IF THIS WAS REAL, THAN WHY! WHY DID IT TAKE SO LONG FOR YOU TO SAVE ME!"

"Save you-? It took-"

"LIKE HELL IT TOOK THREE DAYS. I WAS STUCK IN THAT STUPID BRONZE JAR FOR CENTURIES! AGAIN! HAVE I BEEN STUCK IN A STUPID LITTLE PRISON FOR YEARS, AND YOU THINK IT TOOK DAYS? THAT JAR DRAGGED ME THROUGH THE MUD OF MY MEMORIES, MY HOPES OF SEEING YOU-ALL OF YOU, AND YOU'RE TELLING ME MY SUFFERING TOOK 3 DAYS?!? THAT'S UNBELIEVABLE!!!"

"Nico, please-" Percy tried.

"ALL I COULD DO WAS TOUCH THE WALLS OF THAT STUPID JAR JUST TO FEEL A TEMPERATURE- JUST TO KNOW I WAS SANE! THAT COLD GLASS AND MURKY MATTE OF BRONZE! SO PLEASE, JUST CANCEL THIS STUPID VISION! THIS STUPID SCENARIO, IM BEGGING YOU!"

"Nico," Will pulled him into a hug. "We're real..."

"What the hell is a hug gonna do?" Nico sobbed, but he still took the hug.

"It's okay, Nico... we're real. We're really real," Will stroked his head.

"...I don't believe you," Nico whispered.
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Nice to see you after a month :)))
Happy Reading!
-Tin~

Words: 676