"I'm really sorry, Nico.... It isn't your fault." Percy said, hugging Nico tightly. Nico sniffled, burying his face in Percy's shirt. "Me and Jason are going to look for Ethan. You and Evan can come, just be careful." Nico nodded, then went to get Evan. "I think I know where he is." Percy spoke and Jason looked up. "Where?" "Leo's house."
"Jason and I will go inside, Evan, take your dad out for a walk. He needs fresh air." Nico rubbed his nose and nodded, walking beside Evan into the forest.
"Leo? Do you happen to know where Ethan is?" Jason asked, leaning over the table. Leo sighed, glancing at the floor and back quickly. "Yeah... He's here. In the guest room." Percy nodded and walked through the hallway to the extra room, opening it to find Ethan sprawled across the bed. Percy shut the door behind him and sighed, alerting Ethan to his presence. "Ethan, you need to come back home." "Why? So you can make fun of me again?" Ethan spat and Percy groaned. "God, Ethan. I wasn't making fun of you, I just- I wanted to know why you were hiding it." Percy sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed next to Ethan. "I hid it because it's embarrassing." "Then why would you do it?"
Ethan bit his lip, rubbing his face. "I... It was the only way..." Percy frowned. "I don't- I'm old, you'll have to explain in greater detail." "You're only, like... 30..." Percy raised his eyebrows and nodded. "Old. Continue." Ethan sighed. "I... I just don't.... I'm sorry, this is just so f-" "Sorry to interrupt your bonding, but Nico's kind of... Really hurt." Percy jumped up as Leo poked his head into the room. He sprinted out of the house, following Jason as fast as he could, Ethan hard on his heels. "Fuuuuuuc-" The wail was cut off by a louder scream. Percy nearly fell over his feet as he realized that the person screaming was Nico.
"Dad, are you okay?" Evan asked a moment after Jason left to get Percy. Nico gritted his teeth, his nails digging into Evan's arm. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm- Fuuuuuuc-" Nico groaned, cutting himself off with a scream. "Dad! What's wrong?" Evan sobbed, shaking his dad softly. Jason ran back towards them, bending down. "Percy's on his way. I just need to-" Nico screamed again, twisting his body awkwardly. "F-Faster." Nico groaned, sweat dripping from his body. "I'll go- Nico?" Jason whispered as he watched the young man's eyes roll back into his head and his chest stop. "D-Dad?" Evan whimpered, tears rolling down his cheeks. Jason's hand shot to Nico's wrist and his throat tightened. "He.... No.... Nico. Nico, you can't do this. Please." Evan sobbed, bending over his father's lifeless body.
