Pjo couples oneshot! mortal AU

Light in the darkness

TW: attempted suicide. Please leave a comment

I stood on the edge of a building, staring down into the endless depth. The night sky highlighted the lights of smaller buildings, cars and lamp post. I took a deep breath.
'Don't do it.'

I spun around, nearly losing my balance. A boy with black hair stood behind me, pokerfaced. He seemed to be around my age.
'W-what do you mean?' I stammered, half of my feet in the air. He stared me down.
'Don't jump.'
His words, spoken without emotion, surprised me. I quickly regained my composure.
'Why won't I?' I spat bitterly. 'Nobody would care.'
'I would.'
I turned back around, hesitating if I should jump. 'You don't even know me.'

'I've heard you name.' The boy replied. 'Leo, isn't it?'
I narrowed my eyes. 'Really? Things don't spread fast in this orphanage.'
'You're the troublemaker. Many people know that.'
'Doesn't matter.' I cut him off. 'Nice to know you, goodbye.'
The boy ignored my statement and held out his hand. 'My name is Nico.'

I stared at it, hesitating if I should shake it. He stood almost completely still, in a strange calmness. Like he had everything under control.
I stepped off the railing and shook his hand.

His dark eyes pierced into mine. 'Why do you want to die?'
'Why would you care?' I shot back. 'You barely know me.'
'I might not know you, but I don't want you to die.' Nico faltered. 'My... my mom and sister died when I was young.'
I wanted to give him a hug, but something about his posture said he didn't want sympathy. 'And your dad?'

'Out of the picture.' He took a deep breathe, like exhaling would push unwelcome memories to the back of his mind. 'Look, I don't want to be pitied now. But I also don't want you to die. Life... is fragile.'
'Then why would we preserve it.' I choked up. 'Why would we have to see people we care about die?'
Nico tilted his head. 'You've had your fair share of grief to, right Leo?'

'M-my mom.' I had no idea why I told this, but couldn't keep the words under my tongue. 'I killed her.'
He didn't say anything for a while. It wasn't a judgemental silent, more a thoughtful one.
'What happened?'
Flashbacks brought me back to the day, as I tried to get the words out my throat. 'She left me alone in the workplace. There had been a lighter laying around, in my sight. And back then, I...' I stopped, my hands trembling. 'I had a deep fascination with fire.'

Nico nodded. 'I can guess what happened. You played with it and accidentally started a fire?'
'It was never my intention.' I whispered, tears gathering in my eyes. 'I never meant to start a fire...'
'Leo, I'm not an expert.' Nico started. 'But that wasn't your fault.'
'I started the fire.' I bitterly mumbled. 'I started the fire that killed her. Even my aunts say that.'

He took a step forward. 'You were a kid. The fire wasn't your fault, and neither were the consequences. You couldn't have known, and you didn't do it on purpose. You shouldn't have to take the blame at all.'


We held eye-contact. All the words that could've been spoken were brought over by the silence.
Nico took another step and hugged me tightly, a gesture I hadn't felt since I was a child.
'Come, go back with me.' He whispered. 'It's getting late.'
He took my hand and led me back to the building.

Away from the endless depth.
Away from the cold embrace of death.
And into the light.