After the war (Solangelo)

Chapter 23: Forgiven (Bloody Relief Part 2)

Trigger warning. Mentions underweight, cutting and insecurity. BASED OFF OF THE HEADCANON

Nico's POV
I sighed, looking at myself in the mirror. Taking a deep breath, I scanned my chest, the scars, nooks, scabs and bones. I purposely kept my gaze away from the innards of my arms, some of the scabs not peeled away yet. I could count every single rib I had, and even though I had the 6 pack that I had worked so hard to achieve, I didn't feel proud. A sob ripped out of my throat, and I covered my face with my hands. If someone would walk in the cabin right now, they would see an extremely pale and underweight boy, with inky-raven black hair, that hung in his eyes and below his ears, in a not flattering way, standing in black boxers, that just barely fit his thin waist, the thin skin stretching tightly across his ribs, spinal bone prominent on his back, especially more so since he is hunched over, sobbing into his hands. I suddenly felt two warm arms wrap around my waist, drawing me into a warm bare chest, and a calmly beating heart. I let out a traitorous whimper and twisted around mashing my face into his strong and muscular chest. I continued to cry, curling my hands into fists, and I let myself be pulled away from my horrible reflection, and to the floor, being settled in his crossed legs.

Percy POV
I was walking back from sparring with Clarisse when I heard muffled screaming and crying. I whirled around and realized I was next to the Hades Cabin. Nico. "Schist." I muttered feeling guilty as I started to jog to the cabin. Nico had gone through what Annabeth and I had, but alone. The door wasn't shut all the way, so I pushed it open, and lightly hit it back. I was so focused on the boy in the middle of the cabin, I didn't realize the door was a sliver of the way ajar. Nico was standing in front of a floor-length mirror, hunched over, hands pressed to either side of his head, back to the door. I rushed to him, gently pulling the inky black haired boy into my arms. He twisted and pressed his head against my chest, the top of his head barely reaching my collar bone. I helped him to sit, pulling him into my lap. "Shh, it's OK Nico. Annabeth and I will always, always be here for you." Nico curled his fingers, hands trembling as he sobbed. I glanced down, and my stomach curled at the sight. I knew Nico was depressed, but I don't know he was this depressed. The underside of his for arms had red and slightly irritated lines etched on them, and looked like the scabs had fallen off not that long ago. Some still had their scabs. I took a deep breath. Even when Gabe was around, and I had to deal with him, I never went this far. What had Nico gone through? I know he told me what the fake me did, and he forgave me when I swore it wasn't me, but still. And when he didn't forgive Will, and he'd avoided the infirmary, though he should still be there. I sighed, and my hands wrapped around his back, my cheek against his soft hair. I gently rocked him as he still let out muffled cries, until I heard the door bang open. I looked up to see a shocked Will, and Nico looked behind him, paling even more than his usual color. Will's expression went from angry to confused, when he saw Nico's red-puffy eyes and tear stained cheeks with fresh tears running down them as the seconds passed. Nico quickly got off of me, and threw himself at Will, the blonde about to step outside. (Switching to third, it's easier for this part. Also, this will focus on Nico and Will now) Nico grabbed Will, and pulled him back inside, pushing the older boy against the wall. Percy quietly slipped out the door, and made sure it was shut correctly. As soon as it was, the sobs couldn't be heard anymore. Nico continued to cry, his breath hitching and he struggled to breath, but the tears did not stop. The black haired boy held onto Will's shirt as he trembled, but received no comfort or reaction from the blonde. Nico's sobbing increased as he slid to the floor in front of Will, before he began to crawl to his bed. He climbed on still letting out little screams, his cries increasing. Nico curled up on his bed, and Will began to move slowly closer to the boy, unsure what to do. Will sat on the edge of Nico's bed, and just looked at the curled up form of Nico, the black haired boy shaking even more, his cries sometimes becoming screams, but they were muffled as he hid his head under a pillow. Will had never seen him this bad, and thought maybe he was crying from guilt. He was guilty because he cheated on Will with Percy! But then again, Will wasn't sure where Nico and his relationship stood. He didn't know of they were still together or not. Looking at Nico, more thoughts of why he was like this came to mind. Maybe it was something else entirely, and had nothing to do with Percy. He thought back to Percy's understanding expression when his sea green eyes were on Nico. How Nico was already crying when Will walked in. How the reason he went to Nico's cabin was because he heard muffled screams. Nico's screams. Once again thinking of Percy's empathic expression, Will racked his brain for anything that both he and Nico had gone through. Tartarus. It smacked him in the face full force. How had he been so stupid!? Of course, what else would it be? Will turned to look at Nico. The boy was curled on his side, the pillow had fallen off. Nico's expression was one of terror and pain, his eyes screwed shut, mouth open in a silent scream, tears spilling out of his closed eyes, leaving his pale cheeks red and raw. Arms over his head, elbows pressed against his ears, legs tucked under his chin. He was only in his boxer, showing how thin his arms and legs were. They were skin and bones, but with visible muscle, from working out, but not eating right at the same time. And the shaking. Will's baby was shaking so much, trembling and convulsing. Will scooted backwards on the bed, back now resting against the cool wall next to Nico's bed. Will leaned forward, wrapping his arms around the shaking boy, pulling him onto Will's crossed legs. Nico immediately grabbed a fistful of Will's shirt in his hands, and buried his still crying face in the blonde's neck. Will cautiously wrapped his arms loosely around Nico, his hands intertwined with each other, resting on his legs. Nico continued to sob, as Will once again began to think of the scene that he had walked in on. Will couldn't help but feel slightly jealous, the little light that there was inside becoming agitated. Will's jaw clenched, and the light suddenly brightened for a short but intense moment, similar to a flash of lightning. When Nico had felt Will tense up, he lifted his head away from Will, and looked around the cabin. Just on time to see the lightning like flash. Nico couldn't help but let out a shrill scream, as memories of his mother's death began running through his mind over and over. Will jumps slightly at the high pitched shriek and stared in shock as Nico begins to whimper and cry more intently, the tears being renewed in force. Confused and scared, Will finally wraps his arms around the boy in his lap tightly, Nico reburying his head in Will's chest, Will's chin gently resting on Nico's head. "Shhh, Nico," Will murmured raising his head off of Nico. The said boy flinched when Will said his real name, and not one of his nicknames. Not Sunshine. Will just gently held Nico closer to his chest, resisting the urge to kiss Nico. He had to make it out like he was still mad. It was easier when he thought about how Nico used to like Percy, and then he finds them on the cabin floor! With a shirtless Percy!!! Nico shifted a little and whimpered in Will's arms, and Will realized he'd been holding Nico too tight. "Sorry Sun-Nico." Nico flinched again when Will cut himself off. Nico began to slowly calm down, the tears coming to a halt. But his shakes continued. Will realized Nico was cold, and put him on the bed, and began to get up to pull back the sheets, but Nico thought he was leaving. Leaving him. Another sob ripped its way out of Nico's mouth and he launched himself at Will, clutching tightly. Nico's arms were around Will's neck, his legs around the blonde's waist. "Please. D-don-n't leav-ve m-me." Confused, Will tried to pry Nico's arms off of his neck, only to result in a tighter grip from the pale boy's arms. Will fell slightly forwards, and had to maneuver himself so he wasn't crushing Nico. "I'm not leaving. I won't leave you, OK? You're OK Nico, I'm here, you're OK." The black haired boy shuddered next to the blonde, his grip still hadn't loosened. The two teens were now lying side by side, Nico's face still buried in Will's chest,his pale hands gripping at the blonde's bright orange Camp Half-Blood t-shirt. Will just lay there, as Nico's uneven and quick breathing, become steadier and to even out after about 2 hours. Will almost got up and left until he saw Nico's face after all the crying. The boy looked young, his features relaxed, the worry and stress lines from frowning and having an almost permanent scowl smoothing out, until his face was smooth. Will studied the boy, relaxation on how young Nico really was hitting him full force. Nico couldn't be any older than at max 16. . . . No. Even that was pushing it. Will was 16. He was definitely younger than Will. Nico's mouth was parted just the slightest bit, his warm breath breathing rhythmically on Will's shoulder. Will gently pulled back, a slight whimper escaping Nico, but Will was only moving back so he could see Nico's face better. The used-to-be olive skin toned boy in front of him had long black eyelashes, that became closer to an auburn color, as they reached his eyelid. His skin was a very very pale olive, which had a first freaked Will out, thinking it was unhealthy, but soon got used to it. Nico's sharp cheek bones were almost but not quite feminine. There was traces the showed that those cheeks had once long ago been splattered with freckles. That was not so anymore. The younger boy's lips were full and his cupid's bow was prominent. The color was also pale, but more of a gentle rose color then an olive. The red was barely there in his cheeks and lips, but enough that it was noticeable if you took the time to look.
Will's POV
How old was Nico? The thought never crossed my mind before now. I slowly shifted, untangling Nico's grip from my shirt. He stirred, eyebrows scrunch in together, a noise of objection and a slight whimper of pain, which I pushed out of my mind, left his slightly parted lips, before he relaxed, slipping under the lapping waves of sleep once again. I pulled up the blankets from where they'd fell onto the floor, before quietly slipped out of the cabin, a twinge of guilt hitting me as I remembered telling Nico I wouldn't leave. But I really needed to know! I quietly walked over to the Poseidon cabin, where I knew Percy would be. And probably Annabeth too. I heard the harpies call in the distance, and I was jolted into realizing it was now late. I shivered, uncomfortable in the dark. Apollo kids are used to brightness and the sun, not the dark. I quickened my pace and hesitantly knocked on Percy's door. There was a muffled 'come in', and I slowly opened the door. Annabeth was sitting cross-legged on the bed in her pj's which consisted on flannel pants and a tank, while Percy was sitting on the floor, back against the bedside, head resting on Annabeth's legs. He too was in pj's; sweatpants and no shirt. Annabeth's fingers were slowly combing through Percy's hair, relaxing both of them. "I-" I started and hesitated, unsure what to say. "I told Annabeth what happened." Percy said, his voice deep, and he turned his head, resting it in a more comfortable positions on Annabeth's lap. I nodded biting my lip slightly. "This isn't about that, actually, I had a different question." "OK, shoot." replied Percy. "How old is Nico?" Percy looked taken aback and he coughed awkwardly. "Ummm, real age or. . ." I gave him a confused look, but he and Annabeth of shook their heads. "That's for Nico to explain." Annabeth said, her voice smooth and gentle. She looked down and continued to run her hand through Percy's mess of hair, as she continued speaking. "Nico will be 16 on Jan 28, but he-" "January 28th!! That's in a week!" (It was New Years when they were in Tartarus. It's Jan. 21 right now) I shrieked. Percy blinked, "Yeah. . . And?" "I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO!" Percy sighed and looked at me. "First off, you have to make sure he one hundred percent forgives you." I paled ad he said that, and nodded. "Secondly," Annabeth picked up from where Percy left off. "He hates anything big/wild etc. Do something small, between the two of you. A real date perhaps." I nodded. "Thanks guys, but what do you mean by his actual age?" Annabeth sighed. "I'll tell you his real age, but I won't explain, and under two conditions." I nodded, beginning to get nervous. "Good. The first thing is, you do not tell him you know his real age, until he tells you himself. And the second, is you won't pester him about his background, nor the explanation to his age. Got it?" I nodded. "Good. Nico is technically. . . ." she stopped and thought for a second. "91 years old, 92 in one week." 92 years old. How, what why? I gulped and nodded. "I should go. . . Just in case." I muttered and jogged back to Nico's cabin, the words 92 years old repeating over and over in my brain. I grabbed my Stygian iron arrowhead, that Hazel found in for me in the woods before this whole fiasco started, and gently gently closed the door behind me. Nico was curled up under the covers, like a burrito, his face scrunched. Little whimpers escaped him, and he began to twist, getting more wrapped up in the comforter. I watched in horror as Nico began to hyperventilate, his whimpers becoming yelps. His eyes shot open, and he struggled with the blankets screaming. (I don't know if I wrote this as I wanted to portray it, but Nico feels like he's suffocating) I finally unfroze, rushing to his side and helping to untangle the sheets. The sheets lay crumpled on the floor, Nico was laying on his back, hips turned so the bottom half of his body was on its side, arms crossed against his chest which was rising and falling in rapid gasps as tears flowed down his face. I kicked off my shoes and chambered in on the side of the bed closer to the wall. I wrapped my arm around his torso and pulled him to me. Nico's back was flush against my chest, I nuzzled my face against his shoulder as we spooned. He twisted, turning his body so he faced me, and looked up, eyes once again rimmed with red, cheeks still slightly damp. I propped myself up on my elbow, and using my free hand, wiped his cheeks. I leaned down, but hesitated, not sure if this was OK. Nico tilted his head slightly towards me, and I got my answer. He forgives me. My hand gently brushed against his cheek before resting on his jaw. I brought down my head and gently kissed him. Sparks ignited in my lips as I pressed against him. He responded, one hand holding into my shirt, the other going behind my head, twisting into my hair. I leaned myself back, hand leaving his jaw and gripping his hip, shifting until he was lying on top of me, the warmth of the sparks spreading through my body. We pulled away gasping for breath, and I looked at him. Suddenly he giggled. "What's so funny Sunshine?" He grinned wider, happiness evident on his face when I called him by his nickname. "You're glowing!" I laughed, and when he said it, I realized he was right. His eyes were brighter, more alive and he rested his cold cheek against my collarbone. I wasn't worried about his temperature, I knew he was always cold. I ran my fingers through his hair, and he sighed in content, "I-" Nico began. I lifted his head and pecked his lips, shushing him. "I get it. But Nico, that wasn't me in that pit. Or Percy, or your father. They were Eurynomos' creation. OK? I love you, with all my heart." I gasped and covered my mouth. Nico stared at me, trying to process what was just said. "I-" I was cut off by Nico's lips moving feverishly against my own. I responded, one arm wrapping around his waist, the other in between his shoulder blades where I knew his weak spot was. I pressed down, and he moaned quietly, before pulling back, face flushed, both of us panting. "I love you too" Nico whispered, looking up at me through his lashes. But then he hesitated. "How'd you know? Who was there?" I bit my lip, then I told him about Mrs. O'Leary, how she followed his scent and I'd grabbed on as she shadow traveled, and what I'd seen." Nico winced, touching his still slightly red nose. Since he hadn't let me go within 9 feet of him before tonight, I hadn't had a chance to heal it. I gently layer my hand against the bridge of his nose, and felt, until I heard him whimper, and I felt the slight dent in his nose where it wasn't fully healed. Closing my eyes, I concentrated on his nose and I slowly felt the swelling begin to go away, and the bone/cartilage heal. Once it was done healing, I let out a yawn, blinking slowly. Nico smirked. "You know, I once said 'with great power, comes a great need to take a nap." I laughed softly. "Oh yeah? Well, I agree with that." I felt Nico kiss my cheek before getting up. I was to far gone to ask what he was doing, but then I felt warmth, and Nico's weight plus the weight of something else. Nico had grabbed the comforter and had lay back down. My eyes slid the rest of the way shut, and I drifted into the land of sleep feeling Nico's cold lips gently press against mine, before I finally was able to get my first good night's sleep that I've had in months.