How to Save a Life

four

• Leo •

It was dark outside, so I headed for the beach. Everyone was in their cabins, considering it had passed curfew, but I didn't care about the harpies. What would happen would happen.

I passed the dining pavilion and walked to the beach, where the sand glittered in the moonlight and the waves crashed softly against the shore. I sat down in the sand and stared at the open sea. If I wanted to attempt again, I'd come here. There was no way Nico could shadow travel and get me to the surface fast enough.

Nico.

Maybe I won't need to attempt again, not with Nico here. He makes me feel at home. Makes life a little more bearable.

I knew it wouldn't last long. 

  He'd leave like Jason did. Like Piper did.

  No - he had already left. Of course he'd do it again.

  My feet were in the water again. I felt my shoes and socks get soaked, but I stepped again. And again. And again.

No, what are you doing?! Are you so terrified of people leaving you that you have to leave them first?

  It's not that - I was unhappy. I had been since my mother died, it worsened during the war, and it hit its highest peak when Calypso left me. I was hurt. I ached. I wanted to die.

  I want to die, resonated in my head and the thought surprised me. Was it my own mind that thought that? How could that be? I was happy. I always put on a smile and joked with people.

  I had always done it to hide the pain. 

  So maybe this was for the best.

  I continued wading into the water. It was cold, but I didn't care. I swam out for several minutes, until I looked back and the shore looked impossible for me to reach. I sucked in a breath of air and submerged myself, swimming down to the bottom. It wasn't that deep, but it was deep enough.

  I sat down in the sand. I let out all my air. I closed my eyes.

  I didn't open them again.

• Nico •

  I shot up out of bed, my heart pounding as I breathed heavily. The nightmare I just had resonated in my brain.

  "Leo's okay, Leo's fine," I tried to convince myself, before realization burned it's way through my head.  

Demigods have realistic and prophetic dreams.

  I instantly shadow traveled to Bunker Nine, searching everywhere for Leo. When he wasn't there, I shadow traveled to Cabin Nine. He wasn't in his bunk. What was I supposed to do?

Percy.

  I shadow traveled once more to Percy's house, landing on his floor heavily. He jumped up in his bed and pointed a sword at me.

  "Nico?"

  "We have to go - you have to help me!" I said frantically, grabbing onto his shirt and pulling him up.

  "What's going on? You look really pale...maybe you should rest-"

  "No! We have to go. Right now."

  I shadow traveled to the spot right above my dream, Percy and I dropping into the water. He allowed us to float, grabbing onto me. My head spun, but I had to get to Leo.

  "Why are you swooning? Why are you shadow traveling? You know-"

  "Leo," I whispered.

  "What?"

  "He's down there, he's under the water, he's
trying - fuck, Percy, just get him out," I begged and Percy' eyes widened.

  "Okay. Okay. It's gonna be okay, Nico, just relax and take a deep breath-"

  "Get Leo out of the fucking water."

  Percy nodded and let go of me, before diving under the water. I knew he was fine under there, but Leo wasn't.

  I felt a twinge in the back of my head. Leo was dying.

  I pushed myself under the water, opening my eyes. The water was dark and my eyes couldn't adjust. The salt stung my eyes, but I didn't care. I had to get to Leo. I had to, I had to, I had to.

  I kicked myself up to get a breath of air. Right as I did, Percy came up to the surface, carrying Leo.

  "Is he-"

  "No! Not yet," I whispered. "But soon. Help him."

  Percy floated Leo on his back, before he closed his eyes. Leo coughed up water and Percy opened his eyes again, grabbing Leo to keep him afloat. Leo's eyes opened, before he realized what was happening.

  "Percy?" he asked, giving the son of Poseidon a weird look. He then looked at me, before casting his eyes down to look at the water.

  "Why?" I demanded, watching as he shook his head.

  "Because I knew no matter what I did, people would just leave, so I..."

  "Wait," Percy whispered, halting the two of them from their conversation. "This was a..."

  "A suicide attempt? Yes," Leo replied angrily, pushing away from Percy. "And not the first one. But it doesn't matter, because no matter what, Nico always finds out."

  "Isn't that good?" Percy asked.

  "Not for me," Leo mumbled.

  I sniffled and the two instantly looked at me. Leo's eyes turned sad as he noticed the tears marking my face. 

  "What the fuck don't you get, Leo?!" I asked, my voice cracking a bit. "If people didn't care about you, I wouldn't be here in the middle of the fucking ocean. Percy wouldn't be here, either."

  "You're just going to leave," he whispered, avoiding my gaze.

  "No, I'm not. This time I'm not. I swear on the River Styx that I will never leave you," I promised.  

  "I think I'm gonna stay at Camp tonight," Percy mumbled randomly. "Just to make sure everything's okay."

  "I'm sorry," Leo murmured, pressing his face into his hands. I swam over to him and wrapped my arms around him, before grabbing onto Percy's shirt. I closed my eyes, focusing on my cabin.

  We landed in a surprisingly dry mess on the floor. Leo was crying, my arms still wrapped around him. Percy was just watching Leo, his green eyes sad.

  "I'm sorry," Leo whispered. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry."

  "It's okay," I mumbled, pulling him closer to me, letting him bury his face into my neck. I rubbed his back with my fingertips lightly, letting him let it all out. He finally quieted down, his cries turning into hiccups and his hiccups turning into soft puffs of breath that let me know he was asleep.

  "How long has this been going on?" Percy whispered, keeping his voice low so Leo could sleep.

  "I don't know, I just got here a few days ago. Leo tried to drown in the lake, but I sensed it and shadow traveled to him. The reason why I got you this time is because I knew he was too deep for me to grab him," I explained, reaching a hand into Leo's hair and running my fingers through it absentmindedly.

  "I'm glad you did," Percy murmured, casting his eyes to Leo. "How did you know this time?"

  "I had a dream about it," I told him, before sighing. "I didn't know it was like this, or else I wouldn't have left in the first place."

  "I had no idea. He always seemed so happy," Percy sighed.

  "I know."

  (A/N: this story fucking sucks but at this point idgaf)