One Too Many Heartbreaks

XXI. Liar, Liar, Crush On Fire (Nico's POV)

NOTE: TRANSLATIONS AT END OF CHAPTER
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Nico had been up since Leo woke him with his noise. Leo had fallen back asleep, but Nico was restless now. His mind wandered to worrying places.

He wondered how long he could keep hiding. He was supposed to tell the others when he had found Leo, but now he didn't want to. He was afraid of what they might do to him, considering he had destroyed part of New Rome, and now part of Camp Half-Blood.

He was also wondering where Mrs. O' Leary was. He had disappeared only two days ago, but he felt bad about leaving her without warning like that.

Still, he was reluctant to go find her. He didn't want to come back and have Leo be gone. His conflicted mind kept him up all night long. He fell asleep thinking two things:

Stay with Leo. Find Mrs. O'Leary.

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When Nico first woke up, he didn't move. He was comfortable despite being on the ground, because he could feel Leo's arms around him and his breathing against his back. Then Nico freaked out because he could feel Leo's arms around him and his breathing against his back.

Nico jumped up and dusted himself off quickly.

(1)"Vuelve," Leo whined.

Nico kicked him softly in his side. "Up, (2)dormiglione."

Leo sat up and looked around. "I don't think we're in Kansas anymore."

Nico rolled his eyes. "It's the Underworld."

"What are we doing in the Underworld?" Leo asked, looking around fearfully.

"I'm not sure. But thi- aah!" Nico was cut off by a dark shape coming out of nowhere and knocking him down.

Leo laughed. "Ay, I never thought I'd be so happy to see a monster."

Nico felt something wet drag across his face, much, much too slowly. "Hey, Mrs. O'Leary," He said, which was his mistake, because all the slobber on his face fell into his mouth.

Leo laughed harder. "Ah, muchacho, you're never living this one down."

Nico glared at his boyf- his crush, and stood, wiping his face off with the front of his shirt. When Nico finished, Leo wasn't laughing anymore.

Nico scratched Mrs. O'Leary behind the ear. "Sorry I went missing, girl." She barked, making Nico feel obligated to explain. He said to her, "Ho sviluppato alcuni sentimenti."

Mrs. O'Leary barked again and wagged her tail.

"You coming back with us, girl?" Nico asked softly.

Leo stepped up. "Woah, woah. Isn't she Percy's pet?"

"Yeah," Nico said. "So?"

"And she's a hellhound."

"Get to your point."

"She can shadow travel and show the others where we are."

Nico looked at Mrs. O'Leary. "Would you?" He asked. She whimpered and stuck her tail between her legs.

Nico petted her gently. "It's okay, girl, I understand." He said.

Nico turned back to Leo. "Well, I guess we can go." He said.

Leo didn't move so Nico put a hand on his arm. "Bye, girl. We'll come back."

The Underworld dissolved into shadow and the shadow materialized into the cave.

Nico walked immediately to the corner, feeling a blast of heat behind him. Festus, apparently, was not as forgiving as Mrs. O'Leary when his friends randomly disappeared.

Nico sat with his back against the wall. Leo didn't mind being on the run because he had Festus. But Nico had been on the run almost his entire life, and alone for most of that time. He was so sick of it. He buried his face in his knees so no one would see the tears starting to roll down his face.

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(1) Come back
(2) sleepyhead
(3) I have developed certain feelings.