Percico/Nico di Angelo One-Shots

It's Over, Isn't It? [Nico]

If you watch Steven Universe, you'll understand. Credit to TheOpalMiku for the idea! ;)

I was fine with the women who would come into his life now and again. I was fine cause I knew, that they didn't really matter until you.

Nico gazed upon the sleeping mother and son with a sad smile upon his face that wasn't really jealousy, but more melancholy. He picked a sunflower from the bouquet on the bedside table, and walked out onto the balcony, beginning to sing quietly that slowly grew louder, if only to release all the pain.

Paul Jackson woke up to the sound of anguished singing. It sounded as though the singer had lost his heart. And in a way, he had.

The 14 year old child that resembled his father in all the heartbreaking ways sat up, carefully disentangled himself from his mother's curly blonde hair and tanned arms. Paul looked out and saw Nico, his father's close friend.

I was fine when you came, and we fought like it was all some silly game. Over him, who he'd choose. After all those years, I never thought I'd lose.

Those words.. did Nico feel more for his father that goes beyond friendship?

Nico twirled the flower in his pale fingers, singing still, oblivious to his audience, who now had tears beginning to fall from his oh-so-similar green eyes. Paul had always been an emotional child.

Nico did a pirouette, holding the sunflower close to his chest, just as Percy had once taught him, as a joke. It's almost sad how much the simple twirl means to Nico now.

Paul watched Nico spin, almost close to running up and giving him a hug; the lyrics resonated deeply in his soul, making it ache for the obviously sad man.

It's over, isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it over? It's over, isn't it?! Isn't it? Isn't it over?!

Paul watched as Nico looked out into the bright lights of the city far below the balcony where he stood, dangling the flower over the edge. The child wondered what memories he was remembering.

Nico looked up and down, everything reminding him of the man he had loved and lost. The shimmering lights not unlike the ones in Percy's eyes. The sunflower still held tightly in his grasp, unable to let go, symbolizing the absolute radiance he was.

You won, and he chose you, and he loved you, and he's gone. It's over, isn't it? Why can't I move on?

"You won, and he chose you...?" Paul wondered silently. "Does he mean Mama?" He had settled at the side of the bed facing the balcony, watching his father's close friend dance and sing with so much emotion.

"Oh, Uncle Nico, why can't you move on?"

War and glory,
Reinvention, fusion, freedom, his attention.
Out in daylight, my potential. Bold, precise, experimental.

Paul watched in amazement as Nico jumped precariously onto the balcony railing, his voice growing in a crescendo, getting dangerously close to falling.

Paul had half a mind to jump up and yell, "Be careful!" but was entranced by the fluid grace with which Nico moved; every move was precise, calculated, as though it had been the art of war that had taught him.

Nico brandished the sunflower like a sword, jabbed and parried almost like there were a phantom opponent teaching him the moves.

Who am I now in this world without him? Petty and dull with the nerve to doubt him. What does it matter, it's already done. Now I've got to be there for his son!

The 14 year old boy stared as Nico suddenly flipped down onto his back on the thin metal railing, raising a hand to the clouds, cupping it, as though he could almost see something in them.

"...now I've got to be there for his son!" The words caught Paul's attention, and he snapped back into the present, watching Nico's hand drop from holding it high. His heart immediately filled with guilt, wondering how he had never noticed the underlying tones of love whenever he asked about his father.

"Do I cause him pain? A reminder of my father?"

It's over, isn't it? Isn't it? Isn't it over?
It's over, isn't it?! Isn't it? Isn't it over?!

Nico was too into his own mind to notice the very much awake Paul as he turned for only a few minutes. "It's over, isn't it?" He looked at the sunflower, as though it would give him an answer.

You won! And he chose you. And he loved you, and he's gone!

Paul stared as Nico quickly turned back to edge of the balcony, looking like he had something to do.

"You won, and he chose you! And he loved you, and he's gone!" Percy's son saw the tears filling up Nico's eyes as he closed them, the moisture glinting in the bright light.

The pale man threw the sunflower into the air, watching as the wind carried it far, far away.

It's over, isn't it? Why can't I move on?
It's over, isn't it? Why can't I move on...

Nico's hands gripped the railing tightly. Two tears fell down his cheeks on separate paths, never to join into one. He gazed out onto the city, imaging Percy's smile before turning to walk back in, voice growing quiet before stopping completely.

However, when Nico entered the room, the first person he saw was not the child sitting on the floor. No, it was the woman sitting up on the bed, obviously awake. Blonde hair cascaded down her back as her tanned hands gripped the sheets tightly.

"Annie," Nico gasped, voice hoarse, pale cheeks blossoming with red, "You were.. awake."

Paul's head whipped around to stare at his mother, whose demeanor seemed calm except for the death grip she held the sheets in.

"Nothing's going to fix this, is there?" Annabeth said; it wasn't a question, though it was posed as one. She rose up and walked towards the door, opening it and stepped out. "I'm sorry you had to be around me," was all Annabeth said as she let the door fall shut.

"Annie!-" Nico called out just as the door shut. He looked down at the floor. "I shouldn't have come along," he muttered, mostly to himself.

That's why he was startled when Paul got up from the floor and took his hand, looking at him with such familiar, determined eyes, it made him want to cry.

"No," Nico looked at Paul, "this is exactly why I brought you."

Alright, alright! Another one-shot down. I'm sorry if I made you cry.

Kinda.

But in all seriousness, though, sorry I haven't posted in so long! :') I'm a terrible author.

Anyways, how have y'all been? I'd love to know! I'll try to be more consistent with my updates.

Also, holy cow! 10K views. What the frick, guys?! Why do you read this trash??

I'll post a thank you, soon. But I love you all so much! <33

Xoxo,
Princess_Moon_Angel