Talk to Me

Chapter One

Nico and Percy had just been walking back to camp, Percy had taken Nico on a small trip to the closest mall, and the boys had been attacked by three small Hell Hounds, something that Percy thought he could easily take care of, even though Nico still had his doubts, and still stood by in case something happened to Percy.

The Hell Hounds split up, making a small ring around Percy, and Percy smirked, actually thinking that he had the advantage there. But then two lunged, one at his feet and the other at the side of his neck, and on instinct he blocked his feet first, knowing that that was one of the many things that they teach new demigods, to stay on their feet.

The Hell Hound found its dangerously sharp claws connecting with Percy's throat, cutting the side, completely tearing his vocal chords, and things around that area, and it sent him to the ground.

Nico's eyes widened and he jumped in, fighting the two remaining Hell Hounds, finding them dead in a matter of moments with only a few scratches left behind, yet nothing as serious as he had just seen done to Percy. "Percy!" he screeched, getting down next to him.

The green eyes of the son of Poseidon seemed to calm to a green/gray color, something of the sea during a storm, losing their usual light, and his vision seemed to cloud around the edges from blood loss. "Oh gods, Percy! I'm going to get you to camp as soon as I can, just stay with me!" Nico said, seeing his face dull down, as Percy offered a weak smile in return.

Nico gripped him tightly, getting to a point where he could shadowtravel to camp, collapsing on top of Percy in front of the infirmary, and at this point the two were passed out.

~Timeskip bc idk~

At this point, Nico was awake, and sitting next to Percy's bed, Percy had torn vocal chords and was never going to be able to speak again, and Nico knew that this was going to stop a lot of things for Percy, and he felt bad for him, but there was nothing that Nico could do about it now, if only he had actually stepped in and fought even when Percy told him no, maybe then he could've stopped this from ever happening.

But, Percy woke up quietly, blinking at the harsh lights that had been turned on for Nico's sake, and he turned, looking around a bit, and wincing because of the cut on his throat. Percy looked at Nico and opened his mouth to speak, yet no words came out, and it was just air with little exasperated sounds, and Percy grew frantic.

"Percy, it's fine, I'll explain everything later, I promise," Nico said, gripping his hand, and offering a reassuring squeeze. Percy nodded in return, and pointed to Nico's small glass of water that was sitting on a small side table that happened to be next to them, and himself.

Nico nodded, and looked around a bit, finally finding a straw in one of the open cabinets he put it into the glass and held it up for Percy to drink from, and Percy did, wincing in pain, and if water wasn't going to help him, Nico didn't know what would. And, Nico felt extremely bad about it, seeing him in so much pain for drinking water, a normal everyday activity that shouldn't be difficult at all for anyone.

And here Percy was, struggling to get a drink of water. It broke Nico's heart, because yes, Percy may not have been able to stop his sister from protecting them all, and yes, he may still blame him in the smallest part of himself, but it was still Percy, and Nico didn't know why or how, but he could never bring himself to fully hate him, he could never bring himself to say the simple words of I hate Percy Jackson. They were nearly impossible to think of for him.

And at this thought, Nico had small tears running down his face, with is elbows propped up on the bed, and his head in his hands he cried, and he felt Percy's hand cover his own, pulling it away from his face, and giving him a look as to say it's okay, but Nico knew that it clearly wasn't, and that in itself was Nico's fault, and he wasn't going to deny the fact that it was his fault.

"Percy-" Nico's voice nearly broke, "-this is my fault, you can't talk anymore, that entire part of your throat is torn, and I sat and watched, I'm so sorry, I-I should've done something sooner than I did, I shouldn't have let you fight that fight alone."

Percy opened his mouth to speak, straining for sound, yet none came, he hugged him instead, hoping that it was enough to let him know that everything is okay, that everything will be okay, and Nico hugged him back, holding on tightly, and crying into his shoulder, which had a ripped piece of a shirt on it.

After about twenty full minutes of sitting there like that, Nico pulled back from him, wiping his tears on his arm, "Are you sure everything's okay?" he asked quietly, not really wanting to hear it if it wasn't.

And Percy nodded vigorously, earning a small cramp in his neck that made him wince. Nico watched him, "Okay, I trust you," he mumbled, finding himself leaning back in his chair.

Percy laid back on his bed, staring at the ceiling, and Nico cleared his throat to get Percy's attention, which caused him to turn his head slowly. "You look tired, you should sleep, Perce," Nico said, looking at his face, which was filled with utter exhaustion, and pain, pain that Nico tried to ignore as much as possible.

Percy nodded a bit, and stretched out a hand that he wanted Nico to take, even though he doubted himself, Nico took it, "I'll be here, I promise," he said, holding it in his own bony, pale fingers, and Percy found himself nodding, and drifting off to sleep once again.