Some Nights (valdangelo)

Nightmare

This is actually the first fanfic I ever wrote, I just never got around to editing it and stuff. Sorry if it's a bit clumsily written or rushed, but like I said, first and longest fic. I'm actually pretty proud of it, so enjoy! :)

Nico POV
I felt the dark fingers clutching at my throat, choking me. I couldn't breathe, couldn't hear anything but tortured screams, and my vision was slowly fading to black. Finally, I manage to push the invisible hands away from my throat and wake up, gasping for air. Tears stream down my face and I bring my knees up to my chest and sob quietly. Suddenly, I hear footsteps coming down the hallway, so I quickly lay back down and pull the blankets over my face, trying to muffle my sobs. My efforts obviously fail, because I hear my door slowly creak open and Leo's quiet voice echo through the room.
"Nico? Are you alright?" I remain silent, hoping he will think I am asleep. Yeah, that fails as well. He enters my room and starts creeping towards my bed. Shit, what do I do now? He's going to take one look at my face and know I was just crying, and I'm sure I was screaming at some point too, that's probably what woke him. I feel his warm hand on my shoulder.
"Nico? I know you're awake, so you can stop pretending."
Great. He knows. Fine, then maybe I can get him to go away. Yeah right.
"Go away," I mutter.
He yanked the sheets off of me, and I catch a glimpse of his concerned face before I bury my face into my pillow. Shit, I can feel the sobs coming on again, and I can't breathe with my face in a pillow. So finally, I look up, and he speaks.
"I heard you screaming earlier," I knew it. I just had to scream didn't I?
"And I came to check and see if you were okay. Are you?" He finishes awkwardly.
"What do you think Valdez? Do I look okay to you?" I snarl.
"Well no. Actually you look awful, but I didn't wanna offend you just in case this is your normal look," he says in a joking manner. I roll my eyes and don't bother replying.
"Well now that I know you're alive I guess I'll just leave you alone..." He mumbles.
"Best idea you've had all night."
"Okay then," he walks to the door and just before he leaves, turns around and says softly, "Goodnight, Nico." He closes the door quietly and I hear his footsteps receding. Once I'm sure he's out of earshot, I whisper,
"Goodnight Leo."

Leo POV
Well that was awkward. I couldn't sleep and was just innocently walking out of my room to go up to the engine room when I heard his shriek, and then a moment later, a gasp and quiet sobbing. I stood outside his door, debating whether or not to go in. I couldn't hear sobbing any more so I figured I could just peek in and check that he was alive and be done with it. So I opened his door and said his name, and no reply, but I could see him shaking underneath the blankets. I may really suck with people - or any organic life forms, really - but I didn't want to just abandon him when he was clearly falling apart, I mean, Hazel would kill me if she found out I left him. So I went in. Stupid of me really, because he clearly didn't want to talk. So I left, figuring that he was fine now, or as fine as someone as damaged as Nico can be, anyways.

~next morning~
Nico POV
I wake up the next morning having slept the rest of the night. I'm grateful, because I don't think I could've handled the nightmares twice in one night. When I go up to breakfast, I do my best to avoid eye contact with Leo, not wanting to relive the events of last night. I sit staring at my plate, which holds a bunch of grapes and a piece of toast, and even that is only there because Hazel put them there and commanded me to eat. She's sitting next to me and staring worriedly, waiting for me to take a bite. So I do of course, I can never say no to her, and I know I need to eat. I just never seem to have an appetite, ever. I only eat when Hazel makes me.
"How are are you, Nico?" She asks quietly.
"I'm fine, Hazel. There's nothing to worry about."
"Are you sure? You seem more.... tired... than usual." I hear the hesitation in her voice and I know that she means that I look like crap. I hadn't even bothered looking in the mirror this morning, because I already knew what I would see: a tired pale boy with dark hair and darker eyes, who looked like he was ready to fall apart at any moment. I didn't want to see that. I hate myself for my weakness.
"Nico?"
Oh. I almost forgot about Hazel's question.
"Yes, I'm sure I'm fine. If I need anything, I'll tell you, okay?" That's a lie. I'm not going to burden Hazel anymore. She's already worried about Percy and Annabeth and pretty much everyone else on the ship, I'm certainly not going to add to that.
"Okay," she replies uncertainly. Then she stands up to go. "I gotta go, but be sure to finish your food okay? I love you." She kisses my cheek and leaves with Frank, casting one last concerned look in my direction as she goes. I stare at my food, reluctant to eat it, but knowing that I will force myself to if it makes Hazel happy. I sigh and start eating.

After I finished eating I decided to go up on deck and work on my sword skills. I've spent the last two hours practicing when I hear someone say my name and feel and hand on my shoulder. I panic and whip around, grabbing the person and holding my sword to his throat. And then I realize who it is. Leo.
"Uh, hey there, didn't mean to scare you..." He trails off, wide brown eyes staring at the sword at his throat before coming back to my face, which I realize is about two inches away from his. I lower my sword and step away quickly.
"Sorry, I didn't realize it was you," I apologize, staring at the floor and feeling my face heat up.
"It's ok, I'm still alive, right?"
"Sure."
"So.... What have you been doing besides holding random passerby at sword point and scaring the crap out of them?" He asks cheerfully. I feel my mouth turn up at the corners slightly at the question. Before I can reply, Leo notices my slight smile and starts talking again.
"Hey, I made you smile! I guess I really am as or irresistible as I always suspected!" At this point he starts bouncing up and down and smiling excitedly. I quickly turn down the corners of my mouth and scowl at him.
"Too late, I already saw it. I'm so proud of myself! By the way, you have a nice smile, you should do it more often. You look less creepy," and with that, he turns around and leaves. He certainly is a strange kid. I know I won't be able to focus on sword fighting, so I turn around and go to take a shower before lunch.

Leo POV
After we eat lunch we all go off to do are respective activities. The girls all go off together, Frank and Percy went off to train, me to the engine room, and Jason off to chase after Nico and talk or whatever. I don't know why Jason is so determined to be friends with Nico when Nico is so clearly not interested in having friends. I've got to admit though, Nico is a fascinating kid. It's hard to believe he's only 14, because he always acts like he had the weight of 50 years on his shoulders. Although I guess technically he's like 94, so it sorta makes sense. Anyways, that's not the point. The point is that we all went our separate ways, but someone decided not the follow the basic routine we've had going for most of the journey home. I bet you can guess who. Our little Ghost King of course.

I'd been working with some random stuff, making minor repairs for about an hour when Nico bursts in and shuts the door quickly behind him, panting slightly.
"Uh, hey Nico, whatcha doing in here?" I ask uncertainly. He never comes in here. No one but Annabeth really does, and they never stay long.
"Hiding from Jason. Do you mind if I stay for a while? He won't look here for me." I stare at him in confusion. "Please?" He adds, looking at me with big eyes.
"Oh, uh, sure. Yeah, of course you can stay," I say quickly, recovering from my earlier shock. He comes further into the room and stares at me awkwardly. Then I realize that there's nowhere clean to sit besides my chair. I stand up quickly and push my seat towards him.
"Here, have a seat." He sits gingerly, then looks up at me.
"Where are you going to sit?" He asks. I glance around.
"Um... I can sit on my desk." He arches am eyebrow at my cluttered desk. I push a bunch of stuff around and off the desk and then plop down carelessly. "See? Perfect solution." He rolls his eyes and we sit in silence. I start drumming my fingers on the table, itching for something to do, but not really having a purpose.
"This is boring," I announce abruptly. He rolls his eyes at me again.
"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware that my purpose was to entertain you," he says sarcastically.
"Apology accepted. And now you know, so get cracking, Ghost Boy!" I exclaim. His lip curls in apparent disgust.
"Entertain yourself. What, are you five?"
"On the inside, yes," I reply seriously, trying not to laugh.
"You're a dork. I should have known you wouldn't be able to carry on a normal conversation." He rolls his eyes yet again.
"Careful, if you roll your eyes too much they might get stuck up there," I tease. He starts to roll his eyes then catches himself and stops, glaring at me. I try unsuccessfully to muffle my giggles. He shakes his head, smiling slightly.
"Whatever. I've run out of the necessary energy and wit to deal with you." I smirk at that. "I'll just find somewhere else to hide." I stop smiling, not wanting to be alone again, but not having an excuse for him to stay. He stands up and walks to the door. Right before he leaves I call out to him.
"Have fun with Jason!" He turns and tosses one last eye roll and glare at me before leaving.