I Can't Anymore... And You Know It

Chapter 9

A/N - And finally...

Nico's Pov

"Perseus Jackson. You found me." I looked between the girl, Percy and a boy who looked about my age, I smiled softly at Percy. My heart beating a little faster, Percy came to rescue me. That meant that he cared and yeah... I told Percy that he wasn't my type but who was I kidding? Anyone would've melted at the mere sight of the Son of Poseidon, and I just so happened to have developed feelings for him.

I took a tentative step forward and immediately crumbled, before my body could hit the ground a strong pair of arms lifted me up. Immediately the smell of chocolate chip cookies and sea salt invaded my nose. Looking up, Percy came into view. His worried sea-green eyes that dimmed as he shakily smiled at me.

"Hello, Nico..." Percy helped me to my feet, they wobbled but I had been through Tartarus and I'm pretty sure I could handle a few government agents prodding and poking me.

"How is he even standing? The amount of damage that was done to him-"

"Who are you?" I cut the lady off.

"Oh I am sorry. My name is Wanda Maximoff."

I nodded in acknowledgement and turned to the boy standing next to her. He squeaked and blushed, gripping onto the straps of his backpack.

"M-my names P-Peter Parker. Geez, dude! You look awful!" He expressed before blushing and stuttering out an apology.

"It's fine Parke-" a crash came from the ceiling. I flinched but stood my ground, until my head buzzed and I almost fell again. Percy swept me off my feet and literally held me bridal style. I always hated my ale skin, it made my blush ten times stronger than it's supposed to.

"Ahhh. You must be Nico. Nice to meet you and all but guys come on. Fury's agents are down and we're all set for a hospital room in the tower." the Iron-man introduced. Of course I knew who Iron-man was. I may have been disconnected from Wi-Fi but I didn't live under a rock.

"What? No! Me and Nico are perfectly capable of getting help ourselves." Percy pulled me closer to his body, which in any other circumstances would have pleased me but right now my back hurt so much.

I groaned in pain and Percy loosely carried me. "Look, son. I understand if you don't trust us." Was that Captain America? "You have every right to be mad at us. But he needs medical attention. Bruce here knows that you guys have weirder DNA than the rest of us but trust me when I say this. You can trust us."

Percy seemed reluctant to go but I just wanted to stay with him. The Avengers may have been our only chance at trying to save whatever was left of me. Was it bad that I used my current state as my advantage? The cheaters always survive. "Percy. Hurts." I whimpered and buried my face into his collar bone making me seem a lot more in pain than in reality.

"Okay, then. Someone going to help fly us out of here? or..." Percy pulled me into a more comfortable position before we were both floating in the air; surrounded my scarlet coloured energy. I didn't even care enough to question it before I passed out of exhaustion.

Percy's Pov

By the time we got to the tower and everyone was racing to get Nico to the Medical bay, he had woken up. "Percy?" he groggily asked. Bruce took some of his blood promising not to let the blood out of my sight.

I looked back to Nico and smiled softly. My hand never letting go of his own, he looked down at them and strocked his thumb over my knuckles in a soft rythem.

"Please Nico, go to sleep. Rest. Who knows what they did to you down there? I'm sorry for not coming in sooner. I-I just-"

"It's fine, thank you. What they did. It felt a lot worse than Tartarus to be honest. Down there it was monsters after monsters and being stuck in a jar with a pomergranite a day in my own solitude. But with them? It was like they found their own personal enjoyment on who could make me scream the loudest, or who's turn in was to cut me open whislt I was awake or who- oh." Nico stopped as he saw the tears rolling down my eyes. "Gods I didn't- I thought you could- you- handle it. I-I uh.. I'm sorry."

Nico looked so guilty and that tugged at my heart strings. I cupped his cheek and leant forward until our forheads were pressed against another. The boys long fring keeping me from seeing kid eyes.

Nico held my wrist and leant closer to my touch. "I promise to protect you Nico," I whispered so only we'd hear. Ghostly smile hovering over Nico made us both grin widely.

"Ahem!" I pulled away from Nico to face the Avengers. My cheeks heating up at all the smug faces the super heroes sent me.

"Well if you're done smothering your boyfriend then we need to start a meeting." Tony informed. My cheekd reddened ever more. I nodded sheepishly and turned my gaze to Nico who had fallen asleep.

Good. Get some rest Neeks.

"Okay then: also we're not dating. Like it... we're um- it just... yeah okay," I mumbled.