PJO/HOO one-shots

Siren's Song

((SPOILERS FOR HEROES OF OLYMPUS DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT READ 'THE LOST HERO'))

(As you guessed it - Percico! But...with a twist. Basically, I got inspired to write a non-canon scene about Nico's time in Tartarus. Uncle Rick never really wrote about what happened to our little Death Breath during his time in Tartarus, so I wanted to see where I could take it. Also wanted to apologize for such a long hiatus, I've been struggling with writers block for months. Took me almost a week just to crank out this 1000 word one-shot. So I hope you enjoy, please show some love, and feel free to comment ideas or pairings you would like to see! Enough of my rambling, now let's get to the good stuff.)

~~~~~~~~~~

When Nico was in Tartarus, it was worse than Christian hell could ever be imagined. After a very, very close call he managed to get Charon's boat out from under him with some help from a couple lost souls. He had no idea how long he was passed out for though once the deed was done.

When he awoke, he found himself at the river Phlegethon - the river of fire - that ran through Tartarus. The heat from the flames were almost unbearable, yet the boat kept him safe from it's effects. The son of Death was beginning to believe that he was starting to feel like death itself.

He felt like he was coming unhinged, his thoughts hazed and his mind fogged over. A sudden burst of delirium began to hit him, washing over him with a shiver. Then he heard a voice - a voice that he recognized all too well. It filled his ears and pierced through his soul until wails pierced his ears, causing his heart to lurch.

"Nico!" The voice that rang out was none other than the Son of Poseidon, or what was trying to portray him.

On a small island off to the Ghost King's left laid a siren with it's fangs gleaming underneath the river's fiery light. It's scaly torso sat on the edge of the gravel, leading down to a slimy fish sickly green tail that flickered throughout the flames. It's hands had talons that beckoned toward the son of Hades and through the flames in his delirious state, all he saw was a sweaty Percy Jackson and the fear that shone in the older male's sea green eyes.

"Percy!" Nico cried out, running as fast as his sore feet could take him to the bow of the boat. "Why are you here? What are you doing?!" He shouted, his expression turning from confused to concern when what he saw was Percy jump right into the flames.

"Nico!" The sea prince wailed, his voice lulling the Ghost King to want to move closer even though if he did the fire of the river would surely incinerate him. The siren moved towards the boat near the flames. As it swam effortlessly, it put up a mirage of the Sea Prince, seemingly unscathed by the heat. It dared itself closer until it was rearing the boat.

In the son of Hades eyes, he saw Percy swimming through the river, a blue glistening sheen illuminating him almost like a protective second skin keeping him safe from flames. It wasn't too soon before Nico was pulling the siren up into the boat. As soon as the siren was on the boat, it held onto Nico, digging it's claws into his skin. The pain didn't register, as all Nico could think about was that he finally had the Sea Prince in his arms.

"I've been looking for you, Nico.." The siren's talons raked its way down the son of Hades chest and sides, slashing the already ruffled and dirtied grey shirt. Blood began to seep down the sirens grotesque hand as it held the Ghost King's dark black eyes captive. "I've been longing for you, Nico..." It bared its teeth, eager for its next meal - but not without cooking it first. "Please.. follow me.." The creature detached one of its claws from the Ghost King, using its other to now sink its talons into his arm. The siren began to lurk backwards, towards the edge of the boat as he pulled Nico with him.

Nico took a stumbling step forward, entrapped in what he thought was the son of Poseidon's gaze. "Percy... where are we going?" The younger male began to mumble as he could feel the fatigue setting through his body, unaware that he had several leaking wounds.

It was a split second, but the younger male saw flashes of visions that struck hidden memories within his head. A floppy green hat and a small figurine. A olive toned face with freckles and the Lotus Hotel Casino sign shining brightly behind. With the flashes came a voice that cut through the siren's enchantment, a familiar female voice that faded away as soon as it came. "Nico... be strong for me, okay?"

"Wait.." For a moment he faltered and stopped in his tracks. He shook his head, trying to part ways with the haziness that was overtaking him. The fog in his mind was just about to part until a pained wail shook through him, and angelic singing began to run through his mind again. The only thing that snapped him out of dissociated state was when he noticed the older male teetering at the edge of the boat they were in. "Jackson, are you out of your mind?!" He exclaimed weakly.

The singing rang around the son of Hades, this time seeming to propel his own legs forward towards the edge. He extended his arm out to grab the sea prince and before he knew it Percy was pulling him towards the fiery river. In a blink of an eye, the son of Poseidon disappeared and was replaced by the true monster hiding behind the facade.

The Ghost King yowled in pain as he realized the talons digging into the arm that refused to let go. His ankles were pressed against the very edge of the bow in the boat as he tried to shake his arm free of the siren's grip, the monster flailing around in the firey river. He couldn't help but curse in Italian while the talons scraped down his shoulder to his hand, leaving even more gashes that marked his pale skin.

In one swift movement he crouched and grabbed his sword. The black Stygian iron blade hissed in the humid air as he swung it in front of him, severing the siren's head. The siren's head rolled off into the flames as its body fell into the fiery mass that surrounded them. It dissolved into steam with a hiss as the son of Hades collapsed to the ground. His breathing was ragged, his clothes were stained with blood and his heart felt deceived. He knew it was fruitless to hope that it was actually Jackson, yet the weariness he felt blindsided him.

Nico felt like he was walking the edge of a blade, between life and death. He looked at his surroundings towards the open flames and dark shadows, nothing but cavern walls lit by the fire of the river. He could hear screams of tortured souls, growls and snarls from monsters he wasn't even sure if he wanted to know existed. Then came the voice again, the one that nearly cleared the fog.

"We've got no one but each other..."

The son of Hades sat up quickly, his dark eyes wide and alert. His heart was beating fast as his eyes scanned as far as he could see. "Bianca..?" He called out. After waiting several minutes, nothing answered back. He could feel his heart sink from getting his hopes up once again while he laid himself back down. He stared up at the sky around him that glowed faintly of red. From blood or from the flames, he wasn't quite sure which when down in Tartarus.

The exhausted Ghost King could feel his eyelids getting heavy. yet he tried to force them as open as they could be. They began to flutter shut and as Nico was just about to doze off, he heard that soft familiar voice again. "I've got you, fratellino. I've got you..."