3rd Person POV

The shrill shriek pierced the otherwise peaceful air of Camp Half-Blood. Percy jolted up from his bed, goosebumps running up his bare skin. Ignoring the fact that he was only in sweats and barefoot, he ran out of his cabin to the person he knew had emitted the scream.

Some of the neighboring cabins turned on their lights, but they were quickly shut off as they shrugged off the scream. Percy thanked the gods as he ran that he didn't scream again.

After what felt like an eternity, Percy flung the door open to the Hades cabin open, and the door slammed abruptly against the frame, shutting with a bang. His heart nearly broke at the sight before him.

Nico was thrashing around violently in his sleep, murmuring someone's name under his breath, pleading for them to run. Sweat dripped down his forehead from his nightmare, which Percy quickly wiped away.

He sat at the foot of Nico's bed, gently shaking the son of Hades' leg, trying to get him to wake up.

"Nico," Percy said anxiously, "wake up. It's just a nightmare. Wake up." He then grabbed Nico's shoulders and began shaking him again. Nico screamed again, and Percy clamped a hand over the younger boy's mouth, muffling the noise. Percy winced when Nico accidently bit down on his hand, but it was worth it to keep him quiet.

Nico's eyes flew open, and he abruptly sat up, colliding head first into Percy. Both boys were knocked back slightly, and each rubbed the sore spot on their heads.

"Gods, you have a hard head," Percy muttered, still massaging his forehead.

"Percy? What are you doing here?" Nico asked rather coldly.

"Trying to wake you up. You screamed, and I figured you were having a nightmare. Came here trying to get you to stop."

It was at that moment Nico realized that Percy's entire torso was uncovered and found himself staring at his cousin's washboard stomach. He was lithe, like a swimmer, and had definitely gained muscles over the past few months. Nico felt himself blush, and Percy followed his gaze, making him realize that he was half-naked in front of his cousin.

Percy laughed nervously. "Sorry that I'm not dressed."

"I-It's okay," Nico stammered, his blush only growing. He had gotten over his feelings for Percy a while ago, but his ideals were still those of the 40s-you only saw your spouse undressed.

"Back to why I'm here…Are you okay?"

Nico glared at Percy. "Do you think I'm okay? You know what happened as much as I do."

Percy flinched, but the familiar feeling of sadness settled over him. "Yeah, I do. I'm sorry."

"For what? You weren't there, Percy," Nico said with anger lacing his voice. "You couldn't have saved them-either one of them."

It was Percy's turn to glare at Nico. "I know that I couldn't save them, Nico!" he whisper shouted, anger clouding his usually calm judgement. "I wish that I could've been there, or have done something to change what happened, but I wasn't. And I live with that regret every single day."

"I know how you feel. It's only been two weeks, but it feels like an eternity."

Percy had stopped responding, staring at a point on Nico's wall, desperately trying to conceal the forming tears. He had pulled Nico into an embrace, mumbling that everything would be okay as Nico let silent sobs rack his body. Soon enough Percy's own salty tears joined the mix, tracing down his cheeks and dripping off his chin onto Nico's hair. Both boys tried to comfort each other in their embrace, but the people they wanted to be comforted by would never be able to do it again.

Two weeks ago, Apollo personally came to Camp Half-Blood, declaring a quest to kill the Python and restore the Oracle of Delphi. Will had been appointed leader; the prophecy called for Annabeth, specifically; and Cecil and Lou Ellen also tagged along. The four were teleported to the Greek mainland, trying to locate Delphi.

Something went wrong-no one knew yet-but the only person to return alive was Cecil. He was still in shock of seeing his best friend and girlfriend died that he refused to talk about the quest. Yes, they had succeeded-that much he told-but it came at the cost of three honorable heroes.

Percy and Nico took the news the hardest. It wounded them even more when Apollo told them that there was nothing salvageable of the bodies, so neither one of them would get to say their proper goodbyes. Their pyres would burn without a body.

Percy wouldn't come out of his cabin for a week, not bothering to even go to eat at the pavilion. He was hollow. He and Annabeth had been a team ever since they were twelve; she had kept him rooted to the mortal world when he bathed in the Styx; they'd been through Tartarus together; they finally defeated Gaea and were going to live in New Rome together-but all of those dreams were shattered by some stupid quest. He had been planning to ask for Athena's blessing to marry Annabeth in time, but that would never happen now. He would never see her smile again; or the way her eyes lit up when talking about architecture; or how she'd fondly call him Seaweed Brain before kissing him.

She was gone.

The only reason Percy didn't kill himself was that Annabeth would want him to move on from her, to continue living his life without her. She would've never forgiven him if he acted in such cowardice. He was alive, which was no small feat. Percy knew her enough that she'd die a thousand deaths to keep him alive, and he was willing to do the same for her.

For Nico, Will had been the only reason other than Jason's pleas to stay at camp. He had made sure Nico recovered in the infirmary after nearly forcing himself into the shadows, being there every step of the way. Will was endearing in his own way; what with his medical puns and sunny disposition (A/N Pun very much intended) he occasionally made Nico crack a smile, something not many could claim to do. Will made Nico feel secure, something he never felt ever since Bianca's death two years ago.

It surprised Nico that Will managed to get the skeletal butterflies in his stomach to flutter whenever he looked at the son of Apollo-a feeling he last felt when he first met Percy. He didn't think he'd fall in love with Will-darkness and light don't mix-but the cliché saying was true: Opposites attract. Over the course of a few months, Nico became comfortable enough with Will to tell him about his feelings. Not too long after, they told their group of close friends to which they received cheers and congratulations.

Soon enough many campers knew about their relationship too, determined to call them as the Aphrodite children put it, Solangelo. In public, whenever they held hands or kissed, Nico would blush heavily, his ideals still ingrained in his brain. Will didn't make Nico uncomfortable, and if the younger boy asked him to stop, he would, because he would do anything for his Death Breath.

Nico reacted in a similar manner to Percy, never leaving his cabin for anything except for the day of the pyre burning. He remembered when Kayla, one of Will's sisters, lowered the torch on Will's golden shroud, tears cascading down her face in silence. Nico let his sobs consume him, running as far away from the burning shroud as he could, fleeing into the woods. At the time, he didn't care if a monster would kill him, because he would've reunited with Will.

But Nico knew that if he joined Will anytime soon, the blonde would be elated to be reunited, but would give him a sad look, as if saying: Why did you follow me? For the same reasons as Percy, he didn't kill himself. Yes, one time he did make one cut three inches deep-one inch for each person lost-but it was more in remembrance than intentionally trying to commit suicide. His scar would never let him forget about the people he loved.

He was gone, though, and Nico knew that.

He knew that he was never going to be comforted by Will again; or hugged; or teased; or used as a human pillow; or any other thing the boys normally did when alone together. And it was all because of the gods damned prophecy Apollo issued.

Both Percy and Nico's relationship with the sun god became increasingly strained, and they both admitted to almost attacking him in a form of retribution for his actions. Only their morals kept them from brutally attacking Apollo, not caring if he screamed as his ichor decorated their blades.

But now, here, in the present, both boys were fine with holding each other for company, grieving over their respective loss in the dark, away from the prying eyes that the sunlight brought with it.

A/N This is my first story, and I'm still learning how to better my writing. I am open to constructive criticism, but please, no flames. If you like, feel free to leave a review! I want to see how this first chapter is received, but I do have the next few chapters pre-written if my story does well. This story is rated T, for future reference. If you guys have any questions, ask away; I'll answer what I can without giving away the entire plotline. Virtual cookies for everyone! (::) (::) (::) Thanks for reading! ~RainbowSpark18