"It's just not right, Percy!" Annabeth shouted, her stormy eyes brimming with tears. Percy clenched his jaw against the onslaught of accusations and angry shouts. Annabeth rarely cried. She was a strong girl, But apparently her conscious weighed on her more than it weighed on percy.

"Annabeth, I did it to save our asses."

"You went too far!"

"What else could i have done?!"

Annabeth gulped, rubbing her eyes. She shot one last angry glare at him and stormed away, struggling to maintain her dignity. Percy ran a calloused hand through his hair and sighed. He honestly had no idea what the fuss was about. He kept a miserly old goddess from killing both of them. So what if he had to control her bodily fluids? It had kept them alive, it sent the goddess sprinting away wailing curses, but annabeth wasn't having any of it. He watched annabeth's retreating back until she disappeared into her cabin, slamming the door. The last rays of sun disappeared behind the horizon, completely leaching the world of color. Crickets chirped cheerfully in the darkness. Percy turned on his heel and walked towards the lake, ignoring the little voice in the back of his head that said You're breaking curfew! Stop walking! Dionysus will turn you into a dolphin!

He sat on the sandy beach, far off in the corner where the woods met the white sand, hiding in the shadows of the trees where no one could see him. He touched his finger into the cool lake water, healing a few blisters and cuts from falling off the lava wall earlier in the day. He sulked in the darkness, cursing the gods for putting him through more anger and distraught, even after defeating Gaea. He was supposed to be happy. He was supposed to have a nice, quiet life with Annabeth right here in camp half-blood. He remembered her adamantly refusing to live in New Rome, claiming that she didn't feel right there. Percy scowled. The little voice was back. But you didn't want a quiet life did you? You want adventure. Admit it, you've been bored these past months, after the quest, after everything, You're bored.

They had only finished the quest three months ago. Leo had disappeared a week after coming back to camp, saying something about finding the island he was marooned on. Frank had to go back to New Rome because of his praetor duties, taking Hazel with him. Jason and Piper stayed at camp, and though they chatted regularly with percy, they spent most of their time together, alone. Coach Hedge lived in the forest with his family, and visited the camp often, waving his baseball bat and calling them all cupcakes. Nico had also stayed in camp, though Percy rarely saw the kid. He hardly ever showed up during meals. More than anything, Percy wanted to make up with the son of Hades. He had been Unfair. Nico had saved their asses more times than he could count, so why was he holding a grudge? If Nico hadn't hated spending time with other campers in the first place, he could've sworn the boy was avoiding him.

Percy must have dozed off, because a moment later, the tide came in and Percy was half submerged in water. He rubbed the sleep from his eyes and stood up. percy watched the water lap up over his shoes, sad memories engulfing his brain. He shook his head, sending droplets of water flying, and started back towards camp. It must have been three in the morning.

He paused. There was a noise coming from the woods. It didn't sound natural. In fact, it sounded like a dying rabbit. It was a high keening sound, barely loud enough to hear. Percy considered ignoring it, but it was so quiet and miserable and too pitiful to bear. Percy pulled riptide from his pocket, uncapping it and peering into the darkness with the light of his sword. He saw nothing. There was nothing left to do but make his way to the source of the sound. He was barely two steps in when he saw a cat. it slinked out of the darkness like a shadow, into the bronze light. He had never seen a cat in these woods before. It was small and black, and it brought painful memories of small Bob. But the cat wasn't making a sound. The keening was coming from deeper the woods. Scooping the cat into his free arm, Percy raised riptide and edged closer, its dim light reflecting off the leaves. The dense foliage opened into a little clearing. Percy saw nothing. He was close to giving up and retreating back to camp, but he heard the high keening sound again. The cat struggled against his grip and ran across the clearing and into the shadows. The sound stopped abruptly. A low, broken voice spoke.

"Wren? Wren, what is it?"

Percy stepped back, startled, and nearly tripped over a log. A crack echoed through the woods as percy crushed a twig underfoot. The crickets stopped chirping. A dark figure that Percy had mistaken for a shadow stood up and moonlight shone on his pale features.

"Nico?" Percy asked.

The boy seemed to materialize in front of him, almost making Percy fall again.

"What are you doing here, Jackson?" Nico hissed, the cat- Wren- perched on his shoulder. he gripped his black sword tightly in his hand, his knuckles white. Percy blinked. He hadn't seen him up close for- well, three months. The kid looked thinner than ever, his eyes sunken and his cheekbones sharp. Percy saw that his eyes were a little red and puffy. Like an idiot, the first thing he said was, "What's with the cat?"

Nico said nothing. He stared at percy in utter disbelief, as if unsure if he should answer or run him through with his sword. "His name is Wren?" Percy ventured, when Nico showed no signs of responding.

"She." muttered Nico. he took a step back, but his sword was still raised and ready to stab him.

"Never seen a cat around here."

Nico glared at him. "Why do you care?"

Percy frowned, remembering that he wanted to make up with the kid, and this was likely to be his only chance.

"I just care." percy paused and asked, "Were you crying?"

wrong question.

Nico's face twisted into a grimace and he stalked off, back into the woods, with the cat still pacing his shoulders. His sword glinted as he pushed it back through his belt.

"Nico- NICO!" But the boy had vanished. percy was reminded of the time nico had run away screaming hateful words all those years ago, when Percy had admitted that his sister was dead.

He cursed himself inwardly and made his way slowly back to camp, kicking stones and staring up at the starry sky.

Percy jolted awake, clutching at his pale blue sheets. he was sweaty and a bit cold. His black hair was plastered to his forehead. He pulled his sheets up against his chest. The sun was just barely rising, which meant he had been asleep for less than two hours. He rolled over without realizing that he was at the very edge of the bed, and fell to the floor, landing roughly on his face. Deciding that going down for some bacon would be the best way to heighten his mood, percy dragged himself up and pulled on a shirt.

Nico di angelo was not seen at all that day. This wasn't unusual, since he was rarely seen by anybody, but Percy worried about last night ,knowing that he had upset him. He cringed at the memory of him storming off into the woods. He should have stopped Nico. He should have forced him to listen, even though Nico probably thought the only thing Percy cared about was the cat. Percy resolved to make up with the ghost king later. But for now, with Annabeth at her table chewing on a small slice of pizza and throwing him filthy looks, he would stay here and train at the lava wall.

Percy went to Nico's cabin after lunch. There were little holes in his shirt where flecks of lava had landed, and his eyebrows were singed. The cabin was all glossy obsidian and shadows, and it terrified the other campers, who stayed well away from it. He knocked on the door and waited. There was a thump and incoherent muttering. A moment later, the door swung open, revealing an extremely groggy looking Nico. Percy gasped and bit the inside of his cheek, the metallic taste of blood filling his mouth.

Nico stood in the doorway, grumpy and sour, but that wasn't what Percy was looking at. Nico was shirtless, revealing just how thin he had become. Ribs stood out sharply against his translucent, pallid skin. Percy could make out white scars that ran up nicos chest and shoulders. His arms were a bit muscled from constant sword fighting, but they were too slender. His fingers were long and skeletal. He wore black skull-and-crossbones pajama pants, which would have been cute if they hadn't hung so loosely over his hips. Nico shifted self consciously.

"Hey, eyes up here sea man," Nico snapped. Percy swallowed. Nico's features had been blurred in the darkness of last night and percy couldn't have seen his face clearly. His cheeks were hollow and his eyes glinted dangerously in his sunken sockets. On top of that, he looked utterly exhausted. His dark glossy hair was tousled and curled around his ears. there were dark shadows under his drooping eyes, and his mouth was set in a tired scowl. Percy saw a glint in the dark room behind him. Nico's sword hung off a leather strap that was nailed to the wall next to the door. the metal was dark and glittered like nicos eyes.

"Percy, are you okay?" Nico peered at him with concern. Percy realized that his mouth was slightly agape and he quickly closed it.

"Am I okay?" Percy exclaimed. "Have you seen yourself lately?"

Perhaps it was the fact that Nico always wore his heavy aviator jacket or a hoodie on warmer days, but Percy should have noticed Nicos weight. He should have seen it earlier, even from far away, he should have seen it in his face or his thin hands. Nico glowered at him.

"I'm fine." He began to close the door.

Percy stuck a foot out as Nico slammed the door on it.

Percy groaned, his eyes watering. Nico sighed, opening the door again. "Percy, what do you want?"

"I came to apologize," Percy muttered, withdrawing his foot and leaning against the doorframe. Nico raised a slender eyebrow. "For last night."

"Really? Well, what did you do wrong?" Nico shifted his weight onto one foot, crossing his arms. Percy frowned.

"I shouldn't have upset you. and the cat," Percy said.

"Upset me?" Nico's eyes narrowed.

"Well- I mean-," percy stuttered, taken off guard by the look in Nico's eyes. "Why were you crying then?"

A painful look flashed across Nicos face before it twisted into a sneer. "What's it to you Jackson? You gonna take care of me? You gonna let me cry into your shoulder?"

Percy felt anger heat his cheeks. What was this guy's problem? He came here to apologize, all Nico had to do was accept it. Percy showed a little concern and he was met with scorn. Nico was about to close the door again when Percy grabbed his hand and threw the door open. Nico tugged against Percy's grip. "Let- go- Jackson!"

"Nico, why aren't you talking to anyone? I get it if you dont want to see the others, but what about me? Annabeth?"

"It's none of your fucking business!" Nico yelled. Campers were starting to peer out the windows of their cabins, wondering at the shouts.

"I just wanted you to take care of yourself! I know its not my job to look after your skinny ass. I'm not your mother Nico!" Nico froze. His eyes were terrifying and Percy felt his hand suddenly turn cold in his grasp.

"What did you say to me?" His voice was barely a whisper.

"I- what?"

"My mother, Jackson. She's dead. She died years ago in a fancy four star hotel. Do you think i'm just pining for a new mother? Do you think i want a replacement?"

"No- I just-"

"I don't want your intimacy, Jackson." nico's voice was rising, along with percy's temper. "Or your stupid sympathy."

"That's not what I said!"

Nico grabbed his sword from the leather strap with his free hand, the other still locked in Percy's grip.

"What do you want from me then, Jackson?!" Nico brought his sword down on Percy's hand, but the other boy jerked his arm away and uncapped his own sword. Percy was angry, and all of his rage was directed at Nico. Percy backed out of the cabin and Nico followed, into the warm sunlight. Nico looked awfully out of place in the sun, with his white skin and pajama pants. The kid probably belonged in the dark. He was also shaking with rage. He lunged, but Percy blocked easily. He stepped forward, almost managing to disarm him, but nico had gotten faster. He twisted out of reach and swung his sword, nicking Percy's forearm. He recoiled, expecting the stygian iron to suck his life from his body. Nothing happened. The cut stung, as if it it had been from celestial bronze. Percy's eyebrows furrowed and he looked up. Little waves of cold were rolling off the son of Hades. He stood in a circle of dead grass. his face was twisted in a snarl and his blade was raised. His eyes seemed a bit red.

It was this redness that softened Percy. Even if nico was being a bit of an dick, they still shouldn't be fighting. And Percy had provoked him and made him fight shirtless and barefoot. Nico should be mad, but certainly not this mad. Campers from the lunch tables had already formed a loose circle around the pair. A few even seemed to be placing bets. Annabeth stood to his right, her arms crossed and her expression stormy. Her dagger hung at her hip.

Percy sighed and raised his arms. "Nico, look-"

He stumbled back. Nico had thrown his sword like a javelin and had caught on the sleeve of Percy's t-shirt, impaling itself into the side of the Hades cabin and forced Percy back a few steps. He had no idea just how much the kid had been practicing. He stared at Nico, shocked. In fact, all the campers were shocked. A few groaned, mumbling about lost drachmas. Percy raised his hand, scrabbling for the sword, but it was stuck fast. A spot of blood appeared where the sword had cut him, but he still didn't feel the sword killing him like it should have. Nico strode forward and brought his face very close to Percy's. And for once, Percy was scared of the skinny, barefoot boy in pajama pants.

"Don't fuck with me Jackson." Nico grinned, but it was a terrifying grin, manic and humorless and cruel. He took the hilt of the sword and for a moment their fingers touched, and again Percy felt just how cold the boy's hands were before Nico wrenched the blade from the cabin wall. He stomped back inside, slamming the door, and percy stared after him with mingled feelings of terror, relief, and confusion.