Summary: No, he's not really angry. It's more of an emptiness.
Pairing: Reynico
Time frame: during!War ; AU. ( I know I said it should be set in the same universe, but I'll make a note whenever they're deviant from the "supposed" timeline. haha )
Notes: thank you, so much for the favourites, follows and the reviews! I got a little stuck with this one because I never really found one I really liked? ahh, well.

C is for Chantepleurer ( French )

Singing and crying at the same time.

Nico remembers his mother very, very faintly. He doesn't quite recall her like how Hazel does, and he's both a little upset and a little relieved that he doesn't. What he does remember is a voice, singing a lullaby in his native tongue, soft and sweet. He remembers Bianca singing to him when the nightmares of skeleton arms and ghostly soldiers haunt him. Nico recalls someone else singing the exact same song though, with a voice just as melodic and a smile just as warm as Bianca's.

But now is not the time for nostalgic memories. Now, he is at war and the girl he has spent what feels like the longest fourteen days of his life has taken a hit meant for him. Suddenly, nothing is warm and nothing is sweet.

Reyna falls to her knees, defiant as she tries to raise to her feet with her sword as her support. Nico thinks everything is moving in slow motion when he sees the monster hover above her, raising sharpened nails before he sees them piercing the other side of her cape.

Anger overtakes his senses and the next thing he knows, there is only golden dust scattered across the field and on his clothes. Nico quickly gets on his knees as he gathers Reyna into his arms.

"Calm down, calm down." he mumbles, more to himself than to her. She is always calm, even when there is a gaping hole in the chink of her golden armor. "The Apollo kids, they'll be here soon." he explains, pushing hair out of her eyes and accidentally smearing more blood across her forehead. "They can sing a song to Apollo - to heal. Just-just, hang in there."

"Why... don't you sing?"a voice wheezes out with an airy breath. Nico jumps slightly, but glares and grimaces at the little smile Reyna cracks while she hacks out a lung when trying to laugh.

"Shut up." Nico whispers and puts pressure on her wound, trying to stop the bleeding. Reyna's face contorts to an expression of pain and he hears her almost whimper. Almost.

"So... you really -" a sharp intake of breath "- won't grant a... girl's dying wish?" he snaps his head to look back at her. She tries not to drop the teasing tone in her voice. Nico finds this oddly applaudable, if the situation hadn't been so dire.

"Don't talk." he murmurs in that quiet commanding voice of his. His hands are starting to shake but he doesn't pay them any mind. He leans down further, his forehead touching hers as he says against her chapped lips, "and you're not going to die, do you hear me, Praetor?"

"Fortuna is not on my side." she explains with a tiny little smile.

"No." he says firmly, a little louder this time. "No, you've been pestering me about that lullaby ever since you heard me humming." It was a story for another time. "And you can continue doing that after this."

( You're going to make it, Reyna, he wants to say but his words are caught in his throat. He's still so awkward and distant and he hates himself for it when she's so, so close. )

"Nico, please." she pleads quietly. Queens don't beg, he wants to tease her, but the urgency in her voice makes him bite his tongue. "Sing me to sleep."

( If it has to be anyone, I want it to be you )

He remembers suddenly that he told her about his mother, or what little he remembers of her, and of Bianca, and of a lullaby he grew up listening to. Nico sees obsidian orbs soften and he gives up trying to convince her to stop.

"...Fa la ninna, fa la nanna." he begins, a soft murmur while he haphazardly tears part of her purple toga to wrap around her bleeding head carefully. She smiles, but her eyes are growing darker. "Nella - Nella braccia... Della mamma."

"Fa la ninna bel bambin," he croaks out and cradles her head closer to his chest. He chokes on his own sobs while doing his best to curl up closer to her - as close he can get. She's so cold now, he suddenly notices, so, so cold. Nico readjusts his hold on Reyna. He lets one arm hold her up, trying to get her to breathe as much air as possible while simultaneously keeping her mere centimeters away for warmth. Nico's bad arm fumbles with her hand, loosening the iron-grip she keeps on her golden dagger. "Fa la nanna bambin bel."

His voice is shaky as he sings and he is entirely out of practice. Reyna doesn't seem to mind though. He reaches up shakily with his free hand, brushes stray locks of hair away from her face. She's paling and he wonders angrily where the Apollo kids are.

No, he's not really angry. It's more of an emptiness.

( When Percy and the others find him, both his tears and his song hasn't stopped yet. Jason mourns with him, silent and solemn )