#ONLY SLIGHTLY PICO I SWEAR JUST UNDERTONES FOCUS ON THE ANGST

[spider-ghoul]

Thinking about Nico di Angelo when he gets a little sibling. They're only ten.

The next few days, Nico withdraws from... everyone. Everyone but that kid. He barely says anything. He skips meals, he's missing half of the time, only being seen by his new sibling and a few campers who see him alone on the beach or in the shadows.

Percy notices, and he starts to worry. After a few days of trying to reach Nico he finally corners him.

"Nico what is going on?"

"it doesn't matter-"

"no one has seen you in a week it sure as hell matters. Where have you been? What's wrong?"

"and why do you care?!"

"..cause I'm your friend."

"...you wouldn't understand."

"i want too-"

"They're ten, Percy! Ten! Ten years old! I was ten! I was only ten years old! And she left me!"

And Percy freezes, the realization dawning on him, Bianca.

"...I would never leave them like Bianca left me. How..how could she do that to me, Percy? When I could never do that to them?"

"Nico.."

But percy hesitates. He doesn't have an answer. How could he know what to say?

And nico just shakes his head, dissolving into the shadows.