The People Who Care

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Never really write angst so let's see how this goes-

I saw a tik tok saying that Nico could've possibly saw in a dream how none of the crew (besides Hazel) wanted to save him and thought it'd be a good fanfic idea. 

Couldn't find the exact tik tok, but it was in a PJO tik tok video on youtube (timestamp: 11:40)

The account is called probably_reading_. 

...

"I just don't understand why you're acting like this, Nico. You make it seem like we don't care about you! We're your friends!"

Nico stopped walking, just for a moment, to turn and look at Percy. He had blown up at him just a few moments prior for constant trying to be his friend when he's made it clear he doesn't want Percy's company. Then he had stormed off, knowing that if that fight continued, Nico would lose it. Unfortunately, Percy couldn't take a hint and followed after him. After coming out to him, Nico hoped that'd be the end with Percy. He was wrong. The yelling had also attracted the attention of the rest of the 7, plus a few bystanders.

"That's because you don't care about me." Nico sneered.

"Is this about Bianca? Nico, I-" Percy began, but Nico cut him off quickly.

"No! It's about the fact that you've known me for five years and were ready to let me die in a jar by myself because I simply wasn't a priority!"

Percy stiffened, and the rest of the 7 shifted uncomfortably. They obviously didn't think Nico knew about how some of them didn't think Nico was worth rescuing. Leo turned on Hazel. "You told him about that? I though you forgave us."

"She didn't tell me anything, Valdez." Nico snapped. "I already knew. You all aren't the only ones who get visions. I watched as the three of you," Nico pointed at Jason, Leo, and Percy, "thought saving me was an inconvenience. A trap?" Jason flinched. That was exactly what he had said when Hazel brought up saving Nico. It could be a trap.

"And you three," Nico started again, turning to Piper, Annabeth, and Frank. "you just sat there while they decided I should die."

Annabeth straightened. "To be fair, Nico. Nobody really knew where your loyalties lie. You did lie about knowing about both camps. And you lied about knowing Percy."

"Oh I'm sorry! I should've made more of an effort to help the camps that treated me like garbage for years simply because of who my dad was! Yes, I definitely should've ruined Hera's master plan so she'd kill me on the spot. So smart, Annabeth!" Nico replied, his voice dripping in sarcasm. Percy stepped up to Nico, more upset than he was earlier.

"Watch it, Nico. Annabeth was just telling the truth. You've done some messed up things."

"And you haven't?" Nico asked with a raised brow. "You didn't try slice my throat when I was betrayed by my father. You didn't forget about Bob, leaving him in Tartarus alone after lying about your friendship? Because you're just a saint, aren't you? Why, you're about to bring your sword to my neck again aren't you?"

Percy, as did everyone else, looked down to see his hand in his back pocket. It was out of instinct, sure, but Percy was still ready to unleash Riptide.

"Just admit it!" Nico yelled. "The only one who cares about me here is Hazel. And if she didn't, I'd be dead, because that's what you all really want. And you wonder why I don't want to be your friends."

The six out of the seven looked at Nico in shock. They all wanted to say something, anything that would justify this but, they couldn't because they was no reasoning what they've done to Nico. They were supposed to be the good guys, but were they really if they treated someone on their team this badly? Nico, upon seeing their crestfallen faces, walked away. He couldn't deal with being around these people right now. 

Hazel glared at Percy, multiple cured diamonds popping up at her feet. "You held a sword to my brother's neck?"

"Well- I- I thought he betrayed me!"

"So you tried to kill him??" Hazel shouted. "He was twelve, Percy. And from what I heard, you trusted the wrong person when you were twelve too."

The camp fell silent. Everyone knew who Hazel was referring to, yet a name was never spoken. She, too, stormed off, with Frank close behind.

Meanwhile, Nico continued walking. He didn't know where he was going until he got there. The camp infirmary. Will was waiting.

"Are you okay?"

"Just peachy." Nico said with a false smile.

Will frowned. "I saw what just happened, Nico. And you killed like, two trees on your way here. You are far from peachy."

Nico walked past him, into one of the empty rooms. Will followed suit.

They sat in silence for a while, until Will spoke up again. "You know, what you said about Hazel being the only one who cares about you isn't true. I care about you too."

Nico snorted because, really, it was that laughable to him. "Sure you do, Solace."

"I mean it!" Will said, with much more assertiveness than before, "The camps might now appreciate you but I do. Why do you think I've been working so hard to make sure you're healthy? Why do you think I wanted to hold your hand so badly in the middle of a war??"

"Cause you're an idiot?" Nico guessed.

Will rolled his eyes with no hurt behind it. "Because I like you, Nico. I care about you. And besides, Percy kinda deserved that reality check you gave him." Nico raised his brow, prompting Will to continue. "Have I ever told you about what happened during the Battle of Manhattan?"

"You claimed you rode a motorcycle and I didn't see it cause I was in the Underworld."

"Which is completely true!" Will argued. "But, that's not what I'm talking about. I meant when I lost my brothers."

Nico nodded quietly. It was always a hard subject for Will, the loss of his brother. Nico didn't know them well, since they were older and he was hardly at camp, but they seemed like nice guys. Nico paid Charon for them so they could enter and go to Elysium, even though they could never get a proper funeral. "A bridge collapsed with them on it. Nobody found their bodies."

Will flashed a sad smile. "I was there when it happened. I knew they were dead but... I wanted to find their bodies anyway. Percy stopped me before I could."

Nico's head shot up so fast his neck cracked. "Excuse me?"

Will nodded. "He pulled me away, saying that I had to heal Annabeth. I guess a wound literally anybody else could've fixed with some bandages was more important than both of my dead brothers." Will muttered the last part, almost sounding... bitter.

If Nico wasn't angry before, he was now. Hurting him, that's one thing. But hurting the few people he really cared about, that was unforgivable. Will noticed the rage flickering in his eyes and put a reassuring hand on Nico's shoulder. He recognized the action. It was the same thing he did to calm down Clarisse just a few months ago. Nico wondered if this was an Apollo kid power or if Will just had a calming presence.

"Hey, I know that look. Fighting isn't going to get us anywhere. It'll really just make things worst."

"You're right." Nico sighed, sinking into the infirmary bed. "As usual."

Will smiled, lying down next to him. "I'm great like that."

The boys rolled over so they were facing each other.

"Thank you for caring about me. And, if it's any consolation, Micheal and Lee got Elysium."

Will stared at him, a look of shock and happiness on his face. "Really? B-But they didn't get a funeral."

"You have your powers, Solace. I have mine."

Will leaned forward to kiss the top of Nico's forehead. "Thank you."

"No, thank you."

"For what?"

Nico smiled for the first time in what felt like ages.

"Thank you for caring about me."


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