The Secret Singer

Nico woke in a sweat, but what else was new? The nightmares still haunted him but the thought of letting them break loose on his friends made it more bearable.

After his second trip to Tartarus, he noticed Will being very affected by the nightmares it caused. It hurt him to see his boyfriend so scared and distraught, so he asked Clovis to teach him to dream walk. It had started simple and with his parenthood, he caught on quickly. He was able to jump into Will's mind as they slept and it seemed to calm both of them.

Soon, Nico was a master but that wasn't enough yet. Percy and Annabeth had visited a month or so later and admitted that they were still tormented every night. It was then Nico found a special power that not even the Hypnos cabin had. Dream catching.

It was actually more 'nightmare catching' but he had found a way to take nightmares from other's minds and collect them into his own. The better he knew the person, the better it worked. There was only one downside and that was the fact that Will and Nico slept in the same bed every night. Usually, Nico found that fact a good thing, but it was hard to take nightmares away from people right next to him so most of the time Will would have nightmares anyway. That was part of the reason Nico picked to tour so far away from his boyfriend.

He sat up in his small bed that was set up backstage. The band, tech crew, and McCassy all slept in the same room with him so their sleeping bodies covered the floor even though light was shining through the window behind him.

Nico carefully stood from his sleeping bag on the floor and tiptoed to the door at the other side of the room. He pulled it open and closed it quietly behind him as he walked into the dimly lit room on the other side.

The room was a small break room hidden backstage with coffee machines and muffins he had bought them all the previous day. He grabbed one of said muffins, and walked to a small couch up against the wall. He sat down and quietly ate his muffin as he let his eyes adjust to being awake.

Today he'd get to go back to Camp. He'd get to see Will again. It ate him up the last two weekends that he couldn't be with his boyfriend, but John, his boss guy, told him he had to go. Of course Nico enjoyed it too, he got to sing and dance with a hundred people every night and they were always so energetic. But, he just wished Will could be there with him. When he had recruited Piper and Leo to sing with him, Shel and Calypso had come to watch, and when Piper performed again with McCassy, Shel came again. He wanted to look out in the crowd and find Will as he sang one of his love songs. He wanted to show Will how many times he came to his mind when he wrote songs. Last night at the concert, Nico could have sworn he felt his presence. The warmth and comfort Will always had radiating off him was there that night and it had made Nico almost believe Will could have been there too.

The door to the small bedroom creaked open and Susie, Nico's assistant, walked quietly out into the room.

"Boungiorno," Nico greeted.

"Boungiorno," Susie replied sleepily. She too was raised in Italy and brought to America as a child.

Susie walked over to the coffee machine and turned it on. As the coffee heated up, he phone rang. She took it out of her back pocket and answered with a businesses-like, "hello."

Sighing, Nico took out his secret stash of magical pills from Lou Ellen. When he'd realized he'd be around phones a lot, he had asked the daughter of Hecate to make something to mask his scent as he worked. Lou, being the creative person she is, made a pill that had powerful magic to mask the scent of a Big Three child and probably the scent of any demigod in the same room.

He popped the pill straight into his mouth and swallowed it dry while Susie finished her conversation on the phone and poured herself some coffee.

Susie took her cup and turned to look at Nico was a tired expression, "that was John."

Nico rolled his eyes. "What now."

"He's having you preform another night," she told him sadly as she walked over to where he sat.

Nico's eyes went wide and he jumped up from his seat. "What?"

Susie nodded, "he said there aren't enough shows and you said you wouldn't tour longer than what we had agreed upon so he's adding an extra date."

"No. No, no, no, no, no, no." What about him and Will? And Camp? What about Capture the Flag and the Campfire?

"I'm not doing it," Nico told her, even though he knew it was no use to fight on it.

Knowing that there was nothing she could do, Susie just shook her head.

Nico's heart sank. He had been so excited to go back to Camp and be a demigod again and be able to sleep next to Will that night and now . . . now he had yet another show.

"I need to make a call," was all Nico said as he walked out of the Break Room and to the actual backstage.

***

"You're not coming back?" Will voice through the Iris Message was sad and longing, making Nico feel sick.

"My boss told me I have to stay one more day." The look of disappointment on Will's beautiful, freckly face almost made Nico break down and tell him right then and there.

"Well," Will's voice was quiet but Nico could sense hurt inside it, "I'll see you tomorrow?"

The question at the end twisted Nico's gut and his head screamed at him to tell the truth or forget John and the crew and leave anyway. But, he couldn't do that to them, or the fans. They were already buying tickets to see him and preforming in front of them was one of his new favorite things, but he just wished he didn't have to do it because he was forced to.

"See you tomorrow," Nico said defiantly. "I love you."

"Love you too," Will said with a small smile and they wiped away their messages.

Nico stared at the point where Will's face had been, gut begging him to come back. He needed someone to talk to now. Someone who knew his demigod side and singer side.

He pulled out a drachma and started his mini IM maker again. He said the words and waited as the rainbow shimmered into a person.

"Hey, Death Beath," the boy said.

Nico smiled. "Hey, Curley. You free tonight . . . ?"

***

The crowd was chatting as Nico shoved away those pesky nerves that came every night. McCassy had just finished her part and now it was Nico's turn to wow the crowd. With a signal to Alex to start the song, the opening song began to play and the lights dimmed.

"You got this," McCassy whispered from beside him

Nico gave her a small nod before walked out on stage and bring the mic to his mouth.

Just breath, just relax, it'll be okay

Just an hour 'till your car's in the driveway

Just the first time ever hanging out with you

Tonight

The cheers of the crowd echoed in his ears as he stepped across the stage, making Nico feel like he was floating. His voice sang out the song and it was echoed back to him by the crowd that had gathered in less than a day.

The feeling buzzed his mind and he let his mouth go on auto pilot as he looked out at the dancing fans. He could see the front row people clearly with all the lights, but in the back corners it got a bit harder. Once, he thought he saw Percy and Annabeth, but he had shaken it off and blamed it on his excitement.

All I know

Is this could either break my heart

Or bring it back to life

Git a feeling your electric touch

Could fill this ghost town up with light

And I want

You now

Want to need you forever

In the heat of your electric touch

The song its self was one of Nico's favorites, with it showcasing the fear and excitement that came with loving someone after heartbreak. The thoughts of how it could end or how it could be forever. It was sweet and electric and seeing the crowd scream it back made him smile wider than ever.

And I want

You know

What to need you forever

In the heat of your electric touch

Mm, mm

The song came to a close far faster than Nico would have liked but he smiled and waved to the crowd nonetheless.

"How are you doing tonight, Oakland?" Nico called out.

The crowd screamed and cheered.

"Now, the songs tonight might be a little slow and a little sad," Nico warned. "But I want you to yell these lyrics with me as loud as you can, okay?"

The crowd screamed in agreement and Nico gave a slight nod to the band.

The way you felt in my arms

Our chemistry was sacred

Oh, I fell for your charm

I was so infatuated

But you left me in the dark

And my heart completely vacant

Now I don't know-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

The song was of course about Percy, and most of the songs in his first album were, but it was never him Nico thought about when he sang. He'd instead look out to the crowd and really take the time to give them a good show.

He had complained about doing another show, but he really did love his fans. They were kind and colorful, a perfect contrast to his black and white outfit and stage. He had picked the colors because they were the colors of his first album and his first few years as a demigod. John had wanted Nico to go on a second tour soon after the fist one was over and Nico planned to make it all yellow and orange, a symbol of his new life.

I can take rejection

But you gave the impression

That this was the inception

Of something real

A sudden and terrifying thought came into Nico's mind. Him, onstage singing the song, but it wasn't about Percy anymore. It was about Will.

Nico almost slapped himself. It had been months since he'd had thought about the possibility of Will leaving. He had told him that he'd never leave and now Nico believed that. But then why was he hiding something from him?

How did you look me in the eye

And tell me that you love me

When you knew it was a lie

I was headed for Kentucky

When you called to say goodbye

How did I not see it coming?

Now I don't know-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

I don't know

The song was coming to a close and Nico felt his own words crash into him and backfire on what was supposed to be a healing song.

Now I don't know-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh

The crowd applauded and Nico put a smile on his face for them before the next song started and he could get lost again.

I gamble big for the smallest part

I know it's not

Enough to change what's been going on

But it's all I got

I misjudge and switch up from target to target

Miscalculate what it is that I wanted

Swimming in circles in search of substance

In shallow waters that give me nothing

How can optimist be cynical?

He sang the song but he felt more like he was floating, like he was walking on stage on autopilot. Left, right, center, Right, left, center. Why did he pick those two songs to start out with?

To keep it simple

I think I've been willingly following every impulse

Picturing a future, then tossing it out the window

Suffocate the fire I started right when it kindles

Passionate but fickle

His last note echoed through the crowd before the applause drowned it out. It always amazed Nico how people could make so much noise, and he still had an earpiece in.

He let the crowd applaud him for a moment, taking a breath and letting his voice rest as the band and crew got ready for the next one.

Nico gave a nod to Jake and he started up the next song.

Remember those walls I built?

Well, baby, they're tumbling down

And they didn't even put up a fight

They didn't even make a sound

A smile crept to Nico's lips as he sang. He remembered writing this song. It was right when he'd figured out that he didn't want Will as a friend but as something else instead. He'd just gotten back from the infirmary and he shadow traveled to his room in the Underworld where he sat at his piano, grabbed his notebook, and wrote an entire song in an hour.

It's like I've been awakened

Every rule I had you breakin'

It's the risk that I'm takin'

I ain't ever gonna shut you out

Everywhere I'm looking now

I'm surrounded by your embrace

Baby, I can see your halo

You know you're my savin' grace

The song told of Will as an angel. A man with a glowing halo that had loved him so much that not even the walls Nico himself had carefully crafted around his heart could stop him. They fell, and Nico fell with them.

Hit me like a ray of sun

Burnin' through my darkest night

You're the only one that I want

And I'm addicted to your light

I swore I'd never fall again

But this don't even feel like falling

Gravity can't begin

To pull me back to the ground again

Will made him feel like he was seen. Like he could be worthy of love and could fulfil his dad's wishes of being a happy child of Hades. Even before the Roman emperors and Tartarus, Nico and Will were together. Even if they weren't demigods and just lived normal lives, without the trauma that brought them closer, they'd still be together.

Everywhere I'm looking now

I'm surrounded by your embrace

Baby, I can see your halo

You know your my savin' grace

You're everything I need and more

It's written all over your face

Baby, I can feel your halo

Pray it won't fade away

Nico smiled to the crowd as he sang. The doubts and fears of what Will and he had instore were gone. They were Nico and Will. Will and Nico. Inseparable, even in hell.

The crowd enthusiastically applauded at the finish of the song and Nico quickly ran to the side of the stage where Pablo was holding out his black guitar. He grabbed it, thanked Pablo, and turned back to the stage where Kacy and June had set up his mic stand.

He walked to the edge of the stage and the crowd got incredibly loud again. He positioned his mic and guitar on his lap before looking around at the crowd. There were clapping and colorful fans and guys holding hands with other guys and . . . Percy?

Nico did a double take to the right corner of the room but found just more happy fans. he shook his head a bit, how would Percy be at his concert?

"Hey, y'all," he addressed the crowd and they greeted him back. "Thanks for coming to my last minute show! I try to keep you on your toes."

The crowd cheered in agreement and Nico laughed a little.

"Well," he said, positioning his guitar again, "how about I tell you a story?"

The crowd, knowing what he was saying, screamed so loud Nico wanted to cover his ears. Instead, he strummed the next song.

Let me tell you a story

About a boy and a girl

It's kinda short, kinda boring

But the end in a whirl

The song was one that he had written very recently. A story of people he knew. People from Italy, people from camp, but the first verse was about two kids that went to Westover Hall with him and Bianca.

They were just sixteen

When the people were mean

And now they're gone

Headstones on a lawn

He strummed, letting the words sink in with the silent crowd.

And when I was younger

I knew a boy and a boy

Best friends with each other

But always wished they were more

He had had two neighbors who were "roommates". At the time, Nico had believed that story. Only when he grew older did he realize what was really happening and why.

Cause they loved one another

But never discovered

Cause they were too afraid of what they'd say

Moved to different states

Growing up half on the streets, Nico had met many people. At the time, he'd couldn't understand half of what was said, but as he got older and the memories of those resurfaced in his brain, he understood. He himself now had a story to tell. It was tragic, cruel, and full of pain and suffering but it was a story all the same.

Now it's on to the sequel

About me and my friend

Both our parents were evil

So we both made a bet

If we worked and we saved

We could both run away

And we'd have a better life

And I was right

I wonder if she's alright

Jessica was the name of the girl. She had been in Westover Hall too because her parents told her she needed to be straightened out. Whether that meant sexually or not, Nico hadn't known then, but he did hope she had escaped now.

Oh, and I'm afraid that's just the way the world works

It ain't funny, it ain't pretty, it ain't sweet

Oh, and I'm afraid that's just the way the world works

But I think that it could work for you and me

Just wait and see

It's not the end of the story

The crowd applauded loudly at the end of the song and he let the claps sink in as he prepared for the next song.

The cheers faded and Nico took a deep breath before strumming the next song. The next one was one he didn't like to play a lot. It was about Tartarus. About he and Will's fall into the dark pit and the fear of what would happen to Will down there. Every time he practiced it, he'd have to stop and take a breath. it brought back so many memories he kept away, but now he had to sing it. John had demanded it when Nico called him about the last minute show. He'd just have to hope he could control his emotions this time.

I remember tears streaming down your face

When I said I'd never let you go

When all those shadows almost killed your light

Nico didn't look up as he sang. He kept his head low and focused on strumming and not crying.

I remember you said

Don't leave me here alone

But all that's dead and gone and past tonight

The cords rang in Nico's heart and he remembered that day in the house of Damasen. It was the first break since the forever fall into the Pit. It was comforting and hating at the same time.

Just close your eyes

the sun is going down

You'll be alright

No one can hurt you now

Come morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound

Tears painfully pricked Nico's closed eyes as he strummed and there was a lump in his throat. He swallowed and tried to blink away the tears and the feelings that erupted inside him.

Don't you dare look out your window

Darling, everything's on fire

The war outside our door keeps raging on

Hold onto this lullaby

Even when the music's gone

Gone

The chorus came and Nico raised his head to the celling so he could get enough air to continue singing. He knew it was a bad idea to sing the song.

Ooh (ooh)

Ooh (ooh)

Oh whoa (oh whoa)

Oh whoa (oh whoa)

Ooh (ooh)

Ooh (ooh)

Oh whoa

Oh whoa

Just close your eyes

Nico's breath caught on the last word and he had to turn away from the mic. Tears started rolling down his cheeks, slowly but surely, and his heart ached.

He was about to miss his que for the next line but to his surprise, the line came. Not by him though, by the crowd.

He looked up and the crowd was all singing and their phone flashlights were on, waving in the dark room like stars in a dark sky.

Come morning light

You and I'll be safe and sound

Nico kept strumming and finished singing the 'ooh's with them.

When the song finished, the crowd applauded wildly and Nico handed his guitar to June who gave him a sympathetic smile. He wiped his tears on his hands and grabbed his mic so Kacy to take the stand off stage.

"Thank you for singing for me," Nico told the crowd and they whopped with pleasure.

He walked over to the grand piano that was pushed out from the backstage and positioned the the mic before sitting down. He played a few chords to make sure it worked and to warm his hands up before he actually started the song.

The next one was one he wrote soon after the Giant War. He'd hadn't dated Will yet, and he had been thinking back on his life from the last few years.

"Before I start," he announced to the crowd, still playing the song in harmony on the piano. "I think this next song could do with some different vocals, right?"

The crowd cheered at Nico's teasing.

"Please welcome Leo to the stage everyone."

The audience whooped and Nico started the song while Leo walked out, the spotlights turning away from him a bit.

L: I can see you standing, honey

With his arms around your body

Laughing but the joke's not funny at all

The song was an artistic way of his life mirrored in two different ages. Leo singing the past, and Nico singing the present. Or the present of the time he wrote it.

And it took you five whole minutes

To pack us up and leave me with it

Holding all this love out here in the hall

This first part was about Bianca. She had left him for girls she didn't even know in a split second. He knew why, that she wanted a break from her responsibilities as a mother to him. It made sense, she was only twelve, but he had been eaten up by guilt because it also meant that he drove her away. As he grew older, he realized that it wasn't his fault, but as he wrote this song, he created a parallel between losing her a someone else.

A second body sat towards the audience on the bench. Nico glanced up and Leo winked at him.

N: I can see you staring, honey

Like he's just your understudy

Like you'd get your knuckles bloody for me

The second was about losing Percy. Of course, he was still around, but he was lost to him for a while. Those first few week lyrics were from a memory that Will had shared. Apparently he had watched Percy break the news to him and even then, Will had been angry enough to fight Percy for him. He didn't after he saw Nico use his powers, but the intention was still there.

Second, third, and hundredth chances

Balancing on breaking branches

Those eyes add insult to injury

When Eros attacked him and Jason, it was with Percy's face. He had yelled at him and kicked him and said things that hurt by themselves, but with the person he loved most at the time saying them, it was ten times worse.

LN: I think I've seen this film before

And I didn't like the ending

I'm not your problem anymore

N: So who am I offending now?

LN: You were my crown

Now I'm in exile seeing you out

N: I think I've seen this film before

So I'm leaving out the side door

The music swelled and so did Nico's emotions. He let out all his frustration and anger from those moments and they melded with Leo's voice to create a beautiful mess of emotions and lyrics.

L: So step right out

There is no amount

Of crying I can do for you

All this time

We always walked a very thin line

You didn't even hear me out

N: Didn't even hear me out

L: You never gave a warning sign

N: I gave so many signs

L: All this time

I never learned to read your mind

N: Never learned to read my mind

L: I couldn't turn things around

N: You never turned things around

L: Cause you never gave a warning sign

N: I gave so many signs

LN: So many signs

So many signs

N: You didn't even see the signs

The song was slow and sweet and Nico could see Leo waving to the crowd with excitement. He wondered if Calypso was in the crowd. Maybe he'd invited her or maybe she came and was planning on surprising him. It made Nico's heartache thinking about it. The Fates really hated him, didn't they?

L: I never learned to read your mind

N: so many signs

L: I couldn't turn things around

N: I couldn't turn things around

L: Cause you never gave a warning sign

N: you never gave a warning sign

L: You never gave a warning sign

LN: Ah, ah

The song closed and Leo stood and let Nico step out from the bench before he hugged him. Nico used to hate physical contact, or at least, that's what he told himself, but in his healing process he'd found that hugging his friends was actually really nice.

When they broke apart, Leo turned to the crowd and waved as he walked backstage and blew kisses to the crowd. The audience was clapping and cheering and Nico clapped for him too. when Leo was finally off the stage, Nico took a breath before turning to the piano again. The next song was a bit . . . depressing, so he had to mentally prepare himself to sing it live for the first time.

Nico sat back on the bench and played the notes of the next song which immediately made the crowd cheer.

I wanna take you somewhere so you know I care

But it's so cold and I don't know where

I brought you daffodils in a pretty string

But they won't flower like they did last spring

In the time between knowing he liked Will and dating Will, Nico had found it hard to let himself fall again. He had fallen for Percy fast and hard and it ended badly. He was so hurt by Percy's unrequited love, and the hurt of losing others haunted him and it had felt like he had no more love left to give.

And I want to kiss you, make you feel alright

I'm just so tired to share my nights

I wanna cry, I wanna love

But all my tears have been used up

Nico put a pause in his playing creating a silence like the hole that filled his heart at the time.

On another love

The small piano plucked a few notes that trickled into the silence.

All my tears have been used up

On another love, another love

All my tears have been used up

On another love, another love

All my tears have been used up

For years Nico's tears had dried up and he hadn't let himself cry or grieve or love. It hurt too much that he decided to just shut it out. During the last year, he had cried more than he'd like to admit, whether it was a random wave of sadness, a song he was writing, a nightmare, whatever. To heal, he needed to stop being strong and succumb to the darkness with his tears.

And if somebody hurts you, I wanna fight

But my hand's been broken one too many times

So I'll use my voice, I'll be so fucking rude

Words, they win, but I know I'll lose

The song came to the point where it wasn't sad anymore. It was a strong, hurtful, angry, melody that gave rhythm to his frustration and annoyance.

And I'd sing a song that'd be just us

But I sang along to another heart

And I wanna cry, I wanna learn to love

But all my tears have been used up

On another love

The chorus came back and Nico was singing the song while the crowd screamed the lyrics back to him. It hit him then, just how much these people related to him. They screamed and cried like they'd been through all the wars and all the lose right along with him. It reminded him that it didn't matter if they were demigods or mortals or gods, they all had trauma, sadness, and anger and they're pain was just as powerful as his own.

He sang the chorus loudly with the crowd and faced them as they all sang of heartbreak and longing together. 'Is this what therapy is supposed to feel like?' part of him thought.

On another love, another love

All my tears have been used up

On another love, another love

All my tears have been used up

On another love, another love

All my tears have been used up, up

The song echoed out in the silent crowd for a moment as Nico played the last note of the song. The crowd broke the silence with their claps but Nico still felt the silence in his stomach.

"Thank you," he told the crowd. He grabbed the mic and stood from the bench, taking the spotlight off the piano so it could discreetly be put away. He bowed and the crowd laughed and whooped. It was always a joy for Nico to see people enjoy his music.

 The next song queued up and a smile crept to his face.

Didn't know how much I would love Santa Barbara

Never driven up, but I know that it's gotta be so beautiful

The crowd cheered at the new upbeat song and Nico couldn't help but smile.

Wanna be that guy that's makin' it hard for you to sleep at night

I want you to call me when it's gettin' late

You can tell me anything

From time to time, you give me the smallest look

Behind your eyes, and baby, it's almost like you need someone

I promise I can be someone

The whole crowd screamed the lyrics and Nico jumped across the stage. There was a girl he pointed to for one part of the song and she almost fainted. A small boy who looked about eight was on his dad's shoulders and singing the lyrics as well.

Nico played his song 'All I Want' and by the end of it he was glad there were only two songs left. Then, he could sleep and the next day, he'd see Will again.

"Have any of you ever been in love before?" Nico asked the crowd. There were whoops and claps and Nico laughed. "Well, let me tell you what love feels like for me."

Nico started walking towards the back of the room, signaling that the next song would start soon.

"For me, it was like I was living in every small detail," he told the crowd. "The smiles, the arm brushes, the looks in dark rooms . . ."

He trailed off and the crowd understood where he was going. He winked at Felicia and she started playing the next one.

One look, dark room

Meant just for you

Time moved too fast

You play it back

Nico stared out at the crowd but he wasn't actually there. He traveled back to those moments. Will in his flannel, looking across the crowded Big House right to Nico. He moved to his side and the two talked and decided to drive out sometime. Will showed up at his cabin with a coat and car keys, begging Nico to come with him. He agreed.

Small talk, he drives

Coffee at midnight

The light reflects

The chain on your neck

"Look up," Will had said. Nico had done just that and through a ceiling window, he saw stars lighting up the night. They both tried to look more closely and brushed against each other. Their eyes met and that was the moment Nico looked back to a year later, and realized that he was in love.

You can hear it in the silence, silence, you

You can feel it on the way home, way home, you

You can see it with the lights out, lights out

You're in love, true love

You're in love

Breakfasts with burnt toast as Will tried to cook. Looking in the mirror and realizing he was wearing Will's shirt. Comfort, safety, freedom from his past. Kisses on walks. Fights and makeups. Then one night, Will staring at him as they lay in bed.

"You're my best friend," he told him.

Nico looked into those glistening eyes and saw the deeper meaning to those casual words. He was in love too.

And so it goes

You two are dancing in a snow globe, 'round and 'round

And he keeps the picture of you in his office downtown

And you understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars

And why I've spent my whole life tryin' to put it into words

'Cause you can hear in the silence

The crowd honored the lyrics by making a comfortable and mythical silence hover in the room.

You can feel it on the way home

Memories of car drives, bus rides, and pegasi flights all going back to camp.

You can see it with the lights out

Dark nights and mornings next to a warm body.

You are in love, true love

You are in love

The song wrapped up and Nico was so excited that he almost jumped up and down.

"One more song Oakland!" he yelled to the crowd. "Let's make it the best one yet!"

The crowd screamed their exception to the challenge, making Nico smile.

Yeah! (Uh-huh)

One, two, three, four, go!

He sneaks out in the middle of the night, yeah

Tight shirt with the top cut low (uh-huh)

He's addicted to the feeling of letting go, oh-whoa

Nico took his usual route to the right side of the stage and danced along with the crowd on that side.

But he don't want anyone to know

That I'm the only one that gets to take him home (uh-huh), oh-whoa

Take him home

He slowly walked towards the center, making sure to take his time.

But every time I tell him that I want more

He closes the door

Halfway to the middle, the beat dropped and Nico stopped walking so he could jump and sing with the crowd in front of him.

He's not afraid of all the attention

He's not afraid of running wild

How come he's so afraid of falling in love?

He continued his way to the middle for the chorus and the crowd was doing well at the challenge.

Maybe he's just tryna test me

Wanna see how hard I'm gonna work

Nico half danced and half walked towards the other side of the stage, singing the second verse. He glanced down and noted where the stairs to the warriors were.

But either way, he's teasing me, and it's just so hard

So hard

'Cause every time I tell her how I feel

He says it's not real (one, two, three, four)

Nico walked carefully off the stage and right up to the barriers. This was probably his favorite part of the night.

He's not afraid of all the attention

He's not afraid of running wild

Many hands reached out and Nico took his time as he passed them, making sure everyone was seen.

Halfway down the first section, he got his first bracelet of the night. When he started his tour, there was a little fan who had given him a rainbow friendship bracelet. People saw it on his wrist and decided to make more. Now, it was like a tradition every night that he would get an arm full of bracelets.

Nico walked to the other side of the crowd and gave more handshakes and waves and received more bracelets.

What about all the things we say

Talking on the phone so late? (So late)

I can't let him get away from me, oh

He reached the middle of the crowd where it split so he could straight through it.

But when I say that I can't do it no more

He's back at my door

The beat drops and he starts off down the aisle. Sometimes, he laughs at how wedding-like it felt, walking down an aisle with people gasping and awing at him. He wondered what a wedding would look like for him. What were weddings like nowadays? He'd forgotten to ask when Percy offered to catch him up on the times.

She's not afraid of scary movies (she's not afraid)

She likes the way we kiss in the dark (kiss in the dark)

But she's so afraid of fa-fa-falling in love (love), love

Nico walked all the way to the back door and by the time he got there, his arms were full of rainbows and colors. He smiled as he finished the song, almost wanting to perform just another night. Then he remembered Will and was excited to quickly duck out of the room.

He stepped out into the cold air but barely felt it as he melted into the shows of the night and appeared backstage in the bathroom. Nico took a breath, breathing in the feeling of performing and singing, and then stepped out of the gross bathroom the whole group shared.

The crowd was still making noise as Nico walked over to the break room. Some were shouting and some were begging for an encore. Maybe Nico would do one at some point.

"Nico!" McCassy called when Nico opened the door. She was sitting on the worn out couch but stood when Nico came closer to give him a hug.

"Good job," she told him.

Nico hugged her back tightly. McCassy had always felt a bit like a sister to him from the first time they met. There was something familiar about her and Nico was almost ninety percent sure she was a demigod.

"You did amazing," he told her as she pulled back.

McCassy rolled her eyes. "Of course I did."

Nico laughed and walked over to the coffee and snacks table.

"Are you leaving now?" she asked, sliding up next to him as he grabbed his banana bread.

"In a bit," Nico responded. "Why do you want me gone so bad?"

McCassy scoffed. "I don't want you gone."

Nico could sense her tone shift and felt a little bad. McCassy didn't have a great living situation, both her parents were verbally and mentally abusive and her dad had a tendency to throw things. She was the oldest of her two younger brothers since her older sister fled to college. The only time she got a break was on weekends with Nico, when her parents left for their work trips and her brothers were babysat by a kind lady so she could perform with Nico.

"My offer still stands," Nico told her. "About coming to my camp?"

McCassy sighed. "I would love to, Nico. But I don't think my brothers are ready to be away from their parents. They're only twelve and six."

Nico nodded. He couldn't help but think about Bianca whenever McCassy talked about her family. Their lives weren't too much different when everything boiled down. He just wished he could help them in some way.

"Well," McCassy siad, breaking the sad silence. "Have fun with your boyfriend."

Nico gave her a quick hug. "I'll see you next week."

McCassy nodded against his shoulder.

***

'The world was black and white, but we were in screaming color' read the bracelet Nico held in his hands. He had gently taken off the bracelets one by one and read each one before putting them in his box where the rest lay. The one he was examining now had the first half of the lyric and beads in black and white, and the other half was a rainbow.

Nico smiled and placed it on top of the rest. That was the last one of the night, now it was time to go.

He took out his paper and pen and wrote a note to his crew, how they did great and he couldn't wait to see them again next week, and left it on his sleeping bag. He slung his pack over his shoulder, grabbed the box of bracelets, and stepped back into the shadows.

His shoes landed on the carpet as Nico appeared in his room in the underworld and before he could move a muscle, he was pounced on by little black creatures.

Nico laughed as his face was licked and pawed at by his little cocopuffs. Paws, hooves, horns, and beaks were all surrounding him so he could barely see who was who.

"Alright, alright," Nico told them, gesturing for them to get off.

His pets did so, jumping onto his bed or backing to stagger around the room. Nico smiled at his little friends and brought out his box from under his arm which caused another round of excitement from the cocopuffs.

"You want some bracelets?" Nico asked playfully. He opened the box and set it on the floor where the cocopuffs immediately swarmed.

Bracelets went flying and were draped around necks or heads, making Nico laugh. He slowly backed up from the dark mass of creatures and he smiled at the amount of bracelets he had collected. It reminded him of when he was younger, back when he just enjoyed life as it was.

A squawk at his feet made Nico look down. Reminisces, a mostly parrot looking cocopuff, pecked his shoes lightly, a bracelet hanging off his tail.

"I'm okay Remi," Nico told him.

The parrot squawked and shook his tail, which made the bracelet dangling there fall. Nico laughed and then an idea struck him. An idea for a song.

He bid his goodbyes to the cocopuffs and stepped back into the darkness of the walls. He appeared in his cabin, empty now but clearly slept in. Nico smiled to himself every time he came back and saw that Wills still slept in Nico's bed even when he wasn't there.

Will would be in the infirmary still, but instead of going there, Nico grabbed his notebook from under his mattress and used the pen in his pocket to start writing lyrics.

An hour or so later, the door to the cabin opened and Will's tired frame walked inside. Nico dropped the notebook underneath the bed and threw the pen on the nightstand to stand and greet his boyfriend.

"You look tired."

Will looked up at Nico and his tired expression broke into a grateful smile.

"You're back!"

Will ran to Nico and Nico held him in his arms. He held his boyfriend tight, drinking in his presence. Oh, how he had missed this feeling, even if it was for only a few days.

"I'll always come back," Nico promised.