----BE SURE TO READ THE END BC I HAVE A REWARD FOR EVERYONE----

Warnings: There is mention of depressed thoughts and some suicidal ones as well. Please skip the part that contains that if that kind of stuff is triggering or if it bothers you. I'll put a warning before the part so you have a heads up.

PERCY'S POV

Something was bothering Nico.

Percy could tell from the way his eyebrows furrowed and he bit his lip nervously. He could tell from the way Nico wouldn't respond to Percy because he was so deep in thought.

Percy wanted to help. But he couldn't. Part of him knew that he should wait for Nico to tell him in his own time, but he promised himself that he'd talk to Nico about it if he got any worse.

"Flight 221 to New York is now boarding at gate 29A. Flight 221 to New York is now boarding at gate 29A. Also, Flight 139..." Percy didn't listen to the rest as he took Nico's hand in his own. Normally he would smile and give Percy a peck on the cheek. Now, Nico was just staring at a window, thoughts swimming in his eyes.

"Nico?" Percy asked hesitantly. Nico didn't respond. "Hey, Nico!" Percy said, slightly louder this time. Nico turned to him and Percy squeezed his hand.

"We have to get on the plane and check in the kittens. Come on," Percy said, half-dragging a zoned out Nico to the line. After waiting in deadly silence for ten minutes, they finally made it to the front. The lady looked at Percy and Nico distastefully and glowered at them.

"How can I help you?" she asked in a bored tone

"Hello, erm we have two pets that we need to be on the plane with us," Percy said, gesturing to the kittens. The lady went around the desk and looked at the kittens.

"They'll have to be stored under the plane with the other pets. Sorry," the lady said unapologetically. Percy looked at Twilight worriedly.

"But, one of them is blind and she needs to be with us on the flight," Percy argued. Frustration flashed through him as he looked over at Nico, only to find him lost in thought.

The lady sighed in annoyance. "Fine, but only that one. The other one needs to go in the storage compartment."

"Thank you. Now here are our tickets," Percy said, fishing through his backpack. Once he found them, he handed them to her. The lady took them without even looking at them to confirm that they were legit.

"Have a nice flight," the lady said. Percy picked up Bob's cage and glanced through the mesh wire to look at the Norwegian Forest kitten. Bob blinked at him and mewled pitifully. He sounded scared.

"I'll see you soon, okay? I love you," Percy said, smiling at the cage. He set down Bob's carrier next to the lady and picked up Twilight's. Percy still had to drag Nico through the boarding dock like he was leading a startstruck child. When they got on the plane, they were greeted by a kind flight attendant before making their way to their seats. Thankfully, they didn't have any luggage with them so they didn't need to fuss with the overhead compartments. Putting suitcases in there was like fighting in the Hunger Games.

Nico and Percy sat side by side, Percy claiming the aisle seat so he could have Twilight on his lap. It was obvious that Nico wasn't going to be much help on this trip.

"Hey thanks for helping me back there. It means a lot," Percy said, his frustration overflowing. 

"What?" Nico asked distantly. His voice even sounded far away. Percy let out an exasperated sigh and started playing with Twilight. Percy didn't want to start and argument with Nico, especially not when Nico was acting like this.

Fifteen minutes later, everyone was strapped into their seats and the plane roared to life. As the plane ascended, Twilight let out a whimper of fear. Percy unlatched her cage door and pet her, enjoying the feel of her soft, silky fur.

Percy missed the feeling of Nico's hair. It was fluffy and soft and it smelled like cinnamon. Percy smiled to himself as he recalled their evening together the day before. It had been one of the greatest times of Percy's life. Sitting by that lake with Nico gave him a newfound energy. He would protect Nico at all costs, even his life if necessary.

The entire plane ride Percy just thought. He thought about Nico and their past memories. He remembered being locked up in that room. Destiny was just heartbroken and scared. She needed to get help somehow.

DEPRESSED THOUGHTS! SKIP THE ITALICS  IF THAT KIND OF STUFF BOTHERS YOU OR TRIGGERS YOU IN ANY WAY!

What if Destiny is a better match for Nico than you?

Shut up.

But what if she is?

Never! Me and Nico are meant for each other!

How do you know? You worthless piece of shit. It's obvious he's hurting and you aren't even making an effort to help. You're a disgrace. You should just die, you know.

Never! I don't want to leave Nico!

But what if he  wants you to leave?

But..

He wants you gone. You just make everything worse and more complicated. Can't you see that?

Please no, no!

Just accept it, faggot.

The argument raged in Percy's mind the entire flight. Every time he glanced at Nico he was still lost in thought. Percy sighed and ran his hand through his hair and shivered in fear. He didn't want to lose Nico.

Yet somehow he felt like it was going to happen anytime now. The only thing that stood between Percy and fate was Nico, and Nico was slowly getting pulled away from him.

And that meant that Percy was going to return to the way he was before.

The way he had tried so hard to forget.

----------------

I APOLOGIZE SO MUCH FOR IT BEING SO SHORT!! THE NEXT CHAPPY IS GOING TO BE A FLASHBACK AND WILL EITHER BE UP TODAY OR TOMORROW!

OKAY. FOR THE REWARD HERE IS WHAT YOU GUYS NEED TO DO:

Go to  account and leave her a message saying you love her. She's my bestest friend in the entire world and it would mean so much to me.

Plus, if you do that, I'll follow you. Just comment down below that you did it and I'll check to make sure that you really did and if you're being legit then I'll follow you.

Until next time,

-Callie