Max and Nico {Official}

As far as I knew, Nico hadn't been to camp -or even heard from- in months so, naturally, the last thing I was expecting was to be overcome by that nervous "danger!" feeling in the middle in camp that morning.

All around me grew dark and the grass seemed to wilt beneath my feet.

I whipped around, half-expecting to find some bloodthirsty monster ready to rip my throat out but, instead, saw the shadowy mass of a broken boy lurking beneath the tree nearest to me.

"Nico?" I turned my face in, hesitant for the answer. That hardly even mattered, though, because there wasn't one.

"Uh...hello?" I tried again. His features glinted in the light of the low sun and he turned away. There was no doubt anymore. It was definitely him, but he was...different, somehow. He seemed thinner and paler. His hair had grown even longer and it hung limply over his deadened eyes.

"Wait," I held my hand in front of me as a gesture for him to stop and took a cautious step forward, "Oh, man. What- what happened to you?"

Nico gulped and stared at the ground, "Nothing... Th- this was a bad idea... I..." He took in a shaky breath, "I should go..."

I grabbed his arm and he stiffened, his free hand snapping to and holding on the hilt of the sword that hung at his side.

I pursed my lips and forced myself to say, as calmly as possible, "Look, kid, I swear I won't hurt you. You remember me, right?"

He nodded hesitantly, "M- Max..."

"Yeah," I sighed, feeling somewhat relieved.

"Let go..."

I pursed my lips but did, "where have you been?"

His eyes became more distant, widening slightly before his face contorted as if he were in physical pain.

"Don't answer that," I fumbled over the words and tapped the boy's skeletal hand with the back of my own, "what's wrong?"

Silence.

"Please answer me," I moved my head to try to get a better look at his eyes.

"Go away..." He growled.

"Nico, I want to help."

"You can't..."

"We won't know until I try."

"What's wrong with you...?!"

I flinched. Ouch...

"Please..."

"leave me alone!" He snapped, causing me to stumble backward in surprise.

"Okay," I pursed my lips and scrunched my toes, "Come find me if you need anything. I'm gonna go eat." With that, I turned and left for breakfast.

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