Max and Nico {Official}

After supper that night, instead of going straight back to my cabin, I headed over to Cabin Thirteen an extra tray of food in hand.

I raised a fist to the obsidian door but, before I could move another inch, a terrorized shriek rose from the inside. Instead of the intended knock, I busted my way in.

"Nico?" I panicked, my eyes flicking wildly around the room. unable to find anything of interest, they fell on a small, shivering lump of huddled in the edge of the bed. The sheets were spread across the mattress carelessly, and tear's streaked my friend's face though his eyes remained shut tight.

Cautiously, I made my way over and set the food tray on his night stand.

"Nico...?"

No answer.

"Nico...wake up. Wake up. Please, you're dreaming." I grabbed his shoulders but was thrown back as a small white hand made it's collision with my jaw. I blinked a few times and rubbed the side of my face. "Ow!"

The room around me, already immensely dark, seemed to take on an even thicker blackness than I thought possible. I couldn't see my hand when I stuck it in front of my face. I reached for a light switch, but to no avail.

"Nico," my voice was tight as I tried, desperately, to keep from panicking, "Nico, listen to me. You're dreaming. I'm you're friend. I'm Max. Wake up!"

I leaned forward and felt the front of his shirt. He wasn't as hard to find, since he was vibrating more intensely than my stepsister's iphone on a Friday night.

"Come here," I said softly, pulling him close so he really had no choice, "It's okay. It's just a dream. You can wake up. You're dreaming. You're safe. I promise."

I felt him pushing against me, trying to get away. I loosened my grip a bit and laid him down in front of me.

"Come on...wake up."

He could feel his thrashing and clamorous sobbing shake the bed. It physically pained me to see him like that. He didn't deserve to feel that way...nobody did. Holding back the tears hurt worse than most the thing's I'd felt before.

Then, there was the fear. If this kid radiated death and decay before, you should see him when he's afraid. The emotions were so jumbled and so intense that I felt like I wanted to throw up and cry and scream all at the same time.

Instead, I forced myself to lean closer to him, this time keeping cautious of any rogue limbs. I took his hands in mine and squeezed: not enough to hurt him but enough to, hopefully, wake him up.

"You're safe now. Listen to me, Nico. You're safe. You're at Camp Half Blood. I'm right here. I'm your friend. I'm not going to hurt you. Nobody here is going to hurt you. Do you hear me?"

He seemed to calm down a bit, the thrashing fading into a heavy tremor. That's when I heard it. A small voice, as if I'd gone back in time and were listening to his eight-year-old self.

"Bianc... M- Max..?"

I just nodded and pulled him close again, absorbing the sobs that racked his frail body like a sponge. I started rocking him gently and the little bit of light that was in the cabin in the first place returned. I turned on the small lamp that sat on his bedside table, which filled the room with an eerie green glow. (I almost would have preferred the darkness)

After a minute of regathering my own voice, I said, "Yeah. It's Max. Its okay. You're safe. I'm right here. I'm not leaving. I'll protect you. I swear."

"M- Ma- I- I was...I... I don't...I don't wanna go...I can't...I- I thought-"

I sent made a placating hushing sound and rubbed his upper back soothingly, "You're not going anywhere...you're here at Camp Half Blood...in Cabin thirteen. You're not alone. Everything's gonna be okay."

After about half a minute with no reaction, I asked, "Okay?"

He just nodded and clung to me tighter.

"I brought you food."

"M'not hungry..."

I frowned, slightly, "Are you sure?"

He hesitated but nodded.

I pursed my lips, "Later, then."

He nodded again.

After not even two minutes of silence, I found myself humming. Then, I started singing...something from Disney's Tarzan, I think.

"Max...?" He stopped me.

"Yeah?"

"M'tired..."

"Then sleep."

He shook his head.

"If you have another nightmare, I'll wake you up. Sleep."

He shook his head again.

"I'll keep an eye on you. I'll stay here for the rest of the night. I won't let anything hurt you and I'll wake you up if I see you get restless. Please, man, you need it."

Silence...then, "Promise...?"

I laid him down and tucked him in, "I promise."

I kept it.

Notes